After leaving the Mount War God region, where baleful energy hung thick in the air, the surroundings gradually took on the bleakness of late autumn. Following the guidance of the fragmentary map, Su Yan and the others headed northeast. The closer they drew to Lanruo Temple, the more the temperature seemed to quietly drop. It was not mere cold, but a chill that seeped into their bones. Sunlight filtered through increasingly sparse trees with twisted branches, casting mottled, shattered patches of light across the ground, yet offering little warmth.
"What heavy yin energy. We haven't even arrived yet." Bai Zhi lightly rubbed her arms. The Buddhist arts of Mount Putuo that she cultivated were especially sensitive to such auras. A faint layer of gentle Buddhist light had already begun to gather around her, driving away the cold that constantly sought to invade her.
Mo Hen lowered the flight altitude of the mechanical wooden bird. The needle on a compass-like detector in his hand was swinging wildly. "The magnetic field is chaotic, and the spiritual energy is mixed with too much deathly stillness. Everyone, be careful. Lanruo Temple is probably not the only problem in this region. The entire Earth Vein may have suffered long-term erosion from underworld power."
Su Yan silently circulated the Star Qi Drawing Art. His Star Power was calm and balanced, carrying a trace of the loneliness of the cosmic void. It possessed some resistance against yin energy, but he could still clearly feel the inescapable oppression in the surroundings. Star Vortex on his shoulder appeared somewhat restless. The star vortex at its tail spun faster than usual, while the crystal in its vertical eye constantly scanned the shadows among the trees, releasing low, warning hisses. After evolving, it had become even more sensitive to energy—especially negative energy.
Yun Ji continued to quietly follow at the rear of the group. The clouds and mist around her seemed thicker than usual, separating her somewhat from this sinister environment. From time to time, she stopped and bent down to examine the patterns on inconspicuous moss or stones. When her fingertips brushed over them, they left behind a nearly imperceptible glimmer of spiritual light.
"Fellow Daoist Yun Ji, have you found something?" Su Yan asked, noticing her actions.
"The vegetation withers in reverse, and ghostly faces faintly emerge in the stone patterns." Yun Ji's voice drifted through the mist, carrying a cool chill. "The yin and yang here have been unbalanced for a long time. This was not caused recently. Something has been slowly, continuously drawing away the life force of this place and converting it into underworld death energy. Lanruo Temple may merely be one point where it erupted."
This news weighed even more heavily on everyone's hearts. If the entire region was like this, then what they were about to face might not be an isolated instance dungeon, but a land deeply contaminated by underworld power.
After traveling for roughly half an hour, the scene before them suddenly changed. A vast expanse of charred black ruins appeared at the edge of their vision. Broken walls and collapsed structures stretched into the distance, vaguely revealing the outlines of former halls and palaces. Most striking of all was an ancient tower at the center of the ruins. Half of it had collapsed, yet it still stood stubbornly upright. Its body was covered in black scorch marks and cracks, as if it had been burned by fierce flames before enduring the erosion of countless years. Not far from the tower stood a crooked grove of locust trees without a single leaf, like ghostly shadows baring their fangs and claws. They shrouded a relatively intact ancient temple, above whose entrance hung a ruined plaque. The two characters "Lanruo" were barely visible upon it.
Above the entire ruin gathered visible gray-black clouds of resentment. Faintly, they could hear illusory wails of agony and the clash of weapons. The concentration of yin energy here was several times greater than on the way over.
"This is it. Ancient Battlefield—Lanruo Temple." Mo Hen put away the mechanical wooden bird, his expression grave. "Judging from the energy readings, the monsters wandering around the outskirts are probably around levels 35 to 38. The core area, such as that tower and temple, likely contains elites above level 40, perhaps even a boss."
Levels 35 to 38 posed enormous pressure for a team averaging just above level 31. Challenging enemies above their level was not impossible, but the margin for error was extremely low, especially in such a severely unfavorable environment.
"We'll adapt to the outskirts first and learn the characteristics and attack patterns of the monsters here." Su Yan made the prudent decision. "Try not to draw too many monsters at once."
The group concealed their auras and carefully approached the edge of the ruins. Before long, they encountered their first "residents."
They were skeletal soldiers clad in damaged ancient armor and wielding rusted weapons, ghostly blue flames flickering in their eye sockets. [Ancient Soldier Soul (Elite)], Level 36. Their movements were somewhat sluggish, but they were quite strong and patrolled in groups.
Farther away in the shadows drifted several translucent [Wraiths (Elite)], Level 37. They could unleash *Mental Shriek*s to disrupt the mind, and they could bypass physical defenses to directly attack the soul.
"Physical defense is almost useless against wraiths. We need spells or enchanted attacks." Mo Hen quickly analyzed the situation. "My mechanical crossbow bolts can be fitted with evil-breaking talismans. Miss Bai Zhi's Buddhist arts should deal heavy damage to them."
"Star Vortex, focus on picking off the Soldier Souls. Their physical defense shouldn't be enough against you. Brother Mo Hen and I will clear the wraiths. Miss Bai Zhi, focus on dispelling negative effects and healing. Fellow Daoist Yun Ji, provide support." Su Yan swiftly assigned their roles.
The battle erupted instantly!
Star Vortex turned into a bolt of Silver Lightning and crashed directly into a group of three Ancient Soldier Souls! Star Vortex Sky Rend Strike! The vortex at its tail flashed, and its body seemed to teleport behind one Soldier Soul. Its claws, carrying the force of space-rending power, pierced straight through its spine! -2103! A huge golden critical-hit number floated up. The Soldier Soul collapsed into pieces without even making a sound!
