Gu Zhao, who had been cultivating next door, glanced back in this direction. The demonic power emanating from the master bedroom felt somewhat different from the White Fox's usual cultivation—it was more like she was casting a spell.
Xiuniang's presence also felt wrong. Her aura seemed to have fused with the White Fox's demonic power, then slowly grown stronger.
"What miraculous power—directly strengthening one's own energy." Gu Zhao concealed his aura and frowned in thought. "Could it be that the White Fox is leaving too? Is she giving Xiuniang one last blessing before she goes?"
At that thought, Gu Zhao nodded. "Before I leave, I should leave them a few more Heavenly Dipper Talismans. This world looks rather dangerous, but it's actually not safe at all. Two Heavenly Dipper Talismans are far too few."
Just then, Gu Zhao's gaze shifted, and he turned toward the village entrance.
From the official road beyond the village entrance, three plumes of black smoke merged into the night and came rolling in. Faint seductive whispers, ghostly wails, and shrill cackles drifted from within.
"We searched for so long, only to find you here!"
"You actually killed Old Ghost Qi! Today, I'll tear out your soul and refine your spirit, leaving you unable to live or die!"
"Hee hee hee, big sister is kind-hearted. Hand over the divine statue, and I'll grant you a quick death!"
Gu Zhao sprang to his feet. "They're looking for me?"
The black smoke they displayed, along with the faintly seeping sinister ghostly aura, was extremely similar to the ghost he had slain with Palm Thunder some days ago.
At the same time, as they released their auras without restraint, the Five Thunder Token in Gu Zhao's Sea of Consciousness continuously trembled, warning him that they carried Killing Intent and were no good people.
"Three came at once, and not one of them is a soft touch."
Gu Zhao's eyes flickered. His figure suddenly vanished, then reappeared. A belt hung with numerous little pouches had appeared around his waist. Paired with his ancient-style robes, it could not be said to match perfectly, but it was certainly unconventional.
"Perfect. I can test these new spells and talismans!"
No sooner had Gu Zhao finished thinking than he saw the three plumes of black smoke dive straight toward the courtyard where he was. A savage voice rang out from the leading plume. "Dead fox, come out!"
Gu Zhao: ???
"Eee—"
A piercing shriek rang out, its sound waves spreading through the air. Everyone sleeping soundly in the mountain village went blank-headed and immediately fell into deep sleep—the sort from which they absolutely would not wake until dawn tomorrow.
The next instant, a crisp female voice suddenly sounded beside Gu Zhao's ear. "Gu Zhao, stop them quickly! I'm forming a pact with Xiuniang. I cannot endure outside interference."
"What's forming a pact?" Gu Zhao looked utterly baffled, then suddenly reacted. "You're Little White? You can talk now?"
Though Gu Zhao's head was filled with question marks, it did not hinder his actions. Besides, he had already known that the White Fox was blessing Xiuniang; he simply had not known that this spellcasting process was called forming a pact.
He had already prepared to deal with these three.
Thus, when the three plumes of black smoke entered the village and split apart, approaching the small courtyard from three directions, they saw a figure flash out from the side room in the courtyard. With a single leap, he landed atop the master bedroom's roof.
"Hm?"
"There's someone else?"
"A little spellcaster?"
When Gu Zhao appeared, the three plumes of black smoke halted after entering the courtyard. Then, the smoke slowly dispersed, revealing the figures within.
The person to the east stood atop the courtyard wall. He was an old man in fine robes, yet hunched over, head tilted, eyes slanted. Leaning on a cane, he sized Gu Zhao up from head to toe.
The black smoke from the northwest settled atop an old tree in the courtyard, revealing a child less than a meter tall, with skyward pigtails, a white bellyband, painted red cheeks, and gold and silver bracelets.
The person from the southwest was closest. Gu Zhao first caught sight of a flash of brilliant red, then an alluring woman wearing a golden hair ornament and red-and-gold gauze emerged slowly from the black smoke, one long, snow-white leg exposed at her side.
