The clay doll that Shen Cuiyu had picked out was now lying quietly in her hand. With delicate features like a painting, it was exquisitely made, yet it faintly exuded an ominous aura.
Mrs. Xu stared blankly at the clay doll. The more she looked at it, the more frightened she became. The appearance of this doll seemed different from what it was many years ago. Especially those eyes, which seemed to hide a glimmer of vitality in their emptiness. Its “gaze” passed over everyone and was eerily fixed on her...
Mrs. Xu trembled as she spoke, “I've heard that... things in human form are most likely to attract unclean things. Could it be that after I sent it to this temple, it was occupied by evil spirits?”
The next moment, Shen Cuiyu's words made Mrs. Xu's heart sink to the bottom.
“It wasn't occupied after it was sent here. From the very beginning, when you snatched this clay doll from the Goddess of Fertility Temple, it became a nest for evil spirits,” Shen Cuiyu gently stroked the cold cheek of the doll with her fingertips. Feeling the twisted spiritual body, her heart sank slightly.
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Shen Cuiyu's words pointed out the key point. The clay dolls under the seat of the Goddess of Fertility needed to be blessed by the temple priest and infused with a trace of “fetal light” to be effective. The clay doll that Mrs. Xu took away back then without proper authorization was an “empty shell” that had not been infused with the divine light of the positive god. Her devout offering of incense day and night was not accepted by the positive god. Instead, the curling incense became the nourishment that wandering ghosts and lonely spirits vied for. It was precisely this ten - month supply of incense that had fed and strengthened the evil spirit that had taken up residence in it!
“Could it be that... what made me pregnant back then was not the blessing of the Goddess of Fertility, but evil spirits and ghosts?!” Mrs. Xu's voice trembled. She could hardly stand steadily and looked at the clay doll that she had once regarded as hope in disbelief!
As if in response to her, a strange “giggle” suddenly came from inside the clay doll. The voice was shrill and ear - piercing, making one's hair stand on end!
At the same time, a thick, tangible black resentment suddenly erupted. The temperature in the hall dropped sharply. Several disciples with shallower cultivation couldn't help but shiver!
However, Shen Cuiyu still firmly held the doll in her hand, as if she couldn't feel the bone - chilling cold. She lowered her eyes and stared at it for a moment. A look of determination flashed in her eyes. Then she raised her hand and without hesitation, slammed the clay doll hard onto the bluestone floor!
“Bang — Crack!”
The clay embryo shattered in response, exploding into a pile of powder on the ground!
The next moment, a thick, ink - like black mist rushed out from the fragments, churning violently in the air. Finally, it condensed into a distorted, blurred but malicious ghost face with clearly distinguishable ferocious facial features! The pressure emitted by the vengeful spirit far exceeded that of an ordinary lonely ghost. Obviously, thanks to the ten - month supply of incense from Mrs. Xu, it had grown quite powerful!
“Heh... After all these years, someone has finally invited me out...” The voice of the vengeful spirit was hoarse and gloomy, with a hint of playfulness towards its prey.
But as soon as the vengeful spirit finished speaking, it saw the surrounding scene clearly. It was actually a group of celestial masters!
Its expression changed suddenly. The black mist wriggled and tried to flee out of the window. But the disciples were already on high alert. Several talismans flew out like golden threads and instantly formed a net of light, firmly trapping it in place!
It was the first time Mrs. Xu had seen such an inhuman thing. She was almost fainted from fear! But when she thought of Jiaojiao's pale face, Mrs. Xu forced down the fear in her heart!
No matter what this thing in front of her was, she was determined to save her daughter's life!
Liu Ruyan suddenly stepped forward at this moment. Her eyes were as cold as ice, piercing straight into the black mist. She asked in a cold voice, “Did you take away Jiaojiao's heavenly and earthly souls? And where are they now?!”
“The soul of that little girl?” The vengeful spirit let out a sneer. “When I saw her, her three souls were almost dissipated. Only her human soul was barely holding on to her life! Such a weak soul was just a small snack for me. Before I could enjoy it, you guys came...” Its tone suddenly changed and became strange. “However, in my opinion, that child herself... probably doesn't want to come back...”
Shen Cuiyu and Zhong Shengwan glanced at each other. They both saw hesitation in each other's eyes.
Jiaojiao herself didn't want to come back?! What did this mean?
Was the vengeful spirit trying to confuse them, or...
But before they could ask in detail, the resentment around the vengeful spirit surged. The clay dolls around also began to rumble and vibrate!
The disciples secretly thought something was wrong. There were too many believers in the Goddess of Fertility Temple at this time. To avoid accidental injury and commotion, Zhong Shengwan quickly threw out several talisman papers and temporarily sealed the vengeful spirit into a special silk pouch.
Before the talisman was completely closed, the vengeful spirit suddenly “looked” at the pale - faced Mrs. Xu. Its voice was full of bitter mockery and hatred:
“Mrs. Xu! You've offered me incense for ten months. Today, I'll be kind and remind you: Touch your own conscience. In this life, do you still owe other debts? Didn't the temple priest tell you back then that 'if your destiny only gives you a foot, you can't seek a yard'? 'For one to come, one must go'. Don't you understand this truth?! Hahaha...”
“For one to come, one must go...”
These words were like a death knell, resounding in Mrs. Xu's ears!
Her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground. The color drained from her face. Her eyes were full of extreme fear and remorse.
Everyone was confused by this abrupt curse. They wanted to ask Mrs. Xu, but Mrs. Xu looked so devastated, as if she had been greatly shocked. No matter what others said, she didn't answer...
With full of doubts, the disciples had to return to the Cui Mansion first.
As night deepened, the inside and outside of the Cui Mansion were completely quiet. Only the lanterns under the corridor gently swayed in the gentle breeze, casting flickering shadows.
Shen Cuiyu quietly walked to Jiaojiao's bedside. The little girl was still in a coma. Her face looked even paler in the candlelight. The soul - calming talisman on her chest emitted a soft but weak light, barely maintaining a glimmer of vitality.
Shen Cuiyu dismissed the attendants, leaving only a solitary lamp. She sat down beside the couch, slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and gently pressed her fingertips against Jiaojiao's forehead.
She needed to perceive the real situation of Jiaojiao's soul more deeply, even if she could only capture a trace of the remaining will.
Her spiritual consciousness was like a trickling stream, carefully exploring into Jiaojiao's almost exhausted spiritual platform...
At first, it was an endless darkness and coldness, as if she was in a desolate void. This was a sign that the soul was about to completely disperse. Shen Cuiyu concentrated and continued to explore inward.
Gradually, an indescribable, vast and pure sadness, like the water in a bottomless cold pool, slowly enveloped her!
That sadness was not a sharp pain, but a heavy, pervasive despair and grief in every inch of perception. It didn't come from fright or illness, but seemed to be a... wail and abandonment of one's own existence from the depths of the soul!