The resentful lion saw Yu Daochen approaching and spoke, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Yu Daochen glanced at Cai Wen lying beside the resentful lion. "What, did you deliberately lure me here?"
The resentful lion looked at Yu Daochen. "I believe you have something to ask of me."
Yu Daochen sneered, glanced at Cai Xiuqin beside him, and lowered his voice. "Stay here and don't move."
Cai Xiuqin hummed in response.
Yu Daochen walked towards the resentful lion. "Oh, tell me, why would I have something to ask of you?"
Yu Daochen reached the resentful lion. In the moonlight, man and lion met eyes. The resentful lion said, "Because everyone in this village is going to die."
Yu Daochen's brow furrowed. He recalled the four stone statues. "Explain, what is going on."
The corners of the resentful lion's mouth turned up, revealing its sharp fangs. "Do something for me and I'll tell you."
Yu Daochen clenched his Kang Long mace, his voice turning cold. "Are you threatening me?"
The resentful lion snorted. "Do you really think I can't beat you?"
As soon as the words left its mouth, Yu Daochen swung his Kang Long mace towards the resentful lion. "We'll know if we try."
The resentful lion was not to be outdone, raising its palm to strike at Yu Daochen.
*Bang!*
The Kang Long mace collided with the palm. Yu Daochen felt a sharp pain in his arm as he was pushed back.
Yu Daochen stared at the resentful lion, his expression turning grim. So this guy was faking it last time.
The resentful lion pushed off with its hind legs and leaped at Yu Daochen. Yu Daochen tightened his grip on the Kang Long mace and met the charge.
The fight between the man and the lion attracted the attention of the mountain spirits.
Heads popped out from the surroundings: snakes, foxes, and wolves.
Some of them spoke human words. "Who do you think will win?"
"It's definitely the boss."
"I think so too."
A moment later, Yu Daochen's arm had gone numb from the impact, and he began to pant.
The resentful lion looked at Yu Daochen. "How is it, is that enough?"
Yu Daochen caught his breath. "You went to such great lengths to lure me here, what exactly do you want?"
The resentful lion glanced at Cai Xiuqin behind him. "This matter cannot be known by others."
Yu Daochen looked at Cai Wen. Seeing Yu Daochen look at Cai Wen, the resentful lion said, "Don't worry, that little fellow is just asleep. As for Cai Yongyi, you should have healed him with your blood."
Hearing the resentful lion mention blood, Yu Daochen's left eye narrowed, and black liquid filled it.
Seeing Yu Daochen's left eye, the resentful lion shouted, "Don't you want to know what is sealed?"
Yu Daochen stopped at the resentful lion's words. He picked up Cai Wen and walked to Cai Xiuqin. "You take Xiao Wen home first."
Cai Xiuqin became anxious. "Then what about you?"
"I'll be down later," Yu Daochen said.
Cai Xiuqin shook her head. "I'll wait."
Yu Daochen interrupted. "Alright, be good. I'll be down soon."
Cai Xiuqin nodded, picked up Cai Wen on her back, and started walking down the mountain. "You must come back."
Yu Daochen nodded.
The resentful lion watched Cai Xiuqin leave and said to the surroundings, "Don't touch this woman and child. I'm also a little wary of that guy's left eye."
"Yes."
The surrounding spirits responded and retreated.
The surroundings fell silent, leaving only the man and the lion.
Yu Daochen asked, "What exactly is going on?"
The resentful lion's body slowly shrunk, transforming into a handsome man. "You must have seen the four stone statues at Liu Qidong's house, right?"
Yu Daochen nodded. "The four stone statues of the Four Directions Divine Array."
The resentful lion nodded. "Do you know what is needed to activate the Four Directions Divine Array?"
Yu Daochen shook his head. The resentful lion chuckled. "It requires a soul as an引子 (yǐnzi - primer/catalyst)."
Yu Daochen frowned. "You mean the villagers of Xiaotun Village?"
The resentful lion nodded.
Yu Daochen thought of Elder Hua. With his character, he would never do such a thing. But if not him, then who?
"That's enough, you don't need to think about it. He is the one who set up the Four Directions Divine Array," the resentful lion said.
Yu Daochen shook his head. "Given Elder Hua's personality, he would never use the lives of innocent people to set up the Four Directions Divine Array."
"Innocent? They are not innocent," the resentful lion said with a cold laugh.
Yu Daochen was confused. "What do you mean?"
The resentful lion explained the whole story.
Many years ago, a golden toad descended from the heavens. The golden toad was covered in wounds and on the verge of death. It hid in a cave in Chang'an Village to heal.
When the villagers of Chang'an Village found out, they went to worship it. The golden toad was also grateful and would come out periodically.
Wherever it stayed, there would be a considerable amount of gold, and the surrounding crops would be abundant. One year, a plague broke out in the village.
The golden toad dripped a drop of blood into the water. After drinking the water, the villagers could resist the plague.
Once, a villager saw the golden toad emerge. It was severely injured, and golden blood was flowing from its body.
The golden blood flowed onto the ground and turned into gold. The villagers told others about this.
The villagers discovered that the golden toad's blood could not only cure all poisons but also turn into gold. Thus, they harbored malicious intentions, poisoned the food, and killed the golden toad.
Finally, the villagers drained the golden toad's blood and threw its corpse into a well.
The golden toad's resentment transformed into immense vengeful energy. Eventually, a powerful being on the verge of ascension used their life as a price to seal the golden toad with the Four Directions Divine Array.
Originally, daily worship would have been enough. But the villagers moved away, which ultimately led to this outcome.
At this point, the resentful lion looked towards the nearby woods. "And the next sealing location is Xiaotun Village, isn't it, Elder Hua?"
From the woods, six figures emerged. Leading them was Elder Hua. "You guessed correctly. The next sealing location is indeed Xiaotun Village."
Yu Daochen looked at Elder Hua, unable to believe he would use the lives of villagers to set up the Four Directions Divine Array.
Elder Hua looked at Yu Daochen, his eyes full of helplessness. "Little Yu, if that thing gets out, countless lives within a radius of ten thousand miles will be plunged into misery."
Yu Daochen looked at Elder Hua. "It doesn't matter. I'm just here to be cured. Once I'm cured, I should leave."
"You want to ask that little girl to leave? It's useless. Those who have drunk the water carry the golden toad's resentment. This time, the great array will completely seal the golden toad, and they will die with it," the resentful lion suddenly said.
Yu Daochen looked at Elder Hua. Elder Hua nodded. "After sealing the golden toad, that great being had a chance to ascend, but he didn't. He used his life to forcefully protect the villagers."
Yu Daochen's eyes turned cold. An elder beside Elder Hua saw Yu Daochen about to make a move and chuckled. "Little fellow, you are not qualified yet."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he flashed in front of Yu Daochen. "The five of us have promised Elder Hua to pass on our ultimate skills to you."
Yu Daochen looked at the elder, who had white hair and a long scar on his left cheek. "No need."
The elder stared at Yu Daochen. "You have no choice."
As soon as the words were spoken, Yu Daochen felt an oppressive force surge towards him.
The oppressive force grew stronger and stronger. The soil beneath Yu Daochen's feet had already caved in, and his body began to slowly kneel.