Ding Meng explained, "This is also related to the country. The Da Sheng Kingdom is very backward, and there are wars all year round. The people on the border have no way of making a living. Children like Da Hua have to engage in high-intensity physical labor from a young age. If they can survive, their physical fitness will be especially good. This also makes it easier for them to awaken. This is similar to the nature of the dojos in the Federal Empire."
Ji Chenxue nodded. She understood this principle. In the end, the people of the Federal Empire lived too comfortably. Most people didn't have to worry about food and water, unlike the Da Sheng Kingdom. Children like Da Hua had to face the threat of death since birth. People who struggled on the edge of life and death had a higher chance of awakening Origin Ability.
Ding Meng continued, "Another reason is the Sacred Tree. The Sacred Tree's blessing is beneficial to people like us, so it's easier for everyone to awaken Origin Ability. However, the level of Origin Ability Users here is much lower. First, they don't have the help of the Federation's advanced equipment and amplification products. Second, they don't have any martial arts techniques, so they take a detour in their cultivation."
Ji Chenxue said, "There aren't any martial arts techniques at all?"
Ding Meng said, "It's not that there aren't any. Ordinary Origin Ability Users can't come into contact with these. Martial arts techniques are mostly owned by sects and aren't taught to outsiders. The more powerful martial arts techniques are in the hands of the royal family. How can ordinary people come into contact with them?"
Ji Chenxue nodded and sighed. "So, the Da Sheng Kingdom is a few hundred years behind the Federal Empire?"
Ding Meng smiled bitterly. "It's not just a few hundred years. There's a gap of over a thousand years …"
While the two were talking, they unknowingly arrived at the entrance of Apricot Village. This was a small village built by the riverside. The village wasn't shabby, but it was full of thatched houses with about a dozen families. This kind of village was very common on the border.
Da Hua's home was a hut made of two thatched animal skins. Inside the hut lived a skinny and short old woman. This was Da Hua's grandmother. Ding Meng swept a glance. Da Hua's grandmother was also an ordinary person. She was about sixty years old. In the Flourishing Kingdom, this was already considered an old age with one foot in the grave.
"Grandma, I'm back!" Da Hua was a little excited because Ji Chenxue used telekinesis to help Da Hua transport 30 bundles of Star Weave Grass.
"Hello, Elder!"
Ding Meng took the initiative to greet her and released a little bit of healing energy. He could see that many of her organs had aged, and it was impossible to cure her. This was the natural law of the human body, but it could delay her aging.
"Have a seat, please." Grandma's steps were a little unsteady. "You're not locals, are you?"
Ding Meng had no choice but to lie. "We are merchants from the Devil Nation."
Ji Chenxue did not look like someone from the border who came from a poor background. Coupled with a set of steel armor, it would be strange if no one was suspicious.
"Oh, so you're from that side!"
Grandma sat on the edge of the bed. In fact, there were not many furnishings in the room. Da Hua had brought in two straw stools from outside.
"Brother, sister, please have a seat!" Da Hua was very respectful to Ji Chenxue. She admired Ji Chenxue's invisible healing ability.
Ding Meng said, "Elder, I used to be from this place. I traveled to the Four Great Kingdoms for many years. I stayed here when I was young, and it was never peaceful. Why is it peaceful now?"
Grandma said, "No wonder I found you familiar. Young man, how long have you been away?"
Ding Meng thought for a moment and said, "More than 20 years!"
Actually, this was the date he left the Da Sheng Kingdom. It had been almost 40 years since he left the Caiyun Plating.
For a moment, he was very emotional. When he was sent to the Holy Grail Federation by the princess, the agreed time was six years. He did not expect that 23 years had passed on the day he returned. Everything had changed.
He could not help but ask tentatively, "Elder, I remember that the western border was in chaos more than 20 years ago. Has peace been restored?"
Grandma said, "Are you talking about the Cang Ming Kingdom's army?
Grandpa Da Hua joined the army. Unfortunately, he died on the battlefield. "
When Ding Meng left, the Cang Ming Kingdom's army was attacking the Da Sheng Kingdom. They were aiming for the Holy Tree.
"Has the Cang Ming Kingdom been defeated?" Ding Meng asked.
Grandma shook her head and said, "How?
The Cang Ming Kingdom retreated on their own. "
Ding Meng was stunned. "They retreated on their own?"
Grandma sighed and said, "I don't know what they did. The Cang Ming Kingdom attacked from the West all the way to Tianjing. No one could stop them."
"How is that possible?" Ding Meng was shocked.
In his impression, among the Da Sheng Kingdom, the Cang Ming Kingdom, the Extraterritorial Devil Kingdom, and the Immortal Travel Nation, the Da Sheng Kingdom's military strength was the strongest. It was the kingdom with the most land, the most cities, the strongest sects, and the most experts. They had soldiers like his big brother at the front lines and generals like Tian Qing at the back. How could they not be able to stop the Cang Ming Kingdom's army?
Grandma said, "After the Cang Ming Kingdom attacked Tianjing, they retreated. There have not been any battles in the past few years. Sigh, it's a pity that Grandpa Da Hua did not return."
Ding Meng and Ji Chenxue looked at each other. There must be something behind this. It was just that people like Grandma did not know the inside story.
