Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

As dawn broke in the eastern sky, rays of sunlight pierced through layers of clouds, illuminating the vast Laoshan Mountains. Morning mist clung to the peaks like a veil, and the upturned eaves of the Taiqing Hall appeared and disappeared amidst the ethereal atmosphere.

The next morning, the entire sacred mountain was still bathed in peace and tranquility. The stream murmured, the pine breeze rustled, and the occasional chimes of bells and chimes from the temple echoed gently through the sea of ​​clouds. In their caves, the disciples were either meditating or tidying up their belongings. The spiritual energy of the mountain flowed as usual, and the immortal sect was a picture of serene peace.

At the very first quarter of the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), a rapid, piercing light of spiritual energy shot down from the foot of the mountain, transforming into a firefly and striking the jade table in the Taiqing Hall. The light exploded, transforming into a line of seal script characters. These few words caused the faces of the officials in the hall to darken instantly.

"In Wanghai Village, near the sea, all the spirit fish have died, the seawater has turned black, and at night sea monsters roar. The villagers stay indoors and live in constant fear."

Elder Wudao lightly twirled his whisk, his gaze fixed on the distant coastline outside the hall, his brows furrowing slightly: "Wanghai Village is the source of our sect's near-shore spiritual materials, and we have lived in peace for generations. This sudden change is far more than just an ordinary demonic disturbance."

Elder Guanhai closed his eyes for a moment, making hand seals to deduce the situation. After a while, he opened his eyes, his expression becoming increasingly solemn: "I sense that the water veins near the mountain are in disarray, mixed with evil and resentful energy. It seems that a sinister formation is operating in the dark, gradually eroding the foundation of the Laoshan water veins."

Master Yulan spoke softly, her voice tinged with worry: "The water spirit has the deepest connection with the Nine Water Spirit Mansions of our sect. If we allow its pollution to spread, not only will the people of the fishing village suffer, but it may also affect the water spirit energy of the main vein of Laoshan."

Elder Xuanzhen stroked the tassel of his sword at his waist, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "New disciples who have just entered the inner sect need the trials of the mortal world to test their resolve to protect the path. This incident at Wanghai Village is both a mission and a test."

Elder Wudao nodded and immediately issued a decree: "Pass on my decree, ordering Lin Yan, Yun Xi, and Shen Yue to summon twelve new disciples, in groups of five, to take good care of them. They are to immediately descend the mountain to Wanghai Village to investigate the cause of the anomaly."

As soon as the decree was issued, a burst of spiritual light appeared outside the hall.

In less than half an incense stick's time, a group of people had already gathered in the white jade square in front of the Taiqing Hall.

Lin Yan, clad in a deep-sea blue robe, with the Xuan Shui Cave token tied to his waist, his pure water spiritual root resonating subtly with the morning mist of the mountains, stood tall and composed. Yun Xi, in a moon-white robe, carried a dark blue longsword on her back; the morning light shone on the scabbard, highlighting the sharp yet concealed sword intent emanating from her. Shen Yue, in a Taiqing orthodox blue robe, held a transmission jade talisman, his aura heavy and steady, exuding the grandeur of a sect. The twelve accompanying disciples were also fully prepared, each one spirited, looking at their three leading senior brothers and sisters with awe and anticipation.

"The situation in Wanghai Village is unclear. You must act with caution, prioritize the safety of the villagers, and investigate the truth." Elder Wudao stood on the altar and repeatedly instructed, "Remember, do not underestimate the enemy."

"Disciples obey!" The three responded in unison, their voices echoing through the morning mist before the hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yan raised his hand first, condensing a wisp of water-based spiritual energy at his fingertips to support his body; Yun Xi lightly touched the ground with her toes, her longsword hummed softly, and she soared into the air; Shen Yue also circulated his Taiqing spiritual energy and rose with the wind. The twelve disciples followed closely behind, riding the energy into the sky, transforming into a streak of light, and sped towards the distant coastline against the backdrop of the morning glow.

The morning mist rapidly dissipated beside me, and the peaks of Laoshan Mountain gradually receded into the distance, transforming from continuous greenery into a vast expanse of sea and sky. The closer I got to the coast, the stronger the fishy stench in the air became. The originally refreshing sea breeze was now mixed with wisps of chill and putridity, completely incompatible with the pristine atmosphere of Laoshan.

Lin Yan's nose twitched slightly, his pure water spiritual root trembled slightly, and his spiritual energy subconsciously circulated to isolate the cold aura from the outside. He whispered, "This aura is wrong. It's not ordinary sea smell. It's a mixture of resentment and evil poison."

Yunxi drew her sword half an inch from its sheath, its cold light reflecting the morning sun as she swept across the distant sea: "There are unusual fluctuations on the sea surface, as if a huge demonic aura is lurking underwater, and those fluctuations... carry a deliberate guiding intent, unlike a natural demonic threat."

Shen Yue gazed into the distance, his fingers gripping the communication jade talisman, and said in a deep voice, "The location of Wanghai Village is just a hundred miles ahead. That evil aura is spreading from the village in all directions."

As they spoke, everyone's view suddenly opened up.

The once vast and azure nearshore sea had now turned pitch black. The murky water churned, whipping up layers of foul-smelling foam, waves crashing against the rocks with a dull, eerie sound, interspersed with faint, mournful howls that sent chills down one's spine. Along the coastline, the once lush mangrove forests had withered completely, their branches and leaves scorched and blackened, even the bark oozing black sap, exuding an aura of utter death.

