Night of Despair

Chapter 356 - 356 354 signs four

?Chapter 356: 354 signs four Chapter 356: 354 signs four “A good place?” Zhang Kajing revealed a puzzled look. “What good place? Can it offer delicious food and fun games?”

She originally planned to observe the Ultimate Gate and Yu Hong, who opens the Ultimate Gate. However, as time passed, she became bored and began trying various foods and playing various games that Yu Hong introduced to her.

Initially, these indulgences were merely ways to kill time, but now… she felt her previous life was incredibly foolish. She used to just sit dumbly in the dark, her mind blank, waiting for the right moment to emerge and cause a great disturbance.

Such days, how boring!

“There are lots of eating and playing options, and you can also bring all your gaming devices,” Yu Hong said gently.

He felt a strong sense of crisis at the moment. If it weren’t for the Light Disaster creatures that might cause new calamities in the world of the Taoist Sect, which were beyond his control, he would even consider taking the creatures coming through the Ultimate Gate to Taizhou.

As for Zhang Kajing, he knew that this youngster was not simple. Now that the Spirit Light was developing, rather than letting her roam here freely all the time, he preferred to take her with him to observe her actions and behaviors and to provide her with a layer of protection through the Spirit Light.

“I want to go! This place is too small, the outside is cold, empty, and there’s nothing to do,” Zhang Kajing said calmly.

She seemed to always have a lack of expressions and emotions, always appearing so cold and detached.

“Alright, but before going there, there’s something you need to do,” Yu Hong said stretching out his hand, a faint silver halo suddenly arose in the palm of his hand.

“What is it?” Zhang Kajing also saw the silver light and looked down at the palm.

“Accept it, then follow me and practice the Spirit Light Secret Skill,” Yu Hong answered earnestly.

Zhang Kajing squinted her eyes, watching the strand of silver Spirit Light. Normally, she should appear naive, but now, she suddenly fell silent.

She stared at the Spirit Light, seemingly seeing some unknown dangers within it.

“Must it be this way?” she asked, looking up.

“You know, I am very saddened by what happened to your father, and I promised him that I would take good care of you. Now, if you accept it, your safety will be profoundly secured,” Yu Hong said earnestly and sincerely.

Right.

He was using the Spirit Light to test Zhang Kajing.

It was known that the Spirit Light had integrated aspects of the Cosmic Divine Light from the Light Disaster. Fully accepting it meant allowing it to integrate into her life cycle, marking herself with traces of Light Disaster energies.

And the Light Disaster, naturally opposed to the Black Disaster.

If Zhang Kajing had any connection to the Black Disaster, then this test posed a significant threat to her.

After a silence of over a minute.

Zhang Kajing finally nodded her head.

“I can.”

“Are you sure?” Yu Hong asked again.

“Yes.” Zhang Kajing quickly stretched out her hand, swiftly grasped the strand of silver Spirit Light from Yu Hong’s palm.

Hiss.

In an instant, the Spirit Light, like water to a sponge, permeated into her body.

The next second.

A layer of silver luminescence surfaced on her body, clearly the Spirit Light that had just merged.

“Is this sufficient?” Zhang Kajing asked.

Yu Hong narrowed his eyes watching the silver light on her, confirming that it was indeed Spirit Light.

He was silent for a moment, then a new smile appeared on his face.

“It is.”

No matter what her background was, as long as the Spirit Light was there, the continually strengthening Spirit Light Secret Skill under the control of Tai Ling Skill served as a secured shackle.

He reached out, gently touching her long hair.

“No matter what you want to do, remember… I promised your father, I would take care of you… Zhang Kajing. May I call you Xiao Jing?”

“Of course, you may,” Zhang Kajing lowered her head, a shadow flashing in her eyes.

She understood Yu Hong’s implication—if she remained Zhang Kajing, then everything could remain as it is now.

This was a tacit agreement for her, who still couldn’t see through Yu Hong.

Unspoken understanding—the other party was suspecting her origin now.

“There’s no rush now, I need to prepare a bit more. When the time comes, I’ll call you,” Yu Hong continued.

If the environmental concentration on the side of the Taoist Sect worsened to a point of no return, he would decide to gather all available forces.

***
***
***
Late January.

Qingchen Temple began setting up eight sites around the Taoist Temple as the core to detect fluctuations in spiritual disasters in all directions.

A large amount of manpower and resources was mobilized, and money was spent like water.

In just half a month, eight small sites were constructed.

These were eight office buildings refurbished. The surface was covered with several layers of special materials, all developed by the veteran monks of Qingchen Temple combined with the results brought from Hope City, to create a shielding coating.

It maximized the shielding and weakening effects on the spiritual disasters’ notice and influence on the unfolding Spiritual Domain.

The eight sites, named “Spirit Stations” by Yu Hong, officially began operation in early February.

At this moment, Zheng Ying, who went to solicit the masters of the Yu Generation who had spread their reputation, finally found the secluded dwelling of a few individuals.

Green mountains and rivers, blue skies and white clouds.

Emerald birds circling, the bamboo forest swaying making a quiet sound.

Zheng Ying dressed in a black Daoist robe, holding a horsetail whisk, wearing a black mask that covered the lower half of her face, revealing only her eyes.

She walked through the rustling cold bamboo forest, stepping on thick fallen leaves, and came to the front of a two-story bamboo building with a yellow hue.

