Chapter Eight: Ancestral Blessing

"Elder, may I trouble you for a moment?" Xiao Jie looked at the old man before him and asked respectfully.

The old man clearly remembered Xiao Jie and cupped his hands, saying, "I am Huang Shidao, the village chief of Ginkgo Village. You may call me Uncle Huang. What is it you wish to ask, young man?" As he spoke, the words 'Huang Shidao (Ginkgo Village Chief)' appeared in large letters above his head.

"I am new to these parts and unfamiliar with the area. I was hoping to gather some information; would you be so kind as to enlighten me?"

The old man nodded. "Certainly. Oh, by the way, where is your companion? I saw the two of you leave the village yesterday; why is he not with you today?"

"He is dead. Slain by bandits," Xiao Jie replied somberly.

"Life and death are matters of fate. Do not grieve too deeply, young brother. I had intended to warn you both at the time, but alas... The world is a difficult place now; demons and ghosts run rampant. If you lack the necessary skills, I suggest you stop wandering aimlessly. Stay in the village and take on some odd jobs; you will at least be able to earn your keep. Ginkgo Village is short on hands, and help is needed everywhere. Go around and ask; you are bound to find work."

Listening to the old man, Xiao Jie felt something was off. If he were to simply agree, he would surely find work, but he would also cement his persona as a person of no consequence. That "alas..." from the old man clearly carried a hint of reproach; he was trying to manipulate him.

Such a nuanced tone only served to ignite Xiao Jie's competitive spirit for the game. He suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, there is no need to comfort me, Elder. My brother and I returned to this ancestral land for the sole purpose of slaying demons and restoring order. From the moment we returned, we were prepared to sacrifice our lives for the cause. Though my brother has fallen, his legacy remains. Since this world is overrun by demons and ghosts, someone must stand up to restore justice. Though I am but a humble man, I am willing to lay down my life to try. A true man should wield a three-foot blade to achieve extraordinary deeds; even if I am to be buried in the wilderness, shrouded in nothing but a horse hide, I shall have no regrets."

Xiao Jie’s impassioned speech was not without purpose. It was three parts sincere and seven parts performance. In many games he had played, players could gain favor and assistance from NPCs through dialogue or achieve unexpected results; some games even allowed players to "talk" a final boss to death. Since the NPCs in this game were so intelligent, Xiao Jie naturally had to make the most of it. Perhaps he could trigger a hidden quest or gain a special reward. Especially since Han Luo had indeed died at the hands of bandits yesterday, his words were completely flawless.

The old village chief looked solemn, seemingly moved by Xiao Jie’s heroic spirit. After a long silence, he let out a deep sigh.

Huang Shidao (Ginkgo Village Chief): "Sigh... I have seen many returnees of late. Most are greedy for gain, arrogant, and eager to show off. They are rarely polite when speaking to an old man like me, asking only such strange questions as 'where can I go to kill a few monsters?' They act haughty while inside the village, making grandiose claims, but become as cowardly as stray dogs when they encounter setbacks. Or, they exhaust every effort to flatter me, hoping to extract some benefit. A young man like you, who knows when to advance or retreat and possesses such ambition, is rare indeed. This unyielding passion is something I have rarely seen in my life."

[System Notification: Your favor with Huang Shidao has increased by 20 points. It is now 70 (Respected).]

"Very well. Since you have such perseverance, I will not try to dissuade you further. That you were born in our village is a form of destiny; perhaps you are a descendant of those who left our village long ago. I have a stick of incense here. Go to the village ancestral hall and offer it to our ancestors; it may bring you some small benefit."

[System Notification: Obtained item [Incense].]

It actually worked! Xiao Jie was pleasantly surprised as he looked at the notification. It seemed the game’s freedom was indeed high, offering players plenty of room to maneuver. He opened his inventory to check.

[Incense (Consumable)]
[Usage: Prayer.]
[Item Description: Incense made from herbs and wood, used for ritual prayers. It is said that the ethereal smoke can communicate with ghosts and gods, and even convey the faith of the living to departed ancestors, seeking their protection and blessing.]

"Thank you, Elder." This time, Xiao Jie’s gratitude was genuine.

He thanked the chief and headed excitedly toward the village ancestral hall. The hall was located in the center of the village and was its most dignified building. Beside it stood a massive ginkgo tree, draped in talismans and similar charms. Sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting a gentle glow on the eaves and giving the hall a sense of warmth.

Xiao Jie walked inside and looked at the rows of memorial tablets; he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if they were truly linked to him in some subtle way. He lit the incense, placed it in the burner, and bowed three times. He couldn't help but mutter in his heart: *Ancestors, if you truly have spirits in heaven, please protect me so I do not perish in this game.*

The smoke drifted and dissipated into the air. Suddenly, a selection box popped up before him.

[1. Ancestors, please protect me from the harassment of ghosts and gods.]
[2. Ancestors, please bless me with a sharp mind and keen senses.]
[3. Ancestors, please bless me with a strong body and immunity to all illnesses.]
[4. Ancestors, please bless me with wealth.]
[5. Ancestors, I, Yinyue Suifeng, am a self-reliant person. I have come today only to pay my respects, with no requests.]

Looking at the five options, Xiao Jie perked up. The game’s background featured gods and spirits, so praying to ancestors likely yielded actual effects—a vital advantage for someone who started with nothing.

Option 1, protection from ghosts and spirits? It seemed such entities existed in the game and would attack players. But generally, such spirits would only appear in graveyards, tombs, or the wilderness at night. He wouldn't need that for a while.

Options 2 and 3, increasing intelligence or strengthening the body, were similar and could be considered backups.

Option 4 would be the most immediate in the short term, providing a sum of money to buy gear or learn skills. However, asking the ancestors for money felt somewhat disrespectful, and there was no telling how much he would receive.

Xiao Jie immediately dismissed the fifth option. Such "nothing requested" choices usually resulted in either nothing at all or a very unique reward. In other games, he would have chosen the fifth option—if he chose wrong, he could just reload a save. But in this game, Xiao Jie dared not gamble.

Money could be earned slowly; it was just a matter of time. Therefore, the fourth option was out. That left only options 2 and 3.

Strengthening the body or the mind? If he were going out to grind levels, strengthening the body would undoubtedly be most useful. But since he planned to develop himself in the village for a while, he decided to choose the enhancement of his mind.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Jie made his decision.

[Option 2: Ancestors, please bless me with a sharp mind and keen senses.]

As he clicked, a golden light descended upon him.

[System Notification: Your ancestors have manifested. You have gained the buff [Divine Enlightenment]. You have received protection from the ancestors; your Comprehension has increased by 8 points (lasts for 7 days).]
[System Notification: Because your Comprehension has reached 20+, you have gained the [Enlightened] state.]

Xiao Jie checked the description of the "Enlightened" buff.

[Enlightened: Your comprehension is so high that you have entered a profound and mysterious state. To you, the operating laws of reality become clearer, and you have a higher chance of experiencing a 'Breakthrough' (Once Comprehension exceeds 10, every 10 points increases the Enlightenment level by one).]

*Huh? What exactly is the use of this?*

Comprehension was certainly an important attribute—the fact that it couldn't be increased with attribute points proved that. But having it only for seven days felt a bit lackluster. The key was that he didn't have any skills yet; how could he have a "Breakthrough"? He couldn't just achieve enlightenment out of thin air, right? It felt like a buff that would be more useful later, perhaps when learning advanced skill books.

For now, it was a bit underwhelming. However, Xiao Jie didn't dwell on it for long; having something was better than nothing, and it might come in handy when he least expected it.

Next, it was time to find some work.