Chapter 25
Whizz!
As the offering was accepted, the entire shrine was coated inside flowing strands of yellow light that appeared both ethereal and real at the same time.
Ji Ye quickly realized that this had to be the mysterious power that protected the civilization. This would keep growing as the settlement gained size and more population, while it also provided boon and protection to its people, such as helping them with a sacrificial ritual.
A few minutes later, the light gathered and split into two swirling dragon shadows that climbed onto the roof of the building. This was most likely the origin of their clan’s name.
The shadows spat out two golden light beams back down, which sank inside the offering and the Soul of Civilization at the same time.
Crack!
The offering orb shattered upon impact, allowing the serpent soul to break free. Without its prison, it rapidly grew bigger until it almost occupied the entire shrine.
The glowing eyes of the soul scanned around the room and immediately saw Ji Ye at the door. Without hesitating, it opened its fanged mouth to an unbelievably wide angle and lunged at him, aiming to devour its killer once and for all.
“It’s the monster again!” Many curious settlers outside the shrine recognized their nemesis and yelled in fear. The respectful expressions on their faces quickly changed to unveiled horror.
“Where have you been these days, chief?? We missed you dearly!”
All the people rushed inside the shrine and surrounded the bulky man to retell their sad stories.
Meanwhile, Ji Ye silently observed the heart-warming sight. Lu Zhishen was a man at least 1.9 meters tall, with chunky muscles to go along with that size. Still, he didn’t act proud at all when talking to the settlers. He even carried two crying kids on his shoulders in an attempt to cheer them up.
This means NPCs here are real and life-like as human beings, unlike what those experts assumed… Ji Ye pondered. Twin Dragons’ Rest didn’t have a fort master before I came, which means this ‘first leader’ should be in charge.
Ji Ye wasn’t worried about being attacked by Lu Zhishen for stealing the leader’s job. According to the first player who had protected a settlement, a “summoned hero” should more or less know who was the summoner and what this meant. This had already been proven since Lu Zhishen wasn’t doing anything in particular against him.
Besides, even if Lu Zhishen had no idea who he was, it was unlikely that this noble hero would harm a stranger who had just saved Twin Dragons’ Rest from that serpent.
There was another element to back up Ji Ye’s confidence. He had already learned that a player who brought the offering and helped summon a hero was, as a matter of course, allowed to ask the hero for a favor, such as assistance in defeating a strong enemy, protection, or even becoming the hero’s disciple, which was the final choice made by the preceding player, who became Ninth Uncle’s student. That player would undoubtedly have a good head start thanks to this.