Ning Zhi hung up the phone, his mood somewhat heavy.
On one hand, he disapproved of certain practices of the Master Association, and on the other, he blamed himself for implicating the entire Ning family.
The Ning family was only considered a third-rate lineage in Longjing City. They had been relatively unknown until Ning Zhi rose to fame at a young age, which brought the family more resources within the mystical community.
"I don't understand. The Master Association turns a blind eye to those harmful Cultivator organizations but insists on targeting us. Why?" Chen Feilu complained indignantly.
Qi Quan said, "They are targeting me."
There were still unresolved doubts surrounding the original body's death. The reason Ding Ji gave—"jealousy"—seemed particularly flimsy.
Since he was a member of a Cultivator organization, he was undoubtedly acting on orders from someone behind the scenes.
The mastermind wanted the "real heiress" dead but couldn't be too obvious about it. First, there was the "switched at birth," then the "return," and finally, manipulating someone to "scare the real heiress to death." The plan was meticulous and thorough.
But now she was alive and well. She had killed Ding Ji, injured Yan Wu, and disrupted their operations. Naturally, the other side couldn't sit still anymore.
Pressuring the Ning family was a warning.
"No," Ning Zhi shook his head. "Some people also have a grudge against me."
He was a newly risen genius who had stolen the spotlight from certain individuals, which naturally bred resentment. The resources within the mystical community were finite; having one less family to compete with was only better for others.
Where there are people, there is conflict.
Chen Feilu frowned. "Could it be Wei Huanyang? He was publicly embarrassed on Weibo and must be holding a grudge. Plus, you outperformed him at the last Mystical Arts Tournament. It's entirely possible he's seizing this chance to cause trouble."
"Unclear."
Ning Zhi's heart felt heavy. Due to his outstanding talent, he had borne the family's high hopes since childhood. His family wished for him to lead the clan to prosperity and secure a place for them within Longjing City's mystical circles.
At the very least, to shed the "third-rate" label.
But now, his family was bearing risks because of his choices.
Han Mian couldn't interfere in mystical matters, but he still couldn't help grumbling. "Instead of doing their actual jobs, they hassle the Masters who are. We might as well form our own team."
He was both worried and genuinely interested in recruiting Qi Quan and Ning Zhi for the official side.
Ning Zhi forced a smile to mask the bitterness in his eyes. He took a deep breath and said, "Senior, I need to return to Longjing as soon as possible."
Qi Quan said, "Don't rush."
"Senior, please give any instructions you have." He now had complete trust in Qi Quan.
His previous prejudice, born from her having ghost servants, had completely vanished after witnessing Qi Quan's seemingly casual yet principled and just way of handling matters.
Her taking in ghost servants hadn't harmed anyone. In fact, it had been a blessing for Su Rong and Xue Hong, a mutually beneficial good deed, fundamentally different from how other Cultivators raised ghost servants.
If the Master Association targeted her for this while ignoring rampant Cultivator organizations, Ning Zhi would only grow more disappointed in them.
"Flying Crane Talisman," Qi Quan turned to look out the window.
The restaurant private room was on the second floor by the window. Across from it were newly built residential buildings, their lights twinkling like stars. In the interweaving of night and lamplight, a translucent, jade-glowing Flying Crane Talisman landed on the windowpane.
The crane tapped the glass with its wing.
Ning Zhi exclaimed in surprise, "Why is this here?"
The Flying Crane Talisman was a method used by the mystical community for long-distance notifications. This crane had the Master Association's emblem on its wing. Any registered Master carrying a Master Certificate could be found by it.
It could sense Masters within a set range via their certificates.
Ning Zhi opened the window.
The Flying Crane Talisman floated in, holding its head high and extending its right wing with an air of restraint.
On its right wing was etched a peach wood sword pattern—the emblem of the Master Association.
Ning Zhi took out his Master Certificate and aligned its emblem with the one on the wing. The crane immediately emitted a flash of light. After the light, an ethereal voice reached his ears:
[Master Ning Zhi, greetings. Welcome to Longtan City. An urgent mission requires your assistance. In Yaoshan, Ningtao County, a large number of people have mysteriously disappeared, suspected to be a paranormal phenomenon. The official authorities have requested aid from the Master Association. You may proceed to Yaoshan to participate in the search and rescue operation for the trapped individuals based on your actual circumstances.]...
After the notification finished, the crane's form dissipated into points of light.
Due to remote control and being dispatched in large batches simultaneously, Flying Crane Talismans consumed significant spiritual power. The Master Association didn't use them lightly.
Likely, the high number of trapped individuals and the slightly firmer stance from the officials forced the Longtan City branch of the Master Association to resort to this method.
