Chapter 1119: Hypnosis

Many Skyfall Cultists gazed warily at the two young girls.

Finally, the Skyfall Cultist holding a torch asked, "What should we do with these two? Kill them outright, or...?"

"This matter is too strange. If it's truly a trick by the Fusionists, killing them might cause even more trouble. Like the two from yesterday, let's lock them up first. We'll wait for the Bishop to return tomorrow morning to decide."

"Alright."

Hearing this, Chen Ling, hidden in the shadows afar, silently put away the boning knife he held.

Chen Ling didn't know how Xiaotao and the other girl got there, but from the Skyfall Cultists' conversation, it seemed they were also unaware. So, who was secretly manipulating the disappearances of Fusionist children yesterday and today?

Moreover, the same method could work twice in a row, directly transporting these children, who possessed little offensive power, across the Ash Realm and delivering them stealthily to the Skyfall Cult's doorstep.

Chen Ling pondered for a long time but had no clue. Regardless, ensuring the safety of Xiaotao and the others was paramount.

Chen Ling secretly followed the two Skyfall Cultists escorting Xiaotao, passing through a series of simple houses, and finally stopping at an ancient well on the very edge of a village.

Although called an ancient well, it looked more like the Skyfall Cultists had simply dug a pit and piled a circle of stones around it. There was no water in the well, only coils of rotting ropes scattered around, making it appear abandoned for a long time.

"Why do I always feel like someone is watching us?"

A Skyfall Cultist stood by the well, shivered for some reason, and then warily scanned the surroundings.

"It must be your imagination," the other Skyfall Cultist shrugged. "This is deep within the Ash Realm. Where would people come from? As for calamities, it's even more impossible. The power of the Holy Flame can repel most calamities; they can't stay in the light of the flame for too long..."

"What if it's the Fusionists then? I really feel like these children's arrival is a bit strange..."

As he said this, a cold wind swept through the desolate village. The Skyfall Cultist's peripheral vision happened to catch the strange, dull thread-like patterns in Xiaotao's eyes. His heart tightened, and he then lowered his voice and reprimanded:

"The Fusionists never leave the Mother Tree, nor do they like to fight. Stop overthinking here... Come on, let's go back and rest. We still have to get up early for the ritual tomorrow."

The two red-robed Skyfall Cultists pushed Xiaotao and Miaomiao into the well respectively, and then quickly left.

After about half a minute, Chen Ling slowly emerged from the darkness.

"The Skyfall Cult seems quite afraid of the Fusionists..." Chen Ling mused thoughtfully.

However, it made sense. The Skyfall Cult could draw power from the Crimson Star, making them the bane of all divine paths. When they were previously in the Mortal Realm, they easily suppressed a group of divine path wielders. Even without doing anything, the power of the human realm would naturally disintegrate in their presence, earning them the title of humanity's natural enemy.

But the Fusionists' power originated from calamities. They were not affected by the Skyfall Cult's power of decay. Furthermore, Fusionists could travel freely through the Ash Realm, so it was normal for the Skyfall Cult to consider them a major threat.

Unfortunately, the Fusionists were not very aggressive. They lived in seclusion within the Mother Tree for research year-round. Although there were many Fusionists, only a few possessed combat capabilities, and they generally didn't involve themselves in external affairs.

Chen Ling walked to the edge of the well, looking into it. The dim distant firelight could not illuminate the bottom, which was as black as an abyss.

Chen Ling lightly tapped his toes, and half his body transformed into fluttering red paper. He swept down along the well's opening. Using the sight of his arcane pupils, he could see four figures bound by ropes, lying haphazardly in the mud.

"Xiaotao, Xiaotao!"

Chen Ling shook Xiaotao's body, calling softly.

But no matter how Chen Ling shook her, Xiaotao still didn't react. Her body lay stiff on the ground, like an unconscious corpse. Chen Ling tried calling Miaomiao as well, with the same result.

Chen Ling looked at Linglong and Xiaobai on the other side, falling into contemplation...

It seemed now that these individuals who disappeared from the Fusionists were all in a deep hypnotic state. No wonder after the Skyfall Cult captured Linglong and Xiaobai yesterday, they didn't immediately wake them up or use torture. They likely used various methods, but none managed to restore their consciousness, so they simply threw them in here like trash.

The good news was that their vital signs were all normal. At least physically, there were no signs of injury.

After checking the conditions of Xiaotao, Miaomiao, and Linglong, Chen Ling walked straight to Xiaobai. To be honest, after the previous three attempts, he didn't have much hope of waking Xiaobai.

But strangely, as his hands grasped Xiaobai's shoulders, he distinctly felt the body in his hands give a jolt.

Chen Ling froze.

This was not a deliberate movement of the body; instead, it was like the instinctive twitching and fear a person experiences during a nightmare. Chen Ling released his hands, eyed Xiaobai suspiciously for a moment, and then tentatively grasped his shoulders again...

Xiaobai's body jolted again, and pallor appeared on his vacant face.

"...This one might work?"

A hint of pleasant surprise flashed in Chen Ling's eyes.

Among the four people at the bottom of the well, Xiaobai was special. He was the only one who had merged with the calamity of the Ghost Mockery Abyss and could deeply sense the "mockery" aura on himself. As soon as Chen Ling approached him, the instinct etched into his bones would begin to struggle wildly.

If this was the case, perhaps if the fear Chen Ling inflicted on him was strong enough, it could break him out of the hypnotic state?

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ling's hands, like iron pliers, gripped Xiaobai's shoulders. At the same time, his palms flattened little by little, transforming into python-like red paper, tightly coiling around his body...

Xiaobai's stiff body suddenly began to tremble wildly. Beads of sweat slid down his cheeks, and struggle appeared in his vacant eyes, as if he was trapped in an inescapable nightmare.

Chen Ling did not stop. Dense red paper climbed onto Xiaobai's head and limbs, almost suffocating him. Chen Ling even gradually abandoned his human appearance, little by little transforming into a strange red paper monster, slowly expanding within the deep well...

On the flattened, grotesque red paper face, those eyes, faintly tinged with crimson, were almost pressed against Xiaobai's face. The next moment, a grim and intensely oppressive voice softly echoed in Xiaobai's ear:

"Wake up... Or, die."

Xiaobai's body trembled violently, and foam even frothed at his mouth. After hearing the final word "die," he jolted as if electrocuted, and his eyes snapped open in extreme terror!

He was like a drowning person falling into the deep sea, his eyes filled with despair and terror. He instinctively opened his mouth to scream, but the next moment, the python-like red paper sealed his mouth tightly, allowing only muffled whimpers of pain to escape.