Morning crept slowly into the ruined courtyard of Stoneveil Hollow.
A thin beam of sunlight filtered through broken roof tiles, illuminating drifting dust and the quiet figures resting beneath the protective formation.
Ling Yue still slept.
Her head rested lightly against Mo Xuan's shoulder, her breathing slow and even, as though the horrors of the sealed town were nothing more than a distant dream.
Mo Xuan awakened first.
His eyes opened without sound.
Years of surviving betrayal and war had sharpened his instincts — even in rest, he remained alert.
For a moment, he did not move.
He simply watched the pale morning light fall across Ling Yue's face.
Strands of her hair shimmered softly.
Her expression was peaceful.
Too peaceful for a place like this.
Across the courtyard, Han Wei stretched lazily, rubbing his neck.
Lan Jian rose from meditation with steady composure, while Lan Xue's frost-colored eyes opened quietly — calm, observant.
Her gaze shifted immediately.
To Mo Xuan.
And the girl leaning against him.
A subtle flicker passed through her eyes.
Interest.
Curiosity.
Something deeper she did not yet name.
Han Wei broke the silence first.
"Well," he said lightly, "looks like someone had the most comfortable night."
Lan Jian smirked.
"Danger brings unexpected closeness."
Lan Xue said nothing.
She simply watched.
The soft voices stirred Ling Yue awake.
Her lashes fluttered.
She blinked once… twice…
Then realized.
Her head was still resting against Mo Xuan's shoulder.
Her face turned red instantly.
She sat upright so quickly she nearly lost balance.
"I—I didn't mean to fall asleep like that!" she said hurriedly, avoiding everyone's eyes.
Han Wei laughed.
"It's fine. We all witnessed it."
Ling Yue glared at him.
Mo Xuan stood calmly and extended his hand toward her.
She paused for a breath — then took it.
He helped her up without a word.
Lan Xue's gaze lingered on that simple exchange.
There was no hesitation in Mo Xuan's movements.
No awkwardness.
Only quiet protectiveness.
Interesting.
Lan Jian clapped his hands once.
"Enough rest. Let's end this town's problem."
The air shifted immediately.
Mo Xuan stepped forward.
"The townspeople are not under a simple mind-control technique," he said evenly.
Han Wei frowned. "Then what?"
"An artifact-based domination formation," Mo Xuan explained. "Instead of forcibly controlling thoughts, it emits continuous soul interference."
Lan Xue tilted her head slightly.
"So their consciousness isn't erased."
"It's suppressed," Mo Xuan corrected. "They remain aware — but cannot resist."
A faint chill passed through Ling Yue.
"That's cruel…"
Mo Xuan nodded once.
"The artifact must be destroyed."
He continued outlining the plan.
"The barrier sealing this town suppresses cultivation, but every formation has weak points. Lan Jian, Lan Xue — locate and break the weakest node using talismans."
Lan Jian grinned confidently.
"Leave that to us."
Lan Xue's eyes briefly returned to Mo Xuan.
"You sound certain," she said softly.
He met her gaze calmly.
"Certainty is necessary."
Something in his composure unsettled her — yet intrigued her further.
The group divided quickly.
Mo Xuan, Ling Yue, and Han Wei would investigate the town center.
Lan Jian and Lan Xue would move toward the outskirts to locate the barrier node.
The streets of Stoneveil Hollow felt disturbingly normal in daylight.
Shops appeared open.
Doors were unlocked.
Yet no voices rose.
No conversations.
The townspeople moved stiffly, their expressions vacant.
Ling Yue whispered, "They look alive… but they're not."
Mo Xuan observed carefully.
"Their reactions are delayed. Their movements respond to an external pulse."
Han Wei nodded grimly.
"They're waiting for commands."
Suddenly, Ling Yue stopped.
Ahead, dozens of townspeople stood gathered around a large stone structure at the center of town.
"They're all there," she whispered.
Mo Xuan's gaze sharpened.
"That's the source."
They approached carefully.
From the outside, the structure appeared modest.
But once inside—
Space warped.
The interior expanded unnaturally, like stepping into a hidden dimension.
Ling Yue gasped.
"It's bigger inside?!"
Han Wei muttered, "Spatial compression…"
Hundreds of townspeople stood silently in concentric circles.
At the center stood a towering statue carved from dark stone.
Its eyes glowed faint green.
Ling Yue instinctively looked up.
Her vision locked.
The green glow reflected in her pupils.
Mo Xuan reacted instantly.
"Ling Yue!"
He grabbed her arm and turned her away forcefully.
She staggered, breath returning sharply.
"What—what was that?"
"Do not look into its eyes," he said firmly.
"It's an Evil Resonance Core."
Han Wei clenched his fists.
"Then we destroy it."
The moment he stepped forward—
Every townsperson turned.
Simultaneously.
Inside and outside.
All eyes locked onto them.
The crowd advanced.
Silent.
Relentless.
Han Wei cursed softly.
"Here they come."
Without spiritual power, combat became physical.
Mo Xuan moved like flowing water, redirecting strikes without harming the townspeople.
Ling Yue disabled attackers using precise joint strikes.
Han Wei fought head-on, pushing back several at once.
But numbers overwhelmed them.
More civilians poured into the chamber.
Paths closed.
Soon, the three stood back-to-back at the statue platform.
Ling Yue's breathing grew heavier.
Han Wei wiped sweat from his brow.
"They're endless!"
Mo Xuan remained calm.
"We only need time."
At the town's edge—
Lan Jian and Lan Xue located the barrier's weak node.
Invisible spiritual currents twisted violently in that spot.
Lan Jian activated a talisman.
Golden light flared.
Lan Xue followed with a frost glyph, her movements graceful and precise.
Even suppressed, their combined attack struck the node.
The barrier trembled.
But did not break.
Lan Jian gritted his teeth.
"Again!"
Lan Xue glanced briefly toward the town center.
Her thoughts flickered.
Mo Xuan's calm expression.
His confidence.
His strange composure in crisis.
Why did he feel different from other disciples?
Why did his eyes carry something older… deeper?
She suppressed the thought and channeled energy once more.
Their combined strike hit again.
A crack appeared in the barrier.
Inside the statue chamber—
The artifact's eyes flared brighter.
The townspeople surged forward in unison.
Ling Yue stumbled as several grabbed her sleeve.
Mo Xuan pulled her back instantly, placing himself slightly in front of her.
Lan Xue's earlier gaze flickered faintly in his mind — but now there was no time for that.
The three were surrounded completely.
Back to back.
No escape.
No space.
The crowd pressed closer.
Mo Xuan looked upward at the statue.
"Just a little longer," he murmured.
Far away—
The barrier cracked further.
A thin line of daylight pierced through.
And for a brief second—
Spiritual energy trembled at the edge of returning.
The artifact seemed to sense it.
Its green glow intensified violently.
The crowd surged.
Ling Yue tightened her grip on her weapon.
Han Wei prepared to charge.
Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Across the sealed sky, a thin crack spread through the barrier — light seeping in as the formation trembled violently.
And as the artifact's green glow flickered unstably, the townspeople surged closer, trapping them within a tightening circle of bodies and silence.
End of Chapter 16...