Chapter 574: Protecting Me

The "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit was moving extremely fast, like a shooting star chasing the moon, flying across the gray-white earth, and it was already getting closer and closer to them.

Everyone could also see it more and more clearly.

They saw the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit swirling with gloomy wind, its feet no more than half a foot off the ground, and on the ground beneath its feet was a mass of dense darkness, following it like a shadow...

"It's already coming!?" Du Wan swallowed a mouthful of saliva in some fear and said, "Are we really not retreating?"

Du Wan was truly afraid; he really had the urge to grease his soles and slip away while he had the chance. Although Guo Tian's analysis was very logical, when it came to a life-or-death moment, it was inevitable that everyone would have their own thoughts.

Lu Chu said, "Didn't you see the speed of that Evil Spirit? It is far faster than us. How could we escape!? We can only fight!"

"Fight?!" Du Wan thought to himself, that is an Evil Spirit! "I think we should still split up and run. If we split up, the Evil Spirit can only chase one person! At most, only one person will die, and the rest can live!"

Guo Tian turned his head and glared at Du Wan, saying, "Perhaps the one it chases will be you."

Du Wan was stunned by Guo Tian's shout; he was truly afraid that the Evil Spirit might, for no reason, really end up chasing him.

Guo Tian said, "Last night by the water pool, this Evil Spirit didn't gain any advantage. Now it is daytime, and its gloomy, evil power will be suppressed to some extent. As long as we respond carefully, it is not certain that anyone will die. Running around blindly and losing our formation is the way to invite death!"

After Guo Tian finished speaking, he couldn't help but glance at Duan Rong.

Everyone noticed Guo Tian's gaze and all knew what he meant, so they all looked at Duan Rong.

Last night by the water pool, it was Duan Rong alone who suppressed the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit, allowing them all to escape successfully. Moreover, at that time, the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit was emitting white smoke and letting out bursts of miserable screams, clearly having suffered no light damage, and it hadn't chased them then. But now that this Evil Spirit had come over, could it be for revenge?

Duan Rong not only suppressed the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit by the water pool, but he had also just entered the space of the Ghost Infant Evil Spirit alone, obtained the Green Flame Grass, and retreated unscathed.

All of this indicated that Duan Rong had secret methods for dealing with Evil Spirits, and he was also their greatest reliance for not retreating at this moment.

Duan Rong noticed the gazes everyone cast toward him, but his heart felt a wave of bitterness.

He only had one Soul Piercing Needle left, and as luck would have it, his three uses of the Fluctuating Fire in the Ghost Infant Evil Spirit's space had also been exhausted. The only means he had left to deal with Evil Spirits were those remaining Soul Piercing Needles.

Although Duan Rong felt bitter in his heart, he also agreed with Guo Tian's statement. If they ran around blindly now and lost their formation, that would be the way to invite death.

Seeing that the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit was only about ten zhang away from them, that deep red, blood-like, gloomy evil energy already felt as if it were rushing toward their faces!

Everyone watched, standing in strict formation, when Duan Rong suddenly said, "Lower your heads, do not look at its Red Bridal Veil!"

Hearing Duan Rong say this, they were slightly stunned, but then they reacted and understood what Duan Rong meant. Last night by the water pool, when that Evil Spirit revealed its true form, a corner of the Red Bridal Veil had lifted slightly. It was in that instant that they each saw a face from the depths of their hearts and fell into a state of bewilderment from that moment on, until Duan Rong woke them up.

Everyone shifted their gaze away from the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit downward, avoiding contact with its Red Bridal Veil.

Seeing that the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit was only five or six zhang away from them, the hearts of the group, which had been panicked, calmed down.

Since they had decided to face it, they no longer had other thoughts.

Duan Rong's reminder just now was not only to warn them to be careful and not fall into the Evil Spirit's evil arts again.

It was also reminding them of another thing, which was that this was not their first time dealing with this Evil Spirit. Lin Youjian and Liu Su had taught them that Evil Spirits harming people was based on certain patterns, or that there was some internal logical chain behind the appearance; as long as one could discern the patterns and that kind of logical chain, one could avoid being controlled, and even have the opportunity to turn the tables!

The evil arts of an Evil Spirit, just like human martial arts, were not without traces to follow! It just depended on whether you could see through them and find a way to avoid or even restrain them.

Perhaps because everyone was not looking at the area of its Red Bridal Veil, the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit actually stopped suddenly three zhang away.

It stopped there, motionless. This made everyone's hearts beat like drums! Could it be that Duan Rong's reminder for them not to look at the Evil Spirit's Red Bridal Veil was truly this effective, that the Evil Spirit had actually stopped launching attacks?

But they also felt it was impossible for such a simple action to completely suppress the Evil Spirit.

Duan Rong stood there, but he was looking at the mass of darkness at the feet of the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit.

That mass of darkness was not only less dense than what they had seen by the water pool last night, but it had also shrunk by a large margin. It seemed that the Evil Spirit's power was indeed greatly suppressed during the daytime.

The group and the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit stood in a standoff with about three zhang of separation, and for a long time, they did not see the Evil Spirit make any move.

