Starting with the Earth God, the path to immortality is deduced!

"ah--!"

The piercing screams could be heard clearly even in a spirit form.

Those souls struggled and wailed in the blood.

Finally, it transformed into wisps of black resentment, which were greedily absorbed by the pottery jars on the altar.

"This batch is of good quality."

The leader, a blue-faced demon, stuck out its scarlet tongue and licked the blood from the corner of its mouth.

"It was filled with fear and despair."

"The scholar will surely be satisfied."

"Once this grand ceremony is completed, we brothers will all ascend to heaven along with our chickens and dogs!"

"At that time, won't everyone living in Fengzhou City become our food supply?"

The other one-eyed demon cackled grotesquely.

"I can't wait to taste those delicate, tender young women!"

"That feeling..."

"Zheng—!"

It hadn't finished speaking.

A crisp sword cry suddenly rang out in the courtyard.

Followed by.

A streak of blue fire, like a meteor falling to earth, crashed into the center of the altar.

"Who?!"

The green-faced evil ghost turned pale with fright.

It suddenly turned around.

A black-robed youth suddenly appeared, standing atop the altar of bones.

The boy was carrying an old bronze oil lamp.

At the wick.

A tiny, green flame, no bigger than a bean, was burning quietly.

Although faint.

But the light it emitted sent a chill down the spines of all the evil spirits present.

That is—the Blue Ghost Lamp!

Specifically designed to counteract evil spirits!

"It's you?!"

"That reckless little rascal?!"

The blue-faced demon recognized Zhou Yuan.

after all.

Zhou Yuan's reputation in Fengzhou City has been incredibly high these past two days.

"Now that you're here, you're not leaving!"

"Brothers, let's go!"

"Tear him to pieces and present him to the scholar!"

The blue-faced demon gave the order.

Four or five evil spirits roared and charged at the same time.

The eerie winds they stirred up intensified the stench of blood in the courtyard.

"Noisy."

Zhou Yuan snorted coldly.

He didn't even draw his sword.

I just blew a breath gently.

Facing the blue ghost lamp in his hand.

"call--"

The originally faint blue flame suddenly swelled up.

It transformed into a blue fire dragon and roared out!

"A Mantra for Soothing and Saving Souls!"

Zhou Yuan muttered something under his breath.

Each word uttered transformed into a golden rune in the air.

Golden light intertwined with blue flames.

It formed a net that instantly enveloped the evil spirits.

"ah--!"

"What kind of fire is this?!"

"It's so hot! Help!"

A scream instantly echoed through the sky.

Those ferocious demons, the moment they touched the blue fire...

It's like snow that's been exposed to the scorching sun.

The yin energy on his body dissipated rapidly.

"I'm not reconciled!"

"Sir, save me!"

The blue-faced demon struggled desperately.

But in front of Zhou Yuan, who was blessed with the Vajra Indestructible Body.

Its resistance was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

Zhou Yuan took a step forward.

He stepped directly on the head of the blue-faced demon.

Push off with your feet.

With a "pfft".

It's like stepping on a rotten watermelon.

The blue-faced demon's head exploded instantly, turning into a cloud of black smoke.

"Take it!"

Zhou Yuan had a sudden thought.

The book "Strange Tales of Gods and Monsters" in my arms moved on its own without any wind.

An invisible suction force came from it.

He swallowed the pure Yin energy that had seeped out after the evil spirits died, along with their remnants of souls.

[Slay five evil spirits from the Realm of Object Manipulation!]

[Gained 500 strands of Yin energy!]

[Unlock the character: Blood Pool Warrior!]

Zhou Yuan didn't even glance at the prompt.

His gaze was fixed intently on the altar beneath his feet.

The evil spirits are just lackeys.

This is the key!

"Smash it!"

Zhou Yuan roared.

He raised the blue ghost lamp in his hand high.

He poured all the magical power in his body into it without reservation.

The bronze lamp base crashed heavily onto the core of the altar.

"Boom—!"

A loud bang.

The altar, built from countless bones, collapsed instantly.

The eighty-one pottery jars on top were also shattered into pieces.

"Waaaaah—"

Countless wronged souls imprisoned inside were released at this moment.

They circled once in the air.

He bowed deeply to Zhou Yuan.

Then it turned into specks of firefly light and disappeared into the world.

As the altar shattered.

Zhou Yuan could clearly sense it.

The massive flow of yin energy that had been continuously flowing into the depths of the ghost market was suddenly cut off.

It's like a rushing river suddenly having its tributaries cut off.

"It's done!"

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed.

Although only one place was destroyed.

