In the towering green jungle, a group walked, the atmosphere between them heavy with silence; not a word was spoken.

"Gurr..."

Suddenly, from the vines beside them, a green tendril shot out, like a viper, aiming straight for Ye Chen, who was bound and appeared remarkably short among these primitive humans.

Ye Chen reacted almost the moment the sound registered. Turning to look, he saw the pouch at the tip of the green vine suddenly split open, revealing a ferocious maw filled with crisscrossed fangs, expanding in his pupils...

Thwack!

A faint whoosh of air sounded, immediately followed by the green vine’s mouth being pierced clean through to its tip by a sharp spear. Red blood oozed from the wound. The vine thrashed a few times, then went completely still.

Ye Chen looked on with surprise. It wasn't the plant life that astonished him, but the primitive man who retrieved the spear—he possessed strength equivalent to a Level 100 constitution. Considering that the primitive humans here, investigated by scientists in a past life, were ancient people who migrated in from a spiritual civilization in its early stages, their surprising power, despite minor height differences, was truly absurd!

After all, there were no viruses or 'mutated meat' here to explain it.

"A first-tier Bloodthirsty Green Vine," the primitive man stated plainly. He dug up the base of the plant creature, stuffed it into a large hemp sack he carried, and clapped the bag. "Dinner is settled for today."

The man in the lead chuckled. "Little Lu, looks like I'm coming over to your place for dinner tonight."

"No problem, Boss," Little Lu replied with a cheerful laugh.

The group continued, smiling, encountering numerous monsters hidden in the jungle along the way—some plant-based, others wild beasts. The most powerful beast they met had a constitution level of 300, ultimately slain by the leading man. They referred to such creatures as 'third-tier monsters.'

As they progressed, Ye Chen gradually understood their strength. Just within this jungle on the island, there was so much danger, let alone the sea at the island's edge, where the perils were even more terrifying!

In such an environment, survival demanded one thing: getting stronger. Moreover, the surface gravity here was ten times that of the outside world, and the air density was equally high. This meant that even the most ordinary commoner here possessed a Level 1 Constitution!

Not long after, guided by the familiar hunters, the group traversed the jungle. As the canopy opened up, a simple yet spacious village slowly unfolded before Ye Chen's eyes.

The village was remarkably beautiful, wisps of smoke curling from chimneys, possessing an ancient, quaint charm. Most homes had chickens clucking and dogs running outside, reflecting a true farmhouse atmosphere. A wooden palisade circled the outermost edge to protect the villagers from surprise beast attacks.

"We're here," the leading man said, looking at Ye Chen with a slight smile. "Outsider, this is our village. The Elder is in the mountain temple behind us! I'll take you to clean up first, then we'll go see the Elder. Don't you dare show disrespect; the Elder is the noblest and greatest person in the village, and also this island's Temple Envoy!"

"Temple Envoy?" Ye Chen started, realizing this information hadn't been recorded in the data he possessed.

"Indeed!" The leader’s expression turned serious. "The Temple is the most sacred place. Our lives, our ancestors—all were saved by the Great Emperor Huangdi. The Temple Envoy represents the Great Emperor. If you offend an Envoy, no one can save you."

Ye Chen nodded slightly, grasping the situation. These so-called Temple Envoys were likely the administrators implanted on various islands by the Inner Sea powers.

Immediately, Ye Chen followed the leader into the village. Perhaps out of curiosity, many villagers soon gathered upon hearing the news. They wore coarse hemp clothes, appearing utterly simple; some had their pant legs rolled up and were barefoot, having just returned from planting rice paddies.

"I heard there's someone from the outside?"

"The outside? The Elder says the outside is a chaotic world. It’s where the Great Emperor Huangdi migrated from."

"He's so short, only reaches my waist."

Many villagers discussed Ye Chen, pointing fingers, which left him speechless inside. So short? Tears welled up in Ye Chen's eyes. Standing among a group of people over ten feet tall, his stature was certainly 'short' by their standards. He had instantly become a 'dwarf' in this primitive society.

After washing up, Ye Chen stripped off his Black Feather Armor and his dazzling Blazing Flame War Boots, quickly stashing the precious Gold-tier equipment into his Rune Space when no one was looking. He changed into rough cloth garments, which, surprisingly, didn't look rustic but rather conveyed a sense of fashion when paired with his straight posture and long, well-proportioned physique.

"Let's go!" The leader looked at Ye Chen with satisfaction and led him around the village toward the rear mountain. Many people who saw Ye Chen along the way stared at him as if he were an alien.

"Daddy, Daddy..."

Suddenly, a large child came running from the distance, face alight with joy. Calling him a child was relative because he stood 2.5 meters tall but possessed a youthful face. His skin was dark, giving him a sturdy look, and though his body was covered in muscle, his voice sounded only about fifteen or sixteen years old.

