I Am Your Natural Enemy

Wen Yan had previously chatted with Huo Yong about many things. As long as the topics didn’t involve the affairs of Huo Yong’s tribe or specific matters, Huo Yong quite liked discussing the customs and culture of that time with Wen Yan.

Wen Yan had told Huo Yong many things, but Huo Yong didn’t have much of a reaction.

However, once Wen Yan mentioned that in the Divine Land, people no longer starve to death, and it’s common to see people in their eighties or nineties, with quite a few even over a hundred.

Upon hearing this, Huo Yong was stunned for a long while, as if something that had always supported him was taken away, and his spirit wilted.

Since then, Huo Yong has only talked about things he deemed insignificant.

Wen Yan summarized some characteristics from this: people of that time were extremely pragmatic.

Facing immense survival pressure, even during rituals, they remained very practical.

Wen Yan once saw an unearthed artifact with divination markings, indicating that they had divined dozens of times without achieving desired results until finally, they got one favorable outcome.

Alright, this was the gods’ instruction, just get it done.

The objects of tribal sacrifices were similar; if it benefitted you, everyone took what they needed, and the rituals would continue.

If you partake in sacrifices but do not help, harming or deceiving instead, then you are a demon, and must be eliminated.

Very straightforward and blunt, without much complication.

Everyone was busy figuring out how to fill their stomachs, survive the winter, learn from animals about storing useful items, how to keep warm better, etc...

The rituals of that time were the purest; the intentions were the simplest. Perhaps the whole tribe’s wish was for a warmer winter so they could accumulate more food and have easier access to food.

Oh, and back then, the north was actually quite warm. Wen Yan had thought the harsh winter months did not actually exist.

The climate then was more like the current Caiyun County—very comfortable, especially ideal for the growth of various plants, with all positive attributes maximized.

This was crucial; only under such conditions could they sustain life and reproduction while productivity remained extremely low.

Just like now, many plants in Nanwu County require meticulous care but could still perish unexpectedly.

However, in Caiyun County, with people randomly clearing some plants, they would naturally regrow in the wild the next year, better than those cultivated under high-standard conditions.

Also, in such an environment, natural caves were very popular. The mountainous regions had plenty of wild animals, living by the mountain and water has always been favorable, initially for better survival conditions, and later implying good environmental qualities.

Even now, people instinctively find such environments comfortable, ingrained in their DNA.

With survival needs, interacting with mountains was natural, and rituals were inevitable.

Initially, the Mountain Ghost formed under these circumstances, undergoing long-term rituals bit by bit.

He didn’t exactly die, but the Mountain Ghost originally represented not a specific creature, but more a concept or a symbolized totem.

Over extended time, this totem and the ritual subjects interdependent in mutual benefit slowly evolved into something new.

For example, people believed that mountains should have consciousness.

After possibly a millennia-worth of accumulation, finally, the Mountain Ghost gained consciousness.

The initial Mountain Ghost lacked consciousness, more resembling an abstract title, but the conscious entity could lead the Mountain Ghost.

Enough time accumulation meant that any mountain with prolonged habitation and worship essentially acquired a guardian title.

This was an inevitable result of mutual adaptation and co-beneficial symbiosis.

Later, this became a mandatory condition; whether by imperial decree or gaining consciousness, the prerequisite was the guardian title.

This prerequisite began with the Mountain Ghost.

During the dynasty, conferring titles to mountain gods required meeting strict standards in virtue, prestige, etc.

The further the process went, the higher the requirements, although the rank became lower due to learning from past mistakes.

The term ”Mountain Ghost” doesn’t mean ghost as understood now, but more like the spirit of the mountain.

Wen Yan stripped the guardian title from the Mountain Ghost, and much information began to surface in his mind.

Vaguely, he could even sense that his ability to strip the title was approved by many, many people.

Some he wasn’t sure who they were, but he was certain they were influential figures in the Celestial Court. Some he vaguely sensed, like the current Divine Land, Divine Land Government, Scorching Sun Department, and most of all, various individuals who might be entirely unaware of this matter, yet their souls and communal consciousness gave judgment.

But there was one person Wen Yan could clearly identify, which truly surprised him.

Huo Yong.

Huo Yong voted in favor.

In the current situation, Wen Yan couldn’t afford to ponder this issue further and would discuss it with Huo Yong later.

The guardian title transformed into a mountain-shaped totem symbol and landed in Wen Yan’s palm.

The Mountain Ghost originally intended to drag Wen Yan into the middle of the mountains, then directly suppress him using the power of ambiance in several mountains. If suppressed, Wen Yan’s flesh and blood could surely not withstand it.