Chapter 238: Go, My Little Darlings
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The voice carried an eerie undertone, with a chilling edge to it.
Yu Zhao and her two companions, seasoned from countless battles, were far from being inexperienced newcomers.
Before the voice finished echoing, the three of them suddenly sprang into action, leaping several zhang away in an instant.
“Oh? Such quick reflexes, but alas, still too late.”
A sinister voice accompanied a suffocating, bone-chilling aura that rapidly engulfed the area.
Yu Zhao felt her body encased in a piercing cold. Her limbs went numb, and the flow of spiritual energy within her slowed dramatically, affecting her flight speed.
Her gaze turned icy.
As expected—a Nascent Soul cultivator.
She clenched her right hand in the air, fingers tightening. Red and blue fluid seeped between her fingers, releasing an intoxicating floral fragrance.
A figure emerged from the shadows, revealing a ghastly pale face, its expression one of intoxicated delight.
“What an unusual scent. This is…”
Old Ghost inhaled deeply, his eyes narrowing in pleasure.
Swoosh—
A streak of lightning shot through the air, aiming straight at Old Ghost.
In a flash, Old Ghost opened his eyes wide and let out a sharp screech. “Reckless fool!”
He reached out, crushing the spear-like streak of energy with his bare hands. Just as he basked in his triumph, a sudden sense of danger seized him.
He instinctively darted forward.
Rip—
His left sleeve tore open, leaving a jagged gash.
Surprised, Old Ghost turned his gaze to Si Tu Xuan, who stood before him with his spear.
In his divine sense, there had been no sign of a second strike. Where had it come from?
Si Tu Xuan spun his spear with a flourish, his expression bold and carefree. “You thought we’d only run? Encountering us is your misfortune.”
Alone, Si Tu Xuan would never dare utter such brazen words. But standing beside him were Yu Zhao and Yao Wu Ji—the champion and fourth-place winner of the cultivation tournament.
The three of them working together had no reason to fear a Nascent Soul cultivator. Their earlier retreat was merely a ruse to mislead him.
“Hah! Hahaha!” Old Ghost laughed maniacally, his expression twisted. “Golden Core juniors, I’ll extract your cores and see if they’re as hard as your words!”
With a wave of his sleeve, black mist-wreathed bone spikes shot out, accompanied by a chilling wind.
Si Tu Xuan stepped back, drawing a half-circle with his spear.
A flash of spiritual light formed a protective barrier.
But then—
Identical bone spikes emerged from behind him.
“How—?” Old Ghost’s eyes narrowed, his arrogance replaced by wariness.
Clang, clang, clang—
The two sets of bone spikes collided midair.
The later wave disintegrated after a few moments, while the remaining spikes struck Si Tu Xuan’s barrier, dimming its light but failing to penetrate.
Splat!
Old Ghost looked up.
A glob of white liquid descended from above. He moved to dodge, only to find a red ribbon blocking his path.
“Out of my way!”
With a burst of force, Old Ghost sent an invisible shockwave outward.
The ribbon twisted and surged, revealing a massive red spider.
Standing on its armored back, Yao Wu Ji smirked, her crimson lips alluring. “Old fool, let me test my new venomous pets on you.”
She opened her hand and blew lightly.
A swarm of flea-sized white insects surged toward Old Ghost.
His expression darkened, and he spat a ball of black mist. The insects were instantly engulfed.
Yao Wu Ji remained unfazed, commanding the red spider to attack while using her ribbon to harass him.
Meanwhile, Si Tu Xuan lunged at Old Ghost with his spear, its strikes like bolts of lightning.
Though Old Ghost could handle the two of them, each time he neared a critical moment, a strange force would disrupt his spells, allowing the duo to evade harm.
Doubt began to creep into Old Ghost’s mind.
Had the younger generation truly grown so formidable in the decades since his seclusion?
Regret flickered in his heart as he recalled how the Yang Family Ancestor had goaded him into targeting these three.
His resolve wavered, and he considered retreat.
Tossing a coin-shaped artifact to block Si Tu Xuan’s spear, he unleashed another wave of black mist, forming a serpent to entangle the ribbon. Then, he turned to flee.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
A sudden blur of phantom figures appeared before him.
They were grotesque, with blood streaming from their seven orifices and massive holes in their abdomens, exposing their innards.
One of the phantoms, a woman bearing a striking resemblance to him, tilted her head and sneered, “Little brother, did you enjoy my Golden Core?”
Old Ghost’s pupils contracted in shock. “Elder sister!”
The first Golden Core he consumed had been hers.
Back then, he was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, while she had earned fame as a Golden Core cultivator.
Despite being only five years apart in age, their talents were worlds apart. Everyone admired her and ignored him.
Refusing to remain a supporting character in her story, he used a forbidden technique to make her his first sacrifice.
That had been centuries ago.
He thought he’d forgotten. But now, her face brought everything rushing back.
At the time of her death, she hadn’t understood what was happening. Her eyes had been filled with confusion.
“Sister, I…” Old Ghost’s expression softened with guilt, but in the next moment, it twisted with ridicule. “You think I’d feel remorse? Apologize? Hahaha! Killing you was the best decision I ever made! Only with you gone could I focus on cultivation! You deserved it—you’ve always deserved it!”
With a spell, black mist surged, dispersing the phantoms.
“Elder sister! You’ll never defeat me!”
Yu Zhao shook her head.
A human heart, corrupted into a demon’s.
Such a creature deserved no mercy.
“Si Tu Xuan, Yao Wu Ji, now!”
At her command, her spiritual force erupted, and the Fleeting Life Mirror shone brilliantly.
Yao Wu Ji’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Go, my little darlings.”
Si Tu Xuan hurled his spear into the air, slamming his palm against its base.
Boom!
Blinding spiritual light swallowed Old Ghost’s figure.
The trio regrouped, Yao Wu Ji buzzing with excitement. “Is he dead? Did we get him?”
Si Tu Xuan frowned.
Though confident in their strength, he couldn’t be certain. Nascent Soul cultivators could escape even severe injuries with their soul intact.
Yu Zhao broke the silence with a faint smile. “It’s over.”
Her words were proven true moments later.
Old Ghost reappeared, his expression frozen in terror. His tattered robes barely clung to his body, riddled with fist-sized holes.
Even more horrifying, his exposed skin had turned a vivid shade of greenish-purple, and his Nascent Soul glowed the same eerie hue.
Si Tu Xuan shivered. “Yao Wu Ji, your venomous insects are terrifying. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn’t withstand them.”
Yao Wu Ji smirked smugly. “Of course! So don’t ever upset me, or I’ll set them on you.”
Si Tu Xuan chuckled, unbothered. “Your insects may be venomous, but they’re fragile. Without Yu Zhao’s support, they wouldn’t even get close to a Nascent Soul cultivator.”
“Doesn’t matter. If we fought, Yu Zhao would back me up.”
Si Tu Xuan was momentarily speechless.