Chapter 23: The Phantom’s Demise (Part Two)

Motuo and Hu Hai, having landed their blow, were naturally elated and bursting with pride. Yet Shi Jun sensed uneasily that events had unfolded far too smoothly. As he watched Hu Hai and Motuo injure Chishang, their loud cheers and high-fiving struck him as ill-advised. He was about to voice a warning when his heart suddenly thudded violently, and in that instant, a strange transformation occurred.

A dense black smoke erupted from Chishang's wound, enveloping his entire body in a thick shroud. Then, as if dissolving into nothingness, Chishang transformed into countless tiny droplets, each shimmering with a silvery glow, hiding within the black mist. It seemed that each droplet was a part of his body, making him nearly impossible to grasp.

Hu Hai was utterly confounded. With so many droplets, which one contained Chishang's true essence? His Spirit-Returning Ring possessed limited energy and could not be used recklessly, so he had no choice but to adopt a defensive stance, waiting for the next development.

Motuo, however, was relentless. He rubbed his hands together, conjuring several flickering blue-violet flames. With a shout, "Go!" he hurled the fireballs into the black mist. A crackling sound erupted as the flames entered the dark haze, vanishing instantly into a wisp of white smoke, as if they had fallen into a pool of water, leaving not even a spark behind.

Just as the group stood helpless, the myriad droplets suddenly coalesced into a single mass, inhaling and exhaling, absorbing the surrounding black mist entirely. Then, spinning rapidly, the mist and droplets merged into one. Before the three, a figure both illusory and real materialized—Chishang had regained his strength and revealed his true form.

Chishang now looked vastly different. His long hair flowed about, half his face was pale, the other half pitch black, eyes sunken, cheekbones prominent, mouth wide and flat, with a long, forked tongue flickering in and out, producing a chilling hiss reminiscent of a giant serpent in human guise. Below his neck, there was no physical body; instead, swirling masses of gray-black vapor shaped his form, leaving him ghostly and suspended in midair, exuding an eerie and mysterious aura.

Upon seeing Chishang's corporeal form, Hu Hai wasted no time in surprise, pointing directly at him and attacking, while calling out, "Motuo, quick, let's flank him! We can't let him morph again!"

Motuo needed no urging, already poised for action. Without hesitation, he drew a short sword from his breast, thrusting it at Chishang's face and reciting with mock elegance, "This sword's name is Clear Breeze—let it sweep away evil!"

Chishang seemed wary of Hu Hai's attack; seeing the Spirit-Returning Ring emit its green light again, he dodged nimbly, avoiding Hu Hai's strike. But he showed no such courtesy to Motuo—his long tongue snatched Motuo's sword, then, with a mighty gulp, swallowed the heat-radiating blade whole. Smacking his lips, he remarked, "Hmm, hot and tasty. Got any more? I'd like to try a few more!"

Motuo was aghast. He never imagined his treasured sword, forged with his own life-fire, would be so easily taken and devoured, with Chishang unfazed and even eager for more. Panic-stricken, he staggered backward, his face blanching as he thought, "This Chishang is likely far more formidable than Deputy General Duanyue of the Thunder Institute, whom I faced before. This could end very badly!"

Chishang, seeing Motuo retreat in fear, let out a cold chuckle. Stretching his hands, he rapidly formed several strange seals, then clenched his fists and shouted, "Now taste my skill—Wrath of the Water Spirits: Water Dragon Wave!" With that, his fists opened, and two radiant spheres appeared, shooting toward Motuo like lightning.

Barely recovered from his shock, Motuo saw the twin spheres—each the size of a fist—racing toward him from either side. In dire straits, he abandoned all pretense, scrambling behind Hu Hai while shouting, "Careful! It's Water Dragon Wave—don't try to block it head-on!"

Shi Jun, seeing the danger, had no time to devise a plan. He stepped forward, ready to shield Motuo from harm. But Hu Hai was quicker, placing himself before them both, unleashing two beams of green light to meet the incoming spheres.

A sharp, slicing sound tore through the air as the green beams collided with the spheres, exploding midair in a dazzling display—an equal contest, with neither side gaining an advantage.

This time, surprise flashed across Chishang's face. After a moment's pause, he turned to Hu Hai and asked, "Boy, what is that in your hand? You're a mortal—how do you possess a treasure from the Netherworld?"

Hu Hai had just broken a cold sweat, for this was his first time wielding the Spirit-Returning Ring and he was unsure of its true power. Yet, seeing himself match Chishang blow for blow, he proudly wiped the ring with his sleeve and grinned, "Impressed, are you? This is a supreme artifact gifted by the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs, named Spirit-Returning. It's made precisely to deal with malevolent spirits like you who plague the mortal world. You'd best surrender now!"

"Ancestor of the Yellow Springs?" A flicker of astonishment crossed the young man's eyes, followed by a sly grin. "So that old fellow meddles in such affairs, eh? Still, this treasure is impressive, though it's wasted on a mere mortal like you!" With that, he swiftly retreated, floating several meters away. His hands shifted through five or six complicated seals as he chanted incantations.

Shi Jun, Hu Hai, and Motuo all felt their bodies stiffen. Chishang, though holding the upper hand, had suddenly withdrawn—what new trick was he planning? Now that he stood beyond their reach, none dared pursue, so they remained alert, wary of his next move.

In the blink of an eye, two vague phantoms materialized before Chishang. He split his hands, causing the phantoms to swap positions, then they faded away. At the same time, Hu Hai and Motuo felt their minds reel, crying out together in confusion.

When Chishang activated his spell, Shi Jun also experienced dizziness, but then his heart began to pound fiercely. Strangely, each throb dispelled the strange symptoms, restoring his vision and hearing to their usual sharpness.

Just then, the cries of Hu Hai and Motuo reached his ears. Shi Jun turned to look—and was shocked beyond measure.