The Yin Spirit was weaker than the Yang Spirit and thus easier to control, but what was inside this bowl was a complete soul with yin and yang united! Once such a thing was created, it could draw the Ghost Messengers and Underworld emissaries here!
If they told others about Ghost Messengers and the like, those people might scoff, but these monks were different. This was their line of work—they believed in such things!
"Fuck, block this thing out already! Don't let it draw those filthy things over here!"
The abbot's face went white with fright. He immediately cast a spell, and a wave of light enveloped the entire thatched hut, cutting off every fluctuation.
But it was already too late. Before long, their hearts jolted, and the temperature around them suddenly plummeted.
The chirping insects and calling birds outside all fell silent, replaced by a soft rustling that made their scalps tingle.
The young monk ran to the window and poked through the paper. He took just one glance outside before collapsing onto the ground.
His face was terrifyingly pale. Turning toward the others, he said with a tremble, "Out... outside, there are so many people!"
The abbot inwardly cursed. He too went over and took a look.
Outside stood a whole crowd, armed with weapons and dressed in all manner of clothing. Yet without exception, every one of them wore no expression, their faces waxen white. They did not look like living people at all.
"Form the array!"
The Dragon Tiger Temple abbot could no longer worry about anything else. With a shout, the men immediately took their places around the Buddha statue, hands forming seals as they muttered what sounded like sutras.
Slowly, golden light began to radiate from the Buddha statue, illuminating the entire room.
"Who dares seize souls without authorization?!"
A voice rang out beyond the thatched hut. It was sharp without being piercing, quiet yet ethereal, as though it were speaking directly beside their ears.
The people inside shut their eyes and recited Buddhist scriptures, not daring to answer.
More than thirty Ghost Messengers stood in neat formation outside. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, Killing Intent soared to the heavens, blotting out the moon above, while gusts of yin wind wailed like ghosts.
The situation here quickly caught most people's attention, but most merely changed expression and swiftly returned to their lodgings, shutting their doors and windows and refusing to come out again.
Some older cultivators kept a close watch on those they had brought with them. Without explaining anything, they locked them inside their rooms.
Yet there would always be people who insisted on courting death. Hearing others say that the Yellow Springs had sent someone to catch ghosts, they refused to believe such nonsense and headed in that direction to investigate.
But from afar, they saw only a dilapidated thatched hut. Faint golden light flickered within, accompanied by the soft chanting of Buddhist scriptures.
They could see nothing else. Monks were performing rites inside a thatched hut? That was truly strange.
Moreover, the temperature here was absurdly low. Even the night wind cut to the bone, and not even circulating spiritual power within their bodies could ward it off.
"Damn it, this is really eerie."
A fat man muttered this under his breath, then actually walked straight toward the courtyard.
"Come back! Get back here!"
Someone tried to stop him, but the fat man paid no heed. The instant he pushed open the courtyard fence, he froze in place.
Everyone widened their eyes. Then, with a bang and without any warning, the fat man fell backward onto the ground.
That scene frightened quite a few people. The crowd scattered in all directions, and no one cared whether the fat man lived or died.
Whoever the Ghost Messengers wanted to see them could see them. This fat man, so bravely courting death, had satisfied his own curiosity—and so he saw them.
Only now, shackles bound him, and two figures that looked nothing like living people held him fast.
"I... I only came to take a look. I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
He went mad, begging aloud, but no one paid him any attention.
He wanted to run, but his legs felt as though they had been filled with lead. He could not move at all.
Inside the hut, Xiang Tian sensed everything happening outside with perfect clarity. He clicked his tongue in wonder. The vast world truly held every strange thing imaginable; he had seen people court death before, but never anyone courting it this enthusiastically.
Seeing that no one inside responded, the Ghost Messenger leader, who wore a saber at his waist, stepped forward and reached for the door.
But the instant he touched it, he let out a shriek and staggered back. Looking at his hand, he saw a golden power gnawing away at his fingertips.
"Defying authority and refusing to submit—death!"
The Ghost Messenger flew into a rage. He drew the great saber at his waist and slashed down at the thatched hut.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the thatched hut split into pieces, exposing the monks and that eerie Buddha statue. Of course, there was also Xiang Tian, placed inside the Buddha bowl on the table, currently poking his head out to look at them.
