Several days passed.
Wei Kang's facial features bulged out, his chest and abdomen sunk in, and his body became emaciated as if he were a corpse.
All the imperial physicians from the palace and famous doctors from the Divine Capital had been consulted, but none had a clue or could diagnose the illness.
Huang Yuniang hovered above Wei Kang's head, opened her mouth to swallow, and strands of grey-white mist merged into her soul body.
"The Yin spirit devours the essence of the human body, seeming intangible, yet it can reflect upon the physical form. So it is the essence, qi, and spirit that serve as the anchor for humans..."
Zhou Yi hid in the shadows, observing the changes in Wei Kang's body.
In another three to five days, Wei Kang would disperse soul and spirit.
It appeared that the efficiency with which common vengeful spirits killed was somewhat slow, their advantage lying only in their stealth and mystery.
Zhou Yi was about to leave, planning to show his face in the sky prison for the roll call and then find an excuse to slip out. He had already become one who drew money without doing any work, and Captain Zhu had found another prison guard to deliver the food.
In the past, he had scorned and despised the prison guards who drew money under false pretenses, but when it was Zhou Yi's turn, the taste wasn't bad at all!
At this moment.
The gates of the Duke's residence swung open, and the old dowager personally received the guests, with the young masters of the house standing respectfully to the side.
Zhou Yi suddenly became interested. Who could command such respect?
The eunuch whom Emperor Hongchang had sent to visit the palace just a few days ago had entered through a side door. Moreover, the old dowager was the former queen's own sister, and even today she deserved to be addressed respectfully as Aunt.
The humming of chanting and the sounds of Buddha's song approached, and moments later, two rows of eight yellow-robed monks led the way.
They cleared the path, struck their bowls, scattered flowers, and waved flags.
Following them were another eight muscular martial monks with bare upper bodies smeared with gold powder, carrying a lotus platform on their shoulders.
Flags in bright colors were planted all around the lotus platform, fluttering in the wind, occasionally revealing the portly Chan Master sitting in the center.
Zhou Yi's gaze swept over the martial monks; each one was a master of bone forging, and faint spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from the seated Chan Master.
"Interesting, interesting! Indeed, the Divine Capital is teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Staying in the sky prison has limited my experiences!"
As the procession of monks reached the entrance of the Duke's residence, the Chan Master slowly stood up from the lotus platform, his gaze heavy as he looked towards the skies above the residence.
"Amitabha! What kind of demon dares to wreak havoc in the Divine Capital?"
Upon hearing this, the old dowager quickly sent someone forward to invite the Chan Master and his entourage into the residence.
The portly Chan Master spoke solemnly with the old dowager, mentioning the formidable nature of the evil presence and the need to conduct a ritual which would cost him decades of cultivated power and so on.
The cost of the entire arrangement was more than two hundred thousand taels of gold and silver!
The entire annual revenue of Fengyang Country did not exceed ten million taels, and yet, the Chan Master's single ritual required two to three percent of the national tax.
"Let's proceed exactly as Master Miao Jue says!"
The old dowager decisively agreed and took the keys to the treasury for someone to carry out the silver.
Inside were large silver ingots cast in the size of winter melons, which required two people to lift and carry on their shoulders. It wasn't until nightfall that they finished weighing and accounting for the silver.
"The abbot of Vajra Temple, Miao Jue, one of the national masters conferred by the Dog Emperor!"
Zhou Yi learned of the Chan Master's origins from the discussion in the Duke's residence; it was said that he had once slept foot-to-foot with Emperor Hongchang to discuss the path to immortality and was considered one of the highly revered figures of both Buddhism and Daoism in Fengyang Country.
"Over ninety years old yet appearing similar to someone in their fifties or sixties, he must surely have other tricks up his sleeve, otherwise, he could not have fooled the Dog Emperor!"
Emperor Hongchang, who delved in sandalwood and sought the Tao, was not truly a fool.
Back then, many charlatans from the rivers and lakes, confident in their undetectable deceits, aspired to enter Shangyang Palace to enjoy wealth and honor, only to end up thrown into prison and dying under severe torture.
"The Dog Emperor would rather see the National Dynasty in turmoil than be deceived by such charlatans, obsessed with the pursuit of the Tao. Perhaps... he might have seen a real immortal?"
By now, it was dark.
In Wei Kang's courtyard, dozens of whale oil candles as thick as an arm were lit.
The martial monks had already constructed a Buddhist altar three feet and two inches high, and the eight yellow-robed monks, each holding a Buddhist magic artifact, took turns performing rituals on the altar, looking quite solemn and dignified.