But it was also a significant blow to the "Hundred Ghosts and Evil Sacrifice" formation.

however.

Just as he was about to turn and leave.

A chilling sensation suddenly swept in from the deepest part of the ghost market.

It felt like being watched by a prehistoric beast.

Zhou Yuan's hair stood on end instantly.

"not good!"

He looked up sharply.

Through the thick fog.

He seemed to see a pair of enormous eyes coldly watching them.

In those eyes.

There was no anger.

There was no intent to kill.

There is only a kind of aloof indifference.

It's like watching an ant that's causing trouble.

"The accountant..."

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and uttered the name.

The strategist behind Li Xiuwen.

That mysterious and unpredictable ghost cultivator!

Although it was just a wisp of divine thought that swept over.

But the terrifying sense of oppression was several times stronger than when he faced the female ghost.

That is—the Yin Spirit Realm!

Even something higher!

"Little mouse."

"Since we're here, why rush to leave?"

A soft, feminine voice seemed to pierce through the barriers of space.

It exploded directly in Zhou Yuan's mind.

Followed by.

The surrounding air began to distort violently.

Countless black ghostly hands reached out from the blood pool on the ground and grabbed at Zhou Yuan's ankle.

"You want to keep me here?"

"dream!"

A fierce glint flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

His current strength is not enough to directly confront an existence of this level.

But you have to run.

No one can stop it!

"burst!"

Zhou Yuan pulled out a handful of pre-prepared Flame Talismans from his pocket.

Without even looking, he scattered it all around.

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

A series of explosions rang out.

Flames shot into the sky.

The entire courtyard was instantly engulfed in flames.

Under the cover of the firelight.

Zhou Yuan used the [Walking in the Underworld] technique again.

He transformed into a wisp of green smoke, instantly piercing through the wall and disappearing into the vast night.

……

Half an hour later.

Charity home.

"Huff... huff..."

Zhou Yuan leaned against the door, panting heavily.

His face was somewhat pale.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

That brief exchange just now.

Although no actual action was taken.

But the mental pressure took a huge toll on his mental energy.

"How is it?"

"Are you alright?"

Upon seeing this, Ma Ling'er, who had been guarding the door, rushed over immediately.

The panda panda in her arms cried out twice in concern and offered her a bamboo shoot.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand, took the water Ma Ling'er handed him, and gulped it down in one go.

"fine."

"I'm just a little exhausted."

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Although it's a bit risky."

"But it was worth it!"

"I destroyed one of their sub-altars."

"This cuts off at least 30% of their source of resentment!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Ling'er's eyes lit up instantly.

She slapped Zhou Yuan's shoulder hard, almost making him fall to the ground.

"Well done!"

"You're really something!"

"That bastard Li Xiuwen is going to be heartbroken now!"

"but……"

Ma Ling'er changed the subject, a hint of worry appearing on her face.

"You've really stirred up a hornet's nest with your outburst."

"That accountant will definitely be on guard."

"Tomorrow's battle will probably be tough."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

His expression turned serious again.

"That's right."

"That accountant's abilities are unfathomable."

"Just now, a single thought from a distance almost immobilized my soul."

"If it's the real body descending..."

Zhou Yuan did not continue speaking.

But both of them understood what it meant.

That was a force powerful enough to crush them.

"so."

"We must become stronger!"

Zhou Yuan straightened up.

His gaze passed over the high walls of the mortuary and looked towards the dark night sky in the distance.

The darkness before dawn is always the hardest to endure.

But he knew.

As long as we can get through this.

That is light!

"Ling'er, protect me."

"I'm going into seclusion."

"Until dawn tomorrow!"

Ma Ling'er was taken aback, then nodded heavily.

She drew her demon-subduing staff from her waist and stood guard at the door like a gatekeeper.

Don't worry.

"Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he wouldn't dare disturb you!"

Zhou Yuan turned and walked into the morgue.

Sit cross-legged.

He summoned the Book of Gods and Monsters once again.

The pages of the book are turned.

It made a series of rustling sounds.

The evil spirits we just killed in the ghost market, plus the scattered yin energy we absorbed when we destroyed the altar.

At this moment, they are all flowing between the pages of the book.

Although not as many as the previous army of vengeful spirits.

But that's enough for him to make another breakthrough!

"This time."

"I'm not looking at appearances."

"But—the truth!"

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath.

All the Yin energy was poured into the deduction of the supernatural power of [Insight].

Facing that accountant who was skilled in planning and proficient in illusion.

Having power alone is not enough.

You must have eyes that can see through all illusions!

"Deduce it for me!"

