Qi Devourer

But this method certainly wasn't foolproof, and Li Ye couldn't take the chance.

"What else do you have?"

"Just one normal magazine."

Huang Qingyi raised his handgun and replaced the magazine with a normal one from his waist pouch.

Li Ye nodded. "Gunpowder repels evil, Blood Essence shatters evil. It works on all demons, but you can't kill it."

All demons feared these things. Even bullets fired from a flintlock could harm them, but the Five Plagues Ghost couldn't be dealt with like that.

"Three minutes. I don't care what your condition is, or what method you use – gun or sword – just injure it, don't kill it. If we kill it, we're done. You need to weaken it as much as possible. And protect me. Absolutely do not let it rush into the kitchen, alright?"

Huang Qingyi gripped the sword in his hand, facing the Five Plagues Ghost whose flames had diminished. "I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

As Huang Qingyi agreed, Li Ye dashed towards the kitchen. He rummaged through a pile of trash and pulled out a stainless steel basin. Then, he grabbed several bottles of various white liquors, each less than half full, collected by Old Man Zhao. He poured them all into the basin along with the high-proof alcohol from the Molotov Cocktail.

WHOOSH!

He twisted the knob, turning the stove flame to its maximum, heating the alcohol in the basin.

Meanwhile, the flames on the Five Plagues Ghost's body flickered and died. Its body was now completely charred black, but it looked more like burnt caramel, flowing like soft mud.

"Agh, agh! Agh!" The Five Plagues Ghost let out a hoarse roar. It took two wobbly steps forward with its arms outstretched, then lunged at Huang Qingyi.

"Wind Shuttle Thread!"

Huang Qingyi tightened his grip on the sword hilt and thrust forward. A cold glint flashed as the nimble, swift blade instantly embedded itself in the Five Plagues Ghost's chest.

While attacking, Li Ye in the kitchen had also disassembled the Salt Bullet Gun and poured all the remaining concentrated salt water into the basin.

BANG BANG!

After stabbing it, Huang Qingyi raised his hand and fired two shots, hitting the Five Plagues Ghost's knees, forcing it to kneel. But in that instant, it opened its mouth again and shot out its scarlet tongue.

Huang Qingyi was prepared this time. As it opened its mouth, he performed a high-speed spin, leaping into the air. His body inverted gracefully, head down, feet up. The long sword in his hand descended, unleashing eight beams of sword light that stabbed directly at the Five Plagues Ghost.

"Spider Nest Hanging Silk!"

Eight strikes pierced several holes in its humanoid body and damaged its supporting joints, causing the Five Plagues Ghost to collapse to the ground.

At this moment, Li Ye also found white vinegar. He unscrewed the cap, took a deep breath, and poured the entire bottle of white vinegar into the basin, waiting silently.

The fallen Five Plagues Ghost quickly propped itself up halfway, moving without relying on its joints. Its claws propelled its body forward, and it leaped towards the descending Huang Qingyi.

Huang Qingyi couldn't change his move in time. Seeing the demon lunging, his eyes hardened. His arm vibrated rapidly, causing the blade to shimmer like starlight. A strange mist erupted, swirling towards the Five Plagues Ghost.

"Firefly Severing Rain!"

CHIII!!

The blade churned the Five Plagues Ghost's hands, grinding them into a bloody pulp. The Five Plagues Ghost clearly felt the pain and let out a hoarse cry. However, with its hands occupied, it managed to open its mouth and spit out its long tongue.

Pfft!

Huang Qingyi grunted and was thrown backward, rolling several times on the ground.

A hole had been pierced through his shoulder by the long tongue.

Then, a peculiar smell wafted from the kitchen, mixing with the volatile scent of alcohol and vinegar, filling the entire room.

The Five Plagues Ghost, which had been thrown back and was falling, seemed to smell blood like a shark. Its limbs twisted strangely as it stood up, crawling towards the kitchen.

It liked vinegar; it would definitely come when it smelled it!

"Stop it!" Li Ye yelled. "One and a half minutes left!"

"Broken String Startled Sparrow!"

Huang Qingyi gritted his teeth and flicked his sword blade against the ground. The sword bent under the pressure, and its elasticity propelled the fallen him forward. As he flew, he swung his sword horizontally, creating a wide arc of shimmering light that slashed across the Five Plagues Ghost's waist.

Upon impact, Huang Qingyi landed heavily on the ground, but using his momentum, he forcefully swept his sword, pushing the Five Plagues Ghost backward. He then positioned himself in front of the kitchen.

This sword strike didn't sever its waist. Beneath the sugary, sticky surface, it only dug in, creating a large gash.

