125: Chapter 125 The Decaying Temple, the Mystery of the Blood Sacrifice

The Western Desert, located in the far west of the Tiannan Realm, has a harsh, cold climate and is shrouded in wind and sand all year round. It is vast and sparsely populated, making it difficult for Mortal kingdoms to survive; only a few tribes adapted to the harsh environment thrive here. Furthermore, many ascetic monks and reclusive Cultivators choose to sharpen their Dao Heart in this place. Deep within the Western Desert, there are countless ancient ruins, lost Secret Realms, and... treacherous dead zones and Restrictions.

The "Temple of Decay" is the stronghold of the "Void Church" in the Western Desert, or rather, its public headquarters in the region. It is situated in the deepest part of the Western Desert, within a deadly wasteland known as the "Corruption Swamp." Legend has it that countless eras ago, that swamp was once a vibrant ancient god kingdom. Later, due to an unknown catastrophe, the god kingdom fell, the deities perished, and the Origin of the god kingdom decayed, transforming it into a terrifying swamp filled with death, decay, virulent poison, and curses. Any living being that steps into it will have their life force rapidly corroded, turning into withered bones. Even their Soul cannot escape, eventually becoming nutrients to nourish the swamp. The "Temple of Decay" is built at the core of this wasteland, utilizing the power of "decay" here to worship, study, and even attempt to awaken that legendary ancient existence sleeping deep within the swamp—the "Lord of Decay."

The "Temple of Decay" acts with extreme secrecy and cruelty, often using methods like blood sacrifice to offer up living beings to please, communicate with, and even attempt to awaken the "Lord of Decay." In the Western Desert, its notoriety is infamous; it is a tumor that gives all tribes, Loose Cultivators, and even the Alliance constant headaches. However, because it is rooted deep within the "Corruption Swamp," it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Coupled with the fact that the power of "decay" is highly corrosive to Cultivators, the Alliance has organized multiple suppression campaigns, all of which suffered heavy losses and returned without success, leaving them only able to set up guards on the periphery to strictly prevent the expansion of its influence.

After receiving the urgent transmission from "Ying," Lin Wan did not immediately rush to the Western Desert with great fanfare. He knew well how troublesome the "Temple of Decay" was and understood that the "Void Church" acted in treacherous ways. For "Ying" to obtain such important intelligence this time, the inside agent must have paid a huge price and might even have been exposed. If he were to act rashly and startle the snake, it might instead cause the "Temple of Decay" to act prematurely or change its plans.

He first replied to "Ying," ordering him to continue lurking, focusing on surveillance and investigation. Unless absolutely necessary, he was not to act rashly, ensuring the safety of the inside agent while obtaining more detailed and accurate intelligence. At the same time, through the special channels of the "Demon Suppression Hall," he retrieved all files regarding the "Temple of Decay" and the "Corruption Swamp," studying them in detail. He also secretly communicated with those in the know, such as Fairy Yaoxi and Elder Tianji, to understand the situation in the Western Desert and the distribution of various forces.

Several days later, more detailed intelligence was delivered to Lin Wan through the special encrypted transmission method of the "Purification" task force.

"The blood sacrifice ceremony is scheduled for the night when the 'Moon of Corruption' is at its Peak, which is the Zi hour on the seventh day of next month, to be held at the 'Corruption Altar' deep within the temple at the core of the 'Corruption Swamp.' The goal is suspected to be the awakening of a wisp of the 'Lord of Decay's' Soul, or the opening of a passage connected to the place where the 'Lord of Decay' slumbers. Recently, the temple has been wantonly abducting Cultivators and Mortals with special Bloodlines or unique fates, and even some powerful Yao Beasts and ancient beasts, in astonishing numbers across the Western Desert, suspected to be in preparation for the blood sacrifice."

"The inside agent has confirmed that the temple has recently been searching for an ancient artifact called the 'corruption heart key.' This object is rumored to be the key to opening the outer Seal of the place where the 'Lord of Decay' slumbers. The temple seems to have clues and is sending a large number of experts to search an ancient battlefield ruin called the 'White Bone Wasteland.' In addition, the temple has been in frequent contact with several powerful Evil Path and Demonic Path Sects in the Western Desert recently, suspected of winning them over or coercing them to assist in guarding the periphery and blocking potential intervention by the Alliance when the blood sacrifice ceremony is held."

"The risk of the inside agent's identity being exposed is extremely high. To transmit this intelligence, an emergency plan has been activated, and they are temporarily out of contact. The Western Desert branch of the 'Purification' task force is attempting to re-establish contact and continues to monitor the movements of the temple. Additionally, the subordinate has contacted the Western Desert branch of the 'Heavenly Punishment Guard.' They have secretly strengthened the blockade and surveillance of the periphery of the 'Corruption Swamp' and have locked onto several Sects suspected of being won over by the temple, preparing to take action at any time."

