After transmigrating into the body of the protagonist's childhood friend, he was targeted by a

Lin Zhixu walked to the rock wall, reached out and pushed aside the vines to reveal a smooth, flat stone surface underneath, on which was carved an extremely intricate array pattern.

Wen Wuqing stepped closer and examined it carefully. "This looks like a formation."

Before Lin Zhixu could stop him, Wen Wuqing placed his palm on the rock wall and slowly infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy.

The array patterns sensed the spiritual energy and began to slowly circulate.

Lin Zhixu's heart skipped a beat, sensing something was wrong, and he suddenly grabbed Wen Wuqing's collar and pulled him back.

Almost simultaneously, the array patterns suddenly darkened, and a thick stream of black energy surged out from the crack, heading straight for the spot where Wen Wuqing had just been standing.

Wen Wuqing collapsed to the ground, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

The black mist was only inches away from him, and he could even smell the putrid stench emanating from it.

Almost there, just a little bit more.

The others rushed forward to help him up and check if he was injured.

After regaining his senses, Wen Wuqing solemnly bowed to Lin Zhixu: "Thank you for saving me, Fellow Daoist Lin. If it weren't for your quick reaction, I would probably be dead here today."

Lin Zhixu withdrew his hand, but his brows remained furrowed.

He glanced at Wen Wuqing, his tone turning colder: "Don't touch anything before you understand the situation."

Wen Wuqing nodded awkwardly.

The people around them became even more vigilant.

Lin Zhixu squatted down and carefully examined the direction of the array pattern, his fingertips lightly tracing the pattern.

This thing doesn't look like a simple defensive formation; it seems to be a combination of defense and attack.

Wen Wuqing had only tentatively injected a trace of spiritual power, and the killing formation was immediately triggered. If he hadn't acted quickly, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

If someone were to forcibly break through this barrier, the backlash would likely be even more severe.

Unfortunately, his research on formations is not very proficient. If Luo Yiyan were here, with his protagonist aura, he might be able to pull off some unexpected surprises.

Monk Huiming was in a dilemma: "We're blocked outside, what should we do if we can't get in? I can feel the extremely heavy yin energy inside, what we're looking for must be inside."

Wen Wuqing looked at them: "Daoist Master, True Man, you two are very knowledgeable and should have some understanding of Daoist arts, right? Do you recognize how to break this formation?"

Master Yunhe and Master Qingcheng exchanged a glance, looking somewhat embarrassed, and shook their heads.

To put it bluntly, they're just mediocre.

They have some skills, but not many. They can fool ordinary people, but when they encounter a truly formidable opponent, they're outmatched.

Lin Zhixu withdrew his gaze, his tone calm: "We don't necessarily have to go in. We can let what's inside come out on its own."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Wen Wuqing pressed further, "Does Fellow Daoist Lin have a solution?"

Lin Zhixu glanced at everyone present and said calmly, "Since it harms people, it means it needs people. And we cultivators have much purer spiritual power and souls than ordinary people. In its eyes, we are probably more valuable than the villagers down the mountain. It won't let us go."

"However, this method is indeed a bit risky. If anyone is unwilling, it's not too late to back out now."

The group looked at each other, none of them willing to speak first.

If he's the first to quit, how will he ever survive in the underworld?

They're all people who care about their reputation; they'd rather bite the bullet and go through with it than back down.

So here's the question: who will be the bait?

Several people's eyes simultaneously drifted to Li Erniu, who was squatting by the stone platform poking ants with a twig.

Li Erniu noticed the stares coming from all directions. He paused, holding the tree branch in his hand, and slowly raised his head, scanning the room warily. "You're not trying to use a cripple like me as bait, are you? That's so shameless! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

Everyone took a deep breath.

This person has such a sharp tongue, how come they're not mute?

Lin Zhixu: "...In that case, let's decide by drawing lots. It's fair and just."

He turned around and broke off seven small sticks of varying lengths from the bushes beside him, holding them in his hand with only one end showing.

The shortest stick is kept as bait, while the rest retreat to the outer perimeter to lie in ambush.

Everyone else crowded around and chose the stick they wanted to draw.

There was one left, and everyone looked at Li Erniu.

Li Erniu pointed to himself in shock and exclaimed, "I want to participate too?"

Master Qingcheng glanced at him sideways: "What's wrong? Are you not human? Who was it that insisted on coming along, saying they could help? Now that their time has come, they've changed their minds?"

Li Erniu: "..."

Whoever gets stuck with your group is truly unlucky!

He looked down at his leg, which he was still pretending to be lame, and then at the seven small sticks in Lin Zhixu's hand.

He stood up reluctantly and slowly moved to the line for the lottery.

When the lottery results were announced, everyone fell silent.

The young boy looked down at the branch in his hand, which was noticeably shorter than the others'. His lips trembled, and his eyes bulged as he looked up at his master, his voice already trembling with tears: "Master... can I get a different one?"

Master Yunhe patted his head with a loving expression: "Don't cry, don't worry, your master is here, I will definitely keep you alive."

He paused, perhaps feeling that his words weren't weighty enough, and then solemnly added, "If all else fails, I promise you, after you die I will build a temple for you, so that you may attain immortality as soon as possible."

"I've already thought of a name: 'Brave Little Temple,' what do you think?"

The boy instantly wiped away the tears in his eyes: "...Master, if you don't know how to comfort people, then don't try."

Unable to bear it any longer, Wen Wuqing took out a small bronze bell, no bigger than the palm of his hand, and handed it to the boy.

The bronze bell is dark gold all over, and its surface is covered with fine runes.

He explained, "This is a high-grade human-level protective magic artifact. It will automatically activate when you encounter danger and can block one fatal blow from someone below the Golden Core stage. Keep it safe; consider it an extra talisman."

The others' eyes lit up, and they were all a little envious.

The young boy quickly took the bronze bell with both hands, carefully cradling it in his arms, and with tears in his eyes, solemnly thanked Wen Wuqing.

Then he gave Master Yunhe a disdainful look.

Looking at others and then at himself, anyone who didn't know better would think he was Wen Wuqing's disciple.

Master Yunhe touched his nose guiltily.

Is it that he doesn't want to give it? Or is it that he really doesn't have it?

Lin Zhixu took in the whole scene.

His gaze lingered on the bronze bell for a moment.

He just gave away a top-grade human-level item without hesitation; this young master Wen is certainly generous.

Li Erniu pursed his lips.

You dare to show off something that's only at the human level?

If he weren't currently unavailable, he would have smashed you all to death with his magical artifact in a heartbeat.

After selecting the candidates, the group gathered together to discuss their next steps.

Lin Zhixu gathered the sticks into a bundle and drew a few simple lines on the ground to mark the general layout and the ambush positions of each person.

"Yunling, you can just wander around. You don't need to do anything. The more scared you are, the better. That's what it wants."

"We'll split up and hide in four directions. Once it shows up, Wen Wuqing and I will distract it, and you guys will wait for your chance to strike. Don't expose yourselves prematurely."

No one else had any objections.

With everything arranged, everyone took their positions.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yun Ling walked shakily towards the distance.