Chapter 207 : Night Falls

Everyone ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍felt their scalps go numb.

These ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍villagers, who ordinarily would never open their doors or show themselves unless someone knocked, had all voluntarily opened their doors at the exact same moment.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍every one of them wore a smile almost identical to that of the puppet-like Village Chief.

Long ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tao and the others had always said that although the Village Chief's smile appeared kind, it was actually unsettling.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍compared to these villagers...

...the ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Village Chief now seemed much more human.

"Big Brother Xin! We... can't get back into the houses now?"

Shi Wenyuan immediately realized the biggest problem.

Every door had been opened, and the villagers were blocking the entrances, clearly having no intention of letting them back inside.

Meanwhile, the sun had nearly reached the distant horizon.

There was no time left.

"It looks like..."

"...this is our final night here."

"We either make it out alive..."

"...or every single one of us dies!"

Xin Wushe rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. His expression remained calm as he glanced at the villagers standing in their doorways.

It seemed that as long as the sun had not completely set, they were unable to come out.

"We'll take the gamble. The nodes inside the village should be fine, but the ones outside... we have to find a way to repair them. We'll head to the Formation Core first, then decide what to do from there. Prepare yourselves to spend the night outside."

No one objected.

Led by Xin Wushe and Du Yiluo, everyone quickly left through the northern side of the village.

True Person Mingzhu's swollen belly had already made moving extremely difficult, so Long Tao carried her in a princess carry as they traveled together.

The moment they left the village, everyone was stunned by the scene before them.

The wilderness was densely packed with Drifters.

To Long Tao, they looked like walking corpses wandering aimlessly.

Unlike zombies, however, they greeted people, spoke, smiled at them, and even made various gestures.

The truly horrifying part was that none of their conversations made any logical sense.

One Drifter would say,

"The weather's nice today."

Another would reply,

"Yeah, the grass roots taste best when mixed with cow dung."

These completely nonsensical conversations echoed throughout the wilderness one after another.

"No wonder the mastermind suddenly released so many Drifters."

Long Tao finally understood.

"Although these Drifters don't seem capable of following specific commands, as long as there are enough of them, simply wandering around aimlessly like this could destroy the formation pathways we've laid down."

Shi Wenyuan, however, felt somewhat relieved.

"So the formation hasn't been completely destroyed?"

"We still have a chance. Once we reach the Formation Core, we can inspect and repair the damaged sections one by one."

By the time they were halfway there, night had completely fallen.

Tonight, even the moon was hidden behind thick clouds.

There wasn't the slightest bit of light.

It was truly so dark that one couldn't see one's own hand in front of one's face.

Long Tao took an illumination artifact powered by Spirit Stones out of his Storage Pouch.

Previously, the thing hadn't worked at all.

But now...

...as the suppression imposed by the rules weakened, he felt it was worth trying again.

Sure enough...

The artifact emitted a faint glow, weak but sufficient to illuminate the darkness.

Normally, it could float around its owner's body and continuously provide light.

Now, however, it still had to be held in the hand and was incapable of hovering.

"Long Tao, that's quite an interesting gadget you've got there."

Shi Wenyuan and the other Mo Palace disciples immediately became interested in the artifact.

"If we make it out alive, I'll give it to you."

Long Tao readily agreed.

Using the faint light, the group barely managed to reach the Formation Core beside the marsh.

There lay the remains of an Ancient Immortal Lord, so mutilated that it was almost impossible to recognize it as having once been human.

Everyone immediately began checking the surrounding formation pathways.

Fortunately, only two locations had been damaged.

But assigning people became the next problem.

Ordinarily, Xin Wushe absolutely had to remain behind.

Once the formation was repaired, he needed to immediately shatter his Golden Core, draw down the Heavenly Lightning, and attempt his breakthrough.

The problem was that repairing the damaged sections outside was simply too dangerous.

The ideal candidates were Xin Wushe and Du Yiluo.

But if both of their strongest combatants left, no one would remain to protect the others.

They certainly couldn't expect a heavily pregnant woman and a group of juniors with almost no combat ability to defend this place.

Just then, Mingzhu seemed to make up her mind and suddenly said,

"Xin Wushe, go repair the formation."

"I'll stay here and wait for my breakthrough."

"You?"

Xin Wushe looked at her in disbelief.

"Have you thought this through? Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage is ten thousand times more dangerous than repairing the formation."

"I have."

Mingzhu gently caressed her swollen belly, her eyes resolute.

"I can feel it."

"My opportunity lies here."

"Besides..."

"Your Golden Core hasn't reached perfection yet, has it?"

