That mournful, ethereal singing was like invisible threads winding through the frigid air of Lanruo Temple, trying to burrow into everyone's hearts. Even beneath the Buddhist light of Bai Zhi's [Heart Calming Incantation], the sorrow and allure contained in the song still crashed against everyone's mental defenses in relentless waves.
"This is no ordinary ghost!" Mo Hen frowned deeply and swiftly took out two jade talismans from his mechanism pack. Crushing them, he turned them into two streams of clear light that entered his and Su Yan's bodies. "[Soul Suppressing Talismans]. They can temporarily strengthen the soul's defenses, but against a song of this level, their effect will probably be limited."
Su Yan felt a cool sensation merge into his consciousness, dispelling some of the dizziness brought on by the decadent melody. He firmly guarded his mind as Star Power slowly circulated through his body. Its upright, balanced nature gave him a natural resistance to this kind of mental corruption. Star Vortex on his shoulder was even more agitated, the vortex at its tail spinning at high speed and emitting a low hum that seemed capable of cutting through souls. It was clearly extremely disgusted by this pure negative Spiritual Energy.
The clouds around Yun Ji churned violently as she rapidly formed hand seals. Spiritual light from her fingertips outlined a simple illusory Bagua formation before the group. The invisible ripples of the song struck the Bagua phantom, sending rings of ripples spreading across it.
"The source of the song is deep within the temple, yet its power already reaches this far. It cannot be the work of a level 38 elite." Yun Ji's voice came through the mist, carrying a trace of gravity. "It is at least a level 40 leader, perhaps... something even more troublesome. It is luring us inside."
"Master warned us, 'Never enter when you encounter a temple.' Could this be what he meant?" Bai Zhi looked worriedly toward the pitch-black temple entrance, as though it were the jaws of a ferocious beast waiting to devour them.
Su Yan's gaze darkened as he looked again at the Compass in his hand. Its silver light still pointed steadily toward the half-collapsed ancient tower, showing no particular reaction to the singing coming from the temple. On the Star Map in his mind, the cracked phantom of the character "Seal" representing the ancient tower seemed to have dimmed another shade after the song began.
"Once the song started, the tower's seal began loosening faster..." Realization rose in Su Yan's heart. "There must be a connection between them. Whatever is inside the temple may be trying to use us—or the chaos we cause—to completely destroy the ancient tower's seal!"
The deduction sent chills down everyone's spines. If the being inside the temple was using them, then rashly charging in, regardless of whether they won or lost, might play directly into its hands and lead to even more terrible consequences.
"Let's check the tower first!" Su Yan decided immediately. "Both the Compass's guidance and the remaining clues point to the ancient tower. That is the key. As for this temple... we'll go around it for now."
This was undoubtedly the safest decision. Everyone suppressed their curiosity and wariness toward the eerie singing, concealed their presence, and prepared to circle around the temple toward the ancient tower.
However, the dangers of Lanruo Temple far exceeded their expectations.
They had barely traveled a hundred meters when they passed through a particularly dense grove of scholar trees—though their branches and leaves had long since withered—and a sudden change erupted!
The yin energy around them abruptly intensified. The shadows on the ground seemed to come alive, winding around everyone's ankles like viscous swampland! At the same time, pale, swollen human faces silently emerged from the twisted branches of the scholar trees. They all opened their hollow eyes and let out soundless shrieks!
[Vengeful Scholar Tree Binding Ground] (Environmental Effect): Movement speed reduced by 50%, while ignoring part of physical defense and continuously dealing yin energy erosion damage. [Faces of the Drowned Ghost] (Special Monster): Level 38, Elite. Resentful spirits attached to scholar trees. Immune to physical attacks, highly resistant to spells, capable of launching mental assaults and summoning [Yin Wood Puppets].
"Not good! It's a trap!" Mo Hen's expression changed. Even the warning mechanisms he had set up had failed to detect these deeply hidden drowned ghosts in advance!
In an instant, dozens of [Yin Wood Puppets] (Level 36, Normal) made of dead wood and mud crawled out of the ground and fearlessly lunged at them. Meanwhile, the soundless shrieks of the Faces of the Drowned Ghost in the forest transformed into a tangible mental storm that swept toward their minds!
