Chapter 208: Re-exploring the Altar

He swept his gaze, picked up the one-eyed black-robed leader on the ground who hadn't completely passed out, his voice icy cold without a trace of warmth: "Speak! Where is Ying Lao Guai? Where is he?"

That one-eyed black-robed leader had already been terrified by Zhang Jun's earlier thunderous methods; now, hit by the chilling killing aura emanating from him, his soul scattered, he dared not conceal anything, stammering: "Elder... Elder he... his old self, because the stabilizer was damaged, and also failed to capture you two, was... was severely reprimanded by the people sent from the higher-ups, heard... heard his injuries are serious, and now he is... is in seclusion healing his wounds in the valley's forbidden area."

"The higher-ups?" Zhang Jun raised his eyebrows, it seemed the "Ying" organization behind indeed had even stronger forces, not a monolith.

"Has that old monster gone into seclusion?" Zhang Jun's eyes flashed with sharp light, this really is a rare opportunity! He and Lin Xue exchanged a glance, both seeing the same determination and a hint of excitement in each other's eyes.

"Xue'er, since that old monster won't come out for a while, we should take this chance to go inspect that altar again, see if we can completely destroy the core of that damn stabilizer! Also, we must find a way to rescue those 'medicine slaves' they've tormented!" Zhang Jun's voice sank.

Lin Xue nodded heavily, eyes firm: "Good! We will definitely fulfill Master Shouyi's dying wish!"

Seeing the two emanating killing intent, poised to storm the dragon's pool and tiger's den again, the one-eyed black-robed leader feared for his life and hurriedly added with tears streaming: "Sirs... sirs, spare my life! Spare my life! I also know an important piece of news! Recently... these past few days, the organization will secretly transport a batch of extremely special 'medicinal materials' from the direction of Yanjing, it's said... it's said this batch of 'medicinal materials' is related to the powerful Murong family in Yanjing city; the Elder attaches great importance to this, and specifically ordered that there be no mistake!"

"The Murong Family?" Zhang Jun and Lin Xue hearing this, both startled, exchanged a solemn glance. This news undoubtedly threw another heavy stone into the already murky waters. They had heard of the Yanjing Murong family before; it was a colossal power that could make the whole of Yanjing tremble with a stomp of its foot.

The night, so thick it cannot be dispelled.

The air of Wan Yao Gu, heavy, each breath brings a rust-like bloody odor, rushing straight to the crown of the head.

Zhang Jun's cultivation has surged, his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose have become several times more sensitive; his skill in stealth and concealment is now incomparable to before.

He and Lin Xue, like two weightless leaves, silently approached the vicinity of that familiar octagonal altar.

Goodness, the guards this time are as tight as an iron barrel!

Sentries open and concealed, a post every three steps, a watch every five steps. Those black-robed patrolling back and forth, their steps neat and uniform, more spirited than supermarket anti-theft guards.

These bastards, they really seem to have been scared into submission.

"Last time the commotion wasn't small." Zhang Jun lowered his voice, his tone as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet that sharp energy could not be contained, sweeping around the corners of the altar.

Lin Xue lightly nodded, her focus more on the altar itself.

The core of the so-called "Heart of the Earth Vein Stabilizer" is now protected by a layer of black-red light so thick it's almost solid. Countless runes flow slowly across the shield, a hundred times more complex than any restriction seen before, exuding an eerie feeling that makes one's scalp tingle.

"This restriction... probably can't be broken by force." Lin Xue frowned tightly.

Ying Lao Guai that old thing isn't here—according to the disabled captive we caught earlier, who blubbered for his parents, the old fellow, because the stabilizer was half-ruined by them and he still hadn't caught them, got a thorough dressing-down by some unknown "higher-ups" people, and is now nursing his wounds in seclusion in the forbidden area.

Really, even heaven can't stand to watch!

However, the tall man and the poison mist person from before are now like two plague gods, standing left and right by the altar, their faces fouler than a stone in a latrine, fully on guard, afraid that someone will jump out any second to snatch their wives.

Zhang Jun's perception swept past them, probing beneath the altar.

After his spiritual sense power surged, he faintly "sensed" that beneath this altar, there might be a separate cavern.

"Xue'er, down there seems not peaceful."

The two quickly exchanged a knowing look, then, familiar with the way, circled to a concealed vent they had discovered earlier.

The vent is so narrow it can barely fit a person; inside, it whooshes with damp moldiness, plus... a faint mix of bloody odor and medicinal herbs, a strange smell.

Zhang Jun, skilled and bold, took the lead, sticking his head in to look.

Below the vent passage, sure enough, was a dungeon.

Cold and damp, the air filled with a suffocating sense of despair.

A dozen or so so-called "medicine slaves" were chained by thick iron chains to the cold stone walls, each skin and bone, eyes empty and lifeless, clearly their minds had gone, leaving only the most basic breathing instinct.

Their bodies had various odd-shaped tubes haphazardly inserted, the other ends connected to strange unknown devices; their life essence was being continuously drawn out, supplying the ominous, towering stabilizer above.

"These beasts!" Zhang Jun's teeth ground together, his fists clenched tight.

Lin Xue followed, leaning down to look; seeing the horrific sight, her body involuntarily trembled.

Those "medicine slaves" were once living people too!

Now they've been tortured into this ghostly state, a hundred times more miserable than walking corpses.

She studied medicine to practice healing and save lives, but this sight before her...

An irrepressible anger and immense sorrow instantly overwhelmed her composure.

We must save them!

Even if there's only a sliver of hope, we absolutely cannot stand by and watch them be further destroyed!

"Zhang Jun," Lin Xue's voice hoarse but her tone unusually resolute, "we must rescue them! Not only to fulfill Master Shouyi's dying wish, but also for their own sake!"

Zhang Jun drew a heavy breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent that nearly burst from his chest.

He naturally understood Lin Xue's meaning.

Storming the altar's turtle-shell-like restriction above is unrealistic. But perhaps, if we work from below...

A extremely bold idea flashed through his mind, a plan formed: "Xue'er, look, I'll go up top, create some big disturbance to draw the attention of those two watchdogs completely. You take this chance to sneak down here quickly, first rescue the people, then see if you can find the eye of the formation that destroys the altar's energy supply. I don't believe their broken stabilizer can conjure energy out of thin air!"