Chapter 56: Everyone's Got PDSD
On the way back to their sect, all seven remained silent.
The flying artifacts swept through the clouds, the wind whistling in their ears, yet it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere and chill that permeated everyone's hearts.
The evil and horror scenes seen in the ruins of the mortuary are like a brand, deeply engraved in the soul of everyone, and cannot be easily erased.
Fang Li closed her eyes, trying to dispel the images that kept churning in her mind.
Twisted corpses, scarlet prayer flags, the eerie green light of the baby skull artifact, and the hoarse, grotesque laugh of the demon messenger.
But whenever she relaxed even slightly, those images would cling to her like maggots, causing her a dull ache in her soul.
She instinctively clutched the Qingxin Pendant given to her by Chu Yunfan, the cool touch of which slightly calmed her palpitations.
"System... I think I might have PTSD..."
The system's voice was deep: [I suggest the host activate the 'Memory Overwrite Program': Recall the heroic figure of Night Immortal Venerable who shattered all laws with a single sword strike! Replaying it three times can effectively purify visual pollution... Okay, I admit this trick might not work very well; that damn thing really does drain your sanity.]
Tie Pan lowered his head and silently wiped his huge black iron shield.
On the shield, besides the slash marks and corrosion marks left by the battle, there are also some tiny, dark black spots, which are the traces left by the vengeful spirits after they materialized and frantically devoured it, carrying the remnants of cold resentment.
His rough fingers traced the marks without uttering a word.
Mo Yun took out talisman paper and cinnabar, intending to draw a few calming talismans, but found that her fingertips, which were usually as steady as a rock, were trembling slightly uncontrollably, ruining several good talisman papers in a row.
He took a deep breath, slowly put away his tools, and looked at the sea of clouds in the distance, lost in thought.
Even Ji Qianqiu, who was usually the most lively and boisterous, became unusually quiet. He sat in the corner with his arms crossed, his brows furrowed, no longer shouting "Give him a beating," but occasionally shaking his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off something bad.
Shen Yunzhou's aura was colder than usual, and sword energy spontaneously swirled around his body, forming an invisible barrier that separated him from the outside world and also isolated him from the negative emotions that kept trying to invade.
Xie Chen's usual smile disappeared, replaced by a deep silence.
His gaze was lowered as he looked at the mountains and rivers rushing past below, his eyes swirling with thoughts that no one could fathom.
Chu Yunfan's fingers would often unconsciously rub the black crystal from the remnants of the array's core hidden in his sleeve, his brows furrowed, as if he were trying hard to think of some key point.
As they approached the sect's mountain gate, the flying artifact slowly descended.
Chu Yunfan suddenly approached Fang Li, his voice extremely low, so that only she could hear him: "Miss Fang."
Fang Li snapped out of her daze and looked up at him.
Chu Yunfan's gaze was solemn, carrying an unprecedented seriousness: "What we have seen and heard here... is probably not the end of this matter. The ambitions of the Soul Devouring Sect, and the cruelty and strangeness of their methods, far exceed our previous imagination. In the future... we must be careful in everything we do." His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, meaningful, before moving away.
Fang Li's heart stirred, and she was about to ask more questions when the magic artifact landed steadily, so she had to suppress her doubts for the time being.
Inside the Deacon Hall
The person on duty was Qin Meng, the elder of the Punishment Hall. When the six people returned, he put on his usual stern face and prepared to check the task according to the procedure.
Mo Yun presented the mission file, the rubbings of the cult's secret techniques, and a record of the image stone.
Qin Meng initially appeared calm as he took the file and unfolded it.
His expression changed drastically as his gaze swept over the evil array runes drawn with special cinnabar, as well as the descriptions of "Hundred Infant Vengeful Puppet" and "Ten Thousand Soul Corpse Array".
When he saw the words "Refining City and Transforming Domain", his hand trembled violently, and the file almost slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground!
"The Soul Devouring Cult?! The Myriad Soul Corpse Array?! The City Refining Domain?!" He exclaimed in shock, his voice sharp and off-key due to extreme horror, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
He suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping over the group of young disciples before him as if he were seeing them for the first time: "You...you actually encountered such an evil creature?! And...you actually came back alive?!"
"You...you wait here! No! Come with me to see the sect leader immediately! No! I'll go report right away!" Qin Meng was incoherent, no longer caring about procedures or rules. He grabbed the dossier and the recording stone, and hurriedly transformed into a streak of light, rushing straight to the main peak's council hall, even forgetting to arrange for a few people.
The atmosphere inside the council hall was as heavy as ancient, cold iron.
Sect Master Meng Tianzheng was ashen-faced, and the peak masters of all the peaks—Ling Xiaozi of Lengyou Peak, Yao Po Po of Ling Shu Peak, Huo Duan of Lian Yu Peak, Wan Shou Laoren of Huan Ling Peak, and several Supreme Elders who usually remained in seclusion—were all present. Even Qing Xuan Zhenren of Yi Xing Peak rushed over after receiving an urgent message.
Upon receiving the news, Master Qingxuan rushed to the main hall. Seeing his disciple, the old man, disregarding all formalities and arguing with the sect leader, he immediately ran to Fang Li, circling her several times and carefully scanning her with his divine sense to confirm that she hadn't suffered any hidden injuries. Only then did he breathe a long sigh of relief, patting his chest with lingering fear: "It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back! You scared your master to death!"
Fang Li sat down after the inspection was completed.
When the scene of the evil array made of corpses, the prayer flags made of human skin, and the final, earth-shattering scene of Ye Wuyang's Dharma form descending and cleansing away the evil with a single sword was played in the memory stone, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Only their heavy breathing revealed the turmoil in their hearts.
Especially the last blurry yet imposing illusory image of the Dharma, which filled all the elders and peak masters with a sense of awe and shock from the depths of their souls.
"The Soul Devouring Cult... has actually risen from the ashes... and even created the City Refining Domain." A Supreme Elder's voice was dry, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fear.
"Based on the description in the case file and Junior Nephew Chu's judgment, the incident in Qinghe Town is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Behind it, there must be a demon at the Nascent Soul stage or even higher." Meng Tianzheng spoke slowly, his voice heavy: "This matter is no ordinary evil spirit causing trouble; it is a disaster that shakes the foundation of our sect and even the entire cultivation world!"
The meeting results were swift and unanimous:
The task assessment has been directly upgraded to the highest level—Top Grade! All rewards will be specially approved by the sect after calculation.
The sect immediately activated the highest level of alert, secretly investigating all clues that might be related to the "Soul Devouring Cult," and closely monitoring any abnormalities in the population and spiritual energy of various towns.
A strict gag order has been issued regarding the details of Fang Li and the other six people's mission and what they saw and heard! No information may be leaked to the outside world, lest we alert them and cause even greater trouble.
Upon returning to Yixing Peak, Master Qingxuan, without a word, stuffed several bottles of clearly extraordinary pills and a large stack of high-grade talismans radiating spiritual light into Fang Li's arms: "This time was far too dangerous! From today onwards, you will immediately go into seclusion! Calm your mind, stabilize your cultivation, and dispel evil influences! Without your master's order, you are not to leave seclusion!"
Fang Li was a little stunned by her master's rare seriousness and generosity, but she knew it was out of concern that she was confused. Feeling a warmth in her heart, she obediently agreed.
However, just as Fang Li stepped into the cave and prepared to activate the restrictions for secluded cultivation...
In a dark, unknown corner of the sect, an encrypted message, aided by a special magical artifact, silently penetrated the sect's barrier and traveled to an unknown distance.
The message is brief:
“The seeds have been returned, and the bait has been laid.”
The plan continues.
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