Fire Sacrifice, Part One

Sheathing his sword, Lin Xin stepped forward and carefully inspected the black bear.

The bear was over two meters long, sprawled on the ground as blood steadily spread from beneath it.

Crouching down, he grabbed the fur on the bear's severed midsection and gave it a hard pull.

The bear's fur was warm. Its coarse, stiff hairs were so hard they even pricked his hand.

Once turned over, the bear's severed lower half revealed a bloody hollow cavity. Leaning closer, he could clearly see its internal organs, flowing blood, and everything else inside through the cross-section.

"Truly amazing!"

Daoist Lu Suo and the others gathered around as well, marveling in succession.

"This isn't half a body." Lin Xin shook his head and reached out to feel the spot where the bear's hind legs should have been.

The same warm sensation came back beneath his hand. There was clearly a body there.

"Only its lower half is invisible."

"Invisible...?" Gongsun Li's expression changed slightly upon hearing that. "I heard legends that invisible creatures often originate from Mystic Water... but Mystic Water smells violently poisonous. Anyone who touches it dies without fail. If there were Mystic Water here... this place couldn't possibly look like this! The forests within a hundred li should have withered away completely."

"Mystic Water?" Lin Xin shook his head. "Whatever it is, let's head forward a little and see what exactly is inside this forest."

"Yes..." Gongsun Li took out Golden Needles. Daoist Lu Suo slowly regulated his breath, then led the group in guarding Lin Xin as they cautiously advanced.

They had not gone much farther when a man ahead suddenly clutched his throat.

"Save... me!!" It was as if something invisible had wrapped around his neck.

Clang!

Daoist Lu Suo thrust his sword out at once.