Curse Returns: Eight Extraordinary Skills? I lack nothing.

The silhouette of a huge, disheveled old woman, dressed in a tattered kimono, carried a massive basket on her back. The nature of the curse was... cold and heavy, carrying intense resentment and a... selective malice.

But the fluctuations disappeared too quickly and completely, as if they had been instantly 'erased'; all our subsequent tracking devices became ineffective.

“The ruins of the old shrine…” Yuuto looked at the marked point on the map. “What’s so special about it?”

Kobayashi chimed in, "It's very old, long abandoned, with only some stone foundations and torii gate remains. Legend has it... legend says that it was the entrance to one of the Yamaba's nests. Nobody dares to go near it normally."

"Take me to the nearest missing persons scene." Yuuto put down his tablet and decided to first examine the primary evidence, even though the report said "no trace."

The first site was a hunter's hut on the edge of the village. The hut was built alone on the hillside. Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a musty smell of wood and a faint, indescribable sense of "emptiness" wafted out.

The room was simply furnished; the ashes in the hearth were cold; a half-eaten bowl of mixed grain rice sat on the low table, chopsticks neatly arranged beside it. Everything suggested that the owner had only gone out temporarily and would return in the next second.

But there was a lingering sense of "absence" in the air; all the subtle evidence of a living person's existence seemed to have been precisely stripped away by some force, leaving only an empty shell.

Yu Ren stood in the center of the room, his eyes slightly closed, his Feng Hou Qi Men perception silently extended to its limit. The illusory image of the Bagua array beneath his feet flashed by, and the spatial and energy information of the eight directions—Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui—flowed into his perception like water. There was no impurity, indeed, there was none.

Every trace of residual curse power was completely wiped away, demonstrating a more sophisticated method than causing destruction.

However, under Qimen's meticulous scanning of "existence" itself, Youren detected an extremely faint "disharmony"—the space itself seemed to have been very slightly "smoothed" by some force, carrying an unnatural, cold aftertaste. Like a piece of glass that had been carefully wiped but still retained water stains.

"Binding Spirits and Commanding Generals - Hundred Eyes," Yu Ren murmured.

Several tiny cracks appeared in the void, and a dozen small cursed spirits of various shapes, all covered with countless eyes, were summoned. They were only the size of a palm, and they spread out silently, some sticking to the walls, some burrowing into the cracks in the floor, and some floating in the air.

Countless tiny eyeballs moved, not searching for remnants of cursed power, but observing the most minute anomalies in every part of the physical space.

The distribution of dust, the direction of wood grain, and the stagnation points of airflow.

A few minutes later, a multi-eyed cursed spirit landed on an inconspicuous patch of floor beside the fire pit. The dust there was distributed more evenly than in the surrounding area, as if swept away by an invisible force.

“Here.” Yuuto walked over, crouched down, and a faint light from the golden incantation flashed at his fingertips as he gently brushed across the floor. The touch was icy cold, carrying a chill that didn’t belong to wood, a chill that penetrated to the bone. This wasn’t residual incantation power; it was more like a physical “low-temperature mark” left after space was interfered with by a powerful force.

The second site was a logging shed on the edge of another village.

The situation was exactly the same. Tools were neatly arranged in the shed, a half-cut log remained stuck in the saw frame, and a half-empty sake bottle sat nearby. The person, too, had vanished without a trace.

Yuuto once again sensed the faint traces of space "smoothing" and the lingering chill.

The third scene was a simple forest ranger's hut deep in the mountains. It was the furthest from the village and the closest to the ruins of the old shrine. The door of the hut was ajar, and the interior was more cluttered, but there were no signs of a struggle.

The only difference was that, on the muddy ground in the corner of the room, Yuuto, through the perspective of the multi-eyed cursed spirit, discovered a very faint mark, almost covered by dust.

The outline of a huge footprint, resembling that of a barefoot old woman, was visible, only the front half of which was deeply embedded in the mud, exuding a sense of savage heaviness. But strangely, no magical energy could be detected around the footprint.

The clues point to the ruins of that abandoned old shrine, confirming the legend. The target not only possesses exceptional strength but also incredible stealth abilities and a masterful command of spatial power, and their behavior closely follows the core of the Yama-baba legend.

Screen out and remove the "bad guys".

Back at the temporary command post, the atmosphere grew even more tense. Kobayashi and the Metropolitan Police Department official looked at Yuuto, awaiting his judgment.

"Target confirmed, undoubtedly top-tier. Codename 'Mountain Granny' is fitting." Yuuto's words were concise and to the point:

The core abilities are speculated to be: spatial interference (used for movement and perfect concealment), powerful physical strength, and a legendary 'selective predation' instinct.

Its concealment methods are extremely sophisticated; conventional magical tracking methods are ineffective.

"Then... Mr. Kasuga, what should we do? Request more support?" The Metropolitan Police Department chief wiped the sweat from his brow. The existence of a Special Grade Cursed Spirit was terrifying enough, let alone this elusive type.