"Little Lu? What are you doing here?" The leading man looked at the boy with some surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be taking the examination?"

The boy first eyed Ye Chen curiously. Hearing the question, he quickly shifted his gaze, exclaiming excitedly, "Dad, I passed! I've become a Fourth-tier Warrior!!"

"What?!" The leading man froze, then burst into elation. "You really passed? Are you absolutely sure? Haha, my son, you are magnificent!" Saying this, he beamed with joy and embraced his son tightly, his happiness overflowing.

How could he not be overjoyed? His son, still in his adolescence, had reached the Fourth-tier, nearly matching his own power, with limitless potential for the future!

"Oh, right, Dad," Little Lu released his father's shoulder and looked at Ye Chen with immense curiosity. "Who is this tiny person?"

Tiny person... Ye Chen rolled his eyes again.

The leader, in high spirits, laughed. "He’s an outsider. I need to take him to see the Elder first. You go home and prepare the drinks and food; your father and I will celebrate tonight. It's a pity your mother isn't here; she would have been even happier."

Little Lu's expression dimmed for a moment, then he quickly resumed his smile, grinning wide. "Don't worry, Dad. Mother will be very happy to see me in the Temple."

For them, the Temple was equivalent to heaven—a place sacred and inviolable.

After the father and son parted ways, the leading man guided Ye Chen along a small path of blue bricks up to the mountain temple. From afar, on a slope covered in fragrant green grass, stood a white temple, adorned with pale gold stripes, making it look even more luxurious. Flanking the entrance stood two guards each, clad in animal pelts and wearing golden blades at their waists, apparently forged from rare and costly metals.

"This is the Temple. I will wait outside; you go in alone," the leader instructed Ye Chen, his expression grave. "Do not show disrespect!"

Ye Chen nodded and walked toward the temple. Following the leader’s instructions, the escorts searched Ye Chen before letting him inside. They weren't overly cautious; to them, the Elder was the most powerful figure on the island. Giving Ye Chen a weapon would be sending him to his death, and moreover, opposing the Elder meant opposing the entire Temple!

Inside the Temple, the windows were open, bathing the room in bright light, with fine dust motes drifting in the air. At the highest point sat a white-haired elder, holding and reading a book made of paper, not bamboo slips.

Ye Chen observed the book in his hand, taking mental note; this detail suggested much. He then spoke, "Hello. I am an outsider who stumbled in here; I have no ill intent."

The white-haired elder raised his gaze from the ancient book and glanced at Ye Chen. Old and wise, he showed no outward expression, and his voice remained calm. "You say you have no ill intent. I must test you. Come here and place your hand on this crystal ball."

Ye Chen looked at the crystal ball suspended above a carved wooden totem on the elder's desk. After a moment of contemplation, he walked forward. Since his bindings had been removed upon entry, he raised his palm and placed it on the cool surface of the sphere.

The moment his palm touched the crystal ball, a wave of killing intent erupted in Ye Chen’s mind, like a sudden slap across the face, causing his expression to twist ferociously. However, this violent intent was quickly suppressed beneath a covering layer of white light.

The white-haired elder, watching the crystal ball intently, saw it turn pitch black the instant Ye Chen’s hand made contact—ink-dark and terrifying. He swore he had never witnessed such darkness of spirit in his life! But very quickly, he saw a brilliant white light emerge, driving the darkness back, regaining control of the sphere until the white light occupied 55% of the surface, forcing the black energy into the remaining portion.

The elder frowned slightly. After a long moment, he slowly nodded. "Not bad. Your nature is not evil; your subjective thinking dominates in normal states." As he spoke, he gave Ye Chen a meaningful look. There was one thought he kept silent: In all his years, he had never encountered a soul as profoundly dark as this. Just how much killing intent lay buried within this man?

However, the appearance of the white light settled the matter for him. No matter how dark a person’s core might be, the mere fact that goodness still existed was exceedingly rare. And for such a terrifying inner darkness to be overcome by benevolence by such a margin was nothing short of miraculous!

"You are good-natured; I believe you," the elder’s expression softened slightly. "You stumbled in by mistake?"

Ye Chen affirmed, "Yes."

"It’s clear you are a man who has seen much," the elder nodded slightly, possessing an aura that commanded respect without needing to be angry. "As long as you promise not to do anything to harm the villagers, I will allow you to stay in the village. Otherwise, you must return from whence you came!"

"Rest assured," Ye Chen nodded slightly. He needed the permission of these 'locals' to reside here before he could proceed with the next stage of his plan—reaching the Inner Sea!

...

As per the title, my kind readers, since you are benevolent souls, please grant some recommendation votes and monthly passes. Hurl whatever you have at me; this humble vessel is ready to receive the blows.

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