Chapter 115

Days of incessant rain had brought forth the Demonic Affliction, spreading across the world. With the aid of a shadowy mastermind, An Long, in his monstrous form, wielded the power of the Heavenly Dao to escape the Endless Abyss.

Perhaps, in a desperate bid to reclaim control over a spiraling destiny and seize the world back into its grasp, it had forcibly drawn too much power, leaving no room for trivial details. Or perhaps, after the system's explosion, miscalculated scores triggered a chain reaction, erasing all past failures and lifting the restraints on the task-doers...

The memory lock in Song Qingshi's mind loosened.

A thousand cycles of memories surged forth, almost shattering his sea of consciousness.

He fell into a high fever and coma.

...

Medicine King Valley was affiliated with the Indestructible Peak. Physician Cheng was not the only one who had sacrificed himself in this outbreak. The Demonic Affliction had appeared in three villages. Among them, the sect master of the Tianhuo Sect near Mohe Village was well-informed and decisive. He gathered all the villagers of Mohe and everyone who had come into contact with them, sealed off the village, executed them all, and burned the bodies, thus severing the source of infection.

Qianhe Village was more remote. The compassionate Buddhist monks of the Nine Stars Temple hesitated, merely sealing off the village. They chanted sutras daily, imparted life lessons, encouraged the villagers to face death calmly, and arranged their final affairs. Most villagers accepted their fate, believing that dying from the Demonic Affliction would lead them to the Pure Land. However, a few who believed they were uninfected refused to comply. They fled with their families, crossing mountains and rivers, evading the blockade, and secretly escaped via small paths to other villages or towns, concealing their identities.

The worst situation was in Tongyang City, where Huang Abao had once visited. Located in the Southern Ridge, no one at the time knew what the Demonic Affliction was. Along the way, people in towns and villages, seeing the impoverished and sick father and daughter, often extended a helping hand, offering porridge or meals, or giving them a ride.

The Medicine King Clinic was the best medical facility within hundreds of miles, usually bustling with people—physicians, apprentices, apothecary assistants... Although Physician Cheng had sent urgent reports and documents, Lord Luo of Tongyang City was obstinate and self-important. Busy with secluded cultivation to solidify his Nascent Soul, he dismissed the absurd disease. Soon, the weak mortals contracted the Demonic Affliction, going mad and killing those around them. Then healthy mortals, ordinary cultivators, and finally even Lord Luo's concubine began to show black spots...

Panic engulfed Tongyang City as people fled in droves.

Lord Luo finally came to his senses and rushed out of seclusion to control the situation, but it was too late. Tongyang City descended into chaos, with tragedies occurring everywhere. They hated Huang Abao, hated the Medicine King Clinic, hated their misfortune. Everyone sought to strike first—killing outsiders, killing suspicious patients—to avoid being harmed by those afflicted with the Demonic Affliction.

Kindness was scorned, morality abandoned, ethics obliterated. Everyone transformed into a rabid beast, scrutinizing everyone around them, even their own kin, with distrust.

For a time, the entire Southern Ridge resembled a living hell.

After receiving reports from Physician Cheng and other regions, Medicine King Valley dispatched countless Messenger Birds to alert the Indestructible Peak and various sects.

The Indestructible Peak swiftly ordered the blockade of major thoroughfares in the Southern Ridge.

Unaffected towns and sects immediately sealed their gates, prohibiting any outsiders from entering or leaving.

The Tianwu Sect, located at the border between the Central Plains and the Southern Ridge, had recently suffered some losses from a demonic tide. Additionally, many had gained breakthroughs within the Mo Yuan Magic Formation, so everyone was secluded in cultivation, none having left the sect. Upon receiving the news, Yu Wenyan first thanked his ancestors, then the Divine Lord, before mobilizing the elders to reactivate the mountain-protecting formation, sealing off the entire Tianwu Sect and personally guarding it, allowing no one in or out.

Lingmiao Island, a direct subordinate of the Indestructible Peak, lay on the main route from the Southern Ridge to the Central Plains.

It was the strongest formation sect in the cultivation world, mostly composed of female cultivators...

Two days prior, a six-year-old child clutching a wooden barrel had washed ashore with the tide. The female cultivators of Lingmiao Island found him and took him in, tending to his wounds. When the child awoke, he sobbed, saying he was from Tongyang City. His father had suddenly said he would take the family on a boat trip, but on the way, his father fell ill, then killed his mother and sister, and was about to kill him. His sister, before dying, used her last strength to throw him and the barrel into the sea...

The child wept bitterly, longing for his mother. Faint dark patterns had begun to appear on his arm.

Lingmiao Island, it was too late...

Madam Nian set down the letter from the Indestructible Peak, picked up the medicine bowl on the table, carefully blew on it to cool it, then fed it to the child, smiling, "Don't cry. You are the bravest child. You will see your mother."

Her gentle smile was like that of a mother.

The child finally stopped crying and drank the medicine, then asked, "Will I really see my mother?"

Madam Nian gave him a piece of candy and coaxed him to sleep, "Don't be afraid. In a few days, I will take you to her."

She adjusted her sleeves, revealing faint black patterns on her pale wrist. The demonic symptoms showed no trace and could not be suppressed by cultivation or spiritual power.

