Descending the mountain, Cheng Zongyang felt the same mix of curiosity, caution, and excitement he'd experienced when first entering the Wilderness World.
He hoped to discover something, yet feared what he might find.
Thus, as he carefully made his way down the mountain, he gripped a shrunken Soul Gathering Stele in his left palm and held his Tang Blade in his right hand. To ensure his own safety, he didn't dare travel recklessly using his Body Technique, lest he be discovered by the Cultivators who sometimes flew overhead.
Fortunately, he encountered no danger on his way down, even after circling halfway around the mountain.
After about two hours, he finally neared the source of the smoke.
Perched in a tree, Cheng Zongyang took out his binoculars to observe. He had expected to see a small mountain village, but it was just a single thatched hut.
Outside the hut, a family of four was busy in the yard—chopping firewood, watering the vegetable garden, and feeding the chickens.
