Chapter 35

That was Qi Yuxian.

Zhang Jian saw Qi Yuxian and also stared blankly for a moment; this elder cousin had previously left in a hurry, never expecting to be quietly sobbing here.

Qi Yuxian then noticed someone's arrival, quickly raised her head, and upon seeing Zhang Jian she was momentarily startled, but she remained poised and composed.

Though she was tearful, her beauty was not diminished; instead she wiped her tears and spoke with a smile.

"Zhang family younger brother, you've seen all of this!"

Zhang Jian gave a wry smile and nodded, saying, "I happened to pass by here, never expecting to meet Elder Sister Yuxian; I don't know what trouble Elder Sister Yuxian has encountered."

His expression carried a serious look.

Zhang Jian's expression was solemn, without any mockery, which inevitably made Qi Yuxian feel much better.

Her lovely eyes fell on Zhang Jian, and she slightly shook her head as she spoke.

"Thank you, Zhang family younger brother; I merely recalled some sad matters, feeling moved in my heart!"

Qi Yuxian did not wish to speak further; after chatting a few sentences with Zhang Jian, she tidied her clothes and left.

Watching Qi Yuxian's departing figure, Zhang Jian fell into some thought.

"It seems that great-aunt's illness is not ordinarily serious?"

Gazing at the center of the flower bed.

Zhang Jian did not act immediately; the Qi and Zhang families are inseparably linked, and moreover they have been schemed against by heterodox evil arts, so he ought to take action.

But Zhang Jian did not immediately take out the buried iron jar.

Although the Demonic Suppression Technique destroyed the Demonic Suppression Object and could dispel the spell, if the root of disaster is not removed, it remains a hidden danger.

Zhang Jian glanced at the place where the demon-suppressing objects were buried.

It would be best if others discovered this, rather than him, this 'outsider', noticing it.

After all, "family disgrace should not be aired outside"!

Just as Zhang Jian was thinking, at this moment deep inside the inner residence.

One of the manors, however, was tightly surrounded by the Qi family's retainers and private soldiers, and Qi Yi was discussing this matter with an elderly Daoist in purple robes.

That was Daoist Tianxu of the Iron Immortal Observatory.

He excelled in both medicine and Dao, and also enjoyed considerable fame in Fengyang Commandery.

After Daoist Tianxu's adjustments, he also noticed some clues; the venerable Daoist Tianxu spoke frankly:

"Old friend, don't blame me for not warning you—your eldest daughter-in-law bears great sin; otherwise, such a great calamity would not have befallen!"

Qi Yi stroked his beard and sighed lightly, saying: "It's also my old wife's fault—she is overly kind, causing unrest in the household—but for now, the plan is to save Madame Zhou's life!'"

When mentioning Madame Zhou, Qi Yi's face grew somewhat grim; Madame Zhou's background was special, being from the Dingyuan Marquisate, and the Dingyuan Marquisate of Jingzhou was a founding martial house, its influence far surpassing that of the Qi clan, a prominent family.

The Qi clan could navigate the turbulent and fickle situation in Fengyang Commandery, always finding ways to avoid harm, thanks in no small part to reliance on the Dingyuan Marquisate.

Otherwise, that strong-willed commandant would have long pressed further; how could they have remained neutral?

Even if Madame Zhou had committed a grave error, he could only grit his teeth and endure.

"In that case, I will set up an altar and perform rites to first expel the evil influences clinging to your eldest daughter-in-law!'"

Daoist Tianxu sighed: "Madame Zhou of the Qi family has been afflicted by two hidden schemes. One is the child-mother vengeful spirit, which should be lurking within the Qi household's inner residence; once found, it can be eradicated. The other is the demon-sealing technique, which suppresses her soul, leaving her perpetually dazed and mad!'"

Meanwhile, a group of disciples dressed in purple Yang Daoist robes had already prepared all the implements on the altar.

The altar faced the gate of this compound.

Daoist Tianxu wore a purple Daoist robe; as he stepped onto the altar, a copper bell covered in countless runes appeared in his hand.

This object is called the Soul-Attracting Bell; Daoist Tianxu also needed to rely on this artifact from the Iron Immortal Observatory to perform a special method, known as the Soul-Summoning Method.

That was not some heterodox art, but an orthodox method.

With the aid of the implement in his hand, he could reduce some spiritual energy expenditure; as he tread the gang steps and spiritual energy surged in his hand, an invisible bell tone spread from within the residence.

This bell tone was clear and penetrating, carrying far, but the courtyard had already been surrounded by a troop of veteran soldiers, making it hard for others to enter; even if they felt curious, they could not get in.

Yet as soon as this bell tone rang out, it immediately stirred an invisible, gloomy spiritual fluctuation within the residence.

In an instant, Daoist Tianxu's gaze locked onto the direction of a well in the corner of the courtyard; at that moment, the well was surrounded by eight banners, its mouth covered with countless dense demon-sealing sigils, yet it had already been locked onto.

An intensely cold yin energy suddenly surged forth from this well.

"Truly sinful—mother and child both perished, offending heaven and reason!'"

Seeing the cold yin energy spewing from the well's mouth, Daoist Tianxu felt some reluctance; he had long known that the well's bottom held a child-mother vengeful spirit—a vicious ghost born when a mother and child, dying with grievance, are buried together in a yin place, united as one and extraordinarily fierce.

Had it not been for his special acquaintance with Qi Yi, Daoist Tianxu would never have taken on such trouble.

At that moment, a piercing cry seemed to rise from the depths of the well; this shrill sound made the ears of everyone inside and outside the residence faintly ache, and they felt vexed and restless.

"Presumptuous!'"

Qi Yi, seeing this, shouted with his qi and simultaneously raised the seal in his hand; as the seal appeared, Daoist Tianxu faintly sensed an invisible dragon-tiger qi being mobilized, rushing like a flood toward the well's location, instantly striking the child-mother evil within the well as if dealt a heavy blow.

"Can dragon-tiger qi be used like this?'"

At that moment, on the courtyard's walltop, Zhang Jian stared in astonishment at this scene.

Upon hearing the bell from deep within the Qi residence, he took the opportunity to sneak over.

Naturally, he saw Qi Yi and the elderly Daoist Tianxu of the Iron Immortal Observatory.

The force emanating from that dragon-tiger qi was astonishing, especially after being bolstered by an official seal of unknown rank; its released power was at least ten times greater than that of Zhang Kui, a mere ninth-rank county magistrate.

This power also made Zhang Jian feel a sense of oppression.

"The imperial court's prosperity is indeed a tremendous pressure on cultivators!'"

Zhang Jian thought to himself, but fortunately he was not merely a novice cultivator who had just entered the Dao's gate; he also pursued the path of the imperial examinations.

He himself could be considered half a foot stepped into the court system.

Cultivation and holding office are not contradictory.

At this moment, seeing Daoist Tianxu seize the opportunity to completely seal that well.

This old Daoist actually has a couple of tricks!

Zhang Jian was quite surprised; this kind of combat experience is what he lacks. Although his Extreme Yang spiritual power is immense, his strength might be somewhat greater than that day's Void Daoist, yet he lacks those kinds of methods; those minor techniques combined can possess many wonderful abilities.

All he currently knows are just the Purifying Soul Incantation and the Minor Wind and Thunder Technique.

Its destructive power, however, is quite strong.

But there is a way to manage to trap it.

Just then, Zhang Jian's ear twitched, and his gaze turned toward the water bottom, water bottom.

Deep within the Myriad Worlds Spirit-Sensing Orb, at this moment came a dripping, gurgling sound.

"Big brother, this crazy woman bringing her kid and staying at our place is really annoying!"

At this moment another voice sounded: 'Since someone is summoning souls, let's take the opportunity to drive them out completely!'

"Is something unexpected going to happen?"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred; in an instant he heard the sharp howl from the forbidden land suddenly increase manifold, the countless rune spirit mechanism nets spread across the well above burst forth with cracks, and in the next moment they exploded apart.