However, judging by the wording of the notification, the Master Association's attitude was haughty, exuding arrogance between the lines.
They showed no real interest in the rescue operation, nor did they strongly urge Masters to go to Yaoshan.
Most Masters were arrogant and looked down on ordinary lives. With such a perfunctory call for aid, most Masters wouldn't care.
Wouldn't it be better to use this time to improve their cultivation? Or take on a paid job to earn some money?
Why exert effort for free?
"Yaoshan in Ningtao County," Chen Feilu quickly located it on his phone. "An hour's drive."
He knew Ning Zhi's character well and was sure he wouldn't stand by without helping.
Ning Zhi's expression turned solemn. "Alright, saving people is the priority."
Han Mian thought to himself: He really has the makings of a good police officer.
"Master, perhaps you should return to Longjiang City first," Ning Zhi said apologetically. "Feilu and I will go to Yaoshan."
Just as Qi Quan was about to speak.
[Big Boss, a reader sent you a private message on Weibo! It's a cry for help!] the system suddenly announced.
Qi Quan: [Read it.]
[If you see this, tell me to go prepare lessons: Master Clear Water, I don't know if you can see this, but I believe you must be a very capable Master. The remains of the trafficked child mentioned in your novel were found in the river of my village; I witnessed it myself. I didn't want to bother you, but I really don't know what to do now. Several children, teachers, and parents from our school have gone missing. The police went to search for them and have also lost contact. I'm really worried now. If you have time, could you please perform a divination to find out where they are? I'll send you gifts!]
After reading it, the system said: [Big Boss, this reader has been commenting since the first chapter. She did mention in the comments that she was present when Butler Su was retrieved from the river. Also, she often defends you in comments and sends you gifts.]
Its meaning was quite clear.
Qi Quan had already intended to go to Yaoshan. The situation there was likely beyond what Ning Zhi, a fourth-level Master, could handle alone.
The Long-bearded Master had said that within the Longtan City area, he was considered a top expert. This indicated that the Masters in Longtan City had limited capabilities. Even if some went, it might not help.
She said to Ning Zhi, "I'll go with you."
The situation was urgent. Without further discussion, the group parted ways outside the restaurant.
Han Mian was still tied to the "Longjiang University Dismemberment Case" and couldn't accompany them, so he returned to Longjiang City with his officers.
Just as the car was about to drive off.
"Wait." Qi Quan stopped him, opened the rear door, and took out a box of pastries.
Su Rong had packed these for her to eat on the road; she hadn't touched them yet.
"Master, shall we set off now?" Chen Feilu asked.
Qi Quan nodded and got into their car.
Chen Feilu drove the car, with Ning Zhi in the passenger seat, leaving the back seat for Qi Quan alone.
She took out her phone and opened her Weibo private messages.
Ningtao County First High School teacher's dormitory.
Luo Xiaoyu sat on her bed, refreshing Weibo over and over, and praying together with her colleagues in the teachers' group chat.
Those missing children were also students she taught. Although they were usually a bit mischievous, they were all good kids. She really didn't want anything to happen to them.
I wonder if Master Baishui will see the Weibo message.
Although the authorities hadn't revealed any plans to enlist a Taoist master, and ordinary people assumed the missing persons were just in danger without considering other possibilities, Luo Xiaoyu was a devoted fan of "Diary of a Wealthy Family," so her mind went there.
She had heard the stories about Yao Mountain since she was a child.
When her grandmother was still alive, she often told her that Yao Mountain used to be a place of beautiful scenery, with abundant resources on the mountain. Villagers often went into the mountains to find food and useful things; Yao Mountain sustained many people.
...
But about thirty years ago, Yao Mountain changed.
People frequently went missing in the mountains, never to be found. Later, as the country developed and the economy prospered, people no longer had to rely solely on the mountains for survival. Fewer and fewer people ventured into the mountains, and the eerie nature of Yao Mountain gradually became little known.
Only people near Yao Mountain might have heard of it.
In the year she was born, Ningtao County planned development. Yao Mountain had many rare tree species, and its climate and soil were suitable for growing some useful plants. The authorities organized an expert research team to survey the mountain. However, the entire team disappeared into the mountains and was never heard from again.
The development of Yao Mountain had to be halted.
Luo Xiaoyu grew up hearing these stories and felt a deep-seated awe for Yao Mountain.
Before reading "Diary of a Wealthy Family," she wouldn't have been so earnest about seeking help from a master. But after personally experiencing the incident of retrieving a child's remains, she had extraordinary faith in Master Baishui.
When the incident happened, her first reaction was to ask Master Baishui for help.
Luo Xiaoyu clutched her phone, so nervous she was breaking out in a cold sweat.
