Chapter 25: The Bound Gods and Ghosts

From the mid-mountain slope to the Mountain God Temple.

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

Wherever there was grass or vegetation, the traces of those sleep-inducing bugs could be seen.

It was as if they had no natural predators.

The ubiquitous sleep-inducing bugs drove away all snakes, insects, rats, and ants, creating an eerie silence across the entire Flying Peak.

【These sleep-inducing bugs probably aren't native species to Flying Peak, right?】

Under the effect of the Lingxi Horn, Li Li Boyang's slightly awkward and unpolished vocabulary was directly translated into meanings Xi Luo could understand.

"Of course, these sleep-inducing bugs were cultivated by older sister with great effort."

"Unfortunately, I didn't know how formidable these little fellows were at the beginning and chose to let them roam freely; as a result, there are now almost no living creatures left on Flying Peak."

Her tone revealed a faint sense of regret and helplessness.

Although Xi Luo didn't know what "biological invasion" meant, what had happened on Flying Peak was enough to prove the terror of these sleep-inducing bugs.

If not for the layer of mist from the outside world blocking them, once these little bugs flew out, it would be a dimensional strike against the ecology of the entire Hundred-Fields Mountain Range.

【Then why do you still dare to ask me to raise them?】

Her small eyes suddenly widened, and Li Li Boyang's suddenly raised voice made Xi Luo laugh again.

"That is naturally because I believe in your ability!"

"These sleep-inducing bugs like to attach themselves to powerful creatures; I believe you can definitely tame them!"

Li Li Boyang rolled his eyes straight up; he didn't believe Xi Luo's explanation at all, as the other party clearly just wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

【Your twisted sense of humor... is truly beyond saving!】

Just as the group was exchanging words like this, they truly arrived at the entrance of the Mountain God Temple.

When using the Heavenly Eye to observe, one didn't feel it.

But when they truly arrived at the entrance of this Mountain God Temple, Li Li Boyang suddenly realized that this temple was actually so huge.

The entire Mountain God Temple was built along the mountain.

Using craftsmanship far surpassing this era, it created a massive architectural complex.

It contained a complete main hall, corridors, side rooms, and a rear courtyard structure; one glance couldn't even see the end.

And upon the cliff face, statues of mud gods that Li Li Boyang did not recognize at all looked down upon the Mountain God Temple, shocking the world while simultaneously evoking a sense of eeriness.

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

It gave the feeling as if those god statues were living creatures, fully displaying a ferocious and terrifying aura.

"Little brother!"

Getting down from Xi Luo's back.

The usually bold big girl gripped the straps in her hand for the first time.

Facing the god and ghost statues that seemed to overlook the mountains, the shock and fear felt by the big girl far exceeded Li Li Boyang's by countless degrees.

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

Upon hearing Xi Luo's words, the big girl became even more afraid.

Even Li Li Boyang, who had originally not cared, turned his head in shock to look at Xi Luo.

【Gods and ghosts?】

【Do you mean those guys are alive!?】

Xi Luo sneered disdainfully and answered in a bad mood.

"Nonsense; otherwise, who would be idle enough to carve these stone statues on the cliff faces?"

Hearing this, Li Li Boyang very much wanted to say that in his past life, there were idle rulers who liked to do exactly that.

However, thinking of the backward production tools and production relations of this world, Li Li Boyang sensibly fell silent.

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

【What on earth is this damn era?】

After formally entering the Zhudian, the first thing that came into everyone's view was that giant Valkyrie.

One saw that 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 a feeling of laziness yet elegance.

Besides this, beneath that robe which was not particularly magnificent, hidden was a suit of armor of unknown material.

【This Mountain God... shouldn't be alive, right?】

Having learned from past experience, Li Li Boyang asked cautiously.

When asking this question, Li Li Boyang's gaze also inadvertently looked at the red leopard crouching beneath the Valkyrie's feet.

Obviously, that mud sculpture of the red leopard was Xi Luo right before his eyes.

Then, this Valkyrie was most likely just a mud sculpture... right?

"You guess?"

Smiling in a meaningless way, Xi Luo did not directly answer Li Li Boyang's question.

【I guess?】

【I can't guess; anyway, say what you want or not.】

Glancing at Xi Luo with a head full of black lines, Li Li Boyang knew the other party's twisted sense of humor had surfaced again.

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

【Now that we have come to this Mountain God Temple, you should tell me why you came to find me this time.】

Upon hearing this, Xi Luo blinked her eyes, then pouted in a rather disappointed manner.

Indeed, just as Li Li Boyang had expected, Xi Luo had originally wanted to tease him a bit, but now it seemed there would be no such chance.

"What a boring fellow…"

"I brought you to this Mountain God Temple this time because I do have something important, something related to that Black Cloud Marsh."

With a leap, she landed atop the head of the red leopard clay statue.

Xi Luo, who had reverted to her civet-cat form, looked down at Li Li Boyang below and spoke.

"I've been searching for a way these past few days to resolve the Black Cloud Marsh crisis once and for all."

"Then, just today, someone gave me a hint — perhaps the key to solving this problem lies with you."

This time it was Li Li Boyang's turn to blink in some confusion.

But he did not refuse outright; instead, he raised his head, quite curious.

【What method?】

Just like Xi Luo.

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

Besides, Li Li Boyang had a vague intuition deep within his heart.

If he truly left that Black Cloud Marsh unattended, the evil ghost within would sooner or later come out to make trouble for him.

Having lived two lives, Li Li Boyang was quite mature on a psychological level.

He had no desire to imitate the protagonists of those novels and movies from his past life, who always waited until the villains came knocking before staging a last-minute comeback.

Reality doesn't come with that many convenient coincidences or narrow escapes from death.

Striking first was the choice of any normal person.

"In the end, that evil ghost in the Black Cloud Marsh is nothing more than relying on the advantage of terrain."

"Just like the fog on my Flying Peak — once the black mist of the Black Cloud Marsh is broken, its danger level will plummet."

"And to find a way to break that black mist in a short time, I'll have to use something my sister left behind."

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(End of chapter)