In the heart of the Middle Earth, beyond the abandoned town of Heyang, a mysterious figure had shattered the spell cast by Zhou Yixian with a single blow. The depth of his cultivation was so profound that it left everyone in awe, even piercing through Zhou Yixian’s most trusted escape art. In his demeanor and speech, this enigmatic person did not deny any connection to the Azure Ethereal Conclave. Adding to the intrigue was his unbelievably high cultivation in the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, making his origins almost unimaginable.
As the dark figure drew closer, an eerie, malevolent aura enveloped the area. Zhou Yixian, Xiao Huan, and the Wild Dog Taoist were too preoccupied to ponder these matters. After breaking Zhou Yixian’s spell, the figure, hidden in the shadows, seemed to be suddenly stimulated and began to breathe heavily, his breaths becoming increasingly labored.
Zhou Yixian’s brow furrowed as he stared at the figure, his eyes more filled with curiosity than fear. Given the figure’s formidable cultivation, it was impossible for him to be out of breath after just a few movements. Clearly, there was some underlying ailment or strange condition that even someone of his profound cultivation could not control.
Despite this, the mysterious figure showed no signs of weakening. Instead, as the malevolent aura grew, the pure and gentle essence of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao waned. The approaching killing intent and oppressive force were overwhelming. Anyone who met those eyes, glowing with a sinister red light behind the black shadow, would know what the mysterious figure intended to do next!
Zhou Yixian gritted his teeth and, with a sudden movement, pulled the Wild Dog Taoist and Xiao Huan behind him. His hand grasped the edge of the Wild Dog’s blade, but Xiao Huan was nowhere to be found.
Zhou Yixian was shocked. Before he could turn to look, he saw Xiao Huan standing in front of him, facing the mysterious figure. He was stunned, but Xiao Huan quickly said, “Grandfather, go! I will hold him off.”
Zhou Yixian, enraged, said, “You know nothing of this man’s cultivation. He is extraordinarily powerful, hurry…”
Before he could finish, Xiao Huan had already made her move. Facing the mysterious figure, this young girl, with her delicate and innocent appearance, raised her hands. A black, unmarked book flashed in her hands, and soon, the seven “Blood Jade Bone Slivers” given to her by the Ghost Master appeared in her grasp.
A dark, tangible aura erupted from the ruins, filling the courtyard. Zhou Yixian halted in surprise, and even the advancing mysterious figure paused, letting out a soft exclamation of surprise.
Unlike the murderous aura of the mysterious figure, a ghastly, dark energy emanated from all directions. This place, originally a charity house, already harbored heavy yin energy. Now, with Xiao Huan’s use of ghostly arts, the place was filled with ghostly howls and chilling winds, as if a legion of ghosts had descended upon them, sending shivers down their spines.
The seven Blood Jade Bone Slivers slowly floated up from Xiao Huan’s palm, forming a triangular pattern in the air. Each sliver, with its blood-like stains, glowed with a dark red light, like seven eyes slowly opening, staring at the mysterious figure.
In the midst of the chilling wind, the mysterious figure’s robes rustled, but he seemed unaffected by the haunting spirits. His eyes, hidden in the shadows, narrowed slightly, and he coldly spoke, “Ghostly arts!”
Xiao Huan’s brows furrowed, her face pale. Whether it was due to her inexperience with such powers or her innate fear of the spectral world, she managed to complete the incantation. The ghostly arts, catalyzed by the Blood Jade Bone Slivers, formed a deep, dark aura around her. With a flick of her wrist, a giant, black skull materialized, towering over her, appearing utterly macabre.
Zhou Yixian, still enraged, shouted, “You know nothing of this man’s cultivation. He is extraordinarily powerful, hurry…”
The seven Blood Jade Bone Slivers slowly ascended, embedding themselves into the eye sockets of the black skull. Instantly, the skull seemed to come to life, and a black arrow shot out from its mouth, aimed directly at the mysterious figure.
