Chapter 28: Shadow on the Wall

With unwavering focus, Qin Mu studied the map. The Great Ruins were rife with peril, yet this ancient chart, a relic from a bygone era of upheaval, held immense value. It meticulously marked the locations of forgotten ruins scattered throughout the desolate landscape. Should he venture out to hunt and find himself unable to return to the Remnant Old Village before the encroaching darkness, these ruins offered sanctuary.

"With this map, I can avoid many dangers," he mused, dedicating himself to imprinting its details onto his memory. Within moments, he pinpointed his current location on the map. This valley was labeled "Town Central Palace."

"Town Central Palace? 'Central' can also mean 'calamity,' or 'disaster'." Qin Mu, having learned to read and paint under Deaf's tutelage, possessed a wealth of knowledge, though not comprehensive. He murmured, "Town Central Palace… it means the palace that suppresses disaster. What disaster, exactly, does this palace suppress?"

He scanned his surroundings. The Ape-Dragon had, at some point, slipped away from the palace, sensing that its presence might disturb him. It was a thoughtful creature.

"Big guy is quite sensible," Qin Mu observed. Stepping out of the palace, he summoned the Ape-Dragon. "Big guy, are there any strange places around here?"

The Ape-Dragon scratched its head in thought before hurrying towards a side hall of the Town Central Palace. Qin Mu followed, the clumsy roe deer trailing behind.

"This!" In the side hall, the Ape-Dragon pointed a finger. Qin Mu followed its gaze to a white wall. On the wall was a painted silhouette of a person, tiny, no larger than his thumb.

Qin Mu scrutinized the white wall, but found nothing else of note besides the small figure.

Meanwhile, the silly roe deer sniffed its way along the wall, its nose twitching at the person's silhouette. Just as it was about to lick the wall, a hand shot out and the roe deer vanished!

Qin Mu gasped in alarm. The Ape-Dragon, enraged, pounded its chest and roared at the wall, yet dared not approach.

Beside the small silhouette on the wall, a painting of a roe deer materialized, startlingly lifelike. Then, to Qin Mu's horror, the figure on the wall began to grow, its mouth opening wider and wider, revealing teeth like nails. With a single gulp, it devoured the roe deer!

After consuming the roe deer, the figure on the wall suddenly spread its feet and advanced towards them.

Qin Mu watched in shock as the figure, though remaining on the wall, grew steadily taller and larger. It soon reached the size of a normal person, yet continued its advance.

Before long, the silhouette filled the entire wall, its shadow extending to the roof of the side hall. It was a head with a gaping maw. Then, its palms stretched from the wall to the two adjacent walls.

"Little one, run!" The Ape-Dragon grabbed Qin Mu and leaped away, narrowly avoiding being seized by the shadow on the wall.

An angry roar echoed from the wall, shaking it violently and filling the air with dust. A black shadow then spread from within the side hall, engulfing the entire hall in the blink of an eye!

The shadow thrashed against the side hall's walls, struggling to break free, but remained trapped.

"Is this... a demon?" Qin Mu stopped, blinking his eyes. He cautiously leaned forward and spoke: "Qi ke duo Sa mo ye, Ban ruo Ban ruo Sa mo ye, Qi ke duo Ban ruo Sa mo ye."

The shadow covering the side hall instantly stilled. The side hall's lattice windows opened like two black eyes. Qin Mu felt as though he were being stared at by a terrifying gaze, a chilling sensation washing over him.

Then, the side hall's massive door slammed shut, only to open automatically again. Between the opening and closing, a hoarse voice transmitted: "Great Freedom True Word. Are you a descendant of my race? Truly pitiful, your True Word has not received true transmission. Could my race have declined to such an extent?"

Qin Mu tentatively asked, "Senior understands the true Great Freedom True Word?"

"Naturally!" The door opened and closed, transmitting a voice brimming with pride. "My race's Great Freedom True Word contains supreme power! It is the great power to open up the world, the power to attain Great Freedom! Pity, to fall into your hands, how could it become like this? Not an ounce of power! Let this monkey retreat, I will teach you the true True Word!"

Qin Mu looked at the Ape-Dragon, which shook its head and grumbled, "Don't believe it, it's a ghost!"

"This senior is of the same race as me, it won't harm me. You go wait outside for a while," Qin Mu reassured. The Ape-Dragon still seemed hesitant, but Qin Mu gently pushed it out.

The side hall door opened and closed. The voice, full of demonic nature, said: "The True Word is a marvelous cultivation method, containing the power of gods and demons. You have only obtained the True Word's syllables, not its spirit rhyme, nor the method to unleash the True Word. This method is called the Great Freedom Seal, the core absolute learning of my race! My power is sealed within this great hall, I cannot persist. Pay close attention, I will only teach you once. How much you learn depends on your ability!"

The black shadow on the side hall wall continuously shrank, revealing a smaller shadow, about the same height as Qin Mu. Lines appeared within the shadow, moving, outlining the path of vital energy circulation.

The demonic voice explained: "The Great Freedom Seal has four types of seal methods: Demon God Great Power Seal, Heaven Demon Great Freedom Heaven Seal, Great Wisdom Seal. The final seal method is the union of the three seals, the Great Freedom Heaven Demon Seal! This is the first seal, the Demon God Great Power Seal! Your mouth must accompany the demonic sound to excite its power! Qi ke duo!"

Qin Mu's eyes remained fixed on the black shadow on the outer wall of the side hall. He devoted himself to memorizing the cultivation path. Within his body, his vital energy began to circulate according to the outlined path.

"Qi ke duo!" A sudden demonic sound burst from his mouth. Qin Mu immediately felt a surge of terrifying power within his body. This power compelled his palm and fingers to form a strange seal, driving his hand forward uncontrollably!

*Boom!*

A muffled sound transmitted. With this palm strike, Qin Mu had unleashed the Thunder Sound he had always dreamed of, thunder in his palm!

Qin Mu was stunned, finding it almost unbelievable. The Demon God Great Power Seal taught by the shadow on the wall was incredibly powerful. While it lacked the variations of Old Master Ma's Thunder Sound Eight Styles, its raw power far surpassed them.

However, this move, the Demon God Great Power Seal, consumed an immense amount of vital energy, several times more than the Thunder Sound Eight Styles!

The shadow on the wall writhed, as if held back by something, and was unwillingly drawn back into the side hall. It gasped for breath: "This side hall's power is too strong, constantly suppressing me. I don't have much time. Look closely, this is the second seal, the Heaven Demon Great Freedom Seal! Sa mo ye!"

On the inside wall, within the black shadow, the path of vital energy circulation changed again. However, the side hall was dim, and from a distance, it was difficult to see clearly.

Qin Mu roused his spirit and unconsciously stepped forward, about to enter the side hall door. Suddenly, he stopped, refraining from entering. Instead, he urged the Nine Heavens Open Eye Method, taught to him by Blind. An extra layer of pupil appeared in his eyes. Although the shadow on the wall was dim, in his eyes it became clear.

"You're not coming in, can you see clearly?" the shadow on the wall asked.