Chapter 25: The Bound Ghosts and Gods

From the mountainside to the Mountain God Temple.

In this short distance of less than a few hundred meters, Li Boyang fully witnessed just how absurd the "infestation" Xi Luo spoke of truly was.

Wherever there was grass or vegetation, the traces of those Sleepy Bugs could be seen.

It was as if they had no natural predators.

The ubiquitous Sleepy Bugs had driven away all snakes, insects, rats, and ants, causing the entire Feilai Peak to fall into an eerie silence.

[These Sleepy Bugs shouldn't be a species native to Feilai Peak, right?]

Under the effect of the Spirit Rhinoceros Horn, Li Boyang’s somewhat awkward and unrefined vocabulary was directly translated into a meaning that Xi Luo could understand.

"Of course, these Sleepy Bugs were painstakingly cultivated by my sister."

"It’s a pity that I didn't know the power of these little guys at first and chose to let them roam free; as a result, there are almost no living creatures left on Feilai Peak now."

Her tone revealed a faint sense of regret and helplessness.

Although Xi Luo did not know what "biological invasion" meant, the events occurring on Feilai Peak were enough to prove the terror of these Sleepy Bugs.

If not for the layer of mist blocking the outside world, once these little bugs flew out, it would be a dimensional strike to the ecology of the entire Hundred Lands Mountains.

[Then why do you dare ask me to raise them?]

His small eyes suddenly widened, and the sudden increase in Li Boyang’s volume made Xi Luo laugh again.

"That’s naturally because I believe in your ability!"

"These Sleepy Bugs like to attach themselves to powerful creatures; I believe you will definitely be able to tame them!"

Rolling his eyes straight up, Li Boyang did not believe this rhetoric from Xi Luo; the other party clearly just wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

[Your wicked sense of humor... is truly hopeless!]

Just as the group was communicating in this way, they truly arrived at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple.

He hadn't felt it while observing with his Heavenly Eye.

But when he truly arrived at the entrance of this Mountain God Temple, Li Boyang was shocked to realize that this temple was actually so large.

The entire Mountain God Temple was built against the mountain.

Using craftsmanship far exceeding this era, a massive architectural complex had been created.

It contained a complete structure of main halls, corridors, side rooms, and a backyard; one couldn't even see the end of it at a glance.

And on the cliff walls, statue after statue of deities Li Boyang did not recognize at all overlooked the Mountain God Temple, creating a sense of eeriness while shocking the world.

Looking up at those lifelike, giant divine statues, Li Boyang even saw the chains wrapped around them.

It gave one the feeling that those statues were living things, fully displaying a hideous and terrifying sensation.

"Little Brother!"

He climbed down from Xi Luo’s back.

The girl, who was always bold and daring, gripped the straps of her backpack tightly for the first time.

Facing those ghost-god statues that seemed to overlook the mountains, the shock and fear the girl felt were far beyond what Li Boyang could fathom.

"Don't be afraid, they are just a group of ghosts and gods bound to Feilai Peak."

Once Xi Luo said this, the girl became even more afraid.

Even Li Boyang, who had originally been indifferent, turned his head to look at Xi Luo in shock.

[Ghosts and gods?]

[You mean those guys are all alive!?]

Curling her lip in disdain, Xi Luo replied irritably.

"Nonsense, otherwise who do you think would be bored enough to carve these stone statues on a cliffside?"

Hearing this, Li Boyang really wanted to say that in his past life, there were indeed those bored authorities who liked to do such things.

However, once he thought of the backward means of production and social relations in this world, Li Boyang wisely kept silent.

At the very least, before figuring out the situation of this era, Li Boyang decided not to argue with Xi Luo on this topic.

[What kind of hellish era is this, anyway?]

………………………………………………………………………………………………

After officially entering the main hall, the first thing that came into everyone's view was that giant Valkyrie.

The Valkyrie held a sword in her right hand, perpendicular to the ground, as if ready to strike at any moment.

And her left hand held a book, giving one a lazy yet scholarly feeling.

Besides that, hidden beneath that robe, which was not particularly luxurious, was a suit of armor made of an unknown material.

[This Mountain God... shouldn't be alive, right?]

Having learned his lesson, Li Boyang asked cautiously.

While asking this, Li Boyang’s gaze inadvertently looked at the red leopard crouching at the Valkyrie’s feet.

It was obvious that the red leopard clay sculpture was the Xi Luo before his eyes.

So, this Valkyrie was likely just a clay sculpture... right?

"Guess?"

Smiling with an ambiguous meaning, Xi Luo did not directly answer Li Boyang’s question.

[I guess?]

[I can't guess, and anyway, tell me if you want to.]

Glancing at Xi Luo with black lines on his forehead, Li Boyang knew the other party’s wicked sense of humor had surfaced again.

So Li Boyang did not continue to dwell on this question, but asked straight to the point.

[Now that we've come to this Mountain God Temple, you should tell me why you came to find me this time, right?]

Hearing this, Xi Luo blinked her eyes, then curled her lip in disappointment.

Indeed, as Li Boyang had expected, Xi Luo had originally wanted to tease him, but now it seemed there was no chance.

"What a boring guy..."

"I did have an important matter for bringing you to this Mountain God Temple, and it has to do with the Black Cloud Marsh."

Leaping up, she jumped onto the head of the red leopard clay sculpture.

Xi Luo, who had transformed back into her civet cat form, looked down at Li Boyang below and said.

"I have been searching for a way to solve the Black Cloud Marsh crisis once and for all during this time."

"And then today, someone gave me a hint that perhaps the key to solving this problem lies with you."

Now it was Li Boyang’s turn to blink his eyes in confusion.

But he did not immediately refuse; instead, he looked up with great curiosity.

[What method?]

Just like Xi Luo.

For the safety of his parents in this life, Li Boyang also wanted to completely eradicate the crisis of the Black Cloud Marsh.

Moreover, Li Boyang had a vague intuition in his heart.

If he really left the Black Cloud Marsh alone, the evil ghost inside would sooner or later come out to cause him trouble.

Having lived two lives, Li Boyang was quite mature psychologically.

He didn't want to be like the protagonists in the novels and movies of his past life, who had to wait for the villain to come to their door before staging a desperate counterattack.

In reality, there aren't that many coincidences or miraculous escapes.

Striking first is the choice of a normal person.

"In the end, the evil ghost in the Black Cloud Marsh relies on nothing but the advantage of the terrain."

"Just like the mist of my Feilai Peak, as long as one can break the black mist of the Black Cloud Marsh, its danger level will drop in a straight line."

"And if you want to find a way to break that black mist in a short time, you must use the things my sister left behind."

Monthly Ticket/Recommendation Ticket

(End of Chapter)