After Sui Wan'er uttered "Gui Chao," countless black shadows surged out of her body like earthworms. As the black mist emerged, it began to expand, transforming into numerous blank faces.
These figures were men and women, old and young, and even animals. Without exception, all the ghosts had ferocious yet vacant expressions, appearing like puppets.
The sheer number of ghosts packed into the room caused the temperature to drop another notch. Looking through the window, one could see that the rain under the streetlights had turned into sleet. I wondered if there would be news reports tomorrow about a sudden localized temperature drop.
As my thoughts wandered, Sui Wan'er waved her hand, and the countless malevolent spirits and wandering souls swarmed towards my physical body like flies, causing me to cry out involuntarily.
"Quick, dodge!"
But the senior controlling my body seemed not to hear, allowing the horde of evil spirits to pounce on me. In an instant, a wall of ghosts formed around my physical body, completely obscuring my form.
I was stunned. It was over. This time, I was definitely going to die. With so many malevolent spirits assaulting my body, it was impossible to survive.
"Kid, don't think that just because you have something protecting you, I have no way to deal with you. Once I extract your living soul, I'll make your life worse than death." Sui Wan'er, entangled by the evil spirits and formed into a black mass of flesh, sneered maliciously, as if everything was under her control.
Regarding this, I had resigned myself to fate. After all, being caught by Sui Wan'er meant death was only a matter of time. However, the sheer agony of watching myself being devoured by these spirits was unbearable. Yet, despite the suffering, there was nothing I could do but accept it.
Just as I believed my death was certain, a wisp of green light suddenly shot out from between the black ghost wall. The light was as slender as a spider's silk, appearing exceptionally dazzling against the backdrop of the ghosts' black miasma. Although it was quickly swallowed by the ghostly energy, it gave me a glimmer of hope. After all, who would choose death if they could live?
The moment the green light appeared, the smile on Sui Wan'er's face froze as if encased in ice. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
"Impossible… You're just a minor Yin Diviner. How could you possess innate Gang Qi within you?"
Innate? And Gang Qi? Was Sui Wan'er foolish? Did she not understand what innate Gang Qi represented?
Qi was divided into many types: Yang Qi, True Qi, Gang Qi…
Ordinary humans possessing Qi were said to have Yang Qi, commonly known as vitality. Abundant Yang Qi could ward off all illnesses, while its deficiency led to sickness. Those like me who worked in the Yin arts, or Taoists from Longhu Mountain or Maoshan, could control the Yang Qi within their bodies due to their cultivation, hence it was called True Qi. True Qi was somewhat similar to the Yin Qi cultivated by ghosts and evil spirits.
As for what Sui Wan'er called innate Gang Qi, that was extraordinary. It was a unique energy possessed by cultivators, a form of energy many times more potent than True Qi. This Gang Qi was prevalent before the Qin Dynasty, but now it was exceedingly rare. After all, in this era of declining Dharma, no one had ever heard of anyone cultivating innate Gang Qi. Even Mao Xiaofang, the strongest among the Northern Fox Immortals, had only cultivated acquired Gang Qi to the Great Perfection, still falling slightly short of innate Gang Qi. Su Dan Novel Network.
Regarding the idea of me possessing innate Gang Qi, it would be more plausible to say I was Sui Wan'er's father. Who couldn't tell a lie?
As I silently mused about Sui Wan'er's rusty brain, another streak of green light emerged from the ghost wall, followed by a second, then a third… This made the ghost wall appear as beautiful as a kaleidoscope. The only downside was that wisps of green smoke emanated from them, and they continuously wailed.
Seeing this, Sui Wan'er let out a cry, and more malevolent spirits poured out of her body, attempting to reinforce the Gang Qi erupting from the ghost wall. However, it was utterly futile. Within two breaths, the innate Gang Qi grew even more robust.
With a deafening roar, the numerous evil spirits clinging to me scattered. Some were directly melted by the innate Gang Qi, while others fled in all directions, and a portion even burrowed back into Sui Wan'er's body.
