As Ma Ling'er's head-balloon rushed toward Fang Yue, a faint black line snaked around the neck of the Giant-Headed Bloodhound, which had previously sensed something amiss. Then, with a *peng*, the Bloodhound exploded, leaving not a trace of its corpse.

"She can't control it!"

The four black-robed figures from Ink Village wore unsightly expressions.

Now, they all sensed something was wrong.

The royal bloodline's control over the Wu Ji was far too weak.

Even after releasing the Wu Ji, she was still being subconsciously influenced, chasing after the last cursed target.

It was as if she was being controlled by the Wu Ji instead.

Too weak…

Even though she possessed the power of the royal bloodline, it was too weak!

Just who is she…?

If they weren't certain that Ma Ling'er genuinely possessed the royal bloodline, they might have thought she was a fake.

"...What do we do?"

"Let… her… do it, dispel the obsession."

While the black-robed figures were communicating, Ma Ling'er's head-balloon had already crashed into Fang Yue's head.

In the next instant, Fang Yue's head immediately stretched horizontally, becoming rectangular, and began to rapidly deform, sculpting itself into the likeness of a human head—Ma Ling'er's.

At this point, the black-robed figures were certain that Fang Yue was doomed.

But then, they all widened their eyes in unison.

Because Ma Ling'er, accompanied by a surge of qi erupting from the man's body, was forced out by a strange, formidable power, reforming into a head-balloon outside.

"How is that possible!?"

The four black-robed figures were aghast, their pupils constricting.

One of them was so shocked that he involuntarily severed his connection with Ma Ling'er.

"A failure?"

"A mere human?"

The black-robed figures simply couldn't accept this reality.

When had the royal family ever been so weak?

A mere human! Able to break through the royal family's attack!

The leading black-robed figure's expression became unsightly.

At this moment, Ma Ling'er had also come to her senses.

She stared blankly at Fang Yue, who had pushed her out of his body and continued to flee.

Her face twisted, and with a sharp screech, the head-balloon frantically chased after Fang Yue.

In the midst of the chase, Ink Village grew closer and closer.

"Not good!"

"Stop!"

"Your Highness, you mustn't cross that line!"

The three men's faces changed drastically as they roared in their minds.

But Ma Ling'er paid no heed, turning a deaf ear. In her eyes, there was only one target.

"I want to kill him! I feel like I have to kill him!"

Ma Ling'er didn't know what the significance of doing so was. She only knew that a voice inside her was telling her to kill Fang Yue, to kill the target of the failed Wu Ji!

Watching Ma Ling'er, who had already lost her mind, the leading black-robed figure's expression shifted several times before he roared, "Prepare… the ritual!"

The other two black-robed figures, and the one who had just re-established contact, all paled upon hearing this.

"But…"

"Listen… to… me."

"...Yes!"

The three black-robed figures responded, their bodies trembling slightly, lines appearing on their bodies, crisscrossing until they converged into the crest of the Wu Yu clan.

At this moment, Fang Yue had already charged into Ink Village, with Ma Ling'er hot on his heels, about to cross that line between life and death!

"Hurry!"

*Peng!*

*Peng!*

*Peng!*

The three black-robed figures exploded almost simultaneously, transforming into countless black particles that vanished in an instant.

And in the next moment, they appeared around Ma Ling'er's head-balloon in sync.

The numerous black particles transformed into chains, binding Ma Ling'er layer upon layer. Amid Ma Ling'er's screams, she transformed into a thick iron cocoon and slammed into the line of life and death of Ink Village with a bang.

*Buzz!*

The semi-transparent shield that had appeared once before resurfaced in mid-air.

The dense, ancient characters emitted a faint glow, then quickly faded away.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

The cocoon-like iron ball crashed into Ink Village, its iron chain shell shattering and falling off, disappearing from sight.

The head-balloon inside was already in a state of hibernation, floating lightly in the air above Ink Village like a real balloon.

Suddenly, as if drawn by something, the head-balloon floated in one direction.

That direction was precisely where the black-robed figures were located.

Around the black-robed figures were four withered black robes, lying on the ground.

Five black-robed figures… only the leader of the envoy remained.

But even so, the envoy leader still harbored deep worries.

Her Highness had recklessly charged into Ink Village's barrier without preparation. Even with the sacrifice of three envoys to barely protect her, she inevitably revealed flaws, unlike their previous covert actions.

