Ghost Controlling Technique

At that, Zheng Que immediately focused his attention on Daoist Qu.

BOOM!!!

The next moment, a hulking figure with a ferocious aura abruptly appeared beside Daoist Qu. It was clad in heavy armor, its entire body encased in thick plates. Beneath its helmet, only a pair of bloodthirsty eyes could be seen. A giant axe rested on its back, and killing intent poured from it as it looked around, like a veteran of a hundred battles.

Zheng Que couldn't help but freeze for a moment, but he quickly realized this was the Corpse Puppet his master had raised. The night before last, when he had been targeted by the "Call-Sound Ghost," a Corpse Puppet with a similar aura had lured the creature away.

As he was thinking, Daoist Qu spoke calmly. "The first step: capture a 'Resentful Soul.'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Corpse Puppet beside him opened its faceplate, revealing a skinless, blood-red face. It opened its mouth and spat out a cloud of murky, foul-smelling smoke.

The smoke spread through the air and, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a short ghostly creature. It was about the size of a human child, with strangely proportioned features that looked extremely ugly. Its body was mottled blue and white, and it crouched like an ape.

Looking at the translucent spirit, Zheng Que understood that this was the "Resentful Soul" his master had mentioned, a kind of "Lonely Ghost and Wild Spirit." It had little intelligence, usually moved only at night, feared sunlight, and was extremely weak during the day.

The moment the "Resentful Soul" landed, it immediately tried to flee out of the temple.

Daoist Qu extended a finger and drew it across the palm of his other hand. Blood immediately welled up. He swept his sleeve, and the blood in his palm turned into a cloud of red mist, weaving itself into a net that dropped over the "Resentful Soul."

Trapped by the Spirit Blood Net, the "Resentful Soul" let out a shrill scream, as though it greatly feared spirit blood.

Giving it no chance to struggle, Daoist Qu quickly formed one complicated hand seal after another. At the same time, he explained, "The second step: apply a Blood Seal."

"For an ordinary 'Resentful Soul' like this, with its weak yin energy and meager abilities, a single Blood Seal is enough."

"But for some powerful 'Lonely Ghosts and Wild Spirits,' you'll need to apply three or more Blood Seals."

"Remember, the more Blood Seals there are, the stronger your control over the ghost."

"However, Blood Seals are drawn using a cultivator's spirit blood as a medium. The intense Yang Energy within spirit blood suppresses a ghost's yin energy, so the more Blood Seals there are, the weaker the ghost you command will be."

"With your current cultivation, you can only apply one Blood Seal. Don't go provoking ghosts that are too powerful..."

As Daoist Qu's hand seals shifted, the Spirit Blood Net around the "Resentful Soul" gradually transformed into a series of strange symbols. They hovered in the air, then sank into the "Resentful Soul" in a particular order.

To the "Resentful Soul," these symbols were like branding irons against human flesh. Each time one entered its body, it let out an especially piercing scream, and its yin energy weakened a little more.

The "Resentful Soul" frantically tore at the Spirit Blood Net, trying to escape.

But as more and more symbols entered its body, it found its body increasingly beyond its control.

Gradually, the "Resentful Soul" stopped struggling and fell silent.

When the final symbol formed from spirit blood was branded into its body, blood-red marks of all sizes covered the "Resentful Soul" from head to toe.

Daoist Qu immediately stopped making hand seals. The Blood Seals faded in an instant, as though they had never appeared.

Zheng Que watched everything closely, committing every detail and sequence of the hand seals to memory.

At that moment, Daoist Qu spoke again. "The final step: issue a command!"

As he spoke, he cut another gash into his arm. Then, using blood as ink, he quickly drew a pattern in his palm that resembled both a bird and an insect, like some kind of strange character.

After finishing the pattern, he flipped his hand over, aimed his palm at the "Resentful Soul," and gave a light slap. "Hup!"

The "Resentful Soul," which had been rigid the entire time, shuddered. Then it let out a shrill scream filled with despair and pain, and without hesitation, lunged at the Corpse Puppet beside it.

SWISH!

The "Resentful Soul" instantly tore off part of the Corpse Puppet's arm.

The armor, forged from fine iron, was as fragile as paper in its hands.

Seeing that the "Resentful Soul" seemed ready to attack again, Daoist Qu aimed his palm at it once more. "Return!"

As the words left his mouth, the Daoist curled his five fingers into a cage. The "Resentful Soul" immediately turned into a streak of blood-red light and sank into his palm.

Then Daoist Qu turned to Zheng Que and said in an even voice, "That is the [Ghost Controlling Technique]. Have you learned it?"

At that, Zheng Que came back to himself and immediately replied, "Thank you for imparting the technique, Master. This disciple has memorized everything!"

Daoist Qu nodded slightly and said in an unhurried voice, "Since you've learned it, you may go for now."

"Come back at this time tomorrow."

"Your master will inspect your results."

Zheng Que respectfully bowed to him again. "Yes, Master."

As he spoke, he carefully stepped out of the temple.

The little courtyard outside remained desolate. In the midst of the tangled grass, insects chirped, and daylight poured down, illuminating inside and out as if there were no shadows at all.

Zheng Que casually glanced around and was about to head straight home, but when his gaze fell on the dead old tree beside the courtyard wall, his steps slowed.

The tree's trunk was so thick that it would take two or three people joining hands to encircle it. Its crown spread in every direction like the ribs of an umbrella; when its branches had been lush with leaves, they had shaded most of the courtyard.

Though it had been dead for who knew how long, the remaining branches still hinted at its former grandeur.

Now its shadow fell across the wall and the ground, dappling them with light, its shape gentle and lovely. Within the shadow, a Female Hanging Ghost swayed back and forth. Her trailing hair and hem stirred in the breeze, light as if she might float away.

Zheng Que looked at the Female Hanging Ghost, his eyes shifting slightly.

Based on his master's explanation, this Female Hanging Ghost hiding in the tree's shadow should be a "Resentful Soul" among the "Lonely Ghosts and Wild Spirits."

During the day, she hid within the shadow of this dead old tree. Only after sunset would her true form appear on its branches.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que immediately changed direction and headed straight for the dead tree.

A "Resentful Soul" was heavily suppressed by Yang Energy during the day, its strength greatly diminished. This was the perfect opportunity to capture her!

Soon, Zheng Que stepped into the tree's shadow. He kept his eyes on the Female Hanging Ghost's shadow and slowly moved closer.

As he walked, he suddenly felt his body growing lighter. It began to float upward against his will, and he had to rise onto his toes just to barely reach the ground...