Chapter 436 - 304: Plan
’Drawing a Technique on her neck, using Sound Waves to activate Primordial Qi, and producing all sorts of incredible effects?’
’And despite the fact that I’ve concealed my life aura and am deliberately hiding, she was still able to instantly sense my presence. Her Spiritual Sense is truly beyond that of an ordinary person.’
"Relax. If you don’t want to attract trouble, it’s best not to be using Techniques so freely here."
Zhao Xuanqi’s voice drifted from inside the room, but he remained hidden. He had already sensed it: the dispersal of her life aura from the Sound Wave Technique she’d just used had attracted the attention of the Evil Spirits wandering nearby.
SWOOSH!!
Even as he spoke, a shadow streaked into the garden with incredible speed. Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes narrowed. With this body’s current Eye Power, he could only vaguely make out the shadow’s appearance.
It had a gaunt frame, standing about five-foot-seven. Its skin was a deep cyan, its face was savage, and matted red hair sprouted from its head. All ten of its fingernails were pitch-black and sharp.
What stood out most were its legs. Fine, blood-red lines snaked up from the soles of its feet, weaving together into strange, twisted patterns. They were shrouded in a faint, bloody glow, emanating a bizarre, eerie quality.
’A Yaksha Ghost. And one that has grown blood markings.’
Information about this Demon Ghost immediately flashed through Zhao Xuanqi’s mind.
’Yaksha Ghosts, like Cyan-faced Ghosts, are typically Upper-D Class Demon Ghosts. But the appearance of blood markings changes things.’
’A Demon Ghost’s threat level isn’t static—in fact, that’s true for all Evil Spirits. As they slaughter more living beings, the Blood Qi they consume accumulates within them. This quantitative increase eventually triggers a qualitative change, enhancing the Evil Spirit’s power.’
’And these blood markings are a symbol of that accumulated Blood Qi. The areas they cover grant the Demon Ghost a massive boost in power, drastically increasing its threat level.’
’Although this Yaksha Ghost’s markings haven’t accumulated enough for a full transformation, having them cover its legs dramatically increases its speed, perhaps even beyond the scope of the Blood Strengthening Realm.’
’In terms of threat level, this Yaksha Ghost would rank somewhere between the peak of D Class and B Class.’
’The last time I was pulled into the Ghost City, I killed plenty of Evil Spirits, but I never encountered a Demon Ghost of this caliber.’
’Of course, the general’s shadow puppet spawned by the demonic Shadow Puppet Stage is an exception. That thing had probably already surpassed D Class.’
’To run into an Evil Spirit of this level right after getting here... A coincidence?’
Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes narrowed as he recalled Zhong Maolin’s words.
’As it consumes more flesh and blood, this Realm is recovering rapidly. And as the Realm recovers, the Evil Spirits within it might also be growing stronger.’
’Can this woman who just appeared handle a Demon Ghost of this level?’
’From what I can sense, she should also be in the Blood Strengthening Realm.’
’Looks like I need to get ready to intervene.’
’The Technique she uses is peculiar, and I’m very interested,’ Zhao Xuanqi thought. ’Plus, she seems strong. She could be a useful ally.’
However, to Zhao Xuanqi’s surprise, when faced with the blood-marked Yaksha Ghost that had just appeared, the woman’s expression flickered, but she showed no sign of panic.
Just as the Yaksha Ghost lunged at her at high speed, Zhuang Li’s throat began to vibrate. The blood-red markings on her fair neck flared with light as Primordial Qi coalesced with the Sound Waves.
"Swift!"
The syllable escaped her lips, instantly diffusing. This time, however, her Technique wasn’t aimed at an enemy, but at herself.
The Sound Waves and Primordial Qi coalesced, the resulting Vibration stimulating her body and seemingly unlocking some latent physical potential.
Her body quivered faintly as, reacting with incredible speed, she instantly dodged the Yaksha Ghost’s ferocious attack. Then, with a single step, she smoothly glided to its side.
Her movements didn’t cease as she dodged. She channeled power into her cut finger, forcing out blood to draw a new Technique across her palm. Simultaneously, her throat vibrated once more as she uttered another syllable infused with Primordial Qi.
"Halt!"
The Primordial Qi instantly diffused with the Sound Waves, exploding against the Yaksha Ghost as it missed its strike. Life Primordial Qi burned away the ghost’s baleful energy, creating a faint sizzling sound. The Yaksha Ghost’s body shuddered and froze for a moment.
At the same time, Zhuang Li finished inscribing the Technique on her palm. As her Qi and Blood surged, Blood Qi radiated from her palm, enveloping her slender hand in a faint, bloody light.
"Break!"
Another syllable escaped Zhuang Li’s lips, its effect directed at herself. The stimulation caused her Qi and Blood to erupt violently, surging toward her palm.
BOOM!!
The bloody light flared intensely. Her palm, held upright, became like a long blade of Blood Jade. As her Qi and Blood roiled, Zhuang Li’s arm whipped out, tracing a crimson afterimage through the air as it sliced through the side of the Yaksha Ghost’s neck.
In the next moment, a head soared into the air as torrents of blue-black blood gushed out. The headless corpse of the blood-marked Yaksha Ghost stood rigid for a moment before slowly toppling to the ground.
A look of surprise flickered in Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes. He hadn’t expected this woman, who looked so frail, to be able to dispatch her target so easily and cleanly.
’What’s more, that wasn’t even her full strength. While she was fighting the Yaksha Ghost, I could feel her attention was still fixed on me, as if she was constantly on guard for a sneak attack.’