The cane wielded by Master Shi was clearly a magical artifact he had painstakingly refined with great care. As soon as he used it, its imposing power and momentum were indeed extraordinary.
In contrast, Yang Jin was clearly at a disadvantage. His two puppets struggled to keep up, left and right, and under the relentless assault of the swirling cane shadows, they were soon repeatedly struck and damaged. Although Yang Jin in the middle looked anxious, he was helpless to change the situation.
A look of pride appeared on Master Shi’s face as he sneered coldly, “Yang Jin, are you still refusing to admit defeat until you see the coffin? If you kneel down and surrender now, handing over the treasure, I might still speak a few good words for you before the sect leader and spare you the torment of being transformed into a puppet and endlessly refined. But if you remain stubborn and refuse to yield, don’t blame me for not giving you a chance when you end up in the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts.”
Yang Jin had already been barely holding on, but upon hearing Master Shi’s words, “still refusing to admit defeat until you see the coffin,” something inside him snapped, igniting a desperate resolve. What Master Shi had said was merely a metaphor, but for Yang Jin, it struck a nerve. His father, Yang Zui’s coffin, was right there beside him. Nothing in his heart was more painful than this. Now, hearing Master Shi’s words, old wounds and new hatreds surged together. Added to this was the mention of the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts, a secret place in their sect where traitors were said to be transformed into puppets after death, suffering endless torment without hope of escape.
Thinking of this, Yang Jin no longer hesitated. He spat out fiercely, “Master Shi! There’s no need to rub salt in the wound. Since today you’ve forced me into a corner with no way out, I’ll fight you to the bitter end!” Saying this, he suddenly revealed four long, blood-red spikes in his hands. With a swift motion, he plunged them into his own body.
Yang Jin had used this method before during his battle with Mei Qing to boost his puppets’ power, but back then he had used only two spikes. This time, he was truly desperate and used all four at once. With a couple of dull thuds, two of the spikes pierced his shoulders as before, the third struck his chest, and the fourth, after a moment’s hesitation and a clench of his teeth, was driven into his right eye.
Blood splattered as the spike embedded itself in his eye socket. Gritting his teeth, Yang Jin formed hand seals, bit his tongue, and spat blood onto his left puppet. He chanted, “Heaven and earth, gods and ghosts, soul and form; with my blood, I strengthen your spirit—Break!”
A piercing, mournful wail like the cry of a howling ape and shrieking owl erupted. Suddenly, the two puppets split into four. Their limbs flailed, and the five ropes binding each of them turned blood-red. The four puppets, divided into two groups, rushed forward, moving like ghostly shadows amid a howling gale.
Caught off guard, Master Shi was a moment too slow to react. The cane’s shadow in the air was suddenly entangled by the four puppets, leaving him unable to maneuver. A loud clashing sound rang out. The eight arms of the four puppets flashed like a blur of sleeves, quickly seizing the cane. Then came a chorus of shrieks as the puppets pounced on the cane and began gnawing on it ferociously.
The cane trembled violently, trying to break free, but how could it escape the ravenous assault of four puppets like wolves and tigers? Within moments, the cane was reduced to a battered, bloodied mess, with wounds oozing blood.
Master Shi roared in fury, his left hand flicking forward. A metal ring flew out, spinning and emitting a deep hum, shooting golden rays toward the four puppets. But the four puppets were unafraid. They dropped the shattered cane, their eight arms flailing again as they engaged the metal ring in battle.
The cane wielded by Stone Guardian was clearly a meticulously crafted magical artifact, and its deployment was indeed awe-inspiring.
In contrast, Yang Jin was evidently at a disadvantage. His two puppets were struggling to fend off the relentless barrage of cane strikes, and it wasn’t long before they were repeatedly injured. Despite his anxious expression, Yang Jin was helpless in the midst of the chaos.
Stone Guardian wore a smug expression, sneering coldly, “Yang Jin, are you still refusing to admit defeat until you see the coffin? If you kneel and surrender now, handing over the treasure, I might put in a good word for you before the Sect Leader, sparing you the agony of being turned into a puppet and subjected to endless refinement. If you remain stubborn, once you’re thrown into the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts, don’t blame me for being merciless.”
Yang Jin, who had been barely holding on, was suddenly fueled by a surge of determination upon hearing Stone Guardian’s words about “not seeing the coffin.” The mention of the coffin struck a deep chord in Yang Jin, as his father’s coffin lay nearby. The old and new grievances surged in his heart, especially when Stone Guardian mentioned the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts, a secret place in their sect where traitors were said to be turned into puppets after death, enduring eternal torment.
