Wang Lang's fists rained down like raindrops.
The ghost creature's two pig heads, one on each side, exploded at the third punch.
The ghost face in the middle fared no better. Cracks spread from its forehead to its chin, like porcelain on the verge of shattering.
As Wang Lang battered it, he spoke in a low voice:
"Weren't you acting quite arrogant just now? Is this all you've got?"
"Hmph! Tell us why you came to Qinglin City to cause trouble."
"Wang may yet spare your life."
The ghost creature tried to speak, but Wang Lang's fist struck it squarely in the mouth.
It was not deliberate. He had simply become too engrossed in the beating and failed to hold back.
The middle ghost face of the creature's manifestation was nearly knocked seeing stars by that punch.
Its heart was filled with bewilderment and fury:
I condensed a six-zhang Ghost Domain demon body, gathered Yin Sha, devoured living souls—how could I be weaker than this human's three-zhang Dharma body?
But why were his fists so heavy?
My manifestation body should have been able to shift between substance and illusion, immune to Yin malice. Yet beneath that golden light and white qi, I felt as though I had sunk into a swamp! His power... was pure to the point of barbarism!
Wang Lang had no idea what the ghost creature was thinking. At that moment, he withdrew and retreated, grabbing through the air with one hand. The Town Mountain Tin Staff flew back into his grasp.
All six arms gripped the staff at once. Vajra golden light and vast white qi gathered at its head, condensing into a blazing orb like a tiny sun.
If this strike fell, the ghost creature would surely have its soul scattered and spirit destroyed.
At last, the fused ghost creature was afraid.
Dragging its shattered body, it tried to retreat and flee, only to discover that its escape route had already been sealed.
Centurion Zhao, Master Huineng, Song Yunzi, and Jiang Wan each held one direction.
Though they were only in the Qi Induction Realm, each wielded a Magic Tool, while the light of talismans rose and fell in waves.
Their formation might not have been able to stop the ghost creature at its peak, but delaying it for a moment and trapping this gravely injured body was more than enough.
"Spare... spare me!" The shattered face in the ghost creature's center squeezed out a plea. "I am willing to confess! We were ordered to come to Qinglin City for..."
Its voice came to an abrupt halt.
The ghost creature's body suddenly stiffened. Black qi crazily contracted inward, as though an invisible hand from within had clenched it tight.
The eyes of its ghost-faced manifestation bulged at once, revealing an expression of utter terror.
"No... Dharma Protector..."
BOOM!!!
Pitch-black flames erupted from within the ghost creature, instantly swallowing its body.
They were no ordinary flames, but Soul Fire containing an utterly vile curse.
The flames expanded into a black sphere three zhang high. Terrifying energy brewed within it, on the verge of exploding.
Wang Lang's pupils contracted as he reacted almost instantly.
"Retreat!"
As he shouted the order, his three-zhang manifestation had already moved to the forefront. Its six arms spread wide like a massive golden shield!
The shockwave of the explosion swept through the street like a tsunami.
The bluestone slabs beneath Wang Lang's feet shattered inch by inch, and the glow of his golden manifestation dimmed somewhat.
Yet he had ultimately blocked the vast majority of the impact.
Even so, the aftershock still tore roof tiles from houses within a radius of thirty zhang.
Several buildings that had already been swaying on the brink of collapse finally crumbled completely, sending dust and smoke soaring into the sky.
Fortunately, the earlier battle had already driven most of the nearby residents away. Otherwise, who knew how many more innocent souls would have been added by this blow?
When the smoke cleared, the street had become ruins.
All that remained where the ghost creature had stood was a charred deep pit, with several wisps of black qi slowly dissipating at its bottom.
As for that ghostly demon, it had died completely, its soul scattered and spirit destroyed.
Wang Lang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. His three-zhang manifestation gradually shrank, returning him to his original form.
The manifestation had been condensed from Vajra Qi, not produced by a transformation of his flesh. Thus, his clothes remained intact, though they had gathered some dust.
He looked at the Town Mountain Tin Staff in his hand, now restored to its original form, and his heart sank slightly.
That ghost creature had clearly been about to reveal something, yet it had inexplicably self-destructed before finishing. Evidently, some kind of lethal restriction had been planted within it.
To place such a die-the-moment-you-speak restriction upon a peak Second Rank ghost creature, the Dharma Protector behind it was likely...
"Young Master Wang!" Centurion Zhao and the others hurried over, their faces filled with lingering fear and gratitude.
"Thank you for protecting us, Young Master Wang!" Jiang Wan clasped her fists in salute. Her hair at the temples was somewhat disheveled, but her eyes shone brightly.
"If not for you blocking most of the impact, we likely would not have escaped serious injury."
