"How could anyone possibly come to a place like this, where not even birds dare to defecate?" The others, though displeased, instinctively looked up.
To their surprise, someone actually had!
And not just one person!
A young cultivator at the Qi Refining stage led the way, followed by four other young cultivators, also at the Qi Refining stage.
On their shoulders, they carried a gleaming, polished coffin...
On top of the coffin, a small fox and something that looked like a dog were perched...
Behind them were three spirit beasts of bizarre design.
A white horse.
A peacock.
A celestial crane...
For some inexplicable reason, upon seeing this utterly bizarre combination, they felt a chill creep from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads!
They couldn't quite explain why, but they felt a pervasive coldness.
It was as if they had been instantly plunged into an ice cellar, a bone-chilling experience!
What was even more unacceptable to them was that these young cultivators at the Qi Refining stage were actually flying!
"This is absurd! Are you kidding me?" Cultivators at the Qi Refining stage flying without any aids?
Am I cultivating a fake path to immortality?
"That's right, this is the place." After the subordinates landed, Er Ha nodded with certainty. "That strong feeling is coming from here..."
At this point, Er Ha suddenly stopped.
It tilted its dog head and observed for five seconds.
Good luck! To encounter allies in a place like this!
These allies were truly considerate, having arrived early to guard the treasure for them!
However...
These allies seem to be injured...
Er Ha tilted its dog head, its titanium alloy dog eyes sparkling as it gazed at the Zhen Xie Sect disciples.
The five-person team also noticed that the cultivators seemed to have injuries and instinctively stared at them.
Although the three spirit pets couldn't discern any injuries, since their elder brother was staring, they should do the same!
Under the intense gaze of ten pairs of sparkling eyes, the disciples of the Zhen Xie Sect felt even colder...
If before it was merely an ice cellar, now it had completely transformed into an abyss of extreme ice!
It was a feeling of extreme coldness from within, as if their blood and bones were about to freeze solid!
It even gave them an illusion that they might die at any moment!
At this point, let alone acting against them, they couldn't even utter a word.
They could only hug themselves and tremble uncontrollably...
"You can see it too, right?" Er Ha raised a dog leg and tapped the coffin.
"Brother Ha, we see it!" The five-person team quickly responded.
"Get to work!" Er Ha gave a decisive order.
The five-person team gently placed the coffin on the ground and walked towards the Zhen Xie Sect disciples.
As they walked, they revealed friendly smiles.
At this moment, they were silhouetted against the setting sun, their faces cast in shadow.
Although it wasn't as dark as night, there was a somewhat somber feeling.
But their five rows of pearly white teeth seemed to defy the laws of light, emitting a dazzling white glow!
"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to be nervous." Upon approaching, the leader gently patted one of the disciples on the shoulder. "We are professionals, and your minor injuries will be healed quickly."
"Yes, fellow Daoists," the remaining four brothers chimed in unison, their faces still wearing friendly smiles. "And the entire process will be completely painless; it will be over in a moment."
The disciple who was patted on the shoulder shivered again.
Being patted on the shoulder like this now, he felt his soul was about to freeze solid!
No!
I don't need your so-called help!
The injuries on my body will heal soon; the greatest help you can offer is to leave immediately!
You!
I don't want to see you!
Alas, he was trembling uncontrollably and couldn't utter a single word...
"Then let's start with you." The leader instructed, and the brothers lifted the disciple and walked back towards the coffin.
"Everyone focus this time!" Er Ha, carrying the little fox, jumped down from the coffin and earnestly admonished, "These allies have helped us guard the treasure; they are meritorious individuals. You must treat them with all your might!"
"Brother Ha, rest assured!" After placing the disciple inside the coffin, the five-person team skillfully closed the lid. "We will definitely treat them with all our effort!"
Lifting the coffin onto their shoulders, it was a seamless operation!
And they kept their word; they were clearly putting in real effort while carrying the coffin!
The peacock cleared its throat and began to work, stretching its neck.
The eerie sound of the suona echoed through the mountain hollow.
Not only that, but in the intervals between imitating the suona, the peacock even incorporated sounds resembling firecrackers.
"Wooo-ri-wah—!"
"Wooo-ri-wah—!"
"Wooo-ri-wah—!"
"Deng—ga—!"
...
Don't ask.
Just assume it has evolved!
The other disciples of the Zhen Xie Sect trembled even more violently as they watched the bizarre scene before them...
Their consciousness even began to blur gradually...
After an unknown amount of time, they saw the group finally stop.
The coffin lid was opened, and their fellow disciple was carried out.
They had initially thought their fellow disciple was dead, but things seemed to have deviated slightly from their expectations.
Not only was he not dead, but he was even walking towards them with a smile.
"I feel great now, unprecedentedly relaxed and comfortable." The disciple who emerged from the coffin smiled kindly. "You should go quickly; I'll wait here for you."
The disciples of the Zhen Xie Sect were all bewildered.
Logically, seeing no apparent danger should be a good thing, right?
But they all felt that their fellow disciple was a bit strange...
Although his tone was gentle and his smile was kind, they felt an inexplicable sense of dread...
While they were still in a daze, the five-person team took away another disciple.
The ritual began, followed by the suona and firecrackers.
The coffin landed again, and the second disciple also returned with a smile.
"I feel great now, unprecedentedly relaxed and comfortable. You should go quickly; I'll wait here for you."
The same tone and smile, even the words spoken were identical!
The more this happened, the stronger the sense of horror grew in the hearts of the remaining individuals!
Unfortunately, they were completely unable to do anything now...
They could only watch as their companions were carried away one by one, and then returned smiling one by one...
Thus, the last remaining disciple of the Zhen Xie Sect, with vacant eyes, was placed into the coffin...
When the last one emerged, he returned to the others with a smile.
The ones who had emerged earlier were now lying on the ground, sleeping with smiles on their faces, and he joined them.
His hands crossed over his chest, a blissful smile on his face.
He slowly closed his eyes.
No one knew what they had experienced inside the coffin.
However, judging by their current expressions, it must have been a very happy event.
"The allies are asleep; let's not disturb them." Er Ha whispered a reminder, then, with the little fox, headed towards a certain spot in the mountain hollow.
The five-person team and the three spirit pets tiptoed after them.
"That strong feeling is emanating from here." Er Ha raised a dog leg and stomped on the open ground in front of them.
Lines of light lit up from the ground, eventually forming the pattern of a formation.