He burst into laughter instantly, took the Lotus Platform, and returned to the entrance of the True Taoist Temple, loudly commanding everyone to reposition the remaining seven Lotus Mothers.
It seemed as if he had a new plan to break through the eerie black mist at the entrance of the temple.
Upon seeing this scene, Voodoo said nothing, a glint flickering in his eyes as if pondering something. He retreated a few steps and disappeared back into the darkness.
Not only did his figure vanish, but even his presence disappeared without a trace, thanks to the "Mechanics Expert’s" special skill, "Optical Stealth."
Yan Hui watched the short-statured, black-clad elder twisting his body and performing a sinister dance, then said to Yin Hu after a brief pause: "Hmm, you’ve done well!"
"Well? Heh, does Commander Yan Hui know that our Annihilation Association was already dwindling in numbers? This time, we lost two more, almost ending up like the Ghost Killing Sect!" Yin Hu’s hoarse voice sneered coldly.
Yan Hui squinted his eyes and said, "My Red Emperor Army also lost a Holy Knight Guard."
Yin Hu grew even angrier and said, "The Annihilation Association is a small group, unlike your vast and powerful Red Emperor Army."
Yan Hui thought for a moment and said, "Alright, afterward I will personally communicate with your leader, Zi Shu. We will supply the manpower you’re lacking!"
"... If that’s the case, thank you, Commander Yan Hui!" Yin Hu suddenly replied lightly.
Just a moment ago, he was extremely angry, but with just a couple of sentences, it was as if his emotions made an eighty-degree turn, playing the extremes of capriciousness to perfection.
However, Yan Hui seemed to find nothing surprising about this.
After all, everyone who knew realized that Yin Hu’s profession is "Prison Director," at stage three of the criminal path known as Le Ziren. It’s normal for such people to be somewhat unstable.
Nevertheless...
Yan Hui seemed to think of something but said nothing more.
The death of companions was insignificant, as it was all for greater and better gains!
For a moment, everyone’s gaze was drawn to the fussing old Taoist priest, filled with tense anticipation.
Meanwhile, Yin Hu silently sat down nearby with Mao Tu’s support, earnestly swallowing medicine to heal his injuries.
A Holy Knight’s medic approached to offer help, but he coldly refused.
This small incident naturally went unnoticed.
After about ten minutes of spirit dancing, the black-clad elder underwent another transformation.
He dismantled the newly arranged array several times, repeatedly rehearsing, dancing, and conducting rituals, then stood delighted, his shocking gestures drawing everyone’s attention.
He immediately moved to the back side, attaching the newly acquired "half Lotus Mother" behind a Lotus Mother, filling the gap to form the most suitable angle.
In his hand, he held a bell shaker, beginning to sing in a droning voice.
"Old mother yearns ~"
"Return the soul ~"
His voice was exceptionally unpleasant, resembling a crow’s desperate cawing at midnight, spreading through the dimness, resembling a funeral.
In contrast, the Lotus Mothers, who were initially quite lively, became lifeless, as if their souls were drained by the eerie singing, withering and budding enormous buds in their cores.
The elder immediately picked them, gathering seven buds along with the final half piece of the Bronze Lotus Lamp. The eight lotus buds unraveled in his hands, dripping onto the ground to form thumb-sized lotus root figurines.
They wobbled and, in sync with the elder’s chant, stirred the air, advancing step by step into the temple.
This time, the black mist that previously blocked him did not seethe as before, but slowly parted to both sides after brief contact.
"It’s done, it’s done!"
The elder’s laughter couldn’t be restrained.
Those lotus root figurines vanished, seemingly swallowed by the black mist.
As the black mist dissipated, the temple beyond was fully revealed.
It was an extremely dilapidated temple, covered in dust, with various timbers bleached, the main hall collapsed, and only a dark tunnel suspected to lead deep into the mountain remained.