The moment Yu Daohen threw the Kanglong Rod, the fierce ghost swung its sandbag-sized fist towards his face.
With quick reflexes, Yu Daohen raised his hand and grabbed the incoming fist, his body involuntarily taking a step back. He felt a slight admiration.
As expected of a ghoul that relied on strength, it indeed possessed considerable power.
The fierce ghost was slightly surprised that Yu Daohen could catch its punch. Just as it was about to throw another, Yu Daohen's fist was already upon it.
The fierce ghost also raised its other hand to catch Yu Daohen's attacking fist, its lips curling up to reveal its bloody fangs.
Yu Daohen pushed off the ground, his body leaping forward as he drove a knee towards the fierce ghost's face, cursing, "What the hell are you grinning at, you mongrel!"
The fierce ghost was sent staggering back by the knee strike. As Yu Daohen landed, he formed the Earth Kun Hand and chopped towards the fierce ghost's face.
In a moment of desperation, the fierce ghost raised its hand to block its face while simultaneously throwing a punch with its other hand.
*Bang!*
The fierce ghost's punch landed squarely on Yu Daohen's abdomen.
Yu Daohen cried out in pain and was sent staggering back, but his downward chopping hand had already severed the fierce ghost's arm.
The fierce ghost looked at its severed arm, which fell to the ground and dissipated into a wisp of black energy. Its veins bulged, and it was filled with extreme rage.
Yu Daohen stabilized his retreating body. The intense pain in his abdomen made him want to crouch down, but he gritted his teeth and held on, a smile on his face as if nothing had happened.
He would not lose face, no matter what!
While the fierce ghost was still reeling, Yu Daohen seized the opportunity, forming the Earth Kun Hand with his left hand and the Heaven Qian Palm with his right, charging forward.
Seeing Yu Daohen charge, the fierce ghost threw a punch with its remaining hand. Yu Daohen raised his left hand to block it, then lowered his body and lunged forward, his other hand, imbued with the Heaven Qian Palm, striking directly at the fierce ghost's chest.
The fierce ghost could only watch helplessly as Yu Daohen's golden palm struck.
*Bang!*
Yu Daohen's Heaven Qian Palm landed squarely on the fierce ghost's chest.
The fierce ghost stared at Yu Daohen, its face filled with unwillingness, before turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating into the air.
With the leader of the fierce ghosts dead, the other ghouls stopped their attacks and looked at Yu Daohen.
Yu Daohen tilted his head, the sound of his bones cracking echoing.
The lesser ghouls, wisely, fled. Their current survival goal was to live one day at a time, to eat their fill. Rather than die here, it was better to take a chance and perhaps escape the barrier.
Seeing the ghouls flee, Yu Daohen did not pursue them. Instead, he walked towards Zhou Xian.
Upon reaching Zhou Xian, Yu Daohen smiled faintly, "Young man, you have spirit. Your future is boundless."
Zhou Xian looked at Yu Daohen, and after a long pause, he uttered a few words, "You are truly strong!"
Yu Daohen laughed, "Is that so? Many people say that."
As he spoke, Yu Daohen extended his hand. Zhou Xian understood the unspoken request and returned the Kanglong Rod he was holding.
Yu Daohen nodded, "Come, let's get in the car first."
Zhou Xian nodded and followed Yu Daohen towards the jeep.
Yu Daohen climbed into the jeep, then reached down and pulled Zhou Xian up, patting his shoulder. "Having spirit is a good thing, but letting that spirit get the better of you is not. You are still young and have plenty of time ahead of you. Don't die here."
Zhou Xian shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face as he spoke with despair, "It's useless. I will die here this time."
Yu Daohen looked at Zhou Xian. Why was this young man speaking so despondently?
"What, you don't believe in my abilities?"
Zhou Xian shook his head and uttered the words Yu Daohen did not want to hear: "Because of a death tribulation!"
A death tribulation!
Looking at Zhou Xian, Yu Daohen felt as if he were seeing Zhou Fu.
After a long moment, Yu Daohen slowly inquired, "Are you sure it's a death tribulation?"
Zhou Xian nodded and recounted the origin of his death tribulation.
When Zhou Xian was three years old, an old man suddenly appeared at their home. He claimed to be a "赊刀人" (a fortune teller who sells knives with payment due upon fulfillment of prophecy). He gave Zhou Xian's father a cleaver, stating that Zhou Xian would surely die at the age of eighteen. If the prophecy came true, he would return to collect the "knife fee."
At that time, Zhou Xian's father was so enraged that he wanted to grab the dog-beating stick by the door and beat the old man.
It was understandable how infuriating it would be. If someone came to your door and said your son would die at eighteen, you would likely give them a good thrashing.
Fortunately, Zhou Xian's grandfather intervened in time, otherwise, the old man would have certainly been beaten.
Old people were superstitious, and Zhou Xian's grandfather was no exception. He immediately took Zhou Xian to see a fortune teller.
The moment the fortune teller saw Zhou Xian, he shook his head and sighed, lamenting that the young boy was destined for a short life.
This nearly made Zhou Xian's grandfather faint from anxiety.
Although they were reluctant to believe this outcome, the entire family could only accept the reality. Later, when Zhou Xian was thirteen, he encountered a disciple of the Walking Yin Sect, and by chance, Zhou Xian was accepted into the sect.
After listening to Zhou Xian's account, Yu Daohen's brow furrowed. Although the Walking Yin Sect's influence had waned, there were still a few powerful old figures guarding it.
"Did your master also not find a way to break this death tribulation?" Yu Daohen asked.
Zhou Xian shook his head, "My master searched for a long time but could not find a way to break it. The death tribulation is unsolvable."
Hearing Zhou Xian finish, Yu Daohen fell into thought. If there was no way to break the death tribulation in the mortal realm, was there one in the underworld?
"Don't worry, kid. Today, I, your humble servant, will ensure you don't die!" Yu Daohen said, patting Zhou Xian's shoulder to comfort him.