Abyss Emerges, Evil Cleansing Talisman Array

In the northwest corner of Myriad Manifestations Academy, the area of the barrier that had been corroded by the strange shadow still retained a chilling evil aura. The originally radiant nine-colored runes were now covered in a dim grayish-black layer, like blood vessels infected by deadly poison. Faint traces of necrosis continued to spread outward at an exceedingly slow pace, and even the pure spiritual energy automatically gathered by the grand array could not completely purify it.

Qin Mo crouched at the most severely damaged spot, a wisp of nine-colored radiance curling around his fingertips as he gently touched the grayish-black necrotic rune. The Nine-Story Demon Pagoda Martial Soul conveyed an intense urge to reject and purify it, while also feeding back extremely obscure analytical information regarding this evil energy.

"Cold, deathly still, greedy, annihilating... and carrying a trace of... distorted laws that do not belong to this world." Qin Mo muttered, his brows tightly furrowed. "Grandfather, your judgment was correct. This is indeed abyssal power. But it does not seem to be pure abyssal demonic energy. It is more like... mutated energy that has been contaminated and transformed by some existence. It is more corrosive and more difficult to detect."

Qin Yuan nodded grimly. "Precisely. If it were pure abyssal demonic energy, it would actually be easier to handle. The ancient records of the sect contain several methods to counter it. But this mutated energy is something this old man has never seen before. It can not only corrode energy, but also contaminate Soul Power and the origin of the soul, making it exceptionally difficult to remove. That monster just now was less a living creature than a highly condensed mass of evil energy with consciousness."

Bing'er, Yan'er, and the others standing nearby looked even worse upon hearing this. An enemy that even a Limit Douluo found troublesome...

"It is nothing." Qin Mo rose to his feet. His gaze had returned to calm, but it carried an unquestionable resolve. "It can contaminate, and I can purify. It can corrode, and I can reinforce. Since it dared to come, it must pay the price."

He looked at Qin Yuan. "Grandfather, please oversee the situation and monitor the whole area. Guard against that thing returning, or against it having other accomplices."

"Rest assured." Qin Yuan nodded. With a flash, he appeared atop the high tower. His vast Spiritual Power spread out like a heavenly net, enveloping the surroundings.

Qin Mo then turned to the four women. "Bing'er, lead the guards in maintaining order within the academy. Calm the students and ensure that no one approaches this place. Yan'er, go to the storeroom and fetch three jin of Star Sand, one jin of Heart of Molten Fire powder, five taels of Pure Light Glazed Shards... and the jar of Ten-Thousand-Year Tree Heart Sap I had you prepare a few days ago."

He listed a string of rare materials, most of which possessed properties of extreme yang, purification, and spatial stabilization.

"Yes!" Bing'er and Yan'er immediately accepted their orders and departed.

"Zhuqing, your senses are keen. Guard the underground area and the shadowed corners around this place. Prevent that thing from sneaking in from another direction."

Zhu Zhuqing silently nodded. With a flicker, she melted into the shadows of the nearby buildings, her aura almost completely vanishing.

"Lingling, when I draw the talisman array later, I will need the life-purifying power of your Nine Heart Begonia to assist from the side and neutralize the dispersed evil aura."

Ye Lingling nodded solemnly. "Understood, Dean."

Before long, Yan'er returned with the required materials. Qin Mo had the ground around the damaged area cleared.

He took a deep breath and raised both hands. Vast Soul Power mixed with the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda's unique powers of space and purification surged forth, condensing before him into a massive Soul Power engraving brush that shone with Nine-Colored Radiance!

Guiding it with his fingers, the Soul Power engraving brush moved as though alive. Dipped in special spiritual ink mixed from Star Sand and other ingredients, it began drawing an incomparably complex and profound array of runes upon the ground beneath the damaged barrier!

Every rune contained the purifying intent of utmost yang and strength, as well as the power to stabilize space. Qin Mo's movements flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, flawlessly precise, as though he had practiced them countless times. The Soul Power engraving brush swept across the ground, leaving deep imprints behind. Spiritual ink flowed into them, releasing scorching yet pure pulses of energy.

At the side, Ye Lingling fully activated her Nine Heart Begonia. Gentle white light with purifying properties enveloped Qin Mo and the area where the talisman array was being drawn, continuously dissolving and purifying the wisps of grayish-black evil aura forced out from the necrotic runes.

The entire drawing process lasted a full two hours. When the final rune was completed, the entire talisman array suddenly lit up!

Bzzzz—!

A gigantic golden talisman array more than ten meters in diameter emerged from the ground. Countless tiny golden runes flowed and rose like living creatures, emitting light as scorching as the blazing sun, yet upright and peaceful! A vast force of purification and spatial stabilization erupted with a roar, forming a golden pillar of light that surged upward and instantly enveloped the damaged area of the barrier above!

