Is it a great demon? Or an evil cultivator?

Wang Lang's fists fell like raindrops.

Both pig heads on either side of the Ghost exploded on the third punch.

The ghostly face in the middle wasn't in much better shape, cracks spreading from its forehead to its chin, like porcelain about to shatter at any moment.

Wang Lang beat it relentlessly, saying in a deep voice:

"Weren't you quite arrogant just now? Is that all you've got?"

"Hmph! Tell me why you came to Qinglin City to cause trouble."

"Perhaps Wang might spare your life."

The Ghost tried to speak, but Wang Lang's fist landed on its mouth.

This wasn't intentional; it was purely because he was too engrossed in the beating and couldn't stop himself.

The ghostly face in the middle of the Ghost's Dharma Idol was almost seeing stars from that punch.

Its heart was filled with bewilderment and fury:

I condensed a six-zhang Ghost Domain demonic body, gathered Yin Sha, and devoured living souls. How could I be weaker than this human's three-zhang Dharma Body?

But why are his fists so heavy?

My Dharma Idol's body should be able to shift between tangible and intangible, and be resistant to Yin energy, yet the golden light and white Qi are scorching me, making me feel like I'm trapped in a swamp! His strength... is purely barbaric!

Wang Lang didn't know what the Ghost was thinking. Just then, he retreated, and with a grab in the air, the Town Mountain Tin Staff flew back to him.

All six arms gripped the staff, and Vajra golden light and righteous white Qi converged at the head of the staff, forming a ball of light as blazing as a small sun.

If this strike landed, the Ghost would surely be annihilated.

The fused Ghost was finally afraid.

It dragged its battered body, trying to retreat and escape, only to find that its escape route was blocked.

Centurion Zhao, Huineng, Song Yunzi, and Jiang Wan each guarded a direction.

Although they were all only at the Qi Induction Realm, each had a Magic Tool in hand, and the light of talismans rose and fell.

The formation the four had formed might not be able to stop the Ghost in its prime, but it was more than enough to delay it and trap this heavily injured body for a moment.

"Spare... spare me!" the broken face in the middle of the Ghost squeezed out words of begging:

"I'm willing to confess! We were ordered to come to Qinglin City to..."

The voice stopped abruptly.

The Ghost's body suddenly froze, and black Qi contracted madly inward, as if gripped by an invisible hand from within.

The Dharma Idol's ghostly face bulged its eyes out simultaneously, revealing an expression of extreme fear.

"No... Dharma Protector..."

Boom!!!

Black flames erupted from the Ghost's body, instantly engulfing its form.

Those weren't ordinary flames, but Soul Fire containing an extremely evil curse.

The flames swelled into a three-zhang-high black sphere, and terrifying energy was brewing within, on the verge of exploding.

Wang Lang's pupils shrank, and he reacted almost instantly.

"Retreat!"

As he ordered everyone, his three-zhang Dharma Idol was already standing in front, its six arms spread open like a giant golden shield!

The shockwave of the explosion swept through the street like a tsunami.

The bluestone slabs under Wang Lang's feet shattered inch by inch, and the light of the Dharma Idol's golden body also dimmed a bit.

But in the end, it blocked most of the impact.

Even so, the aftermath still blew off the roofs and tiles of buildings within a thirty-zhang radius.

Several already dilapidated houses completely collapsed, and smoke billowed into the sky.

Fortunately, the commotion from the previous battle had already caused most of the nearby people to flee, otherwise, this would have added many more innocent souls.

When the smoke cleared, the street was in ruins.

Only a scorched pit remained where the Ghost had been, with a few wisps of slowly dissipating black Qi lingering at the bottom of the pit.

And that Ghost abomination was completely dead, its soul scattered.

Wang Lang exhaled a breath of stale air, and the three-zhang Dharma Idol slowly shrank, returning to its original form.

The Dharma Idol was formed from Vajra Qi, not a physical transformation, so his clothes were still intact, only stained with some dust.

He looked at the Town Mountain Tin Staff in his hand, which had returned to its original state, and his heart sank slightly.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid not finding it next time.

The Ghost was clearly about to confess, but it inexplicably self-destructed before it could finish speaking, obviously because some kind of deadly restriction had been planted in its body.

To be able to plant such a speak-and-die restriction on a Second Rank peak Ghost, the Dharma Protector behind it is probably...

"Young Master Wang!" Centurion Zhao and the others hurried forward, their faces showing lingering fear and gratitude.

