Stronger with Crimson Modifier

Chapter 178 - 176: White God

Besides, even if you could be reincarnated into a good life,

that would be in the next life. And without your memories, what’s the difference between that and just being dead?

Ah Gou also looked stunned.

A look of joy spread across his face.

This meant he would never have to worry about being separated from his family again.

Then, his eyes dimmed slightly as an unknown thought crossed his mind.

"It would be great if Mom were still here."

The man paused, then reached out to pat Ah Gou’s shoulder and spoke in a low voice.

"Alright, it’s getting late. Don’t delay. Get down there!"

As he spoke, he took a coil of hemp rope from his waist.

He tied one end to a nearby tree and the other around the boy Ah Gou’s waist.

Then, he reached into the beast-skin pouch at his waist and pulled out a bamboo tube.

He carefully took out the bamboo tube, cradling it in his palm.

He shielded it from the rain.

He opened the bamboo tube.

The faint spark inside instantly brightened as it met the air, like a tiny star in the night.

The moment the tinder stick flared up, it illuminated a small area around them.

Then, he handed the lit tinder stick to Ah Gou.

"If the entrance wasn’t too small for me to get through, I wouldn’t be sending you. Be careful. Find that thing and get back up here quickly. The light from the tinder stick won’t last long."

The middle-aged man urged in a low voice.

"Yeah, don’t worry, Dad."

Ah Gou forced a smile onto his face, which was pale from the cold.

Then, with the middle-aged man’s help,

the boy’s figure squeezed through the opening.

The pitch-black entrance to the cave looked like a gaping maw.

Looking down from above,

a spot of light slowly descended.

A hemp rope was tied around Ah Gou’s waist, and he tightly gripped the tinder stick, its faint light flickering unsteadily in the darkness.

The entrance was a vertical shaft leading down into an open space.

The farther down he went, the larger the space became.

The cave was pitch-black, and a damp odor washed over him.

The light from the tinder stick could only illuminate a small area in front of him, and the surrounding darkness felt as if it could swallow him at any moment.

As he descended deeper, the flame lit up the scene within the cave.

Among the jagged, strange rock formations, drops of water seemed to fall from the ceiling, making crisp sounds.

After a little while,

the hard sensation of the ground met the soles of his feet.

Ah Gou also saw the thing emitting a fluorescent glow.

It was a tea tree, its roots growing out from a crevice in the rock.

The tea tree was about two or three meters tall.

Its roots were like jade, and its delicate leaves, pure as snowflakes, were emitting a faint, fluorescent light.

As he drew a little closer,

a strange, clear fragrance suddenly reached his nose. Just smelling it cleared his mind.

’This must be it!’

Ah Gou’s eyes lit up.

’But taking the whole tree out is obviously not realistic.’

’But after all the trouble of coming down here, I can’t leave empty-handed.’

’Looks like I’ll have to gather some leaves first.’

At this thought,

he prepared to move forward.

Suddenly, his vision blurred.

The next moment,

when his vision cleared,

a slender young woman had appeared before him out of nowhere.

The young woman had bright eyes and pearly teeth. Dressed in white, she stood suspended in mid-air, as beautiful as a celestial fairy descended to the mortal world.

As a young boy, Ah Gou’s usual companions were either disheveled and grimy peers or women old enough to be his mother.

When had he ever seen such a sight? For a moment, he was frozen in place, stunned.

Just then, the young woman turned her head to look at him.

In that instant,

it was as if an invisible attack struck Ah Gou. His chest tightened, his legs went weak, and he staggered, nearly collapsing onto the ground.

Then, the young woman spoke.

Her voice was as crisp as pearls falling onto a jade plate—serene and ethereal.

At the same time, her tone carried a certain persuasive quality.

"This is the cultivation ground of I, the White God. It is no place for a mortal like you. Considering this is your first time here and it was unintentional, I will let it go.

"Return to where you came from, and do not tell anyone about this place. Understood?"

"Yes, yes, I’ll go back right now! Thank you for your mercy, White God!"

Ah Gou, terrified, nodded hastily.

In the Inner Earth World, anyone who could bear the title of "God" was of high status, an existence that commanded immense power.

They were not beings that people like him could afford to provoke.

He quickly tugged on the rope, signaling his father above to pull him up.

As he was hoisted upward,

just before leaving the cave, Ah Gou couldn’t help but glance down.

But all he saw was pitch darkness, with only the tea tree emitting its faint, fluorescent glow.

The young woman’s figure had vanished.

From the darkness, a faint rustling sound could be heard.

Seeing this, a chill ran through his heart.

He hastily scrambled out of the opening.

Seeing his son come back up empty-handed, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but frown slightly.

"What happened? Where’s the thing?"

Ah Gou’s face was a little pale.

"No, down there, there’s... there’s..."

He stammered, finally managing to explain what had just happened.

"White God? In all my years, I’ve only ever heard of a Celestial God."

The middle-aged man’s expression was grim.

"It’s true! She was floating in mid-air, and with a wave of her hand, I was sent flying. We shouldn’t tell anyone about this place, what if..."

