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墨書 Inktalez
The mountains stretched endlessly, and the river flowed into the vast wilderness.
The mountains were not steep, the forests not dense; the grass swayed with the wind, and clear springs flowed over the stones, devoid of any signs of human habitation.
This was the place we had chosen, and it was also the site to break the Demon King's Cauldron.
The reason for selecting such a remote location was due to Gu Chen's concerns. Everyone understood that this process would not be smooth; in fact, it was fraught with danger.
This danger did not stem from the Demon King's Cauldron itself. As long as we gathered the necessary items to break it, although it might be troublesome, there would be no unexpected incidents.
The source of the crisis lay with Mu Emperor and Dark Night Ghost Emperor.
In the deep of night, beside a small stream in the mountains, a blazing fire illuminated the sky. In the center of a pile of large stones, a fierce blaze burned brightly, and above that fire rested a large iron bucket supported by those stones.
The iron bucket was taller than a person and wide enough to comfortably accommodate an adult sitting inside. At that moment, it was filled with boiling water that bubbled continuously.
However, the boiling water did not appear clear; it was somewhat murky and emitted an indescribable odor.
It was a mixture of medicinal fragrance and a bloody scent.
Gu Chen stood beside the iron bucket, his expression serious.
Meanwhile, the other members of Taoist Nine Meridians—Mao Guoxue, Grandma Jiang, Yang Haibo, Ma Zeyu, Zhao Guo, Yuan Fei, Lu Yuan, and Chen Xuanyi—sat quietly at a distance around the bucket, forming a circle as if meditating in silence.
Yet their gazes were sharp; even in the dead of night, they showed no signs of drowsiness. Instead, they constantly scanned their surroundings, ensuring that even the slightest rustle or unusual occurrence would not escape their eyes and ears.
In addition to them, there were Mingyue, Mu Yan, Li, and He Si standing beside me, along with Gu Chen by the iron barrel, their expressions serious and slightly tense as they stared at the boiling water inside.
"Master, how much longer?" By the time day broke, Gu Chen had already built a large fire and filled the iron barrel with stream water. He had added everything, including Three Bloods, into the barrel, simmering it like stew until now, continuously adding more stream water during the process.
Calculating the time, it had been over ten hours. Just then, I noticed Gu Chen suddenly stand up, prompting me to ask.
"It’s going smoothly," Gu Chen said, gazing at the night sky as if talking to himself. After a moment, he turned to me and said, "It’s about time. It’s been a full twelve hours; the energy contained in Three Bloods should have been released by now." He then looked at He Si and said, "Xiao Si, come help me lift the iron barrel and set it aside."
He Si nodded and moved forward without hesitation. I quickly lent a hand, and together we lifted the barrel down and placed it on the ground beside us.
Gu Chen then said, "Prepare yourself mentally. Once the temperature drops a bit, you’ll need to jump into this barrel and soak for a day and a night. By then, it will be done."
I nodded but was somewhat confused about what Gu Chen meant by preparing myself mentally. So I asked, "Master, is there any harm or side effects from this?"
Gu Chen nodded but then shook his head.
This only deepened my confusion; even Mu Yan and Li looked puzzled. Only He Si frowned slightly as if he understood something.
Then Gu Chen spoke softly, "Three Bloods is overwhelming, especially Dragon Blood. After simmering for twelve hours, the energy within Three Bloods has fully manifested. Although we added Giant Python Spine, Yellow Cicada, and Hundred-Year Lingzhi as supplements to neutralize it and used Silver Talisman ash to suppress it, the medicinal potency of the water in this barrel remains formidable. It could be described as skin-penetrating and bone-corroding; such pain could be likened to thousands of ants gnawing at your heart. That’s why I want you to prepare yourself mentally."
After saying this, Gu Chen turned around and looked at me calmly.
However, his words made my brow furrow tightly as I glanced at the steam rising from the boiling water in the barrel, feeling a sense of dread creeping into my heart.
The thought of skin being invaded and bones eroded, of countless ants gnawing at one's heart, sent a chill down my spine. Just imagining such pain was enough to make anyone shudder, let alone actually experiencing it.