The senior controlling my body, with a contemptuous smile, looked at the terrified Sui Wan'er and said, "Is this all you've got?"
"Who exactly are you? You are definitely not Song Qingyun. He never possessed innate Gang Qi. Who are you?" Sui Wan'er, panicked, stared at 'me' and shouted hoarsely, her fear evident.
"My existence is not something you can comprehend, nor should you know. Now, I can send you to the underworld."
As 'I' waved my right hand, the green Gang Qi transformed into a giant hand, grasping Sui Wan'er. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
The once arrogant Sui Wan'er, in 'my' hand, was like a small fish unable to escape the grip of the giant hand formed by the green Gang Qi.
As the giant hand gradually tightened, Sui Wan'er's expression turned to one of agony. Her cherry-like mouth stretched wide to her ears, and countless black tentacles snaked out, resisting the crushing force of the green giant hand.
"Witchcraft? Interesting."
The black tentacles emerging from Sui Wan'er's mouth dissolved upon contact with the green Gang Qi, transforming into small black larvae, each no bigger than a thumbnail. These black insects emitted a golden luster, as if forged from metal.
A cacophony of gnawing sounds emanated from the giant hand formed by Gang Qi. The black metal worms were desperately biting at the Gang Qi giant hand. For every one that was burned to ashes, another immediately filled the void.
In the blink of an eye, Sui Wan'er was no longer visible, as she was enveloped by countless black metal worms. Watching the green Gang Qi giant hand gradually fade, the joy that had surged in my heart receded.
This was because the senior controlling my body remained unmoved, merely watching the black metal worms gnaw at the Gang Qi giant hand with a playful expression, as if witnessing something amusing.
"Senior?" I called out softly, unsure of the senior's temperament. One moment he seemed like a wise elder, the next he transformed into a playful child.
"Why the panic? They are just僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worms) cultivated through witchcraft. I don't take these things seriously."
"Oh!"
His words silenced me, and I could only accompany him in watching the black metal worms gnaw at the green Gang Qi hand.
As time passed, the curtain of black metal worms gradually thinned, and Sui Wan'er could vaguely be seen to have vanished within, leaving only fragments of red clothing.
"Senior, where… where did she go?"
Seeing no sign of Sui Wan'er inside, I couldn't help but panic. Sui Wan'er harbored intense hatred for me. If she escaped, I would face endless pursuit in the future. With the senior's help this time, what about next time? I couldn't always be this lucky, could I?
"What are you so nervous about? As long as the 僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worms) are in my hand, she can't escape."
Just as the senior finished speaking, I saw a black 僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worm) fly into the air, its transparent wings buzzing. Then came a second, and a third…
"Huh? They can actually get out?"
A fist-sized hole was gnawed into the thumb of the Gang Qi giant hand, and the 僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worms) were swarming out. Instead of attacking 'me' immediately, the 僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worms) suddenly flew out the window.
"Trying to escape? Die!"
'I' roared, and the green Gang Qi giant hand instantly transformed into a green inferno, incinerating all the trapped 僵蛊 (Jiang Gu), but a portion still flew out the window, leaving me speechless.
He had boasted so powerfully just moments ago, appearing so nonchalant. How could he have let the 僵蛊虫 (Jiang Gu Worms) escape in the blink of an eye? I was absolutely certain that Sui Wan'er had attached herself to those escaping worms.
Seeing my mouth agape and me remaining silent, the senior controlling my body spoke, "Kid, don't look like your life is hanging by a thread. This is all the innate Gang Qi I have left in my body. It's good enough to cripple her. Do you think I don't want to deal with her? You should come back quickly, or your life force will be depleted."
Before I could agree, I felt a wave of dizziness, and my physical body experienced a powerful suction, pulling my conscious soul back in.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the ground, my entire body numb and itchy, as if countless ants were gnawing at my flesh and nerves beneath my skin.
"Pain..."