The intelligence was very detailed, but it also revealed a grim situation. The loss of contact with the inside agent indicated that the "Temple of Decay" might have already detected a mole within and was conducting a purge. The search for the "corruption heart key" and the wooing of local Evil and Demonic forces in the Western Desert all indicated that this blood sacrifice ceremony was no small matter; its plot was by no means as simple as merely awakening a wisp of a Soul. Once the "Temple of Decay" successfully awakened the "Lord of Decay," even if it were only a wisp of a Soul, with its "King"-level or even stronger power, coupled with the geographical advantage of the "Corruption Swamp," the entire Western Desert, and even the Tiannan Realm, would face a huge disaster.

"They must be stopped! Not only must the blood sacrifice be stopped, but it would be best to take the opportunity to root out the 'Temple of Decay' and severely damage the 'Void Church's' influence in the Western Desert!" A cold light flickered in Lin Wan's eyes. As the "Demon Suppression Heavenly Monarch" currently in charge of the "Demon Suppression Hall," suppressing the "Void Church" was his duty. Moreover, the matter in the Western Desert might also be related to the fragments of the "samsara mirror."

"White Bone Wasteland... corruption heart key..." Lin Wan pondered for a moment, and a plan had already formed in his mind. Since the "Temple of Decay" was searching for the "corruption heart key," he might as well go and join in the fun. If he could find the "corruption heart key" first, he could not only disrupt the temple's plans but also seize the initiative, and perhaps even use this to find the place where the "Lord of Decay" slumbers, solving the problem once and for all.

"Ying, convey my order." Lin Wan contacted "Ying," the captain of the "Purification" task force, through a special transmission Magical Artifact. "The 'Purification' task force is to continue to closely monitor the movements of the 'Temple of Decay' and the various Evil and Demonic Sects in the Western Desert, especially paying attention to whether any experts from other places of the 'Void Church' have snuck in. The Western Desert branch of the 'Heavenly Punishment Guard' is to strengthen the blockade of the periphery of the 'Corruption Swamp,' but do not startle the snake. Focus on monitoring those Sects that have been won over by the temple, collect evidence of their crimes, and if they make any unusual moves, you may execute them first and report later, acting at your discretion."

"You, select a few elite members proficient in concealment, espionage, and Formation to accompany me secretly to the 'White Bone Wasteland.' We will split into two groups; you will provide support and reconnaissance on the periphery, while I will personally enter the ruins to search for the 'corruption heart key.'"

"This subordinate obeys!" The short and firm voice of "Ying" came from the communication Magical Artifact.

After arranging the affairs of the "Demon Suppression Hall" and the "Heavenly Punishment Guard," and communicating with Fairy Yaoxi and Elder Tianji, asking them to hold down the fort in the Central Province, coordinate various parties, and be ready to provide support at any time, Lin Wan made arrangements for the "Samsara Immortal Alliance" to ensure that after he left, the Alliance would operate without hindrance and his family would be safe and worry-free.

After doing all this, Lin Wan restrained his aura, changed his appearance, and transformed into a gray-robed Loose Cultivator with an ordinary face and an aura of only the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation. He quietly left the Samsara Immortal City and headed west, towards the Western Desert.

With his current cultivation of the Peak of the Late Stage of Void Refining, and the "Primordial Chaos Qi" to cover the heavenly secrets and change his aura, unless an existence above the Peak of Void Refining observed him closely from a short distance, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to see through his true identity and cultivation.

Several days later, Lin Wan met with the four elites of the "Purification" task force led by "Ying" at a small Cultivator gathering place called "Yellow Sand City" on the edge of the Western Desert. "Ying" was a man with a lean figure, a cold aura, and a face covered by a black mask. He was a veteran elite of the "Heavenly Punishment Guard" with the cultivation of the Middle Stage of Void Refining, proficient in assassination, concealment, and intelligence, and was extremely loyal to Lin Wan. The other four members were also experts at the Early Stage of Void Refining, each with their own strengths.

"Heavenly Monarch, the 'Temple of Decay' has already dispatched at least three groups of personnel, led by two Elders at the Middle Stage of Void Refining, into the 'White Bone Wasteland.' Our people have been monitoring from the periphery, but the Death Qi, resentment, and a strange power of 'decay' are intertwined within the 'White Bone Wasteland,' severely limiting Divine Sense exploration. Moreover, the terrain inside is complex and fraught with crises; our people dare not go deep, and there is currently no definite news about the 'corruption heart key.' The temple's people seem to be fumbling around inside as well." As soon as they met, "Ying" reported the latest situation succinctly.

