Magical Combat

"This zombie has already been secretly suppressed by my talismans and can no longer cause harm. It's just right for drawing out the Evil Cultivator hiding in the shadows."

"We don't know what demonic arts this Evil Cultivator might possess. We must stay completely focused and not give the scoundrel any chance to take advantage of us..."

Just then, a shrill voice cried out, "Spiritual Gate, how dare you ruin my plans and ambush me as well! How could I not avenge this grudge?"

A cloud of black smoke wrapped around two long Black Nails and flew over the Chen Family's courtyard wall, heading straight for Spiritual Gate.

Spiritual Gate had been on guard already. A bell flew from his sleeve and rang twice with a clamor. The two Black Nails slowed slightly. The person hidden beyond the courtyard wall hurriedly recalled them, circulated his true qi, and launched them again.

One of the two stood inside the courtyard, the other outside, and just like that, they began Magical Combat.

Chen Ganliu had also been a cultivator in his previous life, and his experience far surpassed Spiritual Gate's. He could tell that the reason the zombie could not rise was not merely because Spiritual Gate's talismans had suppressed it. The hard bones throughout its body had also been shattered, leaving it limp as a rag.

He could also tell that someone was driving the zombie. The Evil Cultivator hiding in the shadows would surely strike next. Fearing that he might be caught in the crossfire, he hurriedly retreated two steps, intending to return indoors.

Now that he saw the two of them each driving their magical artifacts and engaging in Magical Combat, he instead felt slightly reassured and thought, So they aren't anything impressive after all.

Only upon reaching the Third Layer of Qi Condensation, the realm of "Condensing Qi into Apertures," could one drive a magical artifact from a distance. Someone at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation could not truly drive a magical artifact; it was only equivalent to a martial artist using concealed weapons and "throwing" the artifact out. Although they could borrow the artifact's innate spiritual nature to manipulate it slightly, once their true qi leaked away, the artifact would fall to the ground. They had to recall it immediately after striking.

Both combatants were at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation. Spiritual Gate's cultivation was about equal to Chen Ganliu's in his previous life; he too had only reached the Second Layer of Qi Condensation. However, he was younger, more talented, practiced a more advanced cultivation method, and had a far brighter future. The Evil Cultivator's power was roughly comparable to Spiritual Gate's.

This kind of Magical Combat was highly inconvenient. Otherwise, Spiritual Gate's Shaking Silver Bell would not have been able to force the other party to recall the Black Dog Nails.

The Shaking Silver Bell excelled at shaking true qi. If the Evil Cultivator launching the attack desperately drove the Black Dog Nails forward, then even if they managed to injure Spiritual Gate, the moment their true qi dispersed, they would no longer be able to recall the two Black Dog Nails.

Chen Ganliu had bitterly cultivated in his previous life, yet he had died at the age of eighty-six without ever reaching the Third Layer of Qi Condensation. He had stopped at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation, the realm of "Boiling Liquid into Qi," and even now, thinking of it still filled him with lament.

He watched the Magical Combat for a while and had intended to flee, but after coming to his senses, he broke into a cold sweat. He thought, This Evil Cultivator is so vicious. If Spiritual Gate loses, the Chen Family may well be wiped out. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain unbroken? I must lend Spiritual Gate a hand. Helping others is helping myself.

He secretly observed the direction from which the Black Dog Nails were launched. After searching the ground, he found a broken brick. Replacing a brush with his thoughts and yellow paper with the air, he secretly drew a Stabilizing Character Talisman, then walked several steps toward the courtyard wall. When the Black Dog Nails were launched once more, he hurled the brick with all his strength, striking them squarely.

Spiritual Gate's eyes lit up. He gave a sharp shout, and the Shaking Silver Bell rang out several times in succession. A shrill voice cursed, "Who's cheating and ruining my spell?" The Black Dog Nails wobbled slightly, turned around, and flew several yards before they could no longer hold themselves up and immediately fell to the ground outside the wall.

Chen Ganliu's talisman actually possessed little power. After all, he had drawn it in haste. Even though he had comprehended the Heart Talisman Technique, it was merely the foundation of sorcery, not a true spell. It could not compare with the magical artifact the Evil Cultivator had refined over many years. Striking the Black Dog Nails could at most cause the true qi controlling those sinister magical artifacts to scatter slightly, but that was already enough for Spiritual Gate to use the Shaking Silver Bell to knock the artifacts down.