Only at this moment did she realize how insignificant she was.
Her phone chirped.
She looked excitedly, but it was a message in the group chat, not a private message.
Just as she felt disappointed, a private message popped up.
[Baishui Zhenren: Okay.]
That simple one-word reply made Luo Xiaoyu burst into tears instantly.
She wiped her tears away and, regardless of whether Master Baishui could actually help, went to the "Diary of a Wealthy Family" page and donated a lot of "thunder" gifts, almost equivalent to half a month's salary.
In the car, the system reported to Qi Quan: [Big Boss, "If You See Me Please Tell Me to Go Prepare Lessons" just gave you 20 Deep Water gifts.]
Qi Quan: [Just based on her intention to save people, she will surely have peace and smooth sailing, a worry-free life from now on.]
The system: [Yes! You will too, Big Boss!]
The more time it spent with the Big Boss, the more it could sense the benevolent heart hidden beneath her indifferent demeanor.
A Taoist master like this was truly a good one.
It's just a pity she wasn't a good writer, alas.
There would definitely be no update tonight.
At the foothills of Yao Mountain in Ningtao County.
The authorities' second wave of rescue teams had arrived, including forest firefighters, the county fire brigade, and a professional civilian rescue team, totaling forty-five people.
The leader was Fire Brigade Captain Lin Yue.
Tents had been set up in the foothill area, establishing a temporary command center.
He stood outside a tent, anxiously looking down the road.
"Captain Lin, what are we still waiting for? Every second we wait, the safety of the missing persons decreases by a bit."
The speaker was a man in his thirties named Zheng Guangming. He looked ordinary but was tall and powerfully built. He was the vice president of the Outdoor Sports Association and also the leader of the civilian rescue team.
Lin Yue was also very anxious, but his superiors had instructed him to wait for people from some Taoist Master Association to enter the mountain together. They were to wait for one hour from the time of the order. If no one showed up after an hour, they would proceed into the mountain as originally planned.
Having worked for many years, Lin Yue had never heard of an organization called the Taoist Master Association. Judging by the name, it sounded like a profession from fantasy novels, usually involving Taoist priests or monks.
He was very puzzled. What did rescue missions have to do with Taoist priests or monks?
But he had to follow orders.
"There are still rescue personnel who haven't arrived. Let's wait a little longer." He took a deep breath. Only ten minutes remained.
Zheng Guangming had participated in many rescue missions but had never encountered such low efficiency. Anxious to save people, he couldn't wait any longer and said in a rough voice, "Captain Lin, how about you wait here, and we'll go into the mountain first?"
To rescue the missing persons as soon as possible, they were willing to enter the mountain even at night.
"Entering the mountain at night isn't safe. Let's wait a little longer."
As soon as Lin Yue finished speaking, the beams of two headlights shone directly towards them.
They're here!
Soon, a car worth around seven or eight hundred thousand stopped in front of them. Two people got out.
One was a man who appeared to be in his thirties, with decent looks and an extraordinary air. The other was a young man in his early twenties, good-looking, wearing brand-name clothes and a watch worth hundreds of thousands—clearly someone who didn't lack money.
Zheng Guangming saw them and felt speechless.
Just these two?
Lin Yue stepped forward to greet them, extending his hand. "I'm Lin Yue, the person in charge of this rescue mission. Hello."
The older man didn't speak, maintaining an inscrutable demeanor.
"Captain Lin," the young man said with a grin, shaking his hand. "We've been assigned by the Taoist Master Association to participate in the rescue mission. I'm Fang Ye, and this is Senior Chu Changyi."
Zheng Guangming: ???
What in the world?
Of course, anyone who could participate in the rescue mission and contribute was a good comrade. He shouldn't judge by appearances.
"Welcome, welcome!" he said hurriedly. "Since you're here, let's prepare to enter the mountain!"
"Wait a moment." Fang Ye smiled, pulling a compass from his backpack.
He had been relaxed at first, but when he saw the compass needle spinning wildly like a headless fly, his heart instantly tightened.
He instinctively looked at Chu Changyi.
"Senior, this..."
Chu Changyi's expression remained unchanged, but a trace of wariness flashed in his eyes.
The compass was powered by spiritual energy. For it to spin wildly like a headless fly meant either there was a problem with the spiritual energy field, or the entity here exceeded a certain threshold.
He quickly produced a talisman. The talisman transformed into a stream of light and shot towards the dark, eerie depths of the mountain range. Within seconds, the light suddenly dimmed, and Chu Changyi's face paled.
Fang Ye noticed something was wrong and couldn't help but feel afraid.
