Xuan Gong was incredibly quick to react, yet in that moment, he still couldn't keep up with Daoist Baishu's speed.
As shock surged through him, a phantom identical to Daoist Baishu swept past his side and snatched the scroll from his hand. Holding it in one hand, the phantom stopped in front of Zhao Zhi.
Zhao Zhi was meditating on the ground and hadn't reacted either. His pupils instinctively widened. When he saw the scroll in Daoist Baishu's hand unfurl, he instinctively tried to rise, only for a sword shadow to burst from the painting. The black aura around him quickly took shape, and a ghostly figure appeared over his body to shield him from the sword shadow.
Xuan Gong turned and reached out to grab the phantom, but his hand passed straight through it. He couldn't touch a thing.
He immediately turned and charged at Daoist Baishu below the steps.
Daoist Baishu's true body still held the posture of forming a hand seal. Faced with Xuan Gong's attack, he made no move to defend himself.
Bang!
Xuan Gong struck Daoist Baishu with a palm, sending him flying out of the hall. The old minister beside them hurriedly stumbled backward in fright.
Xuan Gong blurred into a series of afterimages and shot out of the hall. Reaching the white-stone steps, he grabbed Daoist Baishu, who lay on the ground, and snapped his neck.
After confirming that Daoist Baishu's life force had vanished, Xuan Gong turned and returned to Ganwu Hall. The phantom was still there, holding the scroll in one hand, while the sword shadow that had emerged from it had already pierced Zhao Zhi's forehead. The ghostly figure over Zhao Zhi trembled, clearly struggling to hold on.
"Your Majesty!"
Xuan Gong cried out in alarm and was just about