The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1805

Wynter's fingers paused for a moment, but her expression remained unreadable.

She had prepared herself to encounter the statue again, but she hadn't expected it to appear in the home of a family in this eerie town. It also seemed that the family worshipped this very statue.

The most difficult malevolent spirits to deal with were those with worshippers. The Human Sacrificial Formation might have existed before, just like now.

Wynter silently followed them into the house.

Feradach was already terrified, whispering shakily, "Do something!"

Wynter glanced at him, her tone calm. "There's nothing I can do about it, so be strong."

Feradach didn't know how to reply.

Brenda, noticing their whispered conversation, smiled and asked, "Do you two have any questions?"

Feradach was too nervous to speak. Instead, he shook his head vigorously.

But Wynter didn't play along. She smiled faintly and replied naturally, "Yes, I do. This sacred statue is quite unique. Perhaps my studies are lacking, but I don't recall seeing it on the celestial register."

Wynter's comment made the other three cultivators examine the statue more closely.

"It does look unfamiliar. Logically, we should recognize all those who have ascended to the Sacred Path."

"Well, maybe we missed some."

"I wouldn't miss any. I remember every cultivator who has ascended, no matter which sect they're from."

Brenda's expression darkened slightly at their scrutiny, but she quickly smiled again. "Perhaps you're all too young to have heard of this great immortal. He was summoned to immortality by heaven's will. His spells are extraordinary, though it's more of a legend."

"Oh?" Wynter feigned interest. "Was there a legend like that? Being summoned by heaven's will is incredible. Do you know which sect this great immortal belonged to?"

Brenda hesitated as she placed her basket on the wooden table. She continued, as if making small talk, "We wouldn't know such things. But our town has been under the great immortal's protection for years.

"We are blessed with good fortune. If you stay here, your cultivation and understanding of the Arcane Way will progress faster."

"Really?" The three apprentices' eyes lit up.

Seeing that, Feradach wanted to shake them awake. How could this be real? If such a place existed, wouldn't Mt. Lunther have already claimed it?

Brenda's expression was sincere. "Of course. The offerings in this basket are all imbued with spiritual energy. Please, help yourselves."

With that, she lifted the red cloth covering the basket, revealing tempting barbecues, peaches, and toasts. They looked festive and, more importantly, radiated spiritual energy—exactly what the cultivators needed!

"What kind of paradise is this? This is amazing!" The three apprentices were visibly excited.

It was no wonder their sages had specifically warned them before the Arcane Way Forum. They had said the place they were going to was dangerous but filled with golden encounters that would benefit their cultivation.

"Who knew we'd stumble into such a place by accident?" The three were clearly on the same wavelength, nodding excitedly at each other.

Meanwhile, Feradach was pale at this point. He just wanted to bolt out the door. But Wynter moved faster, blocking the exit and making Feradach speechless.

Brenda was still smiling, though her features seemed oddly stiff. She muttered to herself, "The skin's almost worn out."

Only Wynter caught the word "skin". The others were either drooling over the basket or looking like they were about to vomit.

Wynter wasn't trying to stop Feradach from leaving. It was just that she had noticed something as soon as they entered. The sky outside had turned pitch black, and the bustling market from earlier seemed to have vanished.

Not only that, but she had also glanced behind her before entering. The vendors were no longer human.

They were grim spirits, a type of malevolent spirit that thrived where death was abundant. Born from human resentment, they possessed recently deceased bodies. Their skins were unnaturally pale, and they moved sluggishly, almost like zombies.

They grew from the earth. If a place's resentment grew too strong and unresolved, these grim spirits would emerge.

Their eyes were entirely black, with no whites, and their smiles were horrifying. They moved swiftly when they hunted. Clearly, they saw the group as prey.

This was the first time Wynter had encountered such beings.

In the modern world, she had only heard Atwater mention them, and at the time, his expression had been dark. He had warned her that she should avoid confrontation at all costs if she ever encountered them.

Hence, rather than facing a swarm of grim spirits outside, it was better to stay inside and buy some time.

That was Wynter's reasoning, but Feradach wasn't convinced. He was barely holding it together.

Fortunately, Brenda had something to attend to. "Everyone, please make yourselves comfortable and have some tea and snacks. I'll change my clothes and prepare a meal."

