23: Mountain Mortal

The mountain range where Xu Qi'an resided was originally a desolate land with thin spiritual energy, so much so that even demonic beasts were too lazy to visit.

However, starting from who knows when, the foot of the mountain gradually became lively.

A group of fleeing Mortals traversed mountains and rivers, finally finding this valley that seemed barren but was peaceful.

"This is truly a good place!" an elderly man stood at the entrance of the valley, looking at the lush mountain forest before him, his eyes filled with relief.

The villagers behind him also nodded one after another, their faces showing long-lost smiles.

"Yes, there's no war here, no exorbitant taxes, we can finally live in peace and work happily!" a middle-aged man said excitedly.

Soon, the villagers began building houses at the foot of the mountain and clearing land for farming.

They built simple houses using wood and thatch, and piled up walls with stones, gradually forming a small village.

A wooden sign was erected at the entrance of the village, with the three characters "Anning Village" written crookedly on it.

Xu Qi'an stood on the mountaintop, observing all of this with a cold eye.

He sensed every move of the Mortals below the mountain.

He didn't care about the arrival of these mortals; as long as they didn't disturb his cultivation, he wouldn't meddle.

However, as time passed, the villagers began exploring upwards into the mountain.

They cut down trees, picked wild fruits, and some even tried to climb to the mountaintop to find a better place to live.

"I can't let them get any closer," Xu Qi'an muttered softly to himself.

He took out a stack of Formation Flags from his storage bag and began setting up a first-rank Low Grade Illusion Formation on the mountainside.

This was Xu Qi'an's recent understanding and experience in learning formations; now he could set up a first-rank Low Grade Formation.

After the Formation was completed, the upper half of the entire mountain was shrouded in a faint mist; once Mortals approached, they would lose their way and eventually circle back to the foot of the mountain.

The villagers quickly discovered this anomaly.

A young hunter tried to go up the mountain to hunt but wandered around in the mist for a whole day, finally returning to the village exhausted.

"Up the mountain... there's an Immortal!" the hunter gasped, his eyes filled with awe.

Hearing this, the villagers all knelt and prostrated themselves, muttering prayers: "May the Immortal protect us, may the Immortal protect us!"

From then on, the villagers no longer dared to approach the mountainside, and even erected a stone tablet at the foot of the mountain, on which were carved eight large characters: "Immortal Mountain Forbidden Area, Mortals Not Allowed."

However, the peaceful days did not last long.

One night, a series of shrill screams suddenly came from the village.

A snake demon that had just entered the first-rank initial stage darted out from the mountain forest and rushed into the village.

Its body was as thick as a water bucket, its scales gleamed with a cold light under the moonlight, and it spat out foul-smelling poisonous mist from its mouth.

"Help! There's a monster!" The villagers scattered and fled, cries and screams intertwined, and the entire village fell into chaos.

Xu Qi'an stood on the mountaintop, sensing the disturbance below the mountain.

He frowned. Although he didn't want to meddle, if he allowed the snake demon to rampage, it would likely attract more trouble.

"Fine, consider it repaying them with some peace."

Xu Qi'an muttered softly to himself, then his figure flickered, transforming into an afterimage, and he swept down towards the mountain.

The snake demon was rampaging in the village when it suddenly felt a powerful aura approaching.

It raised its head and saw a streak of green sword light descending from the sky, aiming directly for its head.

"Hiss!" The snake demon let out a sharp hiss, trying to dodge, but the sword light was too fast, it had no time to react.

"Puff!" The Qingzhu Sword pierced through the snake demon's head, and blood spurted out.

The snake demon's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The villagers watched this scene dumbfounded. It wasn't until Xu Qi'an put away the Qingzhu Sword and turned to leave that they came back to their senses.

"It's the Immortal! The Immortal saved us!"

An old man shouted excitedly, then knelt and prostrated himself.

Other villagers also followed suit, shouting loudly: "Many thanks to the Immortal for saving our lives!"

The next day, the villagers gathered at the village entrance, discussing how to repay the Immortal's kindness.

Xu Qi'an did not reveal his appearance to the villagers.

So, according to their own ideas, they carved a statue of an elderly man with an Immortal demeanor from the bluestone in the mountain and erected it in the most prominent location in the village.

