Chapter 305: Defying Fate (Part 10)

This was a strategy of feigning disinterest to lure the opponent closer.

Following Zhuge Abacus’s plan, Shui Miao walked northward alone.

Jiang Zhihao and others began packing the tents as Shui Miao had instructed, and within half an hour, everyone set off on the road.

The bodyguards and drivers were paid to do as their boss commanded; no one dared to utter a single word of complaint.

Shui Miao walked about five or six hundred meters before finding a ditch overgrown with weeds and reeds. He transferred the corpse of the Dog-Eyed Taoist from his spatial ring and threw it into the bushes. He then placed the spatial ring beside the corpse and covered it with some reeds. After finishing this task, Shui Miao washed his hands by the river and circled back to the car. At Jiang Zhihao’s command, the convoy resumed its journey.

According to Zhuge Abacus, the ghost of a recently deceased person would be very weak. To grow stronger quickly, the best method would be to absorb the residual yang essence and spiritual energy left in the corpse.

The Dog-Eyed Taoist was a cultivator, so his soul was different from that of an ordinary person. If he was indeed the one causing trouble, he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.

Therefore, as long as he showed up, the rest of the plan would proceed smoothly.

The convoy sped forward, covering about a mile, when Shui Miao suddenly ordered everyone to stop and return the way they had come.

Everyone was astonished…

Shui Miao was simply following the plan.

Unfortunately, his actions puzzled Captain Lin. Had he been discovered?

Not daring to take any chances, Lin quickly drove his car into a roadside restaurant to observe and wait for developments.

As Zhuge Abacus had predicted, the moment the convoy left, the Dog-Eyed Taoist rushed back to his corpse and immediately possessed it, absorbing the remaining yang essence.

“You really are quite clueless, not even noticing such a big ring!”

Just as the Dog-Eyed Taoist returned, he heard a man’s voice.

Before he could react, Zhuge Abacus emerged from the spatial ring and used a spell to trap the Taoist’s soul inside the corpse. Then, he swiftly sealed the body into the ring and entered it himself.

Realizing he could no longer separate from the corpse, the Dog-Eyed Taoist panicked and shouted at Zhuge Abacus, “Who are you? Why are you doing this to me? Let me go! I am a disciple of the Taming Sect in the Immortal Realm. If you offend me, my master will never forgive you!”

Noticing that both he and his corpse had been transported to an unfamiliar place filled with a huge cauldron, the Dog-Eyed Taoist became even more terrified.

In fact, the cauldron was conjured by Zhuge Abacus using the Fire Spirit.

“The Taming Sect!”

Zhuge Abacus narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “No wonder you could summon so many crows and weasels. You’re from the Taming Sect! However, I won’t let you go just yet, because I am the local Earth God, newly appointed. You came here to cause trouble and challenge my authority, so I will hand you over to the Immortal Realm’s Law Enforcement Bureau for punishment.” As he spoke, Zhuge Abacus transformed into a small old man in his seventies or eighties, with white hair and a youthful complexion, holding a staff—clearly dressed as the Earth God.

“Ahhh! It’s the Earth God!”

Seeing his opponent was the Earth God, the Dog-Eyed Taoist felt a wave of relief and thought, “Thank goodness I met you! Take me to the Taming Sect in the Nine Heavens, and they will reward you greatly. I am the disciple of Golden Dog Immortal, the vice-leader of the sect.”

“Haha…”

Zhuge Abacus stroked his beard, suddenly laughing. “What luck! I’ve been helping my brother collect secret techniques from all the sects in the Nine Heavens. Today, capturing you saves me a lot of trouble! Come, let me throw you into this cauldron and refine you into a Soul Memory Pill. Once I consume it, I can record the Taming Sect’s techniques in the Book of Wonders.”

As he spoke, Zhuge Abacus dragged the Taoist’s corpse toward the cauldron. The intense heat radiated from the furnace, wave after wave, growing hotter.

“No! Don’t refine me into a pill!”

The Dog-Eyed Taoist never imagined he’d encounter an Earth God who loved alchemy. Thinking he was safe, he now realized he had fallen into a tiger’s den.

“Haha, don’t worry. Blink your eyes, and this life will be over.” Zhuge Abacus lifted the Taoist, ready to throw him into the cauldron.

“Wait! Wait! I have something to say…”

In the face of death, the Dog-Eyed Taoist summoned his courage and quickly said, “You want the spells of the Taming Sect, right? I’ll tell you directly! Throwing me into the cauldron is too troublesome. If you spare my life, I’ll not only share the techniques but also serve you as a slave forever. Just don’t kill me, and I’ll do anything you ask.”

Desperate to survive, the Taoist was willing to do anything.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Abacus blinked and set the Taoist down. “Actually, I could use a servant to pour tea and run errands. Alright, I’ll give you a chance. First, tell me the techniques of the Taming Sect. If you lie even once, I’ll throw you into the cauldron and reduce you to ashes.”

