Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

At this moment, the outer gate of Laoshan Mountain was already in an uproar due to the unusual activity at the Lingcao Garden.

Someone had spread the news that evil spirits had appeared in the Spirit Herb Garden and that it was filled with foul air. Within half an hour, the news had spread like wildfire among the outer disciples. Everyone was talking about it, saying that an ancient forbidden area was hidden in the outer mountains. Now that the seal had been broken, evil creatures were about to be released. For a time, people were in a state of panic. Many disciples hid in their residences and dared not go out. Even their daily cultivation and duty were disrupted.

Outside the Hall of Affairs, a noisy crowd gathered. A burly figure pushed through the throng, striding forward with extreme anxiety. It was Chen Dagang, who was supposed to be on duty at the outer gate. Upon hearing of the evil spirits causing trouble in the Spirit Herb Garden and learning that Lin Yan and his group had rushed to a dangerous place and that True Person Danxuan had left the gate to seek help, he immediately dropped what he was doing and ran towards the Spirit Herb Garden in pursuit.

After Lin Yan and the other two took their leave, True Person Danxuan knew that the damage to the seal of the Netherworld Forbidden Domain was of great importance, and the outer sect was powerless to deal with it alone. He immediately set off for the inner sect. Before leaving, he foresaw that there might be an anomaly in the forbidden area, so he specially sent a message to his senior brother, True Person Qingxuan, requesting him to come to the outer sect first to oversee and provide assistance. Only then did he leave in a hurry.

At this moment, deep within the Shadow Bamboo Forest, before the fissure in the ground that connects to the Nether Lock Forbidden Domain, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost stagnant.

As Lin Yan, Yun Xi, Yi Azhu, and Ye Qing reached the edge of the crevice, the protective jade talisman suspended in mid-air suddenly became chaotic with its azure light, trembling violently. Its originally gentle spiritual energy abruptly turned agitated, frantically issuing warnings. The golden-crowned snow sparrow circling above cried out incessantly, its small body retreating repeatedly, its dark eyes filled with fear as it stared intently at the dark, deep crevice.

"The aura at the forbidden gate is strange; something bad is about to happen!" Lin Yan's face darkened, and he gripped the jade talisman tightly in his palm. He felt a turbid aura, far colder and more violent than that of the Bone-Eating Nether Lizard, surging out from the crack. The ancient tremors that had been dormant underground now roared like drums, as if a terrifying being was climbing up the crack.

The azure light of the protective jade talisman dimmed rapidly, and the protective barrier trembled slightly, unable to suppress the leaking turbid air. The withered trees and decaying grass around the fissure instantly turned to ashes, and the soil and rocks were eroded by the turbid air, emitting a hissing sound. The originally narrow fissure was slowly expanding, and the ancient restriction patterns on the edge were breaking inch by inch, on the verge of completely collapsing.

"The forbidden gate is expanding, and the evil spirit is about to emerge! True Master Danxuan is still in the inner sect and has not yet returned, so we can only take precautions ourselves!" Yunxi instantly drew her sword, and a cold sword intent burst forth from her body, her spiritual power circulating to its limit.

Ye Qing gripped the ancient wooden sword horizontally, its blade enveloped in wood-based spiritual energy, his expression solemn: "This malevolent energy far surpasses that of ordinary demons. Everyone must stick together and not scatter!"

Yi Azhu hugged the Warm Soul Spirit Pearl tightly, her Water Spirit Body operating at full power, pure water vapor enveloping her body. Although her face was pale, she still stood steadily beside her companion, showing no intention of retreating.

Just then, a rough and urgent shout pierced through the bamboo forest, growing louder as it approached: "Brother Lin! Miss Yunxi! Sister Azhu! I'm here!"

Everyone turned to look, and Chen Dagang, panting heavily, rushed forward, sweat rolling down his forehead and clothes covered in dust. He caught sight of the swirling, dark gas rising from the crack in the ground, and without a word, his towering frame stood before Yi Azhu, his voice booming, "I can't bear to leave you all. Even if it costs me my strength, I will protect you!"

Lin Yan felt a warmth in his heart. With the team gathered together, his confidence surged. He immediately ordered in a deep voice, "Brother Da Gang, protect A Zhu. Don't confront the turbid energy head-on! I'll lead the way, with Yun Xi and Ye Qing providing support from both sides!"

Everyone responded in unison, each focusing their attention on defense. But before they could set up their defenses, a piercing scraping sound of metal scraping against stone came from the depths of the crevice. Immediately afterward, two gaunt, dark figures burst forth from the fissure, exuding a terrifying aura!