Sizzle... hissss!

As if cold water had been poured into boiling oil, the remaining grayish-black evil aura let out shrill screeches beneath the burning golden pillar—like the wails of energy itself—and rapidly dissolved and evaporated at a visible pace! The contaminated necrotic runes were also infused with pure energy, gradually regaining their former brilliance as the grayish-black corruption was forced back and purified!

The entire restoration process continued for another hour.

Only when the final trace of evil aura had been completely purified and the damage to the barrier had been fully repaired—while the runes in that area even shone brighter and more solidly than those around them—did Qin Mo slowly withdraw his Soul Power.

His face was slightly pale, and sweat beaded at his temples. Drawing and operating such a large purification talisman array had taken no small toll on him.

"Dean, are you all right?" Ye Lingling hurried forward, casting a beam of healing light upon Qin Mo to ease his fatigue.

"It is nothing." Qin Mo waved a hand, his gaze sweeping over the restored barrier, which was even stronger than before. He nodded. "I added nested runes for Energy Absorption and Feedback and Evil Energy Warning into the talisman array. If similar energy attempts to corrode the barrier in the future, the array will automatically absorb part of its energy, convert it into purifying power to strike back, and warn me at once."

Only then did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. Their gazes toward Qin Mo were filled with admiration. The Dean's methods were truly unfathomable.

Yet Qin Mo's brows did not relax. He raised his head toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, then glanced at the academy grounds.

"Why did that thing... attack this place so precisely? Was it a random choice, or had it planned this long ago?" he mused. "If it is the latter, it means we may have been watched for quite some time. What is its target? The immense spiritual energy gathered in the academy? The high-quality Martial Soul Origins of the students? Or..."

His gaze inadvertently swept over Bing'er, Yan'er, and Ye Lingling before finally settling on his own palm.

Ultimate Ice, Ultimate Fire, Life Origin, the unawakened god-grade Ice Soul, and his own mysterious Nine-Story Demon Pagoda... to certain evil existences, these were undoubtedly supreme nourishment!

"It seems the academy's defensive strategy needs to be adjusted." A cold glint flashed through Qin Mo's eyes. "We cannot remain passively defensive."

He turned and addressed the others. "What happened today is to be classified as the academy's highest secret. It must not be spread outside, lest it cause panic. Announce only that this was a routine maintenance test of the array."

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

"Bing'er, Yan'er, Zhuqing, Lingling, come with me to the Dean's Office. Rongrong, you as well." Qin Mo called them by name and led the group toward the Central Tower.

Inside the Dean's Office.

Qin Mo stood before the light screen, his fingers moving rapidly as he brought up all the academy's blueprints and array diagrams.

"The previous defensive system focused on resisting external physical and energy attacks. It is insufficient against strange attacks such as spiritual corruption and energy contamination," Qin Mo said quickly. "We need to establish an internal, specialized warning and purification system."

"I plan to lay down a Pure Heart Evil Cleansing Talisman Array beneath the academy, with the Myriad Manifestations Pagoda as its core, covering the entire grounds." His finger tapped the light screen, outlining one node after another. "These nodes will require people to remain stationed there year-round, monitoring them and nourishing them with their own Soul Power."

He looked at the five women before him. "The five of you possess different Martial Souls and unique attributes. You are the best candidates to maintain this inner talisman array. Bing'er will guard the Cold Abyss Node and suppress evil with Ultimate Ice. Yan'er will guard the Molten Core Node and burn evil with Ultimate Fire. Zhuqing will guard the Shadow Node and perceive the Undercurrents. Lingling will guard the Life Node and purify filth. Rongrong, you will guard the Seven-Colored Node, using the light of glazed crystal to harmonize energy and support the others."

"Once this inner array is completed, it will complement the outer barrier and allow us to truly face all manner of strange threats. But guarding the nodes will consume your mental focus and Soul Power, affecting the speed of your own cultivation. Are you willing?"

The five women exchanged glances. Without the slightest hesitation, they answered in unison, "We are willing!"

The academy was their home and the place where their hopes of growing stronger lay. Protecting it was their duty!

"Good." A trace of gratification appeared in Qin Mo's eyes. "This must be done as quickly as possible. I will draw the node diagrams for the talisman array, and you will immediately begin familiarizing yourselves with them and making preparations."

Just as Qin Mo was preparing to make detailed arrangements, a guard hurried to the entrance of the Dean's Office and reported, "Dean, an old man is requesting an audience outside the academy. He calls himself Dugu Bo and says he has an appointment with you."

Dugu Bo? He had come after all.

Qin Mo's eyes flickered. "Bring him to Reception Room One."

It seemed that the plan to win over the Poison Douluo and strengthen the academy's high-end combat strength also needed to be accelerated. The threat of the abyss had made him feel the urgency of time.

In these troubled times, only by grasping greater strength could one face every challenge.