Layover at 1349

e stepped into the elevator, Shao Yihang pressed the first floor button, and asked, "Why can't willow branches be hung"I shook my head and said, “Sure thing. Willow branches are used as talismans to w...On the mountaintop, black clouds hung like inverted funnels, with an oppressive miasma and a palpable sense of malevolence.

A woman knelt on the ground with her hands raised to the sky, and crossed her legs in a meditative position. She seemed to be waiting for something...

"Hey!" My brother couldn't stand to see a pregnant woman get hurt like that. He roared, "Do you want to ruin this body! Get over here!"

He bit down on the copper talisman, carrying the Kunlun sword in his hand, preparing to go and capture "people".

A gust of cold wind blew, and a long-haired, robe-wearing ghost with disheveled hair stood before us... Was it a male or female ghost

"...She's almost successful, almost successful..." The ghost mumbled to itself, its form wavering, yet its face was covered in blood.

And that blood, it was smeared into strange lines, as if made into makeup.

I took out my small altar and prepared to superimpose and detain the ghost.

"...You don't need to chant for me, young mage..." The ghost's voice was somewhat resigned. "As long as I can protect her, even if I vanish into dust, it would be worth it..."

“Huh” I looked up at the ghost in the blue robes, puzzled. “You have lingered in the well for over a hundred years, practicing evil arts and harming many. You should go to atone for your sins.”

Ghost chuckled softly, "Atone For what sin..."

"...Are we in love, guilty She was driven to death, resentment lingered, her home was struck by misfortune. His family then killed me with a hammer and buried me with her in the well! Guilty" He sneered, madness widening his arms, his sleeves billowing in the sinister wind.

The woman sat under the tree and wept towards me, saying: “Master… We were wrongfully killed. We suffered greatly to cultivate together for a lifetime of companionship. This little cultivation was not easy to come by… Please… show mercy…”

Her body had changed, her abdomen like a ball falling down.

She is dead... Her mortal shell is gone.

This female ghost was captivating and soul-stealing. Perhaps it was her dark magic, or perhaps the original woman was so frightened that her soul left her body, only to be taken over by the female ghost. The original wisp of a soul became a lost spirit instead.

The female ghost's act of stealing souls wasn't driven by a desire for the house itself, but rather an attraction to fresh, recently deceased souls to "consume." As a result, the house gradually lost its spiritual essence, and her body began to weaken. The fetus growing within her also died.

Stillborn babies, especially in this kind of situation, are easily attracted by wandering spirits. That's why we saw ghosts aimlessly approaching us on the way here.

And the female ghost's accomplice—the murdered paramour who was buried with her would also possess living people, bringing some vengeful spirits with him.

The female ghost was weeping under the tree. I don't believe she would actually shed tears.

Jiang Qiyun once said: Don't believe what ghosts say.

Kind ghosts have long since gone to the underworld. Those that remain in the mortal world are driven by desires, and desires easily lead to becoming malevolent spirits.

I shall hurl the Tiny Fa Altar into oblivion and invoke the Ghost Gate with incantations.

As if it happened in a blink of an eye, the ghost in the blue robe suddenly contorted its face, let out a terrifying roar and charged towards me.

It's nothing more than frightening, or possessing, or evil spirits corroding the body, causing serious damage to the house... Just knowing these tricks of ghosts, I'm not so afraid of them.

I stuck the jade ruyi in my pocket, held the Thunder Seal with both hands, and silently recited the protective incantation to summon thunder. A bolt of lightning struck from the sky!

But this ghost in the blue robe was agile, it actually dodged! Its hands dangled like claws, stabbing towards me.

"Xiao Qiao! Be careful—" My brother shouted.

The ghost is right in front of me now! How is he so agile!

I was so close, I could clearly see the dent in his head from being bludgeoned. His blood-soaked, dishevelled hair and face were terrifying, making me instinctively scream and slap him shut my eyes!

This is no ordinary slap.

In my panic, I thrust out one hand with fingers slightly spread and curved. With the other, I curled my three middle fingers inward, keeping my thumb and pinky finger extended, and with both hands strained, I awkwardly formed the ghost-subduing hand gesture.

I swept my palm with all my strength, whirling both hands and pivoting almost 180 degrees!

Moreover, before the divine thunder could finish its strike, this slap sent the ghost in the green robe flying several dozen feet away, accompanied by a cascade of divine lightning.

My brother originally rushed over to save me, but unexpectedly, I slapped the ghost away, and it flew back in front of my brother.