Unconsciously, Mu Yan tightened her grip on my hand. Beside us, Mingyue's gaze grew equally complex, filled with concern as she looked at me.
"Father, for Mother, you must endure," Li said, raising her small fist in front of me, tightly clenched as if to encourage me.
I took a deep breath and glanced at Mu Yan and Mingyue, giving them a reassuring look before focusing on Li. I smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Father is not weak. I won't retreat or fear anything; it's just pain. I can bear it."
"Good! This is the spirit that my disciple Gu Chen should have," Gu Chen praised, speaking leisurely. "As the saying goes, one must break before they can stand anew. Although the process may be excruciatingly painful, enduring it will bring you immense benefits. You will find that your body will undergo a tremendous transformation."
"Tremendous transformation, Master? What kind of transformation?" I asked, unsure whether Gu Chen meant for the better or worse.
But as soon as I spoke those words, Gu Chen's expression darkened. Even He Si, Mu Yan, Mingyue, and Li all suddenly looked up at the sky.
"They're coming; everyone prepare," Mao Guoxue reminded us sharply.
In an instant, everyone's demeanor turned serious as they stood up from the ground.
I was still curious and confused about why they had suddenly become so solemn and tense. I had no idea who Mao Guoxue meant by "they're coming."
Yet instinctively, a sense of foreboding arose within me. I felt that "they're coming" likely referred to the Mu Emperor and the Dark Night Ghost Emperor.
The next moment confirmed my suspicion as the sky seemed to darken in an instant. Black clouds rose up, obscuring the starlight and moonlight, creating an oppressive atmosphere that weighed heavily upon us.
A tremendous pressure suddenly rose, and the expressions of everyone around became incredibly serious as they gazed into the surroundings.
Especially Gu Chen, whose eyes were fixed in one direction. He let out a slight cold snort and said, "So you all have come."
What puzzled me was that when I followed his gaze, I saw no one there.
Was Gu Chen speaking to thin air?
But that was clearly impossible; I could tell from his gaze and the looks of the others that there was something more present.
At this moment, we were not alone; there were other entities here with us.
Gu Chen's words were directed at them.
Sure enough, just as his voice fell, a chilling voice echoed back: "Gu Chen, we have always respected your Taoist Nine Meridians and never sought to offend you. Even when you occasionally intrude into our Yin Domain or walk within it, we have never obstructed you or uttered a word of complaint. Yet now you are ruining our plans. Isn't that a bit excessive?"
I recognized the owner of that voice all too well; it was Mu Emperor.
After his words, both Mu Emperor and Dark Night Ghost Emperor materialized before us, shrouded in dark mist, causing me to instinctively take a step back and shudder.
Moreover, as Mu Emperor and Dark Night Ghost Emperor appeared, numerous figures cloaked in the same black mist emerged behind them and all around us, densely packed and lined up everywhere.
In an instant, the world seemed to turn cold and dim, as if it were the end of days.
The shadows loomed, and the pale, fierce faces surrounded us, leaving no escape.
It was at this moment that I realized how small our group of over ten people appeared in comparison.
Especially those figures standing behind the Mu Emperor and the Dark Night Ghost Emperor, as well as those at the forefront, gave me an even stronger sense of danger and power.
The chilling, menacing gazes fell upon me, sending shivers down my spine from within.
I had never witnessed such a formidable lineup, with so many Ghost Kings, Ghost Generals, Ghost Soldiers, and even Wandering Spirits and Wild Ghosts appearing before me.
Even during my last trip to the Yin Domain with Gu Chen, I had not encountered anything like this; it felt as if all the ghosts in the world had gathered here at this moment.
It was as if this place had transformed into a realm solely inhabited by spirits, everywhere I looked.
Yet it was this experience that truly gave me a new understanding of the Taoist Nine Meridians; perhaps this was the true essence of the Taoist Nine Meridians.
I witnessed these extraordinary beings engage in a fierce battle, each showcasing their unique powers.
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