Amulet

The Earth God revealed a cruel smile, its shadow cast over the fleeing curse that was desperately trying to escape the old rat's pursuit.

It planned to first crush the cursed spirit before it, then turn around and stomp the other cursed spirit that it had already sent flying.

However, it did not know that behind the curse it regarded as an ordinary insect stood a special-grade powerhouse. Before that special-grade powerhouse, it was nothing more than an insect itself.

At that moment, the night grew even darker, and shadows seemed to writhe beneath the sky like evil ghosts baring their fangs.

The instant Seven Seas Builder's and Master Ban's blood touched the amulet, the talisman suddenly burst forth with a dazzling radiance.

Immediately afterward, a talisman covered in incantations slowly floated up, as though drawn by an invisible force, rising silently into the air.

The talisman spun gently in midair, then suddenly exploded with a bang, transforming into black light. In the end, it condensed into two identical figures clad in black ninja attire.

The two men in black were wrapped head to toe in black fabric, with even their hands and feet concealed tightly. Only a pair of cold eyes gleaming with an eerie light remained visible, as though they were messengers who had emerged from the depths of hell, carrying a chilling aura of death.

The man in black beside Seven Seas Builder had only just taken shape when his figure flickered. Like a ghost, he charged toward the Earth God.

As he moved, blood slowly seeped from his right hand. The blood rapidly gathered in midair, eventually forming a short blade that resembled Seven Seas Builder's weapon, wrapped in black cursed energy and giving off a chilling gleam.

The short-bladed man in black became a streak of black lightning, arriving before the Earth God in an instant. He raised his blade high and brought it down viciously.

That strike contained all his strength and will, as though it could split the very heavens and earth apart.

Sensing the terrifying power of the blow, the Earth God hurriedly raised its enormous palm and met the heavy strike.

Yet despite the Earth God's astonishing strength, the blow from the short-bladed man in black forced its arm downward. The ground caved in beneath the immense impact, forming a huge crater as dirt and shattered stones flew everywhere, blotting out the sky.

At the same time, the man in black beside Master Ban had also taken shape.

His hands rapidly formed seals while he chanted something, as though invoking some mysterious power.

As his chant ended, a scarecrow-shaped shikigami with crimson eyes suddenly appeared in midair, radiating a chilling presence.

The moment the crimson-eyed scarecrow appeared, the Earth God felt an unprecedented terror envelop it. That fear seemed capable of piercing its soul, making its body stiffen as its movements briefly stalled.

In that split second, the short-bladed man in black seized the fleeting opening. His body surged forward again as he unleashed his technique—Ten-to-One Sorcery.

The short blade carved a perfect arc through the air before slashing precisely at the Earth God's skull. This strike gathered all the cursed energy and intent of the short-bladed man in black, as though it would cleave the Earth God's head in two.

Just as the Earth God tried to twist aside and evade the lethal strike, its body seemed to be bound by invisible vines, unable to move.

It desperately unleashed all its power, trying to break free from the restraints. But the crimson-eyed scarecrow seemed to see through it. Dense strands of straw shot from its mouth, like unbreakable chains, binding the Earth God's limbs and rendering it immobile.

The short blade drew another flawless arc through the air and finally landed precisely upon the Earth God's skull with unstoppable force.

Accompanied by a miserable howl, the Earth God's enormous body gradually collapsed, eventually turning into black cursed energy and dissipating into the night sky.

Once the Earth God had completely vanished, the two men in black, as though their mission was complete, transformed back into talismans and slowly fell to the ground, returning to stillness.

Only a devastated battlefield remained, along with two severely wounded cursed spirits.

After an unknown amount of time, Seven Seas Builder and Master Ban slowly woke up.

They had thought they were surely dead, yet after waking, they found that the Earth God's presence had completely disappeared.

Looking at the two amulets on the ground, their cursed energy entirely depleted, they quickly guessed what had happened.

"Jia Meng saved us," they both thought at the same time.

As dawn broke, Seven Seas Builder and Master Ban supported each other and stumbled out of the Earth God's domain.

They immediately contacted the sorcery higher-ups and reported the battle with the cursed spirit and its outcome.

The higher-ups quickly responded, dispatching Jia Ruo, whose reverse cursed technique was exceptionally skilled, to treat them.

Under the miraculous effects of Jia Ruo's powerful reverse cursed technique, Seven Seas Builder's and Master Ban's injuries rapidly healed, as though they had never been hurt at all.

Once recovered, the two promptly went to Jia Meng's dormitory to express their deep gratitude.

"Thank you so much!" The two bowed respectfully, their eyes full of gratitude.

"It's nothing. We're comrades, after all."

Jia Meng smiled and waved his hand. Then he suddenly changed the subject. "By the way, did you bring the special-grade cursed object I asked for?"

Hearing this, both of them froze, embarrassed expressions appearing on their faces.

"Uh... the situation was urgent at the time. We were only focused on getting back to report to the higher-ups, so we completely forgot about it."

Master Ban scratched his head and said awkwardly.

"Looks like my fellow countrymen are even more important to you than I am."

Jia Meng deliberately put on an offended look, though there was not the slightest anger in his tone.

"We really didn't mean to. We'll definitely bring it next time," Master Ban hurriedly promised.

"I was just joking. Don't take it to heart."

Jia Meng laughed heartily, then his expression turned serious once more. "However, there is something I need to tell you."

He looked solemnly at the two of them and said slowly, "The reason my amulets were able to hold off a special-grade cursed spirit was because I stored a corresponding amount of cursed energy inside them. Now that the cursed energy has been exhausted, they are merely ordinary amulets and can no longer protect you. You must be careful."

"Understood, Jia Meng." The two bowed again, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect for him.

"All right. Though the wounds on your bodies have healed, the shock and fear in your hearts cannot be calmed in a day or two. You narrowly survived a life-and-death crisis. What you need most now is sufficient rest and adjustment, so that those heart-stirring nightmares do not leave behind wounds that are difficult to erase."

Jia Meng's voice was gentle yet deep, as though it could soothe the ripples in one's heart.

"Once you recover, with the experience of surviving this near-death ordeal and properly digesting it, your cursed energy will be able to rise to another level. I have high hopes for you. Keep it up."