Ethan gradually calmed down. After thinking it through again, he felt that the very thought itself was foolish. He was facing the Soul God—an existence far beyond his comprehension. How easy would it be for someone like the Soul God to kill him if he truly wanted to? Why would such a being resort to a cheap trick like poisoning just to deal with an ant-like existence such as himself?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had been overthinking things. His heart slowly steadied, and the tension in his body eased a little.
However, one mystery still lingered stubbornly in his mind.
Why was he still in this village?
More importantly, why were the restrictions that should have affected him no longer working?
He had personally experienced how terrifying those restrictions were. Any cultivator who tried to enter the village would be crushed mercilessly. And yet, here he was—standing, breathing, and completely unharmed.
'Forget it! Thinking about this endlessly is useless.'
Ethan shook his head slightly. He knew that no matter how much he speculated, he would not arrive at a concrete answer on his own.
'System! Conduct a complete body check and tell me whether there is any poison or life-draining substance present in my body. If there is anything abnormal, inform me immediately.'
Instead of wasting energy on unfounded worries, he decided to rely on the system. If there truly was something wrong with his body, the system would surely detect it.
[Command Accepted]
[Initializing complete body scan]
[Estimated Time: 72 Hours]
Ethan let out a long sigh.
Even the mighty system would take a full three days.
That realization made him uneasy. Three days was not a short period of time. Too many unexpected things could happen within that duration, especially in such a mysterious place.
Still, he forced himself to calm down.
After all, the idea of being poisoned was nothing more than a theory born from paranoia. The probability was extremely low—perhaps less than one percent. There was no point in letting fear dominate his mind.
'I can only hope for the best.'
He turned toward Assane and spoke in a calm voice.
"Could you do me a favor? Please don't tell anyone that a cultivator managed to enter the village successfully. It would probably scare them."
"Sure. I won't tell anyone," Assane replied without any hesitation.
He found Ethan's request completely reasonable. The villagers had lived their entire lives believing that cultivators could never enter their sanctuary. If they suddenly learned that someone had bypassed the restrictions, panic would surely spread.
"I'm ashamed to ask…" Ethan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "…but could I have something to eat? I haven't eaten anything in quite a while."
"Oh!" Assane exclaimed, slightly startled. "I completely forgot. We've already prepared food. After all, it's noon."
Then he smiled warmly and added, "Please come with us. We'll prepare lunch for you."
"Tilly! Bring big brother outside so we can feed him," Assane called out.
"Yes, Father!" Tilly replied cheerfully.
She had been quiet until now, but the moment she spoke, her lively energy filled the room. She walked up to Ethan, tugged lightly at his sleeve, and said with a bright smile, "Big brother! Please come with me."
"Yes, madam!" Ethan replied jokingly.
He couldn't help but smile. The little girl's innocence and liveliness eased his tension considerably. He followed her outside the house.
The moment Ethan stepped out, he was momentarily stunned.
The hut itself was small and simple, but surrounding it was a compound wall made from wooden sticks tied together in an orderly manner. It wasn't particularly sturdy, but it was enough to mark the boundary.
What surprised him wasn't the structure itself.
Back on Earth, especially in certain rural areas of India, he had seen similar huts countless times. His own family might not have been poor, but he had grown up witnessing the lives of people from modest backgrounds. This lifestyle was not unfamiliar to him.
What caught his attention was the atmosphere.
There was an indescribable sense of peace here—something that was rarely found in the cultivation world, where strength dictated everything.
"Big brother! Please sit here," Tilly said, pulling over a tattered, old chair.
Ethan didn't mind at all. He accepted it gratefully and sat down.
Before long, Tilly brought out a plate of food and placed it in front of him.
Ethan's eyes immediately lit up.
Back on Earth, he had been a vegetarian. But after coming to this cultivation world, he had no choice but to consume meat constantly just to survive. It wasn't a matter of preference—it was a necessity.
And now, for the first time in a long while, he was staring at a meal prepared entirely from vegetables.
This was completely unexpected.
Regardless of the taste, he had already decided to eat to his heart's content.
But the moment he took his first bite, Ethan froze.
The taste was extraordinary.
It wasn't just delicious—it felt profound, as if the flavors carried something deeper within them. More importantly, he felt a subtle yet unmistakable change within his body.
His Spirit Power was increasing.
The improvement was incredibly small, almost negligible, but Ethan could clearly feel it.
"This…" Ethan was rendered speechless.
He looked up at Assane and asked, "Mister, where did you get the ingredients for this food?"
Assane noticed the change in Ethan's expression and replied calmly, "Everyone in the village produces them together."
He then continued, "After harvesting, we trade the vegetables among ourselves at a fixed rate."
Ethan nodded.
These mortals were completely protected inside the village. If they stepped outside, they would be courting death. Naturally, concepts like money were meaningless to them. Self-sufficiency and mutual exchange were the only ways they could survive.
But one thing continued to trouble him.
How could this food increase Spirit Power?
Soul cultivation was notoriously difficult—far more challenging than refining the physical body. And yet, simple vegetables were capable of producing such an effect.
How could that not be suspicious?
At that moment, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
"Where exactly do you cultivate these vegetables?" Ethan asked.
"Near the Golden Immortal Mountain," Assane replied.
"Golden Immortal Mountain?" Ethan repeated, his voice tinged with surprise. "What is that?"
"Well," Assane said thoughtfully, "it's the mountain where the person covered in golden light left to, as mentioned in the story I told you earlier. We cultivate the vegetables there."
Ethan took a deep breath.
His earlier doubts solidified into certainty.
The reason this food could enhance Spirit Power had to be related to the Soul God. That being of golden light—without a doubt—was the Soul God himself. If his specialty lay in Soull Power, then the land influenced by his presence would naturally be extraordinary.
The vegetables grown there were likely nourished by residual divine energy.
Assane's answer confirmed Ethan's theory.
His gaze shifted toward the mountain in the distance.
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.
For a brief moment, temptation flickered in his heart. Should he visit the mountain? Even a glimpse might grant him unimaginable benefits.
But he quickly shook his head.
"Forget it," he thought bitterly. "With my current strength, going there would be no different from seeking death."
Reality was not a novel.
In stories, protagonists thrived on risk. With danger came opportunity, and miracles happened effortlessly. Even the clumsiest character could rise to dominate the heavens.
But he was not a protagonist written by an author.
There was no predetermined destiny protecting him.
He was just Ethan—a fragile existence struggling to survive in a ruthless world. Every decision he made carried real consequences.
That was why he chose caution.
He would not gamble his life for uncertain rewards.
With that resolve, Ethan firmly decided not to step into the Golden Immortal Mountain.