"Buzz—!"

A massive amount of yin energy is burning.

It transformed into mysterious runes, which entered Zhou Yuan's eyes.

A sharp pain came over me.

It felt like countless red-hot steel needles were piercing his eyeballs.

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Let that force rage and reorganize in your eyes.

I don't know how much time passed.

The pain gradually disappeared.

Instead.

It was a refreshing feeling unlike anything I had ever experienced.

[Deduction successful!]

[Insight (supernatural power) advances to—Illusory Eye (fragment)!]

[Effect: Provides keen insight, allowing one to see directly into the source of all illusions and formations below the Yin Spirit Realm, and offers a chance to glimpse a trace of future fortune or misfortune!]

Swish!

Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

at this time.

In the depths of his eyes.

The pupils that were originally there have disappeared.

Instead, two slowly rotating golden vortexes appeared.

Profound.

mystery.

It seemed to be able to absorb everything in the world.

He looked around.

The morgue, which was originally dimly lit, became crystal clear in his eyes at this moment.

Even the dust particles floating in the air.

Even the trajectory of the spider spinning its web in the corner of the wall.

Everything is clearly visible!

"This is... the Dharma Eye?"

Zhou Yuan clenched his fist.

Feel the powerful confidence emanating from those eyes.

He looked out the window.

East.

The sky was already showing a hint of dawn.

Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Festival)

finally come.

"Li Xiuwen".

"The accountant."

"Since you want to play."

"Then let's have some fun tonight!"

Deep within Fengzhou City, in a gloomy mansion.

"Snapped!"

A delicate white jade teacup was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

The accountant, sitting in the armchair, had a face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

His once meticulously combed hair was now somewhat disheveled.

There was even a trace of undried blood hanging from the corner of his mouth.

That was the backlash from having one's divine consciousness severed.

"good!"

"Excellent!"

"I originally thought he was just an arrogant little rascal."

"I never imagined it was a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

The accountant's voice was soft, high-pitched, and sent chills down one's spine.

He never expected this.

The Ghost Market Formation, which he had painstakingly built, had actually been partially destroyed by a mere brat.

That was resentment that had been building up for half a year!

"Sir, what should we do now?"

"That kid destroyed the altar. The grand ceremony tomorrow night..."

A man dressed in the uniform of a yamen runner, but with a deathly pale face, asked tremblingly.

He was a puppet controlled by the evil magic of the Wukong Cult.

He was also an inside agent in Fengzhou City.

The accountant took a deep breath.

The venom in his eyes was like the venomous tongue of a snake.

"What's the panic?"

"So what if one part is destroyed?"

"As long as the ley lines remain, as long as that thing remains, no one can stop the Great Sacrifice!"

He suddenly stood up.

With a flick of his wide sleeves, he stirred up a nauseating, fishy stench.

"Since he wants to play, let's play big!"

"Pass down the order!"

"Let all our 'little pets' that we keep in the city out!"

The puppet constable was taken aback, and then a look of fear flashed in its eyes.

"Sir, it's still daytime..."

"If we release them all, won't it attract the attention of the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

"The Demon Suppression Division?"

The accountant sneered, his eyes full of mockery.

"The Great Ling Dynasty is nearing its end, and those useless people in the Demon Suppression Division are too busy taking care of themselves."

"We'll see."

Today is the Ghost Festival!

"The day the gates of hell open!"

"Isn't it normal for it to be like a parade of a hundred demons?"

At this point, the accountant's face broke into a maniacal smile.

"I will turn Fengzhou into a true city of terror!"

"The more fear you have, the stronger your resentment becomes!"

"As long as the resentment is enough, even without that one corner of the altar, I can still forcefully break through the earth's ley lines!"

"At that time..."

"I'm going to extract the soul of that little earth god, light it like a sky lantern, and burn it for forty-nine days straight!"

……

Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Festival)

On this day, the sky over Fengzhou City was exceptionally gloomy.

It was already noon.

But not a trace of the sun could be seen in the sky.

Thick, dark clouds, like a piece of moldy black cotton, weighed heavily on our heads.

It's suffocating.

There was an indescribable musty smell in the air.

That was the smell of paper ash mixed with dampness.

Pedestrians on the street were hurrying along.

Anxiety was written all over everyone's face.

"Why does the sky look so eerie?"

"Yes, it wasn't this dark during the Ghost Festival in previous years."

"Stop talking, hurry home and burn some paper money. I heard there was quite a commotion at the ghost market last night."

The people whispered among themselves, but their pace quickened involuntarily.

however.

Fear is like a plague, often erupting when you least expect it.