Before coming, he hadn't known the severity of the situation. He was a newcomer to the Association. This time, after the Taoist Master Association received the official notification, they used a Flying Crane Talisman to notify the masters within the Longtan City area. Finding that almost an hour had passed with no response from any master, they had to put on a show and send him and Senior Chu.
They were in a difficult position now.
Leaving would mean losing face; staying could mean risking their lives.
Who would have thought the ghostly thing in Yao Mountain was so powerful?
"Senior Chu, doesn't the Association have a department that monitors local ghosts and monsters? How could something of such a high level have gone unnoticed all this time?"
Chu Changyi glanced at him.
Youth is youth. Having just entered the Association, how could he know how deep the waters ran inside?
The forces within the Celestial Master Association are intricate and complex. Monitoring and dealing with ghosts and monsters is a thankless task that also wastes cultivation time. Who would be willing to do it?
To gain a voice within the Celestial Master Association, various sects and major families all push their people into the association. Positions like monitoring ghosts and monsters, which both waste spiritual power and easily offend people, are ones nobody wants.
Firstly, monitoring ghost and monster activity signs across the entire city requires activating complex and massive arrays, consuming a great deal of spiritual energy. In the current world, spiritual energy is a precious resource, and no one is willing to waste it.
Secondly, once a powerful ghost is detected, should it be reported or not?
If reported, the association organizes Celestial Masters to go exterminate the ghost. The masters, unwilling but forced to go, would naturally harbor resentment. If not reported, and evil ghosts later run rampant, the monitoring department would be the first to be held accountable.
Therefore, the current monitoring department exists in name only.
He flicked his sleeve and said, "The sudden appearance of an evil ghost must be due to committing a great many killings in a short time. Let's go back. The person cannot be saved."
Fang Ye hesitated, "...Understood."
Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming: ???
Are you two putting on a show here?
Both of them had seen clearly the scene of the talisman paper transforming into a stream of light.
Lin Yue, knowing their identities and somewhat mentally prepared, managed to hold his composure. Zheng Guangming completely failed to hold his, his eyes wide open until he heard Chu Changyi's words, which snapped him back to reality.
"Captain Lin, let's just head into the mountains," Zheng Guangming said in a rough voice.
Lin Yue felt quite disappointed. Seeing Chu Changyi perform the spell, he had thought there might be some genuine mystical skill, but who knew... Ah, forget it.
After all, they weren't professional rescue personnel to begin with. It's understandable they didn't want to enter the mountains.
Even if the missing person had truly met with an accident, the rescue team still needed to recover the body.
...
He turned to mobilize the rescue team.
Suddenly, another pair of headlights approached, cutting through the pitch-black path and arriving before the tents.
Zheng Guangming was already impatient. If not for Lin Yue holding him back, he would have led the team into the mountains long ago.
"Captain Lin, time is of the essence!"
Lin Yue checked the time. Not a minute more, not a minute less, perfectly hitting the last minute. Just in time.
The car stopped next to Fang Ye's vehicle.
The two from the driver and passenger seats got out first, both extremely young men who looked like university students.
They're too young. Are they reliable?
Then, the rear door opened.
A young woman bent down and stepped out. She wore a minimalist grey tracksuit, was tall and slender, with her hair in a ponytail. Below her smooth forehead were exceptionally beautiful eyes and brows.
The gloom at the mountain's foot couldn't suppress her radiant aura and brilliance.
Fang Ye's eyes lit up slightly, his intended departing steps unconsciously slowing.
Sensing the Celestial Master aura on Ning Zhi, he smiled and stepped forward, "Hello, I'm Fang Ye from the Longtan City Celestial Master Association, a Second-level Celestial Master."
He extended his hand towards Ning Zhi, but his peripheral gaze was fixed on Qi Quan.
System: [Big shot, this guy is stealing glances at you, how creepy!]
Qi Quan: ...
She turned around, gazing towards Yao Mountain in the night.
The forest was dense, the shadows silent.
The sky was dim and lightless, stars and moon obscured by dark clouds. The pitch-black mountain forest was the favorite carnival ground for ghosts and monsters.
A carnival ground, yet also a sturdy cage.
A soaring black aura enveloped the entire mountain range. Within the black aura lurked suppression, fury, hatred, and a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
Ning Zhi shook Fang Ye's hand. "Ning Zhi, Fourth-level Celestial Master from the Longjing City Celestial Master Association."
Fang Ye: "..."
Can't compare, can't compare.
He forced a slightly unnatural smile and said casually, "Senior Ning, are you planning to enter the mountains?"
Ning Zhi: "Yes."
"The thing in the mountains is no simple matter," Fang Ye said. "Senior, please be careful."
"Naturally," Ning Zhi nodded.
