Chapter 186: Ants... Spying... Seeking Death...

Pseudo-Divine Status! Super Malevolent Deity! Nine Yin Convergence, Century-long Blood Sacrifice...

Each of these terms represented a terror sufficient to shake the Daoist sects and plunge all living beings into misery!

Was the old man really trapped in the hands of such a monster?!

Then what about him now...

After the immense shock, Lu Yuan's mind, stimulated by the life-and-death brink, instead became exceptionally clear and sharp in an instant, as if doused with ice water!

No!

Something was wrong!

Hu Huxu had said that the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family might be raising three to four Super Malevolent Deities!

What kind of person was the old man?

He even felt the old man might not even have reached the level of Grand Celestial Master.

But, even if the old man wasn't a Grand Celestial Master, Lu Yuan inexplicably had confidence in him.

To trap him, and even use him as "blood food" to simmer, how could they possibly only mobilize one Malevolent Deity?

Furthermore, if the old man was truly imprisoned within that black stone house, there would definitely be the interwoven power of multiple Malevolent Deities surrounding it, suppressing him.

It absolutely couldn't be like this, with only the "Blood Spirit Lord's" Malevolent Deity aura so clearly emanating, while the others, if they existed, showed no movement at all!

Either the old man wasn't here!

Or, the appearance of this "Blood Spirit Lord" before them was itself a trap!

A lure!

Its purpose was to entice rescuers like him to plunge headfirst into this most dangerous black stone house!

But the problem was...

It shouldn't be...

Besides himself, who else would come to rescue him?

Could it be to lure people from Tianlong Temple?

To lure Celestial Master He Xun?

After all, back when the old man wanted to find traces of the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, he had earnestly requested help from Celestial Master He Xun.

The old man ultimately managed to find traces of the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, though, looking at it now, those traces were likely intentionally leaked by the Liu Family, precisely to invite the guest into the urn.

But perhaps Tianlong Temple later discovered something was amiss, so they would send people to rescue him later?

Was this Super Malevolent Deity meant to attract Tianlong Temple's people?

But the problem was, along this entire journey, they hadn't encountered any people or signs from Tianlong Temple at all...

...

Of course...

It was also possible...

It was meant to catch him!

After all, beyond the Great Wall right now, who could be more prominent than him?

Presumably, with Lu Yuan's current achievements, in the eyes of the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family, he was probably more suitable for refinement than the old man?!

There was too much information now; Lu Yuan's head was a bit scrambled, unable to sort it out properly.

However, there was one thing Lu Yuan understood very clearly right now.

He must first verify whether the old man was truly inside that stone house!

He could no longer blindly charge in!

If it was empty inside, or if there was only this "Blood-Skeleton Spirit Lord" and a deadly trap laid by the Liu Family, then going in would be suicide!

Crushing the jade pendant to summon Gu Qingwan was his final trump card; it absolutely could not be wasted on a place that might be a trap!

Moreover, if the old man wasn't here, then where was he now?

What was his situation?

He must use a safer, more concealed method to investigate the interior of that black stone house!

He needed to at least confirm whether the old man's aura was truly inside!

"Family Head Hu, cover for me! I need to use a secret technique to investigate that stone house!"

Lu Yuan made a prompt decision, whispering sharply to Hu Huxu behind him, who was completely unaware of what was happening.

Simultaneously, he quickly retreated several steps, found a relatively hidden spot behind a broken wall that could somewhat block the erosion of the "blood ghost energy," and sat down cross-legged.

Although Hu Huxu didn't know what Lu Yuan intended to do, seeing his grave and resolute expression, he knew the situation was critical and immediately gritted his teeth and nodded.

Hu Huxu pulled out the few remaining defensive talismans and that most crucial "Soul-Sustaining Lamp" from his sleeve.

He quickly arranged them around Lu Yuan, attempting to construct a temporary, fragile defensive circle.

To block the "blood ghost energy" that was getting closer and thicker.

