Chu Yuyan's face turned pale with shock, a cry escaping her lips. Standing not far away, she wished to intervene, but it was already too late.
Chu Qiuran, Apothecary Zheng, and others also turned pale, helplessly watching the ghost close in on Yang Fan from behind.
In contrast, Chu Yiyun, Lin the apothecary, and several others had a hint of schadenfreude on their faces.
Thunk!
The ghastly hand of bone covered the short distance of about ten feet, stabbing directly into Yang Fan's back.
Many onlookers turned away in pity, thinking Yang Fan, with his modest cultivation level, could hardly escape this attack by a ghost.
Yet, just as the ghostly hand touched Yang Fan's back, something extraordinary happened!
The ghost, its eyes glowing red, suddenly froze as if struck by lightning.
The specter's expression twisted in alarm—*this is wrong!*
In that split second, a cascade of purple lightning, like writhing serpents, surged forth from Yang Fan's body, entangling the specter.
A *sizzle* ripped through the air as Yang Fan's outer robe was torn, revealing a light-green vest etched with dense purple sigils.
The vest was covered with a mass of interwoven thunder talismans, layer upon layer, radiating an oppressive, awe-inspiring force.
Everyone present gasped audibly.
The talismans suddenly activated, releasing waves of miniature serpentine lightning bolts that spread across the ghost's body, paralyzing it in place.
The specter's eyes blazed with fury, releasing a hair-raising screech as it tried to lash out, scattering the lightning momentarily. A wisp of dark smoke curled from the point of contact.
*Bang!*
Yang Fan, taking advantage of the force, was sent flying a dozen feet. A chilling sensation swept through his body, but the thin mist of life energy within him surged, sending cool currents throughout his limbs, instantly quelling the coldness. Oddly, Yang Fan felt as if the technique he was cultivating—the "Xian Hong Art"—had some inherent power that restrained ghostly beings.
At that moment, Chu Qiuran and Hu Fei launched their attacks.
*Whoosh!*
A beam of green light shot out from Chu Qiuran's bronze mirror, striking the ghost squarely, raising a cloud of dark smoke as it started to envelop the specter.
The ghost's blood-red eyes flared brighter, its spectral form shimmering as an inch-thick layer of black light materialized around it, greatly boosting its strength. It spat out gusts of eerie wind, barely managing to keep the green beam at bay.
Just as it was about to struggle free, Hu Fei on the other side bellowed. Crossing his arms, he conjured an intricate web of lightning in front of him, a powerful pressure sweeping across the scene.
*Crack!*
The electric net descended with overwhelming force, enveloping the struggling ghost.
*Zzzzzzz!*
In an instant, the specter was immobilized, bound by an intense web of lightning. Smoke rose from its form as it began to disintegrate before everyone's eyes.
Hu Fei, a cultivator at the "Condensed Spirit" stage, wielded lightning abilities that far surpassed mere talismans. Supported by Chu Qiuran's magical artifact, the specter had no chance.
At this rate, the ghost would surely be destroyed in a matter of moments under the relentless assault of the thunder.
"Aaahhh—!"
The ghost's face grew even more twisted and grotesque. Its blood-red eyes radiated a fearsome glow, its blackened form flickering erratically as its limbs flailed wildly. The piercing wails it emitted sent shivers down the spines of all present.
"Everyone, attack!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The next moment, beams of light from various magical tools and techniques rained down upon the ghost, exploding with immense force.
In a heartbeat, the specter was obliterated into dust.
The remaining cultivators of the Misty Rain Manor had seized the opportunity to unleash their combined might, utterly annihilating the ghost.
"Hmph! A mere ghost dares to challenge me... courting death!"
Hu Fei clapped his hands, his cold gaze sweeping over the lingering spirits in the area. Lightning danced between his fingers as bolts shot out in all directions. Wails of anguish rose as unlucky specters were struck, their forms reduced to ash.
In that moment, the surrounding spirits, once bold and pervasive, recoiled in terror, fleeing in all directions. The dense mist of death was swiftly dissipating, revealing faint starlight that pierced through the gloom over the Ghost Corpse Mountain.
Whew!
Everyone exhaled in relief, their spirits lifted. The group's morale surged as they prepared themselves for what lay ahead.
