Chapter 132: Spirit Orbs Resonance

No one in the village slept that night. Everyone gathered in the plaza at the heart of the small village. They lit a bonfire and grilled all kinds of delicious food—rabbit, wild pheasant—and some even brought out old wine that had been stored away for years.

No one had expected the young man who came to their village to be so powerful. In just a few moves, he had repelled over two hundred heavily armored cavalry. To the villagers, it was nothing short of a miracle.

“Young man, you should join the army! With your martial skills, you’re bound to earn a great position!”

“That’s right, Brother Tian Fan! The Sun Empire is recruiting right now. You even defeated the Grand General—getting selected would be a piece of cake for you!”

Seeing how strong Tian Fan was, the villagers all chimed in, one after another, urging him to enlist. They were certain he had what it took to become a great general someday.

Tian Fan responded to all of this with a gentle smile, saying he wasn’t suited to be a general or to go off to war. He preferred a quiet life. But soon, the villagers switched topics and started playing matchmaker, suggesting that he marry He Ying.

“Young man, I’m not exaggerating—Xiao Ying is the prettiest, most spirited girl in all the surrounding villages!”

Old He didn’t say anything, just smiled happily. He clearly approved of Tian Fan and would have loved to see the two of them together. He Ying, on the other hand, blushed furiously.

“Thank you, but I think He Ying deserves someone better suited for her. I’m not the right person,” Tian Fan replied with a gentle smile, tactfully turning down the proposal.

“Young man, think about it again. I’m not lying—He Ying’s amazing! She can do just about anything. Marry her, and you’ll be set for life!”

The villagers remained enthusiastic, but Tian Fan only smiled softly and explained that he would be leaving soon. He didn’t want to delay He Ying’s future.

He Ying looked a bit disappointed upon hearing this. The villagers also understood the situation and didn’t push the matter further. Still, it didn’t ruin the cheerful atmosphere—they were all down-to-earth people.

“Young man, is something troubling you?”

Even Old Man He, though a bit disappointed himself, could see that Tian Fan’s brows were furrowed. He sensed something was weighing heavily on the young man’s heart.

“Actually, I came here looking for something.”

“What is it you’re looking for? Our families have lived here for generations. If it’s something from around here, I might know!”

Tian Fan’s face lit up with hope. “Really? I’m looking for the legendary Five Spirit Orbs. I have a feeling one of them might be here.”

“Spirit Orbs? What are those? Never heard of ’em. Have you guys heard of them?”

“Nope. But don’t worry, young man. I’ll ask the old folks at home. Maybe they’ve heard something!”

Tian Fan was a bit disappointed. He had hoped to glean some clues from the villagers. Still, he trusted his instincts—he had felt a surge of spiritual energy, like a call. He was certain the Five Spirit Orbs existed in this village.

“Elder Feng, do you know anything? You’re the oldest in the village!”

“Huh? What did you say?” Elder Feng blinked, then asked again.

“We were asking if you know anything about the Five Spirit Orbs. Looks like your hearing’s going, old man—haha!”

The young man teased him, which made everyone laugh.

“Five Spirit Orbs? Never heard of them,” Elder Feng said with a furrowed brow. Then he chuckled and pointed at the young man who had just spoken. “You brat! Making fun of an old man, are you? I’ll tell your dad and have him spank you!”

“Nooo, Elder! I’m sorry, okay? I was just joking!”

The young man made a face, clearly distressed. He was already twenty-one—how could he live that down if it actually happened? His reaction made everyone burst out laughing again, even Tian Fan couldn’t help but smile.

“Young man, what do you need those, um, orbs for?”

Though the villagers had never heard of Spirit Orbs, seeing Tian Fan looking so disappointed made them care enough to ask.

“To save someone.”

Tian Fan’s expression turned sorrowful again as he stared blankly at the fire in the center of the clearing. The kind villagers, though they couldn’t help much, offered him kind words and warm wishes, hoping he would find what he was looking for and fulfill his mission.

Night deepened, and the villagers gradually returned to their homes to rest. Only Tian Fan remained, sitting alone. The moon above had already disappeared, as if even it needed to rest after a long day. Whenever he was alone, sorrow always crept in. Memories of the past stirred within him, and pain pierced his heart once more.

“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?” A woman’s voice called out behind him. Tian Fan turned around and saw a young woman in yellow approaching.

“Sorry about earlier,” Tian Fan said apologetically. Rejecting a girl like that wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.

“It’s nothing, Tian Fan. The person you’re trying to save must be very important to you, right?” He Ying shook her head gently.

“Important? Yeah… very important.”

“I bet it’s a girl you’re trying to save.”

“How did you know?”

Tian Fan looked at her in surprise.

“Dummy, I’m a girl too. It’s easy to tell from the way you act. You must really like her.”

He Ying smiled as she spoke.

“Like her… yeah, I do…”

Tian Fan murmured, his heart aching all over again.

After chatting a little while longer, He Ying left. Tian Fan remained, staring blankly at the ground.

The outskirts of the village were lined with ancient locust trees, each one with many years behind it. Some had cracked bark, others had hollow trunks—it was impossible to tell how old they were.

The red leaves rustled with the weight of time. Tian Fan wandered quietly through the ancient forest, eventually reaching the small river just outside the village.

Even though it was deep into the night, his vision wasn’t affected at all. At his current level—Cloud Heaven’s peak—he no longer needed food to survive. Sitting alone on the riverbank, he gazed into the distance, unable to stop himself from remembering the past, the time he spent with Zi Ying.

“I bet you really like her.”

He Ying’s words still echoed in his ears. He let out a soft sigh, sadness shadowing his face. He finally stood up and started walking back home.

But just as he turned, something stirred inside him. The ancient divine rune in his body trembled faintly. A soft golden light shimmered on his skin.

“That’s it!”

He quickly turned back around, his face filled with excitement. He could feel it again—the powerful energy of the five elements. His instincts were right. The Five Spirit Orbs were definitely hidden somewhere in this little village…