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Chapter 1072: The Evil Deity's Nightmare
Chapter 1072: The Evil Deity's Nightmare
In the deep, pitch-black darkness, a golden light flickered, coalescing into a bridge of divine perception, extending into the distance.
A pinpoint of starlight appeared on the bridge of perception.
Then, ripples spread through the void, and waves of divine consciousness surged, revealing numerous spiritual essences.
Wen Ren Wan, whose divine perception had taken form with the help of the Great Dream Celestial Guide.
And from Qian Xue Prefecture, the spiritual essences of fourteen cultivators at the Yu Hua Realm or higher.
Among these fourteen cultivators, ten were at the Yu Hua Realm, and four were at the Cavernous Void Realm. In the outside world, the Cavernous Void cultivators would naturally take the lead.
But this was the realm of divine consciousness, the path leading to the Evil Deity's Nightmare. The leader here could only be the Great Elder of Mystic Opportunity Valley, Situ Zhenren.
Situ Zhenren surveyed the surroundings and glanced at everyone, ensuring that Wen Ren Wan's divine consciousness form was unharmed and that the other spiritual essences had no issues. He nodded slightly, then his expression grew solemn as he warned:
"This journey is fraught with danger. Remember to be cautious in your words and actions, and do not make hasty judgments."
"Before the Heavenly Northern Dipper Seven-Star Formation, I have left a Life Lamp for each of you, protecting a wisp of your spiritual essence and preserving a thread of your vitality. Should anything go wrong, recite the Karma Spell, and the Seven-Star Formation will forcefully summon your spiritual essences back."
"However, a forced recall of your spiritual essence can greatly harm your Sea of Consciousness. Do not recite the spell unless you are in dire peril."
"Also, keep the spell in your heart, do not dwell on it, and only recite it when necessary to avoid being detected, which could sever your causal connection and cut off your lifeline..."
The other cultivators, all of whom were divine consciousness cultivators, understood the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly, committing Situ Zhenren's words to memory.
"There is one more thing..." Situ Zhenren glanced at Wen Ren Wan and warned everyone, "We must protect this young lady from the Wen family."
"Mother and child share a heart connection, and the bridge of divine perception is what connects us. If she is harmed and the bridge is severed, we will lose our way back and be trapped in this endless nightmare, facing almost certain death."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
After giving his instructions, Situ Zhenren sighed softly, looking at the boundless darkness around them, his heart heavy.
He never imagined that one day, he would have to slay the Evil Deity. As the "Death Tribulation", this was far too significant.
But then he thought, as a divine consciousness cultivator who had studied the heavenly mysteries since childhood, if he could shoulder the mission to save all living beings and invade the Evil Deity's initial nightmare to perform the "God Slaying" deed, it would be a grand achievement. Whether he lived or died, his fate would be worthwhile.
The only hope was that if he became corrupted, a righteous person would slay him to prevent his remaining body from aiding the Evil Deity and causing havoc in the world.
A righteous person would certainly appear.
If he caused havoc in the world, he would not last long.
With this thought, Situ Zhenren's heart became more at ease.
"Let's go."
Situ Zhenren said solemnly, then led the way alone.
In the group, a white-robed female cultivator supported Wen Ren Wan, closely following behind.
The other divine consciousness cultivators followed behind Situ Zhenren, forming an array to protect Wen Ren Wan in the center.
The pale golden bridge of divine perception, maintained by the Great Dream Celestial Guide, emitted a faint purple light, extending into the distance.
But all around was a vast, pitch-black void.
This darkness was sinister, oppressive, and suffocating, surging toward them as if it could devour all light.
The golden light of the bridge of perception, the purple light of the Great Dream Celestial Guide, and the starlight of the Seven-Star Formation were gradually being consumed by the darkness.
In the boundless darkness, only a thin, blood-red thread, like an umbilical cord, extended from Wen Ren Wan's heart, connecting to the endless darkness, maintaining the link to the other end without breaking.
Mother and child, sharing the same blood.
This was the only beacon for everyone.
And in the vast darkness, it was the only hope and lifeline.
They continued to move forward, walking for what seemed like an eternity, until the bridge of divine perception reached its end and the source of the darkness revealed itself before them.
It was a vast, pitch-black mountain range, stretching endlessly, exuding a sinister and terrifying aura, and a primal savagery, as if forged from countless acts of slaughter, despair, pain, and suffering.
Situ Zhenren's pupils constricted.
The other cultivators' faces also changed.
"This is..."
