Facing Guili, though the Ghost Master had not yet emerged from the coffin, he was clearly more cautious. The ghostly green flame in the air burned silently, growing brighter and larger, casting an eerie green hue on the faces around.
Guili stared at the ethereal green light, his expression unreadable, and suddenly stepped forward. Almost as if triggered by Guili’s movement, the ghostly flame flared up. This time, it did not divide into five parts to form a star-shaped array, but instead, a ball of green light rose abruptly, stirring a fierce wind that sent dust and debris flying. Zhou Yixian and the other two, taken by surprise, rubbed their eyes.
In this increasingly tense moment, the air thick with ghostly energy, it seemed some mysterious and sinister spell was about to be unleashed. Guili, facing this enigmatic Ghost Master, remained vigilant. Suddenly, his brows furrowed, and his body shot up into the air. Almost simultaneously, a massive rumble echoed from deep within the earth, and the entire house shook violently, like an earthquake.
A huge, ghastly white bone arm burst through the stone floor, slamming down where Guili had been standing. The blue bricks and stone slabs were shattered to pieces, and fragments flew everywhere. The room was filled with ghostly wails, and as Guili hovered in mid-air, the white bone arm, seemingly driven by some mysterious force, lunged towards him.
Guili’s brows were knitted, but he did not panic. His eyes reflected the approaching white shadow. Just as the bone arm was about to strike, he dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding it. The bone arm crashed to the ground, causing another shower of sand and stones.
The room was now filled with a dense, chilling aura, and Zhou Yixian and the others pressed against the walls, wanting to leave but too afraid to move. Fortunately, it seemed the Ghost Master’s attention was solely on Guili, and they huddled in a corner near the altar, unharmed.
But that was not enough. As Zhou Yixian was muttering, another deep, restless cry echoed from beneath, carrying a sense of ferocity and long-suppressed rage.
The house shook again, soil and stones churned, and another equally massive bone arm emerged from the ground, charging at Guili. Guili dodged between the two bone arms, his eyes fixed, but he had not yet retaliated.
The room grew even more crowded and chaotic.
As the bones danced in the air, a frightening and unpredictable scene unfolded in the haunted house. Despite the intense battle between the Ghost Master and Guili, both seemed to have an unspoken agreement, limiting their spells within the confines of the room. The Ghost Master’s dark arts did not spill outside, and Guili also stayed within the room.
Above the haunted house, the ghostly green flame burned coldly, its pale green light casting a sinister glow. Guili’s figure, dancing among the bones, seemed to exude a strange, ominous aura. But so far, the Ghost Master had not managed to subdue him. Inside the coffin, the Ghost Master gave a cold snort.
Suddenly, the ghostly green flame flared up, and the two massive bone arms halted abruptly. A mournful sound echoed, and the bone arms cracked and shattered, turning into countless sharp fragments. They swarmed towards Guili like a deadly rain of bones or a swarm of devouring bees.
Zhou Yixian and the others paled, and Xiao Huan screamed. In the small, confined space, avoiding the bone arms was already difficult, and now, facing a barrage of bone fragments, escape seemed impossible.
Guili’s face was cold as ice, and as the bone shards neared, he suddenly plummeted to the ground at lightning speed. The bone shards paused in mid-air, as if guided by some unseen force, and then turned to chase after him.
Guili landed, but before he could steady himself, he slapped the ground and shot towards the coffin. The ghostly flame above flickered, and the bone shards howled as they chased him, causing the house to tremble. Guili’s clothes whipped in the wind, and in that critical moment, he threw out the Soul-Devouring Black Rod, imbued with dark and mysterious power. The Blood-Drinking Pearl on the rod glowed red, and blood threads lit up, a sign of its demonic power.
However, the rod was thrown towards the corner where Zhou Yixian and the others were. They were caught off guard, and the black light and the icy, malevolent aura made them shiver. The rod embedded itself in the wall next to Zhou Yixian’s head.
Zhou Yixian was terrified, and for a moment, a cold sensation ran from his head to his feet. He felt as if an invisible hand was pulling him towards the rod. With great effort, he moved away, gasping for breath.
At that moment, the bone shards and the ghostly flame, which had been like a mountain avalanche, stopped abruptly. A faint, pained moan came from the wall, and a human-like clay figure flew out, heading towards Guili. The bone shards, losing their energy, fell to the ground, while the ghostly flame grew even brighter, hovering above the clay figure.
Guili let out a light whistle, and the Soul-Devouring Black Rod returned to his hand. He stabbed the clay figure, and it crumbled, revealing a dark figure. Like a ghost, it floated and landed on the mysterious coffin, revealing the Ghost Master’s presence.
