Under the Shadow Lotus Lamp's radiance, the once-dark valley shone brilliantly, every lurking demon and lurking shade rapidly revealing itself.
The Calamity Form, the Dao Thief, seemed to fear this lamplight. His shadow twisted violently before springing away.
"You won't escape!"
Xin Shiniang had made her preparations before the Dao Thief even moved. With a light push of her foot, she floated upward like a red cloud.
Suspended in midair, her red skirt fluttered around her. Her features were exquisite and otherworldly, like a goddess descending to earth.
She held the lamp in her right hand while the fair, jade-like fingers of her left formed a seal. As Astral Essence surged, the Shadow Lotus Lamp's flame swelled with a whoosh.
Xin Shiniang pursed her red lips and blew gently. The lamplight flickered, and a wisp of flame fell from it.
Like heavenly fire descending into the mortal world, the moment it left the Shadow Lotus Lamp and touched the air of mortal dust, it expanded, blossoming like fireworks.
Fiery serpents hung down in a circle, forming an enormous disk that covered several li in every direction.
Bang!
The Dao Thief struck an invisible barrier. Flames instantly caught on his black shadow, blazing fiercely and turning him into a human-shaped torch.
The next instant, a drop of thick, ink-like substance fell from the burning shadow. It abruptly became another shadow and fled in a different direction.
Xin Shiniang knitted her delicate brows. The original shadow surrounded by the Shadow Lotus Lamp's flames burst like a bubble with a crisp pop.
She hurriedly formed another finger seal to control the Shadow Lotus Lamp. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her smooth, fair forehead; clearly, controlling this lamp took an enormous toll on her.
The circular cage of flames spanning several li tightened