"My pet is quite intelligent and won't attack people randomly. Thank you."

Yang Yuan bids farewell and leaves.

Just as he is about to reach his house, Lango suddenly approaches and whispers urgently, "Sir, there might be a beast tide tomorrow. Please be cautious. Of course, with your strength, you won't be in danger, but just in case, it's best not to go up the city walls. You can defend against aerial attacks from the building rooftops using your long-range techniques."

Another beast tide?

Yang Yuan curiously asks, "Do beast tides frequently occur here?"

This question seems somewhat taboo to Lango, as he mumbles vaguely, "Occasionally, I guess. Just be careful. It's getting late; sir, hurry back inside, and under no circumstances leave your house tonight. May God bless you."

After saying this, he leaves.

Yang Yuan feels a sense of unease, suspecting that this so-called beast tide might be more complex.

"Yang Yuan, dinner's ready." Zhao Jiayan says at this moment.

"Alright, I'll be right there."

Yang Yuan replies, just about to pull down the shutter door when he suddenly sees Yan Chenggong approaching with an elegant, mature woman.

"Director Yan?" He pauses his action, showing surprise: "Director Yan visiting my humble shop is truly an honor."

Yan Chenggong laughs slightly, holding the woman's hand, and says while approaching, "I do apologize for the intrusion, Brother Yang Yuan. By the way, let me introduce to you, this is my wife from the Earth era, Lu Mei."

"So it's my sister-in-law."

Yang Yuan is again surprised: "Director Yan, if you hadn't said so, I would have thought she was your daughter."

Upon hearing the word "daughter," Yan Chenggong's eyebrow subtly furrows, a shadow flickers across his eyes.

Fortunately, Lu Mei remains unfazed, laughing: "Mr. Yang Yuan sure has a sweet tongue, and your girlfriend isn't bad either. Mind introducing her?"

Timely, Zhao Jiayan steps forward, nodding to them.

Yang Yuan gently holds Zhao Jiayan's slim waist and says, "My girlfriend, Zhao Jiayan. We were just about to have dinner. Director Yan and sister-in-law, please join us."

"Thank you for the invitation." Yan Chenggong doesn't refuse, suggesting there might be something to discuss with Yang Yuan.

Due to the guests, Yang Yuan doesn't pull down the shutter door, escorting them to the back hall.

"This is my sister, Jiang Yiyi." Yang Yuan introduces Jiang Yiyi, who is placing chopsticks on the dining table: "Yiyi, grab a couple more pairs of chopsticks."

"Okay." Jiang Yiyi promptly retrieves two more pairs of chopsticks.

Similarly, Zhao Jiayan hastily moves two new chairs closer and retrieves two bowls for rice from her Storage Bracelet.

This scene prompts Yan Chenggong and Lu Mei to exchange a surprised look.

Yan Chenggong takes a small wooden Buddha from his military pocket at the opportune moment, handing it to Yang Yuan, saying, "Visiting for the first time, I didn't bring any valuable gifts. Brother Yang Yuan, don't mind. This is an Exorcism Sculpture, placing it at home can offer some peace."

Exorcism?

How timely!

Yang Yuan secretly rejoices, taking it without showing any emotion, then warmly smiles: "Director Yan is indeed too kind, please sit down, sister-in-law sit as well."

He personally pulls out a chair for Director Yan.

Yan Chenggong and Lu Mei sit down.

During the meal, Yan Chenggong doesn't rush into serious topics, just making trivial chit-chat, sometimes indirectly asking about Yang Yuan's living environment and whether he has any friends.

After putting down chopsticks, he finally says, "Brother Yang Yuan, you've heard about the 'Mountain God,' right?"

"Yes." Yang Yuan's interest piques, asking: "Is this 'Mountain God' a real deity?"

"Heh…"

Yan Chenggong scoffs lightly: "Monsters, creatures dare to call themselves gods, it's only those white pigs who are always talking about God that believe it."

He gestures out the window toward the distant mountains: "See that mountain?"

Yang Yuan looks curiously; although dusk has settled, and visibility is low because of sandstorms, he can still see the towering Wilderness Mountains in the distance.

If that mountain were on Earth, it would be on the level of Mount Everest, or even larger.

"That's the Mountain God."

Yan Chenggong says, "Brother Yang Yuan should see, the people here don't live too well, especially these days, the place is engulfed in sandstorms. This isn't unexpected and will likely last for many years, unsuitable for long-term habitation. Do you know why we haven't relocated?"

