Mourning House's Strange Domain and the Trial of the Human Heart

On the night of the new moon, dark clouds covered the sky, and the stars and moon were without light. In the wilderness between the Great Tang's border and the Jiangnan wilds, only the wind wailed, adding to the chill. A dilapidated mourning house stood alone in the shadow of a mountain hollow, its broken plaque hanging askew, the words "Mourning House" faintly visible, its paint peeling like an old person's lost teeth. Unlike the usual gloom of a mass grave, the air here was filled with a thick, nauseatingly sweet, fishy odor, mixed with decay and a… scent like the ashes of burnt incense.

Su Yan, Mo Hen, and Bai Zhi, along with their pet, stealthily crept into the woods on the outskirts of the mourning house. Little Big Dipper seemed agitated, its nostrils twitching, the star-like patterns on its shell flashing autonomously, showing intense disgust and vigilance towards the aura emanating from ahead.

"The yin energy is extremely heavy, but the core isn't purely resentful spirits… some power is intentionally gathering and distorting this yin energy," Bai Zhi frowned slightly, a wisp of pure spiritual energy swirling around her fingertips as she sensed the energy field ahead. "Everyone, guard your minds carefully. There's likely strong mental interference inside."

Mo Hen said nothing, merely taking out several palm-sized, spider-like metal mechanical beasts from his storage pouch and placing them gently on the ground. The red light in the mechanical beasts' eyes flashed, and they silently dispersed, sneaking into the grass, climbing tree branches, and monitoring the mourning house from different angles. He then took out a compass-like artifact, its needle spinning wildly before finally trembling and pointing towards the depths of the mourning house.

"The energy source is beneath the main hall. There are simple illusion arrays and warning barriers on the surface, which my 'Peeker' has already marked," Mo Hen's voice was low and concise.

Su Yan nodded and unfolded his own compass. The repaired compass, at 50% completion, flowed with silver light, projecting a clearer star map. It not only marked the array nodes discovered by Mo Hen but also vaguely outlined a twisted, downward-extending energy channel underground. At the end of the channel lay a heart-stopping darkness, churning with a dense "Breath of the End."

"There's a large space underground; it's undoubtedly their lair. We proceed according to the plan: Mo Hen is responsible for outer perimeter security and array interference, Bai Zhi provides support in the center, dispelling negative effects, and Little Big Dipper and I will be the main attackers." Su Yan quickly assigned tasks.

Mo Hen nodded, his hands dancing like butterflies, weaving invisible threads of spiritual energy to his mechanical beasts and several pre-placed array flags. "The illusion array is being interfered with, and the warning barrier is temporarily shielded, but it will only last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. If a strong conflict erupts inside, the barrier will still break."

"That's enough." Su Yan took a deep breath, the faint glow of "Starlight Bodyguard" enveloping him. Little Big Dipper also tensed its body, ready to spring. "Move out!"

The three of them moved like ghosts through the interfered array area, approaching the entrance of the mourning house. The vermilion door, already mottled and rotten, seemed to be sealed by an invisible force. Su Yan's fingertips condensed a "Soul Chasing Talisman," about to forcibly break down the door, but Bai Zhi gently placed a hand on his.

"A 'Curse of Grudges' is attached to the door. Forcibly breaking it will trigger a counterattack and alert them," she took out a golden talisman emitting a sandalwood scent and gently placed it in the center of the door, chanting softly. The talisman flashed golden light, and the distorted black runes appearing on the door rapidly receded as if encountering their nemesis. "It's done."

Pushing open the heavy door, an even more concentrated, sweet, and fishy scent of decay assailed them! Inside the mourning house courtyard, the scene was extremely bizarre! There were no coffins or corpses as expected; instead, there were numerous mound-like protrusions made of pale earth, resembling cocoons, densely packed and covering the entire courtyard. These "mud cocoons" were covered in vein-like black patterns and were pulsing slightly, as if something was gestured within them. The whispers filling the air became clearer, filled with pain, resentment, and… a fanatical prayer!

"They're using living souls and earth vein yin energy to cultivate something!" Su Yan instantly understood, his anger surging. This was clearly some kind of evil creation ritual!

"Be careful, these mud cocoons are alive!" Mo Hen's voice came through his mechanical beasts. Almost as soon as he spoke, several mud cocoons near them violently split open, and several distorted, semi-physical, semi-energy "Vicious Cocoon Demons" (Level 26) crawled out, emitting piercing shrieks and lunging at them!

"Starfire!" Little Big Dipper was the first to engage, spewing silver-white ice flames, which were highly effective against such defiled creatures, instantly igniting one cocoon demon, emitting a sizzling burning sound.

