OBS Chapter 369
Chapter 369
Beside the cauldron lay countless villagers, their faces contorted and their limbs writhing in agony, as if they were suffering the cruelest torture imaginable.
Ye Jiuchen's gaze was fixed on the murals, his mind racing as he connected what he saw with the poison afflicting the villagers and the vengeful spirits appearing in the cave. He was certain that this evil ritual was very likely the source of all this calamity.
As he approached the end of the cave, Ye Jiuchen's heart pounded faster. Ahead, a massive stone gate blocked his path. The gate was covered in intricate patterns, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura in the dim light. In the very center of the gate, a line of small, barely visible characters was inscribed: "The one who tied the knot must untie it."
Ye Jiuchen stared at the words, lost in thought. He knew this was a test, and also the key to the truth and the end. After a moment, he took a deep breath, his spiritual energy flowing through his body, continuously gathering his powerful medical spiritual energy into his right palm. He slowly raised his hand, his palm emitting a soft yet bright light, contrasting sharply with the surrounding darkness. Then, he firmly placed his palm on the stone door.
In an instant, the stone door emitted a deep rumble, and the ancient patterns glowed with an eerie light. The light collided with Ye Jiuchen's medical spiritual energy, producing a hissing sound. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Ye Jiuchen was completely focused, his forehead covered with fine beads of sweat. He continuously increased his output of spiritual energy, engaging in a silent battle with the power on the stone door. Finally, the stone door slowly opened, and an ancient and chilling aura rushed out.
Inside the door, an old man in black robes sat quietly on a stone chair. His body was hunched over, and his face was hidden in the shadows. Only his eyes gleamed with a sinister light, like cold stars twinkling in the night sky, exuding a chilling aura.
"You finally found me." The old man in black robes broke the silence, his voice hoarse and deep, as if it came from the deepest hell. His tone carried a hint of expected helplessness, yet also a touch of crazed provocation.
Ye Jiuchen stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he glared at the black-robed elder, demanding in a stern voice, "Why do you so cruelly harm innocent people? They have no grudge against you, how could you do such a thing?" Ye Jiuchen's voice echoed in the cave, filled with boundless anger and righteous indignation.
The old man in black robes threw his head back and laughed wildly, the sound echoing through the cave, sounding particularly sinister and terrifying. "Only by sacrificing living people can we obtain endless dark power and possess the power to dominate everything!" The old man's voice was filled with greed and madness, as if his mind had been completely devoured by the dark power.
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed elder flashed forward like a ghost, rushing towards Ye Jiuchen. A pitch-black dagger had appeared in his hand, emanating a nauseating aura that seemed to corrode the air wherever it passed. Ye Jiuchen was prepared; he nimbly dodged the elder's attack. Simultaneously, he swiftly unleashed his medical spiritual power, forming a spiritual shield in front of him.
The black-robed elder's attacks came like a storm, his moves ruthless, each strike carrying a deadly threat. But Ye Jiuchen, relying on his superb medical skills and powerful spiritual energy, skillfully deflected each attack. While dodging, Ye Jiuchen searched for the black-robed elder's weaknesses.
The two exchanged blows, fighting fiercely for several rounds. Seizing an opportunity, Ye Jiuchen caught the black-robed elder off guard, his movements as swift as lightning as he lunged forward when the elder's attack missed and he revealed an opening. The silver needle in his hand gleamed coldly, striking the elder's acupoints with lightning speed. The elder couldn't dodge in time; the needle pierced the acupoints precisely, instantly numbing his entire body, rendering him immobile. A look of terror and regret crossed his face.
Ye Jiuchen gave the black-robed elder no chance to catch his breath. He quickly surveyed his surroundings and discovered a formation core emanating an evil aura in a corner of the cave. This formation core was composed of various strange stones and runes, constantly emitting a black light, and was the source of the entire cave's evil power. Without hesitation, Ye Jiuchen unleashed all his spiritual power, bombarding the formation core with all his might.
With a deafening roar, the core of the formation was instantly destroyed, and the dark aura permeating the cave receded like a tide. The entire cave shook violently, as if mourning the demise of the dark forces. Knowing that this was no place to linger, Ye Jiuchen turned and strode out of the cave.
The moment the sunlight fell upon Ye Jiuchen, he let out a long sigh of relief. Gazing at the green mountains and clear waters outside the cave, his heart was filled with longing for peace. He straightened his clothes and embarked on his return journey, intending to bring this good news to those who had suffered under the persecution of dark forces, so that they could once again embrace peace and tranquility.
Night fell, and a biting wind cut through the land like a knife. Ye Jiuchen's figure moved swiftly through the darkness like a ghost. His clothes fluttered, and his steps were urgent as he raced towards the familiar village. The wind howled in his ears, but he had only one thought in his mind: to get back to the village as quickly as possible and put the villagers at ease.
Finally, the outline of the village entrance emerged into the night. The moment Ye Jiuchen stepped into the village, the once quiet place instantly came alive. Hearing the commotion, villagers poured out of their homes, holding up faint lamps. The flickering lights in the night mirrored their anxious yet expectant hearts. Seeing Ye Jiuchen return, their eyes filled with joy, their steps quickening as they gathered around him. Their eyes, illuminated by the lamplight, were filled with anticipation, yet also tinged with a hint of worry.
Ye Jiuchen stopped, took a deep breath, and spoke in a loud and firm voice, echoing like a great bell over the village: "Fellow villagers, the evil has been eliminated, you don't need to worry anymore!" These simple words, like the warm sun in spring, instantly dispelled the gloom that had shrouded the villagers' hearts for days. The villagers were stunned at first, then burst into cheers, the cheers soaring into the sky, as if to release all the fear and repression that had accumulated during this period.
However, as Ye Jiuchen's gaze swept across the crowd, he noticed a few unusual figures. They were several children, standing quietly among them, their bodies appearing exceptionally thin. Ye Jiuchen's brow furrowed slightly, a sense of unease rising within him. He quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and carefully examined the children. Their faces were as pale as paper, their lips bloodless, and their eyes revealed weakness and helplessness.
Ye Jiuchen's heart sank; he knew things weren't so simple. After some investigation, he discovered that although the root of the evil had been destroyed, the lingering effects of the Gu poison were still raging within the children's bodies. He dared not delay, immediately turning around and loudly ordering the villagers, "Everyone, quickly boil water! Be quick!"