sinovels Chapter 202 Anonymous Message
Chapter 202 Anonymous Message
Ashu followed behind Zhou Ning, remaining silent.
Since settling in at Lanruo Temple, he has become quieter than ever before, often sitting alone on the stone bench in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Zhou Ning noticed his change, but didn't ask any further questions.
Everyone has their own secrets, and he didn't want to pry into other people's secrets.
After traveling for three days, they arrived at Qingfeng City.
The city was in much better condition than when Zhou Ning left.
The collapsed city wall has been repaired. Although it is not as tall and sturdy as before, it can at least withstand ordinary wind and sand and wild animals.
There were more pedestrians on the streets, most shops were open, and smiles appeared on the faces of the people.
Several children were chasing and playing in the alley, their laughter clear and melodious.
Upon seeing Zhou Ning, a child recognized him and shouted, "Young Master Zhou is back! Young Master Zhou is back!"
The people gathered around, some bowing, some kowtowing, and some bringing eggs and fruit.
Zhou Ning quickly waved his hand: "Fellow villagers, there's no need to be so polite. I appreciate your kindness, but I can't accept the food. Please keep it for yourselves."
Han Wei came down from the city wall, squeezed through the crowd, and walked to Zhou Ning's side.
His complexion was much better than last time, and the injury on his left arm had completely healed.
He patted Zhou Ning on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Young Master Zhou, you've arrived. With you here in the North, I can rest assured."
Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Han, you're too kind. What's causing this unusual movement in the seal?"
Han Wei led him to the wasteland north of the city.
On the wasteland, the huge crack had disappeared, replaced by a scorched earth.
The ground was covered with cracks, from which black mist seeped out continuously, but unlike the aura of the Heavenly Demon, it was thinner and weaker.
The remnants of the seal.
Those shattered fragments of the golden light shield.
Scattered on the ground, some had already weathered into powder, while others were still shimmering with a faint light.
"This is it."
Han Wei pointed to the center of the sealed remains.
"A few days ago, during our patrol, we discovered a new surge of demonic energy within the sealed remains."
"Although it's weak, it's growing. We suspect that a new monster may be brewing."
Zhou Ning extended his divine sense, covering an area of several million feet in radius.
He could sense a faint demonic aura deep within the sealed remains, similar to that of the Heavenly Demon, but more ancient and profound.
It's like a seed, slowly absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy and gradually growing stronger.
"This is not a remnant of the Heavenly Demons." Zhou Ning frowned.
"This is something else."
Ashu walked to his side and whispered, "Young Master Zhou, this aura... I feel like I've sensed it somewhere before."
Zhou Ning asked, "Where?"
Ashu thought for a moment and said, "In the Demon Realm, there is a similar aura at the place where the True Emperor was sealed. That is... the aura of an ancient demon god."
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.
Ancient demon gods?
Isn't that a legendary existence?
Han Wei asked, "Demon God? What's that?"
Ashu said, "In ancient times, there were many powerful beings in the Three Realms."
"Besides immortals, Buddhas, and demons, there are also monsters."
"The True Emperor of the Demon Realm is a descendant of the Demon God. But the Demon God is more ancient and more powerful than the True Emperor."
"Legend has it that the demon god perished in an ancient war, but its remnant soul did not dissipate, but was scattered throughout the Three Realms."
"If someone can collect enough remnant souls, they can resurrect the Demon God."
Zhou Ning asked, "You mean, what's being nurtured within the sealed remains is the remnant soul of a demon god?"
Ashu nodded.
"Possibly. Before the True Emperor was sealed away, he sent people everywhere to search for the remnants of the Demon God's soul."
"He believed that if the demon god could be resurrected, the demon god's power could be used to break the seal."
"But later, he gave up. Because the remnants of the demon god's soul were too scattered, making it almost impossible to collect them."
Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Whatever it is, we can't let it continue to grow stronger. Lord Han, I'll try to purify it."
He walked to the center of the sealed remains, sat down cross-legged, and placed the Heavenly Fox Sword horizontally on his lap.
The celestial fox spirit within the sword emitted a low hum, seemingly warning him to be careful.
Zhou Ning closed his eyes and poured the power of Dao into the sealed remains, and the purple-gold light enveloped the black mist.
The fog began to dissipate under the glow of the purple-gold light.
But it dissipates very slowly, and every time the fog diminishes, new fog rises from the ground as if it were endless.
"No." Zhou Ning opened his eyes.
"Its source is deep underground, beyond my reach."
Han Wei asked, "Then what should we do?"
Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Let's seal it first. Once I find the source, we'll eliminate it completely."
He took out several "evil-suppressing talismans" from his bag and pasted them around the seal remnants. He then inserted the Heavenly Fox Sword into the ground, channeling the power of the Heavenly Fox's soul within the sword into the seal.
The blue-gold and purple-gold light intertwined, forming a huge light shield that enveloped the sealed remains.
The fog was blocked by the light shield and could not escape.
"It's stable for now," Zhou Ning said.
"But these talismans alone won't last long. I need to find the source as soon as possible."
Han Wei nodded: "I'll have people guarding this place. If there's any unusual activity, I'll notify you immediately."
Zhou Ning stood up and sheathed the Heavenly Fox Sword.
Ashu walked to his side and whispered, "Young Master Zhou, I suspect this is not a coincidence. Someone is deliberately releasing the remnant soul of the demon god to attract your attention."
Zhou Ning looked at him: "What do you mean?"
Ashu said, "Perhaps someone doesn't want you to stay at Lanruo Temple, or to help the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva.' So, they deliberately created trouble to lure you away."
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.
Ashu makes a good point.
He had just agreed to help Jingchen protect the Dharma when strange things happened in the North.
This is too much of a coincidence.
"Who do you think it is?"
Ashu shook his head: "I don't know. It could be remnants of the Blissful Cult, or it could be... certain people within the Righteous Alliance."
Zhou Ning recalled Yu Zhenzi's doubts and the sect leaders in the Righteous Path Alliance, each with their own agendas, and a sense of unease welled up in his heart.
If it really was one of them causing trouble, then his situation is dangerous.
"Let's return to Qingfeng City first and discuss this further."
The two returned to the city.
Han Wei arranged accommodations, and Zhou Ning and A Shu settled in.
As night fell, Zhou Ning was meditating in his room when Ashu knocked on the door and came in.
His expression was somewhat solemn, and he held a jade talisman in his hand.
"Young Master Zhou, I have received a message."
Zhou Ning asked, "Who sent it?"
Ashu said, "I don't know. The jade talisman is for anonymous communication. But the content of the message is related to you."
He handed the jade talisman to Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning took it and probed it with his divine sense.
The jade talisman contained only one sentence: "Be careful of those around you; someone wants to harm you."
Zhou Ning frowned, looking at Ashu: "Who do you think posted this?"
Ashu shook his head: "I don't know. But I think the person who sent the message is warning you. Maybe there really is a traitor among you."
Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. You should go back and rest."
Ashu nodded, turned and left the room.
Zhou Ning held the jade talisman, his mind filled with countless thoughts.