Chapter 16: Blade of a Hundred Ghosts

After performing the Incense Observation Technique, I could distinctly feel the temperature in the hall drop significantly. At the same moment, the ghostly presence clinging to the Liu father and daughter revealed a faint trace.

“Heh, so it’s a century-old Ghost Zombie. Facing me, Chen Qiyue, your time has come!” I said coldly to the swirling black mist within the barrier.

However, my words seemed to have little effect on the black mist. It continuously flowed through the bodies of the Liu father and daughter, preparing to launch a deadly strike at me.

Such arrogance!

My intuition told me that this Miao tribal sorcerer believed he had me thoroughly cornered.

Very well, I would let this sorcerer taste my demon-subduing techniques. I would show no mercy dealing with him.

I plunged the copper coin sword I held sharply into the ground. As the sword sank into the earth, a huge fissure cracked open on the floor.

Seizing the moment, I grabbed a handful of incense fragrance from midair and forcefully sprinkled it onto the copper coin sword. Then, I withdrew the sword and struck fiercely into the air.

“Ah—!”

A piercing, agonized scream suddenly echoed throughout the hall.

Immediately, the black mist attached to the Liu father and daughter scattered onto the floor, dissolving into fragments.

Within the Chen family mansion in the provincial capital, a sorcerer nicknamed Ghost Fox spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the skeletal magical artifact before him.

He had never imagined that he would be defeated by such a young physiognomist.

The humiliation was unbearable.

“How are you, Ghost Fox? Are you physically alright?” Chen Yandong asked, genuinely concerned for his loyal subordinate’s wellbeing as the top feng shui master in the city.

“Chen Yandong, my skeletal curse technique was broken. My body suffered a backlash—I fear I am gravely injured,” Ghost Fox said with a pale face. He had originally attached himself to the Chen family guild, hoping to cultivate a powerful curse technique.

But today, unexpectedly, he was thoroughly beaten by this young man.

Not only was his witchcraft dismantled, but his body also suffered severe backlash.

Such disgrace was intolerable.

Clenching his fists tightly, he resolved to fight Chen Qiyue to the death.

“Chen Yandong, I can’t accept this humiliation. I will kill him and turn him into my walking corpse!” Ghost Fox shouted wildly inside the Chen family mansion, disheveled and frenzied.

Now, the only thing he wanted was to kill the one who had injured him.

No matter where he hid, Ghost Fox would hunt him down.

“Brother Ghost Fox, rest here and recover. Once your injuries improve, we will deal with him together,” Chen Yandong said.

Since learning I could summon the Infernal Spirits, his attitude toward me changed drastically.

---

Now aware that Ghost Fox intended to seek revenge, Chen Yandong grew worried.

“Chen Yandong, rest assured. We Miao sorcerers and Qingma physiognomists have been mortal enemies for centuries. Since he broke my curse, it means one of us must die!” Ghost Fox smiled grimly before straightening his clothes and stepping out of the Chen family mansion.

Chen Yandong wanted to stop him, but seeing Ghost Fox’s resolute expression, he let him go.

If this fellow couldn’t kill me, then there was no reason for him to remain in the Chen family guild.

Chen Yandong had established the Chen family guild to network talents under his control.

If Ghost Fox failed to eliminate this rebellious novice, he truly had no reason to stay.

After Ghost Fox left, a harsh gleam flickered in Chen Yandong’s eyes.

He hadn’t expected such formidable skill from this countryside physiognomist.

As the heir of Qingma physiognomy, he indeed possessed the boldness of Chen Tiande in his prime.

---

At the Liu family villa, I helped the father and daughter to a nearby bedroom to rest. Both looked exhausted after having the curse lifted.

Just as I was about to relax, a glance at the incense burner beside me instantly tightened my nerves.

Of the five incense sticks burning, the one on the far right had already extinguished.

The second stick from the right was more than halfway burned, creating an unusual “three high, one low” pattern.

“Divine three, demon four, immortal five.”

I had never encountered such a pattern before.

Judging from the Liu family’s recent condition, this indicated a sinister anomaly.

It meant a half-divine, half-ghostly evil entity had entered the villa.

Though I did not yet know who this being was, the incense’s state told me its skill was formidable.

At the very least, its strength was on par with mine.

Yet, I felt no fear.

As the heir of Qingma physiognomy, I would never submit to such a malevolent creature.

Extinguishing the remaining incense on the floor, I grasped my sword and awaited the arrival of the evil entity.

Though the Liu family had severed ties with me, to overcome the first calamity in my divination, I had to resolve everything here.

This was not just the Liu family’s affair—it was a destined tribulation I had to face.

*Clang!*

A cold wind swept through as the villa’s main door was pushed open from outside.

I looked up to see a man with a dark, sinister expression standing at the entrance.

The malevolent aura radiating from him confirmed he was the one who cast the curse upon Liu Sihai and the others.

---

“So you’re the one who broke my curse? I didn’t expect you to be so young. That’s quite surprising,” the man said to me with a hint of shock.

“I heard from Chen Yandong that you’re the heir of Qingma physiognomy. Good—that saves me the trouble of hunting you down,” the strange man sneered, drawing a large broadsword from his back.

“You and I are lifelong enemies. It’s only natural we clash upon meeting. But why unleash this witchcraft on ordinary people? Is it merely because I was once betrothed to her?” he asked.

Though his appearance was odd, I showed no trace of fear.

I understood clearly this man’s sole intention was to kill me.

I had to fight with all my might.

“You guessed right. We sorcerers and physiognomists are like fire and water—enemies for centuries. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being the Qingma physiognomy heir,” the man said coldly, seemingly certain he would kill me this day.

“Our Qingma physiognomy lineage refuses to be equated with your kind. You’ve harmed countless innocents, becoming a universally despised sect,” I retorted.

“Arrogant! How dare you speak to me like that? I will grind you into a human cudgel and make you my skeletal artifact!” he bellowed, enraged by my words, and swung his blade fiercely at me.

His gaze was murderous, intent on killing me with a single strike.

The broadsword flashed with a chilling light, ghostly energy flickering along its edge.

As he swung, countless malevolent spirits surged toward me.

“This is my Hundred Ghost Blade, honed over years and responsible for ninety-nine kills. You will be the hundredth!” Ghost Fox sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

I was to be the hundredth victim of his technique. Killing me would perfect his Hundred Ghost Blade method.

If he failed, the blade’s power would backfire, causing him to explode!

“Too bad—you won’t kill me!” I shouted earnestly, drawing the Soul-Calming Bell from my back.

Against these spirits, the best artifact was the Soul-Calming Bell my grandfather had taught me to wield.

*Ding-ling-ling—*

Murmuring the Soul-Locking Curse, I shook the bell gently.

With each chime, a faint halo of light enveloped me.

The ghostly spirits attacking were all repelled by this radiant barrier.

My display surprised the sorcerer.

He hadn’t expected his prized Hundred Ghost Blade to be powerless against me.

This bewildered him deeply.

“They say the heirs of the Qingma art are formidable. Seeing you today, the reputation is well deserved!”