Chapter 108: The Blooming Curse of Youth

“Master Xu?” Yun Jiao froze, recognizing the voice coming through the communication talisman.

“What happened at the Celestial Masters Hall?”

“No—it isn’t the Hall,” Xu said grimly. “It’s the Yu family of West City. Their patriarch has been struck by the Blooming Curse!”

“The Blooming Curse?!”

The moment he heard the words, Wenqing blurted out in shock.

“What?” Only the old man looked confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“As the saying goes—youth fades, beauty withers,” Wenqing said, his brows furrowed in concern. “The Blooming Curse is a demonic incantation that drains a person’s life force and vitality.

Anyone afflicted will wither within three days, aging at an unnatural rate until their spirit collapses and their body dies. It’s… a vile, heaven-defying curse.”

He didn’t mention the worst part—that the curse originated not from the mortal world, but from the Underworld itself.

A cold chill struck his heart. He turned instinctively to glance at the distant high tower.

If this was what he suspected…

“Exactly!” Xu’s voice grew more urgent. “Patriarch Yu has already been cursed for two days. Yesterday, we sent him to the Celestial Masters Hall, but in just one day he’s aged from a man in his prime to one with a head full of white hair. None of our spirit physicians can suppress the curse. Daoist Yun, we beg you to come at once!”

“I understand. Prepare the teleportation array—I’ll be there immediately.”

Yun Jiao ended the call and turned to Bai Yu. “Old man, keep teaching your class. I’ll head over to the Celestial Masters Hall for a quick consultation.”

She started toward her room to gather her needles, then added, “Oh, and watch the Patriarch. Don’t let him eat too many cookies—they’re too heaty!”

“Oh—” Bai Yu nodded automatically, then his brain caught up. His eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

Hold on, girl!

That second order—he definitely couldn’t do!

(д)b

Yun Jiao, however, had already gone back to pack her things. For convenience, she and Jiao Heng had set up a teleportation formation connecting directly to the Celestial Masters Hall. After gathering her silver needles and tools, she headed to the backyard—only for Wenqing to suddenly follow her.

“Little Martial-niece, may I accompany you?”

“You?” Yun Jiao blinked.

He smiled faintly. “I’ve studied the Blooming Curse a bit. I might be able to help.”

Truth be told, he wanted to see for himself—before their Master found out.

“Hmm… fine.” Yun Jiao’s eyes flicked over his ethereal appearance from head to toe.

“Oh, that’s simple enough.” Wenqing smiled, pressing his fingers together in a seal. In an instant, the immortal radiance surrounding him dissipated, his flowing celestial robes turning into a plain blue mortal scholar’s robe. His face remained unchanged, but his aura transformed entirely—no longer an aloof deity, but a kindly old man from next door.

“Let’s go, then.” Yun Jiao didn’t waste time and stepped into the teleportation array.

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived in the front hall of the Celestial Masters Hall.

Xu Qingfeng was already pacing anxiously by the array. When he saw Yun Jiao appear, relief flooded his face. He hurried forward. “Daoist Yun, thank heavens you’re here! And this is…?”

He stopped short when he saw the unfamiliar man beside her—it wasn’t Bai Yu.

“Oh, my senior uncle,” Yun Jiao said casually.

“Y-your… uncle?” Xu blinked. Hadn’t she said their sect only had two members left?

But it wasn’t the time to ask. He quickly bowed. “Greetings, senior.”

“No need for formality,” Wenqing said kindly.

“Enough talk—where’s the patient?” Yun Jiao asked.

“This way, please.” Xu turned, leading them swiftly down the corridor.

Moments later, they entered a quiet guest chamber. Inside stood several people—two of the Celestial Masters Hall elders Yun Jiao had met before, and a younger man she didn’t recognize, sitting by the bed with a set of silver needles in hand. He seemed hesitant to act, clearly a spirit physician as well.

“Daoist Yun!” the two elders greeted joyfully.

The younger healer rose and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Master Yun!”

“…” Yun Jiao blinked. Master Yun? When had that title started circulating?

Still, she didn’t question it, only nodded and went straight to the bedside.

The sight made even her pause.

The man lying there looked terrifying—far beyond mere aging. His muscles had caved in, his body thin as a skeleton, as if he had been starved for months.

Yun Jiao took his pulse and examined him carefully. His body was like a punctured balloon, life essence leaking from countless invisible holes. Every organ was deteriorating at a horrifying rate.

Without hesitation, she inserted several needles, sealing his meridians to temporarily stop the flow of life energy.

But that was only a stopgap. His vitality was already almost gone. Even if she blocked the leakage now, within three days it would still dissipate completely—death was inevitable unless the source was found.

The key was to locate the curse seal.

Yet strangely, she couldn’t find it.

She searched his entire body, even using the golden needle her Patriarch had given her to probe his meridians—nothing. It was as if the curse had vanished entirely.

Her brows furrowed.

Her Patriarch had said her spiritual sight was awakened; she should be able to perceive any trace of dark energy.

If she couldn’t see it in the body, then there was only one place left—

Her eyes widened. She turned sharply to Xu Qingfeng. “Master Xu, what level of Celestial Master is this patient?”

Xu blinked, puzzled by the question. “He’s of the First Moon rank.”

First Moon—that was Earth tier.

Her expression hardened. “Understood.”

She rose, stepping aside, and looked to Wenqing. “Uncle Wenqing, I need you to check his spiritual consciousness.”

“Me?” Wenqing was taken aback. “I’m not a physician—”

“Please, Uncle,” Yun Jiao said firmly, pushing him toward the bed with a look that said, Didn’t you insist on helping?

The corner of Wenqing’s mouth twitched. With a sigh, he extended two fingers and pressed them against the man’s forehead. Quietly, he sent a wisp of celestial energy into the man’s consciousness.

A moment later, his eyes flew wide open.

Oh heavens!

“Is it a six-petaled flower-shaped mark?” Yun Jiao asked.

“…Yes!” Wenqing’s voice was tight. Not only was there such a mark—it had already spread like black vines through nearly the entire spiritual field.

Just as she suspected.

High-tier Celestial Masters could open their spiritual consciousness; if no mark existed on the body, then it must have hidden itself within the mind.

“Force it out,” she said sharply.

Wenqing met her gaze—then nodded. He focused his immortal energy, wrapping it around the dark flower sigil and yanking it free.

In that instant, the Yu patriarch’s pale face turned black as ink, veins bulging as the corruption surged through his body.

Yun Jiao struck without hesitation—sealing his consciousness, placing needles, and drawing an array of purification sigils.

A glowing formation flared on the man’s chest. His lifeless body suddenly convulsed violently, muscles spasming as tendrils of black mist oozed from his skin, writhing like living smoke.

“Be careful!” Wenqing exclaimed, pulling Yun Jiao back.

A second later, the black mist burst upward with a shrill, inhuman roar. The sound was chilling—cold and hollow, like the scream of something crawling up from the depths of the Underworld.

The mist tried to take form but shattered apart again. Where it scattered, the bed beneath corroded instantly, the wood melting like wax. The ceiling above them hissed and dissolved, leaving a gaping hole that opened straight to the sky.

Yun Jiao: “…”

Xu Qingfeng: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

What in the world was that?

(⊙_⊙)

Only Wenqing’s expression had turned completely grim. His face darkened to the color of ink.

As he feared—

It truly came from the Underworld.

(End of Chapter)