Lingmiao Island housed many frail women and children, and many had already shown symptoms. The only solace was that no one had left Lingmiao Island during this time.

The female cultivators responsible knelt outside the gate, their bodies also showing symptoms of demonic transformation. Apologies were meaningless—they only wished to die.

"Stand up! No crying!" Madam Nian lifted her head proudly, straightened her back, and declared loudly, "Rescuing a child in distress is Lingmiao Island's rule. You upheld your beliefs—what fault is there?! All of you, rise! Lingmiao Island is a vital chokepoint. Even if we die, we must die with purpose! By my command! Activate the Heaven-Lock Earth-Prison Formation! Seal Lingmiao Island, seal the seas and roads. Let no one leave. If no cure for the Demonic Affliction is found, we shall be the Central Plains' last line of defense! Let the Demonic Affliction be extinguished in the Southern Ridge! Extinguished on Lingmiao Island!"

"The demonic symptoms first appear as patterns, then gradually spread, leading to a coma, and awakening as a demon."

"If a comrade falls into a coma, kill her with a sword before she fully transforms!"

"Regardless of identity, friendship, age, or rank! Act immediately!"

"I am no exception!"

"..."

Many of Lingmiao Island's female cultivators were orphans or girls rescued from abuse. Madam Nian had meticulously raised and cared for them, teaching them immortal arts and formations. They regarded Madam Nian as their mother and each other as sisters, bound by deep affection. This cruel command left them weeping uncontrollably.

"Be brave, don't be afraid. Weren't you always saying you wanted to work hard and not lose to those male cultivators who look down on women?" Madam Nian took out a handkerchief, wiping away their tears one by one, smiling through her own tears, "Today, we women shall prove our worth. Let the world witness the spirit of our female cultivators."

On Lingmiao Island, 1,823 lives stood firm, defending the Central Plains.

...

Within Medicine King Valley, physicians received report after report, each representing the life of one or more physicians—the eccentric Physician Chen, the quick-tempered Physician He, the greenhorn Physician Cheng, the kind and amiable Physician Zhao, the highly skilled Physician Tian, the often careless Physician Xu, the beautiful and intelligent Physician Lan...

Every name was recorded in the Medicine King Valley's apprentice registry, each a proud disciple who had emerged from the valley.

Some reports were meticulously written, others heavy-hearted. Behind the cold, monotonous data lay drops of blood and tears, and this painful list continued to grow.

Medicine King Valley had no time for grief. Upholding their master's teachings, they would never give up.

The finest physicians gathered, researching treatment plans day and night. Three elderly physicians voluntarily became sacrifices, traveling to the Southern Ridge to use their lives to determine the transmission pathways of the Demonic Affliction.

Bad news kept pouring in...

The Demonic Affliction did not spread through touch, saliva, or dust... Its transmission was invisible and traceless, as if it were an inherent essence of this world. As long as an infected person was nearby, others would randomly contract it, and the onset time varied. Early-stage patients could not determine if they were infected.

All prevention and treatment methods failed.

Currently, only Bodhi tree bark and Sala flowers were found to slow the demonic transformation by a few days. These two plants were common tree species in the cultivation world and relatively easy to obtain. Once the news spread, people instantly stripped all the bark and flowers.

The physicians of Medicine King Valley continued their efforts, trying one new solution after another.

They longed for the Medicine King Immortal to awaken soon and lead them out of this predicament.

...

Extreme fear, extreme chaos.

Across the cultivation world, whispers of suspicion grew louder and more intense.

They believed this calamity was brought by the Filth Demon, and the source of the Filth Demon was the Divine Lord on the throne of the Indestructible Peak—his extreme cruelty, tyranny, and the countless innocents slaughtered during the dark era had invoked heaven's wrath. This disaster was heaven's punishment upon the world.

Only by killing the Divine Lord of the Indestructible Peak and appeasing the wrath of the Heavenly Dao could the Demonic Affliction be lifted.

At first, it was just an absurd rumor...

But in despair, the rumor grew stronger, and more people believed it. Many sects who resented the power of the Indestructible Peak seized the opportunity to unite, recruiting soldiers under the banner of vanquishing demons, aiming to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the Indestructible Peak and kill the evil Divine Lord. They also sought more supporters, even fabricating lies, finding people to impersonate Medicine King Valley pharmacists, solemnly claiming that the Medicine King Immortal was the Divine Lord's lover, having been in seclusion for many years to research various terrifying poisons for the Divine Lord, and that he was the culprit behind the Demonic Affliction.

The more the lies were told, the more they were believed.

Fires of war ignited everywhere, plunging the world into chaos...

On the throne of the Indestructible Peak, Yue Wuhuan's smile grew increasingly mocking.

The countless birds formed by his divine sense flew across the sky, witnessing the ugly faces of the world. He watched as they, guided and manipulated by fate, sprouted wicked desires—plotting to attack the Indestructible Peak, to kill him, to kill Song Qingshi.

So many things aligned with the memories of Mo Yuan in Yue Wuhuan's mind. The flames of anger burned in his heart—this time, he would not play the hero.

The evil villain of the Indestructible Peak?

Then let mountains of corpses and seas of blood descend once more, and let the world witness what true evil is!