GBP Chapter 24 The Deer-like Remains
Chapter 24 The Deer-like Remains
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Lu Shu's spirit being dispelled. Zhang Hu and Wang Wei couldn't help but touch their foreheads, regardless of whether there was actually sweat on them.
"Thank you so much for your help, young lady," Wu Dayong said sincerely.
Ning Xiaoxi's spiritual energy was completely depleted, leaving only a faint mist maintaining its cyclical state. She smiled wearily, "It's good that everyone is alright. This place is not safe to stay any longer, let's leave quickly." She knew that the deer-like spirit had only been dispelled due to insufficient spiritual energy, not destroyed. If the root cause wasn't eliminated, it would reappear by nightfall.
Ning Shi held Ning Xiaoxi's arm, looking at his daughter's pale face with heartache. Ning Xiaoxi placed her strength on Ning Shi's hand, indicating to her father that she was alright.
Wu Dayong breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Ning Xiaoxi was there to save everyone. "Listen to the lady, everyone go back!"
Led by Wu Dayong, the group hurriedly left the forest, leaving behind only the clearing where the deer had disappeared, as if telling the story of the thrilling scene that had just unfolded.
Emerging from the mysterious and somewhat eerie forest, the group, still reeling from the haunting presence of the Deer-like spirit, felt a sense of relief upon seeing the firelight emanating from the camp.
Ning Xiaoxi pondered the entire way. This was her first time formally facing a demon, albeit only a remnant soul. The appearance of this remnant soul meant that at least the original form of the Deer-like creature existed here. The Deer-like creature's shadow was likely seducing humans as a sacrifice to free the original form. If that was the case, she couldn't ignore it.
She moved closer to Wu Dayong and said softly, "Wu Cha Tou, have you ever heard that in this world, all things with spirits, if their souls wander outside, will not do so without reason? The spirit of the Deer-like creature is haunting this place. In my opinion, this place is probably not simple." Her eyes revealed a hint of doubt and inquiry. A gentle breeze brushed her hair, but it could not dispel her focused expression.
Wu Dayong frowned slightly, unconsciously stroking his chin. After a moment's thought, he replied, "What you say makes sense, young lady. However, the management of the Celestial Master Pavilion in Bingzhou is very strict. Perhaps we can report this matter to the Celestial Master Pavilion and let the Celestial Masters handle it." His gaze was fixed on Ning Xiaoxi. He was merely a guard escorting prisoners and did not possess the ability to slay demons. These matters concerning demons had always been the responsibility of the Celestial Master Pavilion, and they did not need to interfere too much.
Ning Xiaoxi shook her head slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes: "Officer Wu, I'd like to know more about this matter. How about this, after dawn, you report this to the Celestial Master Pavilion yourself, and I'll go to the forest to investigate further." Her tone was firm, carrying an unquestionable determination, and her petite figure seemed to contain boundless power at this moment.
Looking into her determined eyes, Wu Dayong wondered if this was the young lady's mission to join the exile group. He didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only nod: "Alright, since you want to go, young lady, you should be careful. Do you need me to accompany you?"
Ning Xiaoxi smiled and shook her head, "Thank you, officers. This time, my brother can accompany me. I wouldn't dare trouble you officers."
Wu Dayong smiled in return and watched Ning Xiaoxi return to her tent. After all, they were exiled prisoners, and providing them with such convenience was already the maximum of his authority.
The next morning, sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense foliage of the forest, casting dappled patterns of light. Ning Xiaoxi, carrying a basket filled with spirit-gathering grass and spirit crystals, led Ning Ziqing back into the forest. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the faint echoes of their footsteps on the damp ground.
As Ning Xiaoxi walked, she carefully observed every plant and tree around her. She squatted down and gently touched the soil with her fingers, sensing the faint fluctuations of spiritual energy within it.
Ning Ziqing, on the other hand, held a wooden stick she had picked up nearby with vigilance, scanning her surroundings and not missing any corner that might be lurking with danger.
"Brother, there's no need to be so nervous. That Deer-like Soul Shadow should only be able to come out at night; it can't appear during the day yet."
Hearing his sister's words, Ning Ziqing relaxed slightly. Ning Shi had originally wanted to come along, but his sister said there was no danger today and wanted her brother to come and see for himself, so Ning Shi reluctantly let them go. Besides, they were still criminals; allowing Ning Xiaoxi to leave the group again to investigate was already Wu Dayong's favoritism—how could they dare ask for more?
Upon reaching the depths of the forest where the spirit of the deer had been dispersed the previous night, everything had returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Ning Xiaoxi stopped walking and continued deeper into the woods. Gradually, the ancient trees around her began to block out the sun, and sunlight could only struggle to filter through the gaps in the layers of withered branches and gnarled trunks, casting a few weak rays that made the place even more gloomy and dark.
A thick layer of fallen leaves had accumulated on the ground, exuding a putrid smell. With each step, a slight rustling sound was heard, as if it were a low warning from the land.
Sensing the eerie atmosphere of the forest, Ning Ziqing's breathing became much heavier. He wanted to persuade his sister not to go in anymore, but looking at her thin yet determined figure, the words stuck in his throat.
Slowly, Ning Xiaoxi walked to the edge of an open space, a patch of green grass that shouldn't be there in the chilly early spring.
Amidst the lush grass stood a circular stone platform. Carved from an unidentified black boulder, the platform was incredibly hard, its surface covered with densely packed runes and patterns. These runes were not ordinary characters; they twisted and meandered, seemingly possessing a life of their own, sometimes shimmering with a silvery light, sometimes disappearing beneath the stone's surface, as if constantly flowing and circulating.
On the stone platform sat a transparent crystal cluster emitting a faint glow. Inside the cluster, a strangely shaped body was vaguely visible, its surface covered by a thin halo, as if for self-protection or to resist the sealing power. Surrounding the cluster were several spirit pillars radiating golden light. At the top of each pillar were embedded enormous spirit crystals, which continuously gathered the surrounding spiritual energy and transformed it into pure sealing power, pouring it into the incantations on the stone platform, causing those incantations to circulate and operate.
Around the stone platform, four ancient bronze cauldrons were evenly distributed. Their surfaces were covered in verdigris, and ancient sacrificial patterns and mysterious runes were engraved on them. Inside, a ghostly blue flame burned, flickering incessantly, yet emitting no heat; instead, it exuded a chilling, piercing cold. This flame was a crucial component of the seal, its unique, frigid power suppressing the evil thoughts and power of the sealed object.