"Are you alright, Apothecary Yang?"
Chu Yuyan hurried to Yang Fan's side, helping him up with concern in her eyes.
The crowd turned their attention to him.
It was clear to everyone that, had it not been for Yang Fan's earlier preparations, defeating that formidable ghost would have been nearly impossible.
Yang Fan's robe was tattered, exposing his unique light-green vest still covered with the dense array of purple thunder talismans.
In the world of talismans, those imbued with thunder magic were particularly expensive. A single lower-grade talisman might be worth just a few spirit stones, but thunder talismans typically cost double that.
A lower-grade talisman generally held the power equivalent to a cultivator at the Qi Refining stage casting a basic spell. Its power depended on the talisman materials, the formation drawn upon it, and the skill of the talisman maker.
However, Yang Fan had connected five or six thunder talismans together, creating a fearsome chain reaction. The burst of lightning power was something few could ignore, especially against the spectral beings inhabiting Ghost Corpse Mountain. Even a powerful ghost, comparable to someone at the "Condensed Spirit" stage, had been brought low by the talismans.
"I'm fine... Fortunately, I made ample preparations before coming to Ghost Corpse Mountain," Yang Fan replied with a calm smile, adjusting the talismans on his vest in readiness for the next attack.
"Pfft! Only you could come up with such a scheme. You really had me scared for a moment there," Chu Yuyan giggled, visibly relieved. A moment ago, she had truly feared for his life, but now it seemed he had even provided the group with the opportunity to destroy the ghost.
Others exchanged glances, astonished. Their eyes fell on Yang Fan's vest, and they couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
They began to wonder, what would happen if any of them had tried to strike Yang Fan from behind? Five or six linked thunder talismans would release a power that not even many in the Qi Refining stage could withstand in ignorance.
"Haha! Apothecary Yang, your preparations are truly impressive. No wonder you didn't agree to travel with me a few days ago," Apothecary Zheng said, laughing merrily.
Yang Fan chuckled wryly. "What else can I do? With my modest cultivation, I must make these preparations to survive."
"Haha! We owe you much, Apothecary Yang. Not only is your medical expertise remarkable, but you've helped us eliminate a powerful ghost," Chu Qiuran said with a broad smile, clearly having gained newfound respect for Yang Fan.
On the side, Apothecary Lin's usually impassive face revealed a hint of surprise as he thought to himself, "This young man may not have great cultivation, but his medical skills and cunning are truly extraordinary..."
Through this encounter, everyone's opinion of Yang Fan had shifted significantly.
"You three, make sure to protect Apothecary Yang. Let no harm befall him again," Chu Qiuran secretly instructed three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators through spiritual transmission, ordering them to safeguard Yang Fan.
Meanwhile, Yang Fan was reflecting on the battle. The turn of events had exceeded even his expectations.
"Let's rest briefly. We'll set off again soon; our destination is close," Chu Qiuran commanded, his tone carrying the authority of a leader that none would dare question.
As the night deepened, Yang Fan changed into a white robe, looking refined and graceful under the starlight. A natural charisma seemed to surround him, catching the eye of Chu Yuyan, who gazed at him with admiration.
Just as Yang Fan sat down, Apothecaries Zheng and Lin—both cunning old foxes—came over to him. Taking advantage of the moment, the three apothecaries began discussing the healing arts, particularly in the context of injuries caused by ghostly entities.
Both elders were deeply curious about Yang Fan's swift recovery from the ghost's injury and subtly tried to probe for details. But Yang Fan was careful with his words, attributing his skills to the guidance of a mysterious mentor, revealing nothing of his own techniques.
Apothecary Lin could only sigh in disappointment, while Apothecary Zheng smiled amiably, even sending his granddaughter, Zheng Xiaoman, to seek advice from Yang Fan as a prospective master.
Yang Fan saw through the old man's intentions but took the opportunity to assess Zheng Xiaoman's medical knowledge. To his surprise, she had an impressive foundation in herbal medicine, no doubt thanks to years of meticulous instruction from her grandfather.
However, Yang Fan also noticed that her aptitude for cultivation was rather average. Much like Lin Zhong, it was unlikely she would surpass her grandfather in the future.
After about the time it takes to drink