Taking action: excuse me, Grudge-Crying Ghost

As her words fell, a cluster of icy crystals radiating cold instantly sprouted from the ground and spread.

In mere moments, a layer of frost covered the ground.

When the creature touched that frost, tiny ice crystals began spreading over its body as well.

"Roooaaar!!!"

The creature roared, and the moment it strained against the ice, a chunk of its flesh tore off.

Compared to before, Lin Xue's ability had grown far stronger.

But that was still all it could accomplish.

As the thought passed through his mind, Fan Shang glanced at Lin Xue.

She had already eaten that piece of steamed bun, which had raised the strength of her Sequence ability by several levels.

But the price had risen just as much.

From that move alone, Fan Shang could tell that the cold radiating from Lin Xue had intensified severalfold.

After releasing those ice crystals, Lin Xue had even sunk weakly to one knee.

"Lin Xue." Zhou Ping couldn't help growing anxious at the sight.

But Liu Tie had no time to worry about that.

The reason was simple: this Grudge-Crying Ghost was far too difficult to deal with.

After all, who could have known?

Exposing the creature's physical form had only made things as troublesome as stirring up an anthill.

With that thought, Liu Tie pressed his advantage while it was vulnerable.

Taking the opportunity while Lin Xue had frozen the creature in place, Liu Tie swung his hoe at it without hesitation.

Once, twice, three times-frenzied blows rained down on it.

Black mist rose, constantly repairing the Grudge-Crying Ghost's injuries.

But no creature could withstand a beating like this.

And so, as it struggled wildly...

Liu Tie's trouser legs were shredded, and its claws drew enough blood to spill across the ground.

Yet even then... Liu Tie didn't stop.

The creature's cries turned into roars, its voice beginning to falter.

Until it grew weaker and weaker.

Because Liu Tie was too close to the creature, neither Fan Shang nor Lin Xue could intervene without risking hurting him.

But they didn't need to intervene.

With the final strike of his hoe!

The Grudge-Crying Ghost fell completely silent.

Then the Grudge-Crying Ghost began visibly fading and dissolving.

A pool of thick blood spread across the ground, and only an eyeball remained where the Grudge-Crying Ghost had been.

Liu Tie crouched to pick it up, then slipped it into his pocket.

At the sight, a flicker of joy involuntarily crossed Zhou Ping's eyes.

"B-Brother Tie, we... we survived?"

But the instant Zhou Ping said those words...

He saw a blood-red handprint slowly emerge on Liu Tie's back.

Then a blue-purple infant appeared behind Liu Tie.

Zhou Ping's pupils abruptly contracted at the sight.

His joyful face instantly turned pale.

Zhou Ping and Lin Xue both paled, while Fan Shang's expression grew grave.

Liu Tie had also sensed something wrong.

Feeling the sinister chill behind him, Liu Tie's heart clenched.

"Damn it!"

The relief he had felt moments earlier instantly vanished.

Seeing the expressions on Zhou Ping's and Lin Xue's faces, Liu Tie had already guessed what had happened.

It was another creature, another Grudge-Crying Ghost.

Somehow, it had climbed onto his back without him noticing.

Naturally, Liu Tie wasn't about to surrender and wait for death.

He twisted around and grabbed it.

Liu Tie tried to tear the Grudge-Crying Ghost straight off his back.

But the instant he gripped its head, even his immense strength couldn't budge it!

That was right-he couldn't budge it!

With strength that could smash through walls, Liu Tie still couldn't pull the creature off his back.

It was as though the Grudge-Crying Ghost had grown out of his back!

Are you kidding me?!

That was what went through Liu Tie's mind.

Then Liu Tie saw the Grudge-Crying Ghost on his back move.

A spiteful, mocking smile curled across its face, and it reached for Liu Tie's head.

Liu Tie's expression instantly darkened at the sight.

He knew that if he couldn't find another way, he was certain to die!

Lin Xue's ice crystals couldn't penetrate the Grudge-Crying Ghost's black mist at all.

As for Fan Shang, Liu Tie hadn't considered him. They had known each other for less than a day, after all, and he didn't believe Fan Shang would risk drawing the creature's attention by intervening.

There's no other choice. Looks like I'll have to use this...

With that thought, the two paper talismans appeared in his hand.

If Liu Tie believed anything could still save him, it was probably these two talismans.

Using them might have terrifying side effects, but this clearly wasn't the time to consider that.

As he thought, the scarlet edicts on the two talismans began turning vivid, blood-red.

"I really didn't want it to come to this!"

"Captain Li, looks like... I won't get the chance to return these talismans to you."

As his words fell, the yellow-backed talisman instantly began burning.

[Name: Lightness Talisman]

[Type: Consumable]

[Description: A special item drawn by the freest of Sequence Users, using yellow paper, cinnabar, and their own blood after purifying their body, mind, and materials. Contains the Sequence power of a Sequence User.

The user will become light and agile, handling heavy weights with ease. Body weight will decrease by 30%, and control over strength will increase by 30%. Duration: 10 minutes.]

[Compensation: After use, the body will become heavy for one day, making every step difficult.]

As the yellow paper turned to ash, the edict inscribed on it instantly merged into Liu Tie's body.

Then Liu Tie felt his strength increase, while his body became considerably lighter.

He seized the Grudge-Crying Ghost's arm.

"Stop right there!"

Veins bulged across his hand.

With that added strength, Liu Tie managed to hold the creature's hand firmly in place as it reached for his head.

Then Liu Tie prepared to use the purple-backed talisman in a desperate gamble.

At that very moment, Fan Shang and Lin Xue realized something was wrong and struck without hesitation.

As two chunks of ice drew the creature's attention...

An eerie blue ghostly flame spread across the ground with lightning speed.

The road burned, and on that road of eerie blue flames, unknown flowers bloomed as flakes of ash drifted from the ground toward the sky.

This was not a road the living could tread.

This was a road steeped in death, a road belonging solely to Underworld Soldiers...

The ghost road!

The instant that road appeared, eerie blue flames engulfed both Fan Shang and Little Black.

Then, raising the Fire Axe in his hand, he took a single step and appeared before the creature.

Just as Liu Tie was about to use the purple talisman...

The axe rose, then instantly cleaved down.

"Aaaaaargh!!!"

Caught completely off guard, the Grudge-Crying Ghost was chopped straight off Liu Tie's back by Fan Shang's axe, letting out a roar of agony.

Bewilderment, surprise, shock!

Those were the respective emotions of Liu Tie and the other two at that moment.

Liu Tie tried to speak.

"Fan Shang, you..."

"Brother Tie, now isn't the time for that. Killing this thing comes first."

As Fan Shang spoke, he advanced toward the Grudge-Crying Ghost with his axe.

At the sight...

How could the creature, with half its head hacked apart, possibly back down?

It let out a spiteful roar and lunged straight at Fan Shang.

But after watching Liu Tie fight the Grudge-Crying Ghost, Fan Shang had already figured out all of its moves.

He wasn't the least bit afraid.

Besides, at this creature's speed, it might as well have been moving in slow motion to Fan Shang!

"Boohoo... heehee..."

The creature sobbed and giggled as it lunged at Fan Shang.

Liu Tie wanted to warn him.

Fan Shang, careful, this creature's speed...

But before he could say it, he saw a savage grin appear on Fan Shang's face as well.

"Oh? Instead of running, you actually dare to come at me?"

"Heh, then... let me rough you up a little."

"Die!!!"

As the words left his mouth, Fan Shang instantly lunged forward, his axe blade driving straight toward the creature's forehead!