Exorcist Master - Chapter 76 - Sacred Mountain in Myanmar (Part XXX)

The group cautiously navigated around the puddles on the ground. Chen Shaoxian, who was leading, used his bamboo spear to continuously probe the path ahead, occasionally turning back to remind everyone to watch their step.

Their progress was slow, and the number of puddles increased. The group had to spread out and carefully choose where to step.

As they walked further in, more tree roots protruded from the ground, some reaching the thickness of an adult’s thigh.

“Ah,” Thomas exclaimed, pointing ahead. “Chen Shaoxian, look over there.”

Following Thomas’s direction, Chen Shaoxian saw a twisted tree root on the ground, gripping onto a human skeleton. The person’s remains were intertwined within the roots, with their legs and arms embedded in the ground.

Chen Shaoxian approached and realized the skeleton was almost crushed by the roots, yet the broken parts hadn’t fallen away but were instead embedded in the root. He tapped the part where the bones entered the soil with his evil-slaying blade. The bone shifted slightly, and the root tightened with a creaking sound until a loud snap echoed as the skeleton was crushed in half.

As the skeleton shattered, the part embedded in the ground was instantly pulled deeper, as though something underground had grabbed it.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, fearing that the ground beneath them was a giant maw waiting to devour them.

Knowing they couldn’t wait any longer, Chen Shaoxian hurriedly urged everyone to quicken their pace forward.

After approximately fifty meters, they encountered a towering tree. It seemed to have stood for countless years, its height reaching beyond sight, and its trunk so massive that even if Chen Shaoxian and the group joined hands, they couldn’t encircle it.

The tree’s roots were partially exposed, and to their horror, many human skeletons were entwined within them. Moreover, snakes of various sizes slithered through the roots, some as thick as a bowl, others as thick as a human forearm.

The sight made everyone feel a chill from their heels to the tops of their heads.

Chen Shaoxian spat in disgust, turning to the others, “Let’s go around it.”

Everyone quickly nodded in agreement.

The group began to circle around the giant tree, but while they walked around it, the snakes started moving towards them.

The sound of hissing and the rustle of snakes slithering across the ground filled the air.

Seeing the situation worsen, Chen Shaoxian quickly took out three small bottles and two oil pouches. He freed up a military backpack that was used to store food, mixing the powder from the oil pouches with the green liquid from the bottles, and then stuffed the mixture into the backpack. Using a lighter, he ignited the contents he had just put inside.

With a puff, thick smoke emerged. Chen Shaoxian swung the smoking backpack wildly, tears and snot running down his face. The others, smelling the smoke, also started to “cry” like him.

Blowing his nose, Song Yumu asked, “Shaoxian, what the hell is this?”

“Thai incense,” Chen Shaoxian replied painfully, “I’ve used up all my resources.”

“The snakes are backing off,” Yang Xiao’ang noted, holding a flamethrower.

Indeed, the snakes retreated, seeming repelled by the scent of the smoke, and slithered away in the opposite direction.

Seeing the snakes withdraw, Chen Shaoxian dropped the bag on the ground and stomped on it until the smoke stopped. He then checked the temperature of the bag, took out some black ash, and smeared it on his neck. Everyone else followed suit, though the pungent smell made them sneeze, it also invigorated them.

Chen Shaoxian, watching Song Yumu wipe his tears, said, “Song-Ge, that’s authentic Thai incense with my special touch. Feels good, right?”

Song Yumu, blowing his nose, replied, “Damn it, feels great.” And so, the group continued on, “crying” as they walked.

Not far from the tree, they came across a concrete platform, raised only a foot off the ground, with an offering table on it.

Chen Shaoxian was the first to step up. The offering table was built very close to the tree, almost adjacent to it, with many plates placed on top. Though the items inside the plates had dried up, what surprised Chen Shaoxian was the complete absence of snakes in this area of the roots.

Besides the offering plates, there was a shrine on the table. Chen Shaoxian peered inside and let out a surprised sound, “Hmm?” Inside was something identical to the Bixi he had obtained last time at Qianniao Garden.

Chen Shaoxian felt a question mark forming in his mind. After carefully examining the shrine and ensuring there were no hidden mechanisms, he took out the copper Bixi. After inspecting it for a while, he confirmed it was identical to the one he had previously acquired. He pressed the protrusion beneath the Bixi’s neck.

With a click, the Bixi split open from the abdomen, revealing a ring inside. As Chen Shaoxian retrieved the ring, he noticed a difference: the engravings on this ring resembled flames.

Just as he removed the ring, he heard the rustling of leaves from above. Surprised, Chen Shaoxian looked up, thinking to himself, “This tree is still alive, and it’s moving without any wind.”

Suddenly recalling something, Chen Shaoxian turned to Thomas and asked, “Thomas, were there any murals depicting a heavenly deity creating a monster?”

Thomas nodded.

Chen Shaoxian gazed at the giant tree before him, quickly piecing everything together. In astonishment, he exclaimed, “Could it be that what the Japanese were after is this very tree?”

“Chen, that can’t be right. The murals clearly showed a mountain,” Thomas countered.

Chen Shaoxian shook his head. “For this tree to be alive without sunlight, there must be something we don’t know about. But considering the pits we saw on the ground earlier, it’s clear those Japanese soldiers intended to excavate the entire tree.”

Thomas replied, “Or there might be something underneath the tree they need.”

Chen Shaoxian scratched his head, muttering, “There was mention of Myanmar laborers and those Japanese soldiers in the records.” Then, slapping his forehead in realization, he said, “I get it now. Those people became fertilizer for this tree.”

Just as he finished speaking, Chen Shaoxian suddenly sensed something breathing down his neck. He noticed the others staring at him with pale faces, pointing behind him.

Slowly turning his head, Chen Shaoxian broke out in a cold sweat. Right behind him was a face the size of a millstone.

The face seemed to be sniffing the air, making a hissing sound, and slowly ascended.

“Damn,” Chen Shaoxian cursed inwardly, “this must be a Mahoraga.”