Nan Muyu’s arrival solved a significant problem for Yue Jinghua, as he is so far the only person in Fengdan County who has seen the true face of the Beast God.
The reason why Nan Muyu knew the true face of the Beast God starts with his origin.
Nan Muyu’s family wasn’t any prestigious clan, but starting from his first ancestor, they lived in the vicinity of Xuan Beast Ridge, making a living as adventurers and gained some reputation in that area.
Since he was fourteen years old, for a long time before he became the County Guard Captain, he learned from his father and ancestors to enjoy climbing the various peaks of Xuan Beast Ridge.
Out of the need to preserve life through generations, he held a top-secret handbook that neither the village head nor others had seen.
Upon hearing this, Yue Jinghua felt there was hope.
In the twenty-third century, during a mission, she had visited Nepal, and in the hands of the local native guides, she had also found similar special maps of the Himalayas. Such firsthand information only available from local natives is often recorded in local languages or unique symbols, which are difficult for outsiders to understand even if stolen or copied.
It’s precisely such handbooks that are often critical for adventurers to stay alive.
Having the intention to ally, Nan Muyu naturally would no longer withhold; he took out that handbook he always carried with him without reservation.
Yue Jinghua noticed that the beast skin used for the handbook seemed to have been dyed through a special binding technique, and the ink on the handbook seemed to be made of a special blend of beast blood mixed with grass juice. These handbooks are not only waterproof and fireproof but also stand the test of time without fading.
"These are just trinkets, if the Lord is interested, I will teach you how to make them later," after removing the bumps between them, Nan Muyu reverted to his cheerful personality.
His true character, like most adventurers, is optimistic and cheerful, but over the years in Fengdan County, difficult days have extinguished his nature.
Nan Muyu is inherently not bad, seeing the villagers of Fengdan County leading better lives day by day, living off the land cultivated by the Xuan Beasts, having rice and clothes, he hesitated and struggled countless times internally before he found Yue Jinghua.
An adventure journal came just in time, Yue Jinghua took one look at it and immediately spotted some unusual details.
Secret paths, shortcuts, all these essential informations for surviving in Xuan Beast Ridge, as well as some sources of fresh water and safe food locations, were all recorded in it, including information about Kalan Peak and the Beast God.
About twenty-three centuries ago, before Xuan Beast Ridge was extensively developed, there was an unfathomably deep cave on Kalan Peak, which was not originally inhabited by Xuan Beasts. Yet suddenly, one night, fierce storms blew and an Evil Jiao appeared out of nowhere. It was rumored that this beast could command the wind and rain, and all the Xuan Beasts in this region revered it as their leader.
During the heyday of Evil Jiao’s rule, everyone in this area, whether Xuan Beast or human, was forced to worship the Evil Jiao.
It was not until later that a Dragon Slayer Expert appeared on Kalan Peak, who slew the Evil Jiao and permanently suppressed its corpse in a Xuan Stone Coffin within the cave. After defeating the Evil Jiao, it was rumored that this expert went to the even more dangerous Five Saints Mountain, unfortunately, the expert never returned.
Since the Dragon Slayer Expert’s childhood, there had been legends around Kalan Peak about the Evil Jiao returning to life after its death, and every spring and autumn equinox, the cave storing the Jiao Corpse would emit gusts of cold wind and release clouds of colorful Mist Smoke.
It was rumored that anyone who accidentally entered the Mist Smoke would see a mountain-encircling Evil Jiao. To prevent the Evil Jiao from causing harm, the people of Bailu County and Fengdan County jointly funded the construction of a Beast God statue and agreed to gather offerings every spring and autumn to worship in the area around Kalan Peak.
The offerings carried there included Dark Beast Cubs as well as chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep, all of which without exception would disappear.
The custom of worshiping the Beast God was particularly popular when Nan Muyu was in his teens. Once, he blended into the crowd delivering the offerings and travelled all the way to the cave at Kalan Peak.
"That year I was thirteen years old, having climbed several peaks at Xuan Beast Ridge with my father, I thought myself somewhat experienced and took my family’s specially made Detoxification Pills with me as I followed the crowd towards Kalan Peak. According to old tradition, when the Mist Smoke appeared, everyone had to descend the mountain. Out of curiosity, I found a hidden spot and hid myself amidst the chaotic Mist Smoke," recalled Nan Muyu.
Kalan Peak, guarded by the Evil Jiao, was a place where ordinary Dark Beasts only dared to linger at the mid-slope or foot of the mountain. But young Nan Muyu, with a Detoxification Pill in his mouth, managed to avoid the effects of the Mist Smoke.
He waited until the Mist Smoke cleared and saw that all the Dark Beast Cubs and livestock driven there as offerings were huddled together and had spontaneously started moving towards the higher parts of Kalan Peak.
He followed the herd and eventually found the legendary cave that housed the Jiao Corpse.
"The cave was dark and deep, its corridors were winding like intestines. I was young and bold, not knowing to shy away, so I ventured in," said Nan Muyu, pausing momentarily.
He reminisced about seeing the Stone Coffin, an awe-inspiring gigantic coffin, exquisitely crafted, each line and totem on it seemed not of mortal hands.
"Did you see the Jiao Corpse with your own eyes?" Yue Jinghua pressed, implying that if there’s a Stone Coffin, it’s very likely that it contains the Jiao Corpse.
If there really was a Jiao Corpse, that would be incredibly great news.
If Nan Muyu’s words were true, then the Evil Jiao could very well be a Holy Beast, and if its corpse was still intact, its Holy Pill might still be inside its body.
"Unfortunately, I did not see the Jiao Corpse, I only saw the Stone Coffin. The coffin lid had a Jiao Long totem, and based on that totem, I believe that the coffin contained the legendary Evil Jiao. I tried various methods to open the huge coffin, but the Stone Coffin weighed about ten thousand catties and was the size of a small tomb chamber, I couldn’t find a way to open it, and had no choice but to leave the cave. I wanted to descend the mountain to find someone to accompany me back into the cave to open the coffin. However, no one ever believed what I said," recalled Nan Muyu with a somewhat dispirited expression.
For most villagers, offending the Beast God was akin to inviting trouble, they were neither willing to accompany him nor believe him.
Since that time, Nan Muyu had wanted to re-enter Kalan Peak to uncover the secrets of the Stone Coffin, but strangely, after that instance, no matter how he searched, he could never find the location of that cave again.
"There’s no time to delay, let’s venture into Kalan Peak," said Yue Jinghua, resolutely deciding to explore Kalan Peak after hearing this.