Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

When Shen Wang first returned from the cultivation world, he had boldly severed ties with the Tang family and encountered this man dressed entirely in black, like a dark crow, on his way out.

Out of kindness, he had treated the man's wounds.

...And then took the man's dagger as payment for the medical treatment.

...The method of treatment was also excruciatingly painful, not something an ordinary person could endure.

He never thought they would meet again so soon, or if they did, it would be when he was fully trained and no longer afraid of the other's revenge.

Shen Wang never imagined that their next meeting would be so soon and under such circumstances.

"Is that so," the man in black elongated his tone.

In the next second, he produced two daggers in his hands, crossed them before his chest, and unexpectedly struck at Shen Wang!

Shen Wang, already on alert, aware that his cultivation was inferior to his opponent's, clutched a handful of talismans and threw them out: "This... Brother Xiao Hei, attacking so suddenly, aren't we forgetting about martial virtue?"

The man in black's pupils contracted, retreating rapidly. His daggers whirled, forming an impenetrable defense, fending off the chaotic storm of wind, fire, and thunder, but inevitably, he was struck by a bolt of lightning.

"Which family do you hail from?" Even struck by lightning, the man in black's voice remained unchanged, he scoffed, "Your elders must really cherish you, giving you so many protective items."

"I belong to no sect, just a wandering cultivator," Shen Wang replied with a smile, not letting down his guard, preparing another handful of talismans, "I have only a master whose whereabouts are unpredictable."

"My master has retired and instructed me not to reveal his identity carelessly when I'm out and about, so as not to tarnish his reputation."

The man in black brushed the soot off his sleeve: "I see."

By then, the little ghosts had found their own skeletal remains. They floated in the air, half of them focusing on Shen Wang, the other half on the man in black.

Xiao Kong, who had been resting behind Shen Wang, exclaimed in alarm, "Big Brother Shen, they're coming again!"

He had just been chased by these little ghosts, barely escaping, and now they were back!

Xiao Kong clung tightly to Shen Wang's hair, determined not to venture out again!

The man in black's gaze intensified, his left hand adorned with a black glove, the index and middle fingers brought together as if they were a sword, directing an invisible sword qi towards the approaching ghosts.

Instinctively, Shen Wang used a talisman to block the sword qi, then tossed a triangle-folded talisman to the man in black: "This is an exorcism talisman. Brother Xiao Hei, feel free to use it if you don't mind."

The man in black caught the exorcism talisman, and after a glance, he was inwardly shocked.

This was the most basic exorcism talisman, made from the lowest quality talisman paper of the Tang family in C City!

Such low-grade talisman paper, typically used for practice by novices in cultivation, exhibited such immense power in Shen Wang's hands, capable of warding off so many evil spirits...

The person who drew this talisman was certainly not to be underestimated.

At this moment, the little ghosts charged furiously. The man in black watched these ignorant spirits coldly, tucking the exorcism talisman into his sleeve and gripping his dagger tightly.

The ghosts drew closer, and the man in black could even see their sharp, shark-like teeth.

Releasing his grip, the man in black unleashed the talisman, a burst of white light flaring up. The fastest of the little ghosts, caught off guard, collided with the light, their forms twisting in agony as they screamed and retreated.

Both individuals, neither too far nor too close, were enveloped in white light, surrounded by the vigilant ghosts, and they faced each other in a standoff.

For a moment, all three parties were at a stalemate.

"These little ghosts had their souls extracted before birth, and after years of torment, they are no longer whole, devoid of any consciousness," the man in black sneered, "Disintegration is the best outcome for them."

These pitiable ghosts, with shattered souls and no rationality, were less than animals.

Other evil spirits still have the chance to resolve their obsessions and reincarnate, but these little ghosts lack even that, making salvation impossible. Rather than letting them wander aimlessly as lost spirits, it's better to end their suffering swiftly.

Shen Wang let out a small hiss, "I've seen many living Buddhas, but a living Yama, this is truly my first encounter."

"Living Buddha?" The man in black, as if finding something amusing, suddenly burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, brimming with malevolence, "Shen Dao You, you aspire to be a living Buddha, haven't you heard a saying?"

The man in black stopped laughing and looked at Shen Wang ominously: "Good people don't live long."

"Disasters last a thousand years," Shen Wang agreed smoothly, "Don't worry, I'm definitely not a good person. I might live even longer than a tortoise."

Seeing Shen Wang's impervious and shameless demeanor, the man in black couldn't help but feel bored.

The dagger in his palm twirled skillfully as he calmed his voice, "What brings you here? Are you also after Tang Jiu's possessions?"

Also? Tang Jiu? Shen Wang looked at the man in black, confused: "???"

Meeting Shen Wang's gaze, the man in black asked again, "How did you end up here?"

"I'm here for..." Shen Wang was about to answer truthfully when he suddenly slapped his forehead, "Damn it!"

He had forgotten Xu Cheng in Lin Yinyang's hands!

Knowing the man in black harbored no ill intent towards him, Shen Wang swiftly moved towards the ancestral hall, leaving the man in black momentarily stunned before he floated after him.

Inside the hall, Xu Cheng was tied up tightly, coiled on the ground like a caterpillar, unable to move, only wriggling in place.

