Chapter 448 - 309: Confrontation (2)
Zhuang Li said.
"During the Night Parade of Hundred Demons, the greatest threat is actually the special Evil Spirits guarding each district. If we can deal with them, the ordinary ones will have a hard time threatening our safety. I suggest we pick a district and lie in wait for its guardian Evil Spirit. The moment the Night Parade begins, we strike and eliminate it. Considering this Ghost City’s nature of growth, it would be a good choice to find a fast-growing Evil Spirit and kill it off beforehand."
Zhao Xuanqi spoke, then proceeded to tell everyone about the various special Evil Spirits he and Zhuang Li had discovered during their reconnaissance, finally focusing on the Shadow Puppet Stage.
"It consumes blood and can even turn the dead into Shadow Puppets to become part of its power? A ghostly thing like that should indeed be eliminated as soon as possible. But correspondingly, it’s also more dangerous than other Evil Spirits..."
Lu Ren mused.
"Rest assured, everyone. Since I was the one who proposed this, I’ll naturally act as the main force and charge at the front. The rest of you just need to relieve the pressure from other fronts."
Zhao Xuanqi said with a smile. ’Are you kidding me? If I let someone else take the lead, wouldn’t the Merit that should be mine just sprout wings and fly away?’
Hearing this, Qi Ziliang, Lu Ren, and the others couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Their main goal in gathering here was to survive. From Zhao Xuanqi’s words, they knew the Shadow Puppet Stage was no simple matter, and they had all been worried they would end up as cannon fodder.
"Are you sure you can handle it? Using Golden Fire repeatedly will drain your Physical Ability. Even a Martial Artist at the Refining the Internal Organs realm wouldn’t be able to hold out, would they?"
He Xijun said, looking at Zhao Xuanqi.
"You don’t need to worry about that, Junior Sister He. If things go south, you can all retreat ahead of time."
Zhao Xuanqi said.
"Zhao, why would you say something like that? Since we’ve agreed to act together, there’s no sense in retreating just because things look bad."
The shorter Xiong Dafeng said.
"Alright, since we’ve decided, let’s not delay. We should move out immediately. It will take a while to get to the Shadow Puppet Stage from here, and with more people, our stealth speed will inevitably be slower."
Zhuang Li said.
Everyone nodded in agreement. After some brief preparations, the group split into three teams and began to sneak toward the district where the Shadow Puppet Stage was located.
Because their numbers had increased, making them a larger target, they encountered some minor incidents along the way that cost them some time. Their original plan to rest for a bit after reaching the Shadow Puppet Stage was now out of the question.
In the sky, the Blood Moon was about to reach its zenith.
The group lay prone on a rooftop, gazing at the distant Shadow Puppet Stage.
At this moment, the rows of long benches were completely empty, but the Shadow Puppet Stage, bathed in red light, continued its tireless performance. The rising and falling cadence of its tune drifted into their ears, seeming to hold a special Magic Power.
Among the group, the weaker members, Qi Ziliang and Xiong Dafeng of the Yin Mountain Sect, looked unwell. They felt as if their limbs were no longer under their control, constantly wanting to move on their own and approach the stage.
"This ghostly thing’s sound is hard to deal with. If we get any closer, the effect on us will be immense. Our strength will probably be weakened by at least thirty percent."
He Xijun said with a grave expression.
"Leave the musical corruption to me. As long as you stay within a certain range of me, I can guarantee the music won’t affect you."
Zhuang Li said with a light chuckle.
He Xijun glanced at Zhuang Li and nodded slightly. She knew Zhuang Li had the strength to back up her words.
The others also had a vague idea of Zhuang Li’s identity, and with her assurance, they all felt a little more at ease.
"The Blood Moon is about to reach its peak. The moment the Night Parade of Hundred Demons begins, we strike. For now, everyone prepare your methods to counter the memory seal. We won’t have time later."
Zhao Xuanqi said, glancing at the sky.
The group nodded slightly and focused their minds. Zhao Xuanqi, for his part, linked his attention to the Rebirth Jade—a method he had decided to use after some thought.
’Although the Rebirth Jade has no recording function, it stores my Life Primordial Qi. By manipulating this Life Primordial Qi and infusing it with my will, I might be able to leave some information behind. But I’m not sure how much of it will be preserved after I return. This is, after all, an unconventional method.’
Time passed, second by second.
Finally, the Blood Moon rose to the zenith.
BUZZ!!
The crimson moonlight instantly intensified, bathing the dark city in a scarlet glow. Under the moon’s light, everyone’s bodies began to radiate their life force, making it impossible to hide.
HISSSSSS!!
ROOOOAR!!
The Evil Spirits in the district began to riot. The music from the Shadow Puppet Stage grew shriller, its influence greatly increasing. The stage’s curtain began to squirm as Shadow Puppets crawled out from within, one after another, their bodies slowly swelling to life-size.
