Breaking the Stealth Formation, Malevolent Spirit's Traces Revealed

Marquis Wuyi's Estate.

The Marquis Wuyi's Estate, once bustling with visitors, had become desolate following a sealing order from the Demon Subduing Bureau.

Under the strict prohibition of anyone entering or leaving the estate, the daily fruit and vegetable supplies were delivered by personnel from the Demon Subduing Bureau.

Seated in a secret chamber beneath his residence, Wu Huannian, illuminated by candlelight, carefully perused the letters delivered by Steward Chu through unconventional means.

These letters detailed how Steward Chu had dispatched members of the Black Heaven Gate to various towns and villages within a hundred-mile radius of Chaotian Capital, frantically harvesting the vital essence of living beings.

The current count had reached seven to eight hundred, a remarkably rapid progression, and it was believed that the conditions for reviving Wu Huannian's wife, Han Wan'er, would soon be met.

Wu Huannian was immensely satisfied with this news, yet beyond satisfaction, a greater sense of urgency gnawed at him.

The exposure of the incident at the Spring Full Pavilion had drawn the full attention of the Demon Subduing Bureau directly onto him.

If not for his title as one of the Thirty-Six Marquises, Qin Daorong would have already apprehended him and brought him in for interrogation.

He wouldn't be under house arrest with the estate sealed.

However, remaining confined like this was not a viable option. Wu Huannian's descent into corruption and his alliance with the Black Heaven Gate were undeniable facts.

It was only because the Demon Subduing Bureau was not yet privy to the truth. Should they uncover evidence, Even as one of the Thirty-Six Marquises, Wu Huannian would face the grim fate of being imprisoned in the Demon Subduing Prison, interrogated for all intelligence, and then executed.

Before the Demon Subduing Bureau could act, Wu Huannian had to seize the opportunity with the Black Heaven Gate's assistance to escape Chaotian Capital.

And all of this could only commence once Han Wan'er was successfully resurrected.

After finishing all the letters, Wu Huannian meticulously placed each one above the candle flame and ignited it.

He then discarded the ashes into a nearby iron basin, finally exhaling a sigh of relief once they had completely turned to ash.

"One must be extremely cautious when dealing with the Demon Subduing Bureau, lest a single misstep leads to eternal damnation," Wu Huannian mused inwardly.

"This place feels rather eerie now," Qin Ben remarked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

After being sealed for several days, the interior of the Spring Full Pavilion now bore a dilapidated appearance, with tables and chairs scattered haphazardly throughout the hall, giving it a thoroughly abandoned air.

"I practice a body-refining technique. You all should let me take the lead," Ning Xiu offered proactively, hefting the Startling Thunder Hammer and striding into the building first.

"Brother Liu also seems to practice a body-refining technique. Brother Ning, what technique do you practice?" Li Yueying asked curiously.

"Golden Bell Shield."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong's face immediately lit up with a confident yet unpretentious expression. "What a coincidence, I also practice the Golden Bell Shield. Ning Xiu, I've been practicing longer than you, and I'm currently on the seventh layer. Let me take the front, and you stand behind me."

The Demon Subduing Bureau had a long-standing tradition of the strong protecting the weak, and superiors safeguarding their subordinates.

In situations of disaster or danger from Malevolent Spirits requiring an urgent evacuation, Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captains were required to cover the rear for Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains.

Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains, in turn, had to cover the rear for Iron Horse Demon Subduing Captains, while Iron Horse Demon Subduing Captains were to cover the rear for ordinary citizens.

This hierarchy ensured that no one was permitted to desert their post or seek safety by shirking their duty.

Any violation discovered would result in immediate expulsion from the Demon Subduing Bureau, with permanent disqualification from service.

It was said that decades ago, the Demon Subduing Bureau had dispatched troops to Qingque Prefecture in an attempt to reclaim territory.

On the way, a contingent of dozens of Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains encountered two second-grade Great Demons.

Given the vast disparity in strength, the leading Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain stayed behind alone to engage the two demons, buying time to cover the retreat of the main force.