Lu Chu suddenly said, "It neither advances nor retreats. What does this Evil Spirit want to do?"

Du Wan said, "How about we take a step back and see the Evil Spirit's reaction?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Tian glared at Du Wan.

Du Wan immediately said, "This isn't running away. This is a strategic probe."

Duan Rong said, "That works too. I will count to three. We will all take a step back together and see the Evil Spirit's reaction."

"Okay!"

Seeing that Duan Rong also said this, Guo Tian was the first to express agreement, leaving Du Wan speechless for a moment.

While staring at the waist and abdomen area of the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit, Duan Rong counted to three softly. After the three counts, everyone took a step back together.

At this moment, they saw that as the group took a step back, the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit actually jumped forward one step, and then stood there motionless again.

After a few breaths, Duan Rong counted to three again, and the group took another step back. The "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit jumped forward one step again.

"What exactly does it want to do?" A look of deep confusion flashed in Lu Chu's eyes.

A look of deep thought also flashed in Duan Rong's eyes.

He stared blankly at the waist and abdomen of the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit; the Evil Spirit's belly was rotten and turned inside out. Because he had to avoid the Evil Spirit's Red Bridal Veil, he had no choice but to aim his gaze at this most disgusting part, and after looking for a long time, he could even see maggots crawling in and out of the rotten flesh...

Although he had reminded everyone not to look at the Evil Spirit's Red Bridal Veil, the Evil Spirit would absolutely not stop three zhang away and dare not approach just because of this point.

It was very likely there was another reason, which was that he had hurt the Evil Spirit quite badly by the water pool last night, and perhaps it was fearing his methods. After all, this Evil Spirit did not know that he only had one Soul Piercing Needle left.

But since it was afraid, why did it come looking for them in the daytime, when its own gloomy, evil power was suppressed?

Thinking of this, Duan Rong's gaze suddenly tightened.

If this Evil Spirit dared not approach because of fear, then why did it track them all the way here and refuse to retreat?

Clearly, there must be something among them that the Evil Spirit was looking for!

What was it looking for?

As Duan Rong thought this, his gaze suddenly swept over the people around him.

Then, he thought of one thing. Could it be that he had swiped a Red Bridal Veil from the Evil Spirit, and that was why the Evil Spirit had followed them all the way here?

Duan Rong felt this was unreasonable!

By the water pool, he had taken that Red Bridal Veil, and the Evil Spirit had not chased them then! How could it be chasing them all the way here now because of that Red Bridal Veil?

Although Duan Rong deduced this, he still flipped his hand and took that Red Bridal Veil into his hand. He then turned and threw it, his movements quite fluid and practiced, and the Red Bridal Veil spun as it flew out, landing several zhang away to the side of the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit.

At this moment, their group, the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit, and the fallen Red Bridal Veil formed a three-way pincer position.

Seeing the Red Bridal Veil suddenly fly out, everyone's expressions were stunned for a moment, not knowing why Duan Rong had suddenly made such a move.

Du Wan suddenly said, "Duan Rong, are you suspecting that the Evil Spirit came for that Red Bridal Veil?"

Duan Rong said, "The possibility is not high, but there is no harm in trying."

After the Red Bridal Veil landed, several breaths later, that "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit still stood there motionless.

Clearly, it did not come for that lost Red Bridal Veil.

Duan Rong suddenly said, "Let us circle around its side to see what reaction it has. Standing like this is not a solution; if we stand until dark, the Evil Spirit's yin-evil power will recover."

Hearing this, the group was somewhat hesitant. Du Wan said, "But if we circle around, is it too dangerous?"

Guo Tian said, "Duan Rong is right; we cannot keep waiting like this. If we wait until dark, it will be even more disadvantageous for us."

Seeing that both Duan Rong and Guo Tian said so, Du Wan finally shut up.

The group formed a formation, held their weapons, stood in battle array, and slowly circled to the side. As they walked, their gazes were fixed on the rotting belly that the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit had exposed. That belly was rotting and maggot-ridden, yet it was empty inside, as if it had been hollowed out clean...

They walked in this manner, while the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit still stood there, motionless, seemingly allowing them to circle around.

"This..."

The group could not understand why it was like this for a moment, but they all stood in battle array and continued to circle...

After a while, they had reached the place of the Red Bridal Veil which was in a pincer position. As Duan Rong walked past, he bent down, scooped with his hand, and picked up the Red Bridal Veil.

This Red Bridal Veil had quite a restraining effect on the Ghost Infant Evil Spirit, and it might be useful in the future. Moreover, the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit had no reaction to this object, so Duan Rong picked it up and threw it into his backpack.

The group did not pause at the pincer position and continued to walk forward.

But just as they crossed the pincer position, suddenly, from the red bridal veil of the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit, strands upon strands of hair, like wild grass, crazily protruded and grew, instantly pouring out like black water...

The moment the hair surged out, it rushed toward them like several poisonous snakes.

The speed was as fast as a spark from a flint!

Those several coiled strands of hair actually drilled into the crowd, but they all wrapped around Jiang Hanyan's feet and waist, instantly dragging Jiang Hanyan down, and intended to drag her toward the Evil Spirit along the gray-white ground.