Fang Ye, having failed to strike up a conversation with Qi Quan, felt somewhat disappointed. A flash of inspiration hit him, and he said, "This young lady and that young man had better not enter the mountains. It's very dangerous."
Observing the auras of Qi Quan and Chen Feilu, he couldn't discern anything particular, concluding that the two were not Celestial Masters.
Chen Feilu blinked.
He would indeed be deadweight going into the mountains, but for the Master to go in would be like having a golden thigh to cling to!
By now, Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming had prepared the rescue equipment and supplies, assembled the team, and were ready to set off immediately.
Lin Yue, out of courtesy, asked, "Which of you are entering the mountains?"
Ning Zhi pointed to himself and Qi Quan. "The two of us."
"Alright, let's go."
Although he didn't hold much hope for the young Ning Zhi and Qi Quan, since Fang Ye addressed Ning Zhi as 'senior,' it meant this young man Ning Zhi likely had some skill.
"Huh?" Fang Ye exclaimed in surprise. "The young lady is going too?"
He froze for a few seconds, gritted his teeth, and then followed the team as well.
Chu Changyi: "What are you doing?"
Fang Ye: "Rescuing people!"
Chu Changyi: "..."
Young people, always so competitive and eager to show off. Hah, truly reckless and unaware of the dangers.
He paid no more attention and drove away by himself.
Chen Feilu stayed at the command center, mingling with the logistics support staff.
Within the rescue team, Zheng Guangming leaned close to Lin Yue's ear and whispered, "You're really taking three youngsters into the mountains?"
"Since it's an instruction from above, whoever they send, we just follow orders," Lin Yue said firmly.
Zheng Guangming sighed helplessly, "I'm just worried that if we really encounter danger, we won't be able to look after them."
They're all vibrant lives. It's truly hard to bear the thought.
Looking at these three, each younger than the last, each more attractive than the last, they didn't seem like people who could endure hardship.
"Should we have them walk in the middle of the team?"
Lin Yue thought for a moment. "That might be good."
...
When setting off, he equipped all three with communicators. He then opened the channel, preparing to call them.
Who would have thought that as soon as he pressed the button, the communicator emitted a sharp "crackle" and completely lost signal.
"What's going on?"
Zheng Guangming's heart tightened. He quickly adjusted his own communicator, only for another "crackle" to sound, rendering it completely useless.
"Stop right where you are!"
Lin Yue used his flashlight to signal the team behind with different light patterns.
The team halted.
At the rear, Fang Ye sidled up to Qi Quan's right side and said with great masculine bravado, "Don't worry, miss. Actually, Yao Mountain is nothing much. If there really is something, I'll definitely protect you!"
Ning Zhi: "..."
The system shared his sentiment: [Where did this overconfident guy come from!]
Qi Quan said, "The team has stopped."
"Ah?" Fang Ye, hearing her speak for the first time, felt a surge of joy in his heart and didn't even clearly hear what she said.
Zheng Guangming strode to the back of the team.
"You three, come with me to the front." He was tall and imposing, with an upright face that exuded a strong sense of security.
With the team's communicators down, it was better to keep these three under close watch. The other team members were professionally trained and more reliable.
Qi Quan said, "The communicators are unusable. It's very dangerous."
Zheng Guangming was taken aback. "We haven't gone far. You can still turn back now."
"What I mean is, it will be very dangerous for you to continue into the mountains," Qi Quan said with a serious expression.
With so many people, if danger arose, she couldn't guarantee she could protect everyone.
But these people were following orders. It wasn't her place to arbitrarily tell them to withdraw from the rescue mission.
Zheng Guangming saw the concern in her eyes and felt a warmth in his heart. He said gently, "The people trapped in the mountains are in greater danger. You're still young, go back."
Qi Quan said earnestly, "Mr. Zheng, my suggestion is for the team to stay put here. You and Captain Lin Yue should come with us."
"Wait, have you misunderstood—" Zheng Guangming's words cut off abruptly.
A pale talisman appeared in Qi Quan's palm.
The talisman was exquisitely crafted, floating just above her hand. It seemed to depict a semicircle, shimmering with a faint golden light.
This miraculous sight left him stunned and speechless.
"A Guardian Array Talisman!" Fang Ye exclaimed in surprise.
This was a high-level, rare talisman. It required a Master to be proficient in both talisman-crafting and array formations, combining a protective array with a talisman to create a portable charm. At a critical moment, it could activate a protective array to ward off external threats.
External threats included ghosts and other Masters.
He had only read about such Guardian Array Talismans in ancient texts, thinking they were just an exaggerated legend.
Within the Mystic Arts community, those who mastered a single discipline to a high level were already as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, let alone mastering two disciplines simultaneously at a high level.