"Now!"
Zhao Xuanqi said in a low voice.
Everyone was already prepared. The instant the Blood Moon’s power flared, they sliced their fingers and drew their Techniques with the utmost speed.
"Profound Spirit Festival Glory, grant eternal life. Supreme Profound Unity, guard this true Form."
"Arise!!"
Zhuang Li’s expression was solemn as she chanted the incantation. Crimson patterns spread from her neck up to her face.
The next moment, the Blood Qi around her transformed into an azure glow. Her white dress and black hair fluttered without a wind, and a hint of icy coldness appeared on her delicate features, as if a celestial fairy had descended to the mortal world.
"Supreme Terrace Star, respond and never cease. Expel evil, bind charms, protect life, guard the body. May wisdom be clear and bright, may the heart and spirit be at peace..."
Zhuang Li chanted continuously. Her clear, cold voice echoed all around as the azure light spread, covering a radius of about fifteen meters. It stimulated their bodies and invigorated their Spirits.
The others, who had been feeling restless due to the music, felt their minds calm as the influence of the Evil Spirits was dispelled.
Miaoyin Hall’s Purification Spell!
「Elsewhere.」
"Earth Escape Technique, Mountain Court!!"
Qi Ziliang formed a seal with his hands. His Primordial Qi spread out, no longer concealing his presence but instead permeating the Earth Veins and connecting with the terrestrial qi. His entire being became like a mountain or a tree rooted in the earth, unshakable.
He wasn’t skilled in offensive Magic; this Technique was focused on defense. The task everyone had given him was simply to hold back some of the Evil Spirits.
Meanwhile, the burly Lu Ren let out a low shout as his body suddenly swelled. The skin on his body darkened as his Blood Qi condensed with his flesh. His two arms became the darkest of all, taking on the color of Xuan Iron.
Gold Element Magic, Profound Iron Technique!
The two disciples from the Yin Mountain Sect had already finished drawing the blood-red Technique on their brows. They both let out a low roar.
ROAR!!
Luo Xianrong’s face became ferocious. His body swelled and grew taller, his eyes turned crimson, and he seemed to transform from a man into a beast.
Xiong Dafeng on the other side did the same. His short, stout frame transformed further, his back broadening and his waist thickening as his Qi and Blood surged.
Spirit Capturing Technique, Possession!
The Yin Mountain Sect was famous for its Spirit Capturing Technique. The so-called Spirit Capturing Technique, also known as the Spirit Nurturing Technique, was based on the principle that all things in heaven and earth possess a Spirit. The Yin Mountain Sect had a unique method for extracting and nurturing the spirituality of all things. By combining this spirituality with their own Primordial Qi, they could produce all sorts of profound effects.
The Main Spirits of both Luo Xianrong and Xiong Dafeng were the spirits of fierce beasts cultivated within the sect. Once Possessed, their bodies’ Primordial Qi and Qi and Blood would surge, greatly enhancing their physical attributes for a certain period of time.
Finally, there were Chen Zhanyun and He Xijun.
Blood Qi covered both of them. Chen Zhanyun’s Blood Qi surged around him, turning into blood-red flames. He Xijun’s Blood Qi was a cut above; her Blood Fire was more refined, its blood color fading to reveal a crimson hue. One step further, and it would transform into gold.
However, He Xijun knew that without the help of a Dao Source Marvelous Treasure, such a transformation was nearly impossible to achieve at the Blood Strengthening realm.
Their gazes—no, the gazes of everyone present—unconsciously turned toward Zhao Xuanqi.
「The next moment.」
BANG!!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Zhao Xuanqi’s body began to undergo a terrifying transformation. His muscles bulged violently, surpassing the limits of a human body, and his bones let out a series of explosive cracks. He grew a dozen or so centimeters taller, an effect even more exaggerated than the Yin Mountain Sect’s Possession technique.
His arms hung low, nearly reaching the ground. With a broad back and a narrow waist, his terrifying aura and form were no different from a Fierce Beast choosing its prey.
He had transformed from a man into a ferocious beast born solely for battle!
BOOM!!
An unimaginably terrifying Blood Qi erupted from the Technique on his palms. Like a smoke signal, it shot a dozen meters into the air before falling back down, continuously compressing and changing.
The Blood Qi turned into blood-red flames, then transformed into a crimson color. Finally, under everyone’s astonished gazes, the crimson faded away. Golden flames blazed to life, illuminating the area.
The golden flames combined with the terrifying pressure from Zhao Xuanqi’s transformation under the Dragon Gate Secret Technique—a pressure that mixed sanctity, power, Overbearing Fury, and savagery—and spread out, weighing down on everyone’s hearts like a great mountain.
Seeing it from a distance and seeing it up close were two completely different experiences!!