Strange

The four scourges of the mortal world are demons, monsters, ghosts, and anomalies.

Among them, demons are transformed from flora, fauna, or beasts; monsters are infiltrations from the Demon Realm; ghosts are restless spirits of the dead. Anomalies, however, are uniquely favored by the fortune of heaven and earth. They are extremely rare, yet he never expected to encounter one here.

Seeing that it was an anomaly, Ning Ye was suddenly filled with excitement.

He knew that this was his opportunity.

Monsters have no specific classifications because any object can become an anomaly. The Stone Lion was merely a facade; the true key factor was the core object that caused an ordinary item to become an anomaly.

In the immortal sects, this core object is known as an Extreme Anomaly Crystal.

The "anomaly" refers to its deviation from common sense.

The "extreme" refers to its extremity in the laws of nature.

Thus, these monsters are also called anomalies.

Some even say that the Extreme Anomaly Crystal contains the laws of the Great Dao and may even possess the power to transcend it. Therefore, these crystals are treasures craved by immortal sects, far more valuable than things like Ghost Essence or demon cores.

Ghost Essence, demon cores, and Demon Beads are merely materials for refining treasures; they cannot compare to the precious value of an Extreme Anomaly Crystal. If one could comprehend the laws of the Great Dao from it, the benefits would be far-reaching.

So, when Yue Xiuxiu saw it was an anomaly, she was both shocked and delighted. Her reaction was swift; the moment the Stone Lion opened its mouth to bite, her body transformed into a stream of water.

Snap!

The Stone Lion bit into a mouthful of water. The spray scattered and landed not far away, reforming into the shape of Yue Xiuxiu. Her face was deathly pale, clearly showing that this maneuver had cost her dearly.

However, since the opponent was an anomaly, this loss was nothing compared to the potential gains.

Just as Yue Xiuxiu was excitedly preparing to fight, Ning Ye turned and ran.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Yue Xiuxiu shouted in anger.

Ning Ye ignored her.

His best move now was to let Yue Xiuxiu stay here and die in the jaws of the anomaly.

The next moment, the Stone Lion slowly opened its mouth. The earth trembled, and all the houses began to shake. Countless pillars of mud and stone rose from the ground, enveloping the entire town.

Yue Xiuxiu was terrified, finally understanding why Ning Ye had run.

The spell used by this anomaly had reached the level of the Hualun Realm; it was simply not something they could handle.

Heaven had shown mercy by letting her encounter an anomaly, but the inability to kill it and claim the rewards broke her heart. Seeing the stone formation about to seal the town, Ning Ye, who had run fast, had already escaped the town, but it was too late for Yue Xiuxiu. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a talisman and vanished in an instant.

It was a Light Escape Talisman. When she reappeared, she was right beside Ning Ye, having escaped the town with him.

Seeing that Yue Xiuxiu hadn't died, Ning Ye felt helpless.

It was no wonder this woman dared to come alone; while her combat strength was average, she had plenty of ways to save her own life.

Yue Xiuxiu was already leaping forward: "I need to report this to my master quickly!"

Her cultivation was still low, so she couldn't yet use fire talismans or flying sword transmissions. She had to run back. Fortunately, the distance wasn't far; she could make it in a day.

Tell her master?

Ning Ye sneered inwardly. Not to mention that by the time Gongsun Ye arrived, the opportunity would be long gone, even if he did make it in time, what benefit would there be for him?

However, he didn't say anything, only replying: "Yes, let's go quickly."

His speed, however, remained unhurried—the anomaly didn't seem to have any intention of chasing them. Seeing them run away, it actually stopped and reverted into a motionless Stone Lion.

Yue Xiuxiu noticed this and felt very strange: "Why isn't it chasing us? And why didn't it make a move earlier when we were slaying the demons outside?"

Ning Ye replied: "Those three demons were never its allies. I doubt they even knew an anomaly was hiding here. As for why it isn't chasing us, I don't know either."

How could Ning Ye not know?

The interest of the immortal sects in anomalies is so intense that they would travel thousands of miles the moment they heard of one.

If this anomaly hadn't been exposed by the blood of the Blood Demon, it would never have appeared. Now that it was exposed, its first thought was to run, not to kill.

But he wouldn't tell Yue Xiuxiu any of this; he would let her believe the anomaly had simply let them go.

As they ran, Ning Ye's speed grew slower and slower. Yue Xiuxiu said irritably: "Hey, can you hurry up?"

Ning Ye retorted: "I haven't learned any light-body techniques; I'm not as nimble as you, Junior Sister."

Yue Xiuxiu was left speechless by his retort. Thinking of the importance of the anomaly, she had no choice but to say: "Then you walk slowly behind; I'm heading back to the mountain first."

With that, she increased her speed and left.

"Truly a disloyal one," Ning Ye sneered, watching her back.

But by comparison, Ning Ye preferred her to be disloyal; otherwise, how would he be able to deal with the anomaly?

Seeing that Yue Xiuxiu was far away, Ning Ye turned back toward the town.

But just as he reached the town, he saw a cultivator approaching from the distance.

Damn it, someone else had sensed the commotion and arrived.

Ning Ye knew this was bad and hurriedly ducked to the side. The cultivator had already reached the town, wearing a white robe with a large character "Joy" embroidered on it.

Seeing that character, Ning Ye understood: this person was from the Extreme Joy Sect.

The Extreme Joy Sect is a minor sect subordinate to the Ink Continent, possessing little power. However, this sect possesses a unique method of pharmacy, capable of producing something called Bliss Powder. After using it, one's will drifts as if in a paradise, making it extremely popular among immortals—especially those who know their aptitude is limited and have no hope of advancement. They often become addicted to this substance, indulging in the pleasures of the paradise it simulates.

