Death Is Also a Heroic Ghost

As everyone turned to look at the person who spoke—Mo Chuan—their expressions became a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Could this person truly possess such incredible abilities?

In this desperate situation, even a glimmer of hope made many people's minds waver.

But what followed was a surge of helpless anger.

Chong Xuzi, in particular, began to lash out without restraint:

"Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen, are you toying with us even as death approaches? If you could really take down the Great Five-Armored Demon, what was that mere zombie yesterday? Are you trying to get us killed to buy yourself time to escape?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd suddenly understood, their anger and despair intensifying.

That's right, as disciples of the Daoist path, slaying demons and eradicating evil was their sacred duty!

Even if their abilities had slight inclinations, the gap shouldn't be this vast. If Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen could handle the Great Five-Armored Demon, he wouldn't have let that zombie go yesterday.

Realizing this, everyone's hearts sank into despair.

"Daoist friend Yanzhen, do you perhaps have a plan to face the enemy?" Daoist priest Yi Qian asked dryly, grasping at straws.

"Last night, I was indebted to you for saving the people of Changlan. Today, I shall accept this immense merit!" Mo Chuan smiled, and with a wave of his hand, countless talismans surged from his sleeve.

The sheer number was like a torrential rain!

"This—" Chong Xuzi was dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events.

"Ghost Subduing Talismans!!!" Daoist priest Yi Qian exclaimed, his face filled with horror, but his eyes ignited with hope.

The Ghost Subduing Talisman was a type of talisman that borrowed the power of a Jie Immortal, specifically designed to counter malevolent ghosts.

As the saying goes: When a person dies, they become a ghost; when a ghost dies, they become a Jie.

Therefore, the Ghost Subduing Talisman was extremely difficult to inscribe.

Firstly, it required the borrowing of a Jie Immortal's power, meaning that to inscribe it, one needed a Daoist elder to pass away and lend their support.

Secondly, ghosts were the souls of humans. It was already difficult for a human to become a ghost, and even rarer for a ghost to become a Jie.

Thus, even if a Daoist elder sacrificed themselves for righteousness, if they couldn't become a Jie, the effort would be in vain.

Consequently, Ghost Subduing Talismans were extremely rare, with most being part of the foundational heritage of major Daoist temples.

No one had expected Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen to possess such a quantity!

Could it be... could it be that he had stolen the entire heritage of Yunji Temple?

As the crowd's hearts swayed with renewed hope, the Ghost Subduing Talismans, like a vast downpour, filled the sky!

"Hoo—" The Great Five-Armored Demon was greatly alarmed at the sight.

It summoned a mass of black clouds to shield itself, and with a wave of its hand, whipped up a gale that sent dust flying throughout the city, but it couldn't disperse the Ghost Subduing Talismans.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

In an instant, the Ghost Subduing Talismans pierced through the spatial distance and shot into the thick cloud layer.

"Ah—" A piercing scream echoed from within the black clouds.

Hit by the sweeping barrage of the Ghost Subduing Talismans, the Great Five-Armored Demon couldn't even maintain its protective black clouds, revealing its true form.

Its azure body had become somewhat transparent.

It had clearly lost a significant amount of its cultivation!

"How dare you!" The Great Five-Armored Demon roared in fury. With a sudden sweep of its hand, the black tornado that had engulfed the city surged upwards from the ground, coalescing into a single mass. It rose like a cloud descending upon the sea, like a river overflowing its banks, and swept towards Yi Qian's Residence.

"My life is forfeit!"

Watching the black tornado bearing down with the force of mountains and rivers, everyone's faces turned deathly pale.

Some scrambled to flee;

Some activated their talismans in a desperate struggle;

Others collapsed to the ground, offering their necks for slaughter.

Just as the black tornado was about to strike, Mo Chuan, having scattered the Ghost Subduing Talismans, calmly turned to Luo Feibai and asked with a smile, "Caravan Guard Luo, do you remember what I asked of you?"

Having experienced the tragic death of his eldest son, the desecration of his body, and the demon's attack on the city, Luo Feibai's mind had gone blank. Hearing Mo Chuan's question, he dazedly looked at him, his ingrained sense of chivalry prompting him to instinctively reply, "I remember."

"Then I am at ease!"

Whether it was zombies killing people or the Great Five-Armored Demon slaughtering the city, Mo Chuan had always maintained restraint. If he could help with a simple effort, he would, but if it required a life-or-death struggle, he would naturally have to think twice. Personally, he might not care about Yanzhen's body, but he did care about the Daoist magic of Yunji Temple; this was his opportunity to embark on the path of Dao.

"Enough, enough! Looking at this scene, Mo Chuan suddenly recalled a lyric and softly began to chant:

'I was a proud temple boy, Believing not in ghosts, nor men.'

'After enjoying all worldly blessings, I return them all to the wandering soul.' [Note 1]

'Fellow Daoists.'

'We part here, and meet elsewhere.'

As everyone stared in astonishment, Mo Chuan took a swift step forward, snatched the Seven Star Sword from a nearby Daoist priest, and ruthlessly slashed it across his own neck.

Instantly, blood splattered three feet, staining his Daoist robe red.

Mo Chuan had committed suicide!

This sudden turn of events caused Luo Feibai, who had vaguely agreed to the promise, to widen his pupils, staring blankly at Mo Chuan who had just taken his own life.

Even in death, the Daoist priest remained standing, propping himself up with the sword.

