The demonic artifact: the Soul-Draining Mirror.
By consuming blood and flesh, the mirror could give birth to "Mirror Ghosts." These ghosts could move and attack through reflective surfaces. By congregating and dispersing, they could control the intensity and number of their attacks.
At this moment, the Mirror Ghosts’ ability worked in perfect concert with the raindrops falling from the Umbrella Maiden, temporarily pinning everyone down.
While the group was briefly delayed by the Soul-Draining Mirror’s power, the other four major Evil Spirits were rapidly approaching. The encroaching Sword Soldier Ghosts had also begun to engage the disciples from the various sects posted as sentries in the surrounding area.
"Let me!"
Lu Dong shouted in a low voice. He knew they couldn’t go on like this. His muscles suddenly bulged as he prepared to stop dodging and meet the attacks head-on with his Flesh Body.
Red Heart Sect Cultivators focused on honing their physical bodies and Qi and Blood, making them exceptionally tough. A Red Heart Sect disciple was indeed the perfect person to act as a meat shield.
SLAP!!
But before he could move, he heard the light sound of a palm striking nearby.
The next moment.
BOOM!!
He felt a powerful surge of Blood Qi ripple outward, followed by a dazzling burst of golden light.
HAH!!
A low shout, accompanied by the sharp whistle of something cutting through the air, reached everyone’s ears.
The roar of igniting flames immediately followed. In an instant, a massive torrent of golden fire erupted, covering a radius of nearly ten meters. It enveloped the group, then surged toward the heavens.
BOOM!!
HSSS!!
The blazing Golden Fire made contact with the raindrops. The intense Primordial Qi instantly vaporized the droplets into wisps of Yin Qi, and a terrifying blast of Force blew the steam away. Within a ten-meter radius, not a single drop of water remained!
Everyone whipped their heads toward the erupting Golden Fire. They saw a figure, muscles bulging, one hand held upright, still in the posture of having just unleashed a palm strike. Blood-red Technique patterns coiled around his palm, and dazzling Golden Fire shrouded his body, piercing the darkness.
With a single palm strike, the Golden Fire had erupted, sweeping the area within a ten-meter radius clean of all malevolent yin energy!
Thanks to Zhao Xuanqi’s instantaneous Golden Fire Burst, the rain vanished. The cold glints of light—the Mirror Ghosts from the Soul-Draining Mirror—lost their medium and could no longer ricochet around the group to attack. After a moment of stunned silence, everyone immediately began to form their own Techniques and unleash their abilities.
High in the sky, the suspended Blood Moon looked down upon the city. The light from the erupting Golden Fire was impossible to conceal; it was captured by the Blood Moon and projected before the eyes of two black-robed figures.
"Is that... the Red Heart Sect’s Golden Fire?"
"Someone in the Blood Strengthening realm can actually manifest Golden Fire? Ever since the Red Heart Sect’s ’Thunderfire Golden Armor’ was shattered, no one has been able to accomplish that, have they?"
The tall, cloaked figure watched the scene displayed on the blood-red screen, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
"It is strange. To do that, one must borrow the power of a ’Dao Source.’ But the Dao Source Seal belonging to the Spirit Official Dao was shattered, proving that its original master has fallen. The Red Heart Sect declined as a result. Logically, it should be impossible for someone like this to appear ever again," the childlike, cloaked figure added in a low voice.
"Is this the ’variable’ Gui Cang mentioned? We need to find out the identity of this person from the Red Heart Sect," the tall, cloaked figure said.
"We’ll tell Gui Cang about this later," the childlike figure said with a nod.
Meanwhile, inside the Ghost City.
"By Heaven and Earth’s nature, let foul Qi disperse! In the cavern of profound mystery, the Grand Origin shines bright!"
"Purify!!"
After recovering and activating his Profound Secret Spell, Deng Mingsheng immediately executed the Purification Realm Spell. He used vibrating Sound Waves, combined with the power of Primordial Qi, to prop up a protective field. Any raindrops that fell were caught by this field.
For a time, the raindrops couldn’t get near the group, and the Mirror Ghosts’ attacks no longer posed a threat.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The cold glints of light seemed to realize this as well. They stopped attacking the main group and, in a flash, used the reflection from distant raindrops to shoot off in other directions, targeting the other disciples.
"Split into four teams to handle those four special Evil Spirits! Pu Xiangrong, use your Escape Technique to find the source of that cold light—the Evil Spirit—and eliminate it. The rest of you will deal with the Sword Soldier Ghosts and the other Evil Spirits!"
Zhuang Li, currently under the effects of a Secret Spell, had cold, clear eyes. His thoughts raced, and he instantly analyzed the situation and issued his commands.
BUZZZ!!
Pu Xiangrong didn’t speak. He immediately formed a seal with his hands, and his body, shrouded in a faint light, vanished.
"Leave that three-headed brat to me!"
Ren Fei wiped the blood from his face, a savage glint in his eyes. With a push of his foot, he shot toward the approaching Three-Headed Child.
"That thing is dangerous. Don’t be careless! I’m going with you!"
Crimson flames ignited around Lu Dong’s body as he caught up with Ren Fei.
"I’ll take the Bone Demon,"
Zhao Xuanqi’s voice echoed in their ears. A flash of golden light followed, and his figure was already hurtling toward the towering Bone Demon on the left at an incredible speed.
"Zhao, I’m with you."
Xu Jingtian’s expression flickered at the sight. A bright yellow aura enveloped him as he moved to follow Zhao Xuanqi.
"I’ll handle the Blood Zombie."
Red light emanated from Chi Li, coalescing on the surface of his body into the form of a ferocious divine effigy. He charged toward the towering, blood-colored zombie.