"Is it because of that mountain? The Mountain God?"

Yang Yuan is surprised: "The Mountain God is really just a mountain?"

"Exactly."

Yan Chenggong explains, "We arrived here a month ago, originally intending to continue to the ocean or any area with rivers to settle, but upon reaching here, we couldn't proceed further, not even retreat. We're confined to the hundred-mile range."

"What has the 'Mountain God' done?" Yang Yuan is very curious, as he hasn't sensed anything amiss before.

But then again, being a Mountain God, how would a 'normal person' like him detect it?

Lu Mei glances at Yan Chenggong, who holds her hand, and tells Yang Yuan: "Drawing a prison circle, have you heard of it? That 'Mountain God' drew a circle here, forcing us to live here, and every three days, it lures a minor beast tide, every ten days, a major beast tide. Can you guess its intention?"

Yang Yuan thinks: "Instill fear, harvest belief? Or… raising humans?"

"Close enough."

Yan Chenggong laughs self-deprecatingly, "Originally, our escape team, the smallest unit is an independent regiment, capable of hosting ten thousand people. My team, an enhanced regiment, accommodates twenty thousand. My subordinates are quite skilled, and fortunately, didn't get chased by the Drought Fiend, ultimately escaping here with eighteen thousand plus people. Guess what happened then?"

He adds meaningfully, "Into the lion's den, literally, we walked right into the Mountain God's mouth. At first, many didn't believe the evil, tried escaping in every direction but lost over six thousand people in a few days."

Yang Yuan's expression changes, six thousand - the entire current thirteenth detachment numbers only five thousand or so.

Initially believing the thirty-eighth detachment resided voluntarily, he didn't expect it was forced.

"Director Yan should speak straightforwardly." He says, suspecting they want to lure him to kill the Mountain God, but how do they know he possesses such potential?

Instead, Yan Chenggong chuckles and extends his hand to the table: "I've heard Conceptual Superpower Users are incredibly special, even feared by deities in this world. I want to ask Mr. Yang Yuan for a favor."

The wolf's tail has shown.

However, Conceptual Superpower Users feared even by local deities? That Yang Yuan didn't know.

A little surprised that Yan Chenggong deduced him as a Conceptual Superpower User, given his previous actions already exposed his abilities intentionally.

Calmly, he asks: "What favor? Still, Director Yan shouldn't have high hopes; until now, I haven't encountered a real Mountain God, nor have I truly witnessed the one you're referring to."

Yan Chenggong nods, "Rest assured, Brother Yang Yuan, I won't ask you to take risks, I only need your assistance to negotiate with the Mountain God, to borrow something."

"Borrow what?" Yang Yuan is puzzled.

Yan Chenggong enunciates: "Mountain God Seal."

"Mountain God Seal?!" Yang Yuan is stunned: "That sounds incredibly vital even for the Mountain God itself, why does Director Yan think I'm that influential?"

Furthermore, whether such a thing exists remains uncertain.

Also, there's a sense that this fellow has grand ambitions, even wanting to seek the Mountain God Seal.

Is he planning to become a Mountain God?

Yan Chenggong laughs: "If Brother Yang Yuan can help accomplish this, how about a reward of a million Spirit Monster Cores?"

Yang Yuan raises an eyebrow but then shakes his head: "Since Director Yan knows I'm a Conceptual Superpower User, it should be understood that Spirit Monster Cores don't particularly tempt me."

Yan Chenggong furrows slightly, hesitating, then suddenly grits his teeth: "If you help achieve this, I'll give you a set of Superpower Techniques!"

"Superpower Techniques? What do you mean?" Yang Yuan asks, confused.

Yan Chenggong smiles: "Seems like Brother Yang Yuan's former team didn't know about this, true, even Alliance Headquarters might still be unaware."

His true confidence is that set of Superpower Techniques, something he hasn't shared with anyone aside from his wife.

But now, for the Mountain God Seal, he's willing to risk it.

"I'm curious to hear more." Yang Yuan is intrigued.

Yan Chenggong doesn't act mysteriously, explaining: "I acquired it accidentally some time back. Brother Yang Yuan should know, before the Drought Fiend's discovery, the Alliance had excavated three Ancient Ruins, right? Although incomplete, the surface exploration yielded immense rewards."

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