What they didn't know was that such events weren't limited to Guming County. A similar scene was playing out among all the factions within Heqing Dao.
Reports from all factions were quickly compiled via the Celestial Net Order and delivered to Yang Zhongyuan, the Governor of the Celestial Net Department, who had been closely monitoring the situation.
"Given the circumstances, it seems there's been an incident inside the Ghost City. All the disciples who entered have experienced fluctuations and a drain on their Primordial Qi. There's only one explanation for this: the Night Parade of Hundred Demons has begun ahead of schedule."
His subordinate Thousand Households reported to Yang Zhongyuan.
"What do you think? Was our intelligence faulty, or has something unexpected happened in the Ghost City?"
Yang Zhongyuan said slowly, setting down the intelligence report in his hands.
"We can't be certain yet. However, that intelligence was verified by multiple sources. The Miaoyin Hall Master even used Magic personally to confirm that the informants were telling the truth, so it shouldn't be false. It's more likely that some unforeseen event has occurred within the Ghost City."
the Thousand Households said gravely.
"The patterns of Evil Spirits are usually fixed. Changing them requires an immense cost. This is highly suspicious. Send word to headquarters. Have the people at the Astronomical Bureau investigate whether something is amiss."
Yang Zhongyuan said.
"Then what should we do about the situation inside the Ghost City?"
his subordinate asked.
"You can start trying the measures we prepared, including the special methods to help them recover Primordial Qi in their Flesh Bodies. As for what's happening inside the city, we can only leave that to the young ones. Let's hope nothing goes too wrong. For us on the outside, our main focus must be on uncovering the true cause behind this incident. It's by no means simple."
Yang Zhongyuan said, his eyes narrowing.
...
...
「Meanwhile.」
Inside the Ghost City, the Night Parade of Hundred Demons had already been raging for nearly a Quarter Hour. This was far longer than the duration Zhao Xuanqi and the others had been told to expect.
After a Quarter Hour, the Blood Moon in the sky finally began to change. It could no longer remain fixed at its zenith and started to drift.
However, the drift was bizarre. It moved nothing like the moon's natural rise and fall. Instead, the Blood Moon shot backward along the path it had risen with uncanny speed, as if time itself were being rapidly reversed.
Soon, the Blood Moon completed its retreat, stopping at a certain point in the sky.
The scarlet moonlight abruptly dimmed. The power that amplified the aura of the living vanished, meaning the disciples were no longer continuously exposed to the perception of the Evil Spirits.
'Is it over?'
Everyone looked up at the sky. To their dismay, the Blood Moon, having retreated to its new position, was now slowly beginning to climb once more.
Judging by its speed, it would reach the zenith again in less than an hour.
Somewhere in Heqing Dao, deep within a cave covered in eerie, blood-red runes, stood a bizarre, cracked idol. Most of its body was missing, but a single, blood-red eye in its forehead glowed faintly, casting a screen of light upon the cave wall.
On the screen was an image: an aerial view of the Ghost City.
The perspective was that of the Blood Moon itself, looking down upon everything on the ground.
"Hee hee, these little ones from Heqing Dao are more capable than I expected. They've certainly surprised me."
"But this is far from over. This was only the first round—just an appetizer. From now on, each one will be more dangerous than the last."
"It's been a long time since I've enjoyed such a wonderful show..."
The short, cloaked figure watched the images on the light screen and let out a childlike laugh.