Worthy indeed of the name “Land Sheltered by the Divine!”

This peaceful and serene place is entirely unlike the sinister and terrifying outside world.

Inside and outside the Divine Dragonwood, it’s as if there are two completely different worlds.

In the Sea of Origin Forest, one’s mind is constantly on edge, danger can descend at any moment, and even when the surroundings seem calm, one feels oppressed, tense, and eerie.

But in this Land Sheltered by the Divine, one unconsciously relaxes. The atmosphere of peace and serenity broadens the mind.

An old man leans back on a reclining chair under a tree, lazily fanning himself with a large leaf.

Children run joyfully, chasing and playing, emitting a series of crisp laughter.

They all wear special clothing of a material that is neither hemp nor silk, and the styles are very simple.

One round-faced little girl with pigtails tied up high, tilts her head, scrutinizing Jiang Wang, this stranger.

Jiang Wang smiles at her, and her face flushes red, and she runs away shyly.

Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye are waiting in front of a huge fruit-house.

There is only this one fruit on this Divine Dragonwood. In Jiang Wang’s understanding, it’s equivalent to a detached residence in Linzi City.

The person living here should be a figure of real power within the “Holy Clan.”

At this point, Jiang Wang’s vigilance has eased somewhat. The reason is simple: if Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye harbored any ill intentions towards him, they wouldn’t have allowed the old people and children of the clan to wander around in front of him, exposing them to danger.

Inhaling the fresh fragrance of earth and grass, and feeling the gentle breeze on his face.

Jiang Wang’s steps are calm, and his taut state is slightly relaxed.

He approaches.

A rattan ladder hangs down from the fruit-house doorway for people to climb.

Qing Qishu and Qing Jiuye are both standing at the door. Only after Jiang Wang jumps up do they turn and walk inside.

The space inside the fruit-house is very large, and not at all dark. Some parts are interwoven like a grid, neatly and orderly inlaid, forming natural windows.

Stepping on the floor, there is a wonderful sensation of softness and solidity.

The air inside the house is circulating, and Jiang Wang feels that this fruit-house is alive. But there is also a subtle sense of oppression, the source of which is unknown.

Qing Qishu leads the way, and Qing Jiuye stays behind to offer guidance.

“When you meet her later, just tell the truth about anything. Priestess is very kind, even if you aren’t a Dragon God Messenger, she won’t hurt you. Of course, in that case, you couldn’t stay in the Land Sheltered by the Divine any longer.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Qing Qishu is sent flying backwards.

Blood spurts from his mouth, he lands sprawled out, heavily at Jiang Wang’s feet.

“Oh, okay, I see… wait?”

Jiang Wang is halfway through nodding, when he turns his head to look at Qing Jiuye, a question mark written all over his face.

This is what you call “very kind”?

Qing Jiuye’s expression is also stiff.

“Aiyo!” Qing Qishu’s miserable cry finally rings out. He grits his teeth, feeling extremely wronged, “Couldn’t you have just talked nicely?!”

Qing Jiuye winks at Jiang Wang, signaling him to wait outside, “Priestess may be in a bad mood today, I’ll go in and take a look first.”

The doorways inside the fruit-house are all arched, with azure silk threads hanging down, like bead curtains.

Qing Jiuye lifts the curtain and enters.

In the time it takes to say hello, Jiang Wang hears an old voice, tinged with anger, “First explain why you and Qishu went hunting together, but two people returned to the Land Sheltered by the Divine? Did you really think I wouldn’t bear to send you to Soul Nurturing?”

The voice is that of an old woman, but the pressure in her aura is very heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

Perhaps because she couldn’t suppress her anger, these words carried out of the house. The rest of what she said is difficult to hear clearly.

Jiang Wang reaches out to pull Qing Qishu up, who has been groaning on the ground for quite some time, and casually asks, “Why did Priestess beat you up?”

