Let's see how many more villages he can ruin like this.“He was very cautious, not coming into his own core territory. If he failed, his reputation there would collapse, and he'd still need the locals...A pervasive chill, like an impenetrable curtain, descended suddenly from the heavens.

The entire laboratory was shrouded in a silent, frigid stillness. Little had changed around me, yet my heart pounded as if seized by an unseen hand—

What's going on

In the seemingly chaotic but actually well-organized laboratory, besides the slightly flickering computer screen in front of me, there was only a cold and silent white light.

Each needlefall echoes, and every drop of water freezes.

>

The Supreme Star of Tai Shang, ever adapting to change.

Exorcise evil spirits and bind demons, protect life and body.

I whispered a silent mantra of peace, drawing out an exorcism talisman.

Just now, as I touched the mouse, it seemed to trigger some kind of mechanism.

"...Three souls eternal, the spirit never lost." After reciting the Silent Heart Mantra, I quickly slapped the talisman onto the mouse, recoiling as if it were hot.

The paper sticker on the mouse slightly moved, but my aura remained unchanged, still cold and dull.

It seems the way to break this curse isn't here.

I looked up and around, half cold light, half gray.

Chen Ru didn't know where she was She should be here somewhere, right

"Chen Ru" I whispered, turning to walk towards the small room where I had just been.

I just saw some of Chen Ru's old study supplies in this small room. She must live here occasionally.

How does a young girl get used to being in a graveyard, beside a funeral parlor, sometimes even with a broken corpse just a wall away

I pushed open the door to the small room, which felt utterly insecure, its lock a mere formality.

The furnishings inside remained unchanged. I didn't dare go in, afraid of being inexplicably locked inside. Standing at the door, I shone my phone light around and noticed that there seemed to be something different on the small table.

Just now there were a few books here, and it seemed like there was also a round thermos-like object. Now it's gone.

Am I mistaken

Kālā... A soft sound, which sent shivers down my spine.

Where is this coming from

I suddenly turned my head and looked into the darkness.

The entire lab was arranged in a "retreat" shape, with two rows of computer instruments in the middle and various functional rooms surrounding it. The two rows of computer instruments in the middle were like control panels.

Console… there should be switches for all the areas, right

I returned to the control room. Next to Chen Ru's open computer, I saw a small cubicle resembling a manager's workstation. On the desk were several rows of fixed power switches with numbers pasted below them.

Can you open it What do these red, yellow and green mean

I tried pressing a switch in the furthest corner — thinking that something so out of the way couldn't be important.

Suddenly, a light flickered at the end of a small passage behind me.

I looked back—

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

My goodness, what's in that room at the end! There's a blurry shadow behind the glass door! It looks like it's nailed to the door!

To my surprise, I reacted quickly - could it be that Chen Ru was possessed!

"Chen Ru!" I ran toward that door, clutching the Purple Cloud Ruyi and forming the Thunder Seal—if there were any demons or ghosts behind that door, I'd strike first and ask questions later!

Anyway, since there are so many people outside this method, even if I figured it out, I would be discovered soon. How long can I hold on for

The door seemed like the frosted glass door of a bathroom, and the light inside was turned on by me. The light projected out, and a figure hung behind the door like a gecko!

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Don't be afraid. At this point, if I don't dare to touch and open this door, I'm afraid I won't have the courage to look at other places anymore.

Demons and ghosts, but they are all spirits born from the cycle of yin and yang. As a disciple of the Taishang Xuanmen, I simply lack cultivation and have no fear in advancing forward.

Well… Having said all that, I actually don't dare to open it.

But if Chen has been possessed, only I can save her now. I take out the Five Emperor coins and slip them between my fingers, then use a hand gesture to rap on the glass door.

At your fingertips, a chill, this thin door, like a thick block of ice.

Knock knock...

I knocked three times, and twisted the doorknob.

In Feng Shui, a door is not just a building structure but an important focal point, location, and method.

The fact that the door can be opened means this situation is not yet a dead end or a crisis.

Even though I was mentally prepared, the scene before me was still extremely horrifying!

Behind the door, Chen Ru was disheveled, her hands spread out as if bound to a cross. Her head hung low, her face hidden from view, only the crimson stain on her clothing revealing the bloodshed.

"The Big Dipper, Divine Spirit Ruling the Heavens. The Heavenly Gang Great Saint, Radiance Ten Thousandfold. Above Heaven Below Earth, Severing the Source of Evil—"

I thought she was bound by evil spirits, chanting spells while holding the Purple Cloud Ruyi to exorcise demons.

But as I was chanting, halfway through my incantation, I saw a bluish smoke rising from behind her.

Little by little, wisp by wisp, like flickering embers rising in the lonely night.

I thought it was a ghost or demon, but gradually I saw the truth.

A few strokes of blue smoke outline a familiar shape.

A slender figure floating in mid-air, with a tall, pointed hat and wide, flowing sleeves. Two bone-thin hands extended from the sleeves, opened behind Chen Ruo, as if manipulating a puppet, lifting Chen Ruo "up" behind the door.

Only after a moment of silence did I react, realizing this must be the lingering remnant of Bai WuChang's ghostly apparition that had been hovering behind Chen Ru previously.

He shouldn't hurt me or Chen Ruo.

"Seven Lords" I whispered tentatively.

The outline sketched by the faint smoke was unclear, but I distinctly felt Qī Yé's trademark smirk.

Suddenly, the green smoke dissipated. Chen Ruo collapsed like a broken puppet, falling straight towards me!

"Ouch!" I scrambled to catch her, luckily she was also slender and didn't knock me to the ground.

I staggered, clutching Chen Ruo, taking several steps back. I heard the clatter of metal and steadied myself.

A blood-stained utility knife was pushed out halfway, falling from Chen Ru's hand. Her foot also got caught on a round object, which seemed to be a thermos flask.

My back is tingling—Chen Ru, what are you doing

"...Disciple's soul, five viscera of profound darkness... Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise, guard the form..." I muttered as I placed a talisman for calming the soul and solidifying the spirit on Chen Ruo's forehead.

Chen Ruo's body trembled, and I held her, feeling like she had come back to life—her icy hands started to regain warmth.

"Chen Ruo" I whispered in her ear.

"......Uh......Ouch......Ah......Uh!" Chen Ru let out a few hums, then suddenly jumped off my arm, looking at me with fear.

"It's me, it's me!" I was afraid she would be too shocked and scream, so I hurriedly supported her shoulders to calm her down.

To my surprise, Chen Ruo didn't scream and run away in exaggeration. Instead, she widened her eyes and stared at me. After a few seconds of reaction, she seemed inexplicably excited: "I found it! I found it!"

" ... What did you discover"

Please note that I've removed the extra spaces and triple angle brackets from your input. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!areness wouldn't hurt!"I roared, "This is Miao Wang City, the residence of Prince Miao. You have a roof over your heads thanks to Miao Wang's generous help. If anyone dares to seize the city's wealth,...