The other two Soldier Souls swung their blades at it. Star Vortex neither dodged nor evaded. Starlight Bodyguard—its innate defensive aura—flickered, allowing it to withstand the blows head-on. It retaliated with a normal claw strike that sent one Soldier Soul flying, then sprayed Starlight Breath at the other. The silver-white breath not only dealt damage, but unexpectedly inflicted the "Sluggish" effect, slowing the Soldier Soul's movements to a crawl.
Meanwhile, Su Yan's Lightning Talisman lashed at the wraiths like the whip of a thunder god, erupting in blinding electric light and dealing significant damage to the incorporeal beings. Mo Hen's enchanted crossbow bolts fell like a violent storm, precisely picking off wraiths trying to approach. Bai Zhi's Buddhist light shone over them all, not only healing the health Star Vortex had lost while enduring the attacks, but also causing the wraiths to howl in pain as if they had encountered their natural bane. Their forms even grew fainter. Yun Ji occasionally flicked her fingers, sending out a streak of clear radiance that either disrupted the wraiths' mental assaults or briefly solidified the ground in a certain area, limiting the Soldier Souls' movements.
The battle passed without serious danger, but these were only ordinary elite monsters from the outskirts. Su Yan noticed that while Star Vortex's attack power was astonishing, it still could not truly one-shot level 36 elites unless it landed a critical hit. Moreover, its spiritual energy consumption had indeed increased. After using skills continuously, it needed a brief moment to recover its breath.
"It looks like we can level up and gather intelligence here, but if we want to enter the core, we'll need to grow stronger first." Su Yan spoke as he collected materials such as [Yin Soul Bead] and [Decayed Iron Ore].
Over the following days, the four-person team carefully operated around the outer region of Lanruo Temple. They gradually became familiar with the traits of the various monsters. For example, a creature known as a [Hanging Ghost] could use invisible ropes from afar to strangle people by the neck, causing suffocation and continuous damage. Another creature, the [Grave Corpse Demon], would explode after death and spray venom everywhere.
Su Yan's level steadily and slowly advanced toward level 32, while his understanding and use of his skills grew increasingly proficient. Star Vortex continuously adjusted to its new skills in actual combat. Its use of Star Vortex Sky Rend Strike became ever more precise, and it controlled its energy consumption better as well. Mo Hen and Bai Zhi also gained rewards of their own.
During this time, they discovered several clues: a fragmentary stele engraved with blurred Sanskrit but stained with foul blood; several skeletons dressed unlike modern Fantasy Westward Journey players, instead resembling ancient cultivators; and traces of battle suggesting that other "people" had recently come here and engaged in fierce combat with the monsters.
"It seems we aren't the only ones interested in Lanruo Temple." Mo Hen examined a skeleton severed by a sharp blade and spoke in a low voice.
One day, after they cleared out a nest of [Ghouls] occupying a ruined monks' residence, Yun Ji stopped before a stained wall. She reached out and gently brushed her fingers over it. Spiritual light flickered at her fingertips, and the stains on the wall actually wriggled like living creatures. In the end, several faint lines of writing emerged, giving off a weak golden glow:
"Trapped in confinement, bound by resentment... beneath the tower... Rebirth Incantation... Heaven and Earth Purifying... col crack..."
The writing ended abruptly there, as though some force had forcibly erased the rest.
"Rebirth Incantation? Heaven and Earth Purifying Divine Incantation?" Bai Zhi studied the words. "These are profound Buddhist scriptures. Could the one who left this message have been an eminent Buddhist monk? When it says trapped in confinement, does it mean that tower?"
Yun Ji stared at the final two words, "crack," and slowly said, "I'm afraid it means more than that. The writing contains a faint obsession that sought to purify this place, but it was interrupted at the end by an even stronger, fouler power. Whoever left this information is most likely dead. And 'crack'... perhaps it does not refer only to a crack in space."
Su Yan's heart stirred. He took out the Compass. Sure enough, as he approached the wall, the silver light upon it fluctuated slightly and pointed toward the half-collapsed ancient tower. At the same time, within the Star Map in his mind, apart from the original gray patch marking Lanruo Temple, an extremely faint phantom character for "seal," seemingly formed from countless tiny runes, appeared at the location of the ancient tower. That "seal" was already covered in cracks.
"There's something inside the tower—or rather, the tower itself is a seal." Su Yan's voice was grave. "And the seal is about to fail."
At that moment, a faint, ethereal, mournful woman's song suddenly drifted from the core region of Lanruo Temple, from the ruined temple bearing the "Lanruo" plaque. The song was haunting and sorrowful, as though it contained endless grief and temptation, making one's mind sway.
"Careful! This song has a charm effect!" Bai Zhi immediately began reciting the Heart Calming Incantation. Gentle Buddhist light enveloped the group and resisted the song's encroachment.
Star Vortex became extremely agitated and let out a threatening growl toward the ruined temple.
Mo Hen's expression changed slightly. "Is it the Ghost Princess? Or the Painted Soul? Charm spirits of that level are usually boss monsters above level 40, aren't they? Why would one appear in the outskirts?"
The clouds and mist around Yun Ji churned as she formed hand seals to calculate. After a moment, she said in a solemn tone, "Yin-Yang Chaos, the seal is loosening... A stronger existence has begun extending its reach. This song may be a signal, but it is also a trap."
Su Yan looked at the Compass in his hand. The faint glow pointing toward the ancient tower, the phantom image of the nearly shattered "seal" within the Star Map in his mind, and the eerie song lingering in his ears all intertwined.
The waters of Lanruo Temple ran deeper than they had imagined. Their training in the outskirts was likely coming to an end. Should they risk delving deeper to investigate the ancient tower's seal, or should they first meet the being that had sung that song? Or should they temporarily retreat and seek more assistance?
Before them lay an even more difficult choice, along with a crisis growing ever more mysterious.
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