Evil Omen

The moment the talisman was torn off, thick plumes of black smoke erupted from around the rim of the Bronze Tripod. The smoke was dense and frigid, shrouding the entire underground chamber in a black veil in the blink of an eye, causing visibility to plummet.

The next moment...

Bang!

The tripod lid was blown away instantly. Amidst the deafening roar, a black shadow shot out like a bolt of lightning, swiftly fleeing toward the door.

The aura of this black shadow was indeed only at the first level of Tongue-Pulling Hell, but its speed was so great that even Zheng Que, who had been prepared, could not stop it in time!

At the critical moment, Qing Li's arm suddenly elongated, reaching out in the nick of time to grab at the shadow.

Whoosh!

Just as the shadow reached the doorway, its form was seized by Qing Li, revealing its true appearance—it was a Black Silk Umbrella!

The surface of this silk umbrella was as black as night, its coating of oil long dried and withered. It was currently furled, revealing a section of an antique handle.

A faint trace of Yin Energy swirled around the umbrella. Although it had fallen into Qing Li's grasp, it continued to tremble, attempting to break free.

However, the density of its Yin Energy was far inferior to Qing Li's, and it could not escape her control.

Zheng Que did not hesitate. He immediately sliced open his palm and performed a series of hand seals, beginning to cast the Ghost Controlling Technique.

Seemingly sensing danger, blood began to gush from the Black Silk Umbrella. The blood soaked Qing Li's palm, making it feel slick and causing her to lose her grip.

Swish!

Immediately after, the Black Silk Umbrella snapped open, instantly breaking free from Qing Li's hand.

The opened black umbrella drifted slowly toward the open space between Zheng Que and Qing Li. Its twenty-four umbrella ribs were dense and chilling, radiating a cold, ghostly aura.

The surface of the umbrella was drenched in blood. Crimson liquid crisscrossed its surface, and in the blink of an eye, the black umbrella transformed into a red one. Blood poured down like a torrential rain, dripping from the edges.

Amidst the falling blood rain, a blurry, slender figure slowly emerged beneath the umbrella.

It was the back of a figure dressed in crimson robes. The umbrella was tilted slightly, revealing a corner of a piled-up bun. Her raven-black hair looked like heavy, dark clouds, with a single strand hanging down, loosely tied with a scarlet ribbon. The ribbon was knotted into a ruyi shape, with three-inch-long tassels trailing down and swaying at her waist along with the tips of her hair. She was graceful and delicate, as if she might ride the wind and depart at any moment—like a lady from an ancient painting, quiet, elegant, and seemingly carrying a touch of silent melancholy.

She stood quietly between Zheng Que and Qing Li, but neither Zheng Que nor Qing Li could see anything but her back; her face remained completely hidden.

Watching this scene, Zheng Que's expression tightened. This did not seem to be a Resentful Soul, but an Evil Omen!

As his thoughts raced, his hand seals accelerated. The Spirit Blood turned into a blood mist, encircling the Umbrella-Holding Woman. Soon, the first Spirit Blood Rune took shape and shot toward her.

Unlike ordinary ghosts, which would instinctively fear and flee from the Spirit Blood Rune of the Ghost Controlling Technique, this Umbrella-Holding Woman showed no fear of Zheng Que's technique. She simply stood there, motionless.

Whoosh!

The first Spirit Blood Rune branded toward the surface of the Umbrella-Holding Woman's umbrella.

However, the moment the rune touched the umbrella, it instantly transformed into bright red raindrops, rolling off the surface and sinking into the ground, vanishing without a trace.

Zheng Que was taken aback. His hand seals shifted, and within the blood mist suspended in mid-air, a second, third, and fourth rune quickly condensed. They flew from three different directions, branding toward the Umbrella-Holding Woman.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The runes landed on the Red Silk Umbrella one after another, but the moment each one touched the surface, it turned into blood-colored raindrops. Just like the blood that had been seeping out on its own, they dripped down the edge of the umbrella, completely unable to form the Blood Seal of the Ghost Controlling Technique on her.

A moment later, Zheng Que finished casting the Ghost Controlling Technique. The Umbrella-Holding Woman stood in place, completely unharmed. Aside from the Yin Energy on her body becoming slightly weaker, the Ghost Controlling Technique had no effect on her at all!

Zheng Que's brows furrowed tightly. His Master had told him that the Ghost Controlling Technique could enslave Resentful Souls, but to enslave Tricky Specters, Evil Omens, or Wicked Sins... one required profound cultivation and a powerful soul.

He had merely memorized those words at the time, but now, he truly understood what his Master had meant.

The Evil Omen before him was standing still and not even resisting, yet his Ghost Controlling Technique still couldn't do a thing to her!

At this moment, Qing Li, who was hanging on the door, spoke up: "Human brat, your cultivation is only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining; you can't capture her."

"The original realm of this ghost creature must have been very close to Scissor Hell."

"She has been sealed for too long, causing her realm to drop to the first level of Tongue-Pulling Hell."

"If she were to be sealed for any longer, she would end up just like the other ghosts in that bag earlier—her soul would scatter into nothingness."

"This lady suggests you just slaughter her!"

Close to Scissor Hell?

Zheng Que felt a jolt of shock. Qing Li possessed the Yin Profession of a Yin Messenger and could perceive information about other Tongue-Pulling Hell ghost creatures, so he did not doubt her words.

However, how could he be willing to simply give up on such a powerful potential Ghost Servant?

More importantly, no matter how high this Evil Omen's realm used to be, her current cultivation was only at the first level of Tongue-Pulling Hell. This was far too low compared to Qing Li; if he were to truly slay this Evil Omen, Qing Li wouldn't be able to inherit any of her techniques.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que immediately said, "Help me seal the technique she just used to resist my Ghost Controlling Technique."

"I will try the Ghost Controlling Technique again."

Qing Li snorted coldly, "My Yin Profession can only seal one of her techniques at a time."

"This ghost creature has several methods that can resist your Ghost Controlling Technique, you human brat!"

Zheng Que shook his head slightly and said calmly, "Whichever technique she uses to resist my Ghost Controlling Technique, you seal that one."

"If this ghost creature switches techniques midway, you will synchronize and change the target of the seal accordingly."

"This kind of operation is extremely simple for a Person of Destiny like me."

"But for you, it might be incredibly difficult. Can you do it?"

Real-time switching of containment methods—it sounded difficult just hearing it, but provoked by Zheng Que, Qing Li immediately retorted angrily, "This kind of technique is no challenge at all for this lady!"

"You dull-witted human brat, just make sure you don't drop the ball yourself!"

While Zheng Que and Qing Li discussed their countermeasures, the Umbrella-Holding Woman standing between them remained motionless.

She was too weak.

Breaking free from Qing Li's grasp just moments ago had exhausted almost all of her strength.

Now, she had no energy left to fight back, no strength left to escape...