Breaking Door Wraith

Wu Xian assessed the peach's effects.

This thing could probably restore someone on the brink of death to full health. Even though the two of them had shared it and split the effects, its healing power was still astonishing.

After Shi Ji recovered,

he looked at Wu Xian with a face full of gratitude.

"Brother Xian, thanks for saving my life. I won't bother with polite words. If you ever need me, I won't hesitate to help!"

Shi Ji spoke with complete sincerity.

He knew full well that without Wu Xian, he would never have made it through this ordeal.

A terrifying figure was slowly approaching.

Try to communicate? Surrender? Bribe it...

Beneath the flickering lights was the face of a burly man.

What was the point of us chosen ones struggling in this blessed land?

The small rope swayed from side to side, and the weight swung on its own. A faint smile appeared on Qi Zhiyong's face as a talisman spontaneously burst into flame.

With these three pieces of information, plus the fact that he was staying tonight in an unmarked room and wouldn't be attacked by a Great Wraith, Qi Zhiyong's chances of survival had improved considerably.

Wu Xian turned to look around.

No. He didn't stand a chance. The divination results showed that even if he used every means at his disposal, he would still be no match for this Great Wraith.

"If we wait here until dawn, the only possible outcome is that this mutated room digests us, turning us into part of that deformed flesh!"

The small rope remained still.

"Even though the Five Filth God is dead, this mutated environment is still corroding us. We might as well be hiding inside its belly."

Shi Ji's heart gave a sudden lurch.

Inside the door was a lair of flesh, but outside was just as dangerous. Their experiences over the past few days had already made it clear: rooms with doors were shelters, and leaving one at night was tantamount to suicide.

His face darkened. "We have to leave."

Rope Mallet Technique.

The blessed land was cruel and irrational, offering no hope. Human lives were as insignificant as grass, and evil spirits took pleasure in mowing it down. The only difference between the chosen and ordinary people was that the chosen could live a little longer.

Wu Xian pointed around them.

"Don't thank me just yet." Wu Xian waved a hand. "Have you noticed the healing has stopped? Our physical condition is getting worse."

But there was no time to dwell on that now.

Qi Zhiyong's scalp tingled.

Shi Ji immediately opened the door, and the two of them withdrew from the room at the same time. The twisted flesh inside didn't pursue them.

Shi Ji froze, then immediately realized that his gums were starting to ache again.

That put Qi Zhiyong somewhat at ease.

But the terrifying, mutated room had sensed their intent to escape.

So after joining the organization, he had once asked Jing Ke.

He moved the clock's hands forward a little.

He looked at the still-untwisted door, his heart heavy with dread.

The talisman that had just caught fire was part of the Divination Technique.

Shi Ji nodded, deciding to trust Wu Xian.

Fight it?

"That's impossible!"

Flesh and organs writhed all around them. Sagging skin twitched and spasmed, while noses and mouths dotted everywhere opened and shut incessantly. A nauseating stench filled the air.

"Door-Breaking Wraith!"

The two quickly gathered their belongings and stood by the door, preparing to check outside through the peephole and find a safe moment to escape.

"This room hasn't been marked. Why? Why would it come for me tonight?"

Qi Zhiyong had just asked three questions and received three very useful answers.

"We can't wait any longer. Open the door now. I refuse to believe we're so unlucky that we'll run right into the Breaking Door Wraith!"

If the blessed land was so terrifying and everyone who entered would die sooner or later, was there any point in struggling? Rather than be tortured to death by evil spirits, they might as well end their lives now.

Room 406.

Beyond the door stretched a dark, eerie corridor. The floor was covered in dust and bloodstains, and the ceiling lights flickered uneasily.

They were on the fourth floor, and who knew what monsters roamed the streets at night?

This blessed land would end within five days.

"Holy shit! We really ran into it!"

Qi Zhiyong took a deep breath and spoke the last sentence.

"The blessed land will last for more than five days."

But Wu Xian's reasoning made sense, too.

Qi Zhiyong silently recited, "Jing Ke said that being alive is the meaning..."

He immediately realized there was a problem with the rule they had worked out earlier.

Bang!

A thunderous crash interrupted Qi Zhiyong's thoughts.

Beneath the dim yellow light outside stood a figure as imposing as an iron tower. Its massive build, horrifying face, and overwhelming presence, like that of a natural predator, made Qi Zhiyong break out in a steady stream of sweat.

Between possible death and certain death, they had only one choice.

And the evil spirit could only kill one person each night!

The deformed things surged toward Wu Xian and Shi Ji by the door.

His face filled with shock. He whipped around and saw that the door had been smashed apart, splintered wood piercing his face.

Shi Ji froze. "Why? It isn't even dawn. If we go out now, we could run into an evil spirit."

"The Breaking Door Wraith can only kill one person each night!"

Wu Xian cursed under his breath.

Qi Zhiyong spoke softly to the small rope. "With the tools I have now, I can kill the Breaking Door Wraith."

The small rope didn't move. Qi Zhiyong furrowed his brows and continued.

Escape through a window?

"Have you noticed? Everything around us is alive!"

He, too, had once been confused.

The Door-Breaking Wraith was powerful. A direct confrontation meant certain death.

They said this method originated with the Hezhen. A small hammer was tied to a rope, and the user held the end of the rope still. They could ask three questions; if the small rope swayed after a question, it meant the answer was yes.

Qi Zhiyong!

Shi Ji's face turned green. Wu Xian's temples throbbed uncontrollably. It wasn't Qi Zhiyong who terrified them, but what stood behind him.

How to survive—that was what they needed to prioritize.

Wu Xian jabbed at the things with the Copper Coin Spear. The spear worked quite well, driving back some of the flesh with every swing, but compared to the massive heap of it, the effect was a drop in the bucket.

Wu Xian smiled. "Then let's get ready. The sooner, the better."

Qi Zhiyong sat cross-legged in the moonlight, holding a thin hemp rope. A weight was tied to the other end, hanging perfectly still in line with the rope.

The room, once fast asleep, had been awakened. All the flesh began to shudder and writhe, like a giant meat sack about to close around them: skin, gaping mouths, intestines...

After using this Technique Talisman, he could perform one divination. The results varied depending on the method, and Qi Zhiyong was using the method most commonly practiced within his organization.

Qi Zhiyong considered many possibilities.

But in the end, only one plan seemed reliable.

That was to divert the danger elsewhere!

The Great Wraith could only kill one person a night. So as long as Qi Zhiyong broke into other rooms and let it kill someone less valuable, he could escape this ordeal!