Meanwhile, Wanghai Village, located on the coast, was shrouded in a layer of gray-black fog, lifeless and desolate. On the old locust tree at the village entrance, a few withered leaves hung from the branches, trembling in the wind, but not a single bird song could be heard.

"Land, to avoid disturbing the villagers with the movement of your spiritual energy." Shen Yue raised his hand to signal, and everyone together withdrew their spiritual energy and slowly landed on the open ground at the village entrance.

The moment they landed, a thick, putrid stench assaulted their senses, mixed with a chilling, resentful aura that seemed to seep into their very bones. Lin Yan quickly circulated his water-based spiritual energy, forming a pale blue water curtain around his body to purify the invading evil spirits; Yun Xi focused her sword intent on her body, forming an invisible sword aura to resist the evil energy; Shen Yue also used the Taiqing Heart Sutra to protect his heart meridian, his brows furrowed.

At the entrance of the village stands a half-person-high blue stone boundary marker, with the three large characters "Wanghai Village" engraved on it. The marker was originally smooth, but now it is covered with dense black patterns. The patterns are twisted like snakes, exuding a strange cursed aura. It is definitely not the orthodox Laoshan, but rather carries an evil and sinister feeling.

"Is anyone there? We are disciples of Laoshan Mountain, here to investigate the situation and reassure the villagers!" Shen Yue circulated his spiritual energy, his clear voice echoing throughout every corner of the village.

After he finished speaking, no one responded for a long time.

The entire village was eerily quiet, save for the sound of the sea breeze whipping up black waves crashing against the shore, and the occasional eerie cry. Every house had its doors and windows tightly shut, with wooden strips even nailed to the doors, leaving not a single gap, as if something terrifying was lurking inside.

Several overturned bamboo baskets, broken fishing nets, and several pools of blood that had long since turned black and dried were scattered on the street, along with children's toys, exuding an inexplicable sense of panic.

Yunxi walked slowly to a tightly closed door, her fingertips lightly touching the door panel. The sword intent at her fingertips trembled slightly as she whispered, "There is a faint life force inside the door, suppressed by evil energy. They are very afraid."

Lin Yan squatted down, his fingertips lightly touching the soil. The moisture in the soil was contaminated by evil spirits and emitted a putrid stench. He frowned and said, "The underground water veins have also been polluted. I'm afraid the well water and groundwater in the village are no longer drinkable."

Just then, at the entrance of the village, the dilapidated thatched hut's wooden door creaked open slightly.

A pair of bloodshot eyes, filled with fear, peered warily at them through the cracks.

Upon seeing the Taoist robes worn by the crowd, his eyes relaxed slightly, and then a trembling figure emerged from behind the door.

An old village chief with gray hair and a wrinkled face, wearing a coarse cloth garment covered in patches, was hunched over, his legs trembling slightly. He was tightly clutching a cane, the tip of which was wrapped with layers of black rope, the same black pattern as the stone tablet at the village entrance.

The old village chief stared at them for a long time, and after confirming that they were indeed the right people, he suddenly knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, and choked out, "Immortal Master Laoshan...you've finally come! If you hadn't come, our Wanghai Village would have been wiped out!"

Shen Yue quickly stepped forward, helped the old village chief up, and gently comforted him, "Don't be afraid, old man. We are disciples of Laoshan Mountain, here to help. Tell us what's wrong, and we will definitely help you solve it."

The old village chief was helped up, but he was still trembling. He pointed to the dark sea behind him, then to the tightly closed door of his house, and said in a hoarse, broken voice, "Three days ago... the sea suddenly turned black, and all the spirit fish in the sea died belly up. When they were pulled out, they were rotting and stinking... Every night, strange cries came from the sea, and sea monsters climbed ashore and banged on the door. Five young men have already been dragged into the sea by those sea monsters, and not even their bones were left..."

"We dare not go out, dare not touch the seawater, and even the water from the well makes us feel cold and feverish after drinking it... The village ancestral hall glows at midnight, and we can hear women crying... We hide at home, afraid to make a sound, it's too scary..."

The old village chief became more and more agitated as he spoke, almost fainting, his eyes filled with despair.

Yunxi frowned and asked, "Old man, besides the sea monster and the glowing shrine, what else is unusual? Like the markings on the door?"

"Marks? Yes! Yes!" The old village chief nodded vigorously, as if grasping at a lifeline, pointing to the doors of every household, "Ever since the day before the black waves arrived, every door has been covered with black watermarks that can't be wiped off or washed clean... Ever since those marks appeared, the sea monster has come, and the village has become like this..."

Lin Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

The black watermarks were identical to the patterns on the stone tablet at the village entrance and the old village chief's cane. This was no simple sea monster disturbance; clearly, someone had set up an evil spell array, using the fishing village as bait and the villagers as fodder, to secretly control everything!

Just then, a towering black wave, several meters high, suddenly surged from the distant sea. A deafening roar ripped through the sky, and the waves exploded, revealing a dark-scaled sea dragon at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Its body was covered in hard black scales, its demonic horns gleaming with an evil light, and it was enveloped in dense, venomous black energy. It was adept at spewing poisonous miasma and possessed an incredibly strong body. Behind it followed several sea monsters of varying ranks, roaring as they charged towards the village. Their advance was ferocious, and wherever they landed, the vegetation withered instantly.

"It's a sea dragon! And a sea demon! Immortal, save us!" The old village chief was so frightened that his face turned pale, his legs went weak, and he clung tightly to Shen Yue's sleeve, trembling like a leaf.

"Disciples, form a formation to protect the villagers!" Lin Yan shouted, his Taiqing spiritual energy surging around him. He raised his hand and summoned a jade shield of spiritual light, blocking the old village chief.