Su Yan unleashed a barrage of "Immobilization Talismans," restricting the other cocoon demons' movements, followed by "Armor Shattering Talismans" to create an output environment for Little Big Dipper. Bai Zhi wielded her willow branches, scattering clear light. The healing aura of "Universal Salvation" enveloped the team, while the sound waves of "Heart Calming Incantation" spread, effectively dispelling the pervasive mental whispers and the erosion of resentment.

The three cooperated with initial tacit understanding, quickly clearing the cocoon demons in the courtyard. However, more mud cocoons were trembling, as if about to hatch at any moment.

"We can't get bogged down; we'll strike the heart directly!" Su Yan took the lead, charging towards the main hall of the mourning house. The hall was even darker, with only a few flickering oil lamps emitting green ghost fire for illumination. The ground in the center had been dug open, revealing a rough stone staircase leading down. The intense Breath of the End was surging from within.

Just as they were about to enter the passage, a change occurred!

The ground of the entire mourning house suddenly shook, and the unhatched mud cocoons all exploded! They didn't hatch monsters but transformed into thick, black smoke carrying intense mental pollution, instantly filling the entire space! Simultaneously, countless distorted human faces appeared on the surrounding walls, emitting deafening wails!

[End Times Veil]: Greatly reduces vision, continuously suffers mental attacks and Blood Essence erosion, and movement speed is reduced.

"It's a trap! They knew we were coming!" Mo Hen's voice carried a hint of solemnity. The mechanical beasts he controlled had lost contact in the black mist.

"Hold your ground!" Bai Zhi shouted, the light of "Heart Calming Incantation" intensifying, like a candle in the wind, barely maintaining a small area of clarity around the team, but it clearly wouldn't last long.

Within the black mist, shadowy figures, emanating powerful auras, slowly emerged. The one in the lead was the projection of the "Sower" that Su Yan had encountered in the bamboo forest! Beside him stood two black-robed figures holding bone staffs, "End Times Priests" (Level 28), and several more solid-looking "Enhanced Cocoon Demons" (Level 27) with scarlet soul fire flickering in their eyes.

"Heh heh heh… foolish insects, daring to walk into a trap!" The Sower's projection let out a hoarse, sinister laugh. "Perfect, we'll use your souls and that mutated bug as extra sacrifices to the Lord of the End!"

Before the words fell, the two End Times Priests waved their bone staffs, and dark red magic circles appeared on the ground. Beams of light imbued with corrosive and weakening power shot towards Su Yan and the others! The Enhanced Cocoon Demons also lunged from the sides!

The situation rapidly deteriorated!

"Mo Hen, interfere with the priests' casting! Bai Zhi, stabilize the domain! Little Big Dipper, follow me to kill the priests first!" Su Yan remained calm in the face of danger, making an instant decision. He knew that in this environment, prioritizing the priests who could cast negative status effects and ranged attacks was key.

[Wood Escape]! Su Yan's figure flickered, narrowly dodging the light arrows, appearing behind one of the End Times Priests. "Soul Chasing Talisman" and "Star Radiance Evil-Breaking Fist" were unleashed simultaneously!

A black light flashed on the priest's body, and a bone shield appeared, blocking most of the damage. However, Su Yan's attack also caused his casting to falter.

At the same time, Mo Hen controlled his remaining mechanical beasts, launching suicide attacks at the other priest. Although they didn't cause much damage, they successfully interrupted his incantation. He himself continuously threw various "Flashbangs" and "Smoke Bombs" to disrupt vision and shot at the magic circle nodes with specially made dispelling crossbow bolts.

Little Big Dipper, like a purple whirlwind, under the enhancement of "Armor Shattering Talismans," furiously attacked the priest targeted by Su Yan. "Starfire" and its claws clashed, forcing the priest into a desperate situation.

Bai Zhi was under the greatest pressure. She had to continuously maintain the "Heart Calming Incantation" domain, resist the mental erosion of the End Times Veil, and constantly monitor her teammates' health, casting "Activate Blood and Generate Muscle" and "Push Qi Through Palace," her mana pouring out like an opened floodgate.

The battle entered a stalemate. The Sower's projection did not directly participate in the attack but stood in the rear, laughing coldly, seemingly brewing something. Su Yan felt a sense of danger, knowing they had to end this quickly.

He suddenly injected a stream of pure starlight into his compass and grunted, "Star Track Deduction, where is the weakness?"

His mental power was severely depleted, and several images flashed through his mind—a black talisman hanging from a priest's waist was the key connecting to the veil; beneath the Sower's projection, the flow of energy in the ground showed a slight unnatural stagnation…

"Attack the waist talisman of the left priest! Mo Hen, shoot three feet from the Sower's feet with a Shock Bolt!" Su Yan immediately relayed the order.

