Among Evil Spirits, most act purely on instinct. Only a very small fraction possesses a degree of sapience, and this type often poses a greater threat and has more potential for growth.
The Evil Spirits Zhao Xuanqi and the others were now encountering were clearly of this type—they could sense danger and knew when to advance or retreat.
The other groups were facing the same situation.
Ren Fei and Lu Dong were locked in battle with the Three-Headed Child.
The Three-Headed Child had transformed into a three-headed, six-armed form, its power greatly increased since Zhao Xuanqi’s last encounter with it. The rattle in the hand of its smiling face, infused with Yin Qi, had swollen to half a man’s height and was being shaken frantically. The crisp, raindrop-like sound had become incredibly deep with the rattle’s expansion, booming like war drums.
The Yin Qi, carried by the Sound Waves, formed ripples in the air. Wherever they spread, a living being’s Primordial Qi, Qi and Blood, and Spirit would all suffer from the vibration, causing their circulation to stagnate.
Lu Dong had been affected by this before. His Qi and Blood circulation had stagnated due to his carelessness, allowing the creature to land a sword strike that broke through his Crimson Fire and physical defenses, inflicting a serious wound.
But now, with Ren Fei fighting alongside him, the creature’s ability could no longer completely bind him. Ren Fei’s Sword Light was incredibly sharp. Even the Sword Light from the Three-Headed Child’s man-sized Black Wood Sword would collapse upon collision. Within just ten exchanges, the Three-Headed Child was already at a disadvantage.
However, the Three-Headed Child seemed to know it was no match for the two of them. Relying on the restrictive power of its rattle and the black eyes on its calm middle face—which spun ceaselessly and seemed to possess powerful analytical abilities—it constantly repositioned itself, stalling their assault.
On Chi Li and He Xijun’s side, the battle was far more brutal.
Both Chi Li’s Red General’s Split Soul and He Xijun’s Crimson Fire were suited for direct confrontation, as was the tall, lump-covered Blood Zombie.
SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!
Across the battlefield, fresh blood and chunks of flesh flew through the air. None of it belonged to Chi Li or He Xijun; it all came from the tall Blood Zombie.
This monstrous Evil Spirit not only possessed terrifying brute strength but also had an extremely durable body, requiring an attack with immense Primordial Qi just to break its defenses. Moreover, the Evil Spirit paid no mind to its own injuries as it attacked, fighting with a savage, life-for-a-life style.
However, just as the two of them used powerful bursts of energy to leave the monster covered in wounds, they discovered a bloody light flashing within its body as its injuries began to rapidly heal. Furthermore, the flesh and blood splattering from its body seemed to have a potent corrupting effect. Even the Crimson Fire of the Red Heart Sect couldn’t cleanse it. If it touched their skin, it would seep through and corrode their Primordial Qi.
Although the pair currently held the upper hand, they could find no way to finish off the Blood Zombie for the time being.
Next were Deng Mingsheng and Li Zhilin from Miaoyin Hall.
The two were trying to deal with the Umbrella Maiden, but the Evil Spirit refused to engage them directly. Its ability seemed to have an extremely wide range. Within a certain area, it could manipulate the falling raindrops, turning them into highly penetrating needles. While not particularly damaging, getting hit would amplify the rain’s effect of freezing and stagnating one’s Qi and Blood and Primordial Qi, greatly hindering an attacker’s speed.
With the creature deliberately keeping its distance, Deng Mingsheng and Li Zhilin hadn’t even managed to touch the Umbrella Maiden once.
Finally, there was the cold light that continuously split and reformed using the raindrops as springboards. It was currently using the rain that drenched the group, in coordination with the surrounding Sword Soldier Ghosts, to relentlessly harass the area where Zhuang Li and the majority of the disciples were. Though no one had died, most of them were now injured because of it.
The fact that this cold light had not disappeared proved that Pu Xiangrong’s mission had failed.
The situation had, for the moment, fallen into a stalemate.
Judging from the situation on each battlefield, it seemed everyone had the upper hand, but they all knew very well that as time ticked by, a crisis was drawing ever closer.
Their spent Primordial Qi and Physical Ability could not be quickly replenished, and the continuous fluctuations from the fighting were attracting more and more Evil Spirits. There were even signs that Evil Spirits from neighboring streets were being drawn over.
Furthermore, as time went on, the next Night Parade of Hundred Demons was drawing nearer and nearer.
Imperceptibly, the Blood Moon in the sky had already neared its zenith.
’Should I go all out and kill this Bone Demon first?’
Zhao Xuanqi stared at the Bone Demon ahead, which was constantly harassing him with Ghost Fire while fleeing at extreme speed, and narrowed his eyes.
Right now, in his Profound Water Yin Sha state, he couldn’t catch up to the creature’s uncanny acceleration, which was generated by its Nether Fire. But this was not the full extent of his power.
’With the explosive power of the Dragon Gate Secret Technique stacked on top of the Profound Water Yin Sha, the speed I could achieve would be absolutely beyond what this Bone Demon can match. I’m confident I could kill it within three moves.’
’However, stacking two Secret Techniques would place an immense burden on my body. Even if I deactivated them after just a few moves, reactivating them again so soon would inevitably affect my physical condition, making it impossible to remain at my peak.’
’Killing one Bone Demon is easy, but killing the other scattered Evil Spirits would be difficult in a state where my Secret Techniques are stacked.’