Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

Shen Zhen went straight for the gaunt old man.

Upon seeing this, the old man screamed and pulled out a handful of powder from his sleeve, sprinkling it at Shen Zhen.

The powder had a pungent odor, clearly indicating it was some kind of drug.

Shen Zhen was prepared. With a shake of his finger, he dispersed the powder and moved like lightning, arriving in front of the old man and grabbing his wrist.

"Speak! Who are you? What evil thing is being boiled in this vat? Who is the guide?" Shen Zhen shouted sternly.

A fanatical and eerie smile appeared on the old man's withered face as he hissed:

"The wine of forgetfulness...drink it and you'll live forever...you fools who cling to these false rules...you'll all drown in your misery..."

Before he could finish speaking, his throat tightened.

Shen Zhen knew something was wrong and tried to pry open his chin, but it was too late.

The old man's body trembled, a trickle of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his eyes quickly dimmed, and he fell silent instantly.

"Damn it!" Shen Zhen let go.

The body collapsed to the ground, revealing a jade pendant at the waist. The pattern on it was indeed very similar to the totem of the western barbarian tribes that the father had described.

He quickly and discreetly put it away, then turned to look at the group of controlled employees and the intoxicated wealthy merchants and officials, his eyes narrowing:

"Chen Xi, Xue Jian, help me dispel the evil power within them!"

The three people's mental powers merged instantly, and a powerful and righteous force arose spontaneously, like an invisible blazing sun rising.

The force swept through the crowd.

Those touched were instantly struck as if by lightning, their bodies trembling violently. Wisps of dark red gas were forced out from their eyes, ears, noses, and mouths, clashing with the purifying power and emitting a slight hissing sound.

At the same time, Zhao Huaijin and the others took the opportunity to act and captured the two heretical spirit mediums together.

At this moment, several deeply lost members suddenly roared and fought back, clearly the evil force was still resisting.

"Hold them down!"

Shen Zhen shouted, and his mental power transformed into invisible chains, binding those people.

Chen Xi and Qi Xuejian saw the light at their fingertips surge, drawing out the evil power.

Finally, the effects of the dark red liquid were completely eliminated.

Those ordinary workers who had been controlled and the wealthy merchants and officials who had been indulging in the illusion seemed to awaken from a dream, and the fanaticism and bewilderment in their eyes finally faded away.

"vomit--"

"My head...it hurts so much!"

"Where am I? What... what happened to me?"

Painful groans, violent coughing, and vomiting filled the air.

The crowd collapsed to the ground, their eyes filled with confusion and fear.

Some people turned pale with fright upon discovering the bizarre environment they were in; others were ashamed to the point of wanting to disappear when they recalled fragments of their crazy behavior.

The most vehement reactions came from the well-dressed wealthy merchants and officials.

A fat merchant looked at his stained brocade robe, and remembering his earlier disgraceful gesticulation, he beat his chest and stamped his feet in frustration.

"This is an insult to civility! A complete disgrace!"

"How could I have touched such filthy stuff!" he then hissed at his equally disheveled attendant beside him.

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Quickly, bring me a spare coat! If those old fogies in the Chamber of Commerce find out, where will I put my face?"

Another man, who appeared to be a minor official, was ashen-faced and muttered:

"It's over... If this gets out, my job will be ruined..." The fear far outweighed the physical discomfort.

A young official, probably experiencing such a bizarre event for the first time, collapsed to the ground, trembling, repeatedly muttering:

"This is bizarre...this is really bizarre..."

Another wealthy merchant, looking at the still bubbling vat, leaned against the wall and started vomiting again, cursing as he did so:

"What forget-me-not wine? I think it's a soul-stealing wine!"

Everyone at that winery deserves to be torn to pieces!

There was also a merchant with a mustache, his eyes darting around, a hint of resentment in his gaze as he looked at Shen Zhen. If it weren't for these spirit mediums meddling, he could have continued to enjoy that carefree pleasure.

Shen Zhen saw all of this, but felt little pity.

He slowly walked to the front of the crowd, his voice, imbued with spiritual power, clearly reaching everyone's ears, exuding authority without anger:

"quiet!"

Everyone subconsciously looked up at the extraordinary young man.

"You were bewitched by the evil spirit with the wine of forgetfulness, though it was not your intention, but you indulged in pleasure and disregarded propriety, so you deserve to be taught a lesson."

