I Can Extract Divine Power-Chapter 112 - 92: New Divine Power Level 3, Sacrifice 3

Chapter 112: Chapter 92: New Divine Power Level 3, Sacrifice 3

Shen Bai and his companions, dressed in the black uniforms of the Observatory, seemed somewhat out of place here.

This was the style of Sealed Village; it had always been common for men to till the fields and women to weave.

Shen Bai looked around and noticed that the resentful energy from yesterday had grown even stronger.

"I’ve heard legends before about important events turning into aberrations."

Huang Guang said, "They say that on New Year’s Day, a creature called ’Nian’ became an aberration."

"And on the annual tomb-sweeping day, when resentful energy festers, an aberration was born."

This was the first time Shen Bai had heard of such a thing. "Tell me more," he said.

Kong Fang picked up the thread. "In this world, where some people live well, others naturally do not."

"Especially during festivals and holidays, seeing others prosper while they themselves suffer breeds resentment. Over time, this resentment coalesces, and the festival itself can transform into an aberration."

"The same goes for tomb-sweeping day. While paying respects, some of those who are struggling in life will instead blame their ancestors for not protecting them. Resentful energy gathers at the graves, and an aberration is born."

Shen Bai listened, nodding to himself. ’Sealed Village might be the same, but the people here are prosperous. Why would an aberration appear during the Kitchen God Festival?’

Huang Guang and Kong Fang shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know either.

As they spoke, the group came to a stop before a house.

In front of the house, a middle-aged woman was holding a swaddled infant, rocking it in her arms and cooing, trying to lull the baby to sleep.

Shen Bai stopped.

Huang Guang and Kong Fang found this odd but stopped as well.

Seeing Shen Bai staring at the woman, a strange thought occurred to them.

Before either of them could speak, Shen Bai walked straight toward the woman.

The woman, who was soothing her child, saw three Lord Officials approaching and instinctively scrambled to go back inside her house.

Shen Bai stopped her. "Why the hurry?"

The woman lowered her head. "I am just a commoner from a remote place. It is only natural to be afraid when suddenly faced with officials of high standing."

Shen Bai smiled and looked at the infant in her arms. "The child is quite handsome. But at your age, is this your only baby?"

A flash of panic crossed the woman’s eyes. "My husband is not a capable man. We were only blessed with this child in our middle age."

While they were talking, Huang Guang and Kong Fang caught up. When they saw the infant in the woman’s arms, their faces showed their astonishment.

’This infant... The resentful energy is so thick.’

The two exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing.

’This woman is lying.’

A dense web of resentful energy was wrapped around the infant, far thicker than that surrounding any of the nearby houses.

Clearly, something was wrong with this baby.

Shen Bai looked up, meeting the woman’s eyes directly. "If you have any information, you can report it to me. You know the Observatory is responsible for handling these matters."

The woman shook her head quickly, insisting that nothing was wrong.

Huang Guang, knowing the woman was hiding something, wanted to step forward and speak, but Shen Bai stopped him.

"Let’s go."

Huang Guang was taken aback for a moment.

Shen Bai’s gaze shifted to a corner of the street, where several villagers were watching them.

"Let’s return to the Observatory and gather more intelligence."

Huang Guang was even more confused.

’The woman is clearly suspicious, so why aren’t we questioning her thoroughly?’

But seeing the look on Shen Bai’s face, Huang Guang said no more and simply nodded.

Kong Fang watched the villagers, a thoughtful expression on his face.

With Shen Bai’s plan in mind, Huang Guang and Kong Fang first bid farewell to Village Chief Feng, then quickly rejoined Shen Bai.

Acting as if he truly intended to leave, Shen Bai led the two of them directly out of Sealed Village and to a secluded spot.

Once there, Huang Guang could no longer hold back and asked.

"Brother Shen, that woman is obviously hiding something. Questioning her more might have been useful."

Before Shen Bai could reply, Kong Fang spoke up. "In that situation, the woman was in a panic. We wouldn’t have gotten anything out of her by asking more questions. It would have just spooked our quarry."

Huang Guang thought back to the woman’s panicked state and realized it was true, but he still had a doubt. "So we’re going back?"

They had investigated this far, and now they were suddenly turning back. Huang Guang couldn’t quite grasp what Shen Bai was thinking.

Shen Bai turned his head. "Of course we’re not actually going back."

"The villagers saw us questioning that woman. We’ve already spooked the snake. Now that the snake is startled and we’ve left, it’s bound to come out of its hole."

Huang Guang thought for a moment. "Brother Shen, you mean we’re going to circle back and ambush them?"

Shen Bai nodded. "Exactly."

"If not in one day, then two. If not in two, then three. They’re bound to make a move eventually."

"We’ll just slip back in after nightfall."

Huang Guang’s eyes lit up. He felt the plan was feasible.

After startling the snake, it might not emerge if the one who startled it remains nearby. But if they leave, that’s another matter.

Even if the enemy is cautious, if we stay away long enough, the snake is sure to appear.

"For now, just follow me and we’ll keep watch from outside the village."

Shen Bai placed his hand on the hilt of Cold Moon and headed back toward Sealed Village.

Huang Guang and Kong Fang exchanged a look and followed Shen Bai, leaving the secluded spot.

...

Night gradually fell.

The atmosphere of the Deserted Village grew more sinister. A terrifying resentful energy, as thick as ink, enveloped the entire village.

In the village, the woman holding the child stood weeping in an open space, her expression meek and submissive.

Leaning on his cane, Village Chief Feng said, "You foolish woman, you nearly ruined everything! If those people from the Observatory had discovered something, who in Deserted Village would be able to eat in the future!"

The woman clutched her child tightly, saying nothing.

Village Chief Feng continued, "It seems this ritual cannot be completed. That Daoist is trapped in the ritual cave and probably can’t get out. Now, we can only see how the people from the Observatory handle things."

"All of you, remember this: do not say a single word about the ritual. Only the ritual can grant us favorable weather and bountiful harvests."

"Everyone must stick to the same story. Once the Observatory resolves this strange matter, we will continue the ritual."

As he spoke, Village Chief Feng looked at the infant in the woman’s arms.

"Feed it well. After all, it is an important offering for the ritual."