On the fifteenth night, the moon rose over the mountain, hanging like a jade wheel in the sky.
Its silvery glow bathed the land, making the mountains feel even colder and more desolate.
The reflection of the full moon shimmered on the surface of Evil Dragon Pool, mirroring the clear sky above.
It was as if another world lay hidden beneath the water.
Two figures sat cross-legged on the shore, engaged in conversation
While Bai Ling lay on his back in the water, gazing up at the moon, lost in thought.
“If everything goes as expected, it will emerge tonight to absorb the essence of the moon.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then we will lure it out.”
Wen Xin continued, “Since the Divine Bell is in this pool, the demon dragon must have hidden it somewhere. Bai Ling has already located its lair.
“As long as we can draw the dragon out, Bai Ling can take the opportunity to retrieve the bell.”
Hong Ning sighed to herself.
Her senior brother had a mission.
Her master’s power was so overwhelming that it would only scare the creature awayhe wouldn’t be able to hold it for long.
Which meant…
She was the only viable bait.
There was no other choice.
They couldn’t exactly send some random person into the water.
Wen Xin reassured her, “The demon dragon feeds on humans. It is most sensitive to the presence of life energy.
“You will enter the water to lure it out.
“Once it surfaces, use the mirror to hold it in place and begin chanting the spell.
“With luck, you should be able to stall for some time.
“I will remain hidden until Bai Ling finds the bell.
“As long as nothing unexpected happens, I won’t reveal myself.”
Hong Ning glanced down at the mirror in her hands.
It was a Demon-Reflecting Mirror, forged with Wen Xin’s spiritual power.
She had used it before, so it wasn’t unfamiliar to her.
She nodded. “I understand.”
Wen Xin stood up.
“The time is near. Bai Ling must suppress his spiritual aura, or the demon dragon will sense him.”
Bai Ling responded with a simple, “Got it.”
His body gradually faded
Then vanished into the water.
Hong Ning pulled a face.
Wen Xin chuckled, then reached out to help her up.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Even if I remain hidden, I will still be watching over you.”
Hong Ning dusted off her robes and grinned.
“Master, you should go.
“It’s not my first time.”
Seeing how relaxed she seemed, Wen Xin finally felt reassured.
With a wave of his sleeve, he concealed his presence.
Though it was May, an eerie chill rose from the pool.
Hong Ning slowly stepped into the water.
She had watched countless exorcisms before.
But at most, she had only assisted from the sidelines.
Strictly speaking, this was her first time playing the lead role.
Deep down, she was uneasy.
The previous encounter in the depths of the pool had been terrifying
And the image of the demon dragon still lingered in her mind.
Now, as she entered the water again, an uncontrollable shiver ran through her.
She nearly choked.
Just then, a soft ripple spread across the surface.
A gentle current lifted her up, steadying her.
A voice, calm yet uncharacteristically gentle, spoke:
“What are you afraid of?”
Perhaps it was because he was nearby, but Hong Ning immediately felt a sense of warmth and steadiness.
She stopped overthinking.
Her courage grew.
“I’m fine,” she said. “You should hide now. Once it comes out, hurry and find the bell.”
A moment of silence.
Then
“It’s coming. Be careful.”
The water rippled, giving her a slight push forward
And then the presence vanished completely.
It’s here?
Hong Ning steadied her breath, focused her mind, and locked her gaze on the water’s surface.
Gradually, ripples appeared in the center of the pool.
Under the moonlight, they shimmered like silver threads.
Soon, bubbles began rising, accompanied by a deep, unsettling gurgling sound.
Even someone as inexperienced as Hong Ning could clearly sense the powerful demonic aura.
One, two, three!
She silently counted in her head.
The moment felt just right.
Hong Ning swiftly leapt up
Fortunately, she had been standing in shallow water, so she quickly landed back on shore.
With a loud splash, a massive black shadow burst from the water.
Sprays of water scattered in all directions as its long, sinuous body lashed toward her.
Hong Ning had been prepared.
She rolled to the side, dodging the attack
At the same time, she reached out and grabbed the Demon-Reflecting Mirror she had set on the shore, clutching it tightly to her chest.
The demon dragon reared up, its body rising high above the water as if preparing to leap onto land.
Hong Ning braced herself.
Kneeling on one knee, she gripped the mirror tightly, waiting.
The moment it came ashore, she would flip the mirror and reflect its image
Then chant the Marshal’s Incantation.
Demonic creatures feared the Divine Thunder of the Nine Heavens most of all.
Heavenly lightning could shatter their souls, delivering divine punishment.
Of course, with her meager spiritual power, there was no way she could summon the Marshal of the Thunder Department
But she could at least conjure some thunder to intimidate it.
However, the demon dragon paused.
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