You Stalk the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

"By my decree!"

"Command the nether spirits!"

A profound seal of arcane power sank into the forehead of the spectral entity.

Immediately after, a mysterious psychic link formed between Fang Heng and the spirit.

"Mas…ter…"

"Greetings, Master!"

The spirit's voice echoed in Fang Heng's mind.

Fang Heng grunted, a slight smile playing on his lips.

A third-tier spirit!

He'd claimed it as his hound!

With a thought, he summoned the spirit.

A puff of black mist emerged from the Ghost Control Bag.

The entire room grew cold, filled with an eerie chill.

The hulking spirit knelt on one knee, prostrating itself before Fang Heng.

Its massive body, nearly ten feet tall, still flickered with white ghostly flames.

The ghostly flames were chillingly cold, yet possessed considerable power.

It seemed as though the moisture in the air was on the verge of freezing into ice crystals.

"What is your name?" Fang Heng asked.

"This one has no name. Please, Master, bestow one upon me," the spirit rumbled.

Fang Heng stroked his chin, looking at the spirit's bulky form, and said calmly, "From today on, you shall be called Fire Barbarian."

"Fire Barbarian thanks Master for the name."

A look of joy appeared on Fire Barbarian's face.

"I heard you're skilled at controlling fire. Show me."

Fang Heng commanded. Fire Barbarian nodded, and the white flames on its body surged up.

In mid-air, they transformed into a fire dragon, circling in all directions.

Fang Heng watched the fire dragon in the air, nodding slightly.

The fire dragon had impressive power!

Though it couldn't compare to his own Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning, it was still a formidable technique for a third-tier entity.

No wonder those ghost catchers would specifically sell Fire Barbarian.

Afterward, Fang Heng experimented with the various mysteries of the Fate Attribute, Soul Reaper Envoy.

The greatest benefit was that when feeding Fire Barbarian, he didn't need his own blood essence; he could use his own magical power.

The biggest flaw, or rather, weakness, of the Ghost Control Technique was that the ghost controller needed to use their own blood essence to feed spirits.

This method was very dangerous, often leading to spirits backlashing.

However, with the Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Attribute, controlling spirits wouldn't result in such a situation.

He didn't have to worry about spirits backlashing and could directly feed them with his own magical power.

Fang Heng's eyes lit up. If he were to switch to cultivating demonic arts, he would undoubtedly be a peerless prodigy.

After using Fire Barbarian for a while, Fang Heng put it back into the Ghost Control Bag, a hint of fatigue on his face.

This was the exhaustion that came from controlling spirits.

After taking control of Fire Barbarian, Fang Heng could clearly feel an added burden on his soul.

"I estimate I can control at most three third-tier spirits, or one fourth-tier spirit. That's my limit."

"However, this is my limit, not the limit of Soul Reaper Envoy!"

Fang Heng stroked his chin, muttering to himself.

With his second-tier strength, he could control a fourth-tier spirit without worrying about backlash.

If other ghost controllers knew, their eyes would probably turn red with envy.

Moreover, as Fang Heng's cultivation improved, The number and quality of spirits he could control would also increase.

Of course, the fastest way was to upgrade the Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Attribute.

Soul Reaper Envoy was a red-tier Fate Attribute. If it could be upgraded to purple, or even gold…

For a moment, Fang Heng's mind was filled with wild imaginings.

Once he completed the transaction with Rabbit Face, he would have enough Destiny to upgrade his Fate Attribute.

Then, Fang Heng took out the Heavenly Thunder Token, a rare item, and examined it.

It was a purple token, emitting a deep metallic luster.

He couldn't tell what material it was forged from.

The back was engraved with thunder patterns, captivating the eye.

Fang Heng dripped a drop of his essence blood onto it and began to refine it.

As the essence blood merged into the Heavenly Thunder Token, a roaring thunder sounded in his ears.

It was as if, in an instant, he was immersed in a sea of thunder.

Fang Heng focused his mind, calming his spirit and guarding his consciousness.

Ignoring the interference of the thunder, he put all his effort into refining it.

It took about a quarter of an hour.

A connection formed between Fang Heng and the Heavenly Thunder Token, as if they were flesh and blood.

"It's done!"

Fang Heng exhaled a turbid breath, slowly opening his eyes.

Two brilliant beams of light burst forth from his dark pupils, as if they could tear through the black night.

The process of refining the Heavenly Thunder Token went smoothly, without any unexpected incidents.

In fact, Fang Heng even sensed the aura of Yimu Divine Thunder within the Heavenly Thunder Token.

This corresponded with the Yimu Thunder Method insights left by the founding patriarch of Evergreen Temple, giving Fang Heng a deeper understanding of the Yimu Thunder Method.

Perhaps... it's not entirely impossible to comprehend the Yimu Thunder Method.

Fang Heng pondered, a glimmer of restless anticipation in his eyes.

Refining the Heavenly Thunder Token was just the first step.

Next, Fang Heng infused Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning into the Heavenly Thunder Token.

One!

Two!

Three!

After infusing five in one go, Fang Heng felt somewhat exhausted, breathing slightly.

The spiritual power in his dantian was almost depleted.

"Hoo—"

"My cultivation is still holding me back!"

Fang Heng let out a self-deprecating laugh, deciding that after returning, he needed to cultivate even harder and quickly advance to the third realm.

He took out a Rejuvenation Pill from his Sumeru Ring and swallowed it.

As the Rejuvenation Pill entered his stomach, it transformed into pure medicinal power, surging through Fang Heng's limbs and bones.

His depleted dantian recovered at a visible speed.

After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, His spiritual power had recovered by seventy to eighty percent.

A buzzing sound!

His communication talisman vibrated.

It was a message from Shen Qiushui.

"Your Highness, the trade fair has concluded."

"My business is also done. Let's meet at the city gates."

"Alright!"

This trip to the City of Life and Death was a great success.

The gains far exceeded Fang Heng's expectations.

Not only did he acquire a lot of Destiny, but he also "picked up" a rare item for free.

He got up, checked out, and left the inn.

When Fang Heng arrived at the city gates, From a distance, he saw a "White Impermanence."

Her shoulders were slender, and her graceful figure swayed gently like a willow in the wind.

This unique gentle aura, characteristic of a scholarly and talented woman—who else could it be but Shen Qiushui?

Just as Fang Heng was about to go and meet her, a voice echoed in his mind. It was Fire Barbarian.

"Master, something's wrong!"

"What is it?"

"That young lady has the scent of Dark God Incense on her."

"Dark God Incense is a method ghost hunters use to track spirits."

"Once you're tainted by it, it's very difficult to get rid of."

Fire Barbarian's warning made Fang Heng pause, his pupils slightly contracting.

"Are you saying Qiushui is being targeted?"

"Most likely, Master!"

Fang Heng's eyes narrowed.

Shen Qiushui being targeted was something he hadn't anticipated at all.

How could she be targeted?

Who was targeting Shen Qiushui?

Fang Heng guessed it was probably those so-called "friends" from the trade fair Shen Qiushui had attended.

Human hearts are treacherous!

Shen Qiushui was simply too kind.

Fang Heng sighed, beginning to scheme in his mind.

He naturally wouldn't stand by and do nothing about Shen Qiushui's safety.

If he revealed himself now and accompanied Shen Qiushui, he would fall completely into the other party's trap.

So...

A cold light flickered in Fang Heng's eyes.

You're the mantis stalking the cicada!

I'll be the oriole behind you!

Let's see whose methods are superior!