All took shape in the realm of the unseen.
Though no one noticed, they distinctly felt a change in the atmosphere of the mountain.
Jiangli took out several Prohibition Talismans and placed them atop the pit, to prevent anyone from discovering and interfering with the Formation.
Afterward, Jiangli buried the Prohibition Talismans and the Jade Token together.
Having finished, Jiangli stood up, patted the dust off her hands, and wiped her palm.
The wound in her palm healed at a visible rate, leaving not even a scar behind.
The skin was flawless, as if it had never been hurt.
Jiangli shook her palms, looking nonchalant, and turned to walk down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain.
Xia Xin, Fu’er, and Xun Tianhai, having each completed their tasks, dutifully gathered at the base of the mountain to wait for Jiangli to descend.
After an indefinite wait, they saw Jiangli’s figure appear on the mountain path.
She looked left and right, as if admiring the scenery, completely carefree.
Seeing her demeanor, everyone secretly sighed with relief.
"Abbot," Fu Shiyan spoke first as she approached, "Is everything alright now?"
Jiangli nodded cheerily, "Yeah, all’s good now. With the Formation I’ve set up, it should last a hundred and eighty years at least, no problems at all."
With that, she smiled at Xun Tianhai, "This time, the Formation is on the house; I won’t charge you."
Xun Tianhai was stunned for a moment, then heaved a huge sigh of relief, having saved eight hundred thousand!
He was truly grateful to Jiangli now.
"Thank you so much, Abbot!" Xun Tianhai thanked her repeatedly.
Jiangli, feeling a bit of stiffness in her neck, glanced around and noticed that quite a few people were missing. She asked, "Where are the others? Have they gone back?"
Fu Shiyan responded affirmatively, "The police took the bodies back to the station first."
Jiangli: "Then let’s go back too, to the police station."
Fu Shiyan readily agreed, "Sure."
Xun Tianhai had no objections.
If Jiangli was willing to help them handle some of the aftermath, that was even better.
Xia Xin and Duan Jianchuan, quite self-aware, understood that at this point they were mere accessories, without the luxury of choice, and remained obediently silent.
The group then got into the car and headed to the H city police station.
The scorching sun induced irritability.
Inside the H city police station, the disturbance was even more maddening than the blistering sun outside, making it unbearable.
"What on earth is going on here!"
"Didn’t you police tell me that my daughter had just gone missing? Why are you suddenly telling me that my daughter is dead?"
"How did my daughter die? Why wasn’t this discovered earlier?"
"Why are so many deaths being reported all at once?"
"What are you police even doing!"
Inside the police station, it was jam-packed; men and women of all ages were crowded in the service hall, each one wailing non-stop, faces streaked with tears, crying out in despair and accusation.
The police, facing these accusations, felt both helpless and guilty, repeatedly trying to calm them down.
These were all family members of the deceased, and they couldn’t possibly come to terms with their loved ones’ passing in such a short time; their emotions simply wouldn’t subside.
To them, the police’s attempts at consolation were utterly ineffective, even stoking the flames further.
Their commotion grew even fiercer.
Chief Xu was so overwhelmed by the noise that he was sweating profusely and had gone hoarse from shouting, yet no one paid him any attention.
"Wow... why are there so many people?"
Upon entering the police station with Fu Shiyan and the others, Jiangli was slightly surprised to see so many people.
But after one glance, she understood their identities.
Xun Tianhai explained quietly, "Seems like they’re family members of the deceased who’ve been notified and rushed over."