Chapter 76: They Chase, They Flee, Yet None Can Escape

 

It was headed by half a red-bone jade skull, and its body was entangled with gray fog and evil spirit. As the evil spirit materialized, the temperature throughout the King of Chu’s mansion plummeted several degrees, causing many servants to shiver from the sudden chill.

 

Bai Shi’s gaze sharpened as he raised his hand, reinforcing the isolation formation by another stage.

 

“Woo woo woo!”

 

The evil spirit, momentarily confused, instantly noticed Ghost Face below. Its misty form trembled as it turned to flee, only to find its path blocked by an ink line that seeped down from thin air.

 

[Judge • Black Coffin Death Seal • Seal]

 

In an instant, ink lines imbued with netherworld power emerged from all directions, forming a black coffin that sealed the evil spirit in place.

 

In the moment of sealing the evil spirit, Ghost Face erased all information about Ye Tiance from the voodoo doll and casually tossed it to the silver-armored corpse puppet.

 

The silver-armored corpse puppet gripped the constantly trembling voodoo doll and opened its pitch-black maw to bite down.

 

Listening to the crunching sounds of the silver-armored corpse puppet chewing, Ghost Face formed hand seals once more. Before his chest, the shadowy forms of an ancient, netherworld-aura emitting book and a writing brush materialized.

 

[Judge • Book of Life and Death • Karma]

 

[Judge • Soul-Catching Brush • Life and Death]

 

The spell followed his will.

 

Outside the window, a mournful wind howled. Inside the study, candle flames flickered. The Book of Life and Death flipped pages rapidly with the wind before suddenly stopping. The Soul-Catching Brush hovered and lightly tapped down.

 

“Boom!”

 

Thunder unexpectedly exploded above Tianwu City. Ghost Face grunted, his body shuddering as blood rapidly stained the bandages covering his face.

 

Fortunate to glimpse a sliver of heaven’s secrets, he bore this backlash.

 

[Karmic Threads • Gather]

 

Ghost Face’s eyes showed determination as faint red and white threads extended from the black coffin in mid-air, intertwining to form a red and white cord that continuously stretched outward until connecting with the other end.

 

Found you!

 

Outside the city, the waiting crowd simultaneously looked at the guiding paper figurines in their hands.

 

The figurines emitted a faint orange-yellow glow, floating in the night breeze like luminous butterflies, swiftly flying in one direction. Without hesitation, everyone pursued the paper figurines.

 

Twelve miles from Tianwu City, at an unnamed roadside inn.

 

In a room, a young man with somewhat handsome features suddenly opened his eyes and sat up on the wooden bed.

 

“My evil spirit broke through the seal prematurely? It looks like someone discovered it.”

 

The young man frowned, taking out half a crimson bone jade skull from his belongings. After casting a spell, he found he had lost control over the evil spirit.

 

He was certain his evil spirit hadn’t been erased, yet it had escaped his control. It appeared the other side had also enlisted the help of an expert.

 

“Bang!”

 

The door was forcefully pushed open. The young man turned his head and said coldly, “Can’t you knock before entering?”

 

The black-robed person outside spoke grimly, “There’s a problem with the Sky-Concealing Formation. Someone forcibly peeked at heaven’s secrets. We can’t be sure if it’s that person from the Heavenly Gate Pavilion. Since the plan has been compromised, this place is no longer safe. We’re withdrawing immediately!”

 

“Master, my doll has been neutralized,” a delicate female voice came from behind the black-robed person.

 

A tightly wrapped, pale-skinned, short little girl came over.

 

After a pause, the little girl blinked her wine-red eyes and asked curiously, “Master, why is there a line connected to you?”

 

“Line?”

 

The black-robed person and the young man’s expressions changed slightly. The young man urgently said, “Luo Yue, pack up and leave here immediately!”

 

A minute later, in the lobby on the first floor of the inn, the black-robed person looked at Luo Yue, who had been pushed to his side, and said calmly,  “Master Yin, have you made your decision?”

 

“This is Great Qing territory. I don’t want my disciple to get into trouble with me. Besides, would you let me retreat with you?” Yin Ze looked at the group before him and sneered.

