Ch. 581 - Hall of Atonement
The moment the possessed Daoists touched the barrier, they were thrown back, but they still kept trying to push through. Xu Zimo immediately understood.
"This barrier is a prison for them," he realized.
He didn’t bother with those struggling cultivators and instead walked straight toward the largest hall within the temple complex.
This great hall stood over fifty meters tall, with a gilded exterior and an oval-shaped dome. At the entrance, six red pillars stood tall, and the area was surrounded by iron railings.
Xu Zimo climbed the steps to the front of the hall. Above the door, a plaque read: Hall of Atonement.
He frowned slightly, then pushed open the vermilion doors with a creak and stepped inside.
The hall was divided into several rooms. In the room he first entered, three statues stood prominently in the front.
From left to right.
The first statue was entirely brown, except for its pitch-black facial features. Both hands were raised, the left foot grounded while the right foot was lifted forward. The figure wore golden ribbons wrapped around its body.
The central statue was a one-eyed lone wolf. Its fur was fiery red, and it lay on a platform in a reclining pose somewhat like a Buddha. It gave off an eerie, bizarre feeling.
The right statue was a monk wearing black prayer beads and a dark robe. His entire body was black, including his eyebrows, eyes, and lips, clearly painted with makeup. His ears were especially large, drooping like upside-down leaves.
"What are they even worshiping here?" Xu Zimo muttered in confusion.
At that moment, a cough echoed through the room.
An old man in Daoist robes emerged from one of the side rooms. His face was pale and sickly; he looked weak.
"Who are you?" the old man asked sharply, visibly alarmed.
"I'm just a traveler passing through the mountain," Xu Zimo replied calmly.
"Don’t joke with me. The mountain’s sealed, how did you get up here?" the old man asked coldly.