The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

These barriers, like a fine net, sealed off the cracks in the sealed land one by one, and each time a rune was formed, it was accompanied by a faint energy fluctuation.

Jiang Chuan's hands moved swiftly through the air, each rune embodying his painstaking effort and wisdom.

Just as Jiang Chuan was about to complete the seal, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura coming from afar.

This aura was different from the chilling presence of the ghost face; it was a powerful and majestic aura that inspired awe.

This person was none other than Qing Yinyan, the sect leader of the Qingyun Sect. Sensing the surge of energy here, she immediately set off to come here.

Her steps were steady, her aura restrained, but her undeniable authority seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

Jiang Chuan and Ling Juan hid in the shadows, observing Qing Yinyan's every move.

Qing Yinyan appeared not far from the sealed land, her hands forming a seal, and a powerful spiritual force surged from her body, merging with the barrier of the river.

At the same time, her voice boomed like thunder: "Who is it, hiding so furtively and afraid to show their face?"

Qing Yinyan frowned, her powerful spiritual energy surging within her, causing the trees growing on both sides of the road to sway.

Jiang Chuan slowly emerged from the shadows, having underestimated Qing Yinyan's perception at the mid-stage of the Heavenly Realm.

"metropolitan!"

Jiang Chuan clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"It's you?"

Qing Yinyan looked at Jiang Chuan with a puzzled expression, unable to believe that the sealing barrier of the Extremely Quiet Land could be created by this seemingly carefree young man.

Jiang Chuan gave her the impression that he always had a nonchalant attitude, as if he didn't care about anything.

Qing Yinyan raised an eyebrow slightly, walked up to Jiang Chuan, and carefully observed his barrier.

Her eyes revealed an incredulous surprise, as if to say, "How is this possible?"

"Is this a barrier that a cultivator at the early Earth Rank could refine?" Qing Yinyan's voice carried a hint of doubt, his tone reflecting both skepticism about Jiang Chuan's strength and surprise at the quality of the barrier itself.

Jiang Chuan smiled slightly and said calmly, "Sect Master, you flatter me. Although I crafted this barrier, it also incorporates some insights and techniques I learned when I was in the early stages of the Earth Rank."

"Nonsense." Qing Yinyan stared directly at Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, realizing that his words might have touched a nerve with Qing Yinyan.

His identity in the Qingyun Sect was carefully planned and must not be exposed at this crucial moment.

A sense of tension welled up inside him, but he tried his best to remain calm on the surface.

"Sect Master, why is this?"

Jiang Chuan's voice was calm, but his palm behind his back was already preparing an attack. If the unpredictable Qing Yinyan made a move at this moment, he would have no choice but to drop his disguise and fight him.

Qing Yinyan snorted coldly, tapping his chin lightly with his fingers, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment, she slowly spoke: "The formation of this barrier requires at least the strength of the late Earth Rank, and you are clearly not in line with the aura you are currently exuding. My sixth sense tells me that you are hiding something from me."

Jiang Chuan frowned, his face grave, marveling at Qing Yinyan's keen perception.

The tension at this moment is not unfounded.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, but the tension still lingered.

"Sect Master, I did conceal something, but it was not out of malice."

Jiangchuan Road.

Qing Yinyan nodded slightly, his brows relaxing slightly.

“There’s a ghostly face haunting this extremely quiet place. Our seal can only suppress it temporarily. Sect Master, you should focus your attention there.” Jiang Chuan quickly changed the subject.

Qing Yinyan's eyes were filled with worry; the situation in the Extremely Quiet Place was not optimistic.

The existence of the ghost face not only threatens the stability of the sealed land, but also poses a potential threat to the safety of the entire Qingyun Sect.

"You're right, the matter of making faces shouldn't be ignored."

Qing Yinyan turned around and looked at the sealing barrier not far away.

"Does the sect leader know what the ghost face in the Land of Extreme Tranquility is?" Jiang Chuan asked curiously.

“These funny faces…” Qing Yinyan hesitated, as if recalling some unpleasant past events.

Then, after a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice tinged with bitterness: "My memories have returned."

Jiang Chuan frowned in confusion, unable to understand the meaning behind Qing Yinyan's words.

