Having said that, the Crane Immortal suddenly waved both hands, and in an instant, a dazzling and powerful spiritual power shot out from his fingertips, like a sharp lightning, tearing through the air with a howling wind, shooting straight at the black-robed figure. The black-robed figure was unable to dodge, and the spiritual power instantly struck his chest. "Ah!" The black-robed figure let out a shrill scream, his body like a kite with a broken string, once again flying backward. His black robe flapped loudly in the fierce wind, and he crashed heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. This time, he was even more severely injured, without even the strength to struggle to get up, only able to lie on the ground in a state of distress, his eyes filled with despair and hatred, staring fixedly at the Crane Immortal, as if wanting to devour him alive. The Crane Immortal's face was solemn as he walked forward with steady steps. Each step carried an undeniable sense of authority, his gaze tightly locked onto the black-robed figure, with a mixture of emotions in his heart. Approaching the black-robed figure, he took a deep breath, slowly reached out both hands, and gently lifted the veil from the black-robed figure's face. At the moment the veil was lifted, the Crane Immortal's heart jolted violently, as if struck by a heavy hammer. His eyes widened, full of disbelief. The face before him was once so familiar, a disciple he had taught with care, but now it had become so unrecognizable. Time and dark power had left deep marks on his face, distorting his appearance, with eyes radiating endless madness and hatred. The Crane Immortal's eyes filled with grief and self-reproach, his lips trembled slightly, and his voice was low and hoarse: "It was my failure to teach you well back then that led you down this path of no return. It is my dereliction as a master that allowed you to fall into such an abyss. But now, I will no longer give you the chance to harm Spirit Mountain, to harm these innocent beings." The black-robed figure lay on the ground, listening to the Crane Immortal's words, a trace of disdain and venom flashed in his eyes. Clenching his teeth viciously, he forced words through gritted teeth: "Crane Immortal, don't get too complacent. Today, losing to you was just my bad luck. Someday, I will return for revenge. I will make you so-called righteous people pay a terrible price! I will plunge Spirit Mountain into a sea of blood, and make you regret your actions dearly!" After speaking, he suddenly let out a strange laugh, echoing in the air, sending chills down one's spine. Immediately, his body began to tremble violently, and the surrounding air twisted. He transformed into a thick black smoke, swirling and rolling, exuding a nauseating odor, and instantly vanished into the air, leaving behind only a dead silence. The Crane Immortal watched in the direction where the black-robed figure disappeared, his eyebrows furrowed tightly into a deep "川" shape. His eyes were filled with worry, and he pondered silently: "This traitor, now so powerful and insane, will not easily give up his revenge. But what kind of force lies behind him? Did he appear this time merely to vent anger, or is there another conspiracy?" He turned and looked at Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue standing by. The eyes of these two young people showed both shock from the recent battle and determination for the future. The Crane Immortal took a deep breath and said earnestly: "Remember, the path of cultivation is not only full of hardships and challenges but also encounters with many ill-intentioned people. In this world, good and evil often lie in a single thought. You must hold true to your hearts, not be swayed by the temptations and evils of the outside world, and constantly improve your strength to protect Spirit Mountain and this peace." Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue said in unison, their voices crisp and firm: "Rest assured, Elder, we will remember this by heart, strive to cultivate diligently, and protect Spirit Mountain. No matter what difficulties we face, we will not back down." However, the Crane Immortal always had a trace of concern in his heart, like dark clouds hovering over him. He knew that the appearance of the black-robed figure was not accidental, and perhaps hid a larger conspiracy behind it. He pondered silently: "This traitor's appearance must be related to some recent disturbances in Spirit Mountain. What exactly is this dark undercurrent moving in secret? Does it herald a bigger crisis approaching?" Follow current novᴇls on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱 In the days that followed, Spirit Mountain seemed as peaceful as usual, but the Crane Immortal keenly sensed a strange aura pervading the air. At night, he often stood alone at the mountain peak, gazing at the pitch-black night sky, with starlight flickering, unable to disperse the gloom in his heart. One day, while the Crane Immortal was resting with his eyes closed in his cave dwelling, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence. A young disciple rushed in flustered, his face pale as paper, breathlessly saying: "Elder, something terrible has happened! In the small town at the foot of Spirit Mountain, many strange illnesses have suddenly appeared, and the townsfolk are collapsing in agony. Moreover, those who are afflicted emit a black aura, extremely similar to that of the black-robed figure before." The Crane Immortal's eyes snapped open, a cold light flashing within. He stood up, his figure flickered, and instantly appeared in front of the young disciple, urgently asking: "What is the situation? Is there anyone who can control the situation?" The young disciple shook his head, his voice tinged with a sob: "Elder, the doctors in the town are helpless, and many people have already... died. The townsfolk are in panic, hoping Spirit Mountain will come to their aid." The Crane Immortal's brows knit tightly, an ominous premonition surging in his heart. He immediately summoned Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue, saying: "This matter is not trivial, we must go down the mountain immediately to the town to see the situation. I suspect this is related to that traitor." The three hurriedly descended the mountain and soon arrived at the town. The scene before their eyes made their hearts sink heavily. The streets were desolate, the doors and windows of every household were tightly shut, and occasionally, painful groans could be heard coming from inside houses. A stench of decay filled the air, making one nauseous. They entered a farmhouse to find an old man lying inside, his face ashen, body twitching incessantly, and his mouth foaming with black bubbles. The old man's family surrounded him, crying their hearts out. The Crane Immortal stepped forward, squatted down, and carefully examined the old man's condition. He reached out a hand, lightly feeling the old man's pulse, only to sense a cold aura rampaging through the old man's body. His brows furrowed tighter, pondering silently: "This aura is identical to that of the traitor, but it seems somewhat different, even more evil and eerie. Is there a more powerful force behind that traitor controlling everything?" Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue also gathered around, their hearts filled with anger and compassion seeing the old man's plight. Lin Yue couldn't help but say: "Elder, what exactly is going on here? We must find the mastermind behind this and save these people." The Crane Immortal stood up, his gaze determinedly said: "There is definitely something suspicious about this. We will first search around the town and see if we can find any clues." Thus, the three began their search throughout the town. They walked every street, knocked on every door, yet found nothing of value. Just as they were feeling somewhat frustrated, suddenly, an eerie laughter echoed from afar.