"No matter. I will go in and take a look myself." Lin Wan nodded. "You stay here to provide support and be careful to hide your identities. If any subsequent personnel from the temple arrive, or if other forces in the Western Desert intervene, inform me in time. In addition, continue to pay attention to the movements of the 'Temple of Decay's' lair, especially the preparations for the blood sacrifice ceremony."

"Yes!"

The "White Bone Wasteland" is located deep in the Western Desert, a more desolate and dead-silent area. Legend has it that this was the place where the final decisive battle between the Human Race and an invading undead and demonic race from another world broke out in ancient times. That battle caused the heavens to collapse and the earth to crack, and the sun and moon lost their light. Countless experts perished, corpses piled up like mountains, and blood dyed the earth red. After the war, this place was shrouded in endless Death Qi, resentment, and violent energy left behind by the fallen experts. Life was cut off, and it turned into a barren land. For countless years, Cultivators and adventurers have often entered it, trying to find ancient treasures, but most have gone without return. Only a very few lucky ones have been able to come out alive with some gains, which has made the "White Bone Wasteland" even more notoriously dangerous.

Lin Wan stepped into the "White Bone Wasteland" alone. As soon as he entered, a wave of Death Qi and resentment, so thick it could not be dissolved, rushed toward his face. Mixed within it was a faint, extremely disgusting aura of "decay," which was of the same Origin as the aura of the "Corruption Swamp," but seemed more ancient and heterogeneous.

Looking around, the earth was gray and covered with cracks. White bones could be seen everywhere, some human-shaped, some beast-shaped, and many huge, bizarre skeletons of unrecognizable species were scattered on the ground or half-buried in the soil. These bones, after countless years, had not completely weathered away; instead, they faintly emitted a jade-like or metallic luster, clearly belonging to remarkable experts during their lifetimes. The air was filled with a faint blood-colored mist, which was formed by the condensation of resentment and blood evil, capable of corroding life force and disturbing the Divine Soul. On the ground, one could occasionally see some broken weapons and armor fragments, having lost all spirituality and covered in thick dust.

"Such intense Death Qi and resentment; this place is indeed an excellent place to practice certain sinister Cultivation Techniques or refine Evil Path Magic Treasures. No wonder the 'Temple of Decay' is so interested in this place." Lin Wan frowned slightly, and a layer of faint chaotic gray spiritual light appeared around his body, isolating and purifying all the incoming Death Qi, resentment, and decaying aura. With his current cultivation and the characteristics of the "Primordial Chaos Qi," these negative energies posed no threat to him.

He released his Divine Sense and carefully investigated. Sure enough, as "Ying" said, the Death Qi and resentment here were extremely special, capable of greatly weakening and interfering with Divine Sense exploration. With his Divine Sense at the Peak of the Late Stage of Void Refining, he could only cover a radius of a few hundred miles; anything further was blurred. Moreover, deep in this wasteland, there seemed to be some kind of natural or man-made Restriction, further suppressing his Divine Sense.

"It seems I can only search slowly." Lin Wan was not impatient. His figure moved, turning into an inconspicuous gray stream of light, flying towards the depths of the wasteland. At the same time, his Divine Sense carefully scanned every inch of the land below, searching for clues that might be related to the "corruption heart key," while also keeping an eye out for traces of the "Temple of Decay's" personnel.

Having flown for about half a day and ventured tens of thousands of miles deep into the wasteland, aside from the increasingly dense Death Qi and resentment, and the occasional undead creature—skeletons, zombies, and vengeful spirits mutated by the erosion of Death Qi with strength roughly between the Soul Transformation and Void Refining Early Stage (which he casually wiped out)—Lin Wan had made no special discoveries, nor had he encountered anyone from the "Temple of Decay."

"This 'Bone Wasteland' certainly lives up to its reputation. My Divine Sense is restricted, and without a clear target, finding a specific object is like looking for a needle in a haystack. How did the people from the 'Temple of Decay' determine that the 'corruption heart key' might be here? Do they have a special way to sense it?" Lin Wan pondered in his heart, slowing his pace.

After traveling another few thousand miles, Lin Wan's heart suddenly stirred. He sensed a faint fluctuation of energy coming from far ahead, as if someone were fighting. Moreover, that energy fluctuation carried the distinct, disgusting aura of decay belonging to the "Temple of Decay."

"Finally found them." Lin Wan's eyes narrowed; he restrained his aura and quietly approached.