"The Golden Wind Divine Cult is conducting business. Those who do not wish to die, get lost!" The child's voice was unexpectedly hoarse and vicious.
Gu Zhao raised a brow. So it was the Golden Wind Sect.
Did that not mean they were actually in the same group as the blue-robed female ghost he had first encountered?
Seeing Gu Zhao remain silent, the old man twisted the cane in his hand and looked him over. He gave a sinister chuckle and shrieked, "Little brat, are you from the Spiritual Court?"
"Whether he is or not is unimportant. I've taken a liking to this little spellcaster." The red-clothed woman's voice was the only normal one, but what she said sounded rather off. "After I enjoy him and suck him dry, I'll hand him over to you."
"Enough nonsense. That fox is forming a pact with the person in the room. Don't let her finish and escape again." The child snarled. "I have things to do when I get back!"
"What, just a few female devotees' primordial yin? Waiting a few days won't kill anyone." The old man shook his head, then chuckled. "I nearly forgot. We're already dead."
"You go catch that fox. Leave this little spellcaster to me." The red-clothed woman gave a seductive laugh. Her entire body seemed to become a streak of red silk as she swept toward Gu Zhao.
At the same time, the child and old man transformed into two black shadows and shot toward the master bedroom window.
Gu Zhao could not help but hiss. They did not waste words before attacking—they were truly decisive!
Fortunately, I'm that kind of person too.
Gu Zhao: (.-`ω-)
"Whoosh—"
The sound of night wind brushing against paper suddenly rang out, drawing the red-clothed woman's attention. A long strip of yellow paper had suddenly appeared in the little spellcaster's hand.
"Wood Virtue Star of the Hour, spirit of the east. Follow my nine breaths and drive away evil essences."
As the words fell, a gale abruptly rose and thunder exploded. Wind mixed with lightning swept outward in all directions from Gu Zhao.
"Ah!"
"Lightning?"
Feeling the roaring wind and thunder rush toward them, the three felt their ghostly bodies grow unstable. They hurriedly shrieked and retreated.
At the same time, they heard the little spellcaster's voice again. "Eyes like sun and moon, opening and closing Heaven and Earth. Once the primal unity is set, the four images are complete. Yin and yang transform, spirits transform into Supreme Clarity."
Hearing this incantation, longer than the previous one and seemingly even more powerful, all three changed color.
The child clapped his hands. The two gold bracelets on his wrists and the two silver bracelets around his ankles transformed into four streams of light that shielded his entire body.
The old man struck his cane against the ground. It transformed into a black snake and coiled around him.
The red-clothed woman seemed to turn into the wind itself and retreated directly out of the small courtyard.
Yet the attack they expected from that incantation never came. Looking up at Gu Zhao, they saw that he seemed to have suddenly become more ethereal and lofty, causing an uncontrollable sense of smallness to rise in their hearts.
What was going on?
Gu Zhao smiled faintly and scattered the talisman paper in his hand, which had turned to ash. He explained casually, "The Supreme Clarity Spirit Transformation Talisman is mainly used to boost Mana output. It's basically a damage-boosting aura."
The three: ???
Though they did not quite understand, they knew Gu Zhao might be about to unleash a major move.
"Great Spellcaster, that was all a misunderstanding!" the old man shrieked.
The child nodded repeatedly. "We only came to capture that fox. She stole our cult's divine statue and ambushed our cult's protector. It has nothing whatsoever to do with you, Spellcaster."
"Is that so?" Gu Zhao grinned and asked leisurely, "May I ask whether your protector was a man dressed in black, with a pale face and completely black pupils?"
The old man and child's expressions darkened.
The next instant, they saw Gu Zhao nod and say, "Looks like I was right." Then he formed a strange hand seal with his left hand and made an incantation gesture with his right. "Heavenly thunder, earthly thunder, resound and shake the eight directions. Crush mountains, topple peaks, and fiercely pierce the vault of heaven."
Before you continue