Those soul threads resembled slender streams, carrying the cultivators’ soul power as they slowly flowed towards a dark abyss.
And the cultivators remained utterly oblivious, still immersed in the illusion of “listening to the lecture”.
Their faces bore serene expressions, as if they were dreaming a pleasant dream.
“To use hypnosis to draw out souls… how utterly vicious!”
Hu Mazi lowered his voice, his fists clenched white. His anger was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, liable to burst forth at any moment.
He thought of those innocent cultivators, their souls being mercilessly stripped away by the temple, and his heart filled with sorrow and rage.
The golden-robed cultivator seemed to sense something, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Chen Ping and Hu Mazi.
A flicker of wariness passed through his eyes, like a vigilant leopard detecting peril in its surroundings.
“Fellow daoists, why do you not close your eyes and concentrate? Could it be that you doubt this poor daoist’s lecture?” His voice remained resonant, yet it concealed a hint of menace.
Chen Ping’s heart tightened. He knew his actions might have aroused the golden-robed cultivator’s suspicions.
But he showed no trace of panic, merely offering a slight smile as he replied: “Your lecture is naturally profound, fellow daoist. It is merely that we are newcomers and have doubts about this method of drawing heavenly spiritual qi into the body, so we dare not concentrate rashly.”
His voice was calm and steady, like a profound and unfathomable lake.
The golden-robed cultivator narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinising Chen Ping and Hu Mazi up and down, attempting to spot any flaws in them.
His gaze was like two sharp blades, scanning back and forth over Chen Ping and Hu Mazi.
“Oh? What doubts do you have? Feel free to voice them. This poor daoist might be able to resolve them for you.”
His tone carried a trace of probing, as if awaiting Chen Ping and Hu Mazi to reveal a slip.
Chen Ping pondered countermeasures in his mind. He knew they could not allow the golden-robed cultivator’s suspicions to deepen, lest their plan fail at the crucial moment.
An idea struck him, and he said: “We have heard that drawing heavenly profound qi into the body requires first purifying the heart and dispelling distractions. Might there be any particulars to this purification method?”
His question seemed ordinary, yet it cleverly diverted the golden-robed cultivator’s attention.
Upon hearing this, the golden-robed cultivator nodded slightly and replied: “The method of purifying the heart lies in expelling stray thoughts and focusing the mind undivided. You may try sitting in quiet meditation, allowing your inner self to return to tranquillity.”
His voice softened somewhat, apparently satisfied with Chen Ping’s question.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Ping said: “Many thanks for your guidance, fellow daoist. We shall now sit in quiet meditation and follow your instructions.”
With that, he tugged at Hu Mazi’s sleeve, and the two closed their eyes together, feigning the posture of quiet meditation.
In truth, however, their divine senses remained alert, closely monitoring every movement around them.
Seeing this, a glint of satisfaction flashed in the golden-robed cultivator’s eyes, and he resumed his lecture.
His voice echoed through the air, like a hypnotic incantation that drew the surrounding cultivators even deeper into immersion.
And those soul threads continued to drift ceaselessly from the cultivators’ brow centres, flowing into the groove beneath the platform.
Time ticked by, minute by minute. On the surface, Chen Ping and Hu Mazi pretended to listen to the lecture, while in secret they observed the temple’s conspiracy.
They discovered that the black runes beneath the platform appeared to be continuously absorbing the power of the soul threads, then transmitting that power into the soul jars.
The soul jars acted like bottomless pits, relentlessly devouring these soul spirits.
“At this rate, who knows how many cultivators will suffer calamity.”
Hu Mazi spoke in a voice only Chen Ping could hear, his tone laden with worry.
Chen Ping nodded faintly and replied: “We must swiftly find a way to thwart this conspiracy, or the consequences will be unimaginable.”
