Chapter 183: Oh no, the old man has become the evil god's snack!

Lu Yuan paused in his steps, then turned and quickly walked back.

Hu Huxu didn't respond to that remark. The slight disbelief on his face caused by Lu Yuan's earlier "wild talk" faded, replaced once more by a deep-seated worry. He silently turned and continued leading the way in the correct direction.

The mountain path became increasingly difficult to traverse, the forest denser, with sunlight barely able to penetrate. The surrounding light grew dim and eerie, and the faint, elusive fishy smell in the air seemed to thicken.

Although Lu Yuan had Gu Qingwan as his ace in the hole, he wasn't a true reckless fool. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit; knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in a hundred battles. Gu Qingwan was the final safeguard, the trump card to flip the table. But before resorting to that, using the smallest cost and the safest method to rescue the old man was the best strategy. The more you understand your opponent, the more initiative you gain.

Following behind Hu Huxu, he pondered for a moment before speaking again, this time asking more specifically, "Since you say the Liu Family is powerful and the 'things' they nurture are extraordinary... what exactly is so formidable about their Commanding Ghosts Liu Family? Or rather, since you're both one of the 'Ten Families,' what makes you so apprehensive of them?"

Hu Huxu's steps didn't stop. He was silent for a few breaths, seemingly organizing his words. Carrying the heavy bundle, his figure appeared even more stooped in the forest shadows. "The Liu Family... is different from us, the Hu Family of Continuing the Lamp," Hu Huxu's voice was low, carrying a complex mix of reminiscence and awe. "Our Hu Family, to put it bluntly, is about 'serving' and 'communicating.' Relying on methods passed down by our ancestors and a trace of bloodline resonance, we can speak with those ancient existences wandering beyond the Great Wall, called 'gods,' and borrow a bit of their power. Or... help them 'continue' a bit of incense and prayer power, maintaining them so they don't dissipate. To put it plainly, we make a living by serving our ancestors."

He paused, then shifted the topic, his tone revealing clear apprehension. "But the Liu Family... they command! They drive, they enslave! They don't rely on communication or service; they rely on heretical methods and forbidden arts passed down through generations. And 'materials' of extreme yin, viciousness, and cruelty, obtained from who knows where. They forcibly 'nurture' some absurdly powerful 'things' that should have long dissipated or been suppressed... 'refining' them into... Malevolent Deities that obey only the orders of their Liu Family!"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Malevolent Deities..." He couldn't help but murmur the term.

This... for the current Lu Yuan, wasn't actually anything new. Or rather, Lu Yuan had known about this for a long time. It was just that Hu Huxu thought Lu Yuan didn't know.

Hu Huxu glanced back at Lu Yuan, his cloudy eyes flickering with the light of memory. "Exactly how many they nurture, what they nurture, these are the Liu Family's greatest secrets. Outsiders could never know the details. But among the Ten Families beyond the Great Wall, after all, there are countless connections. Some things can't be hidden from the 'eyes' of those existences 'above.'"

Above? Lu Yuan couldn't help but be taken aback.

Hu Huxu pointed at the sky, then at the surrounding dark mountain forest, indicating those "gods beyond the Great Wall" connected to the Hu Family. "Our Hu Family sometimes needs to provide 'continuing the lamp' services for some special 'existences,' stabilizing their forms. During this process, we occasionally hear some fragmented information about other 'neighbors.'" Hu Huxu chose his words carefully. "Regarding the Liu Family, I only know they nurture at least three... no, very likely four, extremely terrifying 'Malevolent Deities.' The origins and refinement methods of each are incredibly bloody, and their powers are bizarre and unpredictable. Some are adept at manipulating minds, creating illusions, making people collapse from endless fear and despair. Some can directly devour the souls of living beings, strengthening themselves, leaving no chicken or dog alive in their wake. And others... are said to have made pacts with certain ancient, ominous existences deep within this land. They can summon the filth from underground and the malice of the dead..."