Lu Yuan paid no more attention to the outside world. He closed his eyes, his hands rapidly forming seals in front of his chest.

These hand seals were no longer the offensive Thunder Technique seals.

Instead, they were an extremely complex, ancient set of Daoist secret hand techniques specifically used for "remote sensing," "probing the obscure," and "tracking."

A combined variant of the "Thousand-Li Soul-Chasing Seal" and the "Seeing Through Walls Seal"!

This was something Lu Yuan learned from the book "Dao" obtained from the [Vanquish Demons and Exorcise Evil] system.

Lu Yuan began to recite a low, profound, and mysterious incantation. The syllables were strange, carrying a power that penetrated space and saw through illusions:

"Heaven clear, earth tranquil, sun and moon shine bright."

"I now invoke, spirits from a thousand li."

"Feet tread Yu Steps, hands hold spiritual texts."

"Above reaching the azure heavens, below piercing the netherworld."

"Three Souls ethereal, seven corporeal souls obscure."

"If there be traces, swiftly reveal their form."

"If there be obstructions, open my Dharma eye."

"If there be illusions, dispel my doubts."

"I invoke the law and command of the Three Mountains and Nine Lords!"

This was the Daoist "Soul-Chasing Shadow-Probing Mantra." When combined with specific hand seals and powerful Spiritual Sense,

it could cross a certain distance and obstacles to perceive and lock onto the soul aura or intense Dao resonance residue of a specific target.

It could even "see" some blurry fragments of scenes.

But this secret technique consumed immense energy, was extremely susceptible to interference, backlash, or even reverse-locking by beings equally proficient in this art or possessing great power.

Lu Yuan couldn't care about that now.

He had to confirm the old man's situation!

Lu Yuan concentrated all his mental energy, clearly outlining in his mind the old man's familiar Dao resonance aura, appearance, and even some unique life imprints,

using them as an "anchor point."

Simultaneously, he guided the pure zhenran within his body, circulating it along specific meridians, infusing it into the hand seals, and finally gathering it at his ancestral aperture between his brows.

"Buzz—!"

A faint buzzing sound rang in Lu Yuan's mind.

Lu Yuan felt his "vision," or more accurately, his Spiritual Sense, break free from the constraints of his physical body.

It extended outward in a peculiar way, piercing through the obstruction of the broken wall, ignoring the interference of the pervasive "blood-skeleton ghost energy,"

and shot straight toward that wide-open black stone door, toward the churning blood light and endless darkness behind it!

Lu Yuan "saw" it!

No, he perceived it!

Behind the stone door was a vast, empty cavern, as if the mountain's belly had been hollowed out.

The cavern's walls and floor were carved with dense, sinister runes flowing with dark red blood light.

In the center of the cavern was a massive altar piled from countless bones, upon which burned an undying dark red soul fire.

And those huge eyes burning with blood flames, filled with malice, hung high above the altar.

Like two bloody suns, they coldly "gazed" at the entrance and also "gazed" at Lu Yuan's faint, space-crossing perception.

Inside the cavern, evil energy soared to the heavens, resentment was like a sea, blood slaughter churned, and forests of bones stood...

But, there was only one thing missing!

There was none of the old man's familiar, even if suppressed to the extreme, still-present, majestic Dao resonance belonging to a Daoist Celestial Master and the vibrant, unceasing aura of Thunder Techniques!

Not even a trace of leftover struggle, a hint of the "flavor" of the old man's essence-blood or soul!

Here, there was only the "Blood Spirit Lord," and its Malevolent Deity domain filled with greed, brutality, and pure malice!

Just like a meticulously set, exuding an alluring fragrance, waiting for prey to walk right into it... animal trap!

Lu Yuan's heart sank to the bottom, but at the same time, a trace of belated fear rose within him.

Indeed! The old man wasn't here!

This black stone house was a trap!

The Liu Family had calculated that someone would come to rescue the old man, deliberately stationing this "Blood Spirit Lord" here!

To simulate the false appearance of a Malevolent Deity refining "blood food," luring rescuers to come!