For this, he truly had to give the Yellow Springs a thumbs-up. Their efficiency was certainly fast enough—his soul had been hooked away one moment, and they had arrived the next.
After all, living people seizing the souls of living people was, to them, like challenging their rice bowl and their authority.
"So it was you monks. How interesting. Do you know that seizing another's soul is a grave crime?"
The abbot could endure no longer and could only open his eyes. Fortunately, the great array had already formed. At the very least, their lives would not be in danger today.
With his palms pressed together, he bowed to the leading Ghost Messenger. "Amitabha. We never intended to seize his soul. Our mistake led to this situation, causing this benefactor trouble. We have offended you deeply; please be magnanimous."
The Ghost Messenger saw the Buddha statue behind him and was somewhat wary. Such a thing restrained him greatly, so he said, "Since you had no intention of seizing his soul, hand him over now. I will simply send him back."
The moment those words were spoken, the group found themselves in a difficult position. Send Xiang Tian back? Then they would have nothing left—unable to avenge their grudge, unable to obtain the Buddha Relic, and still forced to worry that he would return with people to hunt them down.
"Abbot, no! Our Arhat Golden Array should be able to hold these things back. Otherwise, they would have charged in long ago."
"That's right, Abbot! If we hand this kid over now, all our efforts will go down the drain!"
Hearing the others' objections, the abbot steeled his heart, gritted his teeth, and began bargaining despite himself.
"Benefactor, this humble monk still has some matters to settle with this person. Could you grant us a little more time?"
The Ghost Messenger leader: ?
Fuck, you were bargaining with me, a ghost?
More time? Were you challenging his authority or not?!
"Men, chop!"
The leader did not hesitate in the slightest. With a wave of his hand, he could not be bothered with this fellow who had been given an inch and taken a mile.
The Ghost Messengers behind him drew their blades and swords one after another, hacking at the golden barrier.
The monks were dumbfounded. Why had they drawn weapons without saying a word?
"Smash it! Let's see whether these little bald donkeys can turn the heavens upside down today!"
You dared bargain with me? Go bargain with me after you descend to the Yellow Springs!
The Arhat Golden Array was bombarded until brilliant golden light flashed continuously. Even after a long while, it still had not been breached, and the monks finally breathed a sigh of relief.
While the Ghost Messengers outside hacked away with all their strength, the monks inside surrounded Xiang Tian and tried both threats and enticements.
"Kid, we can let Wu Wei's death go, but you must hand over the Buddha Relic!"
The abbot glared viciously at Xiang Tian, utterly devoid of his former solemn, treasure-like dignity.
Inside the Buddha bowl, Xiang Tian scratched his head. "The Buddha Relic was swallowed by the Ancient Demonic Ape clan chief. If you want it, you'll have to go find him."
The men froze. Who would believe that? He was clearly treating them like fools!
There were ghosts right outside. Go tell them that and see if they believed it!
The abbot flew into a rage and began chanting an incantation. Rings of golden light slammed into the Buddha bowl, intending to make Xiang Tian suffer, only to discover that he had no reaction whatsoever.
This was simply absurd beyond measure. Karma Fire could not harm him, so why were these Buddhist methods useless against him as well?
"I advise you not to waste your effort. Just obediently hand me over."
Xiang Tian wore an innocent expression. There was no helping it—his soul was naturally unusual. For these things to harm him was nothing more than a fool's dream.
"Hand you over? You must be dreaming in broad daylight!"
No matter what, they had to get that Buddha Relic today!
Just then, a streak of light suddenly flashed through the sky. Qiu Changfeng appeared!
Because of the disturbance in the city earlier, he had specifically made arrangements for the people he had brought. But when he reached Xiang Tian's place, he could not knock open the door no matter what he did.
After breaking in and taking a look, he instantly understood the situation. He hurried here to see whether Xiang Tian's soul was present.
Sure enough, at a single glance, he spotted him. Inside the Buddha bowl was Xiang Tian!
Looking at the monks, Qiu Changfeng flew into a rage. "Where did these bald donkeys come from? Take your lives!"
With that, a vortex of magical power shot from his hand directly toward the Arhat Golden Array.
Boom!
With an earth-shaking crash, the Arhat Golden Array shattered piece by piece before the monks' eyes, until not a trace remained!
The men were dumbfounded. Why did this old man have to show up at exactly this moment?!
Before you continue