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But that moment's delay was enough. A chill ran down his back, followed by a searing pain that spread until even his breath carried a trace of blood.
Du Song had shot him in the back again with that Ghost Artifact Firearm.
Then a Ferocious Ghost seized his shoulder and began devouring his Blood Essence.
The young Daoist screamed and wheeled around, driving his sword into the ghost. Where the blade touched it, a hiss rose and green smoke poured out.
The Ferocious Ghost shrieked as its ghostly aura evaporated rapidly, but even that was not enough to kill it outright.
For one thing, a Swordfighter's methods were sharp and unstoppable, but they could not be sustained for long.
By now, the reserve of Sword Qi the young Daoist had cultivated was nearly spent.
For another, a Ferocious Ghost was far stronger than a Vicious Ghost. There was no hope of cutting one down easily with a single stroke.
The young Daoist was only a few steps from the gate and freedom from the Reversing Sun and Moon Heavenly Mechanism Formation. Yet those few steps might as well have been a chasm. He was surrounded at once.
Masses of yin energy surged over him. At last, the young Daoist could hold out no longer. His sword fell, and he collapsed to the ground without a breath left in him.
Tang Changsheng saw it all clearly in the sunlight and sighed inwardly. His arm was still tingling, as though needles were pricking it.
Tang Changsheng was not, after all, a Swordfighter who truly cultivated the sword. Blocking that young Daoist's strike had cost him dearly.
Seeing that the young Daoist really was dead, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The battle had been