Bai Zhi's [Heart Calming Incantation] aura fluctuated violently. She gave a muffled groan, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, clearly under immense pressure. Mo Hen's Mechanical Beasts quickly became battered under the siege of the Yin Wood Puppets. Su Yan repeatedly used [Lightning Talismans] to bombard the Faces of the Drowned Ghost, but their spell resistance was extremely high, and the results were far from significant. Star Vortex roared furiously. [Star Vortex Sky Rend Strike] could easily tear apart the Yin Wood Puppets, but it was helpless against the Faces of the Drowned Ghost, which were immune to physical attacks. Its immense strength had nowhere to go.
The situation instantly turned against them! Their movement was restricted, the pressure on healing was immense, and their damage output was heavily countered!
"We have to clear these drowned ghosts first!" Su Yan endured the mental assault as he searched for a way to break the deadlock. His [Soul Chasing Talisman] had some effect on spiritual bodies, but against so many drowned ghosts, it was still merely a drop in the bucket.
At that critical moment, a clear bell chime suddenly rang out from the distance without warning!
"Clang—"
The bell was not loud, yet it carried an indescribable penetrating force and peaceful aura. Like a spring breeze sweeping across an icy plain, wherever it passed, the viscous shadow bindings rapidly melted away like snow beneath the sun! The Faces of the Drowned Ghost that had been emitting soundless shrieks in the forest screamed miserably as if scorched. Wisps of green smoke rose from their faces, and their features became blurred!
At the same time, a golden streak cut through the gloomy sky like a meteor and landed precisely within the scholar tree grove. As the light faded, it revealed an ancient bronze coin inscribed with the Rebirth Incantation. The moment it hit the ground, it transformed into a golden ring several meters across. Within the ring, the ferocious Yin Wood Puppets instantly slowed, their bodies beginning to disintegrate as though purified!
"Rebirth Coin? A Buddhist master?!" Bai Zhi exclaimed in delight.
Su Yan and the others were also invigorated and seized the chance to strike. Freed from their restraints, Star Vortex became like a tiger released from its leash, instantly clearing out the remaining Yin Wood Puppets around them. Su Yan and Mo Hen concentrated their attacks, working with the purification effect of the golden ring to quickly pick off the heavily injured Faces of the Drowned Ghost.
In only a short while, the sudden crisis was resolved. The scholar tree grove returned to dead silence, with only the Rebirth Coin floating in midair and slowly rotating, radiating warm, peaceful golden light.
A slightly hoarse voice carrying an air of detachment drifted from behind them.
"Amitabha. Esteemed benefactors, this place is dangerous and far from auspicious. Why have you ventured so deeply within?"
Following the voice, they saw a young monk slowly approaching. He wore a faded gray monk's robe, carried a nine-ringed staff, and had a massive wine gourd hanging from his waist. He looked only a little over twenty, with refined features, but his eyes held a weathered sorrow and compassion far beyond his age. Most strikingly, no powerful Buddhist light or spiritual fluctuations emanated from him, yet wherever he passed, the filth on the ground seemed purified by an invisible force, and even the dense yin energy actively retreated from him.
[??? (Soul Ferryman)] (Neutral Unit?) Level: ???
The information returned by the appraisal skill was extremely limited. There was only the title "Soul Ferryman" and a string of question marks; even his level could not be detected. There were only two possibilities: either he was far stronger than them, or he possessed an exceptionally advanced concealment technique.
"Thank you, Master, for coming to our aid." Su Yan stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute, though the vigilance in his heart had not completely faded. In this strange place, the sudden appearance of a mysterious monk left it uncertain whether he was friend or foe.
"This humble monk is Hui Ming, merely a wandering Soul Ferryman. I am not worthy of being called Master." The young monk returned the salute. His gaze swept over the Compass in Su Yan's hand and paused briefly on Star Vortex. A trace of barely perceptible surprise flashed through his eyes before he returned to his calm, compassionate expression. "You benefactors possess unusual treasures and an extraordinary spirit pet, but this place has accumulated resentment for a thousand years. Karma is tangled here, and a great evil deep within is about to break free from its seal. This is not something your current cultivation can handle. Hear this humble monk's advice and leave at once."
