I am a full-level celestial master, you let me enter the strange talk of rules?

[Rule 7: If you encounter a 'Mountain Patrol Envoy,' whose form is half bone and half mist, lower your head and do not look at them; stand still and let them pass. Those who violate this rule will have their bones extracted and their souls sucked out.]

This rule not only describes the characteristics of the Mountain Patrol and how to deal with them, but also implies that the Mountain Patrol is an obstacle that the Chosen One is likely to face, or even "overcome," at this stage.

It blocks the children's way home, or perhaps it guards some crucial treasure or clue.

For the local indigenous people, the mountain patrolmen are an extremely dangerous presence that needs to be avoided.

But for the chosen ones, this is precisely the test set by the supernatural world.

They wanted to obtain deeper information, such as learning more secrets about the Immortal Tree and this world from the adults in the children's homes.

Alternatively, to advance the mission, it might be necessary to find a way to overcome the blockade imposed by the mountain patrol and escort the children home safely.

Zhang Yangqing already had a general idea of ​​the main plot.

The four children's fear of the mountain patrolman was deeply ingrained, stemming from the warnings of their elders and their instinctive dread of the existence of powerful rules.

Zhang Yangqing knew very well that if he showed the slightest hesitation or lack of confidence at this moment, it might exacerbate their fear and even cause them to be too afraid to follow, thus losing this valuable source of clues and potential breakthrough.

Then, a relaxed, even slightly dismissive smile appeared on his face, and he said in a very confident tone:
"Don't worry, it's just a mountain patrolman. Uncle knows how to safely cross its area. I used to work at the docks and often had to use that route to transport goods, so I know it very well! What's there to be afraid of? If you really want to go home, Uncle will take you back right now and make sure you get home safely."

He spoke with such confidence, as if the patrolman was nothing more than a slightly obstructive rock by the roadside in his eyes.

The four children, being simple-minded, immediately showed expressions of admiration and reassurance upon seeing his confidence, their previous fear replaced by a strong sense of anticipation.

The tall boy jumped up excitedly: "Uncle, are you that amazing! If you can really get me safely through the patrol officer's territory back, I can brag about it to all the other kids in the village for a long time! They'll be so envious!"

The burly boy next to him seemed to have a sudden realization. His eyes darted around, and he thought of something deeper. He said, "Tch, you're too narrow-minded. What's the use of just showing off? We can secretly observe and learn how Uncle navigates the patrol area! If we can learn this skill, my parents will have to ask me for help whenever they have trouble getting around!"

He spoke with a hint of smugness, feeling that he had come up with a brilliant idea.

As soon as he said that, the tall boy next to him immediately panicked, slapped him hard, and whispered, "Idiot! If you say that, won't Uncle hear us? How are we supposed to learn from you?"

The burly boy then realized he had let something slip and looked at Zhang Yangqing with an embarrassed expression, his face turning bright red.

You could say they've gained some intelligence, but not much.

Seeing this, Zhang Yangqing chuckled inwardly, but put on the appearance of a kind and generous elder, waved his hand, and said heartily:
“What’s the point of stealing anything? No need for all that trouble! Uncle isn’t a stingy person. I have all these skills I’ve acquired through my travels all over the country. If you want to learn them, Uncle will teach you! How much you learn depends on your own comprehension!”

Upon hearing this, the four children were stunned for a moment, and then burst into a huge cheer!
Their eyes were filled with boundless admiration and gratitude as they looked at Zhang Yangqing, treating him as an all-powerful and generous uncle! However, the chairman standing to the side frowned as he listened.

While the children were excitedly huddled together, chattering and preparing for "going home" and "learning skills," he subtly pulled Zhang Yangqing aside again.

The chairman lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity:
"You sensed it too, didn't you? The power of the rules in that area is extremely strange and powerful. That patrolling creature is no ordinary being. To me, it seems to represent some kind of rule that transcends the norms of this place! Are you really confident you can safely lead them there? Don't exaggerate your abilities just to get clues, or we'll all be finished!"

Zhang Yangqing glanced at him and explained calmly, "Don't worry, before entering the Undying Mountain, I spent a great deal of money to gather some intelligence about this place."

Among these clues were those passed down from the very few survivors who had miraculously made it this way. They explicitly mentioned that the most crucial thing when encountering the patrolling officials was to 'lower your head, stand still, and let them pass.'
As long as this is strictly followed, the patrolling envoy doesn't seem to attack proactively, and may even leave on its own. This should be the key to getting through its territory.

Of course, Zhang Yangqing knew the rules, but he was just using this method to tell the chairman.

The chairman nodded upon hearing this.

He didn't question the source or authenticity of Zhang Yangqing's information; this guy always managed to get his hands on some strange but extremely crucial information.

But then another question came to mind: "What about the 'life-or-death ship' over at the dock? Shouldn't we investigate it? That thing looks quite unusual; it might hold important clues."

Zhang Yangqing shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the still-desolate dock in the distance, and said in a low voice, "We can't go to the dock for now. Haven't you noticed? There are too many corpses of outsiders piled up there, their deaths gruesome."
How did they die? Was it because they tried to get close to the ships of life and death, or did they violate other dock rules? Most importantly, we have no way of knowing which ship was the 'dead' and which was the 'living' ship.

He paused, then continued his analysis, clearly presenting his thoughts to the chairman: "Moreover, I think our actions need to be more purposeful. Since there is a dock here, and this river that runs through the fog, our next destination will most likely also have a similar dock."

"In this misty, unpredictable Undying Mountain, the Ship of Life and Death is likely the only 'transportation' connecting different areas. However, we currently know nothing about the route or the destination. Blindly following the river or rashly trying to contact the Ship of Life and Death is too risky and would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Seeing that the chairman understood so quickly, Zhang Yangqing didn't even pause and continued speaking:
"Therefore, the best option at present is to go to the settlement of the tribe where these children live. They are local natives who have lived here for generations, and they must possess valuable information about the terrain, rules, and even clues about the Undying Mountain."
From them, we can obtain a relatively clear 'map' and 'guide,' figuring out where to go next, how to use the Ship of Life and Death, and possibly even finding out the exact locations of the River of Reversal and the Lake of Oblivion. This is far more efficient and safer than us wandering around like headless flies.

After listening to Zhang Yangqing's clear, logical, and comprehensive analysis, the chairman fully understood the crux of the matter and couldn't help but exclaim inwardly: "Amazing! This is professionalism!"
Each step is meticulously planned, with every detail carefully considered, and the risks and rewards are perfectly balanced.

Following this guy, at least we won't go in the wrong direction!
He completely abandoned the idea of ​​taking the risk at the docks, nodded, and said, "Understood. Then let's do as you say and escort these brats home first!"

Zhang Yangqing nodded in agreement; it was indeed convenient to talk to intelligent people.

He didn't think explaining it to the chairman was complicated, because the chairman himself didn't know this information, not because he wasn't smart.

However, Zhang Yangqing also had some reservations. It wasn't that he didn't trust the chairman, but it was best to keep absolutely crucial information in his own hands. (End of Chapter)