Chapter 510 337: Evil Cultivation

Ning Qiyang dared not delay. She moved forward and joined the others in full prostration, bowing toward the Evil Cult Statue that sat atop a nine-story pagoda in the center of the cave. At the same time, she began to subtly size up her surroundings out of the corner of her eye.

Inside the cave, aside from these ordinary Believers in varied attire kneeling on the ground, a circle of black-robed figures of different heights stood around the cave walls.

The wide black robes completely shrouded their figures and faces, making them look incredibly eerie in the dim environment. They looked less like people and more like Fierce Ghosts.

Ning Qiyang could feel gazes coming from beneath those black robes, warily scanning everything around them.

In addition, strange, blood-red portals continuously appeared in the void around the cave. One by one, Believers stepped through the portals into the cave, joining the crowd of fervently bowing people. After a Believer passed through, the portal would slowly fade and disappear.

After observing more than ten portals appear and fade, Ning Qiyang discovered that two different, distorted words would generally appear on them.

They were "Death" and "Fear."

'The black-robed people around here must be higher-ranking members of this organization. If I can find a way to capture one, I should be able to get some core information.'

'Those appearing and disappearing portals... they really are like the product of some evil artifact combined with an Escape Technique. It's truly incredible, something I've never heard of. And the design of the portals is very similar to the shape of the Eight Gates on the first floor of that nine-story pagoda. What does that mean?'

'Also, why is this hidden organization gathering everyone together? To hold an Evil Cultivation gathering? With the current strict crackdowns, aren't they worried about being exposed? They must have been moving Believers recently... there have been disappearances in some places. Could it be related to this?'

'This situation looks bad. The methods this hidden organization has displayed are definitely beyond the Divine Techniques realm. I'm in way over my head.'

Through her observations, Ning Qiyang secretly processed a lot of information, and a sense of crisis welled up inside her.

Although the Twelve Earthly Branches of the Celestial Net Department weren't selected based on combat power, she was a genuine Innate Martial Artist. But even an Innate Martial Artist could hardly make a ripple in front of a master of the Divine Techniques realm.

The methods of such masters—Scattering Beans into Soldiers, Yang Spirit Manifestation, Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth... they had reached a truly unfathomable level.

What were Divine Techniques?

They were the methods that only true Immortal Gods should possess.

But in her current situation, a crowd of black-robed figures was watching like tigers eyeing their prey. She also didn't know if other masters were secretly observing. She didn't dare make any sudden moves, or she would likely be exposed immediately.

She could only take it one step at a time.

About an hour passed. Dozens more Believers continued to trickle in, eventually filling a complete circle within the cave. In total, there were now nearly five hundred people.

Ning Qiyang observed the people on her left and right. To her left was a somewhat portly middle-aged man whose clothes suggested a very wealthy family. To her right was an old woman, her face a mass of wrinkles, dressed very simply.

Both were prostrated on the ground, their faces showing a strange fanaticism. Their mouths opened and closed, as if they were whispering something.

'This is more than simple heresy. Their consciousness has likely been corrupted by some bizarre power.'

Ning Qiyang recalled Zhang Qiu Fen's behavior after her arrest, so she wasn't surprised by this.

Evil Cultivation could influence a person's consciousness. The more of its gatherings one attended, the deeper the influence would become, leading to an irreversible madness.

As for why these people were bewitched by Evil Cultivation, it was mostly because they couldn't resist temptation in the first place.

Perhaps to cure an illness, or to change their luck and make a fortune, or for a meteoric rise in status... Tempted by all kinds of desires, they were found by the Evil Cultivation. It gave them a small taste of success, and so they fell deeper and deeper into its trap.

Everyone had arrived. Another quarter of an hour passed. Suddenly, eight blood-red portals appeared in the eight directions of the cave. Eight black-robed figures emerged from the blood portals. Their steps were light as they walked on the backs of the prostrated Believers, moving swiftly toward the high platform in the center.

WAH! WAH!

The sharp cries echoed through the cave. Only then did Ning Qiyang see that each of the eight black-robed figures was holding a wailing infant.

Her face twitched violently, and a terrible premonition rose in her heart.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, another blood-red portal appeared before the high altar. A tall, black-robed figure stepped out.

"Demon Ghosts arise, the world shall fall."

"The heavens show no grace, the earth knows no law."

"Evil my flesh, Yin my bone."

"Ascend the Yin Tower, and master calamity."

"Through flesh and blood, we save all creation."

"The Utmost Yin, the Holiest Saint, the Greatly Merciful and Compassionate, True Sovereign of All Evil in the Three Realms and Ten Directions—the Supreme Yin Mother!!"

After stepping out of the blood portal, the tall, black-robed figure whose face could not be seen spread his arms toward the kneeling crowd and recited a wicked Imperial Decree in a gloomy and bizarre voice.

As the voice spread, the entire cave underwent an inexplicably terrifying change. The already twisted, blood-red runes on the cave walls seemed to gain life, beginning to squirm and flow. It was impossible to tell if it was real or an illusion.

As the blood-red runes swirled, a crimson light flickered intermittently within the gloomy cave. Together with the flowing runes, it created an extremely eerie feeling.