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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 95: The Temple
Ji Zichen and Shen Bifan walked down the corridor until they reached a corner. Beyond the corner was an iron gate, and outside lay an open area with a few scattered houses. Ji Zichen paused in surprise, "We've made it out."
Exiting the maze meant that he had taken the wrong path. Just as Ji Zichen was about to turn back, he heard footsteps behind him. Shen Bifan whispered nervously in his ear, "Someone's coming."
With no way to retreat and seeing no one outside, Ji Zichen gritted his teeth and quickly stepped out.
The two of them hid behind a wall of a nearby house. Just then, a figure emerged from a stone house across from them. The person wore a black robe, resembling a High Priest. Around his neck hung a bone chain, and his ears were adorned with golden snake-like earrings. The High Priest had a gloomy expression as he moved to the center, his sharp gaze threateningly directed toward the corner where Ji Zichen was hiding.
Ji Zichen was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe. The High Priest focused intently on Ji Zichen's position. The corner was dark and shadowy; logically, the High Priest shouldn't have been able to see them hiding there. Yet, he spoke up, "My good friend, why don't you come out? Are you here for some sneaky business?"
Realizing their cover was blown, Ji Zichen gently tapped Shen Bifan's shoulder, signaling her not to come out. He stepped into the light from the shadows, wearing a calm smile as he said, "Good eyesight."
The High Priest replied, "This has nothing to do with my eyesight; your aura is different from ours. My apologies; I am the High Priest of the Hall of Malevolence. May I ask how you are addressed?"
Having intruded recklessly, Ji Zichen noted that the High Priest did not appear angry; instead, he seemed quite polite. Since the other party was friendly, Ji Zichen decided not to overstep. "I am Ji Zichen," he introduced himself.
A strange light flickered in the High Priest's eyes. "So you are Ji Zichen!"
Ji Zichen asked, "You know me?"
The High Priest smiled, "I've heard some things about you; I suppose that counts as knowing you. But what brings you here in the dead of night?"
Ji Zichen replied with a grin, "Nothing much. I've heard that your Hall of Malevolence is quite mysterious. Recently, haven't you revived some Evil God? I came to see what this Evil God looks like."
The High Priest's expression suddenly turned cold as he glared at Ji Zichen. "How dare you show disrespect toward the Evil God!"
At that moment, a dark cloud drifted by, obscuring the bright moon and plunging the ground into darkness.
Ji Zichen's heart raced; he never expected the High Priest's demeanor to change so swiftly. The High Priest thrust his palm toward Ji Zichen, and an overwhelming wave of foul energy surged toward him. Ji Zichen instinctively recoiled as two fireballs—one yellow and one red—spun toward him like Will-o'-the-Wisps. As he stepped back, he dodged just in time for the two fireballs to crash into the wall behind him.
"Whoosh! Bang!" A blood-red explosion erupted in response.
Lin Chuyu and Yang Jingwan walked down a corridor, and Lin Chuyu felt a chilling breeze. "Why is it so cold here?"
Yang Jingwan, leading the way, replied without turning back, "It's not cold; you're just too weak."
On the left side of the corridor was a wooden door. Yang Jingwan pushed it open and entered, revealing a large hall. In the center of the hall stood a big furnace, its flames casting a warm glow throughout the space. Upon entering, Yang Jingwan noticed that the hall was empty, and her brow furrowed. "They haven't arrived yet?"
Lin Chuyu's heart raced. "Could they have encountered some danger?"
After a moment of thought, Yang Jingwan exclaimed, "This is bad; they must have taken a wrong turn!" She grabbed Lin Chuyu and rushed outside. "They must be heading toward the temple! If they run into the High Priest, they'll be in serious danger."
As they dashed out of the maze and onto the surface, Lin Chuyu suddenly felt an intense and obscure aura that made her shiver. "This... this feeling is..."
Yang Jingwan looked at Lin Chuyu in surprise, wondering if she could sense the presence of the Evil God.
Thinking quickly, Yang Jingwan realized, "Of course, her Vermilion Bird aura is very pure; it's normal for her to sense the Evil God's presence."
She advised, "Ignore what you're feeling. If you can sense the Evil God, it can sense you too. Your mental strength is no match for it; if it suppresses you, you'll fall under its control."
"Evil God aura?" Lin Chuyu trembled as she spoke. "Is this really the Evil God's aura? It feels like it's coming from hell."
Yang Jingwan explained, "The Evil God is sealed in the Underworld Border, but its power can be released from the Evil God statue. Through secret techniques, we can harness that power for ourselves. However, if the Evil God fully revives, it will reclaim all that power."
Lin Chuyu was astonished. "So you're saying this Evil God hasn't fully revived yet?"
Yang Jingwan sighed. "I just returned and don't know all the details, but I do know that the Arbitrator doesn't trust the Evil God. He must have kept it in a semi-revived state so he can control its power. In the Hall of Malevolence, some cults are loyal followers of the Evil God while others simply crave its power. In any case, there will be significant opposition to fully reviving the Evil God."
Lin Chuyu countered with a question. "Why are you telling me this? Are you against the revival of the Evil God too?"
Yang Jingwan scoffed. "You're focusing on the wrong things. Quickly ignore your feelings; we need to hurry to the temple and hope your Brother Ji has good luck."
---
When that fireball exploded, Ji Zichen caught a whiff of an unusual fragrance. As soon as it entered her nose, she collapsed to the ground with her eyes rolling back. Seeing Ji Zichen fall, Shen Bifan could no longer hide and rushed out into view.
Shen Bifan held Ji Zichen tightly, shouting, "Brother Zichen! Brother Zichen!"
She glared at the High Priest with anger. "What have you done to him?"
The High Priest's expression was cold as he replied, "I thought you were hiding and unwilling to come out. Step aside!"
Shen Bifan refused to move, her stubborn gaze fixed on the High Priest.
With a swift motion of his long sleeves, the High Priest unleashed a strange force that sent Shen Bifan crashing against the wall. Stars danced in her vision as the High Priest approached and hoisted Ji Zichen over his shoulder, heading toward the temple. It took Shen Bifan a moment to regain her senses, but she could still see the High Priest's retreating figure. Without hesitation, she chased after him.
As she closed in on the High Priest, Shen Bifan pushed forward with a palm strike from behind. However, just as her power was about to reach him, a curved black shield surged around the High Priest, knocking Shen Bifan back once more.
"He's so strong..." Shen Bifan realized she was no match for the High Priest. "What do you plan to do with him?"
The High Priest replied, "If you don't want to die, don't make any more moves. He has shown disrespect to the Evil God; he can only face direct punishment from the Evil God!"
"Punishment!" Shen Bifan shivered at the word. "What does punishment mean?"
The High Priest did not answer. "If you want to know, then obediently follow me. If you continue to be stubborn, I won't spare you."
Without mercy, the High Priest moved forward again, and Shen Bifan bit her lip as she followed closely behind.
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