He was stunned, coughed softly, adjusted his facial expression, and said in a low voice: "Cough... Xiao Qiao, you... you... are so fierce..."

Oh my gosh, this is a surprise!

I was so frightened that I reflexively spat out two seals.

"Humph..." Jiang Qiyun heard my scream and hurried back. Unexpectedly, he just saw me use the Ghost-Suppressing Fan to slap the ghost away.

I turned back, and to my surprise, he was actually smiling.

That's so embarrassing!

"……You, you're laughing at me!" I was getting a little flustered. He always laughed at me!

Jiang Qiyun arched an eyebrow and walked beside me, a playful glint in his eyes: "Ha... this Lord's teachings have yielded some results, it seems. You can even hold your own in a pinch now."

My brother hummed softly and said to Jiang Qiyun, "You're still laughing Be careful next time you argue. Xiao Qiao might slap you like this... I don't know if you could fly out the door, but she should be able to knock you off the bed."

"Mu Yunfan!" I couldn't help but laugh and cry.

I'd only use all my strength to slap someone like that if I was possessed by a ghost!

》》》

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder boomed overhead. My brother and I both jumped in surprise.

— Look! That thunder is so close!

"Quick, hide! It's dangerous on top of the mountain!" My brother grabbed my hand and pulled me to run away.

But where can he run to! This mountaintop is just grass and trees, hiding under the trees is even more dangerous!

Boom——

A clap of thunder accompanied by a flash of lightning struck from the sky. Jiang Qiyun muttered incantations and wove his fingers, shielding us under his protective barrier.

He frowned, standing before me, shielding me from the chaotic energy and bolts of heavenly fire.

The great tree was split by lightning and burst into flames, but the female ghost plunged into the fire, seemingly crazed.

"......as long as one can survive the tribulation once every hundred years, after three times one will be able to refine the soul truly...truly...refine the soul truly..."

A deafening boom echoed through the air. A mighty bolt of lightning struck a towering tree, cleaving it in two with terrifying force. Flames licked at the ground, igniting the dry underbrush.

The female ghost's soul shattered out of its body, only to be struck by a bolt of lightning the moment it took form. It was as if a cloud of gas had been split apart, its entire being twisted and contorted in chaos.

"...No, if I survive this tribulation... I can... refine my soul... really..." She still wasn't giving up, reaching out her hand towards the black clouds in the sky.

Fiery winds raged, scorching and intense heat.

The ghost in the blue robe that I had sent flying was burned by the flames and suddenly rose, floating erratically like a burning plastic bag.

"...Struck by lightning, is that considered weathering the tribulation" I whispered to Jiang Qiyun.

Jiang Qiyun stood facing the raging fire and hurricane, his eyes lowered as he gazed at the human figures being consumed by the flames, and the ghosts whose bodies twisted and gradually turned into blue smoke.

"No," he said coldly, "Cultivation of the different kind, heavenly tribulation is only a common calamity, there are some calamities that are not from heaven... For example, attracting you all is also one of her tribulations."

Jiang Qiyun was stunned for a moment, looking at the raging flames and smoke before him. He didn't show any emotion, as if he had already foreseen such an ending.

"Xia Qiao," he reached out to me.

I held his cool fingers, and he led me to his side.

"Look," he pointed with his chin towards the raging inferno.

To be honest, I'm not really looking forward to it. The scene is a bit shocking and brutal.

“The right path of cultivation involves cultivating oneself, contemplating one's thoughts deeply, being strict with oneself, and striving towards goodness.”

While the practice of collateral doors involves absorbing essence and gathering qi, seeking shortcuts and magical tools to bolster one's cultivation; while the path of evil..."

He frowned slightly, speaking in a low voice, word by word: "Plundering and exploiting, injuring lives and invading, devouring souls... All these means are against the way of heaven, and yet you dare to dream of defying heaven and succeeding."

I knew he was teaching me, nodding my head and whispering, “I understand…”

He pinched my finger lightly and whispered, "You've improved... Your ghost-subduing fan earlier, though it looked clumsy, was... quite good."

Good heavens, can you just forget about this!

We stood here, guarding the extinguished blaze atop the mountain, when suddenly from the middle of the slope, a chorus of terrified cries rang out: "Fire! Fire!... Ghost! Ghosts!!" at me with a faint look in his eyes, and said softly: "Don't drink cold water, the Yin Gu is already very harmful, it's not good for your body, and besides, don't be so jumpy."I scratched my head, to...