 

“Sect Leader Yin is righteous. When everything is done, I will certainly put in a good word for Master Yin before our Lord.” 

 

“Save those useless words. I only want what you promised me.” Yin Ze picked up his luggage and left the inn, sprinting in the opposite direction from the others.

 

Luo Yue stared at Yin Ze’s retreating figure, wanting to follow, but was stopped by a large hand on her shoulder.

 

“Benefactor Luo need not worry. Master Yin is blessed by heaven and will surely be safe. Amitabha!” A monk wearing a bamboo hat and holding a black and gold staff spoke calmly beside the black-robed person.

 

“Make sure that everything and everyone has been dealt with. Don’t leave any traces,” the black-robed person reminded again.

 

“Please rest assured, Elder Mo. Everything has…” The subordinate’s words were cut short as everyone looked sharply in one direction.

 

“Boom!!!”

 

A cyan blade of qi extended from the forest, slicing the two-story inn in half.

 

Wood splinters flew and dust billowed as the inn collapsed. More than ten black shadows darted out from the wreckage, speeding away.

 

In the night sky, a streak of light flew from the forest, exploding into countless points of light that rained down towards the fleeing shadows. Where the light points fell, trees crackled and toppled.

 

Blue Fish dodged a few times and landed on a tree branch in front of her. She drew the bow in her hand and shot an arrow into the air. The arrow turned into a flash of light and exploded again in the distant air, turning into light spots that fell down from the sky.

 

In the woods, Mo Nan and Luo Yue kept dodging the oncoming light spots and fallen trees.

 

Seeing the surrounding trees pierced with bowl-sized holes by the light points, Mo Nan couldn’t hide his surprise. What formidable archery! The power of this arrow almost rivaled that of hundreds of archers in formation.

 

Were these all experts from the King of Chu’s side? Or had the Martial Guard Division gotten involved?

 

No wonder the Left Protector ran into trouble. It seems this King of Chu was deeply involved.

 

However, in the current situation, fleeing was clearly the best choice.

 

“Scatter and flee! Regroup at the mountain hideout,” Mo Nan transmitted to everyone.

 

“Whoosh!”

 

A golden beam of light pierced through from the darkness behind them. A subordinate to the side, completely unprepared, was torn in two by the golden light beam.

 

Mo Nan’s gaze sharpened. Another archery expert?!

 

And they were rapidly approaching.

 

To shoot arrows at this speed?

 

On horseback?

 

Behind them.

 

Shen Jun sat on E Lai’s neck, continuously shooting arrows of condensed true qi from his folding bow.

 

E Lai gripped Shen Jun’s legs tightly, maintaining his speed without slowing down. With a few light movements, they drew even closer to their targets.

 

“Elder Mo, the opponents are all experts. If we don’t leave someone behind to hold them off, I’m afraid none of us will escape,” the monk transmitted to Mo Nan.

 

“Then I’ll trouble Elder Gu to stay behind for us!” Mo Nan sneered in response.

 

“Amitabha, it seems this monk is fated to face this tribulation today. However, I request Elder Mo to leave two skilled fighters to assist me.”

 

How troublesome!

 

Mo Nan inwardly cursed before transmitting, “Ku Shiyi, Gan San, stay behind to assist Elder Gu!”

 

“Yes, Elder Mo.” Two young men also wearing black robes changed direction to move closer to Gu Yu’s position.

 

Another golden beam of light shot towards them. Gu Yu held his black and gold staff with one hand, spinning it in a flurry before suddenly thrusting it like a spear in a move called “Dotting the Dragon’s Eyes,” forcefully dispersing the approaching light beam.

 

Tianwu City – the Heavenly Gate Pavilion.

 

Shen Yian sat opposite Lu Wenxuan, moving a piece forward to the left side of the black general, and softly reminded, “Teacher, it’s checkmate.”

 

Lu Wenxuan lowered his head, looking at the chessboard and murmuring with a smile, “So this is how the game is played? Interesting.”

 

“Again!” he said.