Chapter Seven, The Enchanted Moon
Even the spiritual masters are no exception, their powers have drastically diminished to less than twenty percent of their usual capacity. Their minds are in disarray, and a moment's carelessness could lead to the invasion of demonic thoughts, bringing about a calamity of the heart, with the danger of losing their souls. Generally, they hide in their caves for quiet meditation, not daring to act recklessly.
Suddenly, Hao Ran felt a surge of energy within him, and like a ghost, he dashed out a hundred meters at an incredible speed. He reached out, swiftly drew his short bow, and nocked an arrow. The bow measured only seven inches in length, and Hao Ran had been crafting it since he was eight years old, reworking it annually. The short arrows were specially made to infuse a large amount of golden spiritual energy, making them extremely powerful
A shadow appeared in place, softly exclaiming "Oh," in a delicate voice: "Well, you little beast, you can actually sense my presence. Your reaction is quite quick, not bad, you have some skill."
"A person with the cultivation of a spiritual master yet possessing a waste vein? This fellow is talking nonsense, clearly has some issues. " Haoran was both amused and exasperated, yet could not comprehend it, feeling immensely troubled. As he grew older, his emotions at night became increasingly agitated, especially during the Demon Moon, when he could hardly contain that murderous aura. This was also one of the reasons for the outbreak at Lingqing Ridge.
Since that night, the influence of the magical moon has completely vanished. The mysterious night veil is no longer so terrifying; instead, one's power has surged dramatically, and the sensitivity of perception has reached an extraordinary level. The naked eye can penetrate the darkness, and the scenery within a range of ten thousand meters is clearly visible. The blood within the body is boiling, as if a flame is burning in the chest, accompanied by a surge of murderous intent.
After ten days and nights of travel, Haoran returned to Yeling
Having packed everything, Haoran hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed by a deep sadness. It was truly time to leave; this place no longer belonged to him. He set down his belongings and took one last look around the entire cave, gently touching each item as if to engrave them in his memory. After a brief pause, he strode out of the cave entrance and stood in the center of Qinghu Valley, gazing at the surrounding mountains.
Regardless of whether the legends are true or false, it can be said that the Month of Demons is the most terrifying moment in the spirit world. The land of Zihua is shrouded in a sense of death, all living beings are weak and trembling, filled with a feeling of impending disaster, as if the Grim Reaper has descended upon the world
The red light is the innate spiritual sword of Sikong Qing, which is connected to her mind and spirit. Once the magical artifact suffers severe damage, she is affected in turn, her whole body unable to stop trembling as she hurriedly suppresses the agitated blood energy. How could such a minor figure, the Hundred Knot Venerable, actually contend with her several hundred years of cultivation? It is simply unbelievable to her.
There is no longer any sadness, the pain has reached such an extreme that I have become numb, disappointment has reached such a point that it has turned into despair, and the ethereal and elusive fate mocks me.
Swish! The Demon Moon is the realm of Haoran, possessing astonishing eyesight, accurately hitting the red light.
He has lost everything and is left with nothing but confusion in his heart
He did not cry; he stopped shedding tears from the age of five. No matter how bitter or difficult it became, he gritted his teeth and persevered, encouraging himself, determined to live well and to live a little more happily.
After venting for a full half an hour, hundreds of acres of forest were destroyed in an instant, with broken branches and debris scattered everywhere, creating a scene of utter devastation. "Thud!" He fell heavily to the ground, his mind blank, oblivious to the pain coursing through his body.
His face turned ashen, and a terrifying gaze shot from his eyes, resembling a mad beast driven by frenzy and obsession, with his skin turning a deep yellow, radiating a dazzling brilliance that was strikingly noticeable, as he shouted in madness: "Why? Oh heavens, why do you treat me this way?"
In his first encounter with the spirit master, he miraculously achieved a draw, greatly boosting his confidence. Naturally, he pressed on, seizing the opportunity to rush towards Sikong Qing. Another arrow was released, followed by a third and a fourth, each shot with all his might, leaving the enemy no chance to catch their breath. "Shrew, you have gone too far. Since you have chased me to Ye Ling, do not think of going back."
Out of nowhere, a surge of anger welled up within me, and I could no longer contain it. I leaped up, and a beam of golden light burst forth from my palm. "Boom!" A massive rock shattered into pieces, and with a few more strikes, the fragments danced in the air
Within a few minutes, the crescent moon was shrouded by thick clouds, enveloping the world in utter darkness. It was an absolute blackness, as if the night itself had solidified, with a profound silence prevailing. This phenomenon is known as the Hook Moon, also referred to as the Dark Moon or the Demon Moon, lasting for a total of three hours.
In the past, there was still faith supporting me, hoping for a miracle to happen, whether it was going to Xiniu Hezhou with Sister Ning after becoming a spirit, or the two elders suddenly returning, allowing the family to be reunited.
Sikong Qing, being a spirit master with vast powers, raised her right hand and conjured a large blaze of fire with her spirit sword, instantly blocking the attack in front of her. "Clang! Clang!" The two arrows vanished into thin air, the firelight dimmed, and the sword shook violently, emitting continuous mournful cries, before reverting back to the spirit sword, teetering on the brink of collapse
Sixty years ago, Ye Ling was desolate and uninhabited, with wild beasts roaming. After fifteen years of diligent efforts by my parents, it transformed into a thriving sanctuary, full of vitality and flourishing. Having lived there for half a lifetime, I am intimately familiar with every blade of grass and every tree, and I can recall each valley and stream even with my eyes closed.
