A Night of Desperation

Chapter 341: Induction 1

"You...." Ning Ruofei wanted to speak, but with his heart already removed, he had lost the strength to talk.

He tried to say something else, but his body suddenly swelled up and within a second, it exploded like a balloon.

Boom!!

His entire body burst into countless wisps of black smoke, dispersing into the air.

This black smoke didn’t fly away; instead, it, along with all the surrounding locusts, converged into a single point above the Taoist Temple.

Hiss.

Numerous locusts turned into strips of black smoke, frantically merging into this point in mid-air.

Qing Huang raised his head slightly in surprise, squinting as he looked toward the sky.

"You all should leave here first," he said.

In front of him, Yu Mo, Yu Hen, and the others were still holding up the array barrier, completely unharmed.

Clearly, everything that just happened was merely an illusion from Ning Ruofei’s last moments of consciousness.

Yu Hen wanted to say something else but was immediately pulled back by Yu Mo.

At a time like this, regardless of the opponent’s identity, they had to leave first and talk later.

The group bowed to Qing Huang together.

"We are indebted for your rescue today and will certainly repay it!!"

Qing Huang waved his hand and simply turned around, walking toward the point in the sky.

Whoosh.

In an instant, the black point shattered, and a figure landed firmly on the ground, it was Ning Ruofei, who had just lost his heart.

At this moment, he had no wounds on his body, his skin was deathly pale, covered with dark red patterns resembling roots.

"It’s you.... Senior Qing Huang... I didn’t expect there to be a day when you and I would stand on opposite sides...." Ning Ruofei seemed to restore consciousness, a harmonious smile on his face as he looked at Qing Huang.

"What gave you the audacity to speak to me like this?" Qing Huang’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

"And now, what do you amount to?"

Ning Ruofei chuckled.

"Now... I feel very comfortable.... I can feel an endless power surging from my body...."

"Endless??" Qing Huang sneered.

Boom!!

In an instant, a sea of gray-black spiritual power rose behind him, rushing out toward Ning Ruofei.

Hidden within that black sea, there seemed to be countless densely packed white Spirit Light Threads.

He had actually, in a short period, discovered a deeper usage of the Spirit Light, directly using it to substantiate and enhance his own spiritual power.

With both tactics combined, his momentum and power now were at least a level stronger than before!

"Spiritual Technique: All Phenomena Are Shadows." Qing Huang formed a seal with one hand, spiritual power far surpassing before surged and enveloped his entire body, his eyes behind the mask glowing with a hazy white light.

The vast black sea completely covered the entire Taoist Temple, bringing up a giant shadow, like a titanic black wall, crashing toward Ning Ruofei.

*

*

*

In Taizhou City, on the street.

Yu Hong stood quietly in front of Qingchen Temple, the Taoist temple before his eyes seemed enveloped in a transparent gel-like substance, unable to break free.

’As expected.’ He glanced at the passersby around, and no one seemed to notice the anomaly here.

Just like no one saw that gray Yin Qi Sky Pillar in the distance.

’It seems the situation is inevitably deteriorating... And this disaster doesn’t seem like the Black Disaster....’

He stood before the anomaly, yet the Red Value on his universal meter hadn’t significantly increased. Instead, the spiritual fluctuation value suddenly soared by about five to six hundred.

This represented that the peak internal spiritual fluctuation could reach this degree.

And the peak spiritual power of an elite Dao Seed magician was only about fifty to sixty.

’Moreover, Cheng Shu and the others who went in earlier are also nowhere to be found... It seems this place has already been isolated by some power.’

Yu Hong focused on the Taoist Temple, contemplating a way to break the stalemate without using magic or Inner Qi.

A few days ago, the situation was still stable. Suddenly, the Yin Qi Sky Pillar erupted recently, leading to a surge in various cases, and even attacks on the Taoist Temple. Clearly, someone was targeting him, especially during the time he was in seclusion.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such coincidences in the world.

’It seems it needs to be reported to the Taoist Sect in advance.... The Black Disaster is a horrifying calamity capable of destroying the entire world, and this must be informed in advance.’ Although Yu Hong didn’t consider himself a benevolent person, if something didn’t harm his own interests and could help others, he wouldn’t refuse to do it.

Slowly walking to the temple gate, he reached out, bending over to pick up a small, black piece resembling a plastic shard from the ground.

"So it was here." A realization dawned on his face.

He held the black piece in his palm, clenched it, then opened his hand again.

The piece had disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, within the invisible Heavenly River beside him, a black fragment quickly appeared.

The fragment, like a seed, absorbed the river water and grew as the wind blew.

In just a few seconds, the fragment reformed into a massive black one-eyed lizard, swimming slowly in the Heavenly River.

In the seemingly endless Heavenly River, it took only a few seconds, and Agrius, who was previously reduced to debris, was fully restored as before.

However, sensing the newly restored Dragon of Xianglv, Yu Hong suddenly felt something was different; it seemed this creature looked somewhat different from before.

It was the eyes....

Suddenly, Yu Hong noticed the difference.

Previously, Agrius’s eyes were dull and lifeless. Now, the massive lizard moved like a real living creature, exuding a sense of ease and comfort as it swam.