At this thought, Yang Jin hesitated no longer, his voice filled with hatred, “Stone! Killing is just a matter of a moment. Since you’ve left me no way out today, I’ll fight you to the death!” With that, four blood-red nails suddenly appeared in his hands, and he swiftly drove them into his own body.
Previously, when facing Mei Qing and others, Yang Jin had used this method to enhance his puppets’ combat power, but only with two nails. This time, he was going all out, using four nails. With a series of thuds, two nails were driven into his shoulders, the third into his heart, and with a grit of his teeth, Yang Jin drove the fourth nail into his right eye.
Blood splattered as the nail pierced his eye socket. Clenching his teeth, Yang Jin formed hand seals, bit his tongue, and spat blood onto the puppet in his left hand, chanting, “Heaven and earth, spirits and ghosts, carry my soul and form; with my blood, temper your spirit, break!”
A piercing, mournful cry echoed like the howl of a monkey or the screech of an owl. The two puppets suddenly split into four, their limbs flailing, and the five hemp ropes on their bodies turned blood-red. The four puppets divided into two groups and pounced forward, their movements ghostly and swift, accompanied by a chilling wind.
Stone Guardian, caught off guard, reacted a beat too slow. The cane’s shadowy strikes were entangled by the four puppets, rendering them ineffective. The clanging of metal filled the air as the eight arms of the puppets flashed with sleeve shadows, quickly seizing the cane. Soon, the sound of gnawing filled the air as the four puppets began to devour the cane.
The cane trembled violently, trying to break free, but it was no match for the ferocious puppets. In a matter of moments, the cane was riddled with bite marks, and blood began to seep from the wounds.
Stone Guardian let out a roar, and with a flick of his left hand, an iron ring flew out, emitting a resonant hum and shooting out golden rays of light, forcing the four puppets back. Unfazed, the puppets dropped the mangled cane and extended their eight arms, engaging the iron ring in combat.
“You dare destroy my Nine Nether Cane, Yang Jin? When you’re on the brink of death, you still fight like a cornered beast. I’ll make sure you suffer the agony of being devoured by a hundred ghosts!” Stone Guardian roared, his face twisted like a demon. “Hmph. You still dare to use the Blood Nail Heart Piercing technique. Let’s see how long you can last!”
“Stone Guardian, Yang Jin, why are you two fighting? If I hadn’t woken up early and sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations here, I wouldn’t have known what was happening. Stone Guardian, we came out together, but you left me alone in the room without a word. You didn’t even say goodbye. I’m quite hurt.”
Just as the two were locked in a fierce battle, a delicate voice suddenly interjected.
Following the voice, a pink silk handkerchief appeared between the two. The handkerchief was embroidered with a bright red peony, which shimmered under the moonlight streaming through the window, casting an eerie glow that momentarily halted the fight.
The handkerchief slowly spun to the ground and vanished, revealing a figure standing between the two.
It was a beautiful woman with jet-black hair, snow-white cheeks, and a curvaceous figure wrapped in a crimson cloak. Her eyes fluttered a few times before she smiled and said, “Oh, my dear Guardian, my good brother, what’s going on here? Fighting to the death in the middle of the night… Oh, Yang Jin, what happened to you?”
As she turned to smile, she noticed how aged Yang Jin had become, and her smile froze in shock.
“Wu Juan, you’d better stay away from your dear brother Yang,” Stone Guardian said mockingly. “Perhaps you don’t know, but your brother used some method to kill Guardian Zheng and fled here with something the Sect Leader needs, trying to save his cursed father’s soul. As for his appearance, well, he used the Heaven Severing Curse a few days ago and just now the Blood Devouring Nails. That pretty face you used to adore is gone.”
“Yang Jin, what happened to you? Are you… okay?” Wu Juan, the woman Stone Guardian referred to, tensed up upon hearing about Yang Jin, her expression changing drastically. She no longer had the relaxed smile and stepped forward, her voice trembling as she asked.
“Stay back!” Yang Jin screamed. “Stay where you are! You lied to me! All of you are liars! Get out! Get out!”
Wu Juan’s body trembled violently. Though she tried to maintain her composure, her voice betrayed her sorrow. “Yang Jin, what’s wrong with you? Why are you harming yourself like this? Do you want to die? How could I lie to you? Whatever it is, just tell me…” As she spoke, she took another step toward Yang Jin.