It has to be said, this kid’s vitality is truly tenacious. The arrow wound in his chest has already healed at this point. He had just been beaten so badly that he spat out blood, but after moaning for a while, he doesn’t seem weak at all. His voice has become even more energetic.

Hearing Jiang Wang’s question, he glares fiercely, shaking off his hand to create distance.

At this moment, Qing Jiuye lifts the silk curtain, “Zhang Linchuan, Priestess asks you to come in.”

Without another word, Qing Qishu strides past Jiang Wang and darts inside.

Jiang Wang follows closely behind, and hears an angry shout, “Kneel!”

The pressure in this voice is almost tangible, giving Jiang Wang quite a scare.

Kneeling is, of course, impossible.

Jiang Wang is wondering whether to turn around and run, or to first release an Eight-Tone Firefinch, and then turn around and run…

He sees Qing Qishu fall to his knees with a thud.

His face is full of sorrow as he says, “Grandma, is there some misunderstanding? Why are you treating me so badly?”

“You still have the face to cry? You’ve disgraced the Holy Clan!”

The old woman who spoke is sitting cross-legged on a cushion. The material of this cushion is the same as the clothing worn by Qing Qishu and the others, neither silk nor hemp.

The old woman has white hair and deep wrinkles on her face. She is very imposing when scolding Qing Qishu, but when she glances at Jiang Wang, who is entering behind him, the wrinkles on her face relax significantly, and her smile becomes kind, “Young man, where do you come from?”

“Uh…” Jiang Wang is a little unaccustomed to her nimble change of style, but he honestly answers, “I was summoned to this Sea of Origin Forest by guiding starlight, and passed through the Land of Lurking Serpents to reach here.”

“Guiding starlight?” The old woman’s withered hand clenches tightly, gripping her knee, but she quickly releases it, and her voice softens, “Please, sit.”

The cultivation system of the Holy Clan is different. It is difficult to judge their strength without fighting, but judging from the aura alone, this old woman who is revered as Priestess definitely possesses formidable power.

Jiang Wang dares not be negligent. After thanking her, he sits down on the cushion opposite her.

Apart from the material, there is nothing special about this cushion. But as soon as he sits down, Jiang Wang feels that his Dao Yuan flows more smoothly, and his thoughts are also more agile.

Truly a treasure. The immediate effect is amazing. It seems that the clothing worn by Qing Qishu and the others is also extraordinary.

Looking Jiang Wang up and down, the old woman’s smile is amiable and kind, “You are truly a man of extraordinary talent. Jiuye was right, you must be a messenger chosen by the Dragon God, descended to the Sea of Origin Forest to save the fate of the Holy Clan.”

Kneeling beside him, Qing Qishu is unconvinced, “I said it first, so why did you beat me up without a word…”

The old woman glances at him with an unchanged smile, and although his mouth is still moving, no sound is coming out.

Silencing him with a glance.

Jiang Wang is secretly wary, understanding that although the old woman is scolding Qing Qishu, she is probably demonstrating her strength to him.

“I am only here in pursuit of what I seek, and I myself do not know where the end lies. The Sea of Origin Forest may only be a passing point, or perhaps just being lost. I really dare not bear the responsibility of saving anyone.”

Jiang Wang says earnestly, “Please, Priestess, do not harbor too much hope.”

Having experienced so much, Jiang Wang will not allow himself to be easily hijacked by a single sentence. Saving the fate of the entire Holy Clan is too big, too heavy, and such a proposition is too grand and too distant.

The strength of the Holy Clan warriors is not weak. This old Priestess is an undoubtedly powerful expert. What can he, Jiang Wang, use to “save” them from a predicament that they themselves cannot solve?

Based on the fact that someone praised him for being “a man of extraordinary talent?”

“It does not matter.” The old woman is still smiling, seemingly not minding, “Tomorrow, I will open an altar. At that time, it will be known whether or not you are a Dragon God Messenger. If you are, the Dragon God will naturally give you guidance. If you are not, I will send you away from this place.”