“These talismans are strange; I’ve never seen patterns like these before.” Jian Ning carefully examined the talismans, searching her memory to confirm that she had never seen them before.
"These talismans are symbols of curse. They say that everyone who comes here will become a living dead, forever trapped here, their souls taken away, and they will not be able to reincarnate!"
Xiao Lingfeng's voice rang out from the side.
He recognized the worm-like characters as the language of the Turkic period. He had seen them before during missions and had learned a little, though he could only understand the general outline.
Jian Ning's expression changed. "We need to leave here immediately."
Just as the two turned to leave, they noticed a black shadow behind them. The shadow gradually grew larger, forming a figure draped in a black robe.
"You cannot escape; this is my territory. Anyone who comes here must sacrifice their soul."
"If you disagree, then die!" The black-robed figure's voice was hoarse and low, as if he hadn't spoken for many years, and sounded somewhat rusty.
Jian Ning and Xiao Lingfeng exchanged a glance.
"Originally, I didn't want to investigate any further, but you ran away on your own. You're neither human nor ghost."
They didn't even dare to show their own faces.
"You want us to sacrifice our souls? What a pipe dream. I won't leave now. I'd like to see what you're capable of!" Jian Ning said, raising her sword and pointing it at the man in black.
"You have trespassed into my territory, and now you must pay the price." The figure in black robes approached step by step, his robes fluttering even without wind.
"Since you refuse to sacrifice your souls, then stay and become my offerings!" The hoarse voice of the black-robed figure echoed in the air, his eyes flashing with cruel light.
"Your territory is nothing but a dark, damp corner. Now that you've met me, I'll destroy it completely," Jian Ning mocked, her face full of contempt.
Enraged, the figure in black robes roared and charged towards Jian Ning and Xiao Lingfeng.
With lightning speed, they arrived before them in an instant. Two wisps of black mist flew out from the wide sleeves of their robes, seemingly possessing their own consciousness, and chased after the two of them, entangling them.
Their swords slashed at it, but they couldn't cut through it or stop it. They could see that they were almost overwhelmed and about to be entangled by the black mist.
The man in black robes cackled wildly, appearing extremely excited.
"Your skills are nothing special. You think you can bind me with your evil ways? Dream on." Jian Ning pulled out a handful of talismans from his pocket and threw them out.
The incessant rumbling thunder shook the ancient temple three times.
The two plumes of black mist vanished completely under the bombardment of the Five Thunder Talisman. Even the black-robed man's hair stood on end from the lightning strikes.
Although the man in black robes was somewhat stunned by the sudden lightning strike,
However, he didn't seem to be injured; only the black mist around him dissipated somewhat in that instant. His cackling laughter grew even more rampant, as if he didn't take Jian Ning's attack seriously at all.
"Hahaha, you think these damn lightning bolts can hurt me? What a joke." The man in black robes laughed wildly, his whole being exuding an evil aura.
"Give me your life!" Just then, the man in black robes suddenly moved. He transformed into a wisp of black smoke and pounced on Jian Ning. Jian Ning hurriedly retreated, but it was too late. The black smoke instantly wrapped around her body, binding her tightly.
"Hahaha, do you think you can escape my grasp?" The man in black robes laughed wildly as he walked step by step toward Jian Ning.
Jian Ning struggled desperately, trying to break free from the black smoke's restraints with her internal energy, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a golden light flashed from behind the man in black robes, piercing right through his body. The man in black robes froze, looking down at his body pierced by the golden light, his face filled with disbelief.
"You...you used...?" Before the man in black robes could finish speaking, he turned into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.
Jian Ning turned around and saw that Xiao Lingfeng was holding a jade-white flute in his hand. It looked like it was made of bone and was shimmering with green light in his hand.
Where did it come from?
"The bone flute on the altar—I just deciphered the inscription on the back of the yellow silk. It says that this bone flute can subdue all the evil spirits here. So I took it to try, and it actually worked."
"Go and see what else is written here. Is there any useful information about this ancient city?"
Jian Ning pulled Xiao Lingfeng back to the altar, not daring to touch the yellow silk with writing on it.
So many years have passed. If the fabric has been corroded and weathered, it could easily turn to dust with the slightest touch, and then we might not know anything at all.
"Xiao Ning, get me some paper and pen. I'll write all these words down and study them slowly. There are some I really don't understand. Maybe I should go out and ask Brother Xiao."
"Here, write it down, I'll keep you lit."
Jian Ning took out paper and pen from her spatial storage, shone a flashlight on him, and watched him write a few words. Suddenly, she pulled out a brand new language translator from her spatial storage.
After turning it on, he handed it to Xiao Lingfeng.
"It has a dictionary lookup function. Although it can't connect to the internet, it might still be somewhat useful, right?"
“Okay, let’s go out first,” Xiao Lingfeng took the translator, held the text he had written down, and pulled Jian Ning out of the ancient temple.
As soon as he came out, Xiao Wuyu quickly came to greet him.
"What's going on inside? I just heard thunder, was that Jian Ning? Did you use a talisman?"
“Yes, there was an altar inside, and a man in black robes, but Xiao Lingfeng eliminated him with this bone flute.” Jian Ning smiled slightly, her tone full of praise for Xiao Lingfeng.
"Brother Xiao, do you recognize these characters?" Xiao Lingfeng handed the notebook he had copied to Xiao Wuyu.
"Turkic script? I actually recognize it. It says that this ancient city was invaded by an evil spirit, and their holy maiden sacrificed her soul to the evil spirit in exchange for the life of all the people in the city being frozen, waiting for a destined person to come and save them."
Xiao Wuyu was indeed learned and talented; he understood what was written on it after just a quick glance.
"Was that woman in red their saint? Was that man in black an evil spirit? But how do you save people? Is it written up there?"
Jian Ning guessed that the three of them were their destined ones, otherwise how could they have come here after several thousand years?
"Let me see. It says here that there is a tunnel under the altar, where a saintess secretly stored spiritual liquid. If she mixes it with water and gives it to the people to drink, it can lift their current state and revive them."
To prevent evil spirits from destroying the spiritual liquid, the saintess set up an array inside the altar. It needs to be dispelled before one can descend.
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