The sun rose in the east, but there wasn't a trace of warm Yang Qi.
First, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch on the city wall exuded such an eerie Yin Qi that it felt like being in the Ghost Realm even in broad daylight.
Second, the Snake Demon Chang San had just revealed his true form, causing the townspeople to tremble with fear, and an elder even died on the spot from fright.
The good news was that the snake shadow that occasionally appeared beside Zhang Kui had disappeared, and the Protective Golden Light no longer reacted by glowing brightly.
However, Zhang Kui felt no joy at all.
That Snake Demon Chang San had lifted the Netherworld Snake Heart Devouring Curse, evidently preparing a stronger curse, and he was using an Ancient Artifact to do it.
It's likely the Protective Golden Light won't hold up.
I must stop him!
An idea sprang to Zhang Kui's mind, and he suddenly pointed at Chang San and shouted, "Stabilize!"
It was still a bluff, but Chang San flinched, and his actions noticeably sped up.
This curse feared interference!
Zhang Kui was delighted and immediately released the Body Fixing Skill.
Failure.
Again,
Failure.
Zhang Kui refused to give up and cast the Body Fixation Skill once more.
This time it finally succeeded, and Chang San's entire body stiffened. His Qi and Mana scrambled, and after breaking free, he spat out a mouthful of old blood.
The Body Fixation Skill was invisible and formless, leaving the people on the wall baffled as they only saw Zhang Kui gesturing and the Grain Avoidance Realm Old Demon coughing up blood.
Truly odd indeed.
The Snake Demon Chang San was also enraged, his eyes full of murderous intent. He suppressed the reversed Qi Mechanism and quickened his hands' movements.
Finally, a swirling mass of Yin mist rose from the stone bowl like a whirlwind, revolving around Chang San. Then a massive black snake shadow leapt from his crown point, twisting and writhing in mid-air with a terrifying aura.
Zhang Kui was taken aback, feeling icy and paralyzed all over under the gaze of those terrifying snake eyes, as if trapped in a nightmare.
"Hmm..."
On the city wall, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch praised:
"Though not a Yang God, he can travel divinely in daylight. It must be due to the Ancient Artifact. He's done for."
Before the words finished, the snake shadow suddenly appeared beside Zhang Kui, swiftly wrapping him in mid-air and opening its fanged mouth.
"Boy, run out of tricks? Watch as I suck your soul!"
Gazing into those cold, lantern-sized snake eyes, Zhang Kui felt a sense that his soul was about to be wrenched from his body.
Die... I can't die here!
With a frenzied roar, Zhang Kui struggled against the soul oppression, shouting, "Doppelganger Technique!"
Bang!
His body split in two, the clone being crushed, while his true form escaped, swiftly drawing the large black umbrella behind him. Instantly, a black mist enveloped Chang San's True Soul, engulfing it into the Black Fog Space.
"Another Ancient Artifact..."
On the city wall, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch chuckled, "Old me has learned quite a bit from these two young ones today."
Beside her, the scholar Qin Yi flashed a hint of jealousy in his eyes, "Senior Nine-Child, this Daoist is opposing Eunuch Liu at every turn. We can't let him escape."
"Hehehe..."
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch turned to him, full of mockery in her eyes, "It seems your heart is full of malice and can't bear it, right?"
Scholar Qin Yi smiled faintly, making no attempt to hide it,
"Senior Nine-Child, you are wise."
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch's owl-like laughter rang out again, seemingly very satisfied, "Haha, not bad. You, child, have a bright future. Don't worry, he won't escape. But you, are you willing to recognize this old woman as your godmother?"
Scholar Qin Yi was overjoyed and bowed deeply,
"Child greets godmother!"
"Hahaha..."
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch laughed happily, "Come, come, come beside your godmother, look at that fine skin..."
The scholar's face stiffened,
a withered claw was groping at his behind...
...
On the other side, within the Black Fog Space.
Chang San's huge black snake True Soul wandered leisurely within the Black Fog Space, unhurried and calm.
"I never thought you'd also possess an Ancient Artifact, but this space lacks real power. It's like catching a turtle in a jar for old me."
"Come on, come out..."
Zhang Kui stood far away, looking grim.
He was well aware of this, yet the Old Demon's Yin Spirit could travel swiftly over great distances, stepping outside would mean certain death, but here, he could at least buy some time.
Suddenly, Chang San slowly turned his snake head, his massive snake eyes fixated mockingly on him.
Zhang Kui's heart sank.
This Old Demon is unaffected by the space and can see me.
Snakes are cruel, loving to toy with their prey...
Watching the rapidly approaching giant figure, Zhang Kui gritted his teeth and took out two Talismans.
"Exorcism!"