This is his greatest secret, which also began thirty years ago
Now everything is completely over, the veins of waste have solidified, and the remaining hope has vanished into thin air, even my closest sister Ning has left without a word.
He handles matters efficiently and decisively, never dragging his feet, and immediately packs his belongings
Under normal circumstances, the two individuals are worlds apart and cannot be compared at all. However, now it is the month of magic, and Sikong Qing's cultivation has significantly diminished, rendering her extremely weak. In stark contrast, Haoran has reached the peak of his power. With one rising and the other falling, they surprisingly find themselves evenly matched.
"Vulgar woman, get out of here, or I will not be polite." Haoran shouted loudly, raising his bow to shoot
Haoran gritted his teeth tightly, his fingers relaxed, and the sharp arrow transformed into golden lightning. At this critical moment of life and death, there was no escape; the only option was to fight desperately, risking everything.
It is yet another month of magic, the mountains are pitch black, and one cannot see their own hand in front of them. However, Haoran sees everything clearly: the lush, dripping green forests, the overlapping layers of mountains, the diverse species of birds, the unruly herds of beasts, and the ethereal blue lake, all the scenery is captured in his eyes
Sikong Qing sneered coldly, pointing her finger as a beam of red light shot out rapidly. "Little beast, go meet those two dead souls!" She was aware of her beloved daughter's injury, and old grudges and new hatred surged in her heart. Without regard for anything else, she rushed over, unleashing her full strength to swiftly eliminate the threat at hand
Haoran, full of spirit, exudes a golden aura that flows like a mighty river. The speed of his run is astonishing, as he effortlessly glides a hundred meters with a single point of his toes. He traverses mountains and valleys as if walking on flat ground, with rivers and valleys flashing by in an instant. His mood is exceptionally buoyant; this is the feeling of a spiritual master, his entire body feels incredibly light, as if he is about to take flight
Not long after leaving Lingqing Ridge, the Milky Way vanished, the bright moon set, and a crescent moon rose in the north, resembling a slender, curved fishhook, weaving through the dark clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently. In the void, there was not a single star, only a sky full of black clouds, with the only bright spot being that pitifully small crescent moon
The master of gold veins is adept with tools, possessing an unparalleled sensitivity to the art of weaponry. He has long associated with wild beasts, and his passion for bows and arrows is particularly profound. Through decades of dedicated research, he has fully harnessed the power of the sharp arrows.
The right palm struck a towering tree, causing the massive trunk, which could not be embraced by two people, to shake violently. With several crisp sounds, the trunk snapped at waist height and fell with a thunderous crash. With a strong pull, the lower half was uprooted and forcefully tossed aside, colliding with another large tree, which swayed unsteadily. Golden light flashed continuously, accompanied by an unending series of sounds, as the surrounding trees fell in response.
Haoran felt a surge of murderous intent rushing towards him, as if being pierced by thousands of steel needles. Unable to help himself, he retreated several steps, secretly channeling his energy, while the arrow's body shimmered with golden light
This place embodies the lifelong dedication of my parents, encapsulating the joys of my childhood, the troubles of my youth, the sorrows of my adolescence, and the laughter of my sister. From now on, it is no longer my home; it exists only in dreams, where I recall the laughter and joy of the past, seeking the traces of former days.
The heavens are as dark as thick ink, deep and distant. Whenever the Demon Moon descends, Haoran loudly curses: "Damn it, what kind of joke is this? While an increase in power is certainly a good thing, the higher the better, ideally reaching the realm of true immortals and the realm of diagrams and books, how could you make me so foolish? Being highly skilled is of no use if I can't become a spirit; I am still rendered useless."
Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a demon master who wreaked havoc across the universe. The Spirit Ancestor imprisoned him in the void. Several years later, the demon master surprisingly awakened a portion of his consciousness and, through great supernatural powers, transformed into the Demon Moon. He periodically descended upon Zihua to seize suitable spiritual souls, attempting to gather enough energy to break free.
This person is Sikong Qing, with a face like frost and a gaze that is chilling and terrifying, instilling fear in others
What else is there to look forward to in this world
A loud explosion erupted, sending a large burst of sparks into the air, with red light soaring high accompanied by a mournful wail, as the arrows shattered into pieces.
Sikong Qing's face turned pale, her heart raced as if struck by an iron fist; this was a sign of the onset of her inner demons. Suddenly, a golden lightning bolt howled towards her, causing her to turn pale with fright. Immediately, she pushed forward with her right palm, releasing a bright red fireball. Grasping her spirit sword, she soared into the air, vanishing into the night, leaving only the echo in the air: "Little beast, wait for it; the Sikong family will not spare you."
After a moment's consideration, I selected only a dozen or so healing elixirs, along with two sets of noble robes, three sets of short shirts, two pairs of cloud silk shoes, and a bundle made of blood lotus. A long sword was strapped to my back, a dagger was tucked into my bosom, and a short bow with over a hundred short arrows was hung at my waist, making it simple and convenient
After searching the entire cave, he frowned, feeling conflicted. It was not that there were too many undesirable items, but rather that there was little to choose from. The size of the furnace and alchemical tools was too large, and the quantity of medicinal materials and refining materials was overwhelming, making them inconvenient to carry. Moreover, these items were quite ordinary, merely essentials for a spiritual abode. The only treasure of the mountain was the Blood Lotus.