This evil creature, named Bone-Eroding Shadow, was over ten feet tall, with a shriveled body like withered bones. It was shrouded in thick, black, and malevolent energy. Its limbs were as thin as withered branches, yet they were covered with sharp claws that glowed with a ghostly green and poisonous light. Its head had no eyes or nose, only a gaping wound filled with fine, sharp teeth. A putrid stench emanated from it, and wherever it passed, the air became cold and biting, and all life was extinguished. It was several times more ferocious than the previous Bone-Eroding Shadow Lizard.

As soon as the Bone-Eroding Evil Shadow appeared, its convenient claws swept across, carrying a monstrous aura, and rushed straight towards the group.

"Watch out!" Lin Yan hurriedly activated the protective jade talisman, and the blue light surged, forcefully blocking the evil shadow's sharp claws. However, the immense force struck, and his body retreated repeatedly, his palms going numb.

Yunxi's sword flashed, its sharp sword energy slashing towards the evil shadow's torso, but leaving only a shallow mark. The turbid energy instantly healed the wound. Ye Qing's wooden sword pierced the evil shadow's joint, the wood spirit energy restraining the turbid evil, finally managing to restrain one. Chen Dagang, relying on his strong physique, withstood the attack of the other evil shadow. His arm was swept by the turbid energy, stinging painfully, but he did not retreat an inch, firmly protecting Yi Azhu.

Yi Azhu also kept urging the water spirit energy, turning it into fine needles to harass the evil shadow. However, the bone-corroding evil shadow was formed from the turbid energy of the forbidden area, and was almost immortal. The group gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, and the green light of the guardian jade talisman became increasingly dim, and the situation was full of danger.

A malevolent shadow seized an opening, its sharp claws carrying a thick, foul aura, and struck straight at Lin Yan's face, leaving him no way to avoid it!

At the critical moment, a clear and majestic Daoist voice pierced the air, like thunder cleansing away the turbid air: "You beast, how dare you harm people!"

Golden light poured down from the sky, like the blazing sun, instantly dissipating most of the surrounding turbid air. A figure in a black Taoist robe, riding on auspicious clouds and holding a whisk, descended from the sky, his body radiating abundant spiritual energy; it was none other than the Pure Mystery Immortal.

He lightly waved his whisk, and two streams of pure golden Dao power shot out, striking the two bone-corroding evil shadows. The evil shadows let out a shrill scream, their turbid energy rapidly dissolving, their bodies instantly withering and collapsing into ashes, the crisis resolved in an instant.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Lin Yan immediately bowed and greeted, "Junior Lin Yan greets True Person Qingxuan!"

The Taoist priest before them was none other than Qingxuan Zhenren, whom Lin Yan had risked his life to save in the secret realm of Haicheng years ago.

Master Qingxuan landed beside the crevice in the ground, looking at Lin Yan with gentle eyes, full of praise: "Young friend, it's been three months since we last met. I didn't expect you to have entered Laoshan to cultivate, and you are still so calm and decisive, living up to the kindness of saving me back then."

He made a hand seal with his fingertips, and a powerful force of Dao energy entered the crack in the ground, temporarily stabilizing the expanding forbidden gate. Then he slowly spoke: "Junior Brother Danxuan has already gone to the inner sect to seek help. After noticing the surge of turbid energy in the outer sect, he immediately sent a message to me, asking me to rush to his aid first. He will soon return with the sect's restriction method."

Lin Yan recounted in detail how he discovered the forbidden area's fissure and slew the Bone-Eating Nether Lizard. Qingxuan Zhenren gazed at the deep crevice with a solemn expression: "This is the ancient Nether Lock Forbidden Domain. The seal has been broken for a long time. The Bone-Eating Evil Shadow is just a minor problem. There are even more ferocious creatures lurking within the domain. We must not approach it rashly again."

After saying that, he waved a gentle spiritual energy, enveloping everyone and sending them to the outer edge of the bamboo forest: "I will guard this place. Once Junior Brother Danxuan returns, I will begin to seal the forbidden gate. You should quickly return to the outer sect and wait patiently. This time, protecting the mountain and blocking evil has been a great achievement, and the sect will definitely reward you."

Lin Yan and his group stood outside the bamboo forest, looking at the forbidden gate that Qingxuan Zhenren had firmly held in place, all of them still feeling lingering fear.

Chen Dagang rubbed his numb shoulder and grinned, "Thanks to the timely arrival of the real person, we're finally safe!"

Yunxi sheathed her sword, a hint of seriousness still lingering in her eyes: "The hidden dangers in the forbidden area have not been eliminated, and there may be further turmoil to come."

Lin Yan gazed at the deep bamboo forest, nodded silently, and knew that the crisis in the Nether Locked Forbidden Domain had only just begun to unfold.