[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele":3,"chapter-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-222":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Invincible Female Ghost Is A Bit Of A Hopeless Romantic",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1706410,2180,"Chapter 222: Heavenly Talisman Opens, Earthly Malevolence Closes, Yin and Yang Merge, Five Elements Settle","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-222",222,"\u003Cp>The moment their horses' hooves stepped into that gray-black miasma, a peculiar sound rang out in their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the wind, nor the chirping of insects, but a low, rhythmic \"buzzing\" sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like thousands of flies fluttering their wings over rotting flesh, or like the long, lingering echo of a massive bronze bell that had been forgotten for a thousand years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horses sensed the discomfort first. Their galloping hooves began to falter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-maned horse let out a sharp snort, its front hooves rearing high, almost throwing Lu Yuan off its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan reacted instantly. He clamped his legs around the horse's belly and gave the reins a sharp jerk, forcefully calming the black-maned horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this usually very intelligent steed beneath him was still restlessly pawing the ground, spewing white foam from its mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its horse eyes were wide and round, staring intently at the darkness ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao's horse had half-collapsed on the spot. No matter how much he whipped it, it refused to take another step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse seemed nailed to the ground, motionless, instead letting out a series of mournful whinnies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if something it was extremely terrified of existed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, this horse... it won't move!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cheng'an also dismounted. His horse hadn't collapsed, but its four legs were trembling. It stood in place, snorting continuously, its tail clamped tightly underneath, no longer obeying commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan swung off the horse, patted the black-maned horse's neck, and said in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beasts have a sixth sense. They've caught a whiff of a scent they shouldn't have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look at Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an, then said in a deep voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can't ride for the rest of the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tie the horses to those old elm trees at the mouth of the ravine. Grab your gear. We're going in on foot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them tied up the horses. Those usually rather spirited steeds now submitted like frightened rabbits, huddling tightly together, only calming down slightly by leaning against the few crooked old elm trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan walked in front, his right hand already gripping the Peach Wood Sword on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talismans on the scabbard glowed faintly in the darkness, emitting a soft green light that pushed the miasma back, opening a narrow path three feet in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an followed closely, each holding a pre-drawn \"Evil-Suppressing Talisman\" in their hands, cold sweat seeping from their foreheads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The further they went, the thicker the stench of rot and sulfur became, choking their throats and making them feel dry and itchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath their feet was no longer hard soil, but soft, sticky mush. Stepping on it felt like treading on a thick layer of rotting flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down, the ground was covered in black withered leaves and fragments of unidentified animal bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some residual hair and broken bones were mixed together, giving off a faint, oily sheen in the dim light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the view ahead suddenly opened up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no longer a narrow valley gap, but a depression surrounded by pitch-black cliffs on three sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should be the heart of Wildman Ditch, the location of the legendary \"mass grave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of Yin energy, so thick it almost solidified into matter, rushed towards them. It was like a basin of ice water being poured over their heads in the middle of winter. Xu Erxiao couldn't help but shiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Yuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, his pupils contracting sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten zhang ahead of him, in the very center of that depression, a willow tree grew abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The willow was not big, just over man-height. Its trunk was twisted and crooked, like a coiled black snake. The bark was cracked, revealing the blackened interior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most eerie thing was its branches. They hung down one by one, slender and supple, yet they were a tender, vibrant green, carrying the delicate freshness of February spring branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this mass grave, covered with bones and gray-black miasma, this patch of green was extremely conspicuous, extremely out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if someone had forcefully stuffed a breath of life into the chest of a corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The willow branches moved without wind. It wasn't the swaying caused by a mountain breeze, but a gentle twisting, as if alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The movements were slow, carrying an intensely unnatural rhythm, as if breathing, or as if beckoning to Lu Yuan and his two companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A willow tree...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cheng'an gasped, his voice trembling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could a willow tree survive in this ghostly place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Yuan interrupted directly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan's voice was as cold as ice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been attracted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the art of geomancy, the willow tree belongs to Yin, loves water, and is often planted on grave mounds or along riverbanks to \"summon souls and attract spirits,\" giving the wandering dead something to cling to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this tree was different. It shouldn't appear in a place of solitary Yin, let alone in the center of a mass grave filled with bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to ancient methods, the topographical pattern here should be \"encircled by mountains on three sides, open on one side, where Yin energy converges and cannot escape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's similar to a giant \"overturned bowl,\" also known in geomancy as a \"dead-end land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right in the center of this \"dead-end land,\" a willow tree was planted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this willow tree to take root and sprout, it didn't absorb underground water. Instead, it absorbed a hundred years' worth of resentment and Yin malevolence accumulated in the mass grave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a 'Willow Piercing the Heart.'