His disheveled hair rustled in the wind, and an unyielding spirit seemed to materialize in the air!

His fierce, angry gaze was the light of righteousness in the mortal world.

For a moment, Luo Feibai felt as if his mind had been cleansed by lightning, and a strange emotion began to stir within him.

The entire courtyard, filled with Daoist priests and Buddhist disciples, was also dumbfounded.

This… this was suicide to dissipate his vital energy, refusing to let the Great Demon absorb it?

How magnificent this act was!

Chong Xuzi's eyelids twitched violently. The Seven Star Sword could not sever the warrior's righteousness, but it had pierced deeply into his heart.

Thinking of all the difficulties he had caused earlier, an indescribable shame welled up from the depths of his heart, gnawing at his soul and causing him unease.

'Hahaha, Daoist Brother Yanzhen, this humble Daoist will now go and face your profound Daoist magic!'

Chong Xuzi gave a tragic smile and drew his sword, intending to emulate Yanzhen's righteousness. However, a glance to the side caused his expression to change drastically.

As the wind swept up dust, thunder heralded the coming storm.

A humanoid phantom suddenly emerged from Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen's corpse and shot up into the sky.

'Evil creature, die by my hand!!!'

His voice boomed like thunder, carrying the unyielding spirit of the Daoist sect dedicated to saving and guiding all beings.

The hearts of those in Yi Qian's courtyard trembled in fear!

Old Daoist Priest Yanzhen hadn't committed suicide at all!

This was clearly a case of Bingjie to emerge as a Yin Spirit, intending to transform into a Ghost Immortal and fight the demon again!

Stubbornly, the entire city witnessed a single spark of light charging towards the Great Five-Armored Demon against the raging wind and thunder.

'I didn't expect humanity to have such loyal and righteous individuals!'

The Great Five-Armored Demon looked down at the charging Mo Chuan, its mind stirred. Such a sacrifice for righteousness, even it was quite shocked.

But ants rushing into a sea of fire, no matter how spectacular, were still ants!

While contemplating, it raised a hand and a black light suppressed downwards. Mo Chuan, unable to dodge, was instantly struck, his soul body teetering on the brink of collapse.

'Your righteousness is admirable, Lu Mou. If you are willing to serve me, Lu Mou can spare the lives of everyone in this city!'

The Great Five-Armored Demon felt a pang of admiration for talent.

'A dying man dares to demand my allegiance? How arrogant!' Mo Chuan scoffed.

'You court death! I'd like to see how you kill me?'

The Great Five-Armored Demon's expression turned cold. With a raise of its hand, it no longer held back, and surging demonic winds erupted from its palm, rushing towards Mo Chuan.

'Open your dog eyes and watch how I kill you!'

Mo Chuan let out an angry roar, and his precarious soul body suddenly disintegrated.

Dead?

No!

The Great Five-Armored Demon's expression changed drastically.

From the collapsing soul body, an intangible entity emerged. It was similar to a soul body, but even more ethereal than a ghost, causing the eyes to ache and the head to throb upon sight.

—This was a Jie Immortal!

The Great Five-Armored Demon's liver and gallbladder split in terror. Without a second thought, it immediately turned and fled!

With its cultivation as the Great Five-Armored Demon, it might not necessarily fear a newly born Jie Immortal.

However, after fighting until now, it had exhausted its strength, and its cultivation had nearly been stripped away by the Ghost Subduing Talisman.

If it didn't run now, it would likely be skinned even if it didn't die.

Unexpectedly, just as it was about to slip away, a headless ghost suddenly appeared in front of it and ferociously pounced.

In normal times, even though the Headless Ghost was one of the four great evil spirits of the Daoist sect, it could have easily killed it with a wave of its hand!"

However, at this moment, a swift victory was impossible.

In the time it took him to form a hand seal and circulate his energy, the intangible Jie Immortal had, disregarding the gale-force winds, burrowed into his body.

"No—"

The Great Five-Armored Demon felt as if struck by lightning. Its claws transformed into sharp talons, plunging into its chest as it tried to rip out the damned Jie Immortal!

But at that moment, the Headless Ghost had already closed in, grabbing its head. Like a ferocious alligator damming a river, it clamped down on its prey and initiated a deathly spin.

"Get lost!"

The Great Five-Armored Demon roared, but it dared not unleash its demonic arts, nor could it.

This was because the Jie Immortal was already seizing control of its ghostly form.

"Fellow Daoist Yanzhen has actually become a Jie Immortal!"

At this time, within Yi Qian's Residence, the courtyard filled with yellow-robed Buddhist disciples stared blankly at the Great Five-Armored Demon as it tumbled and twisted in the clouds, charging left and right. They were all profoundly shaken.

To self-immolate and become a ghost could still be said to be practicing the Yin Spirit method!

To shed the ghost body and become a Jie Immortal!

This was simply unbelievable.

If Jie Immortals could be easily achieved, why would the Ghost Subduing Talisman still be a foundational inheritance of many Daoist sects?

This could only mean that Fellow Daoist Yanzhen's resolve was as firm as a rock!

"Living, I was a hero among men; dying, I am a ghost among heroes! This humble Daoist has misjudged Fellow Daoist Yanzhen."

Chong Xuzi's eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched as he stared intently at the fierce battle in the sky.

The shame, potent enough to breed inner demons, gnawed at his conscience, making him pray for Yanzhen's victory so he could personally offer his apology.