The tables and other items that were previously in the hall had disappeared, leaving it utterly empty, save for a portrait of a revered ancestor on the wall, looking down at the scene with a mournful gaze.

Centered around Xu Cheng, the ground was covered with intricate red lines, forming a complex array.

The faint smell of blood in the air made Xu Cheng realize that these 'red lines' were drawn with blood.

Xu Cheng's mouth was gagged tightly, his eyes filled with fear and helplessness: "Mmmph, mmmph!"

Shen Wang, save me!

Lin Yinyang looked at Xu Cheng as if admiring his most satisfying creation, tenderly stroking Xu Cheng's head as he used to do, "Chengcheng, for your life, Grandpa has expended so much effort, used so many precious things. Now, it's time for you to repay Grandpa."

Xu Cheng struggled to avoid Lin Yinyang's withered hand but was powerless, forced to watch as the skeletal hand, like a dry branch, landed on his head.

Then, that hand slowly slid down, caressingly touching Xu Cheng's face.

Tears formed in Xu Cheng's eyes: I'm dirty, I'm no longer clean.

Brother Shen, where are you? Wuu wuu wuu.

A loud commotion seemed to be happening outside. Lin Yinyang stood up abruptly, intending to check, but then halted, muttering to himself, "Maybe those filthy ghosts are devouring each other."

Time was of the essence, and he couldn't wait any longer.

Turning back, Lin Yinyang's eyes glinted green with excitement and hunger, like a wolf starved for three days upon seeing its prey. He cut his own finger, letting a drop of blood fall to the ground.

Instantly, those 'red lines' seemed to come alive, twisting and crawling towards Xu Cheng, even beginning to climb up Lin Yinyang's body.

Xu Cheng felt a wave of weakness, his head spinning, as something seemed to be forcibly extracted from his body.

Lin Yinyang, however, appeared to be relishing the moment, comfortably closing his eyes. His white hair at the roots gradually turned black, wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and his withered, age-spotted hands slowly plumped up.

Struggling to see through his half-closed eyes, Xu Cheng was shocked to find that Lin Yinyang, who had appeared to be in his seventies, now looked increasingly younger, around his fifties or sixties!

Xu Cheng didn't understand what was happening, only knowing that he felt like he was dying.

Damn it, Brother Shen, I'll never secretly curse you in my mind as a jerk again. If you don't show up now, your little brother here is done for, ahhhh!

As he silently wailed in his heart, the room's door was kicked open. Using all his strength, Xu Cheng looked up and saw a familiar silhouette.

Everything before him was fading to black, and he could barely see clearly, but Xu Cheng still felt that the figure was like an angel, like a saint, radiating with a halo.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xu Cheng's eyes brimmed with tears, grateful for the timely arrival.

As the energy of the exorcism talisman in his hand depleted, Shen Wang skillfully replaced it with a new one. The dimmed light circle brightened again, and he commanded authoritatively, "Cover your head, crouch down, you're surrounded by me now!"

Jolted from his comfortable trance, Lin Yinyang opened his eyes, "You're still alive..."

Before he could finish, a barrage of talismans headed straight for his face.

Lin Yinyang, startled, quickly jumped to the side, evading the talismans but consequently breaking the red lines on his body.

"Release my brother!" Shen Wang, not interested in Lin Yinyang's blabber, prepared another set of talismans, forcing Lin Yinyang to flee in a desperate and disheveled state.

With the red lines severed, the pale-faced Xu Cheng felt significantly better. He gazed at Shen Wang with pleading eyes: "Mmmph, mmmph!"

Brother Shen, save me!

The man in black observed the battle between Shen Wang and Lin Yinyang with a cold detachment, his gaze lingering on the red lines, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "A life-exchanging formation..."

How could such a long-lost forbidden formation of the metaphysical realm appear in such a remote village?

The man in black came here because a powerful little ghost king was soon to emerge in C City.

This little ghost king was ferocious and bloodthirsty, retaining human memories, and extremely cunning. After each murder, it quickly fled the scene and hid.

Unlike other evil spirits radiating yin energy, this little ghost king seemed to have a special trait that allowed it to conceal its ghostly aura, eluding the detection of many Daoist priests.

The combined efforts of the Metaphysical Society and special departments were futile, causing widespread panic throughout C City.

The little ghost king had been rampant in C City for a long time, until Tang Jiu returned and defeated it, becoming the celebrated new talent of C City.

The Tang family gained prestige, and the Metaphysical Society managed to overshadow the special departments.

What people didn't know was that Tang Jiu also raised a little ghost king. This female ghost king, after devouring the other, advanced to a ghost king, becoming one of Tang Jiu's powerful assets.

...thus becoming one of Tang Jiu's concubines.

It was later discovered that the little ghost king might have originated from this obscure village, associated with the Maoshan ghost-controlling technique.

The reason the man in black came here was to preemptively annihilate the little ghost king, eliminating this potent elixir that could enhance the female ghost king's power!

However... the man in black released a sword wind from his fingertips, severing the red lines on Xu Cheng's body.

Now it seemed that this little ghost king had not yet transformed into a ghost?

Intriguing, truly intriguing.