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan slowly began to speak, his voice echoing in the silent valley:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone deliberately planted a living willow tree on the formation eye of this mass grave, letting it absorb the Yin malevolence from the ground!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then the root system pierced through the earth, continuously drawing the malevolent energy to the surface, releasing it through the willow branches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This willow tree is a 'soul-guiding banner.' It has stirred up all the resentment in Wildman Ditch, like a pot of boiling water ready to explode at any moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao's scalp tingled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th... then shall we chop it down?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan immediately shook his head, his gaze sweeping around the willow tree:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't chop it down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The willow tree's root system is already integrated with the underground bones and the formation. Once it's cut down, it's like lighting the fuse!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yin malevolence underground will instantly go out of control and gush out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When that happens, forget about the three of us, an area of a hundred li will suffer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cheng'an took out his compass. The compass was no longer spinning wildly; instead, it pointed in a fixed direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The needle pointed straight down beneath the willow tree, trembling slightly, as if giving a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, there's something under this tree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cheng'an lowered his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan nodded. He didn't rush to approach the willow tree but instead shifted his gaze to its right side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, at the edge of the depression, clinging to the pitch-black cliff, was a crooked wooden cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cabin was in a state of disrepair, most of its roof collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few rotten beams stuck out in a disorderly fashion. The wooden planks on the walls had long been blackened and cracked by wind and rain, revealing the pitch-black hollows inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door hinges had long rusted shut, the door half-open. A string of copper coins, covered in dust, hung at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the wind blew, they clinked sharply and piercingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eeriest thing was the position of this wooden cabin. It was situated exactly at the \"White Tiger Draws Blade\" position of the depression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a terrain surrounded by mountains on three sides, wherever spiritual energy converges, there must be the four symbolic guardians: \"Azure Dragon,\" \"White Tiger,\" \"Vermilion Bird,\" and \"Black Tortoise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this dilapidated wooden cabin happened to be built on the most vicious of the vicious positions, the right side of the White Tiger's mouth!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the position of \"White Tiger Holding a Corpse\"!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden cabin acted like a wedge, firmly nailed into the White Tiger position of the formation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It trapped the White Tiger's malevolent energy, which should have guarded one direction, tightly inside the wooden cabin, preventing it from circulating or discharging, allowing it only to accumulate and expand continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cabin's existence was not to \"suppress,\" but to \"imprison.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a guest came in, they would be trapped, unable to get out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the malevolent energy entered, it too could not get out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of thing is this Liu Family's shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity actually raising inside?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao swallowed his saliva, his voice a little dry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just this layout is too ruthless. Willow Piercing the Heart, Cabin Imprisoning Malevolence. This is using the entire Wildman Ditch to feed the Malevolent Deity!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan didn't answer. His gaze fell inside the half-open wooden door of the cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vaguely, he could see a pitch-black mass inside, like a human figure, or like a pile of clutter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a gust of Yin wind blew, and the wooden door creaked open a bit further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The string of copper coins at the entrance clattered loudly. A few coins actually fell off, rolling and clinking all the way to Lu Yuan's feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan looked down. The copper coins that landed at his feet were faintly glowing, not with the color of the copper itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they emitted an extremely faint, phosphorescent green fluorescence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, with a feeding ground this big, the thing raised inside must be incredibly evil. Can we handle it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Xu Erxiao couldn't help swallowing his saliva again, looking at Lu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao naturally had no doubt about Lu Yuan's strength. His Brother Lu was powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But powerful or not, that didn't mean he had to fight head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this place being so eerie now, forcing a fight would mean getting hurt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, last night when the three of them were chatting in the house, Xu Erxiao had learned what happened with the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family the other day. He knew Lu Yuan had just recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xu Erxiao's words, Lu Yuan said directly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Malevolent Deity inside here was powerful, but the reason he'd been a bit embarrassed dealing with Malevolent Deities before was a lack of preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take, for instance, the mother-son Malevolent Deity in the cave on the back mountain last time. He hadn't even had time to set up an altar, rushed into battle, and was naturally a bit flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, coming prepared was a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan wasn't the same Lu Yuan as before either. The current Lu Yuan was powerful too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Lu Yuan didn't necessarily have to force it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main thing was that this place was already like this. Something had already gone wrong, with the evil energy leaking out. Lu Yuan was afraid it would be too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other thing was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the jade pendant on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listen...