After chatting for a while, there was a sudden noise outside. It seemed like many people had arrived. Da Hua immediately stood up and said, "I'll go and take a look!"
Ding Meng noticed that Da Hua always had that old sickle on her waist. This habit was very similar to Big Brother Zheng Ming's.
There was a huge pile of Star Weave Grass outside the house. A group of people was actually fighting over it. Not only were there adult males among them, there were also the group of children who had tried to rob Da Hua. Judging from their attire, they seemed to be villagers. Every one of them looked like they had been injected with chicken blood as they fought for the bundles of grass.
Ding Meng thought that Da Hua was going to stop them. Unexpectedly, Da Hua pulled out her sickle and ran over without a word. Because the scene was a little chaotic, no one noticed her entrance.
Da Hua came behind a child and raised her sickle. Ding Meng and Zhao Yu could tell that this child was one of the children who had tried to rob Da Hua, so they did not stop him.
After all, ordinary people's fights were not worthy of their attention. However, they did not expect this strike to be so ruthless. The blunt and heavy sickle smashed into the boy's ribs, and there was a crisp "kacha" sound on the spot. It was likely that the boy's ribs were broken.
Ji Chenxue clicked his tongue when he saw this. "Why are these children so heavy-handed?"
Ding Meng said, "Don't be fooled by the fact that they're all children. If they can cut the Star Weave Grass, they must be pretty strong."
The boy cried out in pain and staggered forward. Da Hua's movements were very smooth. She took a few steps forward and slashed a few more times. Every strike was aimed at the boy's limbs.
This time, even Ding Meng frowned. After a few slashes, the boy's arm suddenly had a few ghastly long cuts. The blood was dripping and it was frightening. In some places, the white bone could be seen.
The crowd was in chaos. An adult man rushed forward to protect the boy and sent Da Hua flying with a slap.
Da Hua was not discouraged even after falling on the bundles of grass. She leaped up like a carp and raised her sickle, ready to attack again. However, this time, she was shielded by Ji Chenxue.
"What are you doing?
Are you trying to rob her?
She's still a child. "
The adult man looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Where did such a pretty girl come from?
Capture her and bring her to my house. "
Ji Chenxue was about to step forward, but he was stopped by Ding Meng. "Let me do it this time."
He was born and raised in Caiyun Plated. He knew that this kind of thing could not be resolved by arguing. Therefore, in the face of a group of villagers armed with sticks, knives, and shovels, Ding Meng just waved his hand casually. The seven or eight people who rushed forward were immediately sent flying.
Even though Ding Meng's injuries were still very serious, this was not something an ordinary person could fight against. Strictly speaking, Ding Meng was still at the level of a Star Warrior. He was almost invincible in the entire Da Sheng Kingdom.
When he waved his hand, the adult man's eyes widened. "You … who are you?
You know witchcraft? "
Ding Meng looked at him. "Kneel or die. Choose!"
"You want me to die?"
The adult man was furious. He immediately raised the shiny hatchet in his hand. "Where did this little brat come from? Ask my hatchet first before you speak."
He fiercely chopped down with his hatchet. The hatchet actually produced a trace of heat. He did not expect this guy to be a beginner Origin Ability user of the thermodynamic system.
"Dang!"
Everyone was shocked. The hatchet chopped down on Ding Meng's head, but Ding Meng was not injured at all. It felt like the hatchet had chopped down on a steel plate. Then, with a "chi" sound, the sharp hatchet immediately turned into a puff of smoke.
The adult man was petrified. What kind of freak was this?
His hatchet could kill a hungry wolf. Even if he could not kill it, he had never seen a wolf melt his hatchet, right?
But this little brat in front of him actually melted his hatchet …
While he was still in a daze, Ding Meng sent him flying with a kick.
The adult man's knees fell on the pavement by the roadside. He could no longer stand up. His face was red with pain. "You … you … you're a War Reverend?"
He was quite knowledgeable and knew that Origin Ability users were at the War Reverend rank.
Ding Meng looked at the people around him. "Everyone, throw down your weapons and put the grass back. Otherwise, I'll make all of you disappear!"
This time, no one dared to move. Sticks, knives, and shovels were scattered all over the ground. In a small border village like the Dasheng Kingdom, the best way to express oneself was to use force to speak. Whoever had the biggest fist would have the most persuasive words.
Ding Meng took two steps forward. "Who are you?"
The adult man gritted his teeth and said, "I'm the village chief here."
Ding Meng said, "Since you're the village chief, why are you taking the lead to rob your own villagers?"
The village chief was in so much pain that beads of sweat dripped down. However, he gritted his teeth and did not say anything.
Ding Meng's eyes focused slightly and transmitted a bit of healing energy to him. "Stand up and talk!"
His shattered knees miraculously recovered. The village chief tried to move his body and stood up easily. This time, he did not dare to act rashly. He knew that the two strangers in front of him were iron plates and could not be easily offended. Thus, he hurriedly cupped his hands. "May I know your name?"
Ding Meng said impatiently, "Answer my question first?"
The village chief was stunned. "This … is there anything wrong with robbing people?"
Ding Meng was annoyed. "What kind of logic is this?"