Hu Huxu couldn't help but shiver here, as if merely mentioning these things had already attracted an unclean gaze. "What level of cultivation does your master, Li Xiuye, possess? Whoever can trap him definitely wouldn't be ordinary Liu Family disciples or their commonly refined ghost servants. The most likely scenario is they mobilized the power of one, or even more than one, Malevolent Deity! Combined with the geographical advantage of the Liu Family's long-established lair, they set up a killing trap specifically targeting a Daoist expert like him!" Hu Huxu looked at Lu Yuan, his expression extremely serious. "So, Daoist Priest Lu, do you understand now? The strength of the Liu Family isn't just in their numbers and the peril of their lair. It's more that they possess the power to 'command' terrifying existences of this level! That's a power that transcends ordinary magical combat, touching upon some... rule-based level, or rather, a level of pure 'evil'! No matter how confident you are, you must be extremely careful!"

Lu Yuan listened quietly, his face showing a calm contemplation. Hu Huxu's description confirmed some of Lu Yuan's previous conjectures. What could trap the old man was definitely the Malevolent Deities the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family had been nurturing for who knows how many years. Those seen before were only ten or eight years old, or a few decades old at most. But one must remember, the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family hadn't been on this land for just ten or eight years. The previously encountered "Deity of Beauty," born from an object becoming a god, was a super district with a system danger level of two thousand stars, also created by the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family. And the "Deity of Beauty" was one that was released into the wild, not personally nurtured within the Liu Family lair. The three, or rather four, super Malevolent Deities Hu Huxu mentioned... were probably... a bit terrifying.

However... Lu Yuan's finger unconsciously touched the jade pendant in his bosom again. A warm, cool sensation came through, bringing an indescribable sense of reassurance. "I understand. Keep leading the way. Let's hurry."

Lu Yuan's voice was calm, showing little emotional fluctuation.

Seeing that Lu Yuan seemed to have taken his warning to heart and his expression had also become much more serious, Hu Huxu felt slightly relieved in his heart. Regardless of what trump cards this young man had, taking the opponent seriously was always a good thing. He said no more, tightened the bundle on his back, and focused even more intently on identifying the path, heading deeper into the darker, more remote depths of the mountains.

The two walked silently for another stretch. The path underfoot became increasingly indistinguishable, almost completely covered by thick layers of fallen leaves and vines. They could only rely on Hu Huxu's recognition of the terrain and a certain special "feeling" to advance. The surrounding light grew even dimmer, the tall trees blocking out the sky and sun. The fishy smell in the air mixed with the scent of decaying leaves from years past, making one's chest feel tight.

Lu Yuan mentally calculated the information Hu Huxu had just provided about the "Malevolent Deities." Combined with his previous understanding of the Liu Family, he had a clearer outline of the dangers they were about to face. But there was still a crucial question in Lu Yuan's mind that urgently needed answering. "Master Hu," Lu Yuan spoke again, his voice particularly clear in the silent forest. "There's one more question. Regarding my master, how did you know he was trapped in the Liu Family, and that... time is running out?" This matter had been on Lu Yuan's mind. Hu Huxu's statement in the earthen house had been too certain, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

Hearing this question, Hu Huxu's steps noticeably faltered, his back seeming to become even heavier. He didn't answer immediately, walking forward in silence as if weighing his words or recalling some unpleasant experience. After a long while, just as Lu Yuan thought he wouldn't answer, Hu Huxu's hoarse voice slowly sounded, carrying an indescribable weariness and... a trace of barely perceptible fear. "This matter... it's a long story, and it's... also related to the 'one' our Hu Family serves." He paused, seemingly choosing his words, trying to explain in a way Lu Yuan could understand. "You know, our Hu Family of Continuing the Lamp relies on dealing with some ancient 'existences.' These 'existences,' some are spirits naturally born from this land, some are remnants of powerful beings who have passed, and others... are older, more indescribable things. Most of them are chaotic, obsessive, following some logic humans cannot comprehend, but their power is not to be underestimated. Our Hu Family ancestors reached some kind of... understanding or pact with a few of them, periodically providing them with 'lamplight'—using special methods to gather prayer power, yin energy, or certain specific 'essences' of living beings—to maintain their existence so they don't completely dissipate or fall into a frenzy. In return, they occasionally offer some protection, or... reveal some things they 'see.'"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, unable to resist asking, "See?" Just simple seeing?