Yuuto shook his head, his gaze drifting to the gloomy sky outside the window and the misty depths of the distant mountains. "Support won't be enough to deal with it. Its stealth capabilities will turn large groups of people into sitting ducks. I'll go alone."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight. "The target's behavior patterns are traceable; it's 'selecting.' As long as it's active, as long as there are still things that fit its 'recipe,' it will definitely reappear. I need to get closer to its lair."

"You're going to the old shrine ruins alone?" Kobayashi's voice trembled slightly. That's the legendary lair of the Yamaba, and the source of the bursts of cursed energy!

"That's where the clue ends, and also where it's most likely to appear."

Yuuto stood up, stretched his wrists, and felt the cold touch of the Kikuichimonji Norimune hilt, bringing a calm sharpness.

"Give me the precise coordinates of the site and a topographical map of the surrounding area. Also, notify the perimeter guards that no one is allowed to enter the restricted area without my signal, no matter what happens in the mountains. Its spatial capabilities make it easy to evacuate a person or two."

Kobayashi and the Metropolitan Police Department official exchanged a glance, both seeing the fear in each other's eyes, but could only nod.

For top-tier cursed spirits, the judgment of a top-tier cursed sorcerer is the highest command. They quickly handed over detailed information to Yuuto.

Without further ado, Youren stepped out of the tent.

As Yu Ren stepped out of the tent at the temporary command post, the damp, cold air from the mountains, carrying the scents of grass, trees, and earth, immediately rushed towards him.

Kobayashi and the Metropolitan Police Department official stood behind him, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and worry.

Yuuto didn't turn around, but simply adjusted Kikuichimonji Norimune to a more comfortable angle. The invisible Feng Hou Qimen formation under his feet quietly unfolded, sensing the mountain forest shrouded in the shadow of Yamaba.

He refused Kobayashi's suggestion to send someone to follow him, and with a swift movement, he disappeared into the forest like the wind, and hurried up the steep mountain path.

The summoned spirits, possessing the ability to conceal their aura and mimic their surroundings, appeared and disappeared around him like ghosts, serving as both vigilant sentinels and cloaks blending into their environment.

The deeper you go, the dimmer the light becomes in the forest.

The towering ancient trees had branches and leaves that blocked out the sun, and thick vines hung down from the branches. The ground was covered with a thick layer of humus, which was soft and silent when stepped on.

The viscous feeling of being watched grew stronger, and the silence in the mountains and forests became increasingly eerie. Even the chirping of insects and birds disappeared, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the leaves, as if the entire mountain was holding its breath and staring intently.

Along the way, Yuuto once again discovered those huge, barefoot footprints, only the front half of which were imprinted on damp moss or soft soil, pointing straight to the mountaintop.

Chapter 155 Shan Lao

The area around the footprints remained spotless, devoid of any magical energy fluctuations, with only the lingering chill of the surrounding space remaining.

When the senses of Feng Hou Qi Men sweep across these marks, they can clearly capture the subtle ripples of space being briefly "folded" or "flattened".

This is precisely the key to Yamaba's perfect concealment.

The terrain gradually rises, and a narrow, overgrown path appears ahead, leading to a more secluded mountain valley. There, a few scattered households are the last remaining elderly residents of the old village who are unwilling or unable to leave.

As Yuuto approached, an old woman in a faded kimono was hunched over, laboriously splashing a basin of water onto the vegetable patch in front of the house.

Upon seeing the unfamiliar silver-haired youth, Yu Ren, a flicker of fear first flashed in her cloudy eyes, which then turned into a strange numbness.

“Outsider…leave this place quickly.” The old woman’s voice was hoarse, with a heavy local accent. “The mountain god…does not like outsiders disturbing him.”

Yuuto stopped and said calmly, "Grandma, I'm here to deal with those missing persons cases. I'd like to ask you about the legend of the 'Mountain Granny'."

Upon hearing the words "Mountain Granny," the old woman visibly trembled, nearly dropping the wooden basin in her hand.

She looked around warily and lowered her voice: "Those are the messengers of the mountain god... they've come to purify the forest."

She paused, her eyes becoming somewhat complicated. "She only takes away those...those with bad intentions. Poachers, those who over-logge, those who bully their neighbors...the village has had them before, but never this...this clean."

Her words confirmed the intelligence report of "selective predation," but her tone carried an indescribable, almost awe-inspiring fear.

"Clean?" Yu Ren pressed.

"Yes...it's as if they never existed," the old woman murmured. "They even took the bad things they left behind with them. The mountain is...much quieter now."

Without another word, she turned and hurriedly went inside, closing the wooden door tightly. This behavior, bordering on "judgment" and "purification," made the mountain hag's image even more eerie.

Leaving the house, Yuuto continued towards the ruins of the old shrine. Just as he rounded a bend in the mountain path, both the perception of Feng Hou Qi Men and the warning spell linked to his spirit control system simultaneously sounded an alarm!