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way around it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't ask for it, but Qingwan insisted on giving it to him. What could he do? Could Lu Yuan just throw it away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an immediately nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the three of them cautiously proceeded deeper into Wildman Ditch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They went around that \"Soul-Guiding Willow\" and continued deeper into the depression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pitch-black cliffs pressed in on both sides. The decaying soil beneath their feet grew softer and softer. Every step felt like treading upon decades of death aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Erxiao called out in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, look over there...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan followed the direction of his finger. He saw a strange tree growing in the shadow of the valley wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its trunk was milky white, covered in strange tumor-like protrusions, resembling countless eyes blinking slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its branches twisted nauseatingly, stretching out in all directions but not touching the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan crouched down, took out his compass, and observed carefully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a 'Bone-White Pine.' It often grows in places with extremely strong Yin energy. It belongs to Yin and is extremely evil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao swallowed his saliva:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"'Belongs to Yin and is extremely evil'... what does that mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan said in a deep voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Bone-White Pine absorbs the essence of wandering souls. Its branches extend outwards like arms. Not only does it consolidate energy, but it also seems to monitor intruders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you encounter this kind of tree in geomancy, it means there are a large number of unsettled souls underground, and someone is secretly controlling the Yin energy, weaving them into a formation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cheng'an moved closer to look, and his heart sank:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So is it... also part of the formation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The entire valley is set up as a formation. These trees aren't just living things; they are the formation eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Soul-Guiding Willow absorbs malevolence. The Bone-White Pine monitors. The cabin imprisons malevolence... This is a complete pattern for feeding a Malevolent Deity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three continued forward and discovered a patch of bluish-gray shrubbery under the cliff on the left side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shrub's branches and leaves were peculiar. The tips of the leaves were slightly curled, as if absorbing the Yin energy from the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan approached, gently plucked a leaf, and placed it in his palm for close observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is 'Ghost Claw Vine.' In folklore, it can grab a person's soul, causing them to lose their way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan frowned and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Its position isn't just for decoration. This is the outer ring of a maze formation, used to disrupt the minds of intruders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao's voice trembled with tension:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder I was just... feeling more and more dizzy and lightheaded the further I went in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not an illusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The valley itself is an 'overturned bowl dead-end land.' The Yin energy concentrates, and combined with the Ghost Claw Vine's interference with perception, an ordinary person would get lost upon entering, or even be directly trapped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them advanced along the narrow path of decaying soil. Lu Yuan silently recited formation incantations in his mind, carefully observing the surrounding terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze fell on a patch of low-lying muddy ground between the willow tree and the wooden cabin in the center of the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the muddy ground, bone fragments were arranged in an irregular spiral, conforming to the \"Black Tortoise Spiral Formation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Black Tortoise Spiral Formation...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan muttered to himself, his gaze profound:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The place where the Yin energy is strongest is right in the center of this spiral formation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crouched down, took out his Peach Wood Sword, and lightly tapped the muddy ground, listening to the echo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tapping sound was sometimes low, sometimes crisp, as if there were a hollow space beneath the mud, or as if someone were humming softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan frowned deeply, sensing a powerful Yin malevolence rushing straight towards his dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan slowly stood up, his voice low and firm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the core of the shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity. This is the position with the heaviest Yin energy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The willow tree, the Bone-White Pine, the Ghost Claw Vine, the wooden cabin, the bone spiral... all the layouts point here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as we can stabilize the formation's aura and not trigger the formation eyes, we can find the true shrine feeding the Yin Deity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao shook his hand, gripping his talisman tightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, th... this place is too eerie. Should we just go in?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan looked at the decaying soil, miasma, and twisted trees around him. The Peach Wood Sword in his hand slowly emitted a green light:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to find the Yin energy core first, then we can break the pattern of the shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity in Wildman Ditch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he signaled for the two of them to stop and chanted a protective spell in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light of the talismans flickered, pushing a bit of the Yin energy away from the three of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the valley seemed suppressed, but the branches of the willow tree in the distance were still twisting slowly, as if spying on their every move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan slowly walked towards the center of the bone spiral, his steps steady, each one seeming to step on the vein of the geomantic formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, relying on experience and instinct to sense the flow of Yin energy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The willow tree drew the energy of the dead upwards. The Bone-White Pine monitored the position. The Ghost Claw Vine disrupted consciousness. The cabin imprisoned malevolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the malevolent energy converged in one place, forming a massive vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan took a deep breath, gently reached out to touch the soil. His mind shifted, and he vaguely sensed a dark force stirring below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if countless