"The Great Wasteland's Three Thousand Abysses?!"
Everyone stopped and looked at Situ Zhenren, who frowned and sighed, "Let's continue."
There was no turning back now.
Even if it meant facing a mountain of knives, a sea of fire, or a hell of boiling oil, they had to take the journey.
Everyone steeled their resolve and continued forward.
As they crossed the bridge of perception and stepped onto the black mountain, the evil aura grew intense, seeping into their bones. The yin wind howled, filled with a mournful wail.
Situ Zhenren quickly formed a hand seal and summoned the light of the Seven-Star Formation to protect everyone from the yin wind and evil aura, which could harm the foundation of their spiritual essences.
Looking around, they saw the Three Thousand Black Mountains, shrouded in ghostly mists, with bones scattered everywhere and bloodworms wriggling.
Continuing forward, they encountered a desolate landscape, occasionally seeing bizarre and sinister abominations, their forms indescribable.
Some had a human eye and a demon leg, standing on one leg; others had hands for feet and feet for hands, walking in reverse; some had a beast's body and a human face, with misplaced features; others had a single eye and two mouths, their faces grotesquely deformed.
These abominations, like the whimsical creations of a capricious creator, were both whimsical and malevolent, causing discomfort and even nausea.
Situ Zhenren's expression grew grave.
The Great Wasteland's Three Thousand Black Mountains, an endless abyss, were the place where countless beings had perished.
According to the sealed forbidden texts of Mystic Opportunity Valley, this was also the birthplace of the ancient Evil Deity in the Great Wasteland, and thus the origin of its primal nightmare.
"Do not speak or look around, lest you disturb the evil entities", Situ Zhenren said solemnly.
The group of spirit sense cultivators nodded.
Situ Zhenren held his breath and focused his mind, following the blood thread that connected mother and child. With utmost caution, he continued deeper into the nightmare.
The Great Wasteland's Three Thousand Abysses, the birthplace of the Evil Deity's Nightmare, was a place of eerie danger and unknown terrors.
Situ Zhenren had no idea what lay within this nightmare, nor what evil abominations lurked in its depths. Thus, he did not dare to take any unnecessary risks and wished only to reach the origin of the Evil Deity as soon as possible, to eradicate the root of all chaos.
Before that, the fewer complications, the better.
But clearly, things would not go as smoothly as he wished.
The Evil Deity's Nightmare was a natural haven for evil, where abominations and malevolent spirits were everywhere.
Every blade of grass and tree harbored unknown "contaminated beings." The soil might be decaying flesh, the weeds might be writhing worms, and the bones embedded in tree trunks might be bloody and rotten. The water dripping from the sky might be the saliva of some abomination...
The dangers were countless and varied.
A spirit sense cultivator’s divine perception was constantly at risk of contamination while navigating through this evil mountain and polluted water. They had to maintain a high level of concentration for extended periods, without the slightest slack. Any lapse in attention could result in the corruption of their spiritual essence, leaving behind long-term consequences.
Fortunately, the Seven-Star Formation provided significant protection against most evil auras.
The spirit sense cultivators present were all seasoned experts, with rich experience and strong mental fortitude. They supported and guarded each other, managing to overcome most dangers.
As they moved forward, they entered a withered forest, where the yin energy was even heavier and more malevolent.
Situ Zhenren stopped and furrowed his brow, then looked at the scholar-like Yu Hua Zhenren, who held a Bagua Disk.
The "scholar" examined the Bagua Disk, made a hand sign, and after a moment, his gaze sharpened. He pointed to a large tree about ten feet to the right.
One of the cultivators, a Daoist, immediately extended his fingers and summoned a peach wood sword, which he thrust towards the tree.
The peach wood sword, imbued with evil-warding power, struck the tree.
The tree emitted a mournful howl. Its bark peeled away, revealing mottled python skin, from which toxic fluid oozed. Amidst the howling, the tree transformed into a snake, and a massive human face appeared at its top.
The tree was, in fact, a terrifying man-faced giant python.
The man-faced giant python revealed its true form and engaged the spirit sense cultivators in a fierce battle. After a grueling struggle, a Yu Hua warrior, covered in talismanic patterns, subdued it with his spirit sense, and the Daoist finished it off with a single sword strike.
The Elder of the Lesser Spirit Gate cast a Fire Invocation, burning the python to ashes.
Spirit sense battles were no small matter, and eradicating evil abominations was fraught with danger.
Many abominations could not be judged by their appearance or rank alone.