“Stop pretending! Who are you to call yourself my sister? You deceitful woman, wipe that look off your face. I won’t be fooled again!” Yang Jin roared through gritted teeth. “Heaven and earth, spirits and ghosts, strike!”
As Wu Juan took a step forward, she was suddenly halted by Yang Jin’s furious roar. The four puppets blocking Yang Jin’s path simultaneously attacked, their eight arms swinging, creating a flurry of ghostly shadows that enveloped Wu Juan, suspending her in mid-air like a ragdoll.
A pained groan escaped Wu Juan as the four puppets struck her, causing her to spit blood. Fortunately, a colorful ribbon flew out from her side, blocking the puppets’ gnashing teeth, saving her from being killed on the spot.
With a flick of her fingers, the ribbon transformed into a web of silk, wrapping around Wu Juan and pulling her back, out of the puppets’ attack range. With a thud, the silk vanished, and Wu Juan collapsed to the ground, struggling to get up, her face as pale as snow.
“Yang Jin… you…” Wu Juan stood there in shock, her voice trembling with heartbreak.
“Haha… Wu Juan, now you see that this kid has gone mad. Stop your act. Everyone in the sect knows about your charms. There’s no need to play coy now. When you need someone to comfort you later, I’ll be more than happy to oblige… Hmph, let me first break this kid’s puppets!” Stone Guardian waved his hands, and three paper talismans instantly appeared before him. Each talisman bore a blood-red, intricate symbol that glowed brightly as Stone Guardian continued to chant.
Stimulated by the three talismans, the iron ring emitting golden rays in the air buzzed and expanded rapidly. The golden rays extended like tentacles, permeating the four puppets. The once ferocious puppets, now exposed to the golden light, seemed to suffer from some painful erosion, becoming sluggish and unable to break free, their shrill cries filling the air.
Meanwhile, Yang Jin, despite desperately commanding the puppets to struggle, was clearly at the end of his strength. His frail body swayed precariously, unable to sustain the effort.
Seeing this, Stone Guardian laughed triumphantly. “How about it, Wu Juan? My Crimson Glow Bracelet isn’t bad, is it? Just wait a little longer, and this kid will surely surrender. When that happens, I’ll hand him over to you, and you can vent your anger however you like.”
With that, Stone Guardian flipped his hand seals, and the golden rays from the iron ring tightened, firmly trapping the four puppets within the golden light, rendering them unable to break free.
Wu Juan, visibly injured, was still pale and without a trace of color in her face. Hearing Stone Guardian’s words, she gritted her teeth and said, “Thank you for your kindness, Stone Guardian. But he insulted me deeply and ambushed me, causing severe injuries. If I can’t capture him myself and make him suffer, how can I quell the hatred in my heart? Please suppress his puppets, and let me handle him!”
With that, Wu Juan extended her arms, forming hand seals with both hands, and slowly opened them, chanting, “Rise!” The silk ribbons around her suddenly extended, crisscrossing in the air like a net, then spread wide like a bag, descending from above.
As the net was about to fall on Yang Jin, his eyes burned with fury. However, after repeated injuries and frequent use of secret techniques to launch attacks, he was completely drained of energy. He couldn’t even move a step, let alone launch another attack. He could only glare at the two, watching helplessly as the net descended.
Just as the net was about to land on Yang Jin’s head, a sudden change occurred!
These past few days, I don’t know what’s wrong. I can’t seem to write.
I sit for hours and only manage to write a few words. It’s really frustrating.
It’s May Day. I hope I can change my mood and make some progress.
“Just what are you two doing, fighting like this? If I hadn’t woken up early and sensed the disturbance in the spiritual energy, I wouldn’t have known what was happening. Master Shi, we were supposed to be working together, yet you left me alone in the room without a word. I was quite hurt,” a sweet, coquettish voice suddenly drifted in.
As the voice entered, a pink silk handkerchief appeared between the two combatants. Embroidered with a vivid red peony, it shimmered strangely under the moonlight streaming through the window, instantly halting the two fighters.
The handkerchief slowly spun and fell to the ground, vanishing in an instant. In its place, a figure emerged between the two.
The figure was a beautiful woman, her black hair glossy and smooth, her delicate face pale and fair. She wore a red cloak that hugged her curvaceous figure. Her eyes blinked coquettishly as she suddenly smiled and said, “Oh my, Master Shi, dear brother, what’s going on? Fighting like this in the middle of the night… Oh, what happened to you, Yang Jin?”
As she turned and smiled, she suddenly noticed how aged Yang Jin had become. Shocked, her smile froze on her face.
