"Go, my little darlings. Feast to your heart's content," the Grand Patron said with a sinister grin, his eyes gleaming with malice. He gave the black banner in his hand a sharp shake, and countless wailing female ghosts erupted from it, hurtling toward the caravan like a storm of despair.
"Help! Demons!"
"Ghosts! Run! They have sorcery!"
"Mercy, Immortal! We didn't mean to offend you!"
But no matter how they screamed or begged, those touched by the ghosts twisted in agony, writhing on the ground with faces contorted in unspeakable pain.
"Uncle Xuan Zhen! We have to intervene!" shouted Zhang Ye, the young disciple who had protested earlier. His eyes burned with righteous fury as he watched the massacre. "That man is clearly a demonic cultivator! We, as righteous cultivators, cannot stand idly by!"
Wang Ziyang stepped forward with a cold smirk, his demeanor completely composed. "Junior Nephew Zhang, remember why we are here. Our mission is to kill the demoness, not to concern ourselves with a few mortals. Stay in line."
Xuan Zhen nodded approvingly. "Wang Ziyang is correct. These mortals' lives mean nothing compared to our greater purpose. Killing the demoness will save countless lives. Do not let trivial compassion cloud your judgment!" His tone was icy, his expression dark.
Beneath his cold exterior, Xuan Zhen's thoughts churned. Once the demoness is dead, I'll pin all responsibility for this carnage on these fools. They've been sheltered under my care long enough; it's time they repay me. His gaze briefly met Wang Ziyang's, and a flicker of understanding passed between them before he resumed his composed facade.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen's face darkened as he observed the chaos. He spat out each word with chilling clarity, "Dual cultivation... Soul-devouring banner... A demonic cultivator." Rage churned within him, but before he could act, someone else made the first move.
"You scum dare call yourself a cultivator? Prepare to die!"
Li Xiaoyi's face was flushed with anger, his eyes flashing with cold determination. In an instant, he darted to the front of the caravan. A brilliant light flared as he summoned a radiant artifact and launched it at the Grand Patron.
"A cultivator?!"
The Grand Patron's face twisted in shock. A black light flickered around him, and he hastily summoned a golden silk handkerchief to shield himself.
Boom!
The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Li Xiaoyi's weapon, clearly a top-tier spiritual artifact, shattered the handkerchief in an instant. The protective artifact fell to the ground, its light extinguished.
Cold sweat poured down the Grand Patron's face. If the attack had been just a fraction stronger, it would have cleaved him in two. He hastