The Obstacles of Climbing the Peak and the Sorcerer's Soul

The Evil Witch God's black wings spread in the mountain breeze, the gusts of air sweeping up gravel and dead leaves like a miniature storm. He soared towards the summit of Fengwu Mountain at breakneck speed. In a matter of seconds, he had passed the ancient altar halfway up the mountain, closing in on the faint glow of the evil core. Su Xiao looked up at the massive figure, the Chiyang Gu box between her fingers burning slightly. She knew she couldn't let the third evil core fall into the Evil Witch God's hands. Once the triple seal was broken, not only Qingwu Town, but the entire surrounding area could become a demonic zone.

"Zhao Yu, lead the villagers to safety outside the mountain. Leave this here to us!" Su Xiao, having barely finished her words, tapped her toes and chased towards the mountaintop. The Red Sun Gu flew out of its box, its red light trailing a crimson afterimage behind it, like a torch in the dark night, illuminating the steep mountain path. Lin Xi followed closely behind, clutching a copper bell in her palm, her knuckles white from the strain. As she ran, she channeled her spiritual energy into the bell, its low hum echoing through the mountains, attempting to disrupt the Evil Witch God's perception. Meng Meng unfolded a Gu-repelling fabric, and a blue light enveloped Su Xiao and Lin Xi, protecting them from any remaining soul threads in the mountains. Although the black mist the Evil Witch God had just spewed out had dissipated, the sap left behind by the dead black insects still lingered on the ground, leaving a subtle shadowy force that could be eroded by the slightest carelessness.

The Evil Witch God seemed to sense the pursuit behind him, and with a sudden flap of its wings, countless black feathers shot out like sharp arrows, aiming at Su Xiao and the other two. A faint black mist clung to the feathers, and upon landing, they etched tiny holes into the rock. "Be careful!" Meng Meng hurriedly unfolded the Gu-repelling fabric. The blue light clashed with the black feathers, creating a clanging sound like metal on metal. However, the blue light on the fabric flickered under the impact of the feathers, clearly unable to withstand the impact.

Seeing this, Su Xiao immediately directed the Red Sun Gu to turn, its red light enveloping the black feathers, instantly incinerating them to ash. "Don't resist! Let's speed up!" she shouted to Lin Xi and Meng Meng, her pace increasing even further. As the summit of Fengwu Mountain drew closer, the light of the third evil core grew clearer—a black crystal suspended beside a large boulder on the summit. Larger than the previous two evil cores, its surface was shrouded in even more intense evil energy. The air around the crystal was slightly distorted by the evil energy's erosion.

Just as the Evil Witch God's claws were about to touch the third evil core, Su Xiao finally arrived. She leaped forward, and the Red Sun Gu condensed into a crimson blade of light before her, slashing towards the Evil Witch God's arm. With a sizzling sound, the blade landed on the Evil Witch God's scaly arm, instantly burning a black mark. The Evil Witch God let out a muffled roar, turned, and slashed towards Su Xiao. His massive claws pierced the wind with a terrifying force.

Lin Xi swung the bronze bell just in time, and the humming sound suddenly rose in pitch, piercing the Evil Witch God's consciousness like a sharp blade. The Evil Witch God's movements faltered noticeably, and the green flames in his eyes flickered slightly, clearly disturbed by the bell's power. Su Xiao seized this fleeting opportunity, pulling Meng Meng back several steps, avoiding the Evil Witch God's attack. The claws struck the ground, smashing the solid rock into a deep, shattered crater, sending rubble flying and clouds of dust billowing.

"Su Xiao, the evil energy surrounding the evil core is too strong. The red light of the Red Sun Gu can only be temporarily suppressed, not directly sealed!" Meng Meng said solemnly, looking at the suspended black crystal. She could clearly feel that the power of this evil core far exceeded the previous two. The blue light on the Gu-repelling fabric began to tremble slightly as it approached the evil core, as if it would be swallowed by the evil energy at any moment.