"Sealing!"
Unfortunately, the talisman's level was too low, burning spontaneously even before approaching, turning to ash.
"Stabilize!"
This time the Body Fixing Skill unexpectedly succeeded, but Chang San only paused for a moment before continuing forward, smiling sinisterly:
"Come on, keep going..."
Zhang Kui's face was grim, having used all his skills, it was completely useless against this Old Demon. Could this be the day he dies?
No, there's still one more...
Zhang Kui suddenly remembered that while collecting Lian's remnant soul, he had unlocked a Soul Capture Skill.
The Yin Spirit is also a soul,
Who knows if it will work...
Zhang Kui tried extending his left hand,
"Soul Capture Technique!"
Chang San's whole body suddenly stiffened, his body uncontrollably flying straight towards Zhang Kui's right hand.
Zhang Kui's eyes lit up, raising Lu Li, cold and Evil Qi entwined, slashing down fiercely with the sword.
Poof!
It seemed to strike a massive piece of rubber, Yin Qi scattered, and Chang San let out a miserable cry, breaking free, eyes filled with terror.
"What... what evil skill is this?!"
He found that Zhang Kui's magic completely restrained the Yin Spirit.
Zhang Kui laughed heartily, eyes gleaming fiercely,
"A magic to take your life!"
Having said that, he cast another Soul Capture Technique, grabbed the rigid snake shadow, and ferociously hacked away with the sword.
Capture, slash, capture, slash...
Zhang Kui managed to unleash a combo effect. When his mana ran out, Chang San's true soul and Yin Spirit were already tattered and barely alive.
Just as he let out a breath, the motionless snake shadow on the ground suddenly opened its mouth wide and lunged to bite.
Zhang Kui laughed, swiftly dodging,
"Haha, the snake's nature is treacherous, I was already wary of this move."
However, Chang San's move was just a feint, his remnant soul suddenly shooting out, preparing to escape.
Zhang Kui was surprised, then laughed.
The tattered snake shadow was circling aimlessly like a blind wanderer.
It turned out Chang San's divine soul was severely damaged, unable to break through the black fog space and escape.
Zhang Kui stood by coldly, waiting for his mana to recover slightly, then used another Soul Capture Technique. The Lu Li sword flashed with Cold Evil.
In his mind, suddenly there were five more skill points...
...
Outside, the crowd on the wall stared at the rolling black mist, all with a look of watching a show.
Suddenly, Chang San, sitting over there, spat out a mouthful of blood mist, fell backward, and amidst the surging, revealed a huge snake body, yet it was motionless, lifeless.
"Impossible!"
Qin Yi's eyes widened in shock.
Why was it that Chang San was dead?
Enlightenment Slash of Avoiding Grain,
I've never heard of such a thing.
The gap in realms is not something that can be compensated by mere cultivation.
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch, surrounded by a gust of sinister wind, also narrowed her eyes slightly, "Interesting..."
Saying this, she grabbed with her hand, making Qin Yi's expression stiffen again, a bitter feeling in his heart.
Isn't having a godmother supposed to be an advantage? Why does it feel different than he expected...
Below the city, the black mist suddenly contracted, revealing Zhang Kui before everyone. He glanced at them coldly, then put away his black umbrella and walked towards the massive snake body.
An Old Demon of the Grain Avoidance Realm should be filled with treasures. At least the snake skin, guts, and Inner Core are good things...
On the city wall, the scholar Qin Yi, for some reason, found Zhang Kui extremely obnoxious, and couldn't hide the vicious expression in his eyes.
"Godmother, this person must not stay!"
"Hehe, my son is right..."
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch's night owl-like voice rang out, her dry claws reaching out, pointing distantly at Zhang Kui.
As Zhang Kui was observing the demon corpse, he suddenly felt a chill on his back, and the eerie giggles of an infant sounded, as if something icy was preparing to pierce through his skin and burrow into his body.
"Soul Capture Technique!"
Zhang Kui snorted coldly, looking at the ghost infant caught in his hand. The Demon-slaying Skill entwined with Gang Evil, instantly transcending it.
Discovering that the Soul Capture Technique restrained spiritual ghost entities, he had no fear of these things.
"How audacious!"
On the city wall, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch was furious, transforming into rolling black smoke, howling as it approached.
Zhang Kui was alert with his sword, but discovered that the sinister old witch suddenly halted, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at the sky in the distance.
"Celestial... Celestial Tribulation Realm!"
With that, she let out a scream, instantly turning into black smoke, fleeing frantically.
Zhang Kui also looked up into the distance, seeing clouds rolling and billowing at the horizon, and suddenly a giant Immortal Crane broke through the clouds, flying swiftly towards them...