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

Everyone held their breath, and they saw Chen Dazhu's originally ashen and ferocious face relax at a speed visible to the naked eye under the golden light.

His bulging eyes gently closed, his clenched teeth loosened, and his contorted limbs became natural and smooth.

The last vestige of his obsession transformed into tiny specks of light, invisible to mortals, drifting out from his body.

It circled around the courtyard once, seemingly with an invisible attachment, before finally dissipating into the world with reluctance.

The body fell completely still, returning to the peaceful state of an ordinary farmer who had toiled his whole life.

But there was no hope left.

With a flick of his sleeve, Ye Qingfeng brought the ordinary stone, now devoid of spiritual energy, into his hand, where it returned to dust.

He stepped back two paces and bowed respectfully before Chen Dazhu's body.

"Your earthly ties are severed; may you have a safe journey."

The courtyard was silent except for suppressed, but no longer desperate, sobs.

That mournful sound contained both grief and relief.

As the villagers gazed at the peacefully sleeping body, they understood that the heartbreaking obsession and the horrifying anomaly had ultimately vanished with the immortal's wondrous magic, returning to dust.

Ye Qingfeng turned around and his gaze fell on the mother and her two daughters who were embracing and weeping.

The old woman, having lost her son, wept uncontrollably.

The young woman held her innocent yet sorrowful daughter tightly, tears streaming down her face, her uncertainty about the future intertwined with her present grief.

He stepped forward slowly, not looking down at people, but bending down slightly, his voice gentle and clear.

Yet it carried a calming power that soothed the turmoil, clearly reaching their ears.

"The deceased are gone, but the living remain. Do not let grief consume your spirit and weaken your vitality. Firewood is ready, the house is still standing, and home is where the heart finds peace. Accept the loss, cherish those around you, and live each day to the fullest."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Immortal Master..." The old woman trembled as she tried to kneel, but Ye Qingfeng gently supported her with his hand.

The young woman hugged her daughter tightly, nodding with tears in her eyes: "I will always remember your teachings, Immortal Master."

After comforting the most grieving bereaved family members, the doubts that Ye Qingfeng had glimpsed earlier did not dissipate.

The root cause of Chen Dazhu's transformation was indeed the corpse transformation triggered by his own obsession.

But where would an ordinary farmer get such a pure and intense "initiator" that could erode the soul in a short time and leave only obsession?

The old woman tearfully recounted her "invitation from a friend," and upon her return, her "pale complexion," "incoherent speech," and "restless state of mind"... these are just fragments.

This points to a clear conclusion: the root of the problem lies not in the village, but in his experience away from home.

To cut weeds, you must remove them by the roots.

Solving a temporary crisis is merely treating the symptoms.

If the evil source lurking outside is not eliminated, today there is Chen Dazhu, and tomorrow there may be Zhang, Wang, Li, and Zhao.

Moreover, those who cultivate themselves value clear and open minds; to see hidden dangers and not investigate them is not the way of the world.

Although he wasn't a traditional cultivator, he still possessed some kindness.

Moreover, he now needs to perform more miracles, spread the word, and let more people know about him.

Having made up his mind, he spoke again with a calm expression, this time addressing the older woman whose emotions were somewhat more stable.

"Old man, I have another question to ask you, concerning the source of Dazhu's current misfortune, and whether it is possible to prevent others from suffering the same fate."

These words immediately sombered the atmosphere in the courtyard.

The village chief, clan elders, and even the surrounding villagers were all awakened. Yes, how could Chen Dazhu, who was perfectly fine, have become like this?

Could it be that some external evil is at work?

The old woman wiped away her tears and nodded repeatedly: "Please ask, Immortal Master, this old woman will tell you whatever she knows."

"Don't rush, think it over slowly." Ye Qingfeng's fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly, and a trace of calming and soothing energy quietly swept over him, helping him to focus.

"Before Dazhu went out, did he mention where he was going? Who did he go with? After returning, did he say anything special, or bring back anything special?"

Through the old woman's intermittent narration, supplemented by others, the clues gradually became clear.

Wu Dehai, a friend he met while working at the docks in his early years, invited him to go to "Wild Boar Forest," a hundred miles to the south, to see what new business was going on.

Upon his return, he appeared dejected, and his words revealed that "that place was a bit eerie" and "I couldn't understand it."