Then where was the old man?!

Just as Lu Yuan wanted to expand his perception range, search deeper within the stone house or underground, even probe other areas of the village,

those huge bloody eyes hanging high seemed to detect this faint but pure "peeping" that didn't belong here.

The blood flames burning within them suddenly flared!

"Humph!"

A snort, filled with disdain and brutality, seemed to resound directly in the depths of the soul.

It exploded like thunder within Lu Yuan's extended perception!

Immediately following, a vast, sea-like, filthy, abyss-like terrifying divine will, mixed with overwhelming blood slaughter resentment power, swept over.

Following Lu Yuan's strand of perception, like countless poisonous vines with barbs, it fiercely backlashed!

"Pfft—!"

Lu Yuan, sitting cross-legged behind the broken wall, shuddered violently. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and he spat out a small mouthful of dark red stagnant blood!

He felt as if a red-hot iron hammer had smashed into his mind, and as if countless steel needles stained with filth had instantly pierced through him!

The divine will backlash from the "Blood Spirit Lord," carrying unparalleled brutality, filth, and pure malice, almost tore his soul apart!

"Daoist Priest Lu!!"

Hu Huxu, who was covering for him nearby, was scared out of his wits upon seeing this. He hurried forward, wanting to support Lu Yuan.

"Don't touch me!"

Lu Yuan growled lowly, his voice hoarse, carrying unconcealable pain.

He forcibly steadied his mind, his hands rapidly changing hand seals.

Switching from "Soul-Chasing Shadow-Probing" to "Soul-Stabilizing Heart-Guarding" seals, he urgently recited the Daoist "Mind-Cleansing Mantra."

"The Supreme Platform Star, responds without cease."

"Repel evil, bind demons, protect life, guard the body."

"Wisdom bright and pure, mind and spirit peaceful and tranquil."

"Three Souls eternal, seven corporeal souls never lost or tilted."

"Urgently, urgently, as by the law's command!"

With the mantra's power bolstering him, the zhenran within his body madly circulated.

Coupled with the Daoist soul-stabilizing secret technique, he barely managed to resist and expel the filthy divine will and brutal impact invading his consciousness sea.

But even so, Lu Yuan felt a splitting headache, his ancestral aperture between his brows aching as if pierced by needles.

His divine consciousness had suffered significant damage; he probably couldn't perform such precise probing secret techniques again for a while.

"Huff... Huff..."

Lu Yuan gasped heavily, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his eyes filled with a chill of belated fear.

That was close!

If he hadn't been quick-witted, promptly severed most of the perception connection, and activated the soul-stabilizing secret technique,

that single divine will backlash just now would have been enough to wound his soul.

It might even have allowed the "Blood-Skeleton Spirit Lord" to follow the connection and directly corrupt his mind, turning him into a mindless puppet!

"Daoist Priest Lu, inside..."

Hu Huxu asked anxiously. He couldn't see the divine consciousness-level confrontation just now, but he could see Lu Yuan spitting blood and his current pained state.

"I'm fine..."

Lu Yuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze sharp as he looked toward the still wide-open black stone door spewing blood ghost energy, his voice icy.

"The old man isn't inside! That stone house is a trap! Inside, there's only that 'Blood Spirit Lord'!"

"A trap?!" Hu Huxu's face changed dramatically. "Then... then your master he..."

"He's definitely still in the Liu Family's hands, but not in this most conspicuous place."

Lu Yuan struggled to stand up, his mind rapidly working, analyzing the current situation.

"The Liu Family set this trap either to lure other potential rescuers, like my master uncle, people from Tianlong Temple."

"Or... it's targeting me!"

"They know the old man has me as a disciple, and calculated that I would definitely come!"

"They probably want to capture me alive, or control me..."

Hu Huxu also grew anxious and quickly asked:

"Then... what do we do now?"

It was good that the trap was exposed, but the old man's whereabouts were a mystery, and their location was likely completely exposed now!