The Soul-Devouring Black Rod returned to Guili’s hand. He stared at the Ghost Master, who slowly turned to face him and asked, “How did you find my hiding place?”
Guili remained silent, his eyes cold. The Ghost Master, under his black veil, nodded. “Very well. We may not be friends, and you don’t have to tell me. But today is not over. I want to see how powerful you truly are, one who is said to possess the true methods of three major sects.”
Guili’s pupils narrowed. Although he had surprised the Ghost Master, his expression remained tense. The Ghost Master, despite being struck, seemed unaffected, a testament to his unfathomable nature.
As the two stood in a standoff, Zhou Yixian, now calmer, pulled Xiao Huan and Ye Gou, realizing the danger. They found a hole in the broken wall and escaped, taking Zhou Xingyun’s spirit tablet with them.
Guili and the Ghost Master were aware of their departure, but neither reacted. After they left, the haunted house was engulfed in a fierce wind, pushing the three of them several feet back.
Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan watched the house from a distance, noting the strange lights and flashes of gold, red, and blue, though the ghostly aura and battle energy were contained within the room.
Xiao Huan, looking at the house, whispered, “Grandpa, isn’t it wrong to leave like this?”
Zhou Yixian and Ye Gou, startled, turned to her. Zhou Yixian frowned, “Silly girl, those two are dangerous. We’re lucky to be alive. Why stay?”
Xiao Huan hesitated, “But he was trying to save us…”
Ye Gou remained silent, and Zhou Yixian impatiently said, “Don’t be foolish. Guili is powerful. Let the devils fight each other. It’s none of our business. Come on, let’s go!”
He pulled Xiao Huan, and after a moment, she followed. Ye Gou, looking back at the flashing house, finally joined them.
Inside the haunted house, after a short while, the room was in ruins. Stones and debris littered the floor, and the ground was uneven, almost impossible to stand on.
Guili and the Ghost Master, floating in mid-air, paused and gazed at each other, breathing slightly. Only Xiaohui, on Guili’s shoulder, seemed bored, yawning and stretching.
The Ghost Master said, “I didn’t expect your progress to be so rapid. In just ten years, you’ve fused the true methods of Dao, Buddhism, and Demonic Cults. Impressive.”
Guili, eyeing the black-robed figure, replied coldly, “I didn’t expect you to be from the Mysterious Arts of the Southern Regions, not the Demonic Cult.”
His eyes glowed red, and he continued, “If you know the Mysterious Arts, can you help revive Bicai?”
The Ghost Master interrupted, “You’re mistaken. Though I know some Mysterious Arts, the soul-revival method is a secret of the Black Witch Clan. If I knew, I would have saved Miss Bicai long ago, considering my friendship with the Ghost King.”
Guili eyed him, contemplating. The Ghost Master, after a moment, said, “Since you insist on protecting those three, I’ll let them go this time. Our fight here serves no purpose. Let’s end it.”
Guili, inwardly scoffing, nodded. “Very well.”
The Ghost Master descended, the room a mess. The coffin in the center was unscathed. “What brings you to Mount Qingyun?” he asked.
Guili replied, “What about you?”
The Ghost Master, “With the chaos and the Beast Demon’s threat, the upcoming battle at Mount Qingyun is inevitable. I must see this spectacle.”
Guili, “Who will win, the righteous or the demons?”
The Ghost Master, “The Beast Demon’s strength is beyond expectation, especially the leader, the Beast God. No one has seen his power, but he must be extraordinary. The Beast Demon has a 70% chance of winning.”
Guili, “And the righteous 30%, relying on the Sword Array?”
The Ghost Master, “Yes. The Sword Array is unparalleled, and the righteous hope to win with it. That’s why so many have gathered at Mount Qingyun.”
Guili, lost in thought, “Though you’re from the Demonic Cult, there are secrets about Mount Qingyun you might not know.”
The Ghost Master, “True. The Sword Array, derived from the ancient scrolls, was created by the legendary Qingye. It channels the power of the seven peaks and the killing intent of all things, making it invincible. But it depends on a sacred sword, the ‘Zhuxian’.”
Guili, “The ancient sword ‘Zhuxian’?”
The Ghost Master, “Yes. Its origin is a mystery, but it first appeared when Qingye emerged from the Illusion Moon Cave, holding it. The sword is kept in the cave, not by the leader.”
The room fell silent. Guili, “How do you know so much?”
The Ghost Master, “You don’t need to know. But remember, I am not your enemy.”
Guili, after a moment, drifted out, his voice fading into the wind. The Ghost Master, standing in the darkness, watched as the ghostly flame dimmed, plunging the room into silence. A low, cold laugh echoed in the darkness.
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