Chapter 198

"I only entered here by accident while chasing a rare beast—who knew the depths of this mountain range contained such a place? But how did the four of you find this place?" Luo Hao asked without turning around.

"My sister and I felt something continuously calling to us, and we followed that sensation to arrive here. We don't know what it is, but it's undoubtedly something of great importance to us." The red-armored woman spoke with grave expression.

"My brother Huang and I found a fragmented map inside the den of a beast, and we followed the markings on it to reach this place." Kang Wuhen, facing Luo Hao's inquiry, dared not delay and answered swiftly.

"Call? Map? Now that I think about it, that rare beast seemed to have deliberately lured me here." Luo Hao paused briefly, then replied with surprise, halting his steps that had been steadily holding the lantern forward.

"You mean there's a trap ahead, and someone is lying in wait for us?" The yellow-robed elder brother exclaimed in alarm.

The other three also changed expression slightly.

"There's some truth to that. But this place is so strange, and the restrictions are so dense—it could also be where the fifth secret key is hidden?" Kang Wuhen suddenly understood and added thoughtfully.

"The map's markings are easy enough to understand—perhaps left behind by Master Jialan as a contingency. But regarding the two of you sensing something calling you, could you be more specific? When did this sensation begin? How strong is it? Can you resist the call at all?" Luo Hao turned to face the two women, his tone serious.

The two women exchanged glances, whispered briefly through telepathy, then the red-armored woman replied solemnly:

"Since you ask, Luo Brother, I have no objection. First, this sensation emerged simultaneously in both of us one day ago, right after we killed a particularly powerful spider demon insect.

Second, the feeling is overwhelming—we cannot refuse it. Though we don't know why, we are certain: refusing this call will only result in our bodies exploding.

In short, our bodies seem cursed. If we do not obey the call, death is our only fate."

"A curse? Such dark arts are exceedingly rare—even among demonic sects. But what you've described does bear some resemblance."

"Kang Daoist, may I see the map you hold?" Luo Hao nodded, then turned to Kang Wuhen.

"Of course." Kang Wuhen had hesitated slightly, but when his gaze met Luo Hao's half-smiling eyes, his heart tightened instantly. He pulled out a worn leather scroll from his robe and handed it over.

Luo Hao took the scroll, glanced at it once, then chuckled softly:

"No wonder the two of you rushed here the moment you found this map. Had I been in your place, I'd have done the same—and probably run even faster."

"Exactly. The key symbol marked on this map—we both immediately thought of the fifth secret key of Jialan," Kang Wuhen sighed bitterly.

The two women exchanged glances, stunned into silence.

Beside them, the yellow-robed elder brother's expression flickered uncertainly, then suddenly bowed and spoke to Luo Hao:

"Luo Brother, it's clear now—the path ahead is almost certainly a trap. I suggest we leave immediately. Even if the fifth secret key truly lies ahead, others may arrive later. We can wait until more hands are available before attempting to retrieve it."

The blue-armored woman rejected this instantly:

"Will more people help? Luo Brother's strength is among the top two of all true disciples who entered. My sister and I can handle two or three true disciples easily.

Kang Brother and Huang Brother may be weaker, but together they can still match a true disciple.

Our five combined are already formidable. Even if one or two more true disciples or ordinary disciples arrive later, what difference would it make?"

"If we wait too long, the demonic sects may arrive first—then retrieving the fifth secret key will become nearly impossible," the red-armored woman added immediately.

"Hmph! Knowing there's danger ahead and still walking willingly into a trap—that's even more foolish! I agree with Huang Brother: we should leave now. Luo Brother, you're the strongest among us—what do you say?" Kang Wuhen snorted, strongly supporting Huang Brother's view, and turned to Luo Hao.

The two women also fixed their gazes intently on the young man with the twin swords on his back.

"Let's withdraw for now. As Kang Brother said, we don't know what dangers lie ahead. Preparing more thoroughly before returning can only help.

Also, you two needn't fear immediate explosion from resisting the call.

Since it's a curse, it won't activate instantly. We're not fleeing far—just leaving this restricted zone and waiting at its edge for a while, gathering more information about the surrounding area, and seeing if we can uncover anything else.

Moreover, I carry some talismans bestowed by my ancestor—they might help suppress your curses for now." Luo Hao considered briefly, then spoke decisively.

Huang Brother and Kang Wuhen immediately nodded eagerly, delighted.

The two women exchanged telepathic words, then reluctantly agreed.

But as the five turned to walk back, the gray mist on both sides suddenly surged together, completely blocking their retreat. No matter how Luo Hao shook his lantern, the mist remained thick and unyielding.

This sight shocked Kang Wuhen and the other three—and even Luo Hao's heart sank.

…

In a wind-swept valley at the mountain's edge, disciples of the Black Soul Sect continuously entered and exited the air above, tossing the carcasses of large, low-grade beasts into the chilling winds.

At the valley's center, beneath the winds, lay countless piles of white bones—some human, some beastly. At the heart of these bones stood a massive white bone altar, over ten zhang tall.

Around the altar were hundreds of beast carcasses, each dripping blood, their crimson flows seeping into the ground beneath all the white bones.

Standing atop the altar was a middle-aged man in black robes, his hair gray-white, his face skin stretched taut over bone, his eyes hollow and lifeless—as if he were merely a human-shaped skeleton wrapped in skin.

"The time is near. Begin."

The skeletal man glanced at the sky, then at the piles of bones and beast carcasses around the altar, and spoke calmly.