Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1088 Age

Deep within the Kunlun Mountains, a thick blanket of mist perpetually shrouds the valley like a soft white veil. Only in the early morning, half an hour after sunrise, does the fog part slightly, revealing a corner of the valley – this is Qinglan Valley, a secret place hidden between heaven and earth. Qinglan Valley is small, yet it exudes a sense of wonder. The ancient trees within the valley are thousands of years old, their trunks so thick that three or four adults holding hands would be enough to embrace them. Their branches spread out like giant green umbrellas, shading the entire valley in cool shade. Verdant vines entwine the tree trunks, bearing a riot of red, yellow, and purple flowers. The petals are drenched in glistening dewdrops, which, when blown by the wind, drip onto the fallen leaves, creating a gentle "tick-tick" sound. The most magical thing about the valley is the Lingquan Stream, which flows through it. The stream flows from a spring deep in the valley. The water is so clear that you can see the colorful pebbles and small fish swimming at the bottom. Even more miraculous, this spring water nourishes all things: withered plants will revive in just half a day after soaking in it, and injured animals will quickly heal their wounds after drinking the spring water. The villagers in the valley rely on this spiritual spring for their livelihood. They use it to irrigate their crops, wash clothes, and cook. Even newborn babies are given a sip of the spring water as a symbol of healthy growth. In the early morning, Qinglan Valley is always shrouded in a faint fragrance of plants and trees. This aroma is a blend of the fresh fragrance of ancient trees, the fragrance of wild flowers, and the sweetness of the spiritual spring water. A deep breath of it can bring a sense of comfort to the whole body. The villagers rise early, some working in the fields, others collecting herbs in the mountains, and children playing by the stream. The entire valley is filled with vitality and energy. The altar in the center of the valley is the most sacred place in Qinglan Valley. The altar, constructed of cyan rock, is circular and approximately ten meters in diameter. Intricate patterns are carved around it, depicting flying birds, galloping beasts, and a variety of plants. These patterns are painted with golden pigment, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. In the center of the altar stands a massive white jade stone, more than a meter tall, its surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding scenery. Evenly spaced around it are seven fist-sized colored crystals: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Each crystal emits a soft halo, and these seven halos intertwine to form a transparent shield that envelops the entire altar. This is Qinglan Valley's protective formation, the lifeline of all life within the valley. Guarding the formation is a white-haired old woman, known as Granny Gu. Granny Gu's hair is completely white, like winter snow, but her eyes are bright, like two black pearls, radiating shrewdness and kindness. She wore a patched, gray, coarse cloth, always immaculately washed. Granny Gu had guarded the altar for a hundred years. She remembered being a fifteen-year-old girl when she first became a guardian. Now, her former playmates were gone, and she remained alone, guarding the altar and the lifeblood of Qinglan Valley. Every morning, at daybreak, Granny Gu would carry a bamboo basket and fetch water from Lingquan Creek. Inside the basket was a white cotton cloth, which she used to wipe the crystals; the cotton cloth was soft and wouldn't scratch the surface. She walked to the edge of the stream, squatted down, and lowered the bamboo basket into the water, which quickly filled it. She carried the basket carefully, fearing the water would spill, and then slowly walked to the altar. She first soaked the cotton cloth, then gently wiped each crystal. As she cleansed the red crystal, her movements were exceptionally gentle, chanting an ancient incantation: "Spirit of the Fire God, protect Qinglan; the flames will never cease, and evil will not invade..." As she cleansed the orange crystal, the incantation became: "Spirit of the Earth, grant me strength; indestructible, protect my home..." Her voice was soft, like a breeze through leaves, yet it carried a mysterious power. With each incantation, the crystal's glow grew brighter. Every day, Granny Gu cleansed the crystal with spiritual spring water and chanted the incantation, uninterrupted for a hundred years. Under her watchful eye, Qinglan Valley remained peaceful, with lush vegetation and villagers living and working in peace. But recently, Granny Gu noticed something was amiss. One morning, as usual, she was cleaning the red crystal. As soon as her fingers touched the surface, she felt a chill. The crystal used to be warm, like body temperature, but now, it was as cold as ice. Startled, she scrutinized the red crystal, discovering tiny cracks on its surface, like spiderwebs. Though not noticeable, they were still noticeable. Over the next few days, the situation worsened. Not only did the red crystal develop more and more cracks, but the glow of the other crystals also dimmed. The orange crystal, once as warm as the setting sun, now glowed like a candlelight; the yellow crystal, once as bright as a wheat field, now dimmed. The same thing happened with the green, cyan, blue, and purple crystals, their glow growing dimmer by the day, as if it would extinguish at any moment. Grandma Gu grew increasingly uneasy. She knew the weakening glow of the protective formation meant the lifeblood of Qinglan Valley was weakening, and there was only one possibility: the arrival of demonic energy. That morning, as Grandma Gu wiped the red crystal again, the icy touch of her fingertips sent a chill through her. She gripped the red crystal tightly and gazed up at the mist outside the valley, her eyes grim. The fog outside the valley was thicker than usual, turning a faint black, as if stained with ink. "Oh no! The evil spirit is coming," Grandma Gu said with a tremor in her voice. "The Black Wind Monster sealed a hundred years ago is about to break free." She still remembered the scene of that century clearly. Back then, she was a young girl who had just become a guardian of the formation. The Black Wind Monster suddenly invaded Qinglan Valley, shrouded in black mist. Wherever it went, the grass withered and all life was destroyed. The elders of the valley fought tooth and nail to seal the Black Wind Monster in the black pine forest north of the valley, but they all died. Only she, young and hidden by the elders in a cave, managed to survive. For years, she had guarded the altar, preventing the Black Wind Monster from breaking free. But now, the light of the protective formation was fading, and cracks appeared in the red crystals, all indicating that the Black Wind Monster was about to break free. As she finished speaking, the altar suddenly shook violently, as if an earthquake had occurred. Granny Gu quickly held onto the white jade stone beside her and managed to stand steady. She looked up,