Soon, a relatively open area of "Bone Mountains," piled up from countless massive skeletons, appeared at the edge of Lin Wan's Divine Sense. A fierce battle was erupting within the Bone Mountains.

The two sides in the battle: one side consisted of three Cultivators dressed in black robes, with cold auras and bodies wreathed in decaying black Qi. They were indeed people from the "Temple of Decay." The leader among them was clearly at the Void Refining Middle Stage, while the other two were at the Void Refining Early Stage. They were besieging another group of people.

The besieged group consisted of four Cultivators—three men and one woman—all wearing ancient-style Daoist robes embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, and stars, looking like Disciples of some ancient Sect. The leader was an elderly man with a refined face and a composed aura, at the Void Refining Middle Stage. At this moment, he was brandishing a starlight-shimmering treasure mirror, struggling to resist the attacks of the "Temple of Decay" Elder at the Void Refining Middle Stage. The other two men and one woman were all at the Soul Transformation Peak Stage, forming a small battle Formation to jointly resist the attacks of the other two Void Refining Early Stage black-robed men, but they were already in a precarious situation, constantly facing danger.

"Old Ghost Xingshu, if you know what's good for you, hand over that item! Otherwise, today, this place will be the burial ground for your 'Star Moon Temple'!" The black-robed Elder at the Void Refining Middle Stage threatened sinisterly, while urging a bone blade wreathed in decaying black Qi to attack fiercely.

"Bah! You evil heretics of the 'Temple of Decay,' don't even think about it! That object is an heirloom of my ancestors. How could I hand it over to the likes of you to commit such heinous acts!" The old man, addressed as "Old Ghost Xingshu," although at a disadvantage, glared with wide eyes and refused to back down.

"Stubborn fool! Then go to hell! Once we slaughter you, that item will be ours anyway!" The black-robed Elder sneered, his offensive intensifying. The decaying black Qi on the bone blade surged, transforming into a ferocious black bone dragon that lunged fiercely at the starlight treasure mirror.

"Star Moon Protection!" Old Ghost Xingshu roared, spitting a mouthful of blood essence onto the mirror. The starlight on the mirror's surface surged, transforming into a brilliant barrier of starlight.

"Boom!" The black bone dragon slammed hard into the starlight barrier, unleashing a violent roar. The starlight barrier shook violently, cracks appearing across it. Old Ghost Xingshu muffled a groan, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth; clearly, he had sustained a non-trivial internal injury. Meanwhile, the three Soul Transformation Disciples behind him were in even more precarious straits under the fierce assault of the two Void Refining Early Stage black-robed men. One of the male Disciples had already been infiltrated by the decaying black Qi, his complexion turning black, and his aura rapidly withering.

"Old Ghost Xingshu, I'll give you one last chance. Hand over the item and join our 'Temple of Decay,' and I will spare your lives! Otherwise, I will let you watch as your Disciples and grand-Disciples are corrupted into puddles of pus right before your eyes!" The black-robed Elder laughed grimly.

"Master! Don't worry about us! You must leave!" The female Soul Transformation Disciple cried out in sorrow.

"Leave? Not one of you is leaving today!" Another black-robed person at the Void Refining Early Stage laughed weirdly. The decaying black Qi transformed into a giant hand, grabbing viciously toward the female Disciple.

Just at this critical moment, a calm voice abruptly echoed in the arena: "Ganging up on the few, bullying the weak—the 'Temple of Decay' truly maintains its consistent style."

The voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears, causing both sides of the fierce battle to pause in their movements.

"Who?!" The black-robed Elder at the Void Refining Middle Stage shouted sharply. The decaying bone dragon circled by his side as his cold Divine Sense instantly scanned the surroundings. The other two black-robed men also stopped their attacks, looking warily in the direction the voice came from.

They saw that on top of a huge bone mountain not far away, at some unknown time, a figure had appeared. He was dressed in grey Daoist robes, with an ordinary face and an aura of only the Soul Transformation Middle Stage. He stood with his hands behind his back, calmly looking down at the battlefield below. It was Lin Wan, who had changed his appearance and suppressed his cultivation.

"Hmph, a mere Soul Transformation Middle Stage Cultivator dares to spout nonsense here? You're courting death!" One of the black-robed men at the Void Refining Early Stage saw Lin Wan's cultivation and instantly relaxed. A fierce light flashed in his eyes, and, too lazy to talk, he directly waved his hand, sending out a streak of decaying black Qi. Like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, it shot toward Lin Wan, intending to casually wipe out this ant who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth and dared to interrupt their business.

In his view, a Soul Transformation Middle Stage Cultivator had absolutely no chance of survival under his Void Refining Early Stage attack.