Song Yunzi also gave a wry smile. "Shameful, truly shameful. This old Daoist has cultivated for forty years, yet only today did I learn what it means for there to be heavens beyond heaven. Young Master Wang is actually in the Spirit Condensation Realm."
Master Huineng pressed his palms together and bowed deeply. "Benefactor Wang displayed divine ability today and saved Qinglin City from peril. His merit is boundless."
Wang Lang waved a hand. "There is no need for such courtesy, everyone. You came to help despite knowing Qinglin City was in danger, even with only Qi Induction Realm cultivation. Wang admires such courage."
He spoke sincerely.
The road of cultivation was long. Those who possessed such resolve and responsibility while still in the Qi Induction Realm might not necessarily achieve little in the future.
Qi Refiners in the Qi Induction Realm lived far longer than ordinary people. Living two hundred years or so was no problem.
As for how he had become this strong at such a young age, that was simply because he grew stronger even while breathing. There was truly nothing to compare.
Centurion Zhao smiled bitterly. "Young Master Wang overpraises us."
"We have been trapped in the Qi Induction Realm for many years, our talents limited. Being able to slay a few minor demons and strange monsters already leaves us content."
"On the other hand, Young Master Wang has reached the Spirit Condensation Realm at such a young age and condensed such an extraordinary manifestation. In the future, you will surely become someone who shakes the world."
Song Yunzi spoke again then. "This time, we eliminated the demon only because Young Master Wang turned the tide. It is merely..."
"What manner of existence is the Dharma Protector mentioned by that ghost creature? To have Second Rank ghost creatures and demons as subordinates, its own strength..."
He paused, lowering his voice a little. "Could it be a Third Rank Great Demon? Or perhaps..."
Song Yunzi ultimately did not finish.
After all, if it were a human Heretical Cultivator, that would often be even more terrifying.
Heretical Cultivators were born human, yet possessed no compassion.
In pursuit of power, they would stop at nothing—even eating people, offering sacrifices, committing every conceivable evil.
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
A Third Rank Great Demon was a terrifying existence capable of ruling one region and commanding a demon domain spanning hundreds of li.
If that were truly the case, it would not be only Qinglin City. Even the entirety of Yuan Province would be shaken.
And if it was a human Heretical Cultivator...
That would mean some force was secretly manipulating demons and ghosts to wreak havoc.
The scheme behind this was likely far more terrifying than simple demonic calamity.
After a brief silence.
Wang Lang's gaze swept over the final wisp of black qi fading from the deep pit, and he slowly spoke:
"Before it exploded, that ghost creature called out 'Dharma Protector.'"
"Whether this Dharma Protector is human or demon, being able to plant such an overbearing method inside a Second Rank ghost creature, silencing it the moment words reached its lips... such an existence is anything but ordinary."
He paused before continuing:
"More troublesome still, we have lost the trail."
"This ghost creature and those two Pig Demons from before may both have come to Qinglin City under orders. What they sought was likely far more than simply slaughtering the city and taking lives."
"It is true that demons and monsters devour humans to increase their cultivation. But to act with such organization, such purpose, and such secrecy, even going so far as to silence their own... there must be a greater scheme at work."
Song Yunzi stroked his beard and pondered. "Young Master Wang speaks reasonably. This old Daoist observed that Soul Fire just now, and its nature was utterly yin and utterly evil."
"When it exploded, strands of cursed resentment coiled around it. This was not the method of ordinary demons, but rather somewhat resembled... the forbidden evil arts recorded in certain ancient texts."
The worry on Centurion Zhao's face deepened upon hearing this.
He turned toward Li Si, who had been standing guard nearby all along—though in truth he had been slacking off—and had not been able to help much, then ordered:
"Li Si! Stop standing around! Go to the City Lord's Mansion at once. Report everything that happened here, especially the details of the Dharma Protector and the ghost creature's self-destruction, to the City Lord!"
"Ask him to immediately send additional men to help calm the people, patrol the city defenses, and... see whether the records in the manor contain anything about similar evil arts or the title of Dharma Protector!"
Li Si jolted upon being called out and hurriedly clasped his fists.
"Yes! Centurion! This subordinate will go at once!"
With that, he turned and hurried toward the City Lord's Mansion.
Watching Li Si depart, Centurion Zhao turned back to Wang Lang and the others, clasping his fists. "Fellow Daoists, this is not a place for discussion."
"Though the trail has temporarily gone cold, this matter may concern the safety of all Yuan Province. There are countless tangled threads, and we still need to examine them carefully."
"Why not accompany Zhao to the City Lord's Mansion first? Perhaps by gathering our wisdom, we may sort out some clues."
Before you continue