Although all the Demon Subduing Captains safely returned to Chaotian Capital, that Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain remained forever on the lands of Daliang Prefecture.

Observing Liu Yong's "confident yet unpretentious" expression, Ning Xiu felt a strong urge to declare, "I practice the Golden Bell Shield, ninth layer."

However, such a statement would be too astonishing, so he chose to suppress it and not utter it aloud.

The Golden Bell Shield, a body-refining technique, had twelve layers in total. The first six layers were relatively easier to cultivate; talented individuals could break through one layer in half a year.

But from the seventh layer onwards, progress became increasingly difficult with each subsequent layer, requiring two to three years of rigorous physical conditioning to break through.

Even the founder himself had spent forty-five years to perfect the twelfth layer.

To cultivate the Golden Bell Shield to the ninth layer would require at least thirty years of arduous training.

Liu Yong, who had been practicing this technique for over a decade, had only reached the seventh layer.

Ning Xiu, including his previous life, had spent only a few years in the Champion Camp.

Revealing his true mastery of the Golden Bell Shield would undoubtedly spark too much speculation, with unforeseeable consequences.

Standing obediently behind Liu Yong, Ning Xiu and the other three members of their impromptu team began their search of the Spring Full Pavilion.

Observing Malevolent Spirits with the naked eye rarely yielded crucial insights. Taking advantage of the darkness within the Spring Full Pavilion, Ning Xiu subtly activated his Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique, scrutinizing the corners and corridors around them.

From the main hall to the third floor and then to the kitchen, the four found nothing, not even a trace of anything unusual.

It seemed that after being thoroughly searched by the Demon Subduing Bureau, the Spring Full Pavilion had returned to a state of complete tranquility.

"It appears we were overly concerned. Everything here is normal, with no signs of any Malevolent Spirits hiding," Liu Yong stated.

Ning Xiu, having meticulously examined the entire Spring Full Pavilion using his Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique, silently agreed with this assessment, even though he hadn't voiced it.

At that very moment, Li Yueying looked up at the interior roof of the Spring Full Pavilion as if she had discovered something. Her expression was thoughtful, as if she were contemplating something.

Qin Ben immediately asked, "What's wrong?"

"That place seems a bit off. It feels very strange to me," Li Yueying said, pointing to the roof.

Everyone followed her gaze, but in their eyes, everything appeared normal, with no abnormalities.

"If I'm not mistaken, there seems to be a formation eye hidden there. I just don't know what kind of formation it is or what its effects are."

Qin Ben exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that after the Demon Subduing Bureau sealed this place, those Malevolent Spirits have returned in secret?"

"That makes perfect sense. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place. It's entirely possible," Liu Yong replied.

"Yueying, can you break this formation?"

"I'll try. I hope it's not too difficult."

Li Yueying raised her hand, and a surge of energy flowed through her body, causing her Mysterious Silver Lock Armor to rustle.

After half an incense stick's worth of time, the entire roof of the Spring Full Pavilion suddenly trembled with a rumble. Large amounts of dust and wood chips rained down, forming a massive formation on the ground.

"It really is here!" Liu Yong quickly scanned their surroundings vigilantly, in case any danger arose.

Who would have thought that those Malevolent Spirits would be so audacious? After the Demon Subduing Bureau sealed the Spring Full Pavilion, they secretly returned to set up a formation and hide within.

Under these circumstances, no one could be sure how many Malevolent Spirits or demons were hidden within the Spring Full Pavilion at this moment.

Ning Xiu once again used his Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique to scan their surroundings. As expected, after Li Yueying disrupted the formation eye.

The interior of the Spring Full Pavilion instantly changed. A small amount of Evil Qi continuously drifted out from the gaps between the gray bricks on the ground.

It seemed those Malevolent Spirits were currently hidden beneath the Spring Full Pavilion.

"They're below. We need to find a way to get underground," Ning Xiu said.

The group exchanged glances and then simultaneously exclaimed, "The cellar!"

As soon as they spoke, the four of them rushed towards the backyard.