What exactly does it mean for memories to resurface?
"Sect Master, could you explain this in detail?" Jiang Chuan's voice was filled with urgency, eager to find out the truth behind all of this.

Qing Yinyan took a deep breath, his gaze becoming distant, as if recalling a long-ago event.

She spoke slowly, her voice heavy: "A long time ago, a catastrophe occurred in Qing City. During that catastrophe, a group of ghost-faced monsters ravaged the city. They were cruel and merciless, and countless lives were lost."

Jiang Chuan had never heard of such a disaster in Qing City.

He couldn't help but ask, "Wasn't that catastrophe resolved?"

Qing Yinyan shook his head and said, "That catastrophe was eventually sealed in an extremely quiet place by a powerful cultivator. However, as time passed, the power of the seal gradually weakened, and the seals on those ghost faces began to loosen."

Jiang Chuan's heart sank as he understood the meaning behind Qing Yinyan's words.

The ghost face in the extremely quiet place was actually a remnant of the Qing City catastrophe.

"Sect Master, you said that a catastrophe is about to strike Qing City ahead of schedule. What do you mean by that?" Jiang Chuan asked.

Qing Yinyan sat on the bench, gazing into the distance: "The seal of the Silent Land can no longer suppress those ghost faces. They are awakening. If we allow them to run rampant, Qing City will once again be plunged into disaster."

"If it weren't for my suppression over the years..."

"The outburst of the ghost face should have happened a long time ago."

"And suppressing these ghost faces requires the power of darkness."

"Over the years I have amassed these powers on a massive scale, to the point that rumors about me have circulated outside."

"Especially Jiang Chuan from the Diviner Alliance, who believes that everything I've done is for my own selfish desires."

Qing Yinyan slowly recounted the hardships she had endured over the years.

Jiang Chuan listened quietly to Qing Yinyan's words, his heart filled with shock.

He never imagined that the usually dignified sect leader of the Qingyun Sect would be carrying such a heavy secret and pressure.

Qing Yinyan's voice carried a hint of weariness, and her eyes flickered with complex emotions. She slowly stood up, gazing at the sky, seeking a sliver of comfort.

“Those ghost faces are remnants of the Qing City catastrophe. Their existence is like a sword hanging over Qing City's head. I must remain vigilant at all times and not give them any opportunity to take advantage,” Qing Yinyan said.

"Why did you only tell me about this?" Jiang Chuan asked curiously, after all, there were other people in Qing City.

"I haven't told anyone else about this."

"Because I know that if the information is leaked, it may cause unnecessary panic."

"Moreover, I'm worried that once the seals on those ghost faces are broken, they will wreak havoc on Qing City again."

"At that time, it will probably involve even more people."

Qing Yinyan said bitterly.

"Sect Master, you've sacrificed so much for Qing City." Jiang Chuan said, then, as if remembering something, continued, "What does this ghostly face have to do with the awakening of memories?"

"You don't know this, but these ghost faces are memories of the citizens of Qing City."

"And this memory is confused and chaotic."

"If they find a host, the person they are parasitized will gain spiritual power, but their spiritual power is dark."

"At that time, they will also become dazed and confused, like a ghost without its own consciousness, biting anyone it sees."

Qing Yinyan explained that she even made a biting motion during the incident, which startled Jiang Chuan, making him feel unsafe everywhere, sending chills down his spine and making him shudder.

Jiang Chuan was taken aback when he heard Qing Yinyan's explanation.

I never imagined that these seemingly ordinary ghost faces would be so closely connected to the memories of the citizens of Qing City, and that these memories would be such a terrifying existence.

"Sect Master, how did these memories turn into ghost faces?" Jiang Chuan couldn't imagine how the memories that originally belonged to the living could turn into such terrifying monsters.

Qing Yinyan's eyes deepened as he recalled that unbearable past: "A long time ago, a catastrophic plague struck Qing City. It was not an ordinary disease, but caused by an evil force. Those infected with the plague had their souls twisted, their memories became confused, and they eventually turned into ghost faces."

Hearing this, Jiang Chuan was still deeply shocked. He asked, "Then how was this plague stopped?"

Qing Yinyan sighed: "It has never been stopped; it has always existed."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan gasped, his breath catching in his throat. He couldn't believe that such a catastrophic plague had gone unchecked.