“Miss Wu, you’d better keep your distance from your ‘little brother,'” Master Shi sneered. “Maybe you don’t know, but this ‘little brother’ somehow killed Guardian Zheng and stole the item our leader needs, fleeing here to save his cursed father’s soul. As for his appearance now—well, he used the Heaven-Cutting Curse not long ago, and just now drove those blood spikes into himself. That pretty face you were so fond of is gone.”
“Ah Jin, what happened to you? Are you alright?” The woman, addressed by Master Shi as Wu Juan, exclaimed in alarm, her face paling. Gone was her earlier playful demeanor as she hurried forward, her voice trembling with concern.
“Stay back!” Yang Jin screamed shrilly. “Stay where you are! You’re all liars! Get out! Get out!”
Wu Juan shuddered, struggling to keep her composure, but her voice betrayed her sorrow. “Ah Jin, what’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this to yourself? Don’t you care about your life anymore? I would never deceive you. If something’s wrong, just tell me…”
As she spoke, she took another step forward.
“Stop pretending! Who are you to me? You dirty woman, stop acting like this—I won’t fall for it again!” Yang Jin roared furiously, “Heaven and earth, gods and ghosts—attack!”
Just as Wu Juan lifted her foot, she heard Yang Jin’s furious roar and froze. At that moment, the four puppets blocking Yang Jin’s path sprang into action, their eight arms flailing, conjuring a sky full of ghostly shadows. In an instant, Wu Juan was ensnared mid-air like a rag doll.
A sharp cry rang out as Wu Juan was struck and spat blood. Fortunately, a colorful ribbon flew out from her side, blocking the monstrous mouths of the four puppets, saving her from instant death.
Wu Juan flicked her fingers, and the ribbon transformed into a flurry of flowing silks. With a flick of her wrist, the ribbons wrapped around her and pulled her back, retreating from the puppets’ attack range. With a thud, the silks vanished, leaving Wu Juan lying on the ground, struggling to rise, her face pale as snow.
“Ah Jin…” Wu Juan stood motionless, staring at Yang Jin, her voice trembling with heartbreak.
“Haha… Lady Wu, now you see this brat has gone mad, right? Give up your act. Who in our sect doesn’t know your charm? Even now, you’re still pretending. When the time comes, I’ll be more than happy to give you some attention… Heheh, for now, watch me destroy this brat’s puppets!” Master Shi laughed arrogantly as he waved his hands. Three talismans instantly appeared before him. On the yellow paper were strange red symbols that began to glow with increasing intensity as Master Shi continued chanting.
Stimulated by the three talismans, the golden ring in the air emitted a loud hum and expanded rapidly. Its golden rays extended like tentacles, infiltrating everywhere and engulfing the four puppets. The once ferocious puppets, struck by the golden light, seemed to suffer unbearable pain, their movements slowing, shrieking wildly as they struggled in vain.
Meanwhile, Yang Jin, though desperately commanding his puppets, was clearly at the end of his strength. His frail body swayed precariously, clearly unable to hold on any longer.
Seeing this, Master Shi laughed triumphantly, “How about it, Lady Wu? My Crimson Halo Ring isn’t too shabby, is it? Just wait a little longer. This brat will soon be helpless. Then I’ll hand him over to you, and you can take out your anger however you like.”
With that, he flicked his fingers, and the golden light from the ring intensified, trapping the four puppets firmly in its golden glow, leaving them unable to struggle free.
Wu Juan, clearly injured, was still pale and bloodless. Hearing Master Shi’s words, she clenched her teeth and said, “Thank you, Master Shi. But he has insulted me gravely and attacked me treacherously. If I cannot personally capture and torment him, how can I ever erase this hatred? Please, Master Shi, keep his puppets under control while I deal with him myself!”
With that, Wu Juan stretched out her hands, forming seals with both hands. Slowly, she raised them and shouted, “Rise!” Instantly, her long silks extended into the air, weaving like a net before expanding into a massive trap descending from above.
As the net neared Yang Jin, his eyes burned with rage. But he had been battered repeatedly, and after using his secret techniques so often, his body was completely drained of spiritual energy. He could barely move, let alone fight back. All he could do was glare at the two of them helplessly as the net descended.
Just as the net was about to engulf Yang Jin, a sudden change occurred!
Lately, I don’t know what’s wrong—I just can’t write.
I sit for hours and only manage a few words. It’s really frustrating.
It’s Labor Day now. I hope I can change my mood and get back on track.
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