Transcendent Dawn

Chapter 630: Chapter 0630: Evil Tree (Additional 7800, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

“Case number seventy-six of the Evil Tree? Demon?!”

Xu Changqing skimmed the file, looking puzzled.

“Nothing seemed amiss initially. We assumed it was just a standard demon case and that’s what we named it…”

Pan Shu explained, “Although the city is suppressed by a major array, the occasional birth of demons isn’t particularly uncommon…”

Like Xiaozhai Village, the establishment of Qingyang City must have been done by burying dreadful weird creatures within the foundation, perhaps more than one, to form what is referred to as the ‘array’.

However, simply emitting such an aura would not deter demons all the time.

In such a vast world, some creatures relish just that.

“The plaintiff, Mr. Wu, lives in Sweet Water Lane. He has a Willow tree in his courtyard… which suddenly bloomed one day. The buds were huge with human faces within… half a day later, they transformed into human heads…”

Xu Changqing continued reading, imagining that scene.

A single Willow tree, with human heads hanging all over it like abundant fruits. It was enough to unsettle any layperson.

“Case was handled by Inspector Zheng Sanqi, who confirmed that the human heads belonged to people who had died nearby. He suspected that the tree possessed the ability to ‘bind souls’… Hence, it was cut down.”

“Does this mean… the case has been resolved?”

Xu Changqing noticed the resolution marker at the end of the file.

“However, just last night, Zheng Sanqi was found hanging in his room… The entire Sweet Water Lane has been blanketed with a thin fog. Hence, the Chancellor upgraded the case and re-designated it as a ‘ghost’! It is suspected that the Evil Tree was the host or food source for a certain ghost-level resentful spirit… We might have invited retaliation by getting rid of the tree.”

Pan Shu responded with a grave expression.

There are many accompanying phenomena associated with demons, nearly all attributed to more powerful entities. They serve as hunters or food for these entities.

The Soul-binding Demon is a prime example of this type.

“How is Mr. Jiang doing?”

Xu Changqing adjusted the talismans on his body, arrived at the gate of the Demon Bureau, and solemnly asked Pan Shu and the other four inspectors.

If ‘Jiang Yufeng’ were in imminent danger, he wouldn’t need to risk his life for him — that would mean engaging in a war with an extremely powerful ‘resentful spirit’!

If Mr. Jiang was only trapped, it would indicate the situation wasn’t too severe. To save face, he would need to provide backup.

“Mr. Jiang is trapped in the fog… despite his warnings to be careful of the tree, he seems to be alright…”

Pan Shu was visibly torn.

“Tree?”

Without another word, Xu Changqing followed Pan Shu and the others to Sweet Water Lane.

The entrance of the lane was already shrouded in a layer of grey mist, deserted except for a few trembling guards.

In reality, the people of this world were quite wise. They were of no use here.

“Sir, we have been guarding the surroundings and have not allowed anyone to enter… Mr. Jiang and his team have not come out… Nor have the other residents within the lane.”

Upon seeing Pan Shu, they sounded as if they had seen their savior, their voices laced with a whiny tone.

“Hiss…”

Xu Changqing looked at the all-concealing grey mist and took a cold breath, “If those civilians end up dying because of this, it would be the most shocking case in Qingyang City in over a decade.”

Pan Shu’s face darkened, “Mr. Jiang is still inside and needs our help…”

“Why didn’t you send someone in to scout first? This fog seems similar to a bewilderment formation… Wouldn’t it make sense to let a Spirit Refining Martial Artist, tied with a rope, enter first?”

Xu Changqing looked at the dense fog and suddenly asked.

Spirit Refining Martial Artists could see through illusions and were not easily fooled.

And the four inspectors were all at this level.

“That won’t work. We’ve tried it. Every time, the rope would break. Even if we tried with a chain, it would still break…”

Pan Shu shook his head.

The team led by Jiang Yufeng was full of thoughtful individuals. If there were another way, they wouldn’t have risked their lives.

Xu Changqing’s exterior remained calm, but inside, he could hear Su Lu laughing, “Haha… They’ve got more experience dealing with demons than you do, Little Qingzi. Feeling embarrassed yet?”

“Grandpa… do you have any clues?” Xu Changqing asked calmly.

“I don’t know, but it’s definitely not an ordinary demon. It belongs to the ghost category…” Su Lu sighed in his heart, “Remember to activate your Heavenly Eye later. At critical moments, I will help you.”

The ‘Heavenly Eye’ and ‘Dharma Eye’ of cultivators are essentially spiritual vision.

Oftentimes, some cases could be solved, or culprits caught with just one look.

“I understand.”

Xu Changqing looked at Pan Shu.

Pan Shu was seen holding a blood-red talisman in his hand, “This talisman can resonate with Mr. Jiang, Brother Xu…”

“Let’s go in!”

An eyeball appeared in the center of Xu Changqing’s forehead, rolling restlessly.

With only one ‘Magic Eye’ opened, he could barely maintain this state. However, if this situation prolonged, he would unknowingly open more ‘Magic Eyes’, eventually losing himself.

But with Su Lu’s reminders, he didn’t worry too much.

The onlookers all admired and respected Xu Changqing.

Through his ‘Heavenly Eye’, he saw things even Spirit Refining Martial Artists couldn’t see.

It was the flow of spirituality!

The entire Sweet Water Lane was wrapped in a layer of dark green halo, filled with decay and death.

The mist suddenly dissipated, revealing the trunks of a few ancient trees.

Upon sweeping another glance at Pan Shu, Xu Changqing was momentarily taken aback.

Through his current vision, Pan Shu’s abdomen appeared nearly transparent, with a bizarre human face mask within.

Its hollow eyes seemed to connect with an unknown entity, quietly staring back at him.

‘The discomfort I felt earlier comes from this ‘Magic Artifact’? A ‘weird object’ that must be sealed inside a human body? It looks extremely dangerous…’

Xu Changqing sighed inwardly, then quickly said, “Prepare the oil and fire talismans. There’s more than one tree inside!”

He touched the talisman pouch at his waist.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Inside were two high-level talismans he had hurriedly drawn in recent times.

Hopefully, the ‘Capture Demons and Arrest Ghosts Talisman’ would prove useful.

“Get ready to enter the lane.”

Pan Shu took a deep breath, casting several exorcism talismans that enveloped the six of them.

‘Feeling a bit uneasy… but only slightly.’

Xu Changqing scratched his cheek, filled with an unknown sadness. He cautiously approached the lane entrance with Pan Shu and the others.

The fog shrouded their view, and the way back was lost.

Then, right before the six of them, trees appeared!

Three ancient trees were planted right in the middle of the path, as if they had grown there for hundreds of years.

One was a Willow tree, its branches entwined with black hair and human heads hanging from them, men and women, old and young alike.

Another was a Peach tree, heavily laden with fruit. But instead of human heads, it bore objects the size of bloody walnuts.

The last tree resembled a Willow, situated at the end, concealed within the fog and emitting a rustling noise.

This scene, both seductive and bizarre, caused Pan Shu and the others to twitch at the corners of their eyes.

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