The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2342: Nightmare of the Evil God (part 2)

"Do not speak, and refrain from looking around lest we disturb the Evil Objects," True Man Situ instructed in a hushed tone.

All the assembled Divine Thought Cultivators acknowledged his words with nods.

Taking a deep breath and centering his mind, True Man Situ followed the subtle thread of connection between mother and child. Focusing intently, he continued his advance into the deepest parts of the nightmare.

This Great Wilderness, this Endless Abyss, the very nightmare of the Evil God, was an environment of strange perils and unfathomable mysteries.

True Man Situ possessed no knowledge of what lay hidden within this nightmare, nor what manner of Evil Spirits or demons lurked in its shadows. Consequently, he harbored no desire, nor dared to, instigate any unnecessary complications. His sole aim was to reach the Evil God's origin swiftly and eradicate the ultimate source of all this chaos.

For now, discretion was the better part of valor.

However, it was evident that fate did not intend for things to proceed so smoothly.

The Evil God's nightmare was an inherently malevolent domain, teeming with Evil Spirits and their degenerate offspring.

Every element, from the blades of grass to the ancient trees, was infected with unknown "corrupted substances," and the very soil underfoot could be the decaying flesh of forgotten beings.

The weeds sprouting by the wayside could well be writhing worms.

Beneath the peeling bark of a tree, one might find agonizingly exposed bones.

Even the water that dripped from the sky might be the noxious saliva of some lurking Spirit...

These were but a fraction of the myriad dangers present.

A cultivator's Divine Thought, navigating the putrid currents of this accursed landscape, could barely maintain its defense. It demanded unwavering focus for extended durations, leaving no room for even a sliver of inattention. A single lapse in concentration risked polluting the Primordial Spirit, leaving behind insidious, lingering trouble.

Fortunately, the protective aura of the Seven Stars Formation managed to dissipate the majority of the pervasive Evil Qi.

The Divine Thought Cultivators present were individuals of considerable skill and seasoned experience, possessing formidable willpower. They maintained vigilant watch over one another, effectively neutralizing the bulk of incoming threats.

Pressing onward, they entered a desolate, withered forest where the dark energy intensified, carrying a palpable aura of ferocity.

True Man Situ halted, his brow furrowed in concentration. He soon directed his gaze toward the Feathered Immortal beside him, a figure who appeared studious and held a Bagua Plate.

This "scholar" studied the Bagua Plate intently, executing a complex hand seal. After a brief pause, his eyes sharpened, and he pointed toward a substantial tree situated about three zhang to their right.

From within the ranks of cultivators, a Taoist priest immediately joined his fingers together. Wielding a Peach Wood Sword, imbued with potent anti-evil energies, he lunged toward the marked tree.

The Peach Wood Sword struck the tree with a single, decisive thrust.

A mournful howl erupted from the tree as its bark peeled away, revealing not wood, but the mottled scales of a serpent. Venomous ichor oozed forth, indicative of a deadly, poisonous essence.

Amidst its wails, the tree twisted, its form contorting into that of a colossal serpent. Atop its serpentine body, a gigantic human face materialized.

This was no mere tree, but a horrifying, human-faced giant python in disguise.

Revealing its true form, the human-faced giant python unleashed a ferocious assault upon the Divine Thought Cultivators. Following a brutal engagement, it was subdued by a towering Feathered man, adorned with intricate runic patterns, who exerted his Divine Thought force. Subsequently, a Taoist summoned his summoned sword and severed its head.

The Heaven Void Ancestor of the Little Spirit Sect then employed his Burning Fire Skill, reducing the monstrous entity to ashes.

The power of Divine Thought Slaughter was truly remarkable, annihilating evil and spirits, yet the perils remained unending.

It became clear that many Evil Spirits could not be accurately assessed by their appearance or designated grade to determine their true danger.

Therefore, even those possessing formidable divine thoughts dared not exercise complacency. Any Evil Spirit encountered, irrespective of its perceived strength, demanded complete and utter eradication.

Vigilance could never be overstated.

Having successfully vanquished the human-faced giant python, True Man Situ extended a finger, observing the residual flow of Qi. Confirming that its malevolent power was thoroughly extinguished and the entity truly annihilated, he finally exhaled in relief.

Yet, a simultaneous somberness settled upon his features.

"From this point onward, we must exercise even greater caution."

The appearance of such a significant Evil Spirit signaled that the path ahead would only grow more arduous.

As True Man Situ had anticipated, the density of Evil Spirits intensified further along their route, each one radiating a potent, aggressive energy.

These malevolent entities possessed the terrifying ability to "devour" humans, driven by potent and insidious desires that fueled their relentless attacks.

Fortuitously, among their company was the scholarly-looking Feathered Primordial Spirit. Hailing from a distinguished aristocratic lineage, he possessed profound mastery of the Heavenly Mechanism Skill. He could manifest the Life and Spirit Cultivation Magic Treasure known as the Eight Diagrams Exorcism Plate, a potent artifact capable of foretelling fortunes and averting disasters.

Whenever Evil Spirits lay in ambush, or monstrous disguises concealed their presence, the Eight Diagrams Exorcism Plate would agitate. This alerted the scholar, enabling him to discern truth from falsehood, accurately pinpoint the location of Evil Demons, and guide the group, transforming imminent peril into eventual safety.

To fail in discerning these treacherous entities would inevitably lead to a devastating ambush.

Conversely, successfully identifying them allowed for a decisive, preemptive strike.

In this constant ebb and flow between offense and defense, the disparity in effectiveness was immense.

Even if a dozen or two Evil Spirits and monsters were eliminated, it had no significant impact on the overarching power of the Evil God.

Still, any loss among the Divine Thought Cultivators would prove to be a devastating blow, significantly impacting the mission's success or failure, and even jeopardizing everyone's very survival.

Consequently, the contingent pushed forward with extreme caution into a region teeming with Evil Spirits, remaining on edge as they advanced one deliberate step at a time.

Following several more encounters along their path, during which numerous ferocious Evil Spirits were annihilated, the landscape before them shifted, unveiling a parched and desolate forest.

Suspended above this withered woodland were countless, densely packed objects.

True Man Situ craned his neck to look up, his heart tightening with alarm, and quickly commanded:

"Do not look!"

The group felt a sense of bewilderment but followed True Man Situ's directive, quickly diverting their eyes away from the desiccated forest.

"Do not look, do not listen, proceed to the left and keep moving forward without glancing back."

Heeding True Man Situ's instructions, the party lowered their heads, their gazes fixed solely on the ground, deliberately ignoring any sounds and continuing along the leftward path, giving the dry forest a wide berth.

Bringing up the rear of the procession was the wandering Taoist.

With his eyes downcast, he continued his steady pace when suddenly, a coarse, rasping voice whispered directly into his ear:

"Look at me..."

"Look at me..."

...

The Taoist, his curiosity piqued, felt an inherent urge to turn and identify the source of the voice.

However, his own reasoned mind served as a stark reminder not to fall prey to this insidious trap laid by the Evil Spirit.

Thus, he quelled his wandering thoughts, resolutely focusing his attention solely on the earth beneath his feet.

Yet, as he concentrated on the ground, it seemed to swim and blur, and an even clearer voice resounded in his ear: