My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Everyone was panting heavily, their bodies drenched in cold sweat, but their faces were filled with excitement and disbelief at surviving such a disaster.

Their gazes were all focused on the willow branch that was still green and fresh, which was being respectfully held in the hands of the guard leader.

At this moment, even the most dull-witted person would understand.

That quiet, smiling, young and ordinary-looking Taoist priest in blue robes was hardly some wandering wanderer without any Taoist cultivation.

He is clearly a highly accomplished master whose cultivation is unfathomable and who has already reached the state of returning to simplicity and authenticity!

The old Taoist priest's talismans were indeed powerful, but their power was only temporary and their effect was overwhelming.

The young Taoist priest casually folded a willow branch as a gift, seemingly as a childish game.

Yet, it effortlessly sealed such powerful exorcising energy within a single piece of ordinary wood.

And the ability to use it repeatedly is simply unheard of. Upon closer examination, it seems even more profound and unfathomable!

"We...we were truly blind to a true immortal!" The butler wept, feeling both lingering fear and relief.

"If it weren't for this young Taoist priest... no, this immortal master who bestowed this divine object upon us, we would surely be dead tonight!"

Lin Suwei carefully took the willow branch, her fingertips gently brushing against the supple twig.

Feeling that restrained, warm aura that seemed to connect with the vitality of heaven and earth, a storm surged in my heart.

It turns out that his seemingly casual gestures and whispers were actually a genuine act of enlightenment!

It turns out that behind his calm smile was absolute confidence that made him see such danger as nothing!

It's laughable that I had secretly been disappointed, thinking he was just putting on an act...

She recalled the meaningful smile on the young Taoist priest's face when he said, "If you can't beat him, you can run away."

His composure in insisting on going to the Wild Boar Forest now takes on a completely new and awe-inspiring interpretation.

"Quickly, check the wounded, pack up, and get out of here immediately!"

Lin Suwei suppressed the shock and turmoil in her heart and decisively gave the order: This place cannot be lingered.

The group acted swiftly.

Lin Suwei carefully wrapped the willow branch in a clean piece of brocade and kept it close to her body.

The talismans had already been used, but this willow branch had become their most precious protective treasure at this moment.

It is not only a powerful talisman against evil, but also represents a serendipitous encounter and an unfathomable destiny with the immortals.

The carriage started again, this time at an even faster speed.

Inside the carriage, Lin Suwei clutched the brocade bundle tightly, gazing out the window at the fading night and the distant, layered mountains, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The world seems to be in real chaos, with evil spirits appearing frequently.

With this willow branch, I and my family might have an extra layer of security. But...

She sighed softly, her clear eyes revealing deep regret and a hint of barely perceptible admiration.

"Immortal Master... I will forever remember your life-saving grace and the kindness of your gift."

I only hope... that we will have the chance to meet again in the future, and when that time comes, I will do my utmost to repay your kindness.

The rumbling carriage, carrying the survivors and a legend about a mysterious Taoist priest in green robes, quickly disappeared from the shadowy mountains.

And beside the embers of the campfire in front of Wild Boar Forest, the first light of dawn was breaking.

Ye Qingfeng seemed to sense something, feeling his profound cultivation within him once again, and looked up at the direction where the Lin family's convoy had departed.

A very faint smile flickered across his lips, then vanished.

......

The morning light struggled to penetrate the perpetual miasma over the Wild Boar Forest, casting dappled and bleak shadows through the trees.

The air was humid and heavy, mixed with decaying leaves, damp soil, and a faint, unsettling fishy smell.

The old Taoist priest Chiyangzi put away the last of his breathing techniques and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

The magical power consumed by setting up the fiery wall and transforming into a dragon to slay evil last night has been restored to about 70-80%.

He glanced at Ye Qingfeng, who had already stood up, was looking out of the woods with his hands behind his back, and had a calm expression.

The thought that "this kid is quite composed" resurfaced in my mind.

Well then, since we're traveling together, let's look out for each other a bit.

