"Please leave here."

A deep, hoarse voice, seemingly emanating from ancient darkness, broke the tense silence on the altar.

Upon hearing the sound, the group quickly turned around and saw an old man dressed in strange clothes standing before them.

His back was hunched, and his bent spine seemed to bear countless vicissitudes and secrets of the years.

Time has etched deep wrinkles on his face, like crisscrossing dry riverbeds.

His eyes were cloudy, yet they possessed a profound depth that suggested he had experienced much in life, making it difficult for others to look directly at him.

A woman gently held his hand beside him, like a delicate flower blooming beside the old man.

The woman was extremely fair-skinned, her skin like it had been carved from mutton-fat jade, radiating a soft glow in the slightly eerie altar setting.

Her figure was graceful and elegant; every step she took was like a silent dance, her curves perfectly beautiful.

Her body was adorned with silver ornaments and jewelry, which made a crisp sound with her movements, like the melodious tinkling of a mountain spring.

Each piece of silver jewelry seems to possess a unique craftsmanship. Some are carved with delicate flower patterns, and the stamens seem to hold untold stories; others are strange symbols, mysterious and ancient, as if they come from a distant and unknown civilization.

"Yunzhi".

Ma Lihua's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a sense of familiarity and surprise.

Hearing the call, the woman slowly raised her head. Her eyebrows curved into a smile, a smile as bright and captivating as peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Her eyes were like lakes that held stars, clear and deep.

How do you know my name is Yunzhi?

Her voice was as soft as a gentle breeze, carrying surprise yet also a hint of playfulness.

She tilted her head, and a few strands of her dark hair slipped down her shoulder, adding to her lively beauty.

She looked at Ma Lihua with curiosity, her eyes sparkling with doubt, like a cute little deer that had suddenly discovered something new.

Ma Lihua looked at Yunzhi with a smile on her face and said, "I don't know why, but the moment I saw you, your name just popped into my head."

She took a small step forward, her eyes full of affection.

Upon hearing this, Yunzhi chuckled softly, her silvery laughter echoing across the altar.

The old man beside them coughed softly, glanced at the group with his cloudy eyes, and said again in his low, hoarse voice, "No matter how much you know her name, this is not a place for you. You should leave quickly."

His gaze swept over the group, as if scrutinizing uninvited guests or warning of potential danger.

However, Yunzhi did not seem to be affected by the old man's seriousness. She still wore that playful smile, her eyes darting back and forth between Ma Lihua and the others, as if she had endless curiosity about them.

What if we don't leave?

Ma Linghua suddenly spoke up at this moment, her voice firm and resolute, carrying an unyielding spirit.

She stood ramrod straight, her eyes fixed on the old man and Yunzhi, without the slightest fear in them.

Chen Zhiqing secretly applauded Ma Linghua's words.

He twisted his hands tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

His curiosity burned like a raging fire; he desperately wanted to find out what was hidden beneath the altar.

This mysterious altar was like a giant magnet, drawing all his attention and making him unwilling to move an inch.

"Not leaving? Then you'd better make your journey worthwhile!"

After the old man finished speaking in a somber tone, he slowly took out a flute from his waist.

The flute looked quite old, with a dark, dull color, as if it had been covered in the dust of countless years.

The flute was engraved with some indistinct runes, which exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Waaaaah..."

As the old man played, the flute emitted a strange sound.

The sound, like a wail from the depths of hell, spread rapidly through the silent air.

The altar seemed to come alive and began to move violently.

The ground shook, dust flew everywhere, and everything around was thrown into chaos.

Upon hearing the flute, the villagers from the surrounding area immediately returned to their villages, their movements swift and orderly.

A short while later, they each brought out a stone statue.

The stone statues have unique shapes, and each one has an ancient and mysterious aura.

The villagers knelt before the stone statue with utmost devotion, chanting incantations, their eyes filled with fervent worship.

“We had almost finished raising those bandits, but you people not only killed them, but also tried to disrupt our rituals and investigate our secrets. You deserve to die.”

The old man looked at Ma Linghua and the others with a sinister expression.

His eyes narrowed to slits, his gaze like that of a venomous snake flicking its tongue, filled with resentment and murderous intent.

His withered lips trembled slightly, and the wrinkles on his face were twisted even more distorted by anger, like a crumpled piece of old paper.

Ma Linghua frowned. She knew things had become very complicated, but she was not intimidated by the old man's threats.

The old man snorted coldly and continued playing his flute, the sound becoming more urgent and shrill, as if it were a call to death.

Chen Zhiqing stood next to Ma Linghua, his gaze fixed on the flute in the old man's hand and the strange stone statues around him.

Soon, countless insects crawled out of the altar.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!