Shen Zhen's gaze swept over everyone, and he sternly warned:

"Today's matter is the work of the Purification Division to eliminate the lair of evil spirits."

You have been fortunate enough to escape with your lives; you should know the importance of reverence and stay away from the unknown in the future, maintaining your integrity! If you fall into evil ways again, you may not be so lucky next time!

He paused, his gaze falling on the businessman with the mustache, his tone becoming more serious:

"Especially some people, don't think that you can get away with it by hiding it."

We will not pursue this matter today, but the eyes of the temple can see all the remnants of evil.

The businessman with the mustache shuddered, instinctively withdrew his hand, and turned pale.

Shen Zhen then looked at the wealthy merchants and officials whose faces were ashen:

"As local gentry and officials, you should have set an example for others, but you have fallen into evil ways because of your momentary pleasure."

If there are any further involvement in the future, both crimes will be punished concurrently!

"Leave this place immediately! If anyone dares to utter a single word of what you have seen and heard today, causing panic, or if anyone secretly investigates the source of this wine, the temple will not let them off lightly!"

These words combined kindness and severity, both pointing out the advantages and disadvantages and subtly warning the speaker.

"No! No!"

The wealthy merchants and officials hurriedly nodded and bowed, and no one dared to say another word.

The group scrambled out, helping each other along. The merchant with the mustache lagged behind, secretly dipping the corner of his clothes into the red liquid in the vat before hastily leaving.

Once all the bystanders had left, the underground space became empty, leaving only the two heretical spirit mediums who had been subdued and the members of Shen Zhen's team.

Zhao Huaijin and Li Qingyan brought the two men to Shen Zhen.

Both men appeared to be around thirty years old. One had a fierce expression and a scar on his forehead, while the other was thin.

Even after being captured, the two men held their heads high, displaying an attitude of fearlessness in the face of death.

"Speak," Shen Zhen said coldly.

"Are you followers of the Guide? You brew this evil wine to manipulate people's hearts and expand your power?"

"Pah!" one of the heretics, whose expression was slightly fierce, spat.

"You maggots who cling to a false order! Do you even deserve to mention the Guide?"

This wine of forgetfulness is a blessing! A blessing that frees people from suffering!

Once the adults' grand plan is complete, you will all have to kneel on the ground and repent!

The gaunt heretic's eyes flickered, and his lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something, but under the fierce gaze of his companion, he swallowed his words back.

Seeing this, Zhao Huaijin snorted coldly:

"Stubborn to the end? In the dungeon of the Pure Evil Division, there are plenty of ways to let you know what it feels like to be blessed."

"A branding iron or a water dungeon? Which would you like to try first?"

The gaunt heretic trembled, his face turning deathly pale. He had clearly heard of the infamous nature of these punishments; his teeth chattered.

"I...I..."

Shen Zhen caught this hint of fear, softened her tone, and added a touch of seduction:

"Your companions risk their lives for the so-called blessing, but you are different."

The fear in your eyes means you haven't completely gone mad yet.

Tell me what you know, and I can guarantee your life, and even let you leave this heresy and live a normal life.

"Useless trash! Spineless coward!" the vicious heretic cursed, raising his foot to kick the skinny heretic in the knee.

"The guide gave you a chance to transcend, yet you dare to cling to life and fear death?"

Such a coward should be soaked in the wine of forgetfulness until he turns to dust, never to be reincarnated!

"Transcendence?" Li Qingyan scoffed.

"Relying on this insane concoction? I think you'd be better off reincarnating sooner."

The gaunt heretic, staggered by the kick and with Zhao Huaijin's sword pressed against his throat, finally broke down completely, blurting out:

"I...I don't know who the guide is either..."

But he... he seems to be planning something big, something related to... something related to the natural disaster four years ago..."

The words "four years ago" exploded in Shen Zhen's mind like a thunderclap!

He instantly thought of his mother, Lin Wanru, who sacrificed herself four years ago while suppressing a natural disaster in a neighboring county.

"What happened four years ago?! What role did the guide play in it?!"

Shen Zhen suddenly took a step forward, his tone urgent, his mental energy fluctuating slightly due to the emotional turmoil, and even a faint gray-black tinge appeared on his fingertips.

At that very moment—

The shadows of the underground space were suddenly torn apart!

A dark figure darted out, moving at incredible speed, and everyone felt a gust of wind rushing towards them.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Two sharp whistling sounds pierced the air as they arrived!