Chapter 478: The Path That Must Be Crossed

Night fell like a vast black silk banner, gentle yet resolute, blanketing the entire world. All was silent save for the wind humming softly in the darkness. Li An and Guo Yao stood side by side at the entrance of an ancient, mysterious street—the very street that, according to legend, was the path every Hundred Ghosts' Night Parade had to take.

"An, I'm… a little scared." Guo Yao's voice trembled slightly. She gripped Li An's hand tightly, her palm already drenched in sweat. Her eyes were wide as she anxiously surveyed the street shrouded in darkness before them. The dilapidated buildings on either side loomed faintly through the night, like crouching behemoths.

Li An gently patted Guo Yao's hand and gave her a reassuring look, trying to put her at ease. "Don't be afraid—I'm here." he said softly. Though his tone was calm, his eyes betrayed a wariness as his gaze swept the surroundings, missing no corner where danger might lurk.

The instant they stepped onto the street, a chill rushed at them, as if countless icy hands were lightly brushing their skin. The air around them seemed to grow thick, and their breathing became heavy and labored. A thin mist drifted over the street, within which eerie lights flickered faintly—ghostly green will-o'-the-wisps, shimmering demon-glows—as if countless eyes were watching them from the dark.

"So this is the Hundred Ghosts' Night Parade street…" Li An murmured to himself. He could feel an unprecedented pressure, as though an invisible mountain were crushing his heart. The many yokai seemed to be waiting for something; a strange stillness hung in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek shattered the silence, and a horde of powerful yokai surged from every direction. They came in all shapes—some massive as mountains, others small and nimble as specters; some bared grotesque fangs, others reeked with a sickening stench. Greed and savagery gleamed in their eyes—they had clearly come prepared.

"Careful!" Li An shouted, swiftly shielding Guo Yao behind him as he gathered powerful spiritual energy in his hands. His gaze was firm and resolute, unafraid as he stared straight into the onrushing horde.

"Hahaha, humans—today is your time of death!" a hulking ox-headed yokai roared, brandishing a massive axe. Its voice boomed like a great bell, making the very air around it hum and ring.

"You want to kill us? It won't be that easy!" Li An shot back without flinching. The moment his words fell, the yokai surged forward like a tide. Li An launched his attack at once, his spiritual energy blazing into beams of light that streaked toward the demons. But these yokai each had different abilities and fought in perfect concert—some excelled at defense, some at offense, and others could disrupt Li An's spiritual energy.

Just as Li An was locked in a bitter struggle, a familiar figure appeared. "Li An, I'll help you!" It was none other than Nura Lu Sheng, gripping his demon blade, his gaze resolute, a powerful demonic aura radiating from his body. His arrival brought a surge of joy to Li An's heart.

"Lu Sheng, you came!" Li An called out.

"Mm. We fight side by side!" Nura Lu Sheng said.

The two stood back to back, facing the yokai together. Yukionna assisted from the side as well; her hands swayed gently, and instantly a biting cold filled the air. Snowflakes drifted down, transforming into razor-sharp ice blades that shot toward the demons.