No wonder she was so confident; she must have a formidable backer.
Fang Ye wisely set aside his previous underestimation.
"Mr. Zheng, we can't afford to waste any more time."
Qi Quan stood in the pitch-black mountain forest, her slender shoulders and back ramrod straight, her expression solemn and grave. The miraculous object in her palm demanded attention.
Zheng Guangming swallowed and said, "But our duty is search and rescue. We can't just hide here and do nothing, right?"
It went against their professional code.
Qi Quan said calmly, "You can risk your lives to save others, and you also have the right to accept rescue from others."
Zheng Guangming felt a lump in his throat, momentarily unable to speak.
He led a civilian rescue team. All its members possessed warm, kind hearts. They received no salary, no benefits, no holidays—only a chest full of courage and determination.
They did heroic work, yet sometimes what they received in return were complaints and a sense of entitlement from others.
This was the first time he had heard someone say they wanted to protect them.
"Time is running out. Gather the team members and have them huddle together," Qi Quan instructed.
Zheng Guangming wiped his face.
When the com...munications equipment failed, he and Lin Yue had already noticed the abnormality and prepared for the worst.
"Alright."
He ran back to explain the situation to Lin Yue. Naturally, Lin Yue was unwilling to watch his team members walk to their deaths. After personally verifying Qi Quan's capabilities, he asked one question:
"Master Qi, are you confident?"
Qi Quan nodded.
Lin Yue said, "In that case, Old Zheng and I will go with you. The other team members should return the way they came."
"Look at the path behind you," Qi Quan reminded them.
Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming quickly shone their flashlights behind them.
Heavens!
The path had completely vanished!
Had they really encountered a "ghost wall"?
Qi Quan said calmly, "Make your decision."
The two men exchanged a glance and immediately made up their minds.
They gathered all the team members and informed them of the actual situation. The team members had all received professional training. Though somewhat nervous, they all maintained a calm demeanor.
"Everyone, sit down in a tight circle. Do not move recklessly until we return."
Once the team members were gathered in an orderly circle, Lin Yue turned to Qi Quan. "We appreciate your efforts."
Qi Quan stood before the group. The Guardian Array Talisman shot into the air above them like a meteor.
The team members: ???
Even though they were mentally prepared, seeing it with their own eyes still felt like they'd wandered onto the wrong movie set.
Qi Quan sent a pulse of spiritual power from her fingertips. The pale talisman instantly transformed into streams of fine, shimmering light, taking on a semicircular shape that enveloped all the team members within the protective array.
This way, they would be shielded from sinister, ghostly influences.
System: [Big Boss, why didn't you stop them from going up the mountain back at the foot?]
Qi Quan: [They wouldn't have believed me. I didn't want to waste time on pointless debate.]
[Big Boss thinks of everything.]
Everyone marveled at this magical and beautiful scene. The faint golden array dispelled the darkness and terror of the mountain forest.
Warm and bright.
Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming looked at Qi Quan, about to ask about the next steps, when they heard her give orders:
"Ning Zhi, you take Captain Lin. This one..."
She looked at Fang Ye.
"This junior is called Fang Ye," Fang Ye promptly replied.
Qi Quan: "Master Fang, take Mr. Zheng. Use Swift Movement Talismans."
"Yes." Ning Zhi didn't hesitate, immediately placing a Swift Movement Talisman on Lin Yue.
Fang Ye, not wanting to fall behind, followed suit.
Everything was ready.
Qi Quan: "Follow me."
A gentle wind rustled through the forest, leaves whispering, yet no trace was left on the ground.
Ning Zhi grabbed Lin Yue's wrist, activated the Swift Movement Talisman with spiritual power, and closely followed the figure ahead.
Fang Ye: "..."
Wait for me!
High-speed movement didn't affect the Masters, but for ordinary people, it was a formidable challenge. Fortunately, Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming were enveloped in spiritual energy and remained unaffected.
Qi Quan followed the source of the dark energy, heading straight for the heart of the mountains.
[Big Boss, since you're confident you can deal with the malevolent ghost, why bring them along?] The system was puzzled.
Actually, it thought the Big Boss could have just entered the mountains alone to vanquish the ghost.
Qi Quan: [And after vanquishing it?]
[What?]
[There are still the people waiting for rescue.]
The system asked: [What about them?]
[Who will reassure them?]
The system fell silent for a moment.
That made sense.
But—
[The first batch of rescuers went into the mountains.]
[They're scattered, not in the same place.]
[I see.]
The pitch-black mountain forest held not a sliver of light, like a massive cage wrapped in black cloth.
The heart of the mountains.
A man floated in mid-air, dressed in worn, old-fashioned work clothes, his back slightly hunched. Beneath his disheveled hair, his eyes glowed red, the color of fresh blood.