However, facing this decaying black Qi that could easily destroy an ordinary Soul Transformation Peak Stage Cultivator, Lin Wan didn't even raise an eyelid. He merely flicked his finger casually.

"Sss—" A tiny, almost imperceptible stream of Chaos grey Qi shot from his fingertip, colliding with the decaying black Qi.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any brilliant radiance. The seemingly ferocious decaying black Qi, the moment it touched the stream of Chaos grey Qi, was like encountering its nemesis—like ice meeting the scorching sun. It dissolved and annihilated silently, without raising even a ripple, disappearing completely without a trace. The stream of Chaos grey Qi, its momentum undiminished, continued forward, and in the eyes of the terrified and desperate Void Refining Early Stage black-robed man, it tapped lightly onto his glabella.

The sneer on the black-robed man's face froze instantly, shock and disbelief still lingering in his eyes. Then, his entire body—along with his black robe, storage treasures, and even the remnants of the attack he had launched—collapsed and dissipated silently like a sand pile, turning into the finest dust. It was blown away by the dead wind of the wasteland, vanishing completely from this world, as if he had never existed.

Silence. A deathly silence. Whether it was the two remaining black-robed men from the "Temple of Decay" or the four people from the "Star Moon Temple" who had been under siege, everyone was dumbfounded, staring at the scene before them in disbelief. A Void Refining Early Stage powerhouse had actually been... wiped out in the blink of an eye by a Cultivator who appeared to be only at the Soul Transformation Middle Stage?

This was completely beyond their scope of understanding!

"You... who are you?!" The black-robed Elder at the Void Refining Middle Stage was the first to react, his voice carrying undisguised horror and trembling. He looked at Lin Wan as if he had seen a ghost. Being able to Cultivate to the Void Refining Middle Stage, he was naturally no fool. How could he not understand now that the seemingly ordinary grey-robed Cultivator before him was definitely a terrifying existence who had hidden his cultivation! To be able to so lightly and easily wipe out a Void Refining Early Stage Cultivator, his strength must be at least at the Void Refining Late Stage, or even... higher!

"Who I am is not important." Lin Wan walked slowly down the bone mountain. His steps seemed slow, yet he instantly crossed a distance of hundreds of feet, arriving at the center of the battlefield. His gaze swept calmly over the remaining Void Refining Early Stage black-robed man, finally landing on the black-robed Elder. "What is important is, what are you people from the 'Temple of Decay' looking for? The 'corruption heart key'?"

Swept by Lin Wan's gaze, the remaining Void Refining Early Stage black-robed man instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. A fear originating from the depths of his Soul swept through his entire body; he couldn't help but take half a step back, lacking even the courage to meet Lin Wan's eyes.

The black-robed Elder's complexion was even uglier. Thoughts raced through his mind. The person before him had unfathomable strength and was clearly interested in the 'corruption heart key,' perhaps even coming specifically for it. Fighting head-on would mean certain defeat, and he might even follow in his companion's footsteps. Flee? The opponent could so easily wipe out a Void Refining Early Stage Cultivator; his speed was likely beyond his own reach. The only option now was...

"Senior, please be discerning!" The black-robed Elder instantly changed his face, squeezing out a fawning smile and even bowing slightly. "We Juniors are indeed under orders from the Temple to come to the 'Bone Wasteland' to search for that 'corruption heart key.' If Senior is interested in this item, I am willing to offer all the information I know, only begging Senior to raise your hand and spare our lives."

He lowered his posture extremely low, not even hesitating to betray the Temple's intelligence just to survive. As for the people from the "Star Moon Temple," at this moment, they were irrelevant in his eyes.

"Master, this person..." The female Soul Transformation Disciple from the "Star Moon Temple," seeing that Lin Wan also seemed interested in the 'corruption heart key,' couldn't help but show a worried expression, looking at her Master, Elder Xingshu. Elder Xingshu shook his head slightly at her, signaling her to be quiet. He, too, saw that Lin Wan was unfathomable; the situation was unclear, so it was not the time to say too much.

Lin Wan was noncommittal about the black-robed Elder's "knowing the times," and said indifferently: "Speak."

"Yes, yes." The black-robed Elder said hurriedly, "According to the Temple's ancient records, the 'corruption heart key' is not a physical key, but a special 'corruption heart' crystal containing a trace of the 'Lord of Decay's' Origin. This object is usually born in places where extreme decay, death, and resentment converge, and it can only be formed after being nurtured for long ages. A heaven-shaking battle erupted in the 'Bone Wasteland' during the ancient period; Death Qi, resentment, and the remnant thoughts of powerhouses gathered there. After countless eons, it is the most likely place to give birth to the 'corruption heart key.'"