"Hopefully… we won't be discovered…"

The envoy leader held onto the descending head-balloon, picked up a black robe, and pressed it into the black robe.

The black robe immediately bulged, forming a human shape, but still without consciousness, slumped down as if in slumber, supported by the black-robed figure.

Even with the envoy's desperate protection, after breaking through Ink Village's barrier, Her Highness still inevitably sustained injuries.

"The plan… must be put on hold…"

The envoy leader glanced at the direction of the merchant团 for the last time, gathered the black robes on the ground, and helped Ma Ling'er leave.

…

Ink Village, Lang Manor.

"Father? What's wrong?"

Lang Mo asked in confusion.

Lang Wu slowly retracted his gaze from the village entrance.

The feeling just now was…

No, there's no reason for that.

Even though Ink Village's ancient ritual formation for dispelling spirits was very old and difficult to repair.

But according to various reports, at most its performance had declined, but it hadn't reached the point of being scrapped.

Theoretically… that kind of situation was impossible.

Tomorrow, I'll have someone check the formation.

Putting aside his thoughts, Lang Wu looked at his youngest son and said indifferently, "Continue leading the way."

"Yes, yes!"

Just now, this troublemaking youngest son had suddenly run over and said that a spirit had broken through the defenses and entered the village, causing a commotion in the manor.

Lang Wu didn't quite believe it, but out of love for his child, he still had people prepare carriages and horses for the journey.

The Lang Manor mobilized, with two rows of people walking in front, each holding a Soul Lantern like a street lamp, holding them high as they walked forward.

Behind the Soul Lantern队伍, was the coachman pulling the carriage, Lang Mo leading the way, and Lang Wu sitting in the carriage.

Behind them, there was another Soul Lantern队伍, responsible for lighting the way and guarding the rear.

This procession was quite grand.

Moreover, unlike Gu Yue Village, the people of Ink Village didn't have a strict curfew at night. There was even a large Soul Fire lantern arranged every distance to provide lighting.

So even at night, Ink Village was actually very bright. Many villagers were even strolling outside, and there was even a night market.

This scene wasn't like a village struggling to survive in a world overrun by spirits at all. It was simply a prosperous and peaceful world without any worries about food and clothing, vastly different from small villages like Gu Yue Village.

Seemingly seeing Lang Wu's队伍, the strolling villagers' expressions changed drastically, and they quickly cleared the road.

"It's Captain Lang Wu!"

"What are they doing so late?"

"I heard some commotion at the village entrance just now. Probably someone caused trouble."

Most people were just discussing in low voices, while some curiously followed behind.

Soon, Lang Wu's队伍 passed through the bustling downtown area and arrived at the village entrance.

"Stop! Everyone be vigilant! Be careful of that two-headed spirit!"

As soon as they arrived, Lang Mo shouted, telling the队伍 to stop.

Everyone stopped quickly.

In fact, those holding lanterns and driving horses weren't martial artists, or even members of the guard队.

They were just Lang family servants, ordinary people.

If they really faced a spirit, their lives wouldn't be enough to die.

The real combat power had never been them.

"The others stay where you are. Mo'er, come with me."

Lang Wu's steady voice came from the carriage.

Lang Mo looked back and saw Lang Wu lift the curtain and walk out of the carriage, heading towards the village entrance step by step.

There, they could see a group of people gathered together.

"Is that them?"

"Yes!"

As he spoke, Lang Mo searched the crowd, looking for Fang Yue, and quickly found him.

"Father! That's the two-headed…"

Lang Mo's voice suddenly lowered.

Because he discovered that Fang Yue's two heads had changed.

One head had basically returned to the size of a normal person, while the other head had turned into a round lump of flesh, squeezed on his neck.

From the outside, he looked at most like a deformed person, with an extra lump on his neck.

It was a little ugly, but it had nothing to do with being a spirit.

They couldn't discriminate against people who were deformed, could they?

"Two heads?"

Lang Wu frowned slightly and glanced at his youngest son.

"No, no! Father, listen to me! He wasn't like this before!"

Lang Mo was anxious and quickly spoke. Seeing Lang Wu's increasingly impatient expression, he gritted his teeth and rushed towards the people over there.

"I'll prove it to you! That guy is a spirit!"

With that, he rushed in front of the group of people.

"Transform! Hey! You, hurry up and transform for me!"

