"It's over!"
Yi Xiaochuan closed his eyes, the last thought flashing through his mind.
Bang, bang, bang... A series of metallic clashing sounds echoed.
However, no arrow struck him.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the black-clad female zombie standing in front of him, all the arrows falling at her feet.
A clear, melodious bell chimed.
"Slay the bandits!"
Unbeknownst to him, Cao Yi, holding the Sanqing Bell, issued the command.
Yelü Zhigu, tall and imposing, strode forward with a massive axe in hand, undeterred by the approaching bandit cavalry.
"How can she not be shot down?"
"How is she doing this?"
"That axe she's holding is huge."
The bandit cavalry buzzed with confusion.
Such an undead being exceeded their comprehension.
Ding ding... The bell chimed rhythmically as Yelü Zhigu advanced, each step echoing like a stampede on the hearts of the bandits.
"Brothers, don't be afraid! There are so many of us; even a spit each can drown her!"
"I don't believe she has no weaknesses!"
"But her?"
"Don't be scared; it's an illusion from a sorcerer! I once saw one blow up his whole room!"
"Really? And then?"
"Then I killed him. He didn't even know why it exploded; his illusion skills weren't refined, ha ha!"
"Yeah, it's an illusion from a sorcerer! I saw Xu Fu use illusions at the East Sea!"
"And Lu Sheng! These sorcerers love to use illusions to deceive!"
"Charge!"
"Kill her!"
Dozens of fierce-looking bandit cavalry shouted and charged forward, their three-meter-long spears gleaming under the sun. While they couldn't compare to the regular troops of the Qin army, in this situation, they were still intimidating—especially when dozens were combined. Any historical warrior would instinctively choose to avoid them, as they were mere flesh and blood.
Yet, Yelü Zhigu showed no reaction. Leaping into the air, she swept her axe with a piercing roar, instantly breaking half of the spears. Six or seven bandits lost their heads, gushing blood in a spectacular display.
"It's all an illusion; it doesn't scare me!"
One surviving bandit, presumably a small leader, drew a bronze sword he'd stolen and yelled, charging at Yelü Zhigu's eyes.
As he approached within a foot, a pale hand grabbed the sword's tip, frost creeping along the blade.
"Ah!"
The bandit widened his eyes in shock.
With a twist of her wrist, Yelü Zhigu snapped the sturdy bronze sword in two.
As the bandit fell to the ground, struggling to rise, a powerful foot pressed down on his chest, agony coursing through him as he recalled the moment he had trampled a woman's husband during a robbery.
Yelü Zhigu had no such thoughts; influenced by the Sanqing Bell, she pressed on.
The wind in the forest was still, but suddenly a gust arose, her flowing black hair amplifying her intimidating presence.
"Look over there! That person keeps shaking the small bell; he must be involved!"
"Right, that bell hasn't stopped ringing!"
"Quick! Shoot him down!"
Dozens of ferocious bandit cavalry drew their bows.
"Daoist Priest, what should we do?"
Yi Xiaochuan clutched Cao Yi's sleeve, his face pale.
The female zombie was too far ahead to return for aid.
"Yi, stay calm," Cao Yi replied. He opened the lid of the purple-gold gourd he had used to summon Yelü Zhigu, which had ample space to hold dozens of arrows.
A whizzing sound approached; the bandits' arrows arrived.
"Collect!"
Cao Yi uttered the word softly.
A suction force emanated from the gourd, drawing all the arrows inside in an instant.
"Enlarge!"
Cao Yi thought to himself.
The gourd showed no response, seemingly asleep.
"What happened? Where are the arrows?"
"I didn't see; they just disappeared!"
"Is it another illusion?"
"The ones who said it was an illusion are all dead now."
"This sorcerer is too uncanny; oh no, that monster is coming!"
The bandits erupted in chaos, fear etched on most of their faces.
Yelü Zhigu had reached their front lines.
With a fierce roar, her axe descended, sending several heads flying.
"Captain Song is dead!"
"Captain Song is dead!"
"Run!"
The bandit cavalry, like startled birds, turned their horses to flee.
Yet, in the midst of the forest, gathered together, they struggled to retreat quickly.
The Sanqing Bell's sound grew urgent.
Yelü Zhigu, like a human tank, trampled and chased, heads flying as blood gushed from decapitated bodies.
The remaining bandits, blocked by their own comrades, despaired when suddenly, the Sanqing Bell ceased ringing.
Yelü Zhigu froze in place as if under a binding spell.
Seizing the opportunity, the bandit cavalry spurred their horses and scattered.
In the center, Cao Yi, holding the Sanqing Bell, turned pale. Controlling Yelü Zhigu remotely for so long had taken a toll on him.
"Daoist Priest, are you alright?"
Yi Xiaochuan asked with concern.
"I'm fine; just a bit drained," Cao Yi replied before sitting cross-legged.
He took out some jade from the purple-gold gourd and began refining it slowly.
Yi Xiaochuan stood guard beside him.
As time passed, the pallor on Cao Yi's face gradually faded, white mist faintly rising above his head.
"I told you he wasn't a deity; just look at his face!"
"Ha ha ha! We hit the jackpot this time!"
"And that undead monster can't move anymore."
A cacophony of arrogant voices erupted.
The bandit cavalry turned back, launching a surprise attack.
Yi Xiaochuan's expression changed; Daoist Priest was still recovering. What could they do?
Suddenly, he spotted the Sanqing Bell on the ground, picked it up without hesitation, and shook it.
Yelü Zhigu suddenly opened her eyes and took a step forward.
The bandits nearly fell off their horses, the previous terrifying display of Yelü Zhigu's slaughter imprinted in their memories.
Then, to their surprise, Yelü Zhigu stepped forward and then halted; no amount of shaking the Sanqing Bell would budge her.
"Ha ha ha! See? This fool who dug his own grave doesn't know how to use it!"
"Stop talking; let's attack before that sorcerer recovers!"
"Charge together; kill!"
The bandits shouted as they surged forward, their blades glinting menacingly in the afternoon sun.
Yi Xiaochuan placed the Sanqing Bell on the ground, drawing his bronze sword, his expression resolute.