Mo Hen didn't hesitate. A specially made crossbow bolt, its arrowhead wrapped in lightning, shot out, accurately hitting the ground three feet from the Sower's projection!

"Boom!" The ground trembled slightly, and the originally smooth transmission of the Breath of the End seemed to have a momentary interruption! The entire [End Times Veil] fluctuated violently!

Now! Su Yan and Little Big Dipper seized the opportunity, focusing all their power on the left priest! Little Big Dipper spat a mouthful of "Starfire" at the black talisman on the priest's waist, while Su Yan's "Soul Chasing Talisman" aimed directly for his head!

"No!" The priest cried out in terror. The waist talisman turned to ashes in the Starfire, and he himself was heavily wounded by the Soul Chasing Talisman, falling to the ground unable to rise.

With one energy node lost, the veil's power greatly diminished. Bai Zhi's pressure eased, and she immediately cast continuous healing spells on the team.

However, the Sower's projection let out an even more frantic laugh. "It's useless! The ritual has begun, you… will all become part of the End!" He suddenly spread his arms, his body expanding as if inflated, and the dense Breath of the End surged madly into him from the underground passage! His level and aura began to soar, from being previously indistinct to directly breaking through to Level 30! And it was still rising!

"He's forcibly absorbing the power accumulated by the earth vein ritual! We can't let him complete it!" Su Yan's expression changed drastically.

"Interrupt him!" Mo Hen reloaded his Shock Bolt.

Bai Zhi also condensed her strongest purification power, preparing to cast "Willow Sweet Dew" in an attempt to dispel the energy from him.

But it seemed… it was already too late. The Sower's projection's body had almost transformed into a black hole composed entirely of dark energy, emitting a despair-inducing suction force.

At this critical moment, Su Yan, who had been intently watching the Sower's projection, noticed with his enhanced perception from the compass and a flicker of inspiration from Star Track Deduction that deep within the core of pure darkness, there was an extremely faint… struggling spiritual light, incompatible with the other Breath of the End!

Was that… a living soul forcibly devoured, not yet completely extinguished? Or… some "impurity" produced by an imperfection in the ritual itself?

No time to think! Su Yan had a flash of inspiration, abandoned all offensive means, and poured all his remaining mental power, mixed with his own belief in "order" and "purification," and a hint of the "transformation" intent he had comprehended from Purifying Star Dew, through the compass, transforming it into an incomparably pure "Awakening Starlight" with no offensive intent, shooting towards that faint spiritual light!

This wasn't an attack, but... a call! A guidance!

The light plunged into the dark core.

Time seemed to freeze once more.

The expanding darkness suddenly halted, and the spark of spiritual light at its center flared up! It was like a lighthouse ignited in the endless night! A shriek, filled with both pain and release, not from the Sower, echoed from the dark core!

"Ah--!!!"

Immediately after, the entire dark core twisted violently as if it had lost its balance, collapsing inward! The Sower's projection let out a roar of disbelief: "No! My power... This is impossible!"

BOOM!!!

A violent energy explosion spread out from the Sower's projection as the center! The intense shockwave sent Su Yan and the other two flying, crashing heavily against the wall.

The black mist dissipated, and the illusionary veil vanished. In the center of the courtyard, only a scorched pit remained, along with wisps of rapidly dissipating Breath of the End. The heavily wounded priest and the remaining Enhanced Cocoon Demons had also turned to ash with the collapse of the ritual's core.

The battle ended in an unexpected way.

Su Yan coughed up blood and struggled to get up, looking at the scorched area. He knew he had gambled correctly. That spark of spiritual light might have been the final resistance of a powerful soul that had been sacrificed, or perhaps a flaw in the ritual itself, which he had perfectly timed to detonate, thus dismantling the terrifying ritual from within.

Mo Hen and Bai Zhi also helped each other up, their faces showing relief at having survived and shock at Su Yan's miraculous final strike.

"Is... is it over?" Bai Zhi asked softly, looking at the Mourning House, which had returned to silence but still bore traces of ruin and death.

"The ritual here is over, but..." Su Yan looked at the passage leading underground, sensing the lingering, unsettling fluctuations within. "The thing below is probably still there. And the enemy already knows we exist."

On this trip to the Mourning House, they had successfully destroyed an important ritual site of the End Times Cult and thwarted their plot, but they had also completely exposed themselves to the enemy's sight. The road ahead would undoubtedly be even more perilous.

However, through this battle, a preliminary trust and tacit understanding had truly been established between Su Yan, Mo Hen, and Bai Zhi. This nascent Starfire, having endured its first harsh test, had not been extinguished but had instead burned even more solidly.