"Young friend, are you ready? Black Mountain Town shouldn't be far ahead. Let's go there first to scout out the situation and find out what's going on. It's better than us blindly rushing into the forest."

Chi Yangzi stood up and patted the dew off his Taoist robe.

Ye Qingfeng turned around, smiled slightly, and bowed: "I will leave it to you, fellow Daoist."

The two walked out one after the other along the slippery path in the woods.

Chi Yangzi's steps were steady and seemingly slow, but in fact, each step subtly followed a certain rhythm.

It moved silently across the ground, displaying remarkable agility.

Ye Qingfeng, on the other hand, appeared more "ordinary," simply walking normally, but he always managed to keep up with Chi Yangzi's pace perfectly.

His unhurried pace, as if strolling through the woods, surprised Chi Yangzi, who was secretly observing him.

This kid has really good stamina; no wonder he dares to say he runs fast.

About half an hour later, the view suddenly opened up.

In a relatively flat valley, the outline of Black Mountain Town came into view.

The town is not small, with gray walls and black tiles, showing that it used to have some liveliness, but now it is shrouded in an unusual silence.

Even before entering the town, a more pronounced fishy smell wafted on the wind.

Upon reaching the town entrance, the scene became even more disheartening.

It was nearly 9:00 AM, a time when the town should be bustling with activity, but the cobblestone streets leading into the town were sparsely populated.

They all walked hurriedly, looked anxious, avoided eye contact, and rarely spoke.

Beneath the crooked archway at the town entrance, two men who looked like local militiamen stood guard listlessly, their eyes scanning the way warily.

Upon seeing Ye Qingfeng and his companion approach, especially noticing their Taoist robes, their expressions immediately turned somewhat strange, and they whispered a few words to each other.

What's even more striking is that almost every household has one or more rough pottery bowls or earthenware basins prominently displayed in front of their doors or under their windows.

Inside was a dark red, almost black, semi-solid, viscous liquid—chicken blood.

Some bowls still had fresh bloodstains on their rims, while others had dried and turned black, clearly indicating that they had been left there for more than a day.

Many doors still bear traces of burnt paper money and incense, the ashes scattered by the morning breeze, adding to the desolate and eerie atmosphere.

"Chicken blood..." Old Daoist Chiyangzi frowned, his nostrils twitched, and he carefully sniffed the smell in the air.

Ye Qingfeng remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping across both sides of the street.

In his view, the entire town was indeed shrouded in a thin but stubborn layer of gray-black gloom, like an unyielding dark cloud.

Amidst this gloom, the blood-red light intertwined with a faint sense of terror, slowly flowing towards a certain direction in the town.

And in that direction... he looked up and vaguely saw the northwest corner of the town, which was also the area with the tallest and most magnificent buildings in the town.

"Hiss..." Old Daoist Chiyangzi gasped, his brows furrowing into a knot. He muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps expressing an uncontrollable sigh.

"Good heavens, this overwhelming gloom, this stench of blood everywhere... the evil spirits have permeated this place to such an extent that this town has practically become a pool of yin energy, nurturing malevolent forces! This chicken blood..."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more, but the seriousness on his face deepened.

Ye Qingfeng followed behind, his gaze curiously sweeping over the chicken blood bowls and the tightly closed doors. A hint of surprise and worry appeared on his face as he asked, following Chi Yangzi's words.

"Brother Dao, what is this chicken blood for? Is it for warding off evil spirits? It seems like... every household does it."

Chi Yangzi glanced at him and thought that this young man was quite perceptive and could see that something was unusual, but he was ultimately an outsider and could only see the surface.

He sighed and explained, "If it were fresh blood from the pure Yang source, it might have some effect in dispelling the Yin and filth. But look at this blood; it has been left out for a long time, and it has lost all vitality, instead generating filth and evil."

Placing these items in front of every household's door, over time, not only fails to ward off evil spirits, but actually... well, you wouldn't fully understand even if I explained. In short, it's definitely not a good practice, and the problems in this town are probably more complicated than they appear.

He continued his analysis on his own, not expecting Ye Qingfeng to fully understand the intricacies.