Guo Tian was quick-witted and fast-handed; the broad-bladed saber in his hand flashed suddenly and struck the coiled hair.

With a "Bang" sound, the blade edge struck a few sparks on the surface of the hard god-demon corpse.

Sparks were struck, which showed the force of Guo Tian's blow, and his broad-bladed saber was exceptionally sharp, but despite this, the hair that had protruded from the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit's red bridal veil was completely undamaged!

Guo Tian reacted swiftly; he turned the blade edge and used the back of the blade to brace against the soles of Jiang Hanyan's feet. The others also immediately grabbed Jiang Hanyan, and they instantly formed a tug-of-war stance.

Although all seven of them were pulling Jiang Hanyan with force, the Evil Spirit's hair was still tightly wrapped around Jiang Hanyan, and it was pulling Jiang Hanyan toward it bit by bit.

All seven people were cultivators, having practiced from the Inner Breath Realm all the way to the Qi Cyclone Realm; their strength was definitely not weak. But combined, the strength of the seven of them was still unable to pull against the Evil Spirit's hair; that Evil Spirit stood there as steady as Mount Tai.

Jiang Hanyan was wrapped by the hair, her whole body trembling, her beautiful face distorted and pale, her eyes filled with extreme fear. "No! I don't want to go over there!..."

But the distance was closing bit by bit!

A layer of cold sweat appeared on everyone's foreheads! Some had already developed the intention to let go; after all, no one wanted to be pulled to the side of the Evil Spirit together with Jiang Hanyan, as no one knew what would happen then.

Su Xinjue was actually the first to let go and jump backward!

A best friend is truly the least reliable!

Du Wan also wanted to let go, but at this moment, Duan Rong suddenly moved his mind, and the last Soul Piercing Needle shot out abruptly!

It pierced into the depths of that thick darkness beneath the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit's feet!

A column of white smoke as thick as an infant's arm immediately emerged, and a shrill, extreme scream issued from under the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit's red bridal veil!

Duan Rong's gaze shifted; he noticed that the column of white smoke emerging from the depths of that thick darkness at this moment seemed to be thicker than the one by the water pool last night.

This showed that after the Evil Spirit's yin-evil power was suppressed during the day, the damage dealt to it by the Soul Piercing Needle had also increased.

The moment the white smoke rose in curls, the snake-like coiled hair that had been entangled around Jiang Hanyan's waist and feet suddenly let go and retreated...

Everyone who had been pulling Jiang Hanyan felt their hands loosen and their footsteps stagger.

At this time, one could see that the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit had already stirred up a gust of yin wind, and before the curling white smoke from beneath its feet had dissipated, it had already flown toward the side. The waterfall-like hair fluttered behind it, trembling like poisonous snakes, and quickly retreated into that red bridal veil...

The "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit flew more than ten zhang away before the group collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Duan Rong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and secretly thought to himself that it was a stroke of luck. Fortunately, one Soul Piercing Needle had startled the Evil Spirit away! However, this was also related to the fact that the Evil Spirit's yin-evil power was weakened during the day, and the damage from the Soul Piercing Needle to it had increased.

Guo Tian put away his broad-bladed saber; he looked at Duan Rong, his gaze shifting slightly.

Last night by the water pool, the moment he was awakened by Duan Rong, he had also seen the "Ghost Bride" Evil Spirit emitting white smoke, which was very similar to the scene just now.

And Duan Rong had already told them that that mass of thick darkness was the true body of the Evil Spirit.

Guo Tian suddenly asked, "Duan Rong, is the method you used to injure that Evil Spirit a Soul Piercing Needle?"

The Soul Piercing Needle was a means of Divine Sense attack, formless and bodiless.

Just now, Guo Tian had not seen how Duan Rong acted before the thick darkness at the Evil Spirit's feet suddenly emitted white smoke. In that instant, Guo Tian thought of a soul attack.

Once Guo Tian pointed it out, everyone also looked at Duan Rong with stunned expressions.

Duan Rong said with an unmoved expression, "Brother Guo guessed correctly, it is indeed a Soul Piercing Needle!"

A flash of astonishment crossed everyone's faces.

Du Wan said, "Duan Rong, the Soul Piercing Needle seems to be an achievement of the Womb Treasury Sutra's... Could it be that you have already..."

Lu Chu said, "Brother Duan is, after all, someone who cultivates by the Ancestor's side; it is nothing strange that he has achieved the sixth level of the Womb Treasury Sutra."

They all knew that Duan Rong had only been an Inner Sect Disciple for a little over a year. In a little over a year, he had achieved the sixth level of the Womb Treasury Sutra!

A monster is truly a monster! No wonder he could cultivate by the Ancestor's side!

Duan Rong did not care much about the various expressions of the people, only saying indifferently, "The Soul Piercing Needles I condensed have been used up! The one just now was the last one! Judging from the current situation, we will still encounter Evil Spirits at any time. I need a few hours to re-condense a few Soul Piercing Needles! I ask all fellow disciples to protect me!"

(End of this chapter)