Xukong skimmed through the shared memories and saw what Lin Mu had done. Knowing that these were not his normal actions, he knew something was wrong in that moment.
"What happened?" Xukong was a bit confused, but then felt a strange aura from the Altar in the distance.
"Of course!" Understanding that the alter must be related to it, he rushed to the altar and saw the scene there.
In front of him, several pitch black runes formed above the altar. They were the same as the ones that had appeared before and started to shrink soon after forming. They would shrink to the size of a needle before shooting into the sky and disappearing.
~shua~
A faint aura would rise from the altar whenever this happened and Xukong could feel it.
It made him feel uncomfortable as well and alarmed his instincts.
"What is this now? Is another part of the Nine Divine Heart Sutras about to be awakened?" Xukong wondered.
By now, he had understood that there were certain triggers and requirements for a sutra to awaken. Lin Mu had possibly fulfilled them and it might be time for it to awaken. But then Xukong saw something else in Lin Mu's memories.
It was nothing but Daoist Hua touching him and the eerie laughter that was echoing. The effect of the gaze and the laughter suppressing Daoist Hua's aura was also seen by Xukong. It was this that alarmed him the most, knowing nothing good would come out of it.
Xukong had understood by now that the Nine Divine Sutras were very powerful, but they also had side effects that could be very dangerous at the same time. This was both for Lin Mu and anyone else that might be present near him.
Another factor being that the sutras wouldn't be controllable by Lin Mu right away, either. Thus, the effects of every new sutra were unknown and potentially fatal.
"LIN MU STOP!" Xukong shouted, shaking the very space itself.
Out in the real world, Lin Mu shuddered as a shout echoed in his mind. Thankfully, his mind had not blocked out the link between Xukong and him, allowing him to still hear him.
"What?" Lin Mu's e expression changed that to of confusion as the deep darkness in his eyes disappeared as well.
~step~step~
Daoist Hua too snapped out of his state and quickly took a few steps back.
~huu~huu~huu~
He didn't even realize that he had started panting and his hands were trembling as well.
'What in the name of heavens was that?' Daoist Hua was lost.
He could recall seeing the strange figures that looked rather… malevolent as well as the eerie laughter. His very soul was crying out to run, but he was unable to. It was as if he had been stuck to Lin Mu, until the moment he woke up as well.
"Are you okay?" Lin Mu asked Daoist Hua, not realizing what had happened.
"I-" Daoist Hua saw the entirely different expression of Lin Mu and understood that this might not be something Lin Mu even knew he did.
Adding it to what Lin Mu had done before and the ferociousness he had displayed earlier against the Dao Treading realm Gu Legion Members, he held back on saying anything about it.
In fact, there was a fear in his mind that if he said something, that thing might happen again.
"I'm fine. It's all over now." Daoist Hua replied quickly.
"Over?" Lin Mu looked around and saw the scene of gore.
"They're dead?" Lin Mu was a bit lost until his memories resurface.
His brows furrowed as he realized what he had done.
'Why did I do that?' Lin Mu thought to himself.
This level of cruelty was not something he would show or even attempt. Especially since his goal here was to save the Noon Grass sect and stop the attacks. Normally he wouldn't spend any time on the enemies once they were dead and would rather check the other places for more threat.
"Another part of the Nine Divine Heart Sutras might be awakening soon… your earlier actions might have been due to it." Xukong spoke.
"What? Really?" Lin Mu was shocked.
Lin Mu didn't even stop a moment before disappearing in front of all the elders.
"Where did he go?" The elders were confused.
Elder Sun noticed the strange state of Daoist Hua and approached him.
"Are you fine, Patriarch?" Elder Sun questioned.
"Did you get injured somehow?" Hua Langya asked.
"No… I'm fine… at least physically." Daoist Hua replied.
One of the elders couldn't help but gaze at the 'artwork' Lin Mu had made on the ground and swallowed his saliva in nervousness.
"Does anyone know why he did this? The man was dead after the first couple of attacks." One of the elders asked.
"Yeah… Alliance Leader Lin Mu… became different." Elder Sun spoke.
"He… has changed… or something changed within him." Daoist Hua stated.
"What happened there, patriarch? I saw that when you touched him, you went rather still. Your aura too… its reduced." Elder Sun asked.
"I don't know… I saw somethings… terrifying things… heard them too…" Patriarch Hua replied.
Hearing this, Hua Langya was reminded of something.
"Patriarch… you might want to know this…" He said before whispering his and Elder Pigu's experience from the past.
"Ten golden eyes? No… what I saw was nothing like that. I couldn't even tell properly what I saw… all I remember are vague figures, claws, horns and teeth. And that laughter… I've never heard a laughter like that before… at least I don't think any human can laugh like that." Patriarch Hua Shuddered after remembering it all again.
Hua Langya furrowed his brows and looked at the place where Lin Mu was standing earlier.
"Whatever it may be… something has changed within Lin Mu. Only time will tell, if its good or not." Hua Langya stated.
"Indeed… there is a darkness within him… perhaps it has been there since the start and only showed itself now…" Daoist Hua agreed.