Seeing his son’s ghastly pale face, the man knew he was unlikely to be lying about something like this.

But to believe in the existence of some White God was simply preposterous. Everyone knew there was only the Celestial God in this world.

However, one thing was certain.

This place was indeed strange and not something they could covet.

With this in mind, he cast a wary glance at the cave, then covered it with leaves again. He pulled the pale-faced Ah Gou to his feet and hurried toward Black Stone City.

"Say no more. Let’s get out of here first."

...

Early in the morning, atop a pavilion in the City Lord’s Mansion.

Hu Qi sat at a table, his gaze fixed on the distance.

’The view here really is excellent. No wonder that Black Stone fellow liked to eat here.’

Hu Qi watched as the sky in the distance gradually brightened.

His eyes flickered.

The Earth Core has no sun, but there is a celestial light. However, its brightness can’t compare to the daylight on the surface.

At most, it’s equivalent to an overcast day.

Hu Qi didn’t know the principle behind this phenomenon.

He looked down at the table before him.

It was laden with meat. But unlike the human flesh that Black Stone used to eat, the meat on his table was all Exotic Beast Meat.

After a while,

having cleared the table of all food, Hu Qi let out a long, satisfied sigh.

’The cuisine here isn’t bad. Although there aren’t many seasonings, the freshness of the ingredients makes up for it.

’Grilling the meat over charcoal makes it more savory and refreshing, preserving most of its original flavor...’

Hu Qi evaluated in his mind.

Although he could directly absorb the Vitality of Exotic Beasts to gain Modification Points using his Spirit Devouring Talent,

he didn’t mind treating his taste buds in the meantime.

After all, the meat of an Exotic Beast was firmer and more tender than that of its ordinary counterpart.

Just then, a black crow landed on the ground nearby like a bolt of lightning, then transformed into the likeness of Feathered Crow.

"What is it?"

Hu Qi picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth. He sat with a commanding presence and looked at Feathered Crow to ask his question.

As he moved, the Brass Bell at his waist swayed slightly, letting out a crisp sound.

"My lord, there’s a lead on the Exotic Medicines you ordered us to search for!"

Feathered Crow said in a low voice.

"Oh? Which number is it this time?"

Hu Qi raised an eyebrow.

The drawings of the Treasure Medicines he had created didn’t include their names, only numbers to identify them.

He had only given the order on a whim, but over the past few days, his subordinates had actually found a few decent Treasure Medicines for him.

For example, some could moderately increase one’s physical strength or make one’s True Essence more condensed after consumption.

Such Treasure Medicines might be a great opportunity for an ordinary Secret Martial Artist.

But for a freak like him, who could use his Spirit Devouring Talent to devour Black Blood Species and strengthen his physique,

it was merely icing on the cake. Still, every little bit helps.

Hu Qi naturally wouldn’t turn anything down.

Now, hearing that another Treasure Medicine had been found, he couldn’t help but feel a little curious.

"Based on the description, it could be either Exotic Medicine number two or Exotic Medicine number ten.

"However, the item hasn’t been brought here. Only a lowly commoner has brought news of it."

Feathered Crow replied.

Hearing this, Hu Qi’s expression shifted slightly.

"Where is this person?"

"He is waiting at the mansion gates right now!"

Feathered Crow answered in a low voice.

"Bring him up!"

Hu Qi said flatly.

"Yes!"

Feathered Crow’s figure turned into a black mist and flew off. It wasn’t long before he returned.

This time, when the black mist dissipated, a man dressed as a Hunter stood beside Feathered Crow.

"Th-this humble citizen greets Lord Black Stone!"

The moment he saw Hu Qi, the middle-aged man ignored his dizzy head from being flown for the first time and immediately knelt on the ground, his voice stuttering.

"Alright. Tell me everything, from beginning to end."

Hu Qi waved his hand.

"It’s like this. Yesterday, this humble one and my son..."

The middle-aged man was none other than Ah Gou’s father.

After returning yesterday, he hadn’t slept all night and had finally decided to report the matter.

After all, in his eyes, he had never even heard of this so-called White God.

Even if she did exist, could she possibly be a match for Lord Black Stone?

It was no wonder he thought this way. Since his ancestors’ time, this lord had been the City Lord of Black Stone City. In this region, the authority represented by Black Stone was irreplaceable.

Therefore,

he had rushed over at the crack of dawn and had gone through a great deal of trouble to finally get an audience with Hu Qi.

As for his son, he hadn’t brought him along, but he had already learned the general situation from him and recounted it now.

Meanwhile, after hearing the middle-aged man’s description, Hu Qi’s expression flickered with interest.

’Interesting. A White God cultivating next to a Treasure Medicine?’

Hu Qi stood up.

"Come, take me to see it!"

With that, he grabbed the man’s arm, and his figure transformed into a stream of Flowing Light, shooting out of Black Stone City.

Just as Hu Qi flew out of Black Stone City,

on a cliff ten li outside the city, two figures—one tall, one short—stood side by side.

They were none other than Wu Yu and Changzhu.

Each of them carried a bundle on their back, from which the dirt-covered roots of some plants could be vaguely seen.