The attack missed, and a hint of annoyance flickered in my heart.
By the time the female ghost appeared, she was already five meters away, suspended in mid-air.
The pervasive black mist, the dancing flames.
Red skin, adorned in red robes, with jagged teeth and a flickering, flame-like tongue.
The sight was shocking.
Even in horror movies, I had never seen such a ferocious vengeful spirit.
Facing such a high-level vengeful spirit, everyone's hearts were filled with apprehension.
But for my life, even knowing the danger, they had come here to kill the ghost and seize my lifespan…
The three of us youngsters stood at the front.
Uncle-Master stood behind us.
All of us looked up, gazing at the female ghost in the air.
Uncle-Master let out a cold snort and spoke:
“My senior brother couldn't kill you back then.
He planted the cause.
But tonight, you will surely die!
This is the effect…”
Uncle-Master's eyes burned with fervor, his gaze resolute.
Though he usually called me Master, shouting "you old idiot," he deeply respected Master.
Now, the karma had reached us.
Besides seizing lifespan,
this female ghost must be eliminated by us.
With that said, Uncle-Master plunged his broadsword and fire-control fan into the ground.
He clasped his hands together and grunted,
“Summoning Technique…”
After speaking, Uncle-Master began chanting rapidly.
His speed was remarkable.
Seeing this, the female ghost also sensed something was wrong.
Because when Uncle-Master chanted, the true qi and Dao qi within him surged explosively.
Perhaps sensing the danger,
the female ghost stopped its shrieking, raised its claws, and with a "whirr," it lunged towards us.
Xiao Mei, seeing this, opened her mouth and spat out a cloud of green smoke.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh," it sprayed out.
But the female ghost was unfazed, charging directly through the smoke.
The green smoke did, however, scorch the ghost's skin.
With a "sizzle, sizzle, sizzle," it rotted, making its face even more terrifying.
The female ghost paid it no mind, its sharp claws rapidly attacking.
Old Mo raised his dual axes, guarding Uncle-Master in front, standing ready.
I formed a mudra with my left hand:
“Chi!”
The Yin-Yang Orb shot out again, aimed at the female ghost.
But it still missed.
Seeing this, I could only quickly change my mudra.
The third layer profundity of the Qiankun True Art.
“Heaven and Earth are limitless, Qiankun is without law, Destroy!”
With a sword slash, my spiritual power erupted, carrying the Yin and Yang energies, transforming into qi blades.
One Yin, one Yang, the two streams of qi vibrated.
With a "whirr," they slashed towards the female ghost.
This was my strongest power, my most potent offensive technique.
Alas, the gap in strength was too great.
My sword strike, while extinguishing most of the flames on the female ghost, was still blocked by her in mid-air.
She unleashed a claw.
Yin sha qi vibrated, flames roared.
With a "bang," the two waves of energy exploded.
She dispersed the Yin-Yang qi I had unleashed…
Although she wasn't injured, the female ghost had consumed a significant amount of Yin sha primal energy.
And my and Xiao Mei's obstruction bought Uncle-Master time.
Uncle-Master stomped his left foot on the ground:
“Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Chen, Lie, Zai, Qian, Xing, Chi!”
Instantly, Uncle-Master's body trembled.
A wave of energy erupted from within him.
Uncle-Master’s entire body began to swell.
He seemed to have grown a size larger, appearing incredibly imposing.
The female ghost lunged again.
But Uncle-Master gripped his broadsword and fire-control fan, thrusting them towards the ghost.
Uncle-Master was currently in the True Light realm. In the Summoning Technique state, he could reach the Dao Body realm.
His strength should be comparable to the female ghost's.
“Aoo!”
The female ghost roared and brought down a claw.
Uncle-Master first used his fan to deflect the flames, then forcefully slashed down with his left-hand broadsword.
A lot of the flames on the female ghost were blown away, and she raised her hand to block.
With another muffled "bang,"
qi clashed.
The energy ripples were too intense.
The three of us were directly blown back.