Instead, it is like an invisible ghost, lurking in every corner of Qing City, ready to devour more lives at any moment.

"This...how is this possible?" Jiang Chuan exclaimed in disbelief.

Qing Yinyan slowly said, "That plague was caused by an evil force called the power of darkness. This power comes from the dark land deep underground. It can erode people's souls, distort people's memories, and turn the memories of the dead into ghost faces. At that time, a dozen powerful cultivators sealed the source of the plague, but they could not completely eliminate this power and could only suppress it temporarily."

Jiang Chuan frowned, beginning to understand the gravity in Qing Yinyan's words.

It turns out that this plague was not a simple disease, but a profound disaster.

Its origins are unfathomable, even beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

"So, where will these ghost faces eventually go?" Jiang Chuan asked.

Qing Yinyan replied, "They are sealed in a place of extreme stillness, but the power of the seal is gradually weakening. If they are allowed to roam freely, they will seek new hosts, and those hosts that are parasitized will become their accomplices, continuing to spread this evil power."

A chill ran through Jiang Chuan's heart, a feeling like an invisible cold current rushing from his feet to his head.

He realized that what Qing Yinyan meant by "not being stopped" was not only referring to the plague itself, but also to their helplessness and despair in the face of this disaster.

This disaster, like a huge shadow, looms over Qing City, ready to strike at any moment.

"You are the strongest in Qing City. What are you planning to do?" Jiang Chuan asked tentatively, his voice tinged with worry, like a spring breeze rippling across a lake.

He was actually starting to worry that Qing Yinyan was bearing such enormous pressure alone, and this concern was evident in his voice.

Qing Yinyan's eyes were firm, like the brightest star in the night sky, and his tone conveyed a sense of fearlessness in the face of death.

She knew she bore a heavy responsibility for Qing City. As a goddess, she had to stand up, even if it meant facing unpredictable dangers.

She said, "As the goddess of Qing City, I will use the pure radiance of goddess power to purify these filths." Her voice was full of determination, as if she was ready to fight these grotesque faces in the final battle, no matter the outcome.

A pity rose in Jiang Chuan's heart as he realized that the power of the goddess that Qing Yinyan spoke of was not her personal power, but the power of faith of all the cultivators in Qing City.

This is a kind of respect and trust that comes from the people of Qing City for her, an invisible bond that unites the power of all cultivators.

However, can she do what even the most powerful ancestors couldn't?
Clearly, Qing Yinyan was carrying out her plan with the intention of perishing together with these ghost faces.

There is no turning back in this battle; if we fail, Qing City will be plunged into endless darkness.

Behind her determination lay a deep sense of helplessness and sacrifice; she was willing to give her life for the peace of Qing City.

"Is there really no other way?" Jiang Chuan asked.

Qing Yinyan remained silent, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

She couldn't let Jiang Chuan, an outsider, see her rare moments of weakness, but she also couldn't deny the fear and helplessness in her heart.

Her fingers gradually clenched, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, as if only in this way could she maintain that thin layer of strength in front of Jiang Chuan.

“There might be a solution, but it will take time,” Qing Yinyan said.

"What is it?" Jiang Chuan's voice carried a hint of urgency.

“Before the Ghost Face in the Silent Land fully erupts, we need to find clues and study the relics of our ancestors. These relics may hold the secret to fighting against the power of darkness. Perhaps we can find a new method, a way to fight against the power of darkness,” Qing Yinyan said slowly.

At this point, Qing Yinyan realized that she had talked a lot today.

She doesn't usually talk about these things so frankly in front of others.

But perhaps it was Jiang Chuan's calm and trusting gaze that made her feel at ease, as if she could let down all her guard in front of him.

Why would the person in front of her let her say these things so easily?

What kind of magic does he possess?
Do you like it?

No, she can't have such thoughts. After all, she's the goddess of Qing City; how can she think about such things?

Her heart raced, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks. She shook her head, banishing those unrealistic thoughts from her mind.

We must not let personal emotions affect the fate of Qing City; we must remain calm and fearless.

"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Chuan noticed that Qing Yinyan was acting strangely and asked softly.

"It's nothing." Qing Yinyan brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and walked out of Jiang Chuan's sight. (End of Chapter)