“I swear I won’t lie at all…”

The Taoist was terrified and quickly confessed every secret technique and spell he knew, leaving out not a single word.

“Is that all?”

Zhuge Abacus had already obtained what he needed.

“Yes, that’s everything! Master Earth God, I swear I’m not lying!” The Taoist wished he could kneel and kowtow hundreds of times to show his sincerity.

“Alright, I’ll step out and test it first.”

Zhuge Abacus vanished and reappeared outside.

By then, Shui Miao had already returned and picked up the ring from the grass.

Zhuge Abacus materialized beside Shui Miao with a slight smile. “Seventh Brother, I easily uncovered all his secrets. Try this incantation and see if it can dispel the evil curse you’re under…”

Instantly, Zhuge Abacus recited the spell.

Shui Miao nodded, memorizing it carefully. He silently repeated it in his mind and immediately felt a clarity in his mind, as all the oppressive feelings vanished in an instant. “It worked! Amazing! I didn’t expect the evil curse to be so powerful!”

“Haha! Good!” Zhuge Abacus nodded. “Seventh Brother, for safety, you should still use your spirit-devouring power to absorb his memories. They might be of great help for your future ascension to the Immortal Realm.”

“Great! Thank you, Fifth Brother!”

Shui Miao was eager to obtain the Dog-Eyed Taoist’s memories, especially how Zhuge Abacus had outsmarted him.

Without wasting words, Zhuge Abacus returned to the Holy Yuan Bracelet.

Shui Miao immediately channeled his immortal energy, activating the spirit-devouring force into the ring to absorb and refine the Taoist’s soul.

By the time Shui Miao returned to the car, the Dog-Eyed Taoist had been completely consumed.

Shui Miao now possessed all the Taoist’s memories and was amazed to discover that the Taoist had experienced many strange encounters and enjoyed extraordinary fortune. Unfortunately, he was too attached to the mortal world, especially to lust and power. If he had focused solely on cultivation, Shui Miao would never have been his match.

For instance, the Taoist’s soul strength after death far surpassed Shui Miao’s.

Moreover, the Dog-Eyed Taoist’s memories contained a complete set of the Taming Sect’s immortal techniques—profound, intricate, and wondrous.

Shui Miao was deeply fascinated by these techniques.

But most of all, he deeply admired Zhuge Abacus’s intelligence and strategy, which were nothing short of divine.

“Alright, let’s go. This time, no more stops.”

After getting into the car, Shui Miao sighed in relief and immediately activated his immortal energy, spreading his spiritual awareness…

To his surprise, he sensed a mysterious female ghost standing on a branch of a dead tree, gazing coldly in his direction. Her face was sharp and icy, her eyes chillingly indifferent, and her red lips carried a strange allure. Her figure was so perfect even fairies would envy it.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, the female ghost vanished in a flash!

Shui Miao was startled and quickly focused his spiritual sense, but to his shock, she had completely disappeared!

So strong!

She had vanished in an instant!

Shui Miao’s spiritual awareness spanned a vast area, yet he couldn’t detect the ghost’s trace, revealing the terrifying level of her power.

Moments later, Lao Cai and Lao Qin arrived with a large group of ghost soldiers.

Shui Miao called for the car to stop and spoke briefly with Lao Cai. Knowing Shui Miao was safe, they all relaxed. Shui Miao then retrieved the Golden Toad into the Holy Yuan Bracelet, bid farewell to Lao Cai and Lao Qin, and asked them to notify Sima Zongheng of the Yellow Springs Sect not to come to his aid.

Only after this exchange did the convoy continue forward.

※※※

At dusk,

Lao Qin reached the Yellow Springs Sect and informed Sima Zongheng that his help was no longer needed.

Xiao Hei and Lao Qin returned to the human realm together. After parting ways, Xiao Hei hurriedly used his teleportation techniques to chase after the convoy.

Halfway there, Xiao Hei was intercepted by a black-robed female ghost—the very same one Shui Miao had sensed with his spiritual awareness.

“Why are you in such a hurry? You won’t even get a reward for returning…” The female ghost turned coldly toward Xiao Hei. “Shui Miao is just an ordinary mortal. You have great potential, yet you willingly serve him as a slave. Why?”

“Haha! Beautiful lady, why are you blocking my way?” The Black Snake Demon, eloquent and quick-witted, mimicked her tone and retorted, “You’re so beautiful, with such a great figure, yet you’re stopping a member of the opposite sex at sunset. Why is that?”

“Cheeky… Prepare yourself!”

The female ghost’s lips curled slightly, and suddenly she flashed beside Xiao Hei, sword in hand, aiming straight for his vital spot…