The aftershocks spread, making Shiquan famous.

Dawn pierced through the darkness, scattering light over the battered Shiquan Village.

The fences were damaged in many places, the ground was covered with wolf corpses and mottled bloodstains, and the air was filled with a heavy smell of blood and smoke.

The surviving villagers were silently cleaning the battlefield, collecting the remains of their companions, and treating the wounded; suppressed weeping and painful groans rang out from time to time, telling of the brutality of this night raid.

And everyone's gaze couldn't help but turn towards the stone house in the center of the village.

Nightmare, this mysterious and powerful outsider, was residing within it.

It was he who stepped forward at the critical moment, using unfathomable means to turn the tide, kill the wolf king, and force the wolf pack to retreat.

He was the benefactor of Shiquan Village, there was no doubt about that.

But at the same time, the inhuman power he displayed, and that killing efficiency that was calm to the point of coldness, also made all the villagers, in addition to gratitude, develop an indescribable fear and estrangement in their hearts.

Inside the stone house, Nightmare sat cross-legged on the bed, looking inward, guiding the Chaos Dao Foundation to rotate slowly, repairing the slight hidden injuries brought about by last night's fierce battle, while simultaneously refining the newly acquired wolf king's corpse and that wisp of chaotic thought fragment within his space.

The wolf king's Qi and blood were far more majestic than ordinary Wind Wolves, and it also contained a trace of pure Wind-type Origin, which was quite beneficial for consolidating and strengthening the Chaos Dao Foundation.

And that thought fragment, although chaotic, was like a beacon, faintly pointing to a certain direction deep in the mountains, and the aura of rules at its core, which was of the same Origin as the silver-white creation, made Nightmare highly vigilant.

"Driving the beast tide... what is the purpose? Is it aimed at this village, or... aimed at all outsiders who step into this area, like me?" Nightmare deduced various possibilities.

Shiquan Village seemed ordinary, but Medicine Old Man's ancient fragments and the fluctuations in the Back Mountain Forbidden Land all showed its extraordinariness.

His arrival as a "visitor from beyond the heavens" was perhaps just a catalyst, prematurely detonating certain accumulated contradictions.

Knock, knock, knock.

A light knock on the door sounded.

"Young Friend Ye, may this old man come in?" It was Medicine Old Man's voice.

"Please enter, old man." Nightmare restrained his aura and spoke calmly.

Medicine Old Man pushed the door and entered, holding a steaming bowl of medicinal soup in his hand.

He looked at Nightmare, his eyes complex, containing concern, gratitude, and a trace of undisguisable awe.

"This is what I brewed using a few precious old herbs I've kept; it strengthens the foundation and Cultivates the essence, and it should be helpful for your recovery from your injuries."

"Sorry to trouble you, old man." Nightmare took the medicine bowl, his mind stirring slightly, and he had already analyzed the ingredients of the medicinal soup; it was indeed an ancient recipe beneficial for nourishing the Physical Body and stabilizing the Divine Soul, which could be considered precious in this world.

He did not refuse and slowly drank it.

Medicine Old Man sat down on a wooden stump nearby, was silent for a moment, and then said: "Last night... thank you for your help, young friend, for saving the lives of the whole village. This grace, everyone in Shiquan Village will never forget."

"It was just a coincidence, no need to worry about it, old man," Nightmare said calmly.

Medicine Old Man sighed and changed the subject: "It's just that... your power, young friend, is vastly different from any Legacy here. The villagers have shallow knowledge and will inevitably... have some doubts and fears. Especially regarding Han Li..."

He paused and lowered his voice: "This person Han Li has a mysterious background and unfathomable strength. He is usually indifferent to village affairs, but if you touch upon some of his taboos, the consequences are unpredictable. The strength you displayed last night, young friend, has likely already attracted his attention."

Nightmare's mind stirred slightly, recalling the cold, bone-chilling mental scan that had flashed and disappeared from the west end of the village during last night's battle. He nodded: "I have my own judgment."

