Chapter 360 - 225: The Altar_3

Chapter 360: Chapter 225: The Altar_3

Fang Yue was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Lin Wan’Er to ask such a direct question.

He glanced at Lin Wan’Er and saw her looking at him expectantly with her clear eyes. She obviously genuinely wanted to know the answer.

After a moment of deliberation, Fang Yue decided to tell Lin Wan’Er the truth.

"Actually, I wasn’t captured," Fang Yue said in a low voice. "I came here on purpose."

Fang Yue was simply interested in this village hidden deep within the mountains.

After all, villages like this were usually known for their simple, honest folk.

But when he arrived, he realized something was off about the place.

It wasn’t just because of the greedy old man; the entire village was steeped in a bizarre atmosphere.

That’s why he decided to stay and investigate, to see what secrets the village was hiding.

Hearing Fang Yue say this, Lin Wan’Er’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Y-You came here on purpose? Why?" Lin Wan’Er asked, astonished.

Fang Yue glanced at Lin Wan’Er but didn’t answer her directly. Instead, he countered with a question of his own. "And why did you run away from your marriage? Don’t you know what that means for a woman?"

Lin Wan’Er hadn’t expected Fang Yue to suddenly ask about this, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

’Of course I ran away because I don’t want to marry that man in black robes!’

But she couldn’t tell Fang Yue that.

’After all, I don’t know him well, and he might even be an accomplice of the old man.’

’If I rashly reveal my true identity and the reason for my escape, I’ll likely bring trouble upon myself.’

So, Lin Wan’Er decided to remain silent and not answer the question.

Seeing Lin Wan’Er’s silence, Fang Yue didn’t press the matter.

He knew everyone had their own secrets and sorrows, and he didn’t want to force her to say something she wasn’t ready to share.

"Alright, let’s drop it for now," Fang Yue said, changing the subject. "We should have our answers by tomorrow."

~~~~~~

「Meanwhile, in a cave deep within the mountain village.」

An altar was enshrined here.

The altar was carved with strange patterns, and in its center stood a black stone statue.

The statue was horrifying, depicting a ferocious-looking Evil Ghost with disheveled hair.

At that moment, a group of people knelt before the altar. They kowtowed piously, muttering incantations.

Their pleas echoed through the cave, creating an exceptionally strange and terrifying atmosphere.

Suddenly, the black stone statue on the altar twitched, as if it had come to life.

Immediately after, a Black Shadow floated out of the statue and hovered in mid-air.

The Black Shadow resembled a cloud of mist, revealing only a pair of scarlet eyes that radiated a sinister, terrifying aura.

The Black Shadow let out a grating cackle, a sound so sharp and piercing it felt as if it could stab directly into one’s soul.

"Very good. I am most satisfied with your offerings," the Black Shadow said hoarsely, its voice dripping with greed and cruelty. "I will grant you power and make you my servants!"

Upon hearing the Black Shadow’s words, the people kneeling on the ground grew ecstatic.

They began kowtowing frantically, crying out, "Thank you, My Lord! Thank you, My Lord!"

It was as if obtaining the Black Shadow’s power was their greatest honor and most fervent wish.

The Black Shadow watched their reactions with satisfaction, a strange light glinting in its scarlet eyes.

It extended an illusory claw and made a grasping motion in the air.

Instantly, a black light floated up from the altar, slowly condensing into a black orb.

The orb radiated a sinister, evil aura, as if it were a Demon Pearl from the depths of hell.

BOOM!

With a tremendous bang, the black orb instantly shattered, transforming into streams of black Qi that spread out in all directions.

These black streams of Qi seemed to have a life of their own, burrowing into the bodies of the kneeling people.

As the black streams of Qi flooded into them, their faces twisted into expressions of both agony and ecstasy.

Their bodies began to change. Their muscles bulged, their skin darkened, and their eyes began to glow with a scarlet light.

A moment later, the villagers rose to their feet, letting out beastly roars.

In that instant, the villagers had become like wild beasts!

However, just a moment later, they all fainted. Their bodies suddenly shrank back to their original forms, leaving them looking even weaker than before.