The Evil Witch God steadied his body, and the black crystal on his chest (where Xiaowan's soul was parasitic) flashed with green light. Xiaowan's voice came with a crazy laugh: "It's useless! Lord Evil Witch God will get the third evil core soon, and then none of you will be able to escape!" As soon as the words fell, the Evil Witch God pounced on the evil core again. This time, thick black mist wrapped around his arms. It was obvious that he intended to withstand the attack of the Red Sun Gu and forcibly seize the evil core.

Su Xiao took a deep breath and poured all his spiritual energy into the Red Sun Gu box. The Red Sun Gu's red light surged, instantly enveloping the entire mountaintop. The red light collided with the black mist surrounding the Evil Witch God, creating a sizzling sound and filling the air with a burning scent. The Evil Witch God's movements were blocked by the red light, and his advance noticeably slowed. However, he continued to inched closer to the evil core. The black crystal on his chest flickered green, clearly indicating that Xiaowan was using soul threads to help him resist the red light.

Lin Xi suddenly thought of something, and she shouted to Su Xiao: "Su Xiao, use the Red Sun Gu to attack the crystal on his chest! That is the parasitic place of Xiaowan's soul. As long as the soul thread is disrupted, his power will be weakened!" Su Xiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately adjusted the direction of the Red Sun Gu. The red light condensed into a red beam of light, shooting towards the black crystal on the chest of the Evil Witch God.

"No!" Xiaowan's roar echoed from the crystal. She hurriedly mobilized her soul threads, forming a black shield on the crystal's surface. The red beam of light collided with the black shield, and the two were in a stalemate. The red light and black mist eroded each other, interweaving into a strange black and white vortex in the air. The evil witch god's movements paused noticeably, and the green flame in his eyes dimmed slightly. It was obvious that Xiaowan's soul threads were beginning to fail.

Seizing this opportunity, Meng Meng threw the Gu-repelling fabric into the air. A blue light unfolded, like a vast blue net, enveloping the third evil core. She intended to temporarily trap the core with the fabric, preventing the Evil Witch God from seizing it. But just as the fabric was about to touch the core, the Evil Witch God erupted. The black crystal in his chest glowed green, and a powerful evil force surged from his body, instantly deflecting the red light of the Red Sun Gu and the blue light of Meng Meng. Su Xiao, Lin Xi, and Meng Meng were thrown backward by the force, slamming heavily into the rocks, each gushing out blood.

The Evil Sorcerer God ignored the three and reached out again for the third evil core. Just as his fingertips were about to touch the core, the ground atop the mountain suddenly shook violently. An ancient rune emerged from the ground, gleaming with golden light, instantly enveloping the evil core. The Evil Sorcerer God's claws landed on the golden rune, but were deflected by the rune's power. He roared in anger, and the green fire in his eyes burned even more fiercely.

"This is... the protective rune left by our ancestors who suppressed the Evil Witch God!" Meng Meng looked at the golden rune on the ground, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She remembered the ancient records of her clan, which stated that when their ancestors set the third seal on the top of Fengwu Mountain, they left behind a protective rune. If a powerful evil force approached, the rune would automatically activate, temporarily protecting the evil core.

The Evil Witch God clearly recognized the rune. The black crystal on his chest glowed green. Xiao Wan's voice was filled with resentment. "How could there be a protective rune? Lord Evil Witch God, destroy it!" The Evil Witch God growled, and his scales glowed black. He raised his claws and slashed fiercely at the golden rune. The claws collided with the rune, and the golden light and black evil force intertwined. The rocks on the mountaintop began to crack and crumble, as if ready to collapse at any moment.

Su Xiao struggled to her feet, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. She knew the guardian rune wouldn't hold out for much longer. "Lin Xi, use the copper bell's full power to disrupt him. Meng Meng, join me. Use the power of the Red Sun Gu and the Gu-repelling fabric to attack the crystal on his chest!" Su Xiao's voice was a little hoarse, but incredibly firm. Lin Xi nodded and channeled all her remaining spiritual energy into the copper bell. The bell's humming sound resonated like thunder, vibrating even the very air on the mountaintop. The Evil Witch God's movements were disrupted again, and the claws striking the rune deflected slightly, allowing the golden rune's glow to persist.

