Chapter 5498Then, he turned to look at Hu Mazi, his face darkening. “Master Hu, you’re quite capable, aren’t you? You ran off to the Seventh Heaven without even saying goodbye. With your limited strength, you almost lost your soul just now!”His tone held a hint of reproach, but more of it was concern for Hu Mazi. HuMazi scratched his head, his face thick with guilt. “I’m just worried you’d worry, and I want to find the souls of my people as soon as possible…”His voice trailed off, like a child who had done something wrong.“Afraid I’d worry? You coming to such a dangerous place all by yourself is what really worries me!”David sighed, his tone softening. “First, tell me what you found out. What exactly happened?”His eyes were filled with concern, hoping Hu Mazi would explain what had happened in detail.Hu Mazi quickly recounted everything he had heard in the teahouse and witnessed at the altar, especially the story of the temple stealing the souls of the monks under the guise of opening the altar. He gritted his teeth, “Those monks thought they were going to listen to teachings and practice, but they were actually going to die! If they hadn’t discovered this a few days later, who knows how many more would have had their souls siphoned away!”His voice was filled with rage, like an enraged lion.David’s expression grew increasingly grim.The temple, a divine organization, had actually colluded with demonic cultivators and persecuted monks. If word got out, the entire celestial realm would be in turmoil.He imagined the celestial realm in chaos, countless monks perished in the flames of war, and civilians displaced.He understood the gravity of the situation and knew that the temple’s conspiracy must be stopped immediately.noveldrama“Let’s go to the Soul Gathering Altar and investigate. We must find out exactly how they’re stealing souls.” Read full story at His eyes revealed a resolute determination, like an unshakable mountain.The two men found a ready-made clothing store and donned the coarse black robes typically worn by seventh-level cultivators. Using their spiritual energy to slightly alter their appearance, they disguised themselves as casual cultivators attending a sermon and headed towards the Soul Gathering Altar.Their steps were steady and resolute, each one reflecting their pursuit of truth and their unwavering commitment to justice.The Soul Gathering Altar, built on a high platform in the heart of Black Wind City, was crowded with cultivators, most seeking to increase their cultivation or join the temple.Their faces were filled with anticipation. Their eyes revealed a thirst for cultivation, hoping to achieve breakthroughs through this sermon.At the center of the platform stood a cultivator in golden robes, holding a jade ruyi. He declared loudly, “Fellow Daoists, today’s sermon is to draw the profound energy of heaven and earth into your bodies, helping you break through bottlenecks! Simply calm your mind and follow my guidance!”His voice was resonant and powerful, possessing a magical power that captivated the surrounding cultivators.David quietly released a trace of his spiritual sense, sweeping across the platform.Like an invisible hand, his consciousness gently touched everything around him.He soon noticed something amiss. Beneath the platform, a circle of black runes emanated an eerie aura, as if concealing countless secrets. These runesconnected to a hidden recess in the center of the platform, from which the faint aura of a soul urn lingered.Furthermore, the jade ruyi in the golden-robed monk’s hand was emitting a faint, hypnotic aura, gradually lowering the vigilance of the surrounding monks.Like an invisible thread, this hypnotic aura quietly entwined itself around the monks, lulling them into a deep slumber.“Pay attention to the areas between the monks’ brows,”David said to Hu Mazi, a voice only the two of them could hear. His voice was low and mysterious, as if he feared disturbing something.Hu Mazi peered closely and saw a faint blue soul thread slowly emanating from the brows of the monks, their eyes closed in concentration. It followed the direction of the jade ruyi and quietly entered the recess of the platform.