The yellow bamboo leaves fluttered with the wind, falling around her like threads of rain.

“Qingchen Temple’s Zheng Ying, here to visit Master Yu Shan, please come out for a chat.”

Zheng Ying faced the bamboo building and called out with a raised voice.

There were a few creaks from the bamboo building, and a gaunt old Daoist with a goat beard slowly walked out.

The old Daoist was thin and haggard, but his eyes were like jewels, bright and clear.

He also held a horsetail whisk in his hand, but it had very few bristles left. Compared to the one in Zheng Ying’s hand, it was like the difference between trash and high-quality new products.

“Zheng Ying? A Dao Seed? Go back, we are no longer people of the Qingchen Temple,” the old Daoist sighed.

It seemed he hadn’t heard of Zheng Ying, clearly indicating that he must have left Qingchen Temple before her initiation.

“Master Yu Shan, my master Yu Hen once had differences in principles and owes you, now he regrets it after many years and has specially sent his disciple to invite the masters back into the sect. Please forgive him,” Zheng Ying sincerely bowed to the old Daoist.

“I told you, I am no longer a person from Qingchen Temple, you can go back,” Yu Shan reiterated with a frown.

“Master, nowadays, natural disasters occur frequently, and the Black Disaster and Spirit Disaster that appeared in ancient times are happening together. We, the people of the Taoist Sect, should indeed take on the responsibility to protect and keep order, if only for self-cultivation and seclusion here, then what is the meaning of your many years of practicing Daoist Magic Techniques?”

Zheng Ying persuaded.

“That’s my business, it has nothing to do with you. I can also protect a place of peace here,” Yu Shan said irritably.

“Master, do you know who the current Temple Master is?” Zheng Ying changed her approach.

“Isn’t it Yu Hen?” Yu Shan said surprised.

“Of course not. If it really was him, he wouldn’t have…” Zheng Ying nodded.

“Indeed, if it really was him, he would never stoop to beg us to return,” Yu Shan interrupted.

“You’re right, the current Temple Master is the number one expert of Qingchen Temple, the First Mage of Taizhou, Zheng Rou elder brother.”

“Elder brother!?” Yu Shan was startled, “You call him elder brother?”

“Of course…” Zheng Ying quickly recounted a series of deeds by Yu Hong to him.

“A genius in his twenties??” Yu Shan’s face twitched, a bit incredulous.

“Our Qingchen Temple, can nurture such a genius?” he couldn’t help questioning.

“You can come back with me and see,” Zheng Ying took the opportunity to suggest.

“Since he’s so powerful, he surely doesn’t need us old folks. Go back, young lady, I will not return there,” Yu Shan adamantly refused.

“Master…” Zheng Ying was getting anxious. She wanted to try saying something more.

But the other party turned and walked back into the bamboo building, refusing to communicate.

“Master…!” Zheng Ying took a deep breath, touching the mask on her face.

“I am here on orders, please don’t make it difficult for me!”

Seeing that gentleness was ineffective, she recalled Yu Hong’s reminder before departing. Her eyes suddenly becoming sharp.

“Hehe, what, are you going to force me?” Yu Shan turned and walked out the door, looking at her.

“Before the Temple Master left, he specifically instructed that we must bring a few back to the Taoist Temple,” Zheng Ying’s tone turned colder.

“After all, the outside world is becoming increasingly dangerous, Black Disaster occurs frequently, Spirit Disaster intensifies, and the Seven Evil Alliance is ominously watching. If you few still remain alone outside, I fear…”

“What do you fear?” Yu Shan’s gaze also turned cold.

“I fear, the important people around you might encounter some misfortunes… After all, the Seven Evils Alliance isn’t as reasonable as our Taoist Sect,” Zheng Ying’s tone carried an implicit threat.

“…..” Yu Shan’s face slowly started to turn red, he couldn’t believe that a young junior of the Zheng generation, who had only practiced Daoist Magic Techniques for a few years, actually dared to threaten him!

“Good… very good… It seems the new Temple Master has set a good example for you, I don’t remember Qingchen Temple being this domineering before?”

“Don’t you understand? The Temple Master is doing this for your own good, this is not a threat, but protection. He is protecting everyone’s safety,” Zheng Ying spoke solemnly.

“Hehehe, what’s the point in talking about this now?” Yu Shan scoffed, “I was somewhat moved, considering going back to check the situation, but after hearing what you said, I really won’t return now!!”

“Master Yu Shan, you are making it difficult for me…” Zheng Ying stared at him, her voice growing colder.

“Then what? What do you want to do? I’m making it difficult for you, so what?” Yu Shan said loudly.

“Heh…” Zheng Ying stopped talking, just stood with her right hand in front of her, forming a seal.

A mummy with a Fear Shadow, burning with black fire, appeared by her side.

“Then please forgive my impoliteness.”

The black fire around the mummy suddenly covered with a faint silver light.

In an instant, the silver light completely enveloped the mummy, which transformed into a silver mummy as if crafted from metal.

Boom!

In an instant, the mummy charged toward the bamboo building.

“Good audacity!” Yu Shan also promptly formed the Damage Seal Decision, summoning a black elephant-headed figure, wielding a dark golden sword and shield, rushing headlong towards the mummy.