The "Blood Spirit Lord's" backlash just now was clear proof!

Lu Yuan forced himself to calm down.

If the old man wasn't here, then where was he?

The Liu Family's lair was only this big. A place capable of imprisoning the old man definitely wouldn't be an ordinary corner.

Moreover, to "simmer" the old man required the power of multiple Malevolent Deities, a special array or environment...

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over this deathly silent "Ghost Wailing Village" once more.

The black stone house was a trap, a lure.

Then the place truly imprisoning the old man must be even more hidden, more heavily guarded, and might even be... not on the ground at all!

Lu Yuan recalled the direction from which he had sensed the old man's faint Dao resonance earlier.

Although it roughly pointed toward the black stone house, that was the result of sensing from a distance.

After entering the village, affected by various evil energies, the perception was no longer so accurate.

But now, having eliminated the black stone house as the wrong option...

Lu Yuan closed his eyes, enduring the throbbing pain in his consciousness sea, and carefully sensed once more.

This time, Lu Yuan no longer deliberately "looked" in a specific direction.

Instead, he emptied his mind, purely "feeling" for that faint resonance of Dao resonance connected through the master-disciple lineage and inheritance.

After blocking out the intense interference of the soaring evil energy from the direction of the black stone house,

amidst the ever-present gray-black mist and stench, Lu Yuan faintly caught a hint of an even more obscure, even deeper... fluctuation.

That fluctuation didn't come from the ground, but from... underground!

Deeper, more abysmal underground!

And the location seemed to be... to the side and rear of the black stone house, near the mountain body?

Could it be... the old man was imprisoned within the mountain's belly?

Or, the Liu Family's true core, including other Malevolent Deities, were all hidden underground?

That made sense!

That was logical!

The "Blood-Skeleton Spirit Lord" in the black stone house was the guard, the bait.

The real place for imprisoning and "processing" the old man was deep underground, guarded by other Malevolent Deities, set with a deadly grand array!

This way, they could ensure safety and concealment while also utilizing the Earth Veins' yin energy to enhance the Malevolent Deities' power and refinement effects!

"Underground!"

Lu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, pointing toward the area to the side and rear of the black stone house, almost merging with the mountain body.

"The old man is likely imprisoned underground in that mountain area! That's the Liu Family's true core!"

Hu Huxu looked in the direction Lu Yuan pointed. He saw an even steeper cliff face there,

covered with dark green unknown moss and vines, looking no different from the surrounding mountain.

But upon careful sensing, the gray-black mist there seemed denser, its flow slower, exuding a heavy, deathly silent aura.

"But... but how do we get in?"

Hu Huxu's expression turned bitter.

"That place looks like there's no path at all, and there are definitely more powerful restrictions and guards!"

"Our location is exposed now; that Blood Spirit Lord is probably already..."

As if to confirm Hu Huxu's words, the huge bloody eyes in the black stone house ahead seemed to grow even more furious because they failed to seriously injure Lu Yuan with that single strike.

A low, hoarse roar, as if countless bones were grinding together, came from deep within the stone house:

"Ants... spy... seek death..."

Accompanying this roar, the "blood-skeleton ghost energy" originally gushing from the door crack suddenly surged violently!

Like a bursting dam of bloody floodwaters, it swept toward the direction where Lu Yuan and Hu Huxu were hiding with even greater speed and ferocity!

Within the flood, one could vaguely see countless bloody illusions, twisted faces of resentful souls, and sharp bone spikes, emitting shrill screams!

Not only that, the entire "Ghost Wailing Village" seemed thoroughly awakened by this roar!

The light from all the houses glowing with dark red soul fire suddenly became piercingly bright!

From all over the village, more, denser, inhuman roars and footsteps sounded!

More "living corpses," "hungry ghost servants," and other raised evil creatures, having received the command, were converging from all directions!

They were surrounded!

Ahead was the "Blood-Skeleton Spirit Lord's" flood of blood-skeleton ghost energy, behind them were countless alerted Liu Family evil creatures!