Thus, even though everyone's spirit sense was powerful, they dared not be the slightest bit careless. Every abomination, whether strong or weak, had to be thoroughly exterminated.
Caution was never a mistake.
After slaying the man-faced giant python, Situ Zhenren used his finger to sense its aura and confirmed that its evil power had been completely eradicated. Only then did he feel at ease.
But his expression grew even more serious.
"We must be even more cautious from now on."
The appearance of a large abomination indicated that the path ahead would become increasingly difficult.
As they continued, just as Situ Zhenren had predicted, the abominations became more numerous and malevolent.
These abominations were capable of "eating" people, with a strong desire to attack and an exceptionally devious nature.
Fortunately, the scholar-like Yu Hua spirit essence, from the I Ching Family, was proficient in divination and could manifest a life-linked treasure, the Bagua Evil-Warding Disk. This allowed him to predict dangers and avoid misfortunes.
Whenever an abomination or demon lay in ambush, the Bagua Evil-Warding Disk would tremble, alerting the scholar to the presence of danger. He could then discern the true nature of the threat and guide everyone to safety.
If they could not identify the demons, they would be ambushed.
But if they could identify them, they could strike first.
The difference between offense and defense was significant.
For the Evil Deity, the death of one or two, or even ten or twenty abominations, was insignificant.
But for the spirit sense cultivators, the loss of even one person would be a significant blow, greatly affecting the success of their mission and the safety of everyone involved.
Thus, they moved cautiously through the land teeming with abominations, advancing step by step with great care.
Along the way, they engaged in several battles, slaying a few malevolent abominations. The scenery ahead changed, and in the midst of desolation, they found a withered forest.
Above the withered forest, something was hanging densely.
Situ Zhenren lifted his gaze and felt a chill. He quickly said:
"Don't look!"
Everyone was puzzled but followed Situ Zhenren's advice, averting their eyes from the withered forest.
"Don't look, don't listen. Walk on the left side, keep moving forward, and don't look back."
Everyone remembered Situ Zhenren's words, lowered their heads, and ignored everything around them, focusing on the ground and moving along the left side, bypassing the withered forest.
At the back of the group was the itinerant Daoist.
He, too, kept his gaze low, moving forward. Suddenly, a rough, hoarse voice whispered in his ear:
"Look at me..."
"Look at me..."
...
Curiosity stirred in the Daoist's heart, and for a moment, he really wanted to turn around and see who was speaking to him.
But his reason told him it was a trick of the abominations, not to be trusted.
He gathered his focus and kept his gaze on the ground.
But as he looked, the ground began to blur, and a clearer voice echoed in his ear:
"You see me."
The Daoist was startled, thinking it impossible. He hadn't turned his head; how could he see anything?
He quickly turned to confirm, but as soon as his head moved, he realized:
"Trouble, I've been tricked!"
But it was too late. His spiritual essence reacted slowly, but his body moved faster.
By the time he realized the problem, he had already turned his head and, in an instant, saw a head hanging from the withered forest.
It was a severed head, the face decayed and rotten, but the eyes were intact, glowing with a ghostly gray and an unholy light, staring straight at him.
And it wasn’t just one head.
The Daoist saw the skull, and at the same time, the entire Wilted Forest, his face instantly turning pale.
The Wilted Forest was desolate, with bare branches hanging with countless heads.
“I see you!”
The head that had been staring at him grinned with a twisted smile.
At the same moment, all the heads in the Wilted Forest turned, their mouths opening in sinister grins.
They all said:
“I see you!”
In an instant, thousands of eerie, mournful voices merged, like demonic sounds piercing through the Daoist’s eardrums and into his mind, making his head spin and his spiritual essence flicker.
Situ Zhenren, who was leading the group, his expression changed drastically. He exclaimed, “Not good!” Immediately, he summoned his spiritual essence, invoked the true spell, and summoned the Seven-Star Formation's light to protect everyone’s divine perception.
However, while the Seven-Star Formation’s light could resist evil auras, it was less effective against the bewitching evil sounds.
Eerie howls still echoed in everyone’s ears.
The ghostly faces of the severed heads seemed to be right next to their ears, whispering:
“I see you!”
“You can’t escape!”
“Stay here forever…”
The one who suffered the most was Wen Ren Wan.
His cultivation was only at the Golden Core stage, unable to project his spiritual essence. His divine perception was manifested through the Great Dream Celestial Guide, which was inherently weak. Coupled with the strain of forcing his Sea of Consciousness to bridge the divine perception, bearing the burden of everyone crossing the black mist and entering the Evil Deity’s Nightmare, his divine perception was already fragile. The demonic sounds further aggravated his condition, and his spiritual essence was on the verge of fracturing.