Su Xiao and Meng Meng seized the opportunity to charge at the Evil Witch God. The red light of the Red Sun Gu intertwined with the blue light of the Gu-repelling fabric, forming a red and blue beam of light that shot towards the black crystal on the Evil Witch God's chest. This time, Xiao Wan didn't have time to mobilize her soul threads to form a shield, and the beam of light struck the black crystal directly. With a "crack," a crack appeared on the crystal's surface. Xiao Wan's screams echoed through the crystal, and soul threads escaped from the crack, twisting and struggling in the air.

The Evil Witch God's movements froze instantly, green flames flickering in his eyes. He let out a painful roar, and his entire body's Sha Energy began to destabilize. Clearly, the damage to Xiao Wan's soul had significantly impacted his power. He stared at the golden runes before him, then at Su Xiao and the other two, who were gradually recovering behind him. The cracks in the black crystal on his chest grew wider, and the soul threads leaked out at an increasing rate.

"No... my rebirth..." The Evil Sorcerer God's voice was filled with reluctance. He knew that it was now impossible to seize the third evil core. The power of the guardian rune remained, but his own strength had been greatly weakened by the damage to Xiaowan's soul. Continuing to hold out would only lead to severe damage from Su Xiao and the others. The green flames in his eyes trembled violently, and finally, he suddenly opened his mouth and spewed out a thick black mist that instantly enveloped him.

Su Xiao and the other two watched the black fog warily. Their Red Sun Gu and Gu-repelling fabric were ready, ready to counter any sudden attack from the Evil Witch God. But the black fog gradually dissipated, with no sign of an attack. After a moment, it slowly dissipated, leaving only the black crystal on the Evil Witch God's chest. The Evil Witch God's remains had vanished, leaving only a faint wisp of black mist that swirled in the air for a moment before drifting down the mountain and dissipating completely in the mountain breeze.

"He...disappeared?" Lin Xi said in disbelief, looking at the empty spot. Su Xiao stepped forward and looked at the black crystal stone, its surface covered with cracks. Xiao Wan's soul threads were still struggling in the cracks, but they were no longer able to form. "He's not dead, he just temporarily dispersed his remaining soul and retreated." Su Xiao's voice was solemn. "He will definitely come back. As long as the third evil core is still there, he will not give up."

Meng Meng picked up the black crystal and wrapped it in the blue light of the Gu-repelling fabric to prevent the soul threads from leaking out. "What about this crystal and the third evil core?" she asked, looking at Su Xiao. Su Xiao looked up at the third evil core suspended in the golden rune and said, "The protective rune can temporarily protect the evil core. Let's go down the mountain first, and after we recover our strength, we will find a way to completely seal it. As for this crystal, Xiaowan's soul threads are severely damaged and will not be able to make any waves in the short term. We can bring it back to Qingwu Town and find a safe place to store it."

The three of them walked down the mountain. Fengwu Mountain was no longer as lush and green as it once was. Most of the vegetation on the mountain had lost its vitality, and the ground still bore traces of the erosion caused by the evil force. However, compared to the consequences if the evil witch god had not been stopped, this scene was a blessing in disguise.

On their way down the mountain, they encountered Zhao Yu, who had come to meet them. Upon learning that the evil witch god had dissipated and its remaining spirit had retreated, Zhao Yu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly led the three of them toward the gathering place outside the mountain. The villagers of Qingwu Town were delighted to see the three return safely, their previous fear and worry gradually giving way to peace of mind.

Su Xiao watched the villagers smile, but she felt no respite. She knew this was only a temporary victory; the Evil Witch God's retreat was merely a prelude to a future comeback. Over the next few days, they must quickly recover their strength, find a way to completely seal the third evil core, and be vigilant against the Evil Witch God's reappearance. This battle with the Evil Witch God was far from over.

