CHAPTER 449: CHAPTER 443: ASSIST ME IN CULTIVATION

"Was there any commotion outside?"

"That Demon Corpse is strange and malicious, extremely difficult to handle. The One Coin Sect claims they don’t need our help. Could it be they have some hidden technique we’re unaware of?"

Currently, in the guest inn, the experts from various factions who had come to witness the event hadn’t dispersed. Instead, they gathered, focusing their attention on Old Master Sun, who was holding a teacup upside down against the wall.

The One Coin Sect had ordered everyone to move into the town and stated they didn’t need assistance, only asking them to stand guard here. This caused them some concern. Could it be that before we even considered whether to apprehend the One Coin Sect’s Hierarch to claim credit, she herself might have already fled?

They couldn’t take such matters lightly, yet they couldn’t be too explicit. Nor could they defy the One Coin Sect’s instructions by forcibly going out to observe the battle. Thus, they could only have Old Master Sun use his "Earth Listening" trump card to monitor the situation outside.

Upon listening intently, Old Master Sun indeed discerned the movements of the talismanic armor troops the One Coin Sect had deployed throughout the town. He even described in detail the positions of Bai Shanzi and the One Coin Sect Hierarch, confirming they were seriously establishing defenses with no intention of fleeing.

The crowd listened, somewhat stupefied. "Could it be that ’Not Eating Beef’ truly had long been prepared for this, and reinforcements have arrived?"

They still felt uneasy but had no choice but to wait patiently.

"What time of the night is it?"

At that same moment, Hu Ma was seated in a Taishi Chair on the east side of the town, having just sipped a cup of strong tea. Listening closely to the surrounding sounds, he casually asked.

Immortal Miaoshan, who had been diligently serving tea, glanced at the nearby oil lamp and responded in a low voice, "It’s the third watch."

Hu Ma sighed softly, raised his eyes to the pitch-black forest outside the town, and murmured, "The third watch is for marshaling troops, and the fourth is when the cock crows. That Demon Corpse should be arriving at this town soon..."

"Then..."

Immortal Miaoshan also couldn’t help but look towards the forest. Seeing the pitch darkness, she felt a twinge of fear. Ordinarily, with her skills and status as a Sect Hierarch herself, she certainly wouldn’t be so timid. If Hu Ma weren’t present, she would naturally exude the dignified air of an expert.

But now, having effectively ’discarded her brain’ to simply trust this ’Sect Hierarch,’ her courage naturally diminished somewhat when faced with such an unfathomable situation.

FLAP, FLAP, FLAP...

Just as she cast her gaze, the initially silent forest suddenly came alive. A flock of roosting birds took flight, circling chaotically above the trees with piercing cries. However, after only a few loops, they abruptly fell silent and plummeted to the ground, dead.

The strange disturbance made everyone’s heart jolt. Straining to see deeper into the forest, they perceived only an impenetrable darkness. Yet, this darkness wasn’t stationary; it seemed to be writhing.

When they finally saw clearly, they realized the writhing darkness was indeed real. It pulsed slowly, point by point, as black shadows emerged one after another. Swaying, they hopped out from the forest and gradually stopped at its edge.

"Master Uncle..."

Feeling the surging yin wind around the town, Immortal Miaoshan’s voice couldn’t help but tremble as she softly called out.

Her words seemed to carry an inquiry. The Demon Corpse had not yet appeared, yet so many Ghosts had already gathered, sending shivers down their spines. It seemed even more formidable than the previous night’s assault.

"Guard the town well! Don’t let it harm the townsfolk!"

Hu Ma let out a low breath, rolled up the sleeves of his Taoist robe, and extended his hand. Little Hongtang angled the basket towards Hu Ma, who reached in and drew out the red wooden sword.

As they spoke, they saw an increasing number of vindictive souls jumping out of the forest, gradually forming a line. It was as if the edge of the night itself were slowly pulsing. The surging yin wind it stirred caused the flames of the nearby braziers and candles to flicker with a faint green light.

Just as the chilling yin wind sweeping from outside the town was about to freeze people to the core, they suddenly saw a dense corpse aura emerge from the depths of the forest. A figure, noticeably more substantial than the others, leaped high and slowly moved out into the open.

The pungent smell of blood assailed their nostrils. Its arms were extended stiffly forward, and the tattered talismanic armor had fused with its flesh. Each time it landed, a THUD echoed, as if the very earth trembled.

"It’s here..."

Inside the Shima Town guest inn, Old Master Sun heard the commotion, and his expression changed drastically. "That’s the sound of that creature hopping, absolutely unmistakable... But why do its footsteps sound heavier? It’s clearly just a Demon Corpse, one transformed from my grand-disciple. Yet, when I use the Earth Listening Technique to discern it, though it’s just one set of footsteps, it sounds like the weight of dozens of people..."

"Little Hongtang, light the fire!"

At that same moment, Hu Ma saw the Demon Corpse appear, and his eyes narrowed abruptly.