While they were speaking, the old village chief asked to see him outside.

After receiving permission, the old village chief walked in; he looked even older and more exhausted, but his eyes were still steady.

Behind him followed Stone Tiger, who had his wounds bandaged and a somewhat pale complexion, as well as several prestigious elders in the village.

"Mr. Ye." The old village chief's form of address had changed, carrying respect, "I, on behalf of Shiquan Village, thank you again, sir, for your great kindness in saving our lives!"

Saying this, he was about to bow and salute.

Nightmare's mind stirred, and an invisible force held up the old village chief.

"Village chief, no need for such formalities, I was also saving myself."

Feeling that gentle yet irresistible force, the old village chief was even more awestruck.

He straightened up and said: "Sir, your righteousness is high. After this battle, nearly thirty percent of the village's able-bodied men have been lost, and the fences are severely damaged; I'm afraid we cannot withstand the next attack."

His face was deeply worried, "Moreover, although the wolf pack has retreated, the culprit behind driving the wolf pack has not been eliminated, which is ultimately a serious threat."

He looked at Nightmare, his eyes filled with anticipation: "I am presumptuous, but I implore you, sir, to stay in the village for a while, preside over the overall situation, and help Shiquan Village survive this calamity! All resources in the village can be called upon by you, sir!"

Stone Tiger also stepped forward, although his face was a bit unnatural, he still cupped his hands and bowed, his voice rough but sincere: "Mr. Ye, I have offended you many times before, it was my fault! Please be generous! As long as you can protect the village, this life of mine, Stone Tiger, will listen to you from now on!"

Several village elders also echoed the request.

Nightmare looked at the group of villagers who placed their hope in him, his mind calm and waveless.

He had just arrived in this world and indeed needed a foothold to restore his strength and investigate the secrets of this world.

Although Shiquan Village was weak, its location was special, Medicine Old Man knew a lot, and the Back Mountain Forbidden Land was also worth exploring.

Protecting them did not conflict with his own goals; on the contrary, he could use this to integrate resources and recover faster.

Moreover, that mastermind behind the scenes was very likely related to his arrival in this world, and he had to investigate it clearly.

"I can stay for the time being." Nightmare spoke, his voice flat but carrying an unquestionable power, "But there are three points."

"Please speak, sir!" The old village chief was invigorated.

"First, village affairs will still be managed by the village chief and Medicine Old Man; unless it endangers survival, there is no need to ask me."

"Second, I need quiet and must not be disturbed without cause. The hot spring behind the village and the surrounding area are designated as a Forbidden Ground; without permission, no one is allowed to approach."

"Third, all records in the village regarding ancient legends, strange tales of the mountains, and even strange objects and secret records passed down by ancestors must be copied in full and handed to me for perusal."

The old village chief and Medicine Old Man looked at each other and agreed without hesitation: "We will strictly follow your orders, sir!"

Nightmare's requirements were not excessive, and could even be said to be very tolerant.

Not seizing power, not disturbing the people, just needing resources and knowledge, this perfectly matched the image of an "expert" in their minds.

Soon, Nightmare's decision spread throughout the village.

While the villagers breathed a sigh of relief, they also became more in awe of this mysterious and powerful "Mr. Ye".

The hot spring area behind the village was quickly cleaned and marked, becoming Nightmare's exclusive place to Cultivate.

Some animal skin scrolls and bone books treasured in the village were also carefully copied and sent to Nightmare's stone house.

Nightmare's status in Shiquan Village was already transcendent.

However, just as the village began to fully repair and felt slightly relieved due to Nightmare's presence, within his space, the primal cube once again sent a faint warning fluctuation, pointing towards the direction of Han Li's stone house at the west end of the village.

Nightmare's mind turned cold.

He knew that under the surface calm, the undercurrents had never stopped surging.

Han Li, this biggest variable in Shiquan Village, was he finally going to make a move?