Chapter 46: Rest in the Town and the Evil Core's Movement

In Qingwu Town's threshing ground, villagers pitched makeshift tents. Bonfires flickered in the night, illuminating the fatigue and relief on everyone's face. Su Xiao sat by the campfire, the Chiyang Gu box resting on his lap, a faint red light flickering as he slowly recovered the spiritual energy he had previously consumed. Lin Xi leaned against a nearby tree trunk, a copper bell at her side. She closed her eyes, her brow slightly furrowed, clearly still trying to regulate the chaotic energy within her body—she had nearly exhausted all her spiritual energy trying to interfere with the evil witch god, and she was still a little weak. Meng Meng shuttled between tents, checking on the villagers. At the same time, she handed the black crystal stone wrapped in Xiaowan's soul thread to several elderly members of the tribe, asking them to keep it for the time being.

Zhao Yu carried a bowl of hot soup, walked over to Su Xiao, sat down, and handed it to her: "Have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up. You've worked hard today." Su Xiao took the soup, and the warmth spread through her fingertips and spread throughout her body. She looked at Zhao Yu and asked, "Have all the villagers settled down? Is anyone injured?" "Everyone has settled down. Only a few villagers were scratched by the gravel in the previous chaos. Their wounds have been treated." Zhao Yu nodded, his eyes fixed on the direction of Fengwu Mountain in the distance. "Will the Evil Witch God really come back?"

Su Xiao took a sip of his soup and said, "Yes. He's only temporarily dispersing his remaining soul. Once he regains his strength, he'll definitely come back to seize the third evil core. We only have a few days, so we must find a way to seal the evil core as soon as possible." Zhao Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "If you need help, please let me know. Although I don't have the same abilities as you, I can help run errands and do what I can." Su Xiao looked at Zhao Yu's sincere eyes and smiled, "Okay, I'll definitely trouble you when the time comes."

As the night deepened, most of the villagers had gone to their tents to rest. Only Su Xiao, Lin Xi, and Meng Meng remained in the threshing ground. Meng Meng came over, sat by the campfire, and said, "The elders in the tribe said that ancient texts record that to completely seal the third evil core, we need 'Qingyang Grass'—a herb that only grows in places with extremely strong yang energy. It can neutralize the evil force and enhance the sealing effect." "Qingyang Grass?" Su Xiao looked up, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Do you know where I can find Qingyang Grass?"

Meng Meng shook his head: "Ancient books only say that it grows in places with extremely strong yang energy, but there is no record of the specific location. However, there is a Chaoyang Peak on the east side of Fengwu Mountain. It is the first place to be exposed to sunlight every day, and the yang energy should be relatively strong. Perhaps Qingyang grass grows there." "Then let's go to Chaoyang Peak tomorrow to take a look." Su Xiao said, "Everyone is tired today, so let's have a good rest first and set off early tomorrow morning." Lin Xi and Meng Meng nodded, and the three of them returned to their tents to rest.

For the next two days, Su Xiao and the other two rested and recuperated in Qingwu Town while preparing to travel to Chaoyang Peak to search for supplies of Qingyang grass. Lin Xi's spiritual energy had largely recovered, and the humming of the copper bell had regained its former strength. Meng Meng's Gu-repelling fabric, nourished by spiritual energy, glowed with a richer blue light than before. Su Xiao's Chiyang Gu, nourished by the Chiyang Gu box, glowed with an even stronger red light. Zhao Yu helped the villagers clear the remaining traces of evil energy within Qingwu Town, while also gathering information from the surrounding areas to prevent the Evil Witch God from appearing prematurely.