This substance is somewhat like the drugs from Ning Ye's past life, only it lacks physical addiction. However, while it is not physiologically addictive, it is psychologically addictive. As such, many immortals despise it, but they cannot stop those who enjoy it, and thus the Extreme Joy Sect is able to receive the protection of the Black and White Divine Palace.

Seeing that this was a cultivator from the Extreme Joy Sect, Ning Ye thought for a moment before heading to a nearby small grove. He removed the clothes that identified him as a member of the Black and White Divine Palace, donned the Death Soul Mask, and activated his stealth to creep toward the town.

At the same time, the Extreme Joy Sect cultivator circled the ruins of the town office, muttering, "Strange, it clearly appeared here, so why is it gone now?"

Just then, he spotted Feng Jiu. The Extreme Joy Sect cultivator grabbed Feng Jiu and shouted, "Speak! What happened here just now?"

Feng Jiu stammered out the story, and the Extreme Joy Sect cultivator was greatly shocked upon hearing it.

An anomaly? It was actually an anomaly?

His greed flared intensely. The cultivator struck with his palm, killing Feng Jiu instantly. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, countless white butterflies flew out and scattered toward every household in the town.

He actually intended to slaughter everyone here.

By the time Ning Ye had changed his clothes and arrived, there was not a single living soul left in the entire town. He watched as countless white butterflies flew back into the Extreme Joy Sect cultivator's sleeves.

"How ruthless!" Ning Ye was shocked by the cultivator's vicious methods.

Having wiped out the entire town, the Extreme Joy Sect cultivator looked at the Stone Lion, then shook his head: "It is no longer here."

The Stone Lion was not the anomaly; it was merely being controlled by one. Since it had been exposed, it naturally had to run.

The next moment, he sat cross-legged to cast a spell. A sheet of brilliant light emerged from beneath his feet, and the cultivator let out a sharp shout. Countless streams of blood flew out from the corpses of the townspeople, splashing everywhere.

Since blood could force the anomaly to reveal itself, the cultivator intended to use the blood of the townspeople to flush it out.

The entire Ancient Spring Town was instantly stained red with blood.

Just then, an object suddenly flew out.

It was a teacup, yet it had sprouted two legs and was running wildly.

"So it was here!" The cultivator laughed heartily and cast his spell, shrouding the anomaly in a layer of gray mist.

The teacup anomaly let out a shrill scream and once again activated Mud-Stone Spike, blasting it toward the cultivator.

The white butterflies in the cultivator's sleeves danced again, releasing countless pollen. Together with the gray mist, they transformed into a grayish-white fog, and under this pressure, all the Mud-Stone Spikes disintegrated.

How formidable. This person's cultivation was actually only at the early stage of the Hualun Realm, but even at the same early Hualun level, the anomaly lacked true techniques and divine abilities, making its combat power significantly inferior to its opponent.

Seeing this, Ning Ye realized that even if this Hualun cultivator exhausted himself heavily to destroy the anomaly, he still wouldn't be able to defeat the opponent.

He had to help the anomaly.

Realizing this, Ning Ye ignited his calculation tokens and sent his consciousness into the Thousand Mechanism Hall.

Using a Soul-Lodging Token to calculate a Hualun Realm cultivator was truly a waste, but Ning Ye had no better options.

As the image in the Kunlun Mirror shifted, Ning Ye saw exactly what he needed.

"So that's how it is." Ning Ye was overjoyed. He exited the Thousand Mechanism Hall and transmitted his voice to the anomaly: "One of those butterflies is his Life-Bound Butterfly. I will help you lock onto it; destroy it, and he will suffer heavy damage."

The anomaly did not expect such a tip. Although it knew that this immortal hiding in the shadows likely had ill intentions, it followed Ning Ye's suggestion. Guided by its consciousness, it locked onto a white butterfly in the corner and condensed a giant spike to blast it.

The Hualun cultivator did not expect this turn of events. In his panic, he hurriedly tried to protect his Life-Bound Butterfly, but he could not block an attack that concentrated all of the anomaly's power. The white butterfly was struck and severely damaged, and the Hualun cultivator collapsed with a loud cry.

He was not dead yet, but in his frantic state, he pulled out a talisman to stick onto himself.

However, just as he went to apply the talisman, a burst of light flashed, and a Light Armor Technique had already manifested on his body.

The Light Armor Technique was originally a defensive method of average strength, but this sudden activation prevented him from applying his talisman.

Facing this unexpected turn, the cultivator realized what had happened and shouted, "Which expert is this? I, Lu, was wrong! I am willing to leave right now and give up the anomaly!"

Ning Ye ignored him and released a Seventh-Grade Flying Sword Talisman, which pierced straight toward the Life-Bound Butterfly.

This was the strongest talisman in his possession. The Life-Bound Butterfly burst on the spot upon impact, and the cultivator fell over with a scream. With his life-bound object destroyed, he might not die immediately, but he was severely injured, making it difficult for him to even cast spells.

Ning Ye prepared to strike again, but he saw a series of stone pillars rise to form a stone prison, shielding the cultivator. Then, the ground turned into quicksand, and the cultivator sank into it.

It was the anomaly; it was actually protecting the cultivator.

Ning Ye looked closer and heard the teacup anomaly emit a hoarse sound: "You helped me, but it was to kill me, right? You are the person from before, disguised and here because you don't want your companions to find out. If you kill me, I will let him go and expose the fact that you are a disciple of the Black and White Divine Palace."

Damn it!

I'm not afraid of a powerful enemy; I'm afraid of an enemy with a brain!