Seeing this, the people of the Duke's residence bowed in respect with their hands together each time a monk stepped down from the altar.
Miao Jue sat cross-legged on the lotus platform, hands joined together in silent prayer.
"What is this fellow up to?"
Zhou Yi frowned slightly—if not for the fact that there were spiritual energy fluctuations around Miao Jue, he would have lost interest in watching the monk put on a show to deceive people.
It wasn't until the hour of Zi.
"Amitabha!"
Suddenly, Miao Jue chanted loudly, his voice booming like thunder, instantly awakening the drowsy attendants of the Duke's residence.
Miao Jue leapt up and flew over the heads of the crowd, landing on the dais.
Zhou Yi thought the monk was about to perform a true magic ritual, but then he saw Miao Jue begin to chant and perform a ritual, with strands of True Yuan solidifying at his fingertips, "Wait another half an hour, and if that bald thief keeps up his performance, he'll taste my sword!"
Miao Jue seemed to sense the danger and chanted for only a short while before taking out a bronze mirror from his bosom.
The bronze mirror was simple in design, with one side polished to a shine and the other engraved with patterns of clouds and seas.
"Amitabha! Won't you reveal your true form, demon?"
As Miao Jue's words fell, the shadow of a person appeared on the bronze mirror, taking the form of Huang Yuniang.
"..."
During the day, Huang Yuniang had heard that a high monk was coming to exorcise demons, so she stopped absorbing essence and stood not far from the dais to watch the show. However, under the reflection of the bronze mirror, her soul involuntarily revealed itself.
"Who is this woman?"
"It's a ghost!"
"A ghost!"
"..."
Some people at the Duke's Mansion noticed Huang Yuniang appearing out of thin air, causing a commotion with cries of alarm as they scrambled to hide behind the dais.
Using the bronze mirror to fix Huang Yuniang in place, Miao Jue cried out, "Burn my lifespan, give me a divine weapon! All disciples, heed my command, quickly subdue the demon and vanquish the evil spirit!"
"Om!"
Eight martial monk disciples responded with a shout and charged together at Huang Yuniang.
The fiery yang energy cultivated through martial arts was exceedingly effective against yin spirits, and her soul body nearly dissipated just from their proximity.
"These monks..."
With a flick of his fingers, Zhou Yi sent a True Yuan sword spinning past Miao Jue's wrist, circling before him, and also sliced off a few of his whiskers.
In the past two years, his Innate True Yuan had barely increased, but his control had become more refined. Within thirty feet, he could shape it into myriad forms and manipulate it at will.
Solidifying a sword tip was a manifestation of Zhou Yi's dream of becoming a Sword Immortal!
Miao Jue felt a pain in his wrist as the bronze mirror fell from his grasp, no longer able to hold the yin spirit.
Huang Yuniang fluttered up and vanished in an instant.
The martial monks turned to look at the dais, only to see Miao Jue with a stunned and horrified expression. He then pulled out a medicine bottle from his chest and poured it into his mouth.
"Pfft!"
Miao Jue spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he suddenly rolled off the dais unconscious.
"Master!"
"Abbot!"
Cries of alarm filled the air.
Barely holding on to life, Miao Jue murmured, "Amitabha! This poor monk has failed the Old Madam. The demon's mana is formidable, breaking the Vajra Exorcism Formation... Pfft!"
Before he could finish, he spat out another mouthful of blood and fainted.
One of the monks said, "Old Madam, we will take the abbot back to the temple for rest. The two hundred thousand silver will be sent back tomorrow."
"What are you saying, Master? The monk was injured because of my family affairs, and it has shortened his lifespan."
The Old Madam shook her head, "Such gold and silver can be considered as offerings."
"Amitabha!"
The monk chanted the Buddha's name and had the martial monks carry the soft sedan away in a rush.
In the shadows.
Zhou Yi watched as the farce drew to a close and said to Huang Yuniang,
"You've seen it yourself, a soul without physical form can't act recklessly. Remember to be cautious and careful in the future!"
"Thank you, senior, for the rescue."
Huang Yuniang knelt on the ground, "Having avenged a great injustice, should the senior have any requests in the future, you need but command me, and I shall not hesitate even if my soul is torn and scattered!"
Wei Kang had lost sixty to seventy percent of his essence and even if he awoke, he wouldn't live for more than a few days. The condition of his body was like a lamp running out of oil, beyond the aid of even divine physicians.
"It just so happens I'm leaving the Capital for a bit, let me find you a place along the way."
Zhou Yi pocketed the jade hairpin and vanished in a flicker.