Chapter 3: Green Grass Village

It has been five years since Mira was born into this new world. She stands a little over 100cm tall, with silvery hair that cascades down to her waist, exquisite jade-like skin, and deep wine-red eyes that give her an almost otherworldly appearance. One could say that she is truly otherworldly.

Even Mira cannot explain her own beauty, and she herself is not attracted to it. The only explanation she can come up with is that her soul is stronger than average, as her parents are rather average-looking. They both have oak-brown hair, light-brown eyes, and tan skin. In contrast, Mira is like a goddess, especially when compared to the villagers here.

Over the past five years, Mira has spent her time with her parents, scouting out places to train, and learning more about the world and its geography.

Despite this being her eleventh set of parents, and her generally cold and aloof personality, she still cares for her parents. She feels a sense of guilt because her mind is around ten times older than theirs. Yet, they have provided her with another life, taking care of her until she is strong enough to fend for herself. Their love and sincerity are always present. Such relationships are considered priceless, especially in the cultivation world, where everyone seeks benefits, even within families.

Living here, Mira has learned many things. She discovered that the Skytop Mountain nearby is classified as a Rank 5 danger zone, while the forest on the outskirts of the village is a Rank 2 zone. These ranks are determined by the highest-ranked magical beast in the area. Skytop Mountain is inhabited by a Rank 5 magical beast, while the forest is home to a Rank 2 magical beast.

Magical beasts are categorized into ten ranks, with Rank 1 being the lowest and Rank 10 comparable to an Earth Immortal realm cultivator. A Rank 1 magical beast is similar in strength to a human in the Body Transformation stage, while a Rank 10 possesses power far greater than the strongest person in the village. They are like ants before such creatures.

Typically, the men of the village bring back normal animals or the low-Stage Rank 1 magical beast. These creatures are common in the vicinity of the Dark Moon Forest, where the village is located.

Mira has also identified a few places suitable for training, such as caves or serene clearings. These locations are relatively close to the village, and she spots them when collecting herbs with her mother.

She has also learned that the continent she is on is called The Veiled Continent, but her parents do not possess this knowledge. The nearest city, Lunar Fox City, is approximately 100 kilometers away from Green Grass Village. Once a month, a merchant visits the village for trading. However, the supplies brought are basic, including spices and various household items, and the trade mainly involves herbs from the village.

Mira hasn't acquired an extensive understanding of the world, but that is expected in a remote village like this.

"Mira! It's time for dinner!"

"Okay! I'll be right there, Mother!"

Mira hurried back to her house to join her family for dinner.

"So, Mira, I've noticed a lot of boys trying to get your attention lately. Have you taken a liking to any of them?" Jannette asked mischievously.

"Nah, they're all too weak and ugly. Not to mention, many of them are also foolish," Mira casually remarked.

Both of her parents were shocked by the blunt statement coming from such a young girl. They paused for a moment, their mouths agape, until Zach burst into laughter.

"That's right! Nobody here is good enough for my little girl! Even among the children in Lunar Fox City, she's probably the best! Excellent! Excellent!" Zach exclaimed boisterously.

"Now, Mira, that's not how a young lady should talk. Although I agree, who knows how the children in the village will turn out," Jannette scolded, attempting to discipline her daughter, but she understood that Mira's personality leaned more towards being a wild child than a cute little girl. Sometimes Jannette would catch her sneaking off, but she attributed it to Mira's spirited nature.

"Mom, Dad, I want to tell you something. I know you've never really cared about this, but I want to become a cultivator. I understand that it means I may have to leave you and this village someday, perhaps even this continent. But it's what I want. I desire to explore the world, the stars, and what lies beyond them. I want the power to protect myself from danger. I want to be able to protect both of you. I realize that this village is small, and its people know little about cultivation, but the stories that the Grand Elder shares about his experiences outside the village and with others in the world are exactly what I aspire to. I won't need any assistance until after the Body Transformation phase or at least the Marrow Tempering Stage. Can you... support me in this endeavor?" Mira asked her parents shyly. Even though she is several hundred years old, her parents are still her parents, regardless of her age or the life she is in.

Zach and Jannette looked at her in shock, their mouths agape. It took them a while to recover, but they smiled at her with expressions filled with love. They hadn't expected her to possess such knowledge, but they knew it likely stemmed from the Grand Elder's stories.

"Mira, your mother and I love you with all our hearts and would give our lives for you. We should be the ones protecting you, not the other way around. Although I want to say it's too dangerous and that you could be killed at any moment for any reason, I can't bring myself to tell you that you can't do something. You are our precious daughter. You are intelligent, diligent, hard-working, and so much more. We love you no matter what. However, we want you to know that we can't help you with this. We know nothing about the cultivation world, so it will be up to your hard work to determine whether you can succeed or not. But if you feel that this place is too small for you, you may leave to pursue your dream, but only if you are strong enough to venture out on your own. Anyway, you should wait a couple more years for you to grow before starting your training," Zach said to Mira.

He chose his words carefully, recognizing her determination reflected in her eyes. This was truly what she wanted to pursue, no matter the circumstances.

"Your father is right, Mira. Even though we know nothing about cultivation, we don't want to hinder you from achieving your dreams. However, I also agree that you need to wait a few more years and cannot leave until you are strong enough. We both love you, Mira," Jannette expressed lovingly as she pulled Mira into an embrace.

Tears welled up in Mira's eyes. Even though she has spent only five years with them, she loves them deeply.

"Alright, since we've finished dinner, let's clean up together and then get some rest."

Mira and Zach nodded, and they started tidying up.

***

A few miles away from Green Grass Village

"Hehe, I've spotted another village a few miles from here. What should we do, boss?" an ugly man with a round, scarred face asked.

The boss grinned lewdly and replied, "Of course, we'll rape and pillage, just like always. These little villages are filled with nothing but weaklings. We'll wait until it's dark, then we'll strike. Our usual routine: kill the men and have fun with the women. Oh, and kill any kids, too, unless the girls are pretty enough. Hehe," another burly man said, licking his lips. The rest of the crew grinned eagerly, eagerly awaiting the darkness.

This group of criminals called themselves the Forest Hunters, although their name was deceiving. They targeted small villages on the outskirts of various forests. The strongest among them was in the early stages of Qi Condensation, while the rest were in the Body Tempering stage. A village like Green Grass Village was an easy target for them.

A few hours passed, and darkness enveloped the surroundings.