Chapter 438 - 305: 3 Songs
"Okay. In that case, we shouldn’t delay. Let’s set out now."
Zhao Xuanqi nodded, seemingly oblivious to the subtle jab in Zhuang Li’s words.
’Zhuang Li had a point. The woman was quite skilled. If he could find the source, having an ally would increase his chances of resolving the situation in this Realm. And if things went south, he wouldn’t have many qualms about abandoning her to save himself.’
With that said, they both stood up, suppressed their Qi, and left the room.
Zhao Xuanqi suggested they first scout the current Evil Spirit situation in their block and compare it to what he already knew before making a plan. Zhuang Li had no objections.
Within about half an hour, the two had swept through most of the block, giving Zhao Xuanqi a new appreciation for the woman’s abilities.
Even without using Techniques, her movements were swift and nimble, and her control over her own Qi was exceptionally strong. Concealing one’s presence and sound while moving efficiently was no easy task, which spoke volumes about her remarkable physical control. Even though Zhao Xuanqi had slowed down slightly, it was still impressive that she could match his pace.
’With her talent and skill, she must be considered a significant figure even within the Miaoyin Hall,’ Zhao Xuanqi thought.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Li was just as surprised by Zhao Xuanqi’s performance. He might be more familiar with the terrain, but his proficiency and effortlessness during their stealthy advance were undeniable. His control over his Qi was stronger than hers, and his Spiritual Sense seemed sharper too, often allowing him to detect and avoid danger a moment before she did.
His use of shadows and his positioning to exploit blind spots were practically instinctual.
She got the feeling he was like a Fierce Beast accustomed to hunting in the night, completely one with the darkness.
She couldn’t imagine how anyone could hone such skills without at least a decade of experience as a cat burglar.
’Is this guy really a disciple of the Red Heart Sect?’
From what she knew, the Red Heart Sect belonged to the Spirit Official Dao, a School known for its extremely Firm and aggressive style. Their Techniques were characterized by wide, sweeping movements, and it was a common joke that Red Heart Sect disciples were just a bunch of reckless, headstrong brutes.
Based on his performance, he seemed more like one of those shady characters from the Five Elements Gang—a motley crew skilled in all sorts of Five Elements Techniques and Escape Techniques.
"This Realm is recovering," Zhao Xuanqi said after they had scouted half the block, exhaling softly. "The Evil Spirits have grown even stronger."
Last time, aside from the Shadow Puppet Stage, most of the Evil Spirits he encountered were mid-to-upper D Class. Not many of them had developed blood markings. This time, he’d found that nearly half of them had developed blood markings to varying degrees, making them significantly more dangerous.
Finally, he led Zhuang Li to the edge of the block, onto the roof of a building across from a wide square. From there, they could hear a faint, ethereal tune.
A light cut through the darkness, revealing a Shadow Puppet Stage bathed in an eerie red glow. Faint shapes of Shadow Puppets could be seen dancing upon its screen, accompanied by a fluctuating, bizarre tune that assaulted a person’s Spirit. Ordinary people who heard it would find themselves unconsciously drawn to watch the performance.
Zhao Xuanqi noticed that the tune emanating from the Shadow Puppet Stage was sharper this time. It spread farther and its influence was greater. Previously, he hadn’t been affected while observing from this position.
What concerned him more, however, was that the number of long benches in front of the Shadow Puppet Stage had multiplied at some point. Last time, he had only seen seven or eight figures sitting on them to watch the show. This time, there were over twenty.
And it wasn’t just ordinary people. He also spotted several broad-shouldered figures in plain gray robes.
Those were disciples of the Red Heart Sect, likely all at the Blood Strengthening level of Cultivation.
’Can even an ordinary Blood Strengthening practitioner not resist its influence once they enter the area enveloped by the tune?’
"Those are the uniforms of the Five Elements Gang’s Divine Fire Hall... Huh?! Are those disciples from the Yin Mountain Sect as well?!"
Zhuang Li, standing beside him, had a grim expression. She seemed to recognize some of the figures in the crowd by their distinctive clothing.
She didn’t need Zhao Xuanqi to explain. Just moments ago, she had watched with her own eyes as an ordinary person sitting on a bench suddenly shriveled up as if deflating. The body then shrank down into a Shadow Puppet, leaped from the bench, and vanished into the stage. She knew exactly what they were dealing with.
’A Cursed Object. These kinds of things are always incredibly difficult to deal with.’
"The Five Elements Gang? The Yin Mountain Sect?"
Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze sharpened as he followed Zhuang Li’s line of sight.
The one from the Five Elements Gang wore form-fitting leather armor in the style of a Jianghu wanderer, a flame emblem embroidered on the chest. The other person was shrouded in a black robe embroidered with the pattern of an undulating, pale mountain range.
The Five Elements Gang and the Yin Mountain Sect were both members of the Heqing Five Sects, with their strongholds located in different regions of the Heqing Dao. The fact that their members had all been drawn into this Ghost City meant the Realm’s actual sphere of influence had expanded far beyond Guming County, perhaps even across the entire Heqing Dao.
’The entire Heqing Dao is probably in for a period of great turmoil.’
"This thing is incredibly sinister, and its influence is too widespread," Zhuang Li said grimly. "There isn’t a single living person on this entire block. That shouldn’t be the case, even for a place crawling with Evil Spirits. I’m afraid this ghost-thing has captured most of them. Fed by so much blood, it’s bound to recover its strength quickly. This thing is too great a threat. If we can’t find the source, I suggest we make destroying this stage our first priority. If we let it keep growing, we’re all doomed."