Inside the Zhao Residence.
An eerie, ghostly aura pervaded the area while fierce sword qi crisscrossed the grounds. The sounds of battle were earth-shattering, their power immense.
Outside the Zhao Residence.
It was utterly quiet, without a soul in sight.
After all, since the Zhao Residence was destroyed, all civilian dwellings within a radius of hundreds of meters had been used in a blood sacrifice, terrifying all of Maple City. Many of the common folk who had once lived nearby had narrowly escaped with their lives; they dared not linger and had temporarily moved away. Even sleeping on the streets elsewhere was safer than staying near the Zhao Residence.
Within the gloomy, ghostly mist, a figure slowly emerged. Cloaked in black, he radiated a chilling demeanor.
Suppressing Evil Banners? A hint of a smile played on Daimon Qianmian’s lips as he looked at the flags planted around the residence. These youngsters do have some caution. Unfortunately, in the face of an absolute disparity in strength, caution is meaningless.
Daimon Qianmian slowly extended his right hand. A huge palm print, condensed from Yin Sha Qi, manifested and shot toward the Suppressing Evil Banners.
Silver screens of light materialized on the surface of the Suppressing Evil Banners, attempting to resist the palm print. Within a few breaths, however, they were completely crushed, and the array flags were ripped from the ground.
In that instant, the Yin Sha Qi within the Zhao Residence was no longer constrained and began to surge wildly once more.
Still not enough, just a little more is needed! Daimon Qianmian sneered as he produced seven black banners. He planted them in all directions around the Zhao Residence, where they emitted a mysterious aura that drew the Yin Sha Qi from the entire area to converge.
Instantly, the already tumultuous Yin Sha Qi became even more frenzied, as if fuel had been poured on a fire, and it began to soar without limit.
This was the Seven-kill Gathering Yin Formation.
Daimon Qianmian had paid a great price to obtain these treasured array flags from the Ghost King Sect. They were capable not only of multiplying the Yin Sha Qi within their area of effect, but could also seal off heaven and earth, severing all external communication. Once trapped by this grand formation, it would be impossible for those young disciples from the Sanqing Immortal Sect to call for rescue, even if they realized something was wrong.
"Nie Linglan!" Daimon Qianmian’s voice dripped with malice. "Enjoy the feast I’ve prepared for you!"
"Three cultivators at the Core Formation Stage—and True Disciples from the Sword Sect of the Sanqing Immortal Sect, no less. Devour their essence blood and spirits, and your power will reach its peak. You will become my most perfect creation."
Wearing a confident smile, Daimon Qianmian slowly walked into the Zhao Residence. "You all stay outside and protect the array flags for me. If there is the slightest mishap, I’ll ensure you never find peace!"
As his words fell, ghostly shadows coalesced from the mist and prostrated before him. "Yes, Master!"
「Meanwhile, inside the Zhao Residence.」
As the Li brothers cast aside their contempt and began to attack in unison, the Nine Yin Fierce Ghost found herself cornered. Despite having a significant terrain advantage, she was in a precarious position under the Three Talents Sword Formation.
Both her Paper Mantra Art and her Red Silk Art were directly shredded by the unstoppable Three Talents Sword Qi. Her elusive movements were unable to breach the formation’s defense.
On the contrary, every joint attack from the Li brothers caused the Malicious Ghost’s form to dissipate, her ghostly energy scattering. If not for her innate Divine Skill, the ’Ghost Domain,’ which allowed for lightning-fast evasion, she would have already suffered heavy injuries.
But even with the enhancement of her ’Ghost Domain,’ Nie Linglan could not hold out for much longer. Having just absorbed a large amount of Yin Sha Qi, she was no longer able to perfectly conceal her presence. By attacking the areas where the Yin Sha Qi was densest, her opponents could pinpoint her location. Her defeat was only a matter of time.
A cold, sorrowful voice echoed throughout the Zhao Residence. "They say disciples of the Sanqing Immortal Sect protect the people and distinguish right from wrong, so why are you three Immortal Masters so aggressive?