"Yes, see," Hu Huxu affirmed. "But their 'seeing' is different from ours. They can see the flow of some... auras, the entanglement of cause and effect, the 'light' or 'shadow' emitted by powerful living beings. Of course, it's very vague, full of ambiguity, and the cost is enormous." Hu Huxu looked back at Lu Yuan, his expression complex. "Just this morning, a few hours before you returned, I went to a secret 'lamp altar' on the back mountain as per routine. I was going to change the lamp oil and replenish the incense for the 'Mountain Spirit Elder,' the one with the deepest connection to our family and relatively the most 'clear-minded.' This time, the 'Mountain Spirit Elder's' state was very abnormal."

Lu Yuan was slightly taken aback, not understanding what Hu Huxu was talking about.

Hu Huxu then continued, "Normally, when I approach the lamp altar, the flame inside is very calm. But this time, the flame inside the lamp altar flickered abnormally violently, its color changing from a peaceful dim yellow to a ghastly green. I could even 'hear' a faint, raspy whisper, like countless stones grinding together, sounding directly in my mind. I knew something was wrong and quickly used the Hu Family's secret 'Spirit-Calming Formula' and specially made incense to try and pacify it. After struggling for a long time, the flame barely stabilized, but the intention transmitted by the 'Mountain Spirit Elder' chilled me to the bone." Hu Huxu's voice trembled involuntarily, as if reliving the fear of that night. "It made me 'see'... no, forcibly projected into my mind an extremely blurry, distorted image. I saw a valley shrouded in thick, impenetrable black energy. Deep in the valley, something was writhing, emitting an extremely powerful malice. And at the center of that black energy, there was a cluster of extremely dazzling 'golden light' that was being tightly bound, constantly eroded by countless pitch-black 'threads,' growing dimmer!"

Lu Yuan's heart skipped a beat. "Golden light?"

Hu Huxu nodded heavily, a look of lingering fear on his face. "The aura of that golden light... was vast, righteous, carrying majestic thunderous might and a kind of... well, in your Daoist terms, an endlessly vitalizing Dao resonance! Although the image was distorted and the aura, transmitted from who knows how far, was already very weak and mixed, I wouldn't mistake it! That kind of pure, orthodox Daoist aura—in this land beyond the Great Wall, besides Li Xiuye, I can't think of a second person who could possess it! After all, the Hu Family of Continuing the Lamp had several encounters with Li Xiuye in the past."

Lu Yuan stared at Hu Huxu before him, not making a sound.

"And..." Hu Huxu's voice dropped even lower. "That golden light was being eroded by the black energy, growing weaker and more unstable! Finally, just before the image completely shattered, I seemed to catch a glimpse of a few blurry, illusory figures emitting ominous red light. They loomed within the black energy, watching that cluster of golden light with covetous eyes..." At this point, Hu Huxu gasped for breath a few times, as if recalling the scene had consumed a great deal of his energy. "I understood immediately then! That was the Liu Family's lair! That black energy was emitted by the Malevolent Deities they nurture! That cluster of eroded golden light was your master! He was trapped by the Liu Family using the power of Malevolent Deities! And he was being consumed, possibly even used as 'blood food' to awaken or feed a certain Malevolent Deity!"

Hearing this, Lu Yuan's heart sank with a thud, his expression turning exceptionally grave.

Damn it, the old man has become a little snack for the Malevolent Deities!

Trapped since this morning... then now... The situation was indeed worse than imagined. The old man's predicament was critical.

"Did that 'Mountain Spirit Elder'... say anything else? Like the specific location? Or a method to break through?" Lu Yuan pressed, though not holding out much hope.

Hu Huxu shook his head bitterly. "No. That kind of 'viewing' is also a great burden for the 'Mountain Spirit Elder.' Being able to transmit those fragmented pieces of information was already the limit. Moreover, the Liu Family lair has arrays concealing it, and the power of the Malevolent Deities can interfere with auras. Being able to 'see' the general scene was already not easy. As for the specific location... the 'Mountain Spirit Elder' only gave a very vague direction. Combined with my understanding of this mountain forest, I could roughly judge the **bearing**. That's also why I can lead you there. As for breaking through it... the 'Mountain Spirit Elder' only had fear, no method. It even warned me not to approach, that it was not a place mortals should set foot in."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan directly slapped Hu Huxu on the shoulder and immediately said, "Then what are we still talking about?! Hurry up and go!!"