Facing the ferocious and malevolent ghostly head, the people on the boat reacted with varying expressions. Although Mrs. Chen’s face turned slightly pale, she appeared relatively composed. She took a deep breath, her ample bosom rising and falling briefly, and took out a white porcelain bottle from an unknown place. Pulling out the stopper, she gave it a shake, and a wisp of green smoke slowly rose into the air.
The ghostly head was hit directly by the green smoke, flipping mid-air, but seemed to have suffered no harm. After shaking its head, it surged forward again.
This time, Mrs. Chen had no other options. She let go of the porcelain bottle, allowing it to fall to the ground. A sorrowful smile spread across her face, as though she had resigned herself to fate.
Ma Daoist, standing behind the incense table, chuckled coldly and said, "Years ago, Old Ghost Cheng used this Evil-Expelling Smoke to defeat my Five Ghosts Technique. But I’ve suffered bitterly in demonic cultivation for over twenty years, sacrificing a hundred and eight fierce souls to refine my power. I am no longer who I was back then! If that old ghost hadn’t died prematurely, I would have repaid the humiliation I suffered in equal measure!"
Zhang Yan saw the ghostly head open its massive jaws to bite, an eerie wind sweeping through as if it intended to swallow everyone on the boat whole. He pointed his finger, summoning a breeze seemingly out of nowhere. In the blink of an eye, the skies above appeared purified by Gang Wind, all the filth swept away. The ghostly head vanished entirely, as though the horrifying scene had been nothing but an illusion.
With a faint smile, he remarked that the technique used to command the ghostly head was crude and shallow—merely a method of capturing some wronged souls and fierce spirits, and refining them into a devil within Yin Sha Land. Other than consuming human souls, it had no exceptional capabilities and was wholly unremarkable.
The technique, however, vaguely resembled the methods described in the Demon Sect’s "Seeking Origin Scripture," albeit poorly learned.
This was to be expected, after all. Most of the world’s cultivation techniques were recorded in Erosion Text, and no one would casually share their painstakingly acquired Dharma techniques. The occasional fragments that were circulated publicly amounted to nothing substantial.
Since Ma Daoist had not even reached the Meridian Opening Realm, Zhang Yan felt utterly uninterested in dealing with him personally. He pulled out a talisman from his sleeve, imbued it with Xuan Guang through a simple gesture, and said indifferently, "Zhang Pan, take this talisman and eliminate the man."
Zhang Pan respectfully received the talisman with both hands. Turning away, he stepped onto the water, advancing swiftly. As a spirit monster of the sea, his mastery of aquatic navigation was unsurpassed. In mere moments, he had arrived at the colorful boat.
Ma Daoist, startled to see the ghostly head destroyed, was already furious. Now, witnessing Zhang Pan walk across the water as if on solid ground, he blurted out in shock, "You are from..."
Zhang Pan, following the orders of his master without hesitation, paid no attention to Ma Daoist. Activating the talisman with a single strike, a golden light like a sword appeared in mid-air and descended swiftly. Before Ma Daoist could utter another word, his head was severed, warm blood gushing from the wound. His headless corpse collapsed to the ground with a thud.
The servant nearby felt the hot, sticky liquid spray over his face. Wiping his cheek with his hand, he suddenly let out a loud scream and fled in terror.
With the talisman firmly in hand, Zhang Pan activated it once more. The golden light swiftly pursued the escaping servant and slayed him, ensuring his demise before returning to the boat to report back.
Mrs. Chen, who had believed herself doomed mere moments ago, found herself still alive as the situation reversed unexpectedly. Witnessing Ma Daoist’s effortless killing by Zhang Yan’s mere child attendant left her utterly stunned, as though she couldn’t believe her eyes. She didn’t fully come to her senses until Zhang Pan returned, at which point she knelt before Zhang Yan with tears of relief, saying, "Who could have anticipated Zhang Daoist possesses such power? Today, you have saved the lives of me and my husband. This favor shall be repaid with lifelong gratitude."
Zhang Yan raised his hand gently, gesturing for her to rise, and smiled. "Mrs. Chen, there’s no need for such formality. Please stand and speak."
Mrs. Chen then felt a soft, comforting force supporting her, causing her to stand involuntarily. Her admiration for Zhang Yan deepened.
Meanwhile, Chen Jishi was left in a state of despair, trembling all over and muttering repeatedly, "Demon Daoist, Demon Daoist." Whether it was the ghostly head’s terrifying presence or the bloody scene of Ma Daoist’s death, both had profoundly shaken him.
Zhang Yan glanced at him briefly and commented, "Mrs. Chen, it appears your husband is disinclined toward Taoists?"
Mrs. Chen approached and gently patted Chen Jishi’s back, sighing, "Please forgive him, Zhang Daoist. My husband is a scholar and has never witnessed such extraordinary events before. It’s natural for him to be frightened. Previously, he wasn’t nearly so adverse. It’s just that an unusual incident occurred a few days ago..."
Zhang Yan asked, "Oh? Could you share the details of this strange occurrence with me?"
Mrs. Chen hesitated momentarily, appearing somewhat reluctant to speak. After a while, she mustered the courage and recounted the story in full.
It turned out that one day, as Chen Jishi was studying in his private room, a white-haired Old Daoist suddenly entered, walking through the chambers. Although Chen Jishi shouted several times to demand an explanation, the Old Daoist neither stopped nor responded. Instead, he headed straight for Mrs. Chen’s inner quarters.