In a dark green pool, a fair-skinned woman with an elegant demeanor lay quietly in an ice coffin floating on the water.

The pool continuously emitted dark green mist that seeped into the woman's body, keeping her skin moisturized and her complexion rosy.

Steward Chu, her face covered in scars, stood beside the pool, gazing intently at the female corpse in the coffin with a solemn expression.

The Black Heaven Gate's origins were mysterious. Although no one had ever seen its founder, it was widely rumored that this person possessed unparalleled, ancient magic.

Whether it was the art of resurrection or the secret to eternal life, as long as one was willing to pay a sufficient price, anything could be achieved through him.

It was precisely to find a way to revive his wife that Wu Huannian was willing to fall from grace and choose to join the Black Heaven Gate.

Several years ago, he came to Chaotian Capital, the capital of Great Shang and the headquarters of the Demon Subduing Bureau, to conduct his affairs in secret.

Steward Chu was under immense psychological pressure. Fortunately, the sect leader had someone deliver a concealment formation to her.

It was said that once the formation was activated, those below the second rank could not detect it unless they entered within ten paces.

This allowed them, the demons of the Black Heaven Gate, to hide within the Spring Full Pavilion for several years.

According to the resurrection method taught by the sect leader, Steward Chu had been secretly performing it on Han Wan'er's corpse all this time.

The effect was indeed miraculous. For several years, Han Wan'er's body had shown no signs of skin atrophy or decay, retaining the appearance and figure she had before her death.

However, Steward Chu had only learned the resurrection technique and had never actually revived anyone before, so she felt somewhat uncertain at the moment.

On either side of the pool, two demons with snow-white bodies each held a Spirit Gathering Banner, dancing above the water.

Clusters of glowing green orbs continuously fell from the Spirit Gathering Banners, merging with the water surface after landing in the pool.

With each additional green orb, the dark green water surface deepened by another shade.

As Steward Chu chanted incantations, small water columns rose from the water's surface and pierced into Han Wan'er's acupoints.

Her expression instantly became more lively and full, as if she could open her eyes and come back to life at any moment.

"Steward Chu, most of the disciples sent to collect vital energy from towns near Chaotian Capital have returned, but we are still short of over a hundred portions of vital energy. The Spirit Gathering Banner from Wendeng County has been silent for a long time, and I fear it has met with misfortune."

A demon walked behind Steward Chu and said.

"Du Luo and Pu Sheng were captured by Demon Subduing Captains. Several disciples I sent afterward have not responded. I have prepared for this shortfall."

Steward Chu took out a slender, long-necked white jade bottle and poured its contents into the pool. A large number of green orbs flowed out, falling into the pool and deepening its green hue.

The demon exclaimed in surprise, "Steward Chu, your foresight is truly divine."

Water columns were inserted into Han Wan'er's body one after another. Within a few breaths, her entire body was filled with water columns.

Through the water columns as conduits, a large amount of vital energy was forcibly injected into Han Wan'er's body, making her vitality appear increasingly abundant.

"After years of preparation to accumulate so much vital energy from living people, whether it can achieve resurrection depends entirely on tonight."

Steward Chu formed a hand seal, and the dark green pool churned violently. The water level began to drop at a visible rate, all of it entering Han Wan'er's body.

Soon, a complex ghost-faced totem slowly emerged on her chest.

Streaks of blue patterns, centered on Han Wan'er's chest, began to spread towards her limbs and neck, quickly covering her entire body.

Seeing this, Steward Chu was greatly surprised.

The resurrection method she had imagined was nothing like this. If Wu Huannian saw this, wouldn't he fly into a rage on the spot? Could something have gone wrong somewhere?

At the same time, a muffled sound suddenly came from above the heads of the demons.

A demon quickly ran out from the entrance and shouted, "Bad news! Four Demon Subduing Captains have arrived outside, and they've destroyed the core of our concealment formation."

Steward Chu's expression turned grim. It truly was a case of misfortune never coming singly; Demon Subduing Captains showing up at this critical juncture.

"Go and stop them. No matter what, you must delay them until they find this place."

"As you command."