Feradach looked at the so-called tea and snacks on the table before glancing at Wynter, his eyes pleading. He didn't know what to do. He certainly didn't want to eat the food she provided.

Wynter remained calm. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Brenda, pleased by her politeness, smiled. "It's no trouble. Please, sit. I'll be back soon."

With that, she lifted the curtain and walked into the inner room. Her movements were oddly seductive, and her shadow on the ground was barely holding its form.

Unfortunately, the three cultivators only had eyes for the tea and snacks, noticing nothing else. Ever since entering the town, they had been overcome with hunger.

Feradach, however, slumped into a chair the moment Brenda left, exhaling heavily. "Oh, thank goodness she's gone."

"Feradach, what's wrong? Here, have some tea," one of the cultivators said. Noticing Feradach's sweat-drenched forehead, he reached out to pour him some tea.

Feradach jumped. "Put that down now!"

"What's the matter?" the other two asked, confused. "This is tea imbued with spiritual energy. It's a golden encounter. How can you not want it?"

Feradach forced a smile. "Golden encounter? You're truly blind."

"Hey, Feradach, what's with the attitude?"

As his friend grew indignant, Feradach turned to Wynter. "I beg you, Your Highness, my savior, my fellow cultivator. Please explain to them."

But Wynter didn't have much time to explain. Brenda would be back soon, and Wynter's attention was now entirely focused on the sacred statue. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any spiritual energy emanating from it, but the statue indeed carried a faint, almost imperceptible energy.

Feradach looked puzzled, so Wynter hinted, "Think of the disciples from Mt. Lunther."

The other three immediately grew indignant. "Good! I hope Jaylene gets caught, too!"

Wynter didn't dwell on the topic. She quickly continued, "You guys know many people. You said this statue isn't recorded in the celestial register, but does it resemble anyone you know?"

She studied the statue closely. It was different from the one in the Wretched Ground. The features here were more defined, perhaps due to the offerings.

The four of them gathered around the statue, scrutinizing it. The other three shook their heads. Feradach, on the other hand, seemed hesitant. It was as if he knew something but wasn't sure.

Wynter noticed his uncertainty and encouraged him, "Speak freely. Even a vague resemblance is worth mentioning."

"It does bear some resemblance to the sage who mentors Mr. Winston from Mt. Lunther," Feradach said cautiously. "But it can't be him. He's been dedicated to exorcising demons and protecting the realm for years. He even gave us a lecture recently, remember?"

He looked to the other three apprentices for confirmation.

Wynter had never met this sage, not because of any personal reason, but simply because her spiritual roots weren't strong enough to qualify for entry into the lecture.

One of the apprentices nodded, though his expression was distant. "Now that you mention it, there is a slight resemblance. But that doesn't necessarily mean anything, right?"

Wynter glanced at him, her tone cool. "What do you mean that doesn't mean anything?"

He was worshipped by a small town filled with grim spirits. Brenda had even explicitly stated that this town was under his protection. But what truly caught Wynter's attention was the fact that he was "Logan's" sage.

She raised her gaze. "Generally speaking, sect apprentices can call for help if they encounter danger during their training, right?"

"Of course!" Feradach suddenly realized. "Right, we can call for help! I'll cast the spell now!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, several blooming peach flowers appeared in the sky above the town.

"It's the distress signal from Mt. Lunther! Carlton and the others are really here!"

All four of them turned to Wynter again. If they had once looked down on her—given her mediocre spiritual roots and notorious reputation as a princess who did nothing productive—their gazes now were filled with admiration.

"How did you predict this?"

Wynter had no time to explain. She muttered under her breath, "This is bad."

How foolish could those people be to send such a signal above the town? Did they really think the grim spirits outside were just going to ignore it? They had just exposed their location.

"What's bad..." Feradach started to ask, but then he noticed a face pressed against the nearest window.

Its eyes were dark voids, and its mouth was curved into a smile, though it looked more horrifying than any crying face. It was a grim spirit—and not just one. There was a whole horde of them just outside.

The four cultivators were frozen in terror.

At that moment, Brenda emerged from the room. She had indeed changed her clothes, and even her facial features had subtly shifted. Most strikingly, the basket she had carried in earlier was now filled with dishes of meat, exuding a tantalizing aroma.

"Why are you all standing, honored cultivators? Please, sit down. You must be hungry after waiting for so long..."