The arrow cut through the air, whistling sharply, and reached the mysterious figure in an instant. The figure dodged it deftly, and the arrow continued on, its sound still echoing in their ears.
But there was no time for respite. The black skull continued to shoot a series of dark, lethal arrows, one after another, in all directions, leaving no room for retreat.
Zhou Yixian and the Wild Dog Taoist, standing behind Xiao Huan, paled. While the Wild Dog Taoist was both shocked and impressed, Zhou Yixian’s expression was a mix of worry and suspicion.
At that moment, Zhou Yixian’s gaze shifted, and he took a step back, looking towards a different part of the courtyard—the abandoned house in the charity grounds. Unlike the ghostly battle, this place, which they had just investigated, was filled with darkness but seemed less ominous by comparison. They had seen nothing but broken tiles and decrepit coffins within.
But something now caught Zhou Yixian’s attention, even drawing his focus away from the intense battle between Xiao Huan and the mysterious figure.
What was happening in that abandoned house?
Zhou Yixian stared intently at it.
In the courtyard, Xiao Huan’s ghostly arts dominated the scene, completely overpowering the mysterious figure. Her summoned black skull continuously fired deadly arrows, none of which could hit the mysterious figure, but forcing him to constantly dodge. Even the mysterious figure, with his profound cultivation, seemed unwilling to confront the ghostly power head-on.
After a while, although the black skull remained intact and its red glow as bright as ever, the mysterious figure seemed to have noticed something. With a cold laugh, he suddenly flew straight towards Xiao Huan amidst the rain of arrows.
The arrows lost their aim, flying past him, and the Wild Dog Taoist and others looked on in horror. Xiao Huan’s face turned white as the black figure approached. She clapped her hands together, placing them over her chest. The black skull, under her spell, shrunk to half its size and blocked her, the Blood Jade Bone Slivers rotating rapidly, casting a red barrier that intercepted the mysterious figure.
The mysterious figure let out a cold snort, and even he, with his profound cultivation, seemed to respect the red barrier. He stopped, and while Xiao Huan was temporarily safe, she trembled, her body seemingly weakened. A black hue briefly flashed across her face, and both her spells and the black skull began to shake.
Even the ghostly arrows she had fired were affected, losing their power and becoming weak and ineffective. The red barrier, created with great effort, began to tremble and eventually dissipated.
Surprisingly, the mysterious figure did not attack again. Instead, he stood still, observing the weakened Xiao Huan, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
The Wild Dog Taoist was frantic, not understanding how Xiao Huan, who had been in control moments ago, was now seemingly drained. He rushed to support her, but when he touched her, he was shocked. Xiao Huan was ice-cold, and a strange, indescribable ghostly energy emanated from her, seeming to devour anyone who came near.
Fortunately, the feeling subsided as Xiao Huan collapsed. The Wild Dog Taoist, not daring to delay, helped her sit down. Zhou Yixian silently approached, examining her face, shaking his head with a sigh.
Xiao Huan, now extremely weak, seemed unable to speak. The black skull in the air faded, leaving only the seven Blood Jade Bone Slivers, which fell to the ground in front of her, clattering softly.
The mysterious figure looked at Xiao Huan and suddenly asked, “How long has she practiced the ‘Blood Soul’ technique?”
Zhou Yixian stepped in front of Xiao Huan, blocking the figure’s view. The mysterious figure looked at him, and Zhou Yixian replied, “Only a month, I believe.”
The mysterious figure was silent, his red eyes dimming, and his entire presence seemed to soften, the malevolent aura fading.
Zhou Yixian, a man of vast experience, noted the change and began to think. Suddenly, he glanced back at the abandoned house, where the ruined building stood alone, desolate and without any sign of life.
The mysterious figure, after a moment of silence, spoke, “Such talent, but used on minor ghostly arts.”