Simultaneously, five illusory figures began to bulge from the Five Plagues Ghost's body as it was pushed back.

It was severely injured, but it was about to begin its Disaster Transformation.

"One minute. Watch your strength," Li Ye's now calm voice rang out from behind.

Huang Qingyi nodded heavily and tapped his long sword repeatedly, engaging the Five Plagues Ghost to prevent it from getting closer.

However, the sword felt heavier with each strike, and each blow carved a gash. As the Five Plagues Ghost charged forward, its body became more tattered, and the surrounding illusory figures separated further.

Li Ye urged, "You can't fight like this, you'll kill it too easily! Hold back a bit!"

Huang Qingyi's body trembled, and he pressed forward, engaging the demon directly.

But the Five Plagues Ghost was constantly closing in. Being locked in close combat instead restricted him.

If he struck too hard, he was afraid of killing it. If he didn't strike hard enough, it wasn't afraid of dying and would lunge, biting and scratching. With no room to retreat, Huang Qingyi sustained several scratches.

These weren't the main issue; the primary concern was that tongue capable of harming him.

The most crucial part...

"This isn't working either, the level of injury isn't safe enough!" Li Ye's voice sounded again.

"This is harder than me getting into bed!"

Huang Qingyi roared, abandoning his sword and charging at the Five Plagues Ghost for close combat!

Li Ye stared intently at the two battling, not forgetting to keep an eye on the stopwatch he'd deliberately opened on his phone.

The Three Flavors Plague Extermination didn't need boiling, just heating to the required temperature. That time was exactly three minutes!

"Ten seconds!"

Puff!

During the struggle, Huang Qingyi was caught off guard. The Five Plagues Ghost grabbed his sword-wielding hand, causing it to tremble uncontrollably. The sword was about to slip from his grasp.

At the same time, it flicked out its tongue again, stabbing towards Huang Qingyi's forehead at point-blank range.

This is it!

Huang Qingyi's eyes widened. He suddenly mustered a surge of strength, and the slipping sword, held loosely in his hand, was lifted upwards.

In the face of mortal danger, he counterattacked almost instinctively.

"Three!" Li Ye's eyes were also wide.

Bang bang bang!

As Huang Qingyi raised his sword, his other hand also lifted the gun, aiming precisely at the Five Plagues Ghost's chest and head. The sword blade, rising simultaneously, became a blur. Li Ye only saw three massive sword lights streak forward.

"Two!"

"Fleeting Light Shadow!"

Screech!!

Three huge gashes appeared on the Oddity, causing it to freeze on the spot, swaying precariously. Its phantom form was almost detached from its body.

It was going to die! And it was going to transform into a disaster!

"One!"

The phantom leaped from its original body, instantly merging halfway into the air. Once it fully integrated, it would transform into a great disaster.

At this very moment, Li Ye's eyes flashed with brilliance. Ignoring the heat transferring to his hands, he splashed the basin of water directly onto the Five Plagues Ghost.

"Die!"

Li Ye's face contorted in a grimace, "Taste my Three Flavors Plague Extermination water!!"

The Oddity, which was on the verge of completely detaching and becoming a great disaster in this place, was doused from head to toe by the basin of water, along with Huang Qingyi standing in front of it!

"Hiss!"

The saltwater and high-proof alcohol seared Huang Qingyi's wounds, making him flinch in pain.

"Ah!!"

An even more miserable sound erupted from the Five Plagues Ghost's body. The falling water caused all of its phantom parts to return to its physical form, emitting wisps of green smoke.

The green smoke quickly filled the air, burning hole after hole into the Five Plagues Ghost's body. The foul stench that had permeated the room also began to dissipate as more holes appeared.

Finally, its entire body dissolved, turning into curling green smoke.

Li Ye's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. The intense mental strain, along with the deepening pollution sickness from being near the Oddity, erupted as the Oddity was destroyed and his tension finally eased.

Huang Qingyi turned and asked, "Is it dead?"

Li Ye nodded, "It's done for. You'll be fine."

But before he could finish speaking, he suddenly froze, becoming completely still.

He seemed to hear, and also see, a piece of information entering his being from somewhere unseen.

[The Emperor said: The plague stole the rich essence, spewing miasma and pestilence to corrode. Thus, the Emperor split the pestilence, seized its Qi, and cast it into a cauldron to refine a pill catalyst. The pill catalyst absorbed smoke and food, the nine granaries boiled with smoky cooking, a thousand feasts forged the visceral palace, and the offspring nourished the vital blood!]

[Authority — Qi Devourer!]