Chapter 191
Chapter 191: Dispelling Doubts
At these words, Wu Shang nodded repeatedly, while Hu Rui An gazed skeptically at the old crone and spoke: “I know Fallen God Peak well enough, yet I’ve never heard of disciples being tasked with killing these divine born people.”
The old crone’s expression shifted subtly, but she quickly replied: “This matter involves the very survival of Fallen God Peak. Only core disciples know of these secret deeds, naturally kept hidden from outsiders. It’s normal that you are unaware.”
However, Hu Rui An shook his head and questioned further: “If this matter is truly secret, how did you come to know of it?”
“There’s no wall in this world that keeps out all winds…” the old crone began to explain, but Hu Rui An cut her off sharply: “Setting aside whether your words are true, even now, I still don’t know what exactly these ‘divine born people’ you speak of truly are.”
Hearing this, the old crone paused, then lowered herself onto the damp ground. Licking her cracked, shriveled lips, her cloudy eyes fixed upon Hu Rui An: “Believe it or not, this old woman has already said everything there is to say. As for divine born people…”
“These individuals are extraordinarily rare, countless times rarer than even the most outstanding martial dao geniuses in this Martial World.”
“Divine born people have an innate divine ability. From birth, they possess mystical powers beyond the grasp of ordinary people. They are entirely distinct from regular humans and are not connected to the martial dao path at all.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Shang and the others showed clear confusion. They had never before heard of these so-called divine born people, much less the concept of innate divine abilities.
After hearing the old crone’s strange explanation, they began to feel that this ugly old woman was simply talking nonsense and making fools of them.
Li Mu Sheng, however, wore a thoughtful expression. Putting aside whether the old crone was trustworthy, his acceptance was clearly higher than Wu Shang’s. According to his understanding, the innate divine ability described by the old woman was similar to beings like Magneto or Phoenix from his original world—those possessing supernatural powers.
But he had clearly crossed into a martial dao world, so how could supernatural powers suddenly appear here? Li Mu Sheng looked at the old crone with deep suspicion.
At this moment, after carefully observing the old crone, Hu Rui An suddenly spoke again: “If what you say is true, then these villages listed on the death register were destroyed by the Heavenly Brocade Guard to aid Fallen God Peak in exterminating these divine born people. But what interests me more is—does this relate to the ghostly disturbances plaguing the Heavenly Brocade Guard? Why are you imprisoned here? Do these divine born people truly exist? Or perhaps, are these ghosts just the divine born people you speak of, playing tricks?”
Facing Hu Rui An’s questions, the old crone suddenly fell silent, her cloudy eyes secretly sizing up Li Mu Sheng.
Noticing her gaze, Li Mu Sheng furrowed his brows and waved dismissively: “You’re far too old; don’t entertain any silly ideas. I’m someone you can never have.”
These unexpected words left the old crone momentarily stunned. Beside Li Mu Sheng, the big black cat suddenly widened its eyes, lifting its head to stare at him in disbelief.
When the old crone recovered, her aged face twitched fiercely, causing her to cough violently. After a long moment, she deeply studied Li Mu Sheng once more before averting her gaze and continuing: “Divine born people are truly favored by the heavens and exceedingly rare. Take Sheng Province, for instance—in five years, fewer than a handful might be born.”
“A distinctive sign marks these people’s birth: celestial omens appear in the sky, as though a divine spirit had descended.”
She glanced meaningfully at the book Hu Rui An held, continuing: “The villages listed there are places in Sheng Province where celestial omens appeared. The Heavenly Brocade Guard identified and eliminated divine born people by this sign.”
Hearing this, Hu Rui An nodded slightly, acknowledging, “Your explanation is consistent enough, but…” His aura suddenly shifted, becoming severe as he spoke, “You still haven’t answered any of my previous questions clearly.”
The old crone shook her head, suddenly rising from the ground. Her pus-covered face turned solemnly toward Li Mu Sheng: “Truthfully, this old woman knows your martial dao cultivation is extraordinarily strong.”
Li Mu Sheng thoughtfully rubbed his chin and nodded: “At least you have good eyes, but I advise you to give up on any improper thoughts.”
The old crone’s cloudy eyes briefly narrowed in irritation, but she quickly waved her hand: “Enough. I’ll tell you everything openly.”
She then glanced at the big black cat outside the cell and continued: “The ghostly disturbances at Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard are indeed related to this list. They aided and abetted evil, slaughtering innocents. Almost all divine born people born within the last five years died at their hands.”
“Thus, naturally, their kind sought revenge. Those from the Heavenly Brocade Guard who died deserved their fate.”
Hearing this, Hu Rui An fixed a firm gaze upon her and asked: “You seem quite knowledgeable—are you a divine born person as well?”
“Indeed,” the old crone admitted plainly. “However, the ghostly hauntings weren’t my doing, so I wasn’t lying earlier. And being captured was intentional.”
“Our arrival in Sheng Province served dual purposes. Revenge on the Heavenly Brocade Guard was one, but we had another important aim: to locate a hidden divine born person born in Sheng Province.”
“Unfortunately, despite staying here long, we still have no clues.”
At this point, Wu Shang suddenly spoke up: “According to you, killing the Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard was justified, but I heard a group of Martial World cultivators who entered the Heavenly Brocade Guard manor were strangled to death by your people as well.”
The old crone squinted at Wu Shang, responding: “Those so-called Martial World cultivators were just assassins sent by Mei Yan to deal with us. Their deaths were equally deserved. The Mei Family has done countless wicked deeds in secret for Fallen God Peak. Were it not for Mei Yan’s Martial Saint father-in-law, we’d have killed her long ago!”
Hu Rui An fell silent, pondering the truth about Mei Family’s relationship with Fallen God Peak.
Then Cheng Zhong suddenly asked: “You didn’t attack us during the day—is it because we have nothing to do with the murder of divine born people?”
Hearing this, the old crone glanced again at Li Mu Sheng: “That’s one reason, but more importantly, we didn’t have the strength to take you down.”
Li Mu Sheng, however, was curious about something else entirely and asked with interest: “Since you’re a divine born person, show us this innate divine ability. After all, only then can we be sure you’re not lying.”