As soon as he arrived in front of the group, Lang Mo pointed at the deformed man and roared, making Lang Wu's face look unsightly.

But soon, his pupils suddenly shrank!

"How is that possible?!"

His expression changed, and he rushed towards those people like a gust of wind.

Fang Yue, who was being entangled and roared at by Lang Mo, felt a strong gust of wind suddenly blow past him.

In the next moment, he heard the blood hunter's roar.

"Let go of Doctor An!"

What?!

Doctor An!

His expression changed, and Fang Yue pushed Lang Mo away and ran to the back.

He saw the blood hunter who had been supporting Doctor An lying on the ground, while a middle-aged man who looked somewhat similar to Lang Mo was supporting Doctor An, looking at Fang Yue coldly.

"Who hurt him!"

That glance was as cold as ice, like a venomous frost python spitting out its tongue, captivating and frightening.

With just one glance, everyone in the escort队 was unable to move, as if suppressed by an invisible aura. No one could speak under his intimidation.

Except for one person.

"Ink Village, what a show!"

Fang Yue met his cold gaze without showing any weakness.

Lang Wu seemed to not expect anyone to be able to move freely in this state, and couldn't help but look at Fang Yue.

The two men, four eyes facing each other, glared at each other.

Lang Wu said coldly, "I'm asking, who hurt him!"

System prompt: You have entered the [Frost Intimidation] state.

System prompt: The [Frost Intimidation] state has been removed.

The two system prompts sounded almost half a second apart.

Breath of the Night, forever a god!

Fang Yue said coldly, "Doctor An was injured by a spirit."

"A spirit? What's the name of that spirit, and where is it now?"

Lang Wu's expression darkened, and killing intent surged.

"That spirit is called the Memory-Erasing Spirit, and we have already killed it."

"Kill… killed? Memory-Erasing Spirit?"

What?!

Lang Wu's pupils shrank.

Doctor An was injured by the Memory-Erasing Spirit?

He knew about the Memory-Erasing Spirit.

An ancestor of the Lang family had died at the hands of this spirit, which wandered between several villages for many years.

Although it was only a mid-level Black-rank spirit, in terms of strength, even if it encountered a top-tier Houtian expert, it would have room to maneuver.

It wasn't an exaggeration to treat it as a high-level Black-rank spirit.

And now, the young man in front of him actually said that they had killed the Memory-Erasing Spirit!

How was that possible?

Even he could only repel the Memory-Erasing Spirit at most, and couldn't say he had the confidence to kill it.

That memory-erasing spirit ability was too difficult to deal with.

After a moment of silence, Lang Wu finally softened his tone.

"In that case, thank you all."

"However, I still can't completely believe your words. Can you tell me your identities? Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave Ink Village."

With Lang Wu's words, the escort队员 around them fell to the ground like dominoes, as if they had been released from the [Frost Intimidation] state.

This was a sign of goodwill.

However, before Fang Yue could speak.

A weak voice suddenly sounded in Lang Wu's ear.

"Old Lang… they were sent by Gu Yue Village… to escort me back to Ink Village."

It was Doctor An, who had just woken up.

After saying this, he closed his eyes again and passed out.

"Doctor An?!"

"Doctor An!"

"Doctor An!"

…

Ink Village, Lang Manor.

"Hahaha! A misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding! I'll punish myself with three cups to apologize to everyone!"

Lang Wu, who had been so majestic and seemed ready to kill at any moment, laughed heartily.

With Doctor An as a witness, Lang Wu's suspicion of Fang Yue and the others had long since vanished.

As for Lang Mo pointing at Fang Yue's head and saying that he was a spirit, he was actually beaten by Lang Wu, and several bumps had grown on his head.

Lang Wu and Doctor An were old friends, and they addressed each other casually.

With Doctor An as a witness, he trusted Fang Yue and the others very much.

He didn't even ask about the details before taking them back to his mansion.

"You're too kind, it was our recklessness to enter the village at night," Fang Yue also said politely.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries before getting to the main topic.

"Brother Ye, I heard from others that you were advancing in an orderly manner before entering the village entrance. Why did you suddenly accelerate when you were about to enter Ink Village? And why was there such a large break from the队伍? And my son said you had two heads…"

Lang Wu was somewhat hesitant to ask the last question.

Because some people's martial arts techniques, cultivation methods, and even personal physiques could have different effects on their bodies.