The first question that the Chief had asked was, “Did you find what you were looking for?”

He knew everything. He knew Mo Fan had found the Underground Holy Spring and stolen it from the bottom of the spring for himself.

He had narrated that story so that Mo Fan could understand that the Underground Holy Spring was what granted the rocks life. The lives of the deceased people from the village.

The villagers were all gone. They had died protecting Helan Mountain.

While the guardians of the Underground Holy Spring at Helan Mountain stood up and faced the disaster with bravery, the people from Mingwu Ancient City and Licheng Afterglow Island decided to keep themselves away from the war.

“Go now. Since you’ve found this place, I believe you’re not far from the truth,” said the Chief to Mo Fan.

Mo Fan knew he had to return the Underground Holy Spring to them. The Underground Holy Spring was needed to summon the Elemental Soldiers at Helan Mountain. He could not take it away from them.

He could not afford to steal the spring for his own cultivation at the expense of the southern cities at Helan Mountain.

“I understand it hasn’t been easy for you to protect Helan Mountain. I’ll return the thing that I’ve taken from you,” said Mo Fan to the Chief.

However, the Chief shook his head. “The reason I told you the story is not to raise your conscience; I’m telling you so that we will never forget our ancestral tradition. Our ancestors have used up half of the Underground Holy Spring to protect the residents at Helan Mountain, and they continued to stand guard over the remaining half in an undead elemental form.”

“I understand….” Mo Fan was guilty.

“Say no more. I already know who you are and your background. You’re the same as the villagers. Go now. Go for the sake of saving the residents of Helan Mountain and protecting the East Coastline. By doing so, our ancestors’ effort of guarding the Underground Holy Spring for so many years would not go to waste!” said the Chief.

“How about Helan Mountain?”

“Using half of it is already sufficient. Besides, they were the ones who owed it to that person. If not, why would they haveguarded the Underground Holy Spring? The villagers strongly believe that that person will come someday. When that person comes and takes the Underground Holy Spring, the spring must be in complete form. It’s their fault if they failed to protect the spring,” said the Chief.

The true purpose of standing guard over the Underground Holy Spring was to wait for the right person to take it away, instead of allowing the spring to dry up or possess it without a purpose.

Both Bo City and Licheng Afterglow Island had failed to stand guard over the Underground Holy Spring; even Helan Mountain had done it only half right. Fortunately, the fragmented, sealed, and incomplete springs were still functional.

“You will do us a huge favor as long as you don’t take back the Elemental Soldiers’ lives,” said the Chiefas he cupped one hand in the other before his chest.

Mo Fan could not possibly call back the Elemental Soldiers’ lives.

Mo Fan did not quite understand why the Chief said they only required half of the Underground Holy Spring. Also, why was the Chief so sure that Mo Fan and his group were the ones they had been waiting for?

The Chief was firm in his decision.

Mo Fan did not turn down his offer. After all, the Underground Holy Spring was hard to understand. Instead of allowing it to dry-up in a no man’s island, he might as well use it well like the guardians of the Underground Holy Spring.

…

With the presence of the herdsmen and the Elemental Soldiers, the Blood Beasts could not possibly cross towards the Helan Mountain. The mountain’s defense line was more robust than any other fortress with an army. The Elemental Soldiers were the purest souls that would fight the Blood Demons till the end. Maybe they didn’t even know why they still fought…

After watching Mo Fan, Song Feiyao, and Mu Bai depart to the east, the herdsmen remain in their positions. They continued watching the chaotic battlefield. Some of the herdsmen quietly chanted an ancient spell to summon the scattered souls back to the rock mountain.

“Chief, are you sure that kid is the person we’ve been waiting for?” asked the man with yellow teeth.

“Why would that matter?”

“If yes, we can finally break ourselves free. If not, he has taken advantage of us!” said the man.

“The ancestors never told us who we should give the Underground Holy Spring to,” said the Chief.

“I wonder why the Elemental Soldiers allowed him to take the Underground Holy Spring without stopping him. Normally, the Elemental Soldiers would attack anyone who got near to the Underground Holy Spring,” said the man.

“So, then it must be him. We can finally break ourselves free,” said the Chief calmly.

…

There was a narrow area somewhere around the Yellow River at Helan Mountain. There was a rope bridge above it.Mo Fan and his group reached that place, but they could not stop looking back.

“Mo Fan, they look like the surviving villagers. They have become part of the herdsmen,” said Mu Bai.

“I know. If they were the herdsmen, they couldn’t possibly have known about the history of the Underground Holy Spring so well. Song Feiyao, what do you think?” Mo Fan turned around to Song Feiyao.

After all, Song Feiyao was a genuine guardian of the Underground Holy Spring.

“Yes. Their analyses are the same as mine,” said Song Feiyao.

“Analyses? What analyses are you talking about?” Mo Fan asked in confusion.

“Someone will take the Underground Holy Spring someday. I don’t know who the person is. Nobody does. But it’s possible that the person might be you,” said Song Feiyao solemnly.

‘Was he the Chosen One? Could it be…’

“What is the basis of your analyses?” Mo Fan found this to be ridiculous. He did not believe he could be the Chosen One. Although he believed he was gifted and extraordinary, and even Mo Jiaxin had mentioned there was a thunderstorm on the day he was born, he wondered what made them think he was that person the guardians had been waiting for.

“Not everyone can take the Underground Holy Spring whenever they want. Throughout the years, no one has ever stolen the Underground Holy Spring. It’s a holy relic, and it’s indestructible. Nothing can hide its great aura. Even if it’s stolen, we can find it back. If one steals it, it means that they are protecting the Underground Holy Spring on our behalf,” said Song Feiyao.

“I don’t understand,” said Mo Fan.

“There must be something on you that allows you to digest the tremendous energy from the Underground Holy Spring, as well as preventing the energy from spreading,”

“I-I…” Mo Fan panicked. ‘She has discovered Little Loach’s existence!’

“Since you’re capable of digesting the holy spring, you must be the one destined to take the Underground Holy Spring away,” said Song Feiyao.

She had discovered this when they were at Licheng Afterglow Island.