Desolate Temple

"Roar!" Angry roars echoed one after another.

The Black Panther, entangled by the Demon Vine, struggled desperately but couldn't break free from its bonds.

Fang Mu, using the Bee Tail Sword from Fang Jing's hand, shot a sword towards the Black Panther.

Already paralyzed by the Demon Vine's entanglement, the Black Panther couldn't evade Fang Mu's swift sword strike.

"Roar!" Amidst a roar and a scream, the Black Panther, pierced by the Bee Tail Sword, let out a piercing cry, appearing to be in extreme agony.

Fang Mu quickly stepped forward to retrieve the Demon Vine, activated the Demon Refining Mirror, which transformed into a golden light, enveloping the Black Panther and refining it.

In the blink of an eye, the Black Panther turned into bloody water, and a mid-grade Essence Blood Pill quickly appeared in Fang Mu's hand.

"Xiao Jing, take the pill."

Fang Mu set down Fang Jing, whom he had been carrying on his back, and handed her the newly obtained pill.

Although Fang Jing was curious about the origin of the golden light and the pill, she was intelligent and didn't ask further questions.

After tilting her head back and swallowing the pill, she felt a warmth spread through her body, and her ailments seemed to have lessened considerably.

Picking up the Bee Tail Sword from the side, Fang Jing performed a sword flourish, feeling her hands gain more strength.

"Brother! I feel like I've recovered. Look, I can still wield my sword."

Seeing Fang Jing, her face beaming with a smile as she brandished the Bee Tail Sword, Fang Mu couldn't help but show a slight grin.

"Brother! I want to train too. I'll protect you from now on!"

"Be careful!"

Before Fang Mu could finish speaking, he suddenly exclaimed, his long sword flying out of his hand like a stream of light, striking a green light with a clanging sound.

The Demon Vine, like a spirit snake, instantly shot towards the green light.

However, the green light was incredibly fast, and before the Demon Vine could entangle it, it had already fled far away.

Fang Mu roared and turned into a stream of light, pursuing the fleeing green light.

That green light was the Green Snake, which had been ambushing them from the shadows, greatly irritating Fang Mu.

After chasing for a distance, Fang Mu couldn't catch up to the Green Snake and immediately returned to Fang Jing's side.

"Xixi!"

At this moment, Xixi poked its small head out from Fang Jing's embrace, its vines extending towards the returning Fang Mu.

Fang Mu raised his arm with the contract rune, and the vines surged forward, instantly merging into the rune.

Xixi transformed into a green light and was absorbed into the rune, a message flowing into Fang Mu's mind through the contract.

Fang Mu was somewhat surprised but couldn't help but show a hint of a smile, thinking that Xixi's ability could be kept as a trump card.

Carrying Fang Jing on his back, he continued deeper into the forest. After walking for a while, he encountered no further ambushes.

As they emerged from the dense forest, Fang Mu noticed some bloodstains on the overgrown grass not far away.

"Brother! Look over there, there's a temple," Fang Jing said curiously, pointing to a temple in the distance.

Fang Mu glanced at the nearby temple with some surprise but ignored it.

After a moment of thought, he carried Fang Jing to the overgrown grass and carefully examined the bloodstains.

The bloodstains had not fully coagulated, suggesting they were recent.

Through his dark pupils, he detected no residual Demonic Energy from the bloodstains. He sniffed the faint scent of blood.

Fang Mu concluded it was human blood. Having slain demons for so long, he hadn't learned much else, but his ability to identify blood was quite accurate.

"Could Wen Xuan or Qi Zhu be injured?" Fang Mu wondered with surprise, speculating inwardly.

While maintaining his vigilance, Fang Mu followed the bloodstains on the ground, arriving outside a desolate temple nearby.

The bloodstains disappeared outside the temple, making it difficult to determine if the injured person had entered.

At this point, Fang Mu noticed clear signs of trampling in the overgrown grass in front of the temple.

Glancing at the sky, which was nearing dusk, Fang Mu dared not linger.

The temple might be dangerous, but it would be even more perilous once it became dark. Therefore, without hesitation, Fang Mu lightly tapped his toes and, like a master of Qinggong, leaped into the air over the ancient temple walls.

He glanced at the locked temple gate but ignored it, flashing forward.

"Qi Zhu! Wen Xuan!"

Fang Mu shouted several times, trying to ascertain if anyone was inside the temple.

As for whether he might disturb whatever was hidden within the temple, Fang Mu stated he didn't care.

Perhaps this was a bit reckless, but he'd rather attract enemies openly and engage in a direct confrontation than cautiously play hide-and-seek and be ambushed and outmaneuvered.

The ancient temple was somewhat dilapidated, with many scattered skeletal remains littering the courtyard.

Several objects resembling black tile jars were placed around the courtyard, but their contents were unknown.

The temple consisted of only one main hall and a side hall, both constructed from black stone.

Fang Mu, carrying Fang Jing, flashed to the entrance of the main hall. Seeing the closed door, he slowly set Fang Jing down, signaling her to step back a couple of paces.

The two tightly shut doors looked somewhat heavy, like a pair of dark wooden doors.

Carved onto the doors were two half-human, half-divine statues guarding the entrance. The two statues had angry, wide-open eyes, their pupils a scarlet red, making them look more like demons.

This place didn't seem like a good one, but Fang Mu still urged the Demon Vine to crash open the two doors.

After a grating creak, the two wooden doors were forced open.

Inside the wooden doors was a Buddhist Hall, containing items like prayer cushions for worship and an altar for offerings.

Stepping into the hall, Fang Mu saw several giant Buddha statues clad in kasaya robes.

Fang Jing, feeling a bit scared in the somewhat dark hall, hid behind Fang Mu.

Looking at the vastly different Buddha statues, she asked in surprise and a low voice, "Brother! Why do these enshrined Buddha statues have human bodies and demon heads?"

Without answering Fang Jing, Fang Mu circled the Buddha statues, observing them for a while. He discovered that the three largest statues all had snake heads and human bodies.

This was likely a demon temple, a place of worship built by demons to gain faith.

Pulling Fang Jing, Fang Mu slowly retreated from the hall, appearing extremely vigilant. This was not a good place to be, and it was better to leave.

The hall was very quiet. As Fang Mu and Fang Jing exited the hall and came outside, the sky suddenly darkened.

"Not good!" Fang Mu thought to himself. Grasping Fang Jing beside him, he lightly tapped his toes and quickly moved towards the outside of the temple.

Just as he was about to rush out of the temple walls, a green light shot towards him, arriving in front of Fang Mu in the blink of an eye.

With no time to dodge, Fang Mu, who was prepared, instantly took out the Golden Sword and slashed at the green light.

A shrill scream rang out, and the green light was split in two and flew out of the temple walls.

At this moment, darkness descended, and countless shadows rapidly enveloped them from afar.

Fang Mu watched as the Golden Sword transformed into a golden light, enveloping him and Fang Jing. Though he felt worried, he remained calm.

He had to test if the Golden Sword's light could withstand the encroachment of darkness.

If the Golden Sword could block the darkness, then Fang Mu would undoubtedly have a protective charm, allowing him to move freely in the dark without fear of its arrival.

Soon, the darkness rapidly spread, covering him and continuing to advance forward.

The Golden Sword did not disappoint Fang Mu. Like the Golden Buddha, it possessed the ability to resist the darkness.

Looking at the darkness that enveloped the temple, a faint, hazy light wall lit up from within the temple's main hall, slowly pushing the darkness back by ten feet.

The temple walls were not covered by the light. At this moment, Fang Mu heard terrified screams.