When the guardian glared, all beings bowed

That punch would probably leave Yang Zhi scarred for life, but after that scream, he finally came to his senses.

He dropped the security baton in his hand. Thinking back on everything he had just done, he felt chills running down his spine.

"I must have been fucking crazy. I actually chased someone who looked like a murderer up to the second floor, then let it follow behind me for so long..."

"Thank god Jiang Chen... uh." Yang Zhi looked at Jiang Chen, who held a sharp knife in one hand while his other arm was thrust through the security guard's body, and suddenly realized he might not be safe yet.

He backed up several steps until his back met the wall, staring at Jiang Chen in terror.

Jiang Chen figured he probably did look a little frightening right now. Since his classmate had just been through a supernatural incident, he ought to offer him some reassurance.

So he spread his lips in a kindly smile.

Unfortunately, the fine droplets of blood splattered across his face, combined with his current pose, that eerie smile, and a mouthful of gleaming white teeth, made for a shocking sight.

He looked like a deranged serial killer threatening a witness after committing murder.

"Aaaah!!!"

Yang Zhi was almost scared out of his mind. Fortunately, Zhao Xiaodong arrived in time and managed to calm him down with an explanation.

During this, a notification sounded in Jiang Chen's ear, filling him with delight.

Ding! Demon transformation complete. Congratulations, host. You have permanently inherited the divine ability-Great Strength Bull Demon Fist!

My luck finally came through for once. About damn time.

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.

In terms of raw power, the divine ability Great Strength Bull Demon Fist fell short of Chaos-Dwelling Heavenly Blade, but it made up for that with its versatility.

Despite being called a fist technique, it primarily boosted the body's explosive power in an instant. Earlier, for example, he had relied on that burst of power to kill the Scheming Ghost with his knife so cleanly.

And if I'm not mistaken, I might even be able to combine it with other divine abilities. That's one of the special features of Great Strength Bull Demon Fist!

Jiang Chen murmured excitedly, then led the other two toward the guest rooms.

When the three arrived, they found the atmosphere distinctly wrong. A group of students huddled together, trembling as they stared in horror at the Lake ahead.

Zhao Erhu stood in front of everyone, his expression grim.

Something seemed to have just happened here. A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.

"What happened?" Jiang Chen walked over.

"Jiang Chen!" As though she had found a lifeline, Zhao Qian hurried over, her skirt swaying. "Something really terrifying just happened."

"A resort employee was coming across the bridge. As he walked, he suddenly clutched his throat, looking like he was in agony, as if he were drowning."

"His face grew redder and redder. Finally, he collapsed on the bridge, clawing and flailing. Zhao Erhu rushed out, but before he got halfway there, we saw a soaking-wet woman climb out of the Lake."

"Her face was deathly pale, and her hair was tangled like waterweed. She looked terrifying. She kept calling someone's name as she charged toward us."

"When we heard her calling, it felt like our noses and mouths were full of water. We couldn't breathe. It was so awful we thought we were going to die."

"Luckily, Zhao Erhu turned back. A faint layer of golden light rose from his body, forcing that woman back into the water."

"Not long after she went underwater, a pale, shriveled hand dragged the employee off the bridge. A little later, a patch of red welled up in the Lake, giving off a strong smell of blood."

After hearing her account, Jiang Chen understood. Water Ghost in the Lake had finally lost her patience.

The resort's other ghosts all seemed connected to her. This Water Ghost was definitely no ordinary threat.

Still, Zhao Erhu was undeniably powerful. He had actually forced her back into the Lake, leaving her afraid to come ashore and hurt anyone.

While Jiang Chen considered how to deal with Water Ghost, Zhao Erhu suddenly whipped his head around toward the nearby entrance to the mountain road. His gaze turned dangerous. "Who's there?"

"Heh heh heh. Sharp eyes. I never expected to find a young expert like you among a bunch of students." A somewhat familiar voice rang out.

Then a figure slowly approached.

Among the crowd, Sun Zhibing gritted his teeth and shouted the man's identity. "Steward Zhang!"

Even he could figure it out now. The Zheng family was probably behind all the strange things happening tonight.

Zheng Shaoming had really screwed him over this time!

After a moment of stunned silence, the other students' expressions turned ugly too. "Fuck! That bastard Zheng Shaoming!"

"Damn him! If I ever see him again, I'll skin him alive!"

"..."

"Heh heh. Rest assured, young students. You won't have another chance to see Young Master Zheng." Steward Zhang smiled warmly as he approached, taking something out from inside his clothes.

It was a palm-sized porcelain jar. He lifted its lid, and a cloud of black vapor emerged, taking the shape of an infant beside his feet.

The infant looked hideous. Black veins showed faintly beneath its skin, its teeth were long and sharp, and its eyes were pitch-black.

"Ghost Slave!" Zhao Erhu's expression darkened further. "You're from the Ghost Refining Sect?"

"Zhang Xianhai of the Ghost Refining Sect, at your service!" Steward Zhang approached the crowd, with Ghost Infant following at his feet. Making sounds somewhere between crying and laughing, the infant licked its long, pointed tongue and surveyed the students with delighted eyes.

"You're going to kill this many people? Aren't you afraid the Netherworld and the Dao Alliance will go berserk?" Zhao Erhu asked.

"The yin energy outbreak came early. They have their hands full." Steward Zhang's tone was calm, his steps unhurried.

Their exchange sent the students' hearts pounding.

Judging by Zhao Erhu's words, even he seemed unsure he could handle Steward Zhang.

"Heh heh. Enough chatter. A gifted scion of the Zhao family, are you? You'll earn me five hundred points from the Dark Alliance. Ghost Infant, kill him!"

Whoosh!

The infant on the ground turned into a streak of black vapor and lunged at Zhao Erhu with tremendous speed.

"Dragon Elephant Prajna, Restrain Evil, Transform Calamity!"

Zhao Erhu pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist invocation. Golden characters flickered faintly in his wide, fierce eyes. His arm suddenly swelled, a layer of golden light covered his fist, and he punched.

Bang!

Ghost Infant was knocked away, but Zhao Erhu's expression changed. Four or five bloody scratches had been torn across his forearm, and faint black vapor rose from them.

"Half-step Vengeful Ghost!" His voice was grave.

"Heh heh. You're not bad yourself." A flicker of surprise crossed Steward Zhang's eyes. "Only one step away from C-rank at your age. It seems my earlier estimate was wrong. Killing you will earn me at least a thousand points!"

"Kill me?" A rare look of defiance appeared on Zhao Erhu's normally honest face. "You really think this little thing is a match for me?"

"Let every golden radiance envelop my body!"

He stepped forward, a metallic sheen gradually spreading over his body. By the end, every step Zhao Erhu took made his bones and joints clang like metal striking metal.

"When the guardian glared, all beings bowed. Kill!"

He grinned broadly, his walking pace gradually turning into a run. Though he chanted a Buddhist invocation, he radiated murderous intent and an utterly sinister air!

For the first time, Steward Zhang's expression changed. "A disciple of the Dragon Elephant Temple?!"