The difference in strength was too great; we couldn't confront it head-on.
Uncle-Master and the red-skinned fire ghost were now engaged in a direct fight.
They traded blows back and forth, fighting fiercely.
The red-skinned fire ghost's ability was its fire.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh," it burned towards Uncle-Master.
Within a five-meter radius, the heat was scorching.
Fortunately, there was little vegetation here, otherwise, this dilapidated factory would have ignited.
Though Uncle-Master was injured, he still appeared formidable, holding a fan in one hand and a sword in the other.
He used the fan to extinguish the flames defensively while slashing with his broadsword.
He looked strong, robust.
Much like Uncle-Master's temper and personality: tempestuous, generous, direct, never beating around the bush.
However, I noticed.
Every time Uncle-Master used the fire-control fan to parry forcefully, he would let out a slight cough.
It wasn't obvious, but it was there.
Once or twice was fine, but the third and fourth times clearly indicated something was wrong.
The fire-control fan was a magical artifact of Bai Lao, the corpse burner.
Uncle-Master borrowed it, and he must have paid some price to wield its full power.
Uncle-Master's continuous "slight coughs" were definitely side effects.
I didn't know what "backlash" meant, but it couldn't be good.
No, I had to help Uncle-Master.
And it had to be a swift victory…
But the three of us couldn't join the fray yet, only circling the surroundings.
Trying to find an opportunity to strike, but there was none.
Xiao Mei and I were fine; we both had ranged attacks.
We could even engage in minor skirmishes.
Old Mo, however, was different. His mastered techniques were mostly close-combat.
Facing the red-skinned fire ghost, he couldn't even get close.
"Damn it, I have to support Master.
Master is injured, and the Summoning Technique won't last much longer."
Old Mo was also worried about Uncle-Master, and he noticed Uncle-Master's coughing.
I was also anxious, but how could I help Uncle-Master at this moment without becoming a hindrance?
"What to do? What to do?"
I repeatedly asked myself, recalling all my spells and magical artifacts.
The Dragon Phoenix Jade Pendant? Qing Dai?
But as soon as I thought about how much I owed her,
after the battle in Blackwater City, she had also been significantly depleted.
Fighting against the demoness and numerous malevolent spirits.
Now that the life curse had just been lifted, should I call her again?
I felt that I couldn't overcome this internal hurdle.
It always felt like I owed her too much…
No, unless it was a matter of life and death, I couldn't always rely on Qing Dai for everything.
With that thought, my gaze turned stern.
A desperate idea emerged.
You can't catch a tiger without entering its den.
This red-skinned fire ghost had been sealed for ten years, and since its release, it hadn't bitten anyone.
Coupled with the fact that the seven array flags had absorbed so much Yin sha primal energy.
Fighting Uncle-Master head-on now must also be difficult; she was struggling.
She must need to drink blood, to absorb the vital energy of living beings to replenish her primal energy.
If I, the "human medicine" in the eyes of evil spirits, pretended to be bait, I was sure to attract her.
At the same time, I clutched talismans and fox claws in my hands.
I drew incantations on myself, and held the Sun Gathering Orb in my mouth.
I would charge forward seemingly recklessly, heading to my doom…
Letting the female ghost believe she had an opportunity, that she could feast on my blood.
Perhaps, in the instant the female ghost approached, I could activate the incantations drawn on my body, thereby gaining a chance to surprise her?
Even if it failed, wouldn't it create an opportunity for Uncle-Master?
Of course, this idea was extremely dangerous; a slight misstep could cost me my life.
In fact, it might be a suicide mission.
But I believed it was better than doing nothing, just standing here foolishly, worrying, and thinking "What to do, what to do?"
Opportunities are created, not waited for.
If things continued like this, Uncle-Master would surely be over-exerted and harm himself.
I would inevitably blame myself with regret.
I didn't want to see that happen.
With this thought, I made up my mind.
I would gamble, staking my own life for a chance.
A chance for myself, a chance for the future.
Success or failure hinged on this, either death or life…