What do you mean by saying that the corpses I sew are all ominous creatures?

The jade-like luster danced within the mercury-like aura, making my inner energy even more sustained.

I tried circulating the Mountain-Shaking Force and found that the speed of blood and qi circulation was almost 10% faster than before.

Although his cultivation level is still at the half-step Demon Core stage, his foundation has become much stronger.

Most importantly, I can feel that my body is becoming more adaptable to the surrounding environment.

The unique humidity and faint miasma in the air of southern Xinjiang now feel like ordinary mountain breezes to me, having no effect whatsoever.

As evening approached, Jin Wanliang finally woke up.

He rubbed his throbbing head and pushed open my door.

Looking at me sitting by the window, Jin Wanliang was somewhat bewildered.

"Brother Chen, how long have I been asleep? Has the matter with the Lan family been resolved?"

I poured him a glass of water and handed it to him: "You've been asleep for almost a day and a night, but the matter has been resolved."

The Lan family is having a banquet tonight; we're heading back to Jiangcheng tomorrow.

Jin Wanliang finished his water in one gulp, staring at me with wide eyes: "Resolved?! So fast! Isn't that Gu King the lifeblood of the Lan family?"

"The progress is going smoothly, and there haven't been any major problems."

I didn't explain much about the Valley of Ten Thousand Butterflies and the Gu King. These things were too complicated, and the less he knew, the safer he would be.

Jin Wanliang was a smart man. Seeing that I didn't elaborate, he didn't ask any more questions.

He wiped his face and chuckled, "As expected of Brother Chen."

The karma of the Lan family in Southern Xinjiang would have left no trace of anyone else but bones.

"But you're so lucky, you solved it all in the time it takes to sleep."

As darkness fell completely, a huge bonfire was lit in the open space in the center of Lanjia Village.

Several young members of the Lan family came to the bamboo house and respectfully invited us to go to the square.

When we arrived at the square, Jin Wanliang was completely dumbfounded.

The open space was filled with long tables, each laden with various Miao-style foods.

The men, women, and children in the village all put on their most solemn festival attire, and the Miao women, adorned with silver ornaments, gathered around the bonfire, preparing for the sacrificial dance.

Today's banquet appears to be even grander than yesterday's.

Lan Manshan was standing in front of the main table waiting for us.

Upon seeing me approach, he immediately stepped forward and pulled me to sit in the most prestigious position at the head table.

Besides Lan Manshan, the four elders I met yesterday were also sitting at the main table.

Apart from the gaunt elder with a slightly cold gaze, the other three elders looked at me with undisguised gratitude.

Clearly, Lan Manshan had already told them about the Gu King.

The banquet began soon after.

Lan Manshan picked up a bowl of wine and walked to the center of the open space.

The once noisy square instantly fell silent.

"The descendants of the Lan family."

Lan Manshan's voice carried far through the night sky.

"Today is a joyous day for our Lan family."

The gloom that has plagued us for thirty years has finally dissipated today.

The Gu King is reviving!

A burst of barely suppressed gasps erupted in the square.

It seems that the fact that the Gu King is asleep is not a secret within the core circle of the Lan family.

Upon hearing the news of the Gu King's resurgence, no one showed panic or confusion on their faces; instead, they all revealed fanatical expressions.

Lan Manshan turned around, leveled the wine bowl in his hand, and pointed it at me.

"And all of this is thanks to my young friend Chen Yang."

It was he who intervened and saved the Gu King, preserving the foundation of our Lan family!

Lan Manshan's voice rose a few decibels: "As an elder of the Lan family, I hereby declare that from today onwards, Chen Yang is a friend of the Lan family forever!"

The entire Lan family regarded Chen Yang as an elder.

Anyone who dares to disrespect Young Friend Chen is making an enemy of the entire Lan family!

After saying that, Lan Manshan tilted his head back and drank the rice wine in the bowl in one gulp.

The Lan family members in the square all stood up, picked up their wine bowls, and shouted loudly in Miao language in my direction.

Although I couldn't understand what they were shouting, their sincerity and enthusiasm were undeniable.

At this moment, to offer tea would be to completely disrespect the other person.

So I had no choice but to pick up the wine bowl in front of me, stand up, and say loudly, "Thank you, Grandpa, thank you everyone."

Then, I finished the wine in the bowl.

This time, however, Lan Manshan prepared for me not the medicinal wine mixed with tonics that I had last night, but a rice wine that was extremely light in taste.

Jin Wanliang sat next to me, watching this scene, and even dropped his chopsticks on the table.

He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Brother, what earth-shattering thing have you done?"

This kind of treatment... in southern Xinjiang, you could practically do whatever you want!

I smiled but didn't say anything.

The banquet lasted a long time.

The Miao women danced a sacrificial dance around the bonfire, the clinking of their silver ornaments clear and melodious in the night air.

The young members of the Lan family took turns offering toasts, and I responded gently to each one.

The banquet didn't gradually end until late at night.

Lan Manshan and the other four elders stayed behind.

They led me through a dense forest behind the village to a stone building built against the mountain.

The stone building looks very old, with moss growing all over its walls.

The wooden doors of the stone building are carved with many intricate patterns of Gu insects.

"Young friend Chen, this is the treasure trove of my Lan family."

Lan Manshan stood in front of the wooden door, turned around and looked at me.

"We old folks have discussed it."

You saved the Gu King; this favor is too great to be measured by worldly money.

Therefore, we have decided to open the treasure vault. Young friend, you may choose one item from within as a gift of gratitude to the Lan family.

I looked at the heavy wooden door, and a slight thought crossed my mind.

The Lan family has been living in the Hundred Thousand Mountains for hundreds of years. As one of the top Gu-craft families in the Southern Frontier, their treasure trove must contain many good things.

"Grandpa, this is too precious." I declined as usual.

"If you don't choose, young friend, then you are looking down on the Lan family."

The plump elder spoke up, his voice gentle: "Compared to the Gu King, what are these dead things?"

"Let's go in and take a look, see if there's anything that catches our eye."

Seeing their insistence, I stopped refusing: "Then I shall accept."

Lan Manshan stepped forward, bit his finger, and dripped a drop of blood into a groove in the center of the wooden door.

Then, he formed a complex mudra with his hands and whispered a few words in the Miao language.

With a dull screech, the heavy wooden door slowly opened inward.

A musty, herbal-scented air wafted out from inside.

I followed Lan Manshan into the treasure vault.

The treasure vault was very spacious, with several beads that emitted a soft glow embedded in the walls, illuminating the interior clearly.

The first thing you see is a row of wooden shelves, on which are displayed all sorts of items.

I slowly walked past these shelves, carefully observing the things on them.

On the outermost shelves were many sealed pottery jars and jade bottles.

Lan Manshan explained from the side that these were all high-level Gu worms and unique poisons refined by the elders of the Lan family over the generations.

Some of them have even disappeared from the outside world long ago.

In the past, I might have been interested in these things.

But now that I have acquired immunity to Gu poison, these Gu worms are of little use to me.

Besides, I don't know any Gu magic, so it would be useless for me to take it.