"Thank you for your protection, Young Master Wang!" Jiang Wan cupped her fists in salute, her hair a little disheveled, but her eyes bright.

"If not for you blocking most of the impact, I'm afraid we would have suffered severe injuries."

Song Yunzi also said with a wry smile, "I am ashamed, truly ashamed. After forty years of cultivation, this old Daoist finally understands what it means that there is always someone better. Young Master Wang is actually at the Spirit Condensation Realm."

Master Huineng put his palms together and bowed deeply, "Benefactor Wang has displayed divine powers today, saving Qinglin City from danger. Your merit is immeasurable."

Wang Lang waved his hand, "You are all too kind. You were willing to come and help despite knowing the danger in Qinglin City with only Qi Induction Realm cultivation. I admire your courage."

He said this sincerely.

The path of cultivation is long, and those who can have such a mindset and sense of responsibility at the Qi Induction Realm may not have low achievements in the future.

Qi Induction Realm Qi Refiners have longer lifespans than ordinary people, living for two hundred years or so is not a problem.

And he was so young and so strong, purely because he was getting stronger with every breath. There was really no comparison.

Centurion Zhao said with a wry smile, "Young Master Wang is too kind."

"We have been stuck in the Qi Induction Realm for many years, our talents are limited, and we are content with slaying some small demons and monsters."

"But you, Young Master, have reached the Spirit Condensation Realm at such a young age, and have condensed such an extraordinary Dharma Idol. You will surely be a world-shaking figure in the future."

Song Yunzi then said, "This time, the demon was eliminated entirely thanks to Young Master Wang turning the tide, but…"

"What exactly is the Dharma Protector that the Ghost mentioned? To have Second Rank Ghosts 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 didn't finish.

After all, if it was a Heretical Cultivator of the human race, that would often be even more terrifying.

Although Heretical Cultivators are of human origin, they have no compassion.

To seek power, they can use any means, even eating people, making sacrifices, and doing anything.

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

A Third Rank Great Demon is a terrifying existence that can sit in one place and rule over a hundred miles of demon territory.

If that were the case, not only Qinglin City, but the entire Yuan Province would be shaken.

And if it was a Heretical Cultivator of the human race…

That would mean that there was a force secretly manipulating demons and ghosts to cause chaos.

The plot behind this is probably far more terrifying than a simple demon disaster.

After a brief silence.

Wang Lang's gaze swept over the last wisp of dissipating black gas in the deep pit, and he slowly opened his mouth:

"Before the Ghost exploded, it shouted 'Dharma Protector'."

"Whether this Dharma Protector is human or demon, to be able to plant such overbearing means in the body of a Second Rank Ghost, causing it to be silenced as the words reached its lips… such an existence is by no means ordinary."

He paused and continued:

"What's more troublesome is that we've lost the clues."

"This Ghost and the previous two Pig Demons may have all come to Qinglin City under orders, and what they were doing was probably not as simple as slaughtering the city and harming lives."

"It's true that demons and monsters eat people to increase their cultivation, but to be so organized, purposeful, and secretive, even to the point of silencing them… there must be a bigger plot involved."

Song Yunzi stroked his beard and pondered, "Young Master Wang is right. This old Daoist observed the Soul Fire just now, and its nature was extremely Yin and evil."

"When it exploded, there was also a trace of curse power entangled within it. It's not the usual path of demons and monsters, but rather like… the evil magic forbidden techniques recorded in some ancient books."

Centurion Zhao's face became even more worried upon hearing this.

He turned his head to look at Li Si, who had been on guard (actually slacking off) and hadn't gotten much involved, and instructed:

"Li Si! Don't just stand there! Go to the City Lord's Mansion immediately and report everything that happened here, especially the details of the Dharma Protector and the Ghost's self-destruction, to the City Lord!"

"Ask him to immediately send more people to assist in comforting the people, patrolling the city defenses, and… see if there are any records of similar evil magic or Dharma Protector names in the mansion's files!"

Li Si was called out, and he perked up, quickly cupping his fists, "Yes! Centurion! This subordinate will go now!"

After saying that, he turned around and hurried towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Watching Li Si leave, Centurion Zhao turned to Wang Lang and the others, cupping his fists and saying, "Fellow Daoists, this is not a place for discussion."

"Although the clues have been temporarily cut off, this matter may be related to the safety of the entire Yuan Province. There are many things to consider, and we still need to examine them carefully."

"Why don't you all move to the City Lord's Mansion with me first? Perhaps we can brainstorm and sort out some clues."

If you think this book is not bad, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid not finding it next time.