"My chances of succeeding are higher than yours."

"Hmph!"

"If you really succeed this time..."

"...then after we get back, I'll give Zhiying the Sword Art of the Wine Invitation she's always wanted."

The two exchanged smiles.

Everything that needed to be said had already been conveyed without words.

To everyone's surprise, Long Tao also stepped forward.

"Then I'll handle the other damaged section."

"Hey!"

Du Yiluo immediately objected.

"With your level of cultivation, aren't you just going there to throw your life away?"

"Miss Du."

Long Tao calmly analyzed the situation.

"True Person Mingzhu, Brother Shi, and the others are practically defenseless. They need you here to protect them."

"Besides, I've spent more time repairing the formation these past few days than you have."

"I'm more familiar with the places most likely to have problems."

"And..."

"Even if I'm not strong enough, I'm still a cultivator."

"I can at least run away."

At a time like this, everyone knew there was no room for hesitation.

Although deeply worried, Mingzhu ultimately agreed to the arrangement.

Xin Wushe and Long Tao would each head toward one damaged node.

Du Yiluo would remain behind to protect everyone.

As for Mingzhu, the moment the formation was fully repaired, she would immediately begin her breakthrough.

Very soon, the two men disappeared into the darkness.

Those who remained behind, however, felt as though they had been left in the depths of a demonic abyss.

No one knew when one of the nocturnal beasts or monsters might suddenly spring out from the surrounding grass.

More and more Drifters gathered around them.

It was as though they were waiting for something.

Although they displayed no hostility whatsoever, merely listening to their endless nonsensical muttering was enough to make everyone's scalp tingle.

"You..."

"...won't get away!"

A voice suddenly rang out from somewhere to the south.

At the same time, a massive boulder came hurtling toward them.

Du Yiluo reacted instantly.

She yanked Shi Wenyuan out of the boulder's path before delivering a powerful high kick that shattered the incoming rock into pieces.

At the same time, she stared vigilantly into the darkness toward the owner of that voice.

"You..."

"...were planning to leave this place behind without me?"

"B-Boxiao!"

Shi Wenyuan cried out in shock.

Everyone immediately recognized the voice.

It belonged to Ji Boxiao, who had disappeared inside his house earlier.

But now...

...he was no longer human.

Instead, he had become a grotesque monster formed by forcibly stitching together decaying pieces of human flesh.

Ji Boxiao's face was merely one part of the creature.

"Gu Shan! Old Xu! Lingluo?!"

The Mo Palace disciples were shocked to discover that the monster possessed numerous faces.

Besides Ji Boxiao's face, there were also those of their other deceased companions.

Several of the young women immediately collapsed onto the ground and burst into tears.

Whether they were terrified by the horrifying sight or heartbroken to see their former companions reduced to such a state, no one could tell.

"Come on..."

"This is way too ridiculous."

Du Yiluo gave a bitter smile as she rolled her wrists.

"If I'd known this would happen, I would've insisted on repairing the nodes earlier."

Looking at the monster—which stood three or four people tall—Du Yiluo couldn't help feeling uncertain.

If she had been at full strength, a creature like this could have been annihilated with the flick of a finger.

But now, with her cultivation suppressed, even she had no confidence she could survive more than a few exchanges.

Just when everything seemed hopeless...

...someone absolutely no one expected appeared from the opposite direction.

His body was so hunched that he seemed barely capable of walking.

Yet he shouted toward the monster,

"Sneaking out of the village in the middle of the night..."

That familiar voice rang out through the darkness, carrying unquestionable authority.

"...are you looking to be dragged back to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

"Village Chief?!"

The newcomer was none other than the Village Chief.

He appeared to be in some strange state.

The expression on his face alternated between hideous distortion and his usual kindly smile, as though two different personalities were constantly switching back and forth.

Yet after hearing those words...

...the terrifying monster actually seemed to be affected.

Its movements immediately became awkward and uncoordinated.

"M-Must... go back..."

"...or... kneel in the ancestral hall..."

One of the monster's many faces muttered.

"I'm not going back!"

"I'm going to kill them!"

"Why?!"

"Why do they get to leave alive?!"

"I want everyone to stay here!"

Ji Boxiao's face continued roaring hysterically.

Different voices emerged from the monster simultaneously.

Its two enormous bloated legs alternated between stepping forward and backward.

Just like that, the conflicting wills forcibly delayed it for quite some time.

At that very moment, both Mingzhu and Du Yiluo suddenly felt the pressure on their bodies lessen.

A portion of their cultivation had recovered once more.

They immediately knew...

...that one of the damaged nodes had been repaired.