Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Five: The Jinfeng Sect Attacks

Gu Zhao, who was cultivating in the next room, turned his head to glance this way, sensing that the demonic energy emanating from the master bedroom felt different from the usual aura of the white fox’s cultivation—somewhat akin to a spell being cast.

Moreover, Xiuniang’s energy felt off too, as if it had merged with the white fox’s demonic power and was slowly growing stronger.

“Such a miraculous power—it directly amplifies one’s own energy,” Gu Zhao suppressed his aura and frowned. “Could the white fox be leaving? Is this her final blessing for Xiuniang before she goes?”

Thinking this, Gu Zhao nodded. “Before I leave, I’ll leave them a few more Tian Gang talismans. This world seems dangerous, but it’s truly not safe at all—two Tian Gang talismans are still too few.”

At that moment, Gu Zhao’s eyes flickered, and he turned toward the village entrance.

From the official road at the village entrance, three clouds of black smoke drifted into the night, rolling forward, accompanied by faint seductive whispers, ghostly wails, and shrill, mocking laughter.

“We’ve searched for so long—so you’re here!”

“You killed Old Qi the Ghost? Today, I’ll rip out your soul and refine your spirit—make you beg for death but never find it!”

“Hehehe, Sister’s kind-hearted—if you hand over the divine statue, I’ll give you a quick death!”

Gu Zhao suddenly rose to his feet. “Here for me?”

The black smoke they emitted, along with the faintly perceptible sinister ghostly aura, was extremely similar to the ghost he had slain days ago with Palm Thunder.

At the same time, their unrestrained release of energy caused the Five Thunder Talisman in Gu Zhao’s spiritual sense to vibrate continuously, warning him that they carried lethal malevolence—they were no good.

“Three of them came at once—none of them are harmless.”

Gu Zhao’s eyes flickered; his body vanished and reappeared instantly, a belt adorned with numerous small pouches now hanging at his waist—paired with his ancient attire, the style wasn’t entirely mismatched, but it was certainly unconventional.

“Perfect—time to test my new spell and these new talismans!”

No sooner had Gu Zhao thought this than the three clouds of black smoke surged straight toward the courtyard he occupied; from the lead cloud came a snarling voice: “Dead fox—come out!”

Gu Zhao: ???

“Ying—”

A piercing scream erupted; the sound waves spread, and every person asleep in the village instantly fell into deep slumber—none would wake until dawn.

The next instant, a clear female voice sounded suddenly beside Gu Zhao’s ear: “Gu Zhao, stop them quickly—I’m merging with Xiuniang and can’t be disturbed by external force.”

“What’s ‘merging’?” Gu Zhao stared blankly, then realized: “You’re Xiao Bai? You can speak now?”

Though Gu Zhao was now full of questions, it didn’t hinder his actions—he already knew the white fox was blessing Xiuniang, he just didn’t know the process was called “merging.”

He had already prepared for these three.

So as the three clouds of black smoke entered the village and split into three directions, approaching the small courtyard, a figure suddenly appeared from the side room, leaping onto the roof of the main chamber.

“Hm?”

“Someone else?”

“A little Daoist?”

Seeing Gu Zhao appear, the three clouds of black smoke halted upon entering the courtyard, then slowly dissipated, revealing their forms.

The man from the east stood atop the wall—a withered old man in brocade robes, hunched, head tilted, eyes slanted, leaning on a cane as he sized up Gu Zhao.

The black smoke from the northwest settled on the old tree in the courtyard, revealing a child under a meter tall, with a topknot, wearing a white belly wrap, red-painted cheeks, and gold and silver bracelets.

The one from the southwest was closest—Gu Zhao caught a flash of crimson, then a seductive woman stepped out of the smoke, wearing a red-gold gauze robe, a golden dangling hairpin on her head, one side revealing a long, snowy leg.

“Jinfeng Divine Sect business—get lost if you don’t want to die!” The child’s voice was hoarse and menacing.

Gu Zhao’s eyebrows lifted—it was the Jinfeng Sect.

So that meant they were allied with the green-robed ghost he’d first encountered?

Seeing Gu Zhao silent, the old man twisted his cane, stared him up and down, and chuckled sharply: “Little brat, are you from the Spirit Court?”

“Whether you are or not doesn’t matter—I’ve taken a liking to this little Daoist,” the red-clad woman’s voice was the only normal one, yet her words sounded deeply wrong. “After I’ve enjoyed him, drained his essence, I’ll hand him over to you.”

“Enough talk—the fox is merging with the woman inside—don’t let her finish and escape!” the child snarled. “I’ve got things to do back home!”

“It’s just the primordial yin of a few devotees—what’s a few more days? Won’t kill them,” the old man shook his head, then chuckled. “I almost forgot—we’re already dead.”

“You two go catch the fox—I’ll handle this little Daoist,” the red-clad woman purred, then her entire body transformed into a streak of crimson, sweeping toward Gu Zhao.

Simultaneously, the child and the old man became two shadows, shooting toward the main chamber’s window.

Gu Zhao couldn’t help but hiss—no words, just action—how decisive!

Lucky for me, I’m the same kind.

Gu Zhao: (。-`ω´-)

“Shua—”

A sound like wind rustling paper suddenly rang out, catching the red-clad woman’s attention—opposite her, the little Daoist now held a long strip of yellow paper.

“Wood Virtue, Star of Chen, Spirit of the East. Join my Nine Qi, expel the demonic spirits.”

As the words ended, a gale surged, thunder cracked—a storm of wind and lightning erupted from Gu Zhao, sweeping violently in all directions.

“Ah!”

“Lightning?”

Feeling the wind and thunder roll toward them, the three felt their ghostly bodies destabilize and screamed as they retreated.

At the same time, they heard the little Daoist’s voice again: “Eyes like sun and moon, opening and closing heaven and earth. When the Primordial One is established, the Four Symbols are complete. Yin-Yang transforms, ascending to the Purest Realm.”

Hearing this incantation—longer and seemingly more potent than the last—the three turned pale.

The child clapped his hands; the two gold bracelets on his wrists and the two silver ones on his ankles became four streaks of light, shielding his entire body.

The old man slammed his cane on the ground—it transformed into a black serpent, coiling around him.

The red-clad woman seemed to become wind itself, instantly retreating beyond the courtyard.

But no attack came. They looked up at Gu Zhao—and saw his entire form now seemed more ethereal, impossibly lofty, filling their hearts with a sense of insignificance.

What’s going on?

Gu Zhao smiled faintly, letting the talisman in his hand turn to ash, and explained calmly: “The Shangqing Transformation Talisman—it mainly enhances magical power output. Think of it as a damage-boosting aura.”

The three: ???

Though they didn’t fully understand, they knew Gu Zhao was about to unleash his ultimate move.

“Great Master, this was all a misunderstanding!” the old man shrieked.

The child nodded frantically. “We only came to catch that fox—she stole our sect’s divine statue and ambushed our guardian. This Daoist has nothing to do with us!”

“Is that so?” Gu Zhao grinned. “Tell me—was your guardian a man in black robes, pale face, eyes entirely black?”

The old man and the child’s faces darkened.

The next instant, Gu Zhao nodded and said, “So it’s confirmed,” then formed an odd hand seal with his left hand, and with his right hand, chanted: “Heavenly Thunder, Earthly Thunder, roar through all eight directions. Shatter mountains, topple peaks, strike the Celestial Granary.”