...
He was waiting.
When midnight arrived, he could feast on those few fresh, delicious living souls below. Using that moment of peak Yin energy, he would successfully advance his rank.
Once he advanced, he could leave this damned place forever!
He could go find that scumbag and take his revenge!
The male ghost revealed a sinister, twisted smile.
The so-called living souls were the several missing students, along with the teachers and parents who had come searching for them.
As for that first batch of rescuers, because their righteous aura was formidable and they all carried merit from good deeds, the male ghost didn't dare provoke them lightly and had trapped them in an illusion instead.
Hmm? More people have entered the mountains?
Hah, they really don't know when to quit.
He spread his arms. Dark energy churned within him; the entire mountain was under his control.
The second rescue team also stepped into the illusion. Their communications failed, the path ahead and behind vanished.
The male ghost sneered contemptuously.
As he laughed, resentment welled up again. His gaze, filled with jealousy and loathing, fell upon the people below.
Why!
Why is it that when these people go missing, they send batch after batch of rescuers?
Yet when he disappeared all those years ago, not a single person cared?
The male ghost let out a cold laugh and swooped down, grabbing a male student and flying back into the air.
"Ahhhhhhhhh—"
The boy, already terrified from being trapped here, nearly lost his soul when lifted into the air and fainted on the spot.
"Pathetic coward," the male ghost scoffed, pretending to drop him from the great height.
Anyway, it's almost time. He's going to die regardless.
"No!" the boy's father cried out in anguish.
He instinctively stretched out his arms, trying to catch his son, but the malevolent ghost maliciously changed direction, throwing the boy towards a tree further away.
Just as the boy's head was about to smash against the tree trunk, a gentle surge of spiritual energy lifted his body, allowing him to land softly.
The boy's father went from shock to joy, kneeling on the ground and shouting, "Little Feng! Little Feng!"
He was trapped within the malevolent ghost's ghost domain, unable to break free to check on his son.
"Who's there?!" The malevolent ghost's expression abruptly changed, his face turning severe as he stared in the direction where the boy had landed.
From behind the dense thicket of the jungle, a woman came into view.
The red in the malevolent ghost's eyes deepened.
Why hadn't he sensed her at all? Who exactly was this woman?
Qi Quan stood still, looking up at the malevolent ghost hovering in mid-air.
Deeply stained with the sin of killing. A Level Five Red Ghost.
Ning Zhi and the others stopped behind her. Ning Zhi and Fang Ye had desperately sprinted to keep up with Qi Quan's pace, and now their faces were somewhat pale; Fang Ye was even panting.
"Ever since becoming a Master, I've never run out of breath like this," he said, bending over with his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths.
Zheng Guangming said apologetically, "I held you back."
He was a bit heavy.
Compared to the two exhausted young Masters, Lin Yue and Zheng Guangming seemed rather excited.
They both had adventurous personalities. After adapting to the high-speed run and witnessing a whole new, astonishing world, it was impossible for them not to be excited.
Except—
Was there a person floating in the air?
Oh no, that wasn't a person, it was a ghost.
Ghosts above Level Three can manifest at will. A Level Five Red Ghost already possesses a relatively solid ghost form, visible even to ordinary people.
The two men rubbed their eyes, utterly amazed.
The malevolent ghost stared fixedly at them, letting out a shrill laugh.
"To think, I truly never thought that a few mere ordinary people could dispatch Masters. How enviable."
Qi Quan said, "You're very noisy."
The malevolent ghost: "..."
Three words inexplicably ignited his fury.
The red glow in his eyes grew increasingly dense. A bloody scent spread through the mountain valley, and a viscous substance, red bordering on black, suddenly shot towards Qi Quan.
Qi Quan condensed her spiritual energy into a sword.
The sword shot forth, instantly piercing through the ghost domain's trickery. The black-red filth immediately turned to dust and vanished.
The malevolent ghost was shocked... and dumbfounded. "Impossible!"
He was a Level Five Red Ghost! Could there really be a Master of such profound cultivation in Longtan City?!
The sword's momentum did not diminish. Like a meteor streaking across the sky, it sped to the malevolent ghost's face, carrying a thunderous force.
The malevolent ghost screamed in terror, "I have hostages!"
The sword tip halted, suspended in mid-air, still pointing directly at the malevolent ghost's face.
The malevolent ghost spoke sharply and fiercely, "You can't kill me! A group of people are trapped by me! If you kill me, they'll die too!"
Lin Yue's expression turned grave. "It's the first rescue team."
"This damned bastard!" Zheng Guangming spat.
The situation was at an impasse.