"The Temple used a secret method to sense it and roughly determined that the 'corruption heart key' might exist in the core area of this 'Bone Wasteland,' in a forbidden ancient battlefield called 'Abyss of Buried Gods.' However, the situation inside the 'Abyss of Buried Gods' is complex, with layers of Restrictions, and powerful ancient battle Souls and vengeful spirits entrenched there. There may even be ancient corpses eroded by Death Qi that have undergone strange mutations; it is extremely dangerous. The Temple dispatched three teams to enter the wasteland to search this time. We are just one of them; the other two teams have already taken a step ahead of us and headed to the 'Abyss of Buried Gods.'"

"In addition, according to the speculations of the Temple's higher-ups, the emergence of the 'corruption heart key' may require a specific opportunity, or it may be related to the 'Corruption Moon.' The seventh day of next month will be the night when the 'Corruption Moon' is at its Peak, and also when the blood sacrifice ceremony will be held. If the 'corruption heart key' is found before then, combined with the blood sacrifice, the 'Lord of Decay's' power can be awakened to the greatest extent, and it might even be possible to directly open a passage to the place where it slumbers."

The black-robed Elder spoke extremely fast, recounting all the intelligence he knew, fearful that if he spoke too slowly, he would anger the malevolent star before him.

"Abyss of Buried Gods..." Lin Wan silently pondered; the name was quite apt. A 'corruption heart' crystal, containing the Origin aura of the 'Lord of Decay'... It seems this 'corruption heart key' is not only a key but also a treasure in itself that contains the power of 'the end,' which is of great significance to the 'Temple of Decay.'

"When you search for the 'corruption heart key,' do you have any special sensing or guidance methods?" Lin Wan asked again.

"Yes, yes!" The black-robed Elder hurriedly retrieved a pitch-black, eerie crystal that beat faintly like a heart from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

"This is the 'corruption heart stone'. It was refined using a secret technique of the temple, mixed with the corrupted mud deposited deep within the 'Corruption Swamp'. It can sense auras originating from the same source as the 'Lord of Decay' within a radius of a thousand miles.

The closer it is to the 'corruption heart key', the more violently this stone beats, and the thicker the aura of corruption it emits."

Lin Wan took the 'corruption heart stone'. It felt icy cold to the touch and radiated a faint aura of corruption and death. Inside it, black liquid seemed to be flowing slowly, just like a living heart.

He probed with his Divine Sense and, sure enough, could faintly sense that this object had a weak resonance with a certain aura of the same source in a specific direction.

"Very good." Lin Wan nodded, put away the 'corruption heart stone', and looked at the black-robed Elder again.

The black-robed Elder's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "Senior, this Junior has already told you everything I know; I have absolutely no concealments! This Junior is willing to swear by my Heart Demon that I will never leak a single detail of today's events, and I hope Senior..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Wan flicked his finger, and another tiny, chaotic gray stream of Qi shot out, fast as lightning. Its target was precisely that black-robed person at the Void Refining Early Stage who had been trembling and dared not speak.

"No! Senior, spare..." The black-robed person only had time to let out half a cry before the chaotic gray Qi pierced his brow, following in his companion's footsteps and silently turning into fly ash.

"You..." The black-robed Elder was so terrified that his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, his liver and gallbladder splitting; he had not expected Lin Wan to be so decisive in killing, killing the moment he said so.

"Rest assured, I will not kill you for the time being." Lin Wan's voice allowed the black-robed Elder's nearly collapsing mind to barely steady itself. "However, you must open your Divine Soul and let me plant a Restriction. Afterward, take me to the 'Abyss of Buried Gods' to find the 'corruption heart key'. If you cooperate, once it is done, I may consider sparing your life. If you dare to play any tricks, you should know the consequences."

The blood drained from the black-robed Elder's face. He opened his Divine Soul, allowing the other party to plant the Restriction. His life and death were now completely in someone else's hands, and from now on, he would be reduced to a Puppet.

But the situation was stronger than the person; this malevolent star before him killed Void Refining Cultivators like slaughtering chickens. If he did not comply, he would die immediately.

The best plan for now was to play along and then look for a chance to escape.

"This Junior... obeys." The black-robed Elder gritted his teeth, spoke with difficulty, then closed his eyes and opened his Divine Soul defenses.

Lin Wan did not waste words. He separated a wisp of Divine Thought fused with "Primordial Chaos Qi", which transformed into an imperceptible gray rune that sank into the depths of the black-robed Elder's Sea of Consciousness and branded itself onto the core of his Divine Soul.

