Upon seeing that, Flaxseed was enraged. Even though we’re in the Ethereal Realm, these people are super weak! I can kill them all with a wave of my hand. Why should I listen to their threats?
Just as Flaxseed was about to launch an attack, Jared stopped him. The latter didn’t want the former to injure the inhabitants in the Ethereal Realm willy-nilly. Meanwhile, Hammerhead smiled wordlessly. It would appear he was deliberately letting Jared experience the animosity between the humans in the Ethereal Realm.
“All right, we’ll go with you.” Jared nodded at Ali. Moments later, everyone marched toward Rock Village. It was a moderately-sized settlement with around a hundred and ten families. Arcane arrays were installed around the borders, likely to ward off demon beasts.
There were two towers to the west of the village. Both were only over a dozen meters tall. Guards with weapons were stationed inside the towers and at the gate.
As Jared gazed at the small settlement, he wondered, Why is the defense of this place so tight? When Ali brought Jared’s group through the gate, many people greeted the man. The villagers studied the strangers with curiosity. A few children even followed behind Jared’s group, scrutinizing them.
The settlers’ odd reactions piqued Jared’s interest in Rock Village. How many villages like this exist in the Ethereal Realm? Initially, I thought everyone in the Ethereal Realm was an expert and that I would see Manifestors everywhere I went here. However, Rock Village is the complete opposite of how I imagined the Ethereal Realm to be.
“Let Clovis handle the demon beast’s corpse, Emily. Tomorrow, I’ll help you sell its pelt and beast core in the city. Then, I’ll use the money to help you buy some medicine for your grandmother. Remember, don’t sneak out of the village to hunt for a demon beast alone again. It’s too dangerous. Even if you don’t get eaten by a demon beast, you may still be in danger if you bump into people from other villages,” admonished Ali after they all entered Rock Village.
“I know…” Emily lowered her head aggrievedly. Upon seeing that, Ali patted her head and asked someone to carry the demon beast’s corpse away.
After that, he invited Jared’s group to a stone house. Before Jared stepped into the building. he noticed it was surrounded by arcane arrays. However, instead of pointing that out, he ambled inside.
His silence was for no other reason than that those arcane arrays were child’s play for him to break. Once inside the rock house, Ali turned to Jared. “Rest here. I’ll send people to deliver you all some food.”
Then, he left. The moment he stepped outside, a brilliant white light flashed. Glowing pillars instantly surrounded the building, trapping Jared’s group inside. When Flaxseed saw the cage of light, he was stunned before cursing at Ali loudly, “You backstabbing motherf*cker! How dare you confine us here!”
In response, Ali glared at Flaxseed coldly and departed wordlessly. “Godd*mmit. What’s with the humans in the Ethereal Realm? I feel like they all have a loose screw in their heads,” grumbled Flaxseed.
“I told you two, didn’t I? The most terrifying thing in the Ethereal Realm is the human heart. Here, humans will always be suspicious of others,” Hammerhead stated with a faint smile.
With a sigh, Jared lamented, “It seems the humans in the Ethereal Realm are experiencing a serious case of mistrust. Even though the people of the mundane world believe the Ethereal Realm is heaven, it is anything but.”
