Chapter 3931: A Proper Village

Time quietly passed, as eventually six hours disappeared beneath his steady pace. Even Lin Mu began appreciating the immense scale of this subterranean world as calling it a prison almost seemed absurd.

Entire civilizations could easily disappear within such a vast underground wilderness.

His Immortal Sense swept outward once more and this time, something immediately caught his attention.

"Smoke?" His eyes narrowed.

Several thin columns rose through gaps in the forest canopy. Human settlements always produced smoke from cooking fires, smithing, drying meat or simply warding off insects. The source hardly mattered as smoke almost always meant people.

Lin Mu immediately altered direction.

And the closer he approached the clearer the settlement became.

His eyebrows rose slightly. "This... It can actually be called a village."

The difference from the previous settlement proved striking as rows of sturdy wooden houses stretched between enormous trees. There had to be at least eighty buildings. Some stood directly upon the forest floor while others rested atop massive branches connected through wooden bridges.

There were tree houses, watch platforms, and storage sheds, while smoke drifted upward from numerous cooking fires. Large drying racks held fish and strips of beast meat. Several fenced enclosures contained unfamiliar animals resembling oversized goats covered in scales.

The settlement displayed planning and organization, confirming that this was a long term construction.

"This has clearly existed for many generations." Lin Mu muttered before he released his Immortal Sense.

The village immediately revealed itself and he sensed three hundred and twelve heartbeats. There were children, adults, elderly and multiple families present here. Entire generations lived here.

He quickly examined them and one detail immediately stood out.

Except for the children, every adult possessed the foundation of an Immortal Realm cultivator. Their cultivation remained completely sealed by shackles. But their physiques retained the strength accumulated before imprisonment.

Several individuals even possessed bodies rivaling ordinary body cultivators. The women differed little from the men as many carried bows and others sharpened spears. Several trained younger teenagers while using wooden weapons.

Strength clearly mattered regardless of gender.

Lin Mu silently nodded. ’This settlement is much stronger.’

Compared to the previous village the difference resembled comparing a frontier outpost to a proper town.

Fortunately strength hardly concerned him as his own body still vastly exceeded theirs. More importantly, the previous settlement confirmed these people participated in trade. Communities willing to trade generally preferred negotiation over pointless conflict.

And that suited Lin Mu perfectly.

He descended gradually toward the village and his intention remained simple: Approach openly and speak peacefully.

Unfortunately for Lin Mu, someone else noticed him first.

A shrill cry suddenly split the forest.

SKREEEE!

Lin Mu immediately looked upward as a strange beast swept across the sky. Its body resembled an enormous reptile. Its front limbs had evolved into broad leathery wings that carried it effortlessly through the air.

Its elongated neck ended in a terrifying beak lined with rows of sharp teeth.

Rather than resembling a bird it looked like some ancient flying predator adapted to the subterranean world. The beast circled overhead while its piercing eyes remained fixed upon Lin Mu.

Another deafening screech echoed across the forest.

SKREEEE!

The effect proved immediate, as deep within the village, heavy drums suddenly began sounding.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The powerful rhythm echoed between the towering trees and people immediately stopped whatever they had been doing. Hunters grabbed weapons, women ushered children indoors and archers rushed toward elevated platforms.

Within only moments, the peaceful village transformed into a fortress preparing for an approaching threat. Lin Mu watched the organized response with growing interest, realizing that this community had survived long enough to develop far more than simple hunting skills.

They had discipline.

The alarm drums continued echoing throughout the village.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Their deep rhythm rolled across the forest, startling flocks of strange birds hidden among the towering branches while countless insects scattered beneath the bark of ancient trees.

Lin Mu remained calmly suspended in the air. His feet rested upon invisible footholds created through the Ascending Air Steps. His expression remained composed as he looked toward the increasingly crowded village below.

The villagers, meanwhile, had poured out from every direction. Warriors carrying stone spears. Archers climbing onto elevated platforms. Women gripping heavy clubs and bows. Even elderly men stepped outside with surprisingly sturdy weapons.

Within moments, nearly every adult had gathered inside the open square and the elevated platform above.

Yet almost none of them were looking at Lin Mu. Instead, their eyes continuously swept across the forest floor.

"Where is it?"

"I don’t see anything!"

"Keep watching the trees!"

"Find whatever triggered the alarm!"

The scout beast continued circling high overhead and its shrill cries echoed through the underground forest.

SKREEEE!

One of the younger hunters finally frowned. "The scout isn’t looking down."

The others paused. "What?"

He pointed upward. "It’s looking into the sky."

Dozens of heads instinctively followed the direction of his finger. Then every face froze as high above the clearing, a lone figure calmly stood upon empty air. For several heartbeats, nobody spoke.

Even the drums gradually fell silent.

One elderly hunter’s mouth slowly opened. An archer who had already drawn his bow completely forgot what he was doing and the arrow slipped from his fingers.

Clack.

It struck the wooden platform before rolling harmlessly onto the ground. The man didn’t even notice as his eyes remained fixed upon Lin Mu.

"How..." Someone whispered.

"...is he flying?" Another person rubbed their eyes.

Several younger hunters instinctively looked toward the trees beneath Lin Mu, searching for hidden vines or branches supporting him.

They found nothing.

"He..." A woman slowly shook her head. "He’s actually standing in the air."

The murmurs rapidly spread. "Impossible."

"How can someone do that?"

"Our cultivation is sealed."

"This shouldn’t happen."

Another villager suddenly spoke. "Could he be one of the guards?"

The suggestion immediately attracted attention.

"The guards can fly."

"They don’t wear shackles."

"No."

"Maybe they hid them."

The discussion lasted only a few moments until one sharp eyed hunter pointed upward again.

"Look carefully."

Everyone focused upon Lin Mu once more and this time their eyes naturally drifted toward his wrists. They saw the heavy metal shackles and on his ankles it was the same. A wave of confusion spread throughout the gathered villagers.

"He... has shackles."

"He’s a prisoner."

"But..."

"How is he flying?"

Nobody possessed an answer.

At that very moment, the gathered crowd slowly parted as heavy footsteps echoed across the wooden platforms.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.