Seeing this, Situ Zhenren was alarmed and quickly said:
“Quick, the Three Pure Ones Bell!”
The white-robed female Daoist, who was standing beside Wen Ren Wan, endured the interference of the evil sounds and immediately formed the lotus seal, her clear white divine perception flowing, manifesting a bell made of gold and jade with ancient inscriptions.
This treasure, the Three Pure Ones Bell, was a supreme divine artifact. Only those with a great lineage and a clear mind could refine and activate it.
The white-robed female Daoist exerted her strength to activate the Three Pure Ones Bell, and instantly, a clear sound rang out, dispelling the evil sounds.
The eerie voices no longer disturbed everyone, and Wen Ren Wan’s condition improved significantly.
“Quick, let’s go!”
Situ Zhenren said sternly.
Without hesitation, everyone, protected by the clear and righteous sound of the Three Pure Ones Bell, quickly evacuated, moving away from the Wilted Forest and the countless evil heads hanging from its branches.
After leaving the Wilted Forest, they reached a gray-black mountain range, where they paused to catch their breath.
But time was short, and they couldn’t afford to rest long.
“Let’s continue. We need to reach the depths of the Black Mountain as soon as possible,” Situ Zhenren stood up, about to say something, but then his expression changed as he noticed something.
One person was missing?
Everyone exchanged glances, their faces immediately turning pale as they realized the problem.
“Where’s the Scholar?”
“Didn’t he escape the Wilted Forest with us?”
“Is that true?”
“I can’t remember if he made it out…”
Everyone’s expressions grew heavy.
Situ Zhenren’s brows furrowed. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Let’s go back and look for him.”
They had worked together, and it was impossible to leave a comrade in danger.
Moreover, the Scholar held a special position. His knowledge of the Heavenly Opportunity Spell and the Bagua Disk for warding off evil could be crucial.
They retraced their steps and soon found the Scholar outside the Wilted Forest.
He hadn’t been trapped in the forest, consumed by the myriad demonic sounds, which was a stroke of luck. Situ Zhenren and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
But before they could fully relax, the large man covered in talismans frowned and said:
“His appearance… seems a bit strange?”
Despite the emptiness around them, the Scholar stood with his back to the group, as if embracing something and making intimate gestures.
The large man frowned and approached him, but he was startled and quickly pushed the Scholar away.
When the Scholar turned around, everyone saw his face and neck covered in bright red lip marks.
These lip marks, left by some unknown entity, were as red as blood and still moving, like worms, sucking blood and consuming flesh, causing the Scholar’s body to decay and rot, and the marks were spreading…
Everyone’s expressions changed.
Situ Zhenren also drew a sharp breath.
The Scholar’s face was a mix of obsession and regret.
He seemed to be lost in desire, unable to break free, but deep down, he knew he had been tricked and was struggling with regret and frustration.
Situ Zhenren knew the situation was urgent and did not hesitate. He took out a Pure Yang Talisman and placed it on the Scholar’s chest, suppressing the spreading, blood-red, and cruelly sensual lip marks.
Under the Pure Yang Talisman’s suppression, the Scholar’s spiritual essence seemed to be burned by a scorching sun, emitting white smoke.
But the evil aura continued to spread.
Situ Zhenren’s fingertips glowed with starlight, and he pointed at the Scholar’s forehead, taking advantage of the clarity brought by the Seven-Star Formation’s light, and urgently said:
“Quick! Recite the spell!”
The Scholar’s lips moved, as if reluctant.
Situ Zhenren said, “If you don’t leave now, you will be completely destroyed!”
The Scholar gritted his teeth, his face a mix of shame and pain, as he silently recited the spell Situ Zhenren had told him. Then, the Seven-Star Formation’s light flashed, and his entire spiritual essence began to twist, being forcefully pulled out of the nightmare by the Seven-Star power.
But he had already been contaminated.
What would happen to him after this, Situ Zhenren did not know.
Situ Zhenren sighed slowly, looking around, his heart sinking.
He didn’t know what had happened.
But clearly, some unknown creature had acted in secret, bewitched the Scholar, and contaminated him.
Before they even reached the Evil Deity, one of the fourteen had already fallen.
And the Evil Deity’s nightmare had finally revealed its unseen, sinister fangs…
(End of Chapter)
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