87: Big Oak

Chapter 87: The Great Oak

The bread in this place was truly quite good.

This was Arthur's most profound impression of the Whispering Place.

"Our latest investigation shows that the Goddess's power can reach the Night Mist,"

The Priestess sipped her ale and continued, "At least she can block it within a certain range and time."

"That's what I want to tell that young couple."

"How can that be achieved?" Arthur asked.

"Six days ago, the Night Mist attacked Hearthfire Village."

"As with previous times, by the time we arrived, it was already too late."

"Just when we thought everyone had disappeared, we found quite a few survivors in the village church—all children and women."

"They said that the village's pastor sacrificed himself, drawing upon the earth mother's divine power to block the mist outside the church."

These words made Arthur fall into deep thought.

Seeing his silence, the Priestess asked, "Do you think I'm crazy?"

"Yes, at first, it was hard for us to believe it was true."

"We all knew that pastor from Hearthfire Village; he had only come to the village last year, a young man not yet thirty."

"He was unremarkable, like most pastors from the city, arrogant and stubborn."

"But all the survivors said so, even willing to swear that they had witnessed a miracle with their own eyes."

Arthur responded, "No, I believe it."

Whether it was what happened in Hearthfire Village or the information provided by the intelligence system, one thing was confirmed: the Mother Earth wanted him to ignite the Earth Vein to gain her protection.

"The Goddess gave me a revelation, telling me to go to Qingfeng Valley to ignite the Earth Vein, so that the land there can reconnect."

Arthur's words greatly surprised the Priestess.

She immediately drew a symbol of the Mother Earth with her hand and then asked, "Is that why you want to go to Hearthfire Village?"

"Do you think that pastor ignited the Earth Vein with his life?"

Arthur shook his head, "I can't be sure if the Earth Vein was ignited by that pastor yet."

"But I am very sure that I must go there."

"If that's the case, Brother Arthur, I don't recommend you do that."

"The reason is simple: the Night Mist turns living people into undead creatures, makes dead people crawl out of their graves,"

"and also causes the land to rot and crops to wither."

"Wherever it passes, it attracts evil things."

Arthur pondered for a moment and quickly deduced that all phenomena were related to negative energy.

Once negative energy gathers, it will attract various evil entities.

But no matter what, he had to find a way to obtain the residual Earth Vein energy in Hearthfire Village.

"Is that village far from here?" Arthur asked.

"Not far, an hour's ride on horseback," the Priestess replied, then asked again, "Are you really planning to go there?"

"I have a reason I must go," Arthur said. "But before that, I want to ask, aren't you worried?"

"Its appearance is so close to you; the next time it might very well attack this place."

"Brother, it has already been here."

"What?"

The Priestess sighed, "Three days ago, the Night Mist was here."

"It took seven farmers and three priests."

"How did you fight it?"

"We protected the entire manor with magic."

"When the Night Mist came, most of the residents hid in here."

Upon hearing this, Arthur immediately closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings.

Even without magic, he could now feel the life energy flowing through the manor.

This was a sanctuary, no, it should be said that the priests here collectively turned the entire manor into a sanctuary.

"Can I pray in your temple?"

"Of course, Brother, you are very welcome."

The Captain of the Black Goat Caravan was a robust middle-aged man.

His skin was tanned a wheat color, and he didn't have much hair left on his head.

"I heard you have something good?" he asked Catherine, "How much? Just one?"

Catherine didn't want to trade artifacts with these people; that thing was merely her stepping stone.

"No rush, Captain," she said. "If you tell us how to safely enter Qingfeng Valley,"

"perhaps we can reach a very good deal."

The Captain was also a shrewd man and laughed, "Miss, do you take me for one of those greenhorns whose tongues get tied when they see a beautiful woman?"

"If you're not planning to make a deal, then get the hell out of here."

With that, he unceremoniously spat near Catherine's feet.

Jessica narrowed her eyes, and just then, Catherine spoke again.

"What a pity, that's a huge fortune, enough for you to enjoy yourself in a brothel for a good while."

"I'm quite curious, what would your superior react if he knew you gave up this deal?"

"Alright, girl, stop trying to bluff me."

"When I was delivering goods to Qingfeng Valley, you were still in your mother's womb."

Although the other party's words were unpleasant, Catherine could tell that he had no intention of giving up.

So all of this was merely the other party's usual negotiation tactic.

"Then let's go find the Warthogs," Paul suddenly said to Catherine. "Perhaps they'd be willing to talk to us."

Hearing the words "Warthogs," the Captain clearly panicked.

"Hey, you guys, why do you want to go to Qingfeng Valley?"

Seeing the other party relent, Catherine immediately seized the opportunity: "That's none of your business, isn't it?"

With that, she took out the Chult artifact to let the other party see it clearly.

The Captain stretched his neck to examine it: "How many things like this do you have?"

"First tell us how you enter Qingfeng Valley."

"You need to get a permit," the Captain said. "You have to get it from the true Lord."

"That way, he can protect our safety and allow us to enter and exit Qingfeng Valley freely."

Catherine and Jessica exchanged glances and continued, "But I heard that the Lord of Qingfeng Valley no longer exists."

The Captain smiled, "Do you really think that Lord would come to handle such trivial matters?"

"These things have always been managed by his butler, and it's the same now."

"However, I'll kindly remind you, it's not safe to go to Qingfeng Valley now."

"A terrifying mist from Mist Town is wandering on the old road; it will devour all living things."

"So, you haven't even been to Qingfeng Valley recently?" Paul asked.

The Captain retorted, "Otherwise, what do you think we're doing staying in this damned place?"

The temple of the Whispering Place was a giant oak tree. It grew at the bottom of the valley behind the manor.

Arthur followed the Priestess down the stone steps in the valley.

Upon reaching the bottom of the valley, he found that there were still many mushroom huts there.

"The priests who established this place believed that this oak tree was blessed by him," the Priestess introduced to him.

Arthur believed this was true because he could feel the immense energy contained within the tree.

The roots of this tree were very likely connected to the Earth Vein.

The current problem was how he should ignite the Earth Vein.