Yu Hong squinted his eyes, extending his hand.

His fingertips pierced into the Heavenly River in front of him and touched the slowly swimming Agrius.

A foggy, pure will immediately transmitted from its body.

The will was indistinct, and at the moment of contact, it seemed to convey some inexplicable emotions.

’Come.... here..e....’

The emotions conveyed by Agrius contained no words or text, just such vague thoughts and ideas.

Yu Hong withdrew his hand, and with a thought, black smoke quickly permeated from under his feet, dispersing and releasing the just restored Agrius once again.

He let it hide nearby in its black smoke form.

Meanwhile, he circled around and entered through the side door of the temple.

The temple was empty and even the side door was not fully closed, just slightly ajar. The prior Taoists, novices, and hosts were all gone.

However, to his surprise, there was still a worshipper in the courtyard.

It was a middle-aged man with tea-colored sunglasses and graying hair.

He wore a white suit, with glossy black leather shoes, and his well-groomed beard conveyed the aura of a successful individual.

Seemingly hearing Yu Hong’s footsteps, the man turned his head and looked in his direction.

"Are you the Taoist here?" he asked softly.

"There’s no one here, if you came for incense, you might need to come later." Yu Hong, having entered here, vaguely sensed the Spirit Light from Qing Huang and the others, knowing they were safe, his heart calmed down.

Upon hearing the inquiry, he answered normally.

At this time, he was still wearing the standard robes of a Dao Seed disciple, so it was normal for others to identify his status.

"Coming later, I’m worried there might not be anyone..." the middle-aged man said.

Yu Hong squinted his eyes, detecting certain undertones in his words.

"The guest seems to know something?"

"The little Taoist is quite perceptive." The man smiled. "Just returned from outside?"

"Yes, how did you know?" By now, as Yu Hong sensed closer, he had already vaguely felt the spiritual fluctuations from Yu Mo, Yu Hen, and others, and his heart settled.

Determining everyone’s safety, he focused his attention on the middle-aged man before him.

"Besides, the temple isn’t open for guests, and you entered without permission. Isn’t that inappropriate?"

"I never knock wherever I go." The man laughed. "The little Taoist is interesting."

"May I ask what brings the guest here?" Yu Hong continued to ask, ignoring the man’s arrogant demeanor.

By this point, both knew each other wasn’t simple. Entering here at such an apt time and remaining so calm and composed, such a person couldn’t be considered normal.

"I followed a friend here and accidentally discovered something." The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Do you think I should reveal what I found, or keep it to myself?"

He seemed to be referring to the changes in Qing Huang. In a short time, Qing Huang could leap from being a top-tier Temple Master Level with significant flaws to a higher level, sparking interest with this secret nobody could resist.

Yu Hong remained silent, already forming a guess.

"What benefit is there for you to reveal it? Not revealing it might bring more benefits."

"Oh? So sure I would be swayed by benefits?" the middle-aged man expressed interest.

"To be precise, up to now, I have never seen anyone not tempted by this kind of benefit...." Yu Hong revealed a slight smile.

"Interesting." The middle-aged man also smiled. "Then I should have a good look."

Suddenly, he looked toward the center of the courtyard in the temple.

"Looks like it’s for another time, I should leave."

Snap.

Suddenly, he raised his hand, catching a small paper ball thrown his way.

Unfolding it, he saw a series of phone numbers written on it.

"No matter what you’re here for, when you face insurmountable troubles, you can call this number."

Yu Hong’s voice floated from a short distance away.

"Interesting, it’s been many years since anyone dared to be so elusive in front of me." The middle-aged man’s eyes revealed a hint of fresh curiosity.

He gave Yu Hong one last deep glance, then turned and slowly walked out of the temple.

Before long, his figure exploded like a bubble and disappeared into thin air outside the temple gate.

At the same time, the air in the courtyard blurred and distorted.

An unexpected black figure appeared, wearing a white mask, his aura surging, causing the air around him to twist and rotate rapidly due to intense spiritual fluctuations, forming an invisible airflow.

This person was Qing Huang.

There was a faint trace of blood seeping from his left shoulder, a slight scent of blood permeating his robe.

Upon appearing, he immediately saw Yu Hong in the courtyard and quickly lowered his head.

"Alliance Hierarch!"

"You’ve worked hard.... It seems you faced a troublesome opponent?" Yu Hong asked with curiosity.

"I have a preliminary confirmation now, the Spirit Disaster can occupy and strengthen the bodies of any creature it kills. Earlier inside, I encountered the Mud Doll Sect’s Sect Hierarch, Ning Ruofei..."

Qing Huang briefly explained the recent situation.

Yu Hong also described the person he encountered earlier.

"It was him!?" Qing Huang’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. "If it’s him, it’s no surprise he would say such things."

"Oh?" Yu Hong asked, surprised, "What’s his identity?"

"The Alliance Hierarch should know that the strongest in our Seven Evil Alliance is Long Qingzi, the Alliance Hierarch, and the Seven Evils, correct?" Qing Huang spoke in a low voice.

"So, he’s one of the Seven Evils?" Yu Hong realized.