One Day

Not only did Ren Yuan use the power of the Demonic Spirit [Sky Pillar] to help everyone throw out the thugs blocking the entrance one by one.

Immediately after, Chong Li, who led the charge, also finally used the power of a Demonic Spirit. The surging power lifted the cloak that wrapped her entire body.

This was the first time she had revealed her face in public.

The eighteen-year-old martial arts heroine had a slender build, was of medium height, and possessed long, glossy black hair.

Her eyes were bright and spirited, and her brows exuded an aura of determination and courage. Her features were not delicate, and her lips curved slightly upwards, giving her an air of confidence and decisiveness.

She still carried an aura of having traveled far and wide. Both her life as a martial arts heroine and her identity as an apostate of the Sky-Toppling Observatory made her unapproachable.

Her [Demonic Spirit: Earth Hero Star Heavenly Eye General] within her, upon being awakened, first caused a faint glow to gather in her eyes, allowing her to easily see the enemies and the terrain deep within the tunnel.

She wore a set of light armor, her clothes flowing. Her agile figure revealed her dexterity and nimbleness. Her skin was firm and strong, radiating health and vitality. Her body lines were well-proportioned, with slightly defined muscles, showcasing her strength and combat skills.

So, Sorcerers aren't just a profession that hides in the back and casts spells.

Chong Li, from an unknown place on her person, drew a short sword and instantly killed an enemy who was charging from the side, emitting black flames.

The other Demon Hunters behind her, though not using their Demonic Spirits, had all increased their offensive power. The tunnel wasn't very wide, though it could barely accommodate two or three people advancing side-by-side.

However, during combat, it became apparent that it was still too narrow.

Fortunately, Chong Li's body wasn't as tall as Ren Yuan's.

With the power of the Heavenly Eye General bolstering her, Chong Li was no longer just a third-tier Sorcerer; she was also a Martial Artist with at least fifth-tier combat power.

Due to the environmental constraints, even though the thugs were numerous, they didn't have the space to attack.

Ming Shu and Old Zhao's response was also very correct. Even though they took turns guarding the door, they managed to block all enemies outside the stone chamber.

With Chong Li and the others entering from behind, they were caught in a pincer attack. The thugs without black smoke were quickly captured, while those with black smoke were all killed.

Ming Shu passed the ordeal without any major issues and rejoined the team.

It was also the first time he had seen Chong Li use the power of her Demonic Spirit. What a heroic and dashing figure!

While the others outside were cleaning up the scene and tying up the captured thugs to be sent away, Ming Shu and Old Zhao took the opportunity to briefly explain their discoveries and previous experiences to Chong Li.

They couldn't blame the messenger who came earlier for only giving brief follow-up arrangements from afar without clear instructions. After all, it was their own fault for not acting according to the original plan.

This almost led to them losing contact in the end.

The fact that the other party managed to encounter them and do their best to deliver the most crucial information to Ming Shu was already remarkable, and Ming Shu should formally thank them.

Chong Li took a look and found that the altar was in a similar situation to another one she had found before.

She believed Ming Shu's description and, in turn, shared her own experiences and discoveries with him.

After they regrouped, they gave Ming Shu and Old Zhao several pills produced by the Sky-Toppling Observatory that could quickly replenish physical strength and spiritual energy.

Their condition quickly recovered.

They immediately set off to deal with the remaining strongholds as soon as possible.

"The large group of Ghost Spirits we encountered outside the city earlier likely originated from these places."

"It's just unclear how they were controlled on a large scale, transferred out of the city, and mobilized for combat."

Ming Shu spoke his thoughts based on what he saw in the Fate Book, saying speculatively, "I guess it's possible that there are still powerful Ghost Cultivators hiding in the city, and they are the masters of this."

"I think so too. You mentioned before that those lurking scouts had no aura of Demonic Spirits, Demon Beast Spirits, or Ghost Spirits on them at all."

"They could have borrowed the power of Ghost Spirits nearby, yet they were reluctant to use it. It must be that these cultivated Ghost Spirits have huge flaws, and might even bring significant side effects to themselves."

"And the black smoke that appeared at the end was probably another hidden method they developed. To be able to consume their own lives like that to catalyze others' power, even affecting their normal minds and only driving them to kill."

Before entering, Chong Li had personally experienced combat with those emitting black smoke. What she didn't say was that these might be relatively rare [Gu Spirits].

A few people were left to clean up the battlefield and escort the thugs back to be held at the main camp. The others immediately rushed to the next target location.

Ming Shu also witnessed Chong Li's method of sealing the altar with his own eyes, finding it mysterious and unfathomable. He wondered if the talismans she applied were special or standard issue.

He also didn't record the incantations she recited, nor could he understand the dazzling hand seals.

Therefore, Ming Shu silently abandoned the idea of learning her techniques.

There were no more significant surprises in the subsequent battles. Several so-called forbidden areas were successively resolved over the course of the entire day.

However, the Ximen Family, which Kirin was responsible for attacking, hadn't even managed to break through the outer streets.

As night fell, the atmosphere in the city became eerie again, feeling even more oppressive and heavy.

This situation was truly bad news for the mortals still within the city.

During the day, while fighting, Ming Shu hadn't felt any discomfort. As the sun set and the light was obscured, Ming Shu finally realized.

This was the enemy's home turf, cultivated for over a decade, perhaps even decades. How could he have walked right into a trap?

The good news was that all the ghost-raising forbidden areas they discovered had been sealed. After Ming Shu compared the fragmented memories from the dead spirits and the intelligence provided by Earl Ying, all the forbidden areas they could find had been dealt with.

For the time being, there shouldn't be any more Ghost Spirits appearing.

It wasn't impossible that the Ximen Family themselves had a bunch hidden beneath them, but the possibility was relatively low. If they were all Demonic Spirits, what use would raising ghosts be? To eat?

Chong Li's speculation was that the Ghost Spirits were handled by the Barbarian scouts, and the Ximen Family was merely providing convenience.

Most of the places where ghost spirits are raised underground belong to the Ximen Family.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them "Half the City Ximen."

Ming Shu hadn't seen Earl Ying's original influence, so he didn't know what the scene was like in and around Qing Shui County before Earl Ying withdrew. But now, seeing with his own eyes, the Ximen Family's power was such that even the County Magistrate couldn't do anything about them.

No wonder they had to give him an official title, yet still couldn't control him.

Ming Shu walked among the group, heading towards the area where the Kirin was.

During the day, the Kirin and the others had tried not to use overly brutal methods, as the people on the other side were mostly ordinary mortals who had been misled and controlled.

However, there were simply too many of them. Killing them all would put immense pressure on him.

Now, he regretted it.

After fighting those guys all day, they were hungry and thirsty, and they directly picked up the corpses of their fallen companions on the ground and started to devour them.

Could these still be considered human? They couldn't be saved anymore!

What's more, after nightfall, they became even more brutal, bloodthirsty, enraged, and frenzied.

Facing them, the offensive line they had constructed had instead become a defensive position, forcing them to retreat and hold their ground against the counterattack.