Suddenly shouting, he lifted his Taoist robe and rushed out, employing his skills as a Shousui man. His charge was powerful and fierce, the wind it generated whipping his Taoist robe until it flapped vigorously. The red wooden sword in his hand pointed forward, exuding an imposing aura of subduing corpses and eradicating ghosts.

Simultaneously, behind him, Little Hongtang had already lit the brazier. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows in all directions.

The town was far from calm. Countless eyes were on the One Coin Sect’s every move, including those of significant figures like Old Master Sun, who could hear all activity within the town without stepping outside.

There were also many observing stealthily.

They too witnessed the Demon Corpse’s attack and saw someone in a Taoist robe emerge alone from the town to confront it. But curiously, when they focused their gaze, the person’s face appeared blurry, unrecognizable no matter how hard they rubbed their eyes.

"Huh?"

Even the Hierarch of the One Coin Sect, Immortal Miaoshan, noticed this peculiar detail. She found that Hu Ma appeared normal before taking action, but once he moved, his face became indistinct.

The more she looked, the more her vision blurred.

She didn’t realize this was a clever application of a minor trick from the Hu Family Zhensui Book. As long as the brazier remained lit, no one could clearly see Hu Ma’s face. Even if they employed Form Observing and Cursing methods, their efforts would be futile. She simply assumed it was a skill Hu Ma had acquired after overcoming the Three Passes and Twelve Tribulations.

This was the Sect Hierarch, after all. Having entered the Ghost Cave, worshipped at the Divine Platform, and received the transmission of the ancestral master’s Three Volumes of Heavenly Books, mastering any skill would be normal for her.

When Hu Ma charged out of the town, it was like a stone plunging into black tides. This stirred infinite ripples among the vindictive souls that had leaped out of the forest but had only surrounded the town, not yet attacking.

Suddenly, in unison, they flew directly towards Hu Ma.

Originally, these vindictive souls were so numerous that it seemed they would directly surge into the town and slaughter the innocent townsfolk. Unexpectedly, their attention seemed entirely focused on Hu Ma; he was the only living person in their eyes.

WHOOSH...

Though vindictive souls could barely manifest at night, they were essentially just gusts of yin wind. To be pounced upon by them felt as if one’s body was being penetrated by a series of illusory figures.

This was the most terrifying aspect. No matter how physically robust or vigorous a person was, being continuously passed through by yin souls would gradually weaken their yang qi. Eventually, their Divine Soul would be pulled out of their body, and they would become one of these invading souls.

However, Hu Ma had already achieved the entry stage of the Great Mighty Sky General Seal. Although he had yet to cultivate a Dharma Form, he possessed a stable Divine Soul, strong enough to withstand the yin wind. Of course, prolonged exposure could tarnish his soul light, but for a short period, he would be unharmed.

With a loud shout, he forcibly charged out from the swarm of vindictive souls.

Bringing his index and middle fingers together, he lightly swiped them along the red wooden sword. Then, sword in hand, he closed the distance and thrust directly at the Demon Corpse’s face.

GRRR... GRRR...

The Demon Corpse, appearing more complete and lifelike than the previous night, emitted strange sounds from its throat as Hu Ma’s sword thrust towards it. A bright talisman on its forehead flashed faintly, and its rigid knees suddenly bent.

It actually knelt before Hu Ma, appearing as if it intended to kowtow.

However, in the next moment, a greedy and vicious intent surfaced in its hollow eyes. Its hands, adorned with black, sharp nails, shot straight up and then plunged down towards Hu Ma’s chest, as if intending to rip it open and extract something from within.

It was perfectly natural for the General Order to subdue the Yin General, especially since the General Order was already imprinted on the Yin General’s forehead, effectively serving as a military writ to command troops. Unfortunately, the Meng family’s minor tampering had significantly enhanced the Yin General’s power, causing it to turn against its master.

Had Hu Ma not been vigilant beforehand, this unexpected turn of events could truly have caught him off guard. Fortunately, having previously eavesdropped on the conversation between the great hall officer and the Meng family members, he knew that the Demon Corpse had already been tampered with.

"Fiend, today I shall use you to aid my Cultivation!"

Shouting fiercely, Hu Ma simultaneously employed the Banlan Hammer technique, holding his red wooden sword horizontally. He skillfully blocked the Yin General’s downward-striking arms, then lashed out with a kick, sending the Demon Corpse sprawling backward.

At the same instant, his aura surged. He pursued it, channeling his Three Column Tao into the red wooden sword, thereby igniting a blazing yang qi.

This was virtually equivalent to unleashing sixty years of yuan yang power. The red wooden sword plunged directly into the Demon Corpse’s abdomen. With a backward pull, he gutted it open.

A closer look revealed a bright red talisman nestled within the Demon Corpse’s filthy, rotting viscera. It stood out vividly against the dark innards, exuding an eerie allure.

"A Soul Summoning Talisman?"

Hu Ma’s eyes narrowed as he advanced. He forcefully swept aside the Demon Corpse’s hands that clawed for his face, then thrust his own hand down, seized the talisman, and ripped it out.

"The Meng family’s methods are truly formidable—a single talisman can draw out so many vindictive souls..."

"...But alas, it’s still not enough. Show me what you can really do!"