On the morning of the third day, Su Xiao, Lin Xi, and Meng Meng packed their bags and prepared to head for Chaoyang Peak. Zhao Yu escorted them to the entrance of Qingwu Town and handed them a package. "Here are some dry food and water, as well as a few simple maps I drew, showing the route to Chaoyang Peak. Be careful on the road. If you encounter any danger, send a signal flare toward Qingwu Town, and I will bring the villagers to meet you." "Thank you, Zhao Yu," Su Xiao said, accepting the package. "Qingwu Town is now in your hands. We will return as soon as possible."

The three of them headed toward Chaoyang Peak, which wasn't far from Qingwu Town, about half a day's journey. Along the way, they saw numerous signs of erosion by the evil spirit: the grass and trees on the ground had withered and yellowed, and the rocks were covered in black lines. However, as they approached Chaoyang Peak, the yang energy in the air grew stronger, and the traces of the evil spirit gradually faded.

Around noon, the three finally reached the foot of Chaoyang Peak. Chaoyang Peak wasn't steep, and the vegetation was lush and verdant, a stark contrast to Fengwu Mountain. The sun shone warmly on the peak, creating a particularly comfortable atmosphere. "The yang energy here is indeed strong. The Qingyang grass must be on this mountain." Meng Meng looked at the peak before him, a flicker of delight in his eyes.

The three began their ascent along the mountain path. Chaoyang Peak was covered in a vibrant array of herbs, each radiating a faint medicinal fragrance. As they climbed, they carefully searched for traces of Qingyang Grass. Qingyang Grass resembled ordinary herbs, except its leaves were pale green, and a subtle yang energy flowed through its veins. Only when you got close could you sense its uniqueness.

Just as they reached the halfway point, Su Xiao suddenly stopped, his brow furrowed. "What's wrong?" Lin Xi noticed something was wrong with Su Xiao and asked. Su Xiao looked toward Fengwu Mountain and said, "I sense a shift in the evil energy there. It seems the power of the third evil core has become unstable." Meng Meng also focused her attention. After a moment, her expression changed. "Yes, the power of the guardian rune seems to be weakening, and the power of the evil core is spreading outward!"

The three of them exchanged glances, each seeing worry in the other's eyes. "Could it be that the Evil Witch God has returned?" Lin Xi asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Su Xiao shook his head. "I'm not sure, but the abnormal movement of the evil core is definitely not a good thing. We must speed up. After finding the Qingyang Grass, we must immediately return to Fengwu Mountain to investigate the situation."

They sped up their search for the Qingyang grass. Fortunately, Chaoyang Peak's yang energy was strong, and the Qingyang grass grew in a fairly wide area. About half an hour later, Meng Meng discovered a patch of pale green herbs on a sunny hillside—it was the Qingyang grass they were looking for. "Found it!" Meng Meng exclaimed in delight, and Su Xiao and Lin Xi immediately ran over.

There were about a dozen Qingyang grass plants in this patch, their leaves shimmering with a faint green light, and the air was filled with a rich yang energy. Su Xiao carefully dug up the Qingyang grass, wrapped it in the oil paper he had prepared, and placed it in his bag. "Let's go, return to Fengwu Mountain immediately!" Su Xiao said. The three of them turned and ran down the mountain, their pace several times faster than when they came.

They returned along the same route. Along the way, the strange movements of the evil energy in the direction of Fengwu Mountain became increasingly noticeable, and even a faint sense of evil could be felt in the air. Su Xiao's worry grew stronger. She didn't know what was happening at Fengwu Mountain, nor did she know if the protective rune would last until they returned.

When they returned to Qingwu Town, they immediately spotted Zhao Yu and several other villagers anxiously waiting at the village entrance. "You're back!" Zhao Yu hurried over to greet them upon seeing the three of them. "Something's wrong over at Fengwu Mountain. We just saw a flash of black light on the mountaintop, as if a sinister force was emanating!" "We felt it too! Let's go to Fengwu Mountain now!" Su Xiao said. Without even a moment's rest, the three of them immediately ran towards the mountain.

Zhao Yu looked at the backs of the three people, his heart full of worry. He immediately gathered several strong villagers, took weapons, and rushed towards Fengwushan to provide support for the three people.