Time flies.
It has been an hour since Zhang Wei and his team emerged from the Yunnan Worm Valley, yet they haven't even left the Gaoligong Mountains where the valley is located.
However.
The Weidao Division forum, and even the international ghost hunter forums, were in an uproar, completely exploding.
Just half an hour ago.
A well-known forum user, "Xiao Xuan," posted a thread. It was about Zhang Wei leading a team to an unknown and extremely dangerous place, where they obtained a legendary medicinal herb. This herb could cure all illnesses and prolong life, and it would be used to treat the elder of the Huang family in the Northeast.
As soon as the post was published.
Ghost hunters worldwide learned the news and were all in a frenzy. They immediately called their friends and spread the word, either to verify the authenticity of the post or to check it out after hearing the news, eager to investigate.
Then.
As the post was confirmed to be posted by Xiao Xuan himself, and the authenticity of the news was verified, the thread instantly surged to the top of the Weidao Division forum and the international ghost hunter forums.
The click-through rate surged at an outrageous speed. Every few seconds, refreshing the page would add hundreds, even thousands, of views to the post.
And when one looked at the comments:
"My God, what legendary medicinal herb is this? It cures all illnesses, how come I've never heard of anything so powerful?"
"That's because you're ignorant. As far as I know, such a miraculous herb does exist, but I don't know which one Zhang Wei obtained."
"No matter which one Zhang Wei obtained, one thing is certain: that place must be extremely dangerous. Such things absolutely grow in very dangerous places."
"Doesn't China always say that we foreigners are fewer in number and like to court death? Why is Zhang Wei, as a Chinese person, so crazy?"
"Indeed, if I had reached the Half-Step Town Guardian level at his age, I would never dare to take such a risk. I would choose to go into seclusion for a few years to advance to the Town Guardian level."
"That's precisely why you haven't reached the Half-Step Town Guardian level. Those who can reach it at Zhang Wei's age are all full of confidence and are not afraid of these things. To put it bluntly, it's about who is bolder."
"Is this the gap between me and Zhang Wei? He even goes to such dangerous places, isn't he afraid of dying there?"
While many ghost hunters were discussing Zhang Wei in the forum posts.
Xiao Xuan posted another thread.
Instantly.
Regardless of which country the ghost hunters were from, anyone who saw the content of the post went wild. Even though they were thousands of kilometers apart, they all wore the same expression on their faces – an expression of shock.
This was another post about Zhang Wei, but it wasn't about Zhang Wei's journey to that place. The content was only a single line:
"After extensive inquiries, I am temporarily releasing a new piece of news: Zhang Wei not only obtained the legendary medicinal herb but also successfully advanced to the Town Guardian level during his search! Let us congratulate him! Our China has gained another Town Guardian – Zhang Wei!"
That single line.
However, it left all ghost hunters utterly stunned:
"Town Guardian?! Zhang Wei has reached the Town Guardian level?"
"Is this true? Someone, please swear to me in the name of God and tell me if this is true."
"Fuck, this is the real miracle! What legendary medicinal herb represents a miracle? Damn it, Zhang Wei is the miracle!"
"Did Zhang Wei eat the legendary medicinal herb and advance to the Town Guardian level?"
"Impossible. The medicinal herb was meant to treat a very important person in China, so it's unlikely Zhang Wei ate it to break through."
"Did Zhang Wei become a spirit of the legendary medicinal herb? How old is he? Town Guardian already? Is this something a human can achieve?"
"You're right, the person upstairs. I'm already suspecting Zhang Wei isn't human. Aish, he's too fierce."
At this moment.
Ghost hunters from all over the world were in a frenzy.
Zhang Wei's name echoed globally. Even the Town Guardian level existences of various countries paid attention to Zhang Wei at this moment, all noting down his name.
...
On the other side.
The Huang family in the Northeast.
Compared to the uproar on the forums, the Huang family's residence was even more lively. One could see weasels, both old and young, cheering jubilantly. Many weasels even brought out large wine jars, opening them after being sealed for who knows how many years to drink.
For a time.
The weasels danced with joy, holding wine jars and drinking themselves into a stupor.
Until an old man appeared.
The joyous scene was completely ignited into an even greater fervor.
It was an old man leaning on a cane, with white hair and a white beard so long it nearly reached the ground. He looked frail and was supported by two middle-aged men as he walked.
Upon seeing this.
Whether they were drunk or passed out, as they were woken up by the weasels beside them and looked at the old man, they all seemed to snap out of their stupor. They all nimbly stood up, their drunkenness reduced by three to four parts.
Following that.
All the weasels cupped their hands in greeting towards the old man and spoke in unison:
"Ancestor!"
The old man's face had a sickly pallor, and his physical condition was not good. He was supported as he walked, coughing from time to time, but he seemed to be in a good mood at the moment. He smiled at the assembled weasels and said:
"Are the children drinking? I could smell the wine from afar. Is it realgar wine, or centuries-old? It's not good to sneak drinks behind my back, give me a bowl too."
As he spoke.
The previously tense and restrained atmosphere suddenly relaxed. All the weasels cheered, and then an old weasel brought a jar of wine, wanting to pour it for the old man personally.
"Ancestor, have you heard too? Zhang Wei obtained the Wan Tai Sui."
The old weasel said while pouring wine.
The old man smiled and nodded:
"Yes, I received the call immediately. It seems I can live a few more years. I have to thank Zhang Wei for this. After this matter is settled, please invite Zhang Wei over. I want to thank him personally. By the way, did he say what reward he wants?"
"Ancestor, Zhang Wei hasn't said what the reward is."
"He hasn't said yet."
The old man stroked his white beard and murmured. After a moment, he said leisurely:
"Then I'll ask him personally when he comes. And I can congratulate him on advancing to the Town Guardian level. Town Guardian, truly an extraordinary young man. I remember, didn't Xiao Danzi want to ask for a title from him? Don't bother. The fortune and virtue of someone like him, he cannot bear it."
"Alright, Ancestor, I will tell Xiao Dan."
...
On the other side.
At the boarding gate of Yunnan Domestic Airport.
At this moment.
Zhang Wei, along with Master Lin and others, were sitting on chairs, chatting and laughing, waiting to board the plane back to the Northeast.
"Zhang Wei, thank you so much this time. Without you, our ancestor..."
The Huang family head said.
Zhang Wei interrupted the Huang family head, saying:
"Family Head Huang, there's no need to be so polite. Since I promised, I will naturally do my best."
Just as Zhang Wei was about to continue speaking.
Jingle bells.
His phone rang.
Opening it, he saw the caller ID: his father, Zhang Ping.
...