Xu Qi'an glanced from his cave dwelling and secretly shook his head.

It must be said that the Mortals' stereotypical image of an Immortal was this kind of elderly man with an Immortal demeanor, looking leisurely and content, and even floating to help the world.

"But in reality, the Immortals they speak of are a bunch of Evil Ghosts who devour people without batting an eye!"

Xu Qi'an put away his thoughts and continued his cultivation.

...

Every year during spring planting and autumn harvest, the villagers would offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade wine before the statue.

Not only that, but the village also selected a young and beautiful woman, preparing to offer her to Xu Qi'an.

The woman was named Xiaolian, sixteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a gentle personality.

She was brought by the villagers below the Illusion Formation on the mountainside and knelt in prostration.

Village Chief Li Dazhi earnestly instructed: "Xiaolian, this is the Immortal who helped kill the snake demon and saved us. You absolutely must not be negligent!"

"You must listen to the Immortal carefully!"

"We will take good care of your parents!"

The other villagers also echoed, their faces full of earnestness.

Xiaolian, who had originally looked resentful, finally mustered her courage at this moment, her face full of solemnity.

"I understand, I will definitely not let down everyone's expectations and will serve the Immortal well!"

Xiaolian then walked into the Illusion Formation. After walking for a while, she knelt and prostrated herself.

"Immortal above, Xiaolian is willing to serve by your side to repay the kindness of the Immortal who saved Anning Village."

Xiaolian's voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of tremor.

Xu Qi'an stood on the mountaintop, sensing all of this, his brows furrowing slightly.

He didn't need the service of Mortals, nor did he want too much involvement with them.

However, Xu Qi'an had been in cultivation for a long time and was feeling bored. Seeing the girl's pure appearance, he felt a slight urge to tease.

Xu Qi'an cleared his throat and said in a slightly aged voice: "Your name is Xiaolian, right?"

Xiaolian trembled slightly upon hearing the voice from all around and quickly replied: "Yes, Immortal, my name is Xiaolian."

Xu Qi'an smiled: "Xiaolian, Xiaolian, are you willing to serve this old man who is over fifty, perhaps even older than your grandfather!"

Xiaolian's face was full of surprise. She then thought of the bluestone statue below the mountain, as if she had made a decision, and said sincerely: "Please rest assured, Immortal, Xiaolian is prepared!"

"Moreover, you are an Immortal, Xiaolian is not losing anything at all."

Xu Qi'an secretly sighed, feeling that this girl still had a genuine spirit and was willing to sacrifice herself for the village.

"Although this old man is an Immortal, I have not yet engaged in marital affairs since I began cultivating immortality, hahaha!"

Hearing this, Xiaolian's face immediately flushed red, all the way to her earlobes, and she stammered: "If the Immortal does not abandon Xiaolian, Xiaolian is willing..."

Xu Qi'an, however, nodded and smiled: "Hahaha, no need. This old man was just testing you."

"Since this old man began cultivating immortality, I have never needed any maids or concubines, nor do I need these."

"Go back."

Xu Qi'an's voice passed through the Formation into Xiaolian's ears, his tone flat but unquestionable.

Xiaolian was stunned for a moment, then shouted: "Is the Immortal perhaps disliking Xiaolian's appearance?"

"No, it's that I don't need it."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Xiaolian's eyes, but she still respectfully prostrated herself: "Yes, Immortal, Xiaolian understands."

Xu Qi'an waved his hand, and a gentle spiritual power lifted Xiaolian and sent her back to the village.

Seeing Xiaolian return to the village out of thin air, the villagers became even more awestruck and all knelt to prostrate themselves before the bluestone Immortal statue.

Xu Qi'an's aged voice came from mid-air again.

"I do not like this matter, nor do I need it. Remember not to act on your own."

Village Chief Li Dazhi prostrated himself three times, repeatedly saying he understood.

Xu Qi'an returned to his cave dwelling and shook his head.

If he were still that low-level Cultivator at the Qi Refining Third Level from before, he might actually be tempted by something offered to him like this.

But now, Xu Qi'an couldn't feel even a bit of temptation.

Did he have the idea of cultivating immortality while bringing a family along?

Moreover, Mortals live fleeting lives, a mere hundred years; by then, separation and death would cause heartache.

It would be better to cut off these worldly thoughts early.