Zhou Yixian faced him, saying, “Sir, we mean no harm. We entered here by mistake and have no intention of conflict. If you have no other business, please let us go.”
The mysterious figure’s gaze hardened, and he sneered, “You say you entered by mistake, but who knows—”
His words were cut off as his body shuddered, and the red light in his eyes flared up again.
The malevolent aura re-emerged, overpowering everything, even more intense than before.
Zhou Yixian’s face changed, and he hurriedly pulled the weakened Xiao Huan up, shouting, “Run, scatter, and each save yourself!”
The Wild Dog Taoist understood, but before he could act, a huge shadow descended from the sky, enveloping them completely, cutting off all escape.
The Wild Dog Taoist roared and shielded Xiao Huan with his body. Zhou Yixian, his face shifting, was about to react when the shadow, like a massive mountain, bore down on them, threatening to crush them.
In a moment of desperation, a red light flashed from the abandoned house, and a voice roared. The light burst forth, breaking through the darkness, forming a massive, brilliant column. It shot out from the depths of the darkness, followed by a thunderous roar that shattered the building, sending debris and dust into the air.
The shadow, about to crush them, suddenly withdrew, and the immense pressure vanished. Zhou Yixian and the others felt dizzy and disoriented.
In the distance, the mysterious figure, now visibly angry, thrust his hands forward, creating a wall of earth to block the blazing red light.
The two forces clashed, the red light and the shadow meeting in a blaze of heat, causing the surroundings to vaporize. The figures of the two became indistinguishable.
In the depths of the light, a loud explosion echoed, like a bolt of lightning. A powerful gust of wind swept through, and everything was thrown into chaos. Zhou Yixian and the others were flung outward.
From the explosion, a voice roared, “Why don’t you turn back!”
The reply was a cold, disdainful laugh.
The light and shadows gradually faded, revealing a large crater. Two figures stood in the center. One was a short, stout man, full of anger, holding a crimson sword, and the other was the mysterious figure, now without the dark aura.
From a distance, the mysterious figure wore the robes of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, his face wise and dignified, but his eyes flashed with a cold, red light.
The stout man, seeing that Zhou Yixian and the others were safe, seemed relieved. He then turned to the other, his voice icy, “Do you think you can trap me with the ‘Heart-Killing Lock’?”
The mysterious figure, his eyes glowing, his aura terrifying, replied, “I forgot, this was a technique created by your lineage. How does it feel to have it used on you?”
“Enough!” the stout man shouted, “You’ve fallen into the dark path and dare to speak. The Heart-Killing Lock has been forbidden by our ancestors, yet you disregard their teachings. Do you still respect the Azure Ethereal Conclave?”
The mysterious figure laughed, “You caused the destruction of the ancestral hall. Do you still respect the Azure Ethereal Conclave?”
The stout man, furious, stared at the mysterious figure, unsure of what to say. The mysterious figure, after a moment, sneered, “You may be powerful, but you are now only at six-tenths of your usual strength. Back then, you were not my match, and I captured you. Will you challenge me now?”
The stout man, undaunted, replied, “I followed you and Wan Shixiong, and I regret nothing. But you are not the same, and I do what you and Wan Shixiong once did.”
With a mighty shout, he lunged, merging with the red light, like a dragon in the sky, charging at the mysterious figure.
The mysterious figure, his eyes glowing, countered with a flash of cold light, blocking the red beam. The two lights clashed, and the stout man, with a roar, was sent flying, badly injured and bleeding.
The mysterious figure, holding a broken ancient sword, laughed, “Do you dare to bring the Zuxian Sword down from the Azure Ethereal Vapors?”
The stout man, bleeding, spat, “You… you brought the Zuxian Sword?”
The mysterious figure, laughing madly, wielded the famous Zuxian Sword, and the trio of Zhou Yixian, Xiao Huan, and the Wild Dog Taoist were left in stunned silence, their minds blank with shock.
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