This Restriction was incomparably overbearing. Unless a peerless expert whose cultivation far exceeded Lin Wan's and who was also proficient in the Dao of "Chaos" and "Reincarnation" acted, it would be impossible to remove.

Moreover, as long as Lin Wan moved his mind, he could instantly detonate the Restriction, causing him to be destroyed in both form and spirit.

After planting the Restriction, Lin Wan casually struck out a ray of chaotic spiritual light, which sank into the black-robed Elder's body.

The black-robed Elder only felt a pure, gentle, yet vastly peerless power surge into his limbs and bones. The minor hidden injuries left behind from his previous fight with Elder Xingshu were instantly healed, and even his magic power faintly improved by a thread. This made him even more horrified, and his awe of Lin Wan deepened.

"Thank you, Senior." The black-robed Elder bowed, his posture even more respectful; this time, it was fear from the bottom of his heart.

Lin Wan ignored him further and turned to look at Elder Xingshu and the other three, who had complicated expressions and had not lessened their guard.

"Are you Fellow Daoists the experts from the 'Star Moon Temple' in the Western Desert?" Lin Wan asked, his voice peaceful, as if he were a completely different person from the cold indifference of just now when he killed with a flick of his finger.

Elder Xingshu took a deep breath, suppressed the shock and vigilance in his heart, and cupped his hands, saying, "This old man is the Master of 'Star Moon Temple', Xingshu Zi. These two are my Disciples, Mingchen and Mingxin, and this is the Dao Companion of my Disciple Mingyue, Xuanyu. Thank you, Senior, for your grace in saving us!"

He pointed to the male Disciple with a withered aura, the female Disciple at the Soul Transformation stage, and the other male Disciple at the Soul Transformation stage.

Mingyue was that female Disciple at the Soul Transformation stage. Xuanyu was the male Disciple who had been struck by the black corruption Qi.

"A mere trifle, no need for courtesy." Lin Wan waved his hand, his gaze falling on Xuanyu, who had a withered aura and a blackened face, and he frowned slightly.

The black corruption Qi within Xuanyu's body, although temporarily suppressed by Elder Xingshu with the power of starlight, was still slowly eroding his vitality. If not removed in time, he feared he would be in Mortal danger, and might even be transformed into a corruption Puppet.

"This little friend is afflicted with the power of corruption; it cannot be delayed." Lin Wan said, raising a finger, and a chaotic gray stream of Qi, thinner than a strand of hair, instantly sank into Xuanyu's brow.

Elder Xingshu and Mingyue were greatly alarmed, thinking Lin Wan was going to harm him, but the next moment, their eyes widened.

They saw Xuanyu's body tremble, and the black Qi shrouding his face receded rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. His originally withered aura also began to recover quickly, even becoming somewhat stronger than before he was injured, with faint signs of breaking through a Bottleneck!

In just a few breaths, Xuanyu opened his eyes. His gaze was clear, with no trace of being eroded; on the contrary, he was full of energy, as if he had eaten a powerful tonic.

"This... thank you, Senior, for saving my life! This Junior, Xuanyu, is eternally grateful!" Xuanyu felt the abundant vitality within his body and the faintly loosening Bottleneck. He was both surprised and happy, and hurriedly struggled to get up to pay his respects to Lin Wan with a grand bow.

"Senior's Divine Ability is truly unfathomable!" Elder Xingshu was also completely convinced and hurriedly bowed again to thank him.

Just now, with his Void Refining Middle Stage cultivation and the aid of a Sect secret treasure, he could only barely suppress the black corruption Qi, yet this mysterious Senior before him had completely removed it in the flick of a finger and even nourished Xuanyu's vitality; such methods were simply inconceivable.

"A minor skill, not worth mentioning." Lin Wan said indifferently, then changed the subject, "Temple Master Xingshu, just now I heard that evil demon say that you seem to have something in your hands that they want?"

Elder Xingshu's expression tightened. He hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth: "I dare not conceal anything from Senior. My 'Star Moon Temple' inherits the Legacy of the ancient 'Star Moon Sect'. Our ancestor once participated in the ancient war against the otherworldly demons and fell here.

Before the ancestor fell, he used his Lifebound Treasure, the 'star-moon divine mirror', to Seal an evil object. That evil object, according to the ancestor's last words, is related to 'corruption' and must never be allowed to appear in the world.

We entered the 'Bone Wasteland' this time to retrieve the ancestor's remains and the 'star-moon divine mirror' and reinforce the Seal, but unexpectedly we encountered the demons of the 'Temple of Decay'. They targeted us, insisting that we knew the whereabouts of the 'corruption heart key' and wanted to seize the ancestor's relics. We were unwilling to let the ancestor's relics fall into the hands of the demons, so we resisted to the death."