His body was covered in "dark red mud" and smelled of blood; then he became disoriented and underwent a rapid transformation...

Wild Boar Forest. Wu Dehai. Dark red soil.

These words strung together in Ye Qingfeng's mind, sketching a vague yet ominous picture.

That's definitely not a legitimate business; it's more likely a sinister trap targeting ordinary people.

Chen Dazhu may just be one of those unfortunate individuals who stepped into this situation.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the villagers who looked worried and fearful, finally landing on the village chief's face. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.

"The root of Chen Dazhu's calamity may lie in the Wild Boar Forest. This is not a natural disaster, but rather a man-made calamity or the work of evil spirits."

Although the immediate danger has been averted, the root of the problem remains, like a lurking miasma. I fear that in the future, some villagers may still be led astray and meet with misfortune.

Upon hearing this, the village chief and several clan elders' expressions changed drastically. They thought the matter was settled, but they never expected there to be such hidden worries behind it.

"I beg the immortal to have mercy and show me the way!" The village chief bowed deeply, his voice trembling.

Ye Qingfeng gestured to help him up, saying, "Since I am involved in this matter, I should see it through to the end. We need to go to the Wild Boar Forest to find out the truth, and if possible, we should try to eradicate this scourge."

At that moment, several young villagers familiar with the mountain roads volunteered to be guides.

Ye Qingfeng politely declined, saying that he could arrive in less than half a day by using his Shrinking Earth Technique.

However, it would be difficult to carry out the task if you were accompanied by someone.

Seeing that Ye Qingfeng's attitude was quite firm, they didn't dare to say anything more.

"Master, when will you set off?" the village chief asked cautiously.

Ye Qingfeng looked at the sky. Although the sun was already setting in the west, there was still some time before dusk.

After a moment's thought, his vigilance against potential dangers and his desire to uncover the truth made him unwilling to delay any longer.

The thought has been formed; there's no time to lose.

"Leave now." His tone was calm, yet resolute.

Everyone was stunned, not expecting the Immortal Master to be so decisive.

The village chief quickly said, "The immortal has just worked hard performing his magic. Why not rest for the night and continue tomorrow? The village can prepare some simple food and wine to express our gratitude..."

"No need." Ye Qingfeng waved his hand, his expression gentle yet firm.

"Time may be of the essence, and the sooner we find out, the sooner we can avert disaster. If possible, please prepare some dry food and water."

Seeing that he was determined, no one dared to persuade him any further.

The old woman and her daughter expressed their gratitude profusely, and the villagers quickly made arrangements, preparing a package of durable flatbread, several boiled eggs, and a bamboo tube of water.

Ye Qingfeng took the dry rations and put them into his sleeve.

Just as he was about to take a step, the village chief stepped forward again, bowed deeply, his face full of gratitude and sincerity.

"Immortal, your kindness is beyond repayment. May I ask your name, Immortal?"

We, being of humble origin, also wish to erect a longevity tablet for the immortal, praying day and night for his well-being, to express our sincere desires, and to wish him a smooth path on his path to immortality and a long and blessed life.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard looked over expectantly.

Erecting a memorial tablet for one's benefactor is the simplest and most sincere way to express gratitude in this rural area.

Ye Qingfeng paused slightly and turned to look at the village chief and the villagers.

After a moment's hesitation, as if deep in thought, he finally spoke:

"I am a humble Taoist priest from Biyou Palace in the East Sea. As a wandering traveler, I have no need for memorial tablets or offerings. Your good intentions and righteous conduct are the best blessings you can receive. Please remember this."

He then bowed deeply to the village chief and the villagers, saying, "Take care, everyone, and look after the Chen family's remains. This humble Taoist is departing."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to walk out of the village.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over him, making his gray-blue Taoist robe appear even more crisp and otherworldly in the light and shadow.

As Ye Qingfeng took his next step, his figure suddenly disappeared.

The next moment, someone discovered that it had appeared on a hillside a hundred feet away.

"He's truly a living god..."

"May the immortal achieve swift success and eradicate that harmful root of evil..."

The whispered prayers drifted away on the wind.

Ye Qingfeng's figure quickly disappeared around the bend in the mountain road leading south.

This time, his cultivation has become even more profound.