resentful souls were waiting to be awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's right here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan said in a low voice, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The heaviest point of Yin energy in the shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity in Wildman Ditch is right under my feet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan crouched down, pointed his Peach Wood Sword at the center of the bone spiral, and chanted the incantation in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heavenly Talisman Opens, Earthly Malevolence Closes, Yin and Yang Merge, Five Elements Settle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—follow and reverse each other to stabilize the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Willow guides souls. The Pine monitors. The Vine makes one lose their way. The Cabin imprisons malevolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi moves with the sword. Ghosts dare not approach. The Malevolent Deity finds it hard to emerge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talismans in his hand flickered with a green light. The light slowly spread along the spiral of bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan's voice was steady and powerful. Each incantation seemed to strike the spiritual veins of the valley. The low hum was instantly suppressed by a few degrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an nervously held onto the hilt of the Peach Wood Sword, watching the slowly twisting willow branches around them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... how do we stabilize the formation eye?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan's gaze was piercing. He continued chanting another incantation in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yin energy swirls, follows the sword back. The mind is not confused, the step is not false.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone-White Pine. Vine entangles. Willow pierces the heart. Malevolence does not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three Primordial Guardians, Four Symbols in their positions. Black Tortoise at the base. Azure Dragon protects the front. Vermilion Bird flaps its wings. White Tiger closes its mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unity of Heaven and Man. The Talisman moves with the form. Qi moves with the will. The Malevolent Deity finds it hard to emerge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the incantation's pitch rose and fell, the Yin wind in the valley seemed to be guided by the sword light and the incantation. The vortex of Yin energy calmed down slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The willow branches were no longer threatening. Instead, they slowly drooped, as if observing the trio's actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan slowly withdrew his Peach Wood Sword, his gaze profound as he swept across the bone spiral and the willow tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yin wind howled low in the valley, as if reminding them not to act rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't move for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan said in a low voice, his tone carrying an unyielding authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an were stunned, confused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, we're so close. Why not strike directly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan crouched down, his fingers gently tracing through the soil, as if sensing the surging aura beneath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although the Yin energy here is temporarily suppressed, the aura of the shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity hasn't stabilized yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we strike now, when the Yin malevolence hasn't solidified, we might trigger the formation eyes of the Willow Piercing the Heart or the Bone-White Pine, and instead provoke a counter-current of malevolence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan paused, then looked up towards the southwest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The principle of Yin and Yang alternation here requires waiting until dusk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dusk, when the sun is about to set. Yang energy weakens. Yin energy is just beginning to arise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The critical moment of Yin and Yang intersection is what the Daoist method calls 'Twilight Cross-Malevolence,' the time when the Qi of Heaven and Earth is in transition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Casting a spell at this time can leverage the power of natural Yin and Yang, allowing the Yin energy of the shrine feeding the Malevolent Deity to be suppressed. At the same time, the formations and talismans we set up can stabilize the aura to the maximum extent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we strike in the morning or at noon, Yang is strong and Yin is weak. The evil malevolence hasn't fully formed, and it's easier to be subjected to backlash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Lu Yuan stood up straight, his gaze once again falling on the bone spiral between the willow tree and the wooden cabin:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The protective spell I just cast is only to temporarily slow the spread of Yin malevolence and create a temporary isolation layer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The true strategy for offense, defense, and breaking the situation must be executed at the moment of Yin and Yang alternation, when the malevolent energy is at its densest, to be effective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and signaled to the two:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now, let's find a safe place to rest, regulate our breathing and essence, and prepare to set up the formation at dusk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the valley, besides the low humming sound, there was also the sound of a deep wind passing through the cliffs in the distance, like the echo of an ancient bronze bell, unsettling to the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan led the two along the edge of the depression, carefully searching for a place to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan instructed in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely do not step outside the protective light circle for even half a step. Otherwise, even the temporarily suppressed Yin malevolence can enter the mind through the branches of the Willow Piercing the Heart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It will cause hallucinations, disorientation, and even poisoning and being trapped in the formation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an nodded repeatedly, holding their breath and standing still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan took out a talisman paper from his bosom and carefully checked if the brushstrokes on the talisman were intact and if the incantations had any leaks of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind in the valley gradually grew quieter. The Yin energy seemed to be absorbed by the talisman. The center of the vortex-like bone spiral flickered faintly with a ghostly light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the willow branches slowly drooped, they still twisted gently like living things, as if observing the trio's every move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Set up the altar first. We'll deal with it this evening!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3851,"2026-06-06T14:45:54.834Z",1,"novelbin.me","44b16d190290c9ca737b6d1c549b2da135d5710f18dc8f988d76176234ceea9d","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-223","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-221",241,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-cover.jpg"]