"When the Zhao Family cornered me, none of you stepped forward.
"Now that I’ve become a Malicious Ghost to seek my own revenge, I have shown you repeated tolerance. Yet your every move is lethal, unforgiving even when you believe you’re in the right.
"Is this the righteousness upheld by your famed Righteous Sects?"
Li Longyou glanced at his older brother, who, despite spitting mouthfuls of blood, was inexplicably excited. He then looked at his second brother, who was yawning and dozing off. The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
He sighed. "Grudges have their source, and debts their rightful owner. The son of the Zhao Family wronged you, so taking revenge by killing him is understandable. We had no intention of interfering. But for you to become a ghost and annihilate the entire Zhao family? That is excessively cruel. To then harm the innocent residents nearby is an act unforgivable by Heaven and Earth. How could we of Taoism possibly tolerate you?"
Nie Linglan said mournfully, "The Zhao Family abused its power and exploited the common folk. Most of the wicked servants in the residence deserved to die. As for the innocent, I let them leave long ago. I did not kill them."
Li Longhao slashed out with his sword. In an instant, buildings collapsed and the ghostly energy dissipated. His face filled with rage, he snorted coldly, "A pack of lies! Within a radius of several hundred meters from the Zhao Residence, not a single chicken or dog was left alive. All civilians were slaughtered, their very spirits not spared. You vile fiend, and you still dare to argue?"
The resentful aura around the Ghost Domain intensified. Falsely accused, the red-robed specter lamented, "Believe it or not, I was not the one who killed the people near the Zhao Residence. Seven days ago, after I killed the main culprits of the Zhao Family, I stopped killing. I only extended the Ghost Domain from the residence because I sensed someone outside commanding Malicious Ghosts to kill indiscriminately. I wanted to stop him, but he is very strong. I am no match for him."
Li Longhao scoffed, "What a convenient story! You are a vile fiend who has committed boundless slaughter. Now that your execution is imminent, you resort to making excuses?"
"Hold on!" Li Longyou snapped, stopping Li Longhao just as he was about to leap forward with his heavy sword. Li Longyou’s expression was grim.
Something’s not right! ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NovᴇlFɪre.nᴇt
As a ’play-it-safe’ Sword Cultivator, Li Longyou had felt from the very beginning that there was something strange about the Zhao Family massacre. It was just that his foolish older brother was always eager to charge forward recklessly, while his lazy second brother only wanted to sleep. Furthermore, on many previous missions, his caution had indeed been a case of him worrying unnecessarily. That was why he hadn’t insisted on calling for backup and had entered the Zhao Residence directly with Li Longhao. But now, hearing Miss Nie’s explanation—though it was only one side of the story—set off alarm bells in his mind.
A second later, a chilling realization struck him.
Li Longyou’s expression changed dramatically. "Not good! The Suppressing Evil Banners I set up have been pulled up! There’s an enemy outside!"
"There’s another enemy?" Li Longhao’s fury crested. "I’ll go chop him to pieces!"
Li Longyou rolled his eyes. For crying out loud, he’s still thinking about charging in recklessly!
He couldn’t be bothered to explain further. He snatched the Communication Token from his waist and sent out a distress signal as fast as he could.
However, the beam of clear light had barely left the Zhao Residence before it was blocked by a black barrier. The distress signal had been intercepted.
"Dammit!" Li Longyou’s face grew paler. "I knew there was something strange about this mission. Now we’re in real trouble."
As the black barrier enveloped the entire Zhao Residence, the already extraordinarily dense Yin Sha Qi within began to escalate tenfold, then a hundredfold.
Boundless Yin Sha Qi, like myriad rivers converging into the sea, surged into the red-robed Malicious Ghost. Her aura began to strengthen at an inconceivable speed, pushing toward its absolute limit.
At the same time, eerie laughter echoed from all corners of the Zhao Residence.