Regaining his footing, the malevolent ghost gradually showed a smug expression on his face. Unafraid of the spiritual sword that could take his ghostly life at any moment, he said, "I just want to go out and get revenge. Once I have my revenge, even if I have to enter the eighteenth level of hell, I'm willing."
"And your method of revenge is to harm innocent lives?!" Zheng Guangming couldn't hold back.
The malevolent ghost looked down at him. "Don't judge me with such hypocritical talk. I was innocent too. I did nothing wrong, so why was I killed? I just want to seek justice. Why is it so difficult? Why... why..."
He muttered with red eyes, seemingly lost in some agonizing memory, acting crazed and looking quite terrifying.
"He's lost his mind," Lin Yue said.
Qi Quan's spiritual sense covered the entire mountain range. She quickly found the first rescue team. They were trapped in an illusion, utterly exhausted.
The illusion was controlled by the malevolent ghost. If he wished, he could make those people blindly walk off a cliff.
And those people were currently circling right at the edge of a cliff.
She lowered her gaze, pondered for a moment, then took out another Protective Formation Talisman.
Fang Ye behind her was already numb. He had become numb the moment he saw her condense spiritual energy into a sword.
Condensing spiritual energy into a sword was a realm he didn't even dare to imagine.
Just who was she?!
Were Protective Formation Talismans like cabbages at the market?
"Go." Qi Quan sent the talisman flying.
The malevolent ghost snapped back to attention, his eyes filled with fierce malice. "Don't even think about it!"
He actually split off a second ghost body to block the talisman's path, while also using the people on the ground as hostages.
"If you act again, I'll kill them! And those others will die too!"
He refused to believe this woman could save both sets of hostages simultaneously.
That cliff was far away. Even a talisman would need time to fly there. Moreover, activating and opening the talisman required spiritual energy. At such a distance, it was impossible for her to have any spare spiritual energy to activate the talisman!
The malevolent ghost's reasoning was clear.
He thought he had blocked all of Qi Quan's options.
Both Ning Zhi and Fang Ye's expressions were extremely grim.
As Masters, they clearly understood that it was very difficult for a Master to remotely transmit spiritual energy to another location and activate a talisman formation with precise accuracy.
Especially with a standoff right in front of them.
The system was also anxious: [Big shot, what should we do now?]
Qi Quan smiled slightly, inserted her left hand into her pants pocket, and pulled out a small, exquisite sparrow jade token.
The jade token felt warm and smooth in her hand, containing abundant spiritual energy within.
She lightly tapped it with her fingertip.
The jade token instantly transformed into a stream of light, carrying the talisman as it broke through the malevolent ghost's ghost body and shot like lightning towards the cliff.
Malevolent ghost: ???
At the same moment, the spiritual sword thrust towards the malevolent ghost!
The sword's radiance was too brilliant. The malevolent ghost instinctively released the hostages to dodge. Qi Quan threw a peach wood plaque, striking him squarely in the face.
The malevolent ghost let out a miserable scream. He only had time to activate the illusion before being sucked into the plaque.
At the distant cliff, one second the rescue team was stepping into the abyss, the next second, the Protective Formation Talisman arrived. Utilizing the spiritual energy from the sparrow jade token, it opened a protective formation, steadily shielding them within the array. Not a single person was injured.
The rescue personnel who had fallen to the cliff bottom: Were they dreaming?
Wasn't the "surviving a cliff fall" rule reserved for protagonists?
This world had become fantastical.
In the mountain hollow, with the malevolent ghost subdued, the several students, parents, and teachers finally came to their senses.
They were saved!
They hugged each other, weeping loudly from the delayed fear.
...
Qi Quan said, "Captain Lin, Mr. Zheng, I'll leave them to you."
She truly had no talent for comforting victims.
Lin Yue was endlessly grateful. "Thank you so much, Master Qi. What about that rescue team..."
"They are safe and sound."
Zheng Guangming was moved to tears, choking up as he said, "If it weren't for Master Qi this time, we... we..."
These ghostly tricks and illusions were something ordinary people like them could never have broken through.
Fortunately, Captain Lin followed the instructions from his superiors and waited for such a formidable expert.
Qi Quan said, "Those rescue personnel are at the bottom of the cliff. When you go over, please bring back a sparrow jade token for me."
"Absolutely!" Lin Yue assured her.
Lakeside Villa.
The Young Man's carving knife suddenly paused, jade dust sprinkling onto the table.
The jade token...
He abruptly stood up and strode towards the door, but then halted.
It's fine now.
He let out a sigh of relief, turned around, and slowly returned to the table.
Just as he was about to pick up the carving knife again, the villa's protective formation suddenly came under attack.
The bad guys are here!
