CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 88: THE END IS HERE

"But deep in the shelter area, there seems to be a Nascent Soul presence. I can’t go any further."

"Nascent Soul?!" Fan Wubing exclaimed, "Wasn’t it said that everything in the Peach Blossom Spring was restricted to below Nascent Soul level!"

"It might be infinitely close to Nascent Soul. In any case, the feeling it gives me is extremely dangerous. Every time I get close, I feel a tremendous pressure. And most likely someone has set up restrictions there to prevent me from reaching the deepest area. For so many days, I completely couldn’t find a way to solve it. On the first day, I could still feel that power infinitely close to Nascent Soul. Later on, I couldn’t even sense it anymore."

"It sounds unusual."

Luo Qingyao hesitated a bit,

"Senior Brother, I think it’s better not to take risks. There’s definitely something wrong with this Peach Blossom Spring. A normal Peach Blossom Spring could never nurture such a power."

"No matter what, we still have to find Junior Brother Yinian. Let’s check it out first."

The two hurried towards the shelter area.

On the way, they witnessed scenes of eerie madness.

Numerous seekers of fortune, fighting fiercely to seize it, completely losing themselves, with eyes only for fortune, willing to risk their lives... It’s insane, even deranged. Fan Wubing, through the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, sensed that these fortune seekers, who were caught in madness, had one thing in common, and that was,

they all picked false fortune.

Their bodies and minds were no longer under their control, and streams of Evil Qi had completely penetrated them.

The lower the cultivation, the worse the effect.

There were also those with higher cultivation and stronger resistance who realized and dared not compete for fortune anymore.

The entire Peach Blossom Spring was in chaos.

"Isn’t that Daoist disciple outside going to do something?" Fan Wubing was perplexed, "It’s gotten to this state already."

Luo Qingyao said,

"It’s said that during the opening of the blessed land, to prevent outside interference, any external probing is completely cut off. So, it’s hard for outsiders to know what’s really happening inside, they can only sense that the fortunes have been taken."

"So... this is a deadlock that has to be solved internally!"

"Yes."

The closer they got to the shelter area, the stronger Fan Wubing’s unease grew. He gradually realized,

"Qingyao, I’m afraid... we can’t not get involved."

"Why?"

"Perhaps, the originator deep in the shelter area is actually planning to capture all of us outsiders in one fell swoop! The Evil Qi in the air is getting denser... In the end, no one will escape unscathed."

"Why has it come to this! This is supposed to be a Daoist blessed land, a place once enlightened by the Dao Ancestor’s violet aura. It should be the cleanest and purest place in the world. Why is it so filthy and filled with endless Evil Qi?"

Before entering the main street of the shelter area, they saw the parasol tree.

In Fan Wubing’s perception, this parasol tree dominated everything. It conferred fortune upon the monsters, transforming them into spirits.

So, why exactly is this parasol tree doing this?

Overwhelming Evil Qi swirled above the shelter area, almost becoming tangible, its chilling presence sending shivers down one’s spine.

Fan Wubing frowned,

"On this street, I can sense Junior Brother Yinian’s aura. He really came here!"

A dark green shadow emerged from the center of Luo Qingyao’s forehead. Her flying sword hovered around her, as lines of Sword Qi patterns surfaced on her body, obliterating any Evil Qi trying to invade.

Fan Wubing felt that her cultivation was at least at the middle stage of the Golden Core,

"Did you come here hiding your cultivation?"

"Hiding? No. I just broke through to the fifth layer of the Golden Core."

"But you were only at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment when you came in!"

Luo Qingyao said,

"I was previously suppressing the growth of my cultivation. Once I released the suppression, I broke through to the fifth layer of the Golden Core all at once."

"You can do that?"

"Mm. My family doesn’t let me cultivate too quickly, saying I should lay a solid foundation. If it weren’t for this mission hitting a wall, and having no choice but to release the suppression, I would likely still be suppressing it." Luo Qingyao sighed, "Ah, when I get back, I’m sure my sister will scold me."

"You have a sister?"

"Mm." Luo Qingyao’s expression was complex, "She’s been teaching me cultivation all along. She’s especially strict with me."

"..."

Fan Wubing didn’t ask much more.

He walked straight into the shelter area.

As soon as he entered, the almost tangible Evil Qi began to rush into his body.

And he offered no resistance, letting it all in.

Because,

"Tongue Lust" had been waiting for it all along.

["Tongue Lust" activates, you absorbed some Evil Qi, maximum HP +10]

[...+10]

[...+10]

The speed was very fast, 10 points per second!

But, after absorbing for less than half a minute, the Evil Qi stopped entering his body.

He tried to actively absorb it, but the Evil Qi even hurriedly avoided him.

"Tsk... stingy, would two gulps kill you?"

...

In the deepest part of the shelter area, in the Daoist Temple.

Ai Yinian was enveloped in black Qi, kneeling blankly before the deity statue.

A shadow emerged from the statue, stroking him, while emitting an excited tremble,

"So fragrant, so fragrant... what exactly is this scent, for it to be so enticing... even the Mother of Ten Thousand Qi is no better than this. Such an aura actually exists on a mere little brat at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment? I reckon even the folks outside can’t recognize true treasure as I do!"

The distorted shadow slid over Ai Yinian,

"Such a delicacy should be saved for last. Once I complete the awareness needed to ascend to Nascent Soul, you shall help me break free from this cage! Kehehehe—"

The shadow gave a gleeful laugh.

Suddenly, it trembled,

"Wait a moment! Someone’s intruded? It’s that little girl again, and this time with another little brat. Hmph, so persistent! Since that’s the case, tonight let’s fully eliminate any future threats!"

After a moment,

"Hmm? What’s going on? I know the little girl, sword pattern protects her, Evil Qi doesn’t invade. But what’s with that little brat... the Evil Qi disappears directly after entering his body?! No, no, no, it’s not disappearing, but... he’s eating my Evil Qi! And he’s thinking about wanting more!"

The shadow twisted violently,

"Why is it like this! Aren’t these outsiders supposed to be from orthodox sects! Which decent person from an orthodox sect goes around consuming Evil Qi!"

Demon, that little brat is so demonic!

"No. I can’t allow any uncontrollable elements." The shadow commanded, "Shen Tu, go suppress them!"

The Daoist Temple’s doors suddenly began to shake violently.

On the left door was a Door God painting. In the image, the Door God wore a red-plumed silver helmet, donned mottled battle armor, his face stern, his manner imposing, wielding a steel-tipped spear, his face like lacquer, eye-corners connected to his ears, two prominent brows exuding authority without anger, sideburns like orderly brushstrokes.

This divine power was undoubtedly that of a Divine General meant to suppress all disasters and evil spirits!

At this moment, however, he was directed by the shadow from the deity statue.

Divine General Shen Tu suddenly shook, stepping out from the left door panel, bursting forth with blinding golden light, plunging into the deep, eerie streets of the shelter area.