An overwhelming sense of oppression pressed down intensely, though the ghostly apparition did not make a sound, only exerting its influence silently.
I could still hear my own heartbeat, even the faint thudding at my temples was perceptible.
The hand moved.
The Four Precepts Clear Mirror cast its reflection on the nearest ghostly figure.
The copper rays flashed, and the ghost disintegrated into wisps of gray mist.
Another ghost approached from my left side, and I casually waved the half-foot copper sword, dispersing it again!
This time was different from the previous one, when I started to fight, I always felt a messy feeling, noisy but disorderly.
At this moment, I could still hear the faintest sound of every move.
After dispersing at least seven or eight ghosts, the palm that held the Four Precepts Clear Mirror felt the burning pain again, and even the half-foot copper sword became scorching hot, making it difficult to grip.
Suddenly, I heard a faint sound of footsteps! It seemed to come from the cabinet where the executioner had disappeared! They were walking away in the distance!
The ghost did not have a step sound; it was Yang Ghost King who moved!
I did not hesitate and leaped up suddenly. My feet landed on the cabinet immediately. I caught a glimpse of a hurried figure trying to hide behind another cabinet!
I gave a powerful push with my legs, leaped down, and chased after Yang Ghost King at full speed!
Ghost shadows crowded up behind me, and even among them, a streak of blue appeared!
The instant the blue appeared, I felt a chill run down my spine!
My intuition told me that even the Four Precepts Clear Mirror might not be effective!
No, it's not that the Four Precepts Clear Mirror is ineffective; it's that I'm unable to master the Four Precepts Clear Mirror against a ghost of this caliber!
There are no ghosts around Yang Ghost King, which is problematic!
I sped up, and Yang Ghost King was unable to evade me. The moment I caught up to him, I pressed down on his shoulders and hooked his foot with my leg!
Yang Ghost King suddenly tumbled to the ground, letting out a muted groan of pain.
I drove my elbow into his back hard, pressing down with all my strength!
Yang Ghost King let out another muted groan and uttered a plea, "Spare me..."
My force was substantial, and if I exerted any more, I could easily shatter the bones in Yang Ghost King's back.
I relaxed my grip slightly.
In silence, all the ghostly figures pursuing me vanished...
Even the streak of deep blue that appeared earlier was nowhere to be seen.
What was even more peculiar was that standing next to Yang Ghost King, even the surrounding mist seemed thinner.
It wasn't that the mist disappeared; it should be that something on Yang Ghost King was taking effect!
Yang Ghost King doesn't need any of our reasons; he is about to reveal himself!
The magical artifacts on the statue certainly have their risks, but they are tailor-made for this place. If Yang Ghost King can leave by using the artifacts, why would he need us?!
I let go of Yang Ghost King's back and grabbed his shoulders, pulling him up.
Yang Ghost King's face was pale, and his eyes darted about nervously.
I stared at him for a few seconds before shaking my head and saying, "I won't kill you. Let's leave quickly."
Yang Ghost King was taken aback, and his Adam's apple moved.
To be honest, I didn't feel that Yang Ghost King was particularly hateful; instead, I thought he was both pitiful and stubborn.
Perhaps, there might be reasons we don't know here. Among the people who died back then, there could have been someone whose significance to Yang Ghost King was entirely different?
"Thank... thank you..."
Yang Ghost King's neck seemed to be choked.
"Follow me," I said sternly, preparing to head back.
Yang Ghost King hurriedly followed me.
At the same time, he took out something from his bosom.
That was a copper pestle, with an end similar to a handle, a solid rod in the middle, and an open top like a hollow one. Inside were two copper beads.
"Sacred... artifact..."
"From the statue of Heavenly Pathway..." Yang Ghost King's voice was slightly stuttered.
I had been about to say to throw it away, but there's that blue avenger ghost that I can't deal with.
I shook my head, telling him to keep it for now, and sped up with my feet.
Yang Ghost King stood frozen for two seconds, as if caught off guard.
"High Heaven Path... is not an ordinary Taoist. When we came here back then, we didn't see any artifacts... If there were, they would have been taken long ago."
"I'm not particularly eager for this item, but to go down, one has to overcome the ghosts. By some chance, I saw it and took it out of curiosity, never expecting that it would actually be useful down here... Before, we could pass through here solely because of Brother Mu Ye's spirit relic."
"You've learned Taoist magic, so this artifact could be useful to you." Yang Ghost King tried to explain forcefully.
I felt a slight chill in my heart. Yang Ghost King had no idea about the potential danger this artifact could cause.
"Is there still a lot of ghostly activity further ahead?" I changed the topic and asked Yang Ghost King sternly.
"No... no more... Down here there are mostly traps and treasures. There are too many book cabinets in this layer, the library of High Heaven Temple. There might be many heritages here. When we came here, everyone's hearts were set on it. Although your father cautioned us not to touch anything, they couldn't help but scatter."
"Only one person for exploration, is that correct?" I asked Yang Ghost King again.
"Hmm..." Yang Ghost King was filled with complex emotions.
I didn't know how to describe it.
In fact, this means that the others all died out of greed, merely leaving behind a fragment of their soul?
Yang Ghost King couldn't help but yearn to save them?
"Have you gathered enough souls?" I spat out a mouthful of impurities and asked.
"Enough... enough, that was the last one just now." Yang Ghost King nodded hastily.
I said nothing and soon brought Yang Ghost King back to Zhenying's side.
Lao Gong aimed a toothy grin at Yang Ghost King, his expression was very fierce.
Zhenying's brows were furrowed, and there wasn't much kindness on her face, only alertness.
"Yang Ghost King has gathered enough souls from back then. We can leave directly," I said sternly.
Zhenying heaved a sigh of relief.
Lao Gong looked at Yang Ghost King with doubt.
"Why... there seems to be no effect..." Lao Gong looked even more strange.
I more or less understood what Lao Gong was thinking. He believed that Yang Ghost King should have been affected by taking the artifact?
Perhaps there's a possibility that Lao Gong's analysis was incorrect?
Taking the artifact wouldn't disturb the ghosts inside the statue?
Yang Ghost King had already mentioned that on their previous visit, there were no artifacts on the statue.
This artifact must have been placed there later by someone.
Is it possible that the so-called balance of good and evil refers to the danger we faced coming down, while Yang Ghost King holding the artifact is the "good," representing some sort of gain?
As I pondered this, Yang Ghost King's face looked uneasy, and he kept looking at Lao Gong.
"You old brat, hand over the stuff," Lao Gong licked his lips, and his eyes gleamed with excitement and greed.
Yang Ghost King looked at me uneasily and tried to reach for the copper pestle again.
I hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let's discuss it outside."
I have the Four Precepts Clear Mirror and a half-foot copper sword in my hands, which is enough to protect myself.
Yang Ghost King holding the copper pestle actually serves a purpose too.
Lao Gong made a noise, then his eyes narrowed, saying, "Take a few books and slip away."
"No! That won't do!" Yang Ghost King was instantly aghast.
"A single book is not allowed! Absolutely not!"
"Anything taken from this layer will result in death here!"
Yang Ghost King's eyes widened in a very fierce expression!