Three twisted figures appeared silently from the dense forest ahead, blocking their path.

They are hunched over, dressed in tattered "clothes" that seem to be a mixture of tree bark and mud, with bare skin that is a deathly bluish-gray, and their faces covered with rough wooden masks, revealing only two eyes that shimmer with a murky red light.

They emanated spell power fluctuations close to those of a first-level spell spirit, yet they also carried the chilling aftertaste of "space smoothing," clearly indicating that they were "guardians" or "servants" created by the mountain witch.

They made no sound, but like puppets, they stiffly raised their hands and pointed at Yuuto. A mental shockwave carrying an aura of decay instantly spread out, attempting to erode his will and freeze his actions.

This is an extension of the mountain hag selection mechanism.

To expel or eliminate intruders.

"Shut up." Yu Ren's eyes turned cold, without even drawing his sword. To deal with these rabble, the Spirit Control Technique was sufficient.

With a slight thought, the connection was established instantly.

The three "Guardian Spirits" abruptly froze in their raised positions, their murky red eyes flashing violently, as if a fierce internal conflict had erupted.

The mental shockwaves emanating from them instantly became chaotic and rebounded!

"Ugh—!" A non-human, agonizing scream, like wood rubbing together, escaped from beneath the mask.

They clutched their heads, their bodies convulsing violently, and beneath their bluish-gray skin, it seemed as if countless worms were wriggling.

Yuuto forcibly manipulated the core of their cursed power, causing their mental attacks to backfire on him!

In just two seconds, the three cursed spirits collapsed silently, turning into three pools of black, smoldering mud that quickly seeped into the ground. Even the remnants were wiped clean by the mountain hag's spatial abilities, leaving only three rapidly decaying wooden masks.

The whole process was lightning fast and completely silent.

Yu Ren didn't stop walking, as if he had merely brushed away a few specks of dust. The faint glow of the system notification indicating points earned flashed through his mind, insignificant.

As the terrain rose higher, the air became increasingly cold and damp.

Ahead lay a relatively flat clearing in the woods, in the center of which stood the ruins of the abandoned old shrine. The massive, broken torii gate stood askew, covered in moss and vines, its vermilion lacquer long since peeled away, revealing the decaying wood beneath.

Behind it were several stone steps overgrown with weeds, leading to a half-collapsed stone platform. The erosion of time and the swallowing up of the mountains and forests filled this place with an atmosphere of desolation and ruin.

However, in the perception of Youren Fenghou Qimen, the spatial structure of this area appeared unusually "smooth" and "fragile." The chilling spatial resonance reached its peak here, originating from the mountain wall behind the platform, which was completely covered by thick vines.

Yu Ren stepped onto the moss-covered stone steps and walked to the center of the remaining worship hall platform. His gaze swept over the collapsed stone pillars and scattered boulder bases, and the light of the Qimen Dunjia formation beneath his feet flowed, with the "Kun" position slightly bright.

"The character '坤'!"

The soil at the edge of the platform churned silently, and a small "Earthwalker" made of rocks and soil materialized. It was only half a person's height, but its movements were exceptionally agile. Under Youren's control, it burrowed into the vine-covered mountain wall crevices like a pangolin to conduct a more detailed investigation.

A moment later, Tu Xingsun emerged from another spot, returned to Youren's feet, and dissipated, sending back the information he had gathered.

The interior of the mountain wall is hollow!

Moreover, it is not a natural cave; there are obvious signs of excavation, and the internal structure is complex, with passages and stone chambers, resembling a deliberately hidden sacrificial site or the entrance to a nest.

The entrance was obscured by a powerful spatial distortion field, making it undetectable to the naked eye and with ordinary magical energy.

“Space is blocked…no wonder the ‘window’ can’t be found,” Yuuto murmured. He walked to the vines, stretched out his hand, the golden light of the spell shimmering at his fingertips, and gently touched the rock wall behind the vines.

It felt cold and hard to the touch. But with Feng Hou Qi Men's ultimate control over spatial orientation, he could clearly "touch" that invisible spatial barrier, like a tough film covering the real entrance.

“Kan character, water and marsh, erosion”.

A flash of blue light appeared in his palm; it wasn't an aggressive stream of water, but rather highly condensed, cursed water vapor with strong penetrating and decomposing properties.

The moisture, as if it possessed a life of its own, precisely adhered to that spatial barrier, silently eroding and dissolving the magical structure that constituted the barrier.

This is not a brute-force solution, but rather a clever "dissolution" achieved by utilizing the mutual restraint of the five elements (and the subtle manipulation of energy flow by Feng Hou Qi Men Dun Jia).

A faint, almost imperceptible sound, like ice cracking, filled the air. The rock wall behind the vines rippled and twisted like water, slowly revealing a dark, two-meter-high opening. A more intense aura, a mixture of earthy, stale blood, and chilling resentment, surged forth from it as if it were a tangible substance.