Explosion is Art

If the ghost array of this ghost village and the "Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array" within the ancestral hall were being controlled by someone, He Ping would have no choice but to retreat a safe distance.

Of course, if he were willing to expend half a year of his lifespan to forcibly break through the "ghost wall" of the ghost domain, it would not be difficult to escape using the paper sedan and paper puppets.

However—

"This ghost array is unmanned; it merely leaves a fierce ghost behind to guard it. No matter how cunning a ghost may be, it cannot possess human intelligence or properly manipulate such a grand array."

He Ping narrowed his eyes, a baleful light flickering within them. He dared to conclude that the person who deliberately laid out this "Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array" must have grand designs. Furthermore, since this ancestral hall was rigged with an array governed by a fierce ghost, then within the array's core, there must be a suppression object hidden.

"...The suppression object must be something extraordinary; otherwise, how could it easily suppress this fierce ghost and drive the entire 'Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array' across the whole village!"

At this moment, even his calm, unruffled heart felt a trace of excitement.

The core of the Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array in the ancestral hall surely contained a "suppression object." Beyond suppressing houses, tombs, or arrays, some such objects possessed the miraculous effect of increasing one's lifespan and warding off calamity.

If it were such a treasure, it would be a tremendous boon to him, given his severely depleted vitality. If he possessed a suppression object that could extend his life, he would no longer need to attempt the high-risk path of living puppets.

BOOM!

The umbrella-wielding fierce ghost stepped one foot over the threshold of the ancestral hall. The intense pressure drew closer, and the "Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array" surged, releasing a bone-chilling, baleful intent that swept over like a cold tide, nearly drowning both the puppets and the paper sedan.

He Ping's consciousness snapped back from his thoughts. His ten fingers gripped several strings tightly, and he let out a cold laugh.

"If a person were controlling this array, I would retreat ten miles away immediately. But an empty array managed by a mere fierce ghost? What right does it have to show off in front of me!"

He was naturally fearless. The threads at his fingertips pulled taut in the air, and all twenty-five paper puppets gathered in front. Their "Armor-Clad Spirit Light" surged violently, joining forces to resist the might of the Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array.

Hum...

The powerful pressure of the array descended like the heavens collapsing, yet it could not break through the blockade of the spirit light. Especially around the paper sedan, the very air seemed to solidify.

It was at this moment that the umbrella-wielding ghost took another step. This time, the black figure stepped out from the threshold, and the surface of the black umbrella in its hand rotated once.

Suddenly, an anomaly occurred.

"BANG!"

He Ping, inside the sedan, felt as if his forehead had been struck by a heavy hammer. Under the lash of some powerful force, the paper sedan and he himself were impacted, sliding backward, while the puppets blocking the front were sent flying.

Under this single blow, at least three paper puppets split open, their colorful paper scraps fluttering and scattering in the air.

A wave of dizziness followed. He Ping pressed his lips together tightly, his teeth grinding with a creaking sound.

He did not know what had just happened; he only felt the world go black as the ghost turned its umbrella. An invisible, surging tide of force had slammed into him, and the paper sedan had been knocked back several yards. Fortunately, the Armor-Clad Spirit Light had obstructed it, and this force did not shatter his defense.

"What the hell? The spirit light was shaken apart, and I lost three puppets?!"

His mind was in a daze. Almost subconsciously, he flicked his left and right index fingers three times. Three small, doll-like puppets flew out from the broken paper puppets and lunged fiercely at the ghost holding the black umbrella.

"Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets, detonate!!!"

Following his silent command, the cloth dolls flying toward the ghost exploded. This time, before the ghost's umbrella could even finish its rotation, three balls of fire erupted violently.

BOOM!!!

A thunderous roar shook his eardrums. Fire and thick smoke swallowed everything in the blink of an eye, and the air rippled with the force.

—The Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets were arguably the trump card in He Ping's arsenal.

Originally, the Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets in the

Formless Secret Treasury

only contained black powder. However, as a modern man, He Ping felt the power of simple black powder was too weak, so he had improved them.

Among the retainers of the He Mansion were several craftsmen skilled in refining gunpowder and fireworks. Using his modern knowledge, he guided the craftsmen to unlock the technology tree for nitric acid, and with that, he produced nitrocellulose explosives.

The improved Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets, once filled with nitrocellulose explosives, had their power greatly enhanced. He hid these puppets inside the bodies of the paper puppets; once a paper puppet was damaged, he would deploy these Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets to deliver an unexpected, heavy blow to the enemy.

The explosives inside the Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets were packed with iron shards and iron beads, making the destructive power of the explosion quite astonishing. The umbrella-wielding ghost could never have anticipated such a tactic. As the puppets lunged, it could not block them and could only endure the self-detonation.

In the smoky haze of the explosion, silent, scorching wind carried dust across the front of the ancestral hall. The red-lacquered doors were blown to pieces, the gold plaque hanging above reading "Chen Family Ancestral Hall" was shattered on the spot, and a gap appeared in the charred brickwork, with countless cracks spreading from the impact.

He Ping, having suffered the previous shock, had been deathly pale, but at this moment, his eyes suddenly brightened.

He noticed that the ghost's form had become somewhat more ethereal, twisting from time to time, its movements becoming sluggish.

"I triggered the Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets just to follow the flow, but this ghost is truly affected. However, logically, an explosion shouldn't affect a ghost unless... it's an effect related to the array?"

A flash of insight crossed his mind, and he understood instantly.

"That's right, it's the array. It must be this ancestral hall. This ghost wasn't just placed in the Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array; it is rooted in the ancestral hall itself. As long as the hall is destroyed, it will have nowhere to hide..."

On the other side, the black umbrella rotated slowly. The stiff-bodied ghost's eyes were as dark as the night, and the black robes on its body rose without wind. A patch of black shadow from its withered shoe tips shot toward the sedan.

In the blink of an eye, the shadow on the ground expanded suddenly. Coupled with the energy of the array, it became like a raging, turbulent sea, or dark clouds covering the sky and earth, sweeping forward with an unstoppable force.

However, He Ping's expression held no fear. The weaknesses of the ghost and the array were now clear; what was there to fear?

"No matter who laid this array here, today it ends for me!"

He hardened his heart, and four more paper puppets burst open from the center. Several Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets flew out like lightning, but instead of lunging at the ghost, they turned and charged toward the ancestral hall.

"Explode! Explode! Let it all explode! Explosion is art!!!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Several consecutive deafening roars rang out. Scorching hot wind swept through, and the ancestral hall was struck again. The earth, stone, and tiles of the main entrance were ground into powder.

The black shadow surrounding the ghost, which had been about to surge forward like a raging tide, hurriedly recoiled like a retreating black wave to protect the main entrance of the ancestral hall.

"It's clearly injured, yet it still thinks of protecting this ancestral hall? Hahaha, truly courting death."

He Ping felt a surge of excitement. He expended four more paper puppets to trigger the Spirit-Exploding Witch Puppets, which flew through the large hole in the wall and into the hall. This wave of attacks reached the main lobby; how could this brick-and-wood ancestral hall withstand such an explosion?

The wooden beams inside the house were blown into countless fragments, bricks and stones scattered, and white smoke from the explosion billowed out. The ancestral hall was the foundation of the Screaming Soul Blood Silk Array; once damaged, the fierce ghost itself suffered heavy trauma.