After Spiritual Gate knocked down the Black Dog Nails, he darted forward several steps, leaped up, landed on the courtyard wall, and shouted, "Let's see how much bite you have left!"

The Black-Robed Daoist was horrified. He did not even have time to retrieve the Black Dog Nails. Instead, he pulled a small pennant from his robe and waved it in the wind. Billowing black smoke surged out and concealed his body.

Spiritual Gate did not know what magical artifact the small pennant was or what wondrous use it possessed, so he did not dare attack.

After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the black smoke dispersed, but the Black-Robed Daoist had already vanished without a trace.

Spiritual Gate leaped down from the courtyard wall, picked up the two Black Dog Nails, and returned to Chen Family Village.

Without its master driving it, the zombie had stopped moving. Spiritual Gate glanced at the Black Dog Nails in his hand, then thrust them into the zombie's forehead and heart with the backs of his hands and shouted, "Add some Tung Oil and make the flames stronger."

Although Chen Ganliu's father was reluctant, he still called for two barrels of Tung Oil to be brought out and poured over the fire. The flames immediately blazed higher.

Chen Ganliu put on his most obedient manner and stood quietly to one side. With the experience of his previous life, he knew that stepping forward now to show off his abilities would easily provoke resentment. It was better to act like a mature young man; that would win the immortal's favor instead.

He still refused to give up and wanted to take a chance.

Spiritual Gate's cultivation was not deep, but he was still a disciple of the He Shan Sect and possessed a proper inheritance.

Spiritual Gate glanced at him, and, sure enough, felt a little more friendly toward him. He thought, This child is quite clever, and both bold and meticulous. If he hadn't thrown that brick and struck the Black Dog Nails, my Shaking Silver Bell might not have been able to knock this artifact down.

This child still wants to take me as his master, which shows that he has some heart for the Dao. Unfortunately, his aptitude is too poor, and he has no affinity with the cultivation path. I'll give him a manual of boxing techniques later, so he can strengthen his sinews and bones, live longer, and ward off illness. That can count as repayment for the merit of throwing the brick.

Spiritual Gate had only reached the Second Layer of Qi Condensation. He had neither noticed that Chen Ganliu had hidden a talismanic art inside the brick nor detected that Chen Ganliu possessed cultivation, so he still had no intention of taking on a disciple.

Chen Ganliu waited eagerly for a while, but Spiritual Gate still did not mention his throwing the brick. He sighed inwardly and thought, Why is it so difficult to find a master? He turned and left the front courtyard, returning to his quarters in low spirits.

He was not worried that the Evil Cultivator would return. The other party had only the strength of the Second Layer of Qi Condensation and no longer possessed a powerful magical artifact. Given some more time to draw more talismans, he would not fear such an Evil Cultivator.

In a little over an hour, the zombie had burned down into a pile of ashes.

The villagers watching were all delighted, each saying that a great hidden danger had been removed and that the village would be peaceful from then on.

Master Chen let out a huge sigh of relief and thought, This Spiritual Gate Daoist really does possess magical power. He isn't some swindling charlatan who only cheats people out of money.

Once the fire had died down, Spiritual Gate performed a fire-warding spell and retrieved the two Black Dog Nails. He said to the head of the Chen Family, "This humble Daoist has already eradicated the evil creature. I must return to the mountain."

Master Chen was startled. Worried that the Black-Robed Evil Cultivator might return, he did not dare let Spiritual Gate leave. He grabbed his Daoist robe and said, "That Black-Robed Daoist was able to refine one zombie, so he can certainly refine a second. If he returns in force, the village will never know peace."

"Daoist Priest, your arts are powerful. Why not remove the root of the disaster for my Chen Family Village?"

Spiritual Gate fell into thought. He had only been passing through, and he had other important matters to attend to. He could not remain here for long.

Besides, the Black-Robed Daoist had lost his magical artifact, and refining corpses was an extremely arduous undertaking. It often took several years to refine a single one. Cultivators also firmly believed in feng shui; having lost his auspicious terrain here, the chances of his returning were exceedingly small. Yet for the moment, Spiritual Gate did not know how to explain all this to these ordinary people.