His words were sincere and carried a convincing power.
Su Yan exchanged looks with Mo Hen and Bai Zhi before speaking. "Master Hui Ming, to be honest, we did not come here in search of treasure or training. We came to investigate the source of the Netherworld disturbance. The seal on the ancient tower here is on the verge of breaking, and a bewitching spirit is causing trouble within the temple. It could bring about a great disaster. Do you know the details, Master?"
Upon hearing this, Hui Ming sighed softly. His complicated gaze turned toward the ancient tower. "What is sealed beneath that tower is a general from the previous dynasty whose resentment reached the heavens. One hundred thousand soldiers under his command died unjustly here, leaving his soul unable to disperse. Merging with the battlefield's baleful energy, he became the [Blood Fiend Ghost General], incomparably vicious. As for the singing inside the temple... it belongs to a beloved woman from the general's lifetime. Driven mad by longing, she hanged herself from a scholar tree in the temple and became the [Wailing Ghost Princess]. Her resentment and the general's baleful energy nourish one another, and they have now grown formidable."
He paused before continuing, "As for the Netherworld disturbance... this humble monk has sensed it as well. The Yin-Yang Path here was already fragile because of the Ancient Battlefield, and lately, exceptionally powerful deathly forces have repeatedly tried to breach its barrier, accelerating the awakening of the Ghost General and Ghost Princess. If they break free completely and use the Yin-Yang Path to lead a Netherworld army into this world, the consequences will be unimaginable."
The information largely matched Su Yan's group's deductions, only in far greater detail.
"If that is the case, Master Hui Ming, are you here to reinforce the seal?" Bai Zhi asked.
Hui Ming shook his head, revealing a bitter smile. "This humble monk's power is too weak to reinforce such a fierce seal. I am here for two reasons. First, to deliver some of the peripheral wronged souls and accumulate a little merit. Second, to wait... to wait for an opportunity, or for someone fated to resolve this situation."
His gaze returned to Su Yan—or rather, to the Compass in his hand.
"This item... seems to contain a faint trace of Origin Power of order. Perhaps... it can sense and restrain that 'Rule Tumor'?" Hui Ming's words carried uncertain inquiry.
Su Yan's heart jolted! Hui Ming actually knew about the "Rule Tumor"?!
"Master, you know about Rule Tumors too?" Su Yan asked gravely.
"I have heard a little." Hui Ming did not elaborate, only saying, "Because of their special origins and the accumulation of countless years, the Ghost General and Ghost Princess here have had their cores twisted and entangled with the 'rules' of this region to a certain extent. They may be regarded as a miniature, incomplete 'Rule Tumor.' If you can purify or seal them, it may help you understand and confront the true 'great calamity.'"
His words undoubtedly pointed Su Yan's group in a direction and explained why the Compass had reacted to the ancient tower.
"However, with our current strength, our chances against a leader above level 40 are slim." Mo Hen calmly pointed out the key issue.
Hui Ming took three golden talismans from his robes and handed them to Su Yan. "These are [Vajra Demon Subduing Talismans]. They can temporarily and greatly increase damage against yin and evil beings, while also forming protective Buddhist light around the body for the duration of one incense stick. They may be able to lend you a hand. In addition, this humble monk can set up part of a [Rebirth Great Array] around the outskirts to deliver the escaping resentment and weaken the source of their power. But the battle at the core will still require you to go yourselves."
This was truly timely aid. Three powerful support talismans, combined with assistance from the perimeter, gave them the means to take on the challenge.
Should they accept Hui Ming's help and take the risk, striving to eliminate the danger before the crisis erupted while gaining experience against the "Rule Tumor"? Or should they heed the original warning, withdraw for now, and return after raising their levels?
Su Yan looked at the warm Compass in his hand, then at Star Vortex beside him, brimming with fighting spirit, and his companions with determined eyes. He took a deep breath.
Opportunity and risk coexisted. Some battles could not be avoided.
"Thank you, Master Hui Ming! We... are willing to give it a try!"
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