"Oh? An evil object related to 'corruption'?" Lin Wan's eyes flashed with interest, "Could you elaborate?"

"This..." Elder Xingshu looked troubled, "To tell you the truth, the ancestor's last words were vague, only saying that once that evil object appears, it will surely bring boundless calamity. The specific situation may only be known after finding the ancestor's remains and the 'star-moon divine mirror'. But the place where the ancestor fell, according to the ancient records of the temple, seems to be near that 'Abyss of Buried Gods'..."

"Abyss of Buried Gods?" Lin Wan raised an eyebrow; this was a coincidence. It seemed that this "Abyss of Buried Gods" was a place he must visit.

"Since that is the case, we might as well travel together." Lin Wan said, "I am not familiar with this place, so having the Temple Master lead the way is convenient. As for that 'corruption heart key' and your ancestor's relics, I have no desire to covet them. It is just that the 'Temple of Decay' intends to use these items to commit heinous acts, and as the person in charge of the Alliance's 'Demon Suppression Hall', I naturally must stop them. If we can find them and destroy them or properly Seal them, that is the Righteous Path."

"The Alliance 'Demon Suppression Hall'?" Elder Xingshu was stunned, then suddenly realized. No wonder this Senior was so formidable and detested the "Temple of Decay" so much; it turned out he was a big shot from the Alliance's "Demon Suppression Hall"!

He had long heard that the Alliance had newly established a "Demon Suppression Hall", headed by an incredible young Daoist, specializing in clearing out the "Void Church". It seemed it was this person before him! Although the appearance and aura did not match, with this level of cultivation and Divine Ability, and claiming to be the person in charge of the "Demon Suppression Hall", he was undoubtedly that legendary "Demon Suppression Heavenly Monarch", Lin Wan!

"So it is Senior Lin! This Junior failed to recognize a superior; I hope Senior will forgive me!" Elder Xingshu hurriedly bowed again, his tone even more respectful, and even tinged with some excitement.

With this legendary figure who turned the tide in the "Purification" plan and killed the "King of Calamity" present, their "Star Moon Temple"'s predicament might truly have a turning point! Moreover, looking at how this Senior acted, although he was decisive in killing, he was not a bloodthirsty person and had no malice toward "Star Moon Temple".

Mingyue, Mingxin, and Xuanyu also looked at Lin Wan with faces full of reverence. Lin Wan's deeds in the battle at the Earth's Core had long spread throughout Tiannan and were regarded as an idol by countless young Cultivators.

"No need for courtesy." Lin Wan waved his hand, not denying his identity, "There is no time to lose; let us head to the 'Abyss of Buried Gods' now. As for this one..." He glanced at the black-robed Elder who had been planted with the Restriction.

"This Junior, Blood Bone, is willing to lead the way for Senior; I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" The black-robed Elder, who was Blood Bone, hurriedly expressed his loyalty. Upon learning that Lin Wan was that legendary "Demon Suppression Heavenly Monarch", the last shred of luck in his heart was shattered. This was a ruthless person capable of killing the "King of Calamity"; crushing him to death was simpler than crushing an ant.

"Good, you lead the way. Temple Master Xingshu, you follow me closely; this place is dangerous, do not scatter." Lin Wan instructed.

"Yes!" Everyone agreed.

Immediately, with Blood Bone leading the way in front, Lin Wan and Elder Xingshu and the four followed behind, and the group set off toward the depths of the "Bone Wasteland", the legendary forbidden ground "Abyss of Buried Gods".

Along the way, with the faint chaotic Qi released by Lin Wan protecting them, the pervasive Death Qi, resentment, and the occasional undead creatures that darted out could not even approach within a hundred feet of the group before being silently purified and annihilated. This made Elder Xingshu and the others even more impressed, giving them a more intuitive understanding of Lin Wan's strength.

As for Lin Wan, he traveled while separating a wisp of his mind to sense the "corruption heart stone" in his hand. As they continued deeper into the wasteland, the beating of the "corruption heart stone" in his hand indeed became clearer and more powerful, the aura of corruption it emitted became increasingly dense, and the direction became clearer and clearer.

"It seems that in the 'Abyss of Buried Gods', there is indeed the 'corruption heart key', or at least, a powerful 'corruption' object of the same source." Lin Wan thought to himself, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "The 'Temple of Decay' is truly painstaking in order to awaken the 'Lord of Decay'. However, since he had run into it, their wishful thinking would likely fall through.

"Speed up; we must find the 'corruption heart key' before anyone else from the 'Temple of Decay'!"