Chapter 91: Boom! Boom!

This person, Yunhe has seen.

Twice!

The first time was during the River Gully Market disturbance, when he blocked the departure of many merchant guilds.

The second time was just now, when a wandering cultivator at Foundation Establishment tried to leave, and he directly pierced his chest with the great banner in his hand, killing him cleanly.

This person has the cultivation base of late-stage Foundation Establishment, and his combat ability is absolutely extremely strong; Yunhe dared not hesitate in the slightest, and could only flee!

"Tsk tsk, Fellow Daoist, you possess a high-grade spiritual artifact yet don't think of fighting back; this disappoints me."

The demonic cultivator carrying the great banner's voice followed closely behind.

Just like a cat toying with a mouse, it will wait until he tires before delivering a fatal blow.

"However, Fellow Daoist, you need to run fast; if I catch up to you, it will probably be unpleasant, for my Hundred Ghost Banner is not yet 'full'."

"Madman!"

Yunhe, running swiftly, silently cursed nonstop; the person behind him was definitely a madman.

But his will was still fairly firm; he was not moved by the other's words, no matter what they said, his mind held only one word.

Flee!

However, Yunhe roughly guessed this person's thoughts and the purpose of such conduct.

Drive the cultivator to a dead end, then when he runs to the edge of the black mist and sees vitality, strike again to kill.

In this way, between extreme joy and extreme pain, the madness of clearly having a way out before one's eyes yet being unable to obtain it can push the cultivator's grudges and hatred to the utmost.

And the souls captured after slaying the cultivator at this time will also be of the greatest power, most suitable to become the killing souls within the Hundred Ghost Banner.

Of course, the premise for doing this is needing absolute strength to suppress.

At the brink of life and death, the cultivator's potential and the vigor to strive for survival are also at their greatest.

It is obvious that the person behind sees Yunhe as merely early-stage Foundation Establishment; even though he still possesses a high-grade spiritual artifact, the 'Xuanwu Bracelet', he has absolute confidence to crush Yunhe.

"This is also my opportunity."

Yunhe secretly schemed in his heart.

His advantage is a powerful spiritual sense, and after escaping the black mist he can flee using the Earth Escape Technique.

The opponent's advantage is a stronger cultivation base, the Hundred Ghost Banner in his hand, and the bolster of the black mist he resides in.

However.

"Almost there!"

Seeing the mist ahead gradually thinning, Yunhe knew the decisive battle would come soon!

"Fellow Daoist, you wouldn't think I would deliberately wait until the edge of the black mist to act, would you?"

Suddenly.

A sound came from behind again.

Amidst the 'wa wa wa' sound of the great banner's howl, the surrounding black mist instantly became denser, and the mist surged violently, as if something were about to burst forth.

Seeing this, Yunhe hurriedly stalled his action, hurriedly offering the Xuanwu Bracelet at his side.

The only thing worth celebrating at this moment might be that, as a top-grade high-quality spiritual artifact, the Xuanwu Bracelet is not greatly affected by the mist.

"Go!"

Just as the black mist trembled violently, Yunhe formed a seal and drove the Xuanwu Bracelet.

As soon as it flew out, the Xuanwu Bracelet instantly became several zhang large, and fiercely smashed toward that which emerged from the surging mist.

Bang!!!

What was hit scattered apart.

"What is this?"

Immediately after, the black mist at his side surged again, and then two fang-and-claw waving Yin Blood Souls rushed out.

These two Yin Blood Souls, in outline alone, are no different from a normal cultivator, except their complexion is as white as paper, their eyes blood-red, their whole body illusory like mist, and the yin evil qi on their bodies is substantive.

"Hundred Ghost Banner!"

Yunhe groaned inwardly; the opponent fundamentally did not follow the usual tactics, had no so-called purpose, and simply wanted to toy with him.

But facing these two Yin Souls, he still immediately offered the Xuanwu Bracelet.

Accompanied by two 'bang bang' sounds, the two Yin Souls dissipated, turning into specks of black powder that vanished into nothingness.

Seeing this, Yunhe's heart eased considerably.

Fortunately, it can be dealt with.

"Huh?"

The opponent's doubtful voice came from the mist.

It seems this scene somewhat exceeded his expectations.

"Double Yang Water?"

Suddenly, Zhou Kui belatedly reacted, realizing that Yunhe's Xuanwu Bracelet was not merely a high-grade spiritual artifact, but also fused with Double Yang Water, drawing on its extremely rich yang qi and the bracelet's own power, making it extremely lethal to Yin Souls.

For the first time, Zhou Kui felt that things were gradually slipping out of his control.

"The Xuanwu Bracelet is a fine specimen among high-grade spiritual artifacts, matching my spiritual root and cultivation method; combined with the Three Yang Heavy Water's restraint on Yin Souls, its effect against the Yin Souls in these Hundred Ghost Banners should not be inferior to a top-grade spiritual artifact."

Yunhe's mind settled; he took a deep breath, his expression wooden, and continued to drive the Xuanwu Bracelet, waving it tightly so that the Yin Souls originating from the Hundred Ghost Banner could not approach him in the slightest.

But he also understood that this could not continue as a solution.

He could temporarily resist for now, but who knows how many subordinates of the Blood Ritual lurk within the black mist that shrouds the entire Zou City?

With each delayed breath, the danger he faces will increase by ten percent.

"We must find a way to break out."

Yunhe slapped his storage bag, and suddenly a handful of talismans appeared in his hand, about thirty or forty sheets.

Then he took a deep breath, infused it with spiritual power, instantly activating all of them, and threw them toward the thick mist.

Although these spirit talismans are mostly mid‑high grade first‑tier talismans, a single yin soul drawn from the Hundred Ghost Banner is not strong either; moreover, throwing out such talismans one after another multiplies their destructive power.

Especially.

He mixed a "Golden Light Spell Talisman" among the many spirit talismans.

For a moment.

The black mist surged violently, and a gap suddenly appeared before Yunhe.

Just that.

Just as he was about to leave, the black mist closed again at an even faster speed.

Furthermore, the density of the surging black mist became several times greater than before!

It turned out that Zhou Kui had trapped Yunhe with the Hundred Ghost Banner; after seeing how the Xuanwu Bracelet combined with Three Yang Heavy Water restrained the yin souls, he no longer dared to hold back.

He immediately sacrificed his own essence blood, pouring it into the Hundred Ghost Banner, causing the yin souls within the treasure to seem as if stimulated, the yin energy surging, and both lethal force and power suddenly increasing.

As he chanted and poured his essence blood, the black mist shrouding Yunhe not only grew denser but also continually pressed inward, poised to crush him with absolute force.

Only after doing this did Zhou Kui's gloomy voice sound again.

"I never expected you, fellow Daoist, to possess such skill—no wonder you could slay the ghost servant; if you reached the edge of the black mist, you might truly escape."

Yet from his voice one could still hear suppressed anger.

Obviously, dealing with Yunhe, a Foundation Establishment novice, had cost him precious essence blood, making his anger hard to quell.

"Still, this upper‑grade spiritual artifact of yours is truly fine, and adding Zhong Ping Zhou's storage bag makes it worthwhile." Zhou Kui muttered lowly, as if consoling himself.

Yunhe, still controlling the Xuanwu Bracelet in the mist, stuffed a few mana‑recovering elixirs into his mouth, stared at the ever‑closer black mist, felt its heavy yin energy, and drew a deep breath.

"The black mist can be shattered, but it requires overwhelming destructive power; relying solely on the 'Golden Light Spell Talisman' and a pile of mid‑high grade first‑tier spirit talismans is no longer enough."

The Xuanwu Bracelet and the Three Yang Heavy Water must constantly protect him; they cannot be withdrawn at all.

"Then, only this will do."

With that thought,

Yunhe took out the "Red Sheath Fan" again, gave it a light shake, and twelve feathers shot up instantly.

But under the erosion of the black mist and yin souls, the feathers hovering in midair soon began to wobble.

"Heh, fellow Daoist, are you out of tricks? You actually intend to use such a low‑grade spiritual artifact."

Zhou Kui's mocking voice rang out again.

"Found it!"

Yunhe thought silently.

He locked onto Zhou Kui's position.

Without hesitation, he moved his lips and uttered a single syllable.

"Burst!"

Boom!!

The twelve feathers exploded instantly.

Self‑destructing spiritual artifact!

The terrifying shockwave and might made the entire black mist surge violently.

Zhou Kui, who was controlling the Hundred Ghost Banner from outside the mist, was also startled.

He then sneered again:

"What does a self‑destructing spiritual artifact matter? It's merely a low‑grade trinket."

But when the black mist settled again and the disturbance from the self‑destructing artifact faded, clearing the view, Zhou Kui shuddered, his face changed drastically, and he immediately retreated.

At the same time,

the black mist enveloping Yunhe receded with Zhou Kui's withdrawal, revealing Yunhe's cold, sharp eyes.

In his hand he held a "humming" sword talisman that rang with a sharp sound.

"A treasure!!" Zhou Kui exclaimed, both shocked and angry.

He could never have imagined that a Foundation Establishment novice like Yunhe possessed a treasure.

The earlier explosion of the Red Sheath Fan was not meant to shatter the black mist; it merely served to block vision and buy time to activate the treasure.

Most importantly, the spiritual power fluctuating on the treasure felt off, giving Zhou Kui a feeling of heart‑pounding dread.

"Go!"

Yunhe pointed with his fingers, forming a sword, and pointed into the void.

Swish—

The treasure instantly transformed into a sword about a zhang long, shooting toward Zhou Kui.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual power cannot be compared to that of a Qi Refining cultivator, so the time needed to activate the treasure is much shorter.

Moreover, being able to unleash the treasure's power is undoubtedly far greater.

Facing the treasure's strike, Zhou Kui dared not show the slightest contempt; while retreating, he vigorously waved the Hundred Ghost Banner, enveloping himself in thick black mist.

The next instant.

Hum—

The giant sword rang, its light blazing.

The sword formed by the treasure heavily smashed onto the black mist.

It emitted an extremely dull thud.

Amid the intertwining and vanishing of sword qi and yin qi, Zhou Kui's sinister‑looking face flickered in and out; he stared fixedly at Yunhe, ferocious beyond measure.

Yet at this moment Yunhe laughed instead.

Under Zhou Kui's horrified gaze, his lips moved again, slowly uttering the same word.

"Boom!"

"Self-detonate the talisman!"

"Detonate the full power of the magic treasure sealed within the talisman!"

Although this is an extremely wasteful use, there's no denying that this blast increased the talisman's power by at least several tenths again!

"Crack!!"

With a remarkably crisp sound, the flagpole of Zhou Kui's Banner of Hundred Ghosts snapped.

"Pfft——"

Zhou Kui then spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his breath suddenly wilting.

"Madman! He's really a fucking madman!"

Zhou Kui, clutching the ferocious wound on his chest, turned deathly pale.

Without further thought, he turned and fled into the mist behind him.

Yunhe stood still in place.

It wasn't that he didn't want to pursue, but he could hardly move.

His face suddenly turned pale, a trace of scarlet seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Do you really think a talisman can be detonated just by infusing it with a bit of magical power like a spiritual artifact?

First, one needs sufficiently strong spiritual sense. To trigger the talisman and then again draw forth the magical power hidden within it is not something achievable merely by attaching a thread of spiritual sense; doing so also damages the spiritual sense.

Second, one needs ample magical power. Even though Yunhe had swallowed several pellets of restorative elixir, and his top-tier cultivation method gave his magical power higher quality, he now felt as if it were about to be drained dry.

Lastly, one must be willing to sacrifice a talisman.

"Whoosh——"

After a brief adjustment of his breath, Yunhe regained the ability to move.

His spiritual sense was damaged, his magical power nearly exhausted; his condition was extremely poor.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, full of bitterness.

To be honest, he himself hadn't expected that self-detonating the talisman would inflict such damage upon himself.

He merely felt that, to deal with a madman, if you want to make him afraid, you have to be even madder!

However, Zhou Kui certainly didn't expect that, otherwise he wouldn't have run so fast.

If he had immediately counterattacked then, Yunhe might not have been helpless, but his injuries would certainly have been worse.

"Not a bad gain."

He flicked his sleeve, rolling up the broken Banner of Hundred Ghosts, whose hundred ghosts had dispersed, and turned to charge toward the outside of the mist.

The moment he left the mist, Yunhe immediately formed a hand seal.

"Earth Escape Technique!"

"(End of chapter)"