"The Earth Shrine is truly efficacious. My little grandson used to cry all day, saying there was an adult scaring him in his room. I invited many people to perform exorcisms, but none worked. Since worshipping the Earth God, my grandson hasn't cried once."

"Yes, indeed, it's really effective. I used to see a few children playing loudly in the hallway sometimes and wanted to ask whose kids they were. But it turned out no one in the apartment recognized them. Since then, strange things kept happening at home: milk and eggs in the fridge were eaten, and there were often sounds of children crying in the room. But ever since worshipping at the Earth Shrine and offering incense to the Earth God, those strange occurrences ceased."

"I heard the Earth Shrine was set up by a master brought in from outside by the Card Master. Recently, that master has been inspecting the community daily. Have you noticed the environment in our apartment building has improved significantly? It's not as ominously eerie as it used to be."

"That's true. In the past, walking up and down the stairs, I always felt a chill of Yin wind against my ears, like someone was behind me."

A few middle-aged women passed through the hallway carrying vegetable baskets, chatting incessantly about the recent changes in the community.

As they passed an old door, one woman suddenly changed the topic: "Wen Ni hasn't been seen much recently. She and her child are really pitiful. Her husband died, she went mad, and left a child as skinny as an Evil Spirit. Just the other day, I saw Xiao Bao rummaging through trash bins in the community for food."

Hearing someone start gossiping behind their back, the other women immediately echoed, as if opening a chatterbox.

"Wen Ni's had a hard life. Lost her husband, has no skills, and has to raise a child. If she weren't mad, she could find work washing dishes and wouldn't have raised such a terrifying-looking child."

"Let's get going; don't talk about these things at someone's door. They'll hear us. Let's chat at my place."

"Yes, let's go."

With that, the women left, their figures disappearing at the end of the hallway.

From the other direction, a shadow suddenly emerged at the corner, wrapped entirely in a black cloak.

He walked to the mad woman's door and knocked. The door quickly opened. The mad woman trembled, her eyes revealing a trace of unspeakable panic.

"I've already sent Xiao Bao in. Will it really work?"

"Don't worry, leave everything to me next."

A hoarse voice came from under the cloak, and he stepped into the house.

As the door closed, there was a sudden muffled noise inside.

…

After nightfall, Sun Yan, as usual, patrolled the apartment with Sosia.

Thanks to his efforts over the past few days, there were no longer any signs of Evil Spirits inside and outside the Youma Community.

At this rate, by next year, the residents won't need to hold any Rebirth Festival to offer tributes to wandering Evil Spirits to protect themselves.

Though the issue with Evil Spirits was under control, several things still nagged at Sun Yan's mind like a fishbone, impossible to remove.

Firstly, after the failed Corpse Dissolving Immortal killed the Card Master, it hadn't appeared since.

Secondly, since Sun Yan first entered the Land of the Profane in the apartment, he hadn't been able to trigger it again.

Thirdly, who exactly was the target the Yin Messenger was looking to claim?

If these three questions weren't resolved, Sun Yan couldn't leave Youma Community with peace of mind.

After all, with the Earth Shrine so thriving now, this place was part of his domain, and it couldn't have any accidents as a budding force.

"Haven't seen a single Evil Spirit lately."

Sosia stretched lazily, speaking in a relaxed tone.

In recent days, she'd accompanied Sun Yan to eliminate numerous Evil Spirits. Though they lingered persistently, the Golden Halberd gave them only one path: to be shattered into oblivion.

Without the Exorcism Magical Artifact, Sosia was left watching from the side, which naturally became tedious over time.

But she knew her role was as a protector for Sun Yan, not responsible for exorcisms.

"That's a good thing," Sun Yan remarked, observing the surroundings calmly.

Suddenly, the hallway lights flickered, the originally white lights abruptly turning green.

Though the environment hadn't changed, Sun Yan's expression shifted, knowing better than anyone the significance of this moment.

"Land of the Profane!"

Sun Yan muttered, furrowing his brow: "Why would the Land of the Profane suddenly appear? Let's check it out."

Seeing Sun Yan's serious demeanor, Sosia realized something significant was happening and promptly adopted a solemn expression.

The pair quickly searched floor by floor through the hallways, soon discovering an unusual spot.

On the fifth floor, a room's door was inexplicably broken into a large gap.

The wooden door lacked half its panel, and a strong stench of blood wafted out, tainting the entire corridor.

"This is…" Sun Yan looked at the door, shocked to see several sharp scratches across its surface.

As if some wild beast had clawed them.

"I think this was the residence of the boy who stole the tributes."

Sosia glanced at Sun Yan, seeing him nod before she reached to push open the partially ajar door, stepping inside first.

Sun Yan followed closely. Upon entering, the scene of a bloodied mess and dismembered limbs instantly met his eyes.

The floor, sofa, furniture, walls, and ceiling were all covered in blood, making it feel like a slaughterhouse.

Sun Yan covered his mouth and nose, struggling to suppress the nausea rising within.

Even with his experience in exorcism and witnessing major scenes, he couldn't overcome the visceral discomfort.

It was too brutal.

As a former Demon Hunter, Sosia handled it much better. Utilizing her keen senses, she began searching around the living room promptly.

"Jackson, you must see this!"

Soon, Sosia's voice called from another room. Sun Yan hurried over, holding the Golden Halberd.

Reaching out to draw aside the curtain, Sun Yan stepped in to see a shattered, broken redwood coffin.

On the coffin's surface were markings of ink string, and the room reeked of a foul stench.

"Such heavy Yin energy. What happened here?"

Sun Yan looked towards where Sosia stood, seeing a woman with a gaping blood wound in her chest, gurgling blood, lying on the ground.

Her chest to abdomen bore similar bloody claw marks like those on the door.

Miraculously, despite such severe injuries, the woman was still breathing and somewhat conscious.

Her life force and willpower were notably strong.

"Help, help..."

Upon seeing Sun Yan and Sosia appear, the woman murmured in pain, continuously spewing blood.

Sun Yan crouched down, asking sternly, "What did you release? Tell me."

Tears of regret streamed down her face, "He deceived me. My husband can never be resurrected. My poor Xiao Bao, Mother failed you..."

Her voice weakened further, uttering these words took all her strength.

Before Sun Yan could inquire further, her head slumped sideways, life slipping away.

"Xiao Bao!"

Sun Yan was startled. He had previously asked Sosia to find out from community elders that the boy who ate the tributes was named Xiao Bao.

So, this deceased woman was the boy's mother.

Sun Yan felt an immediate sense of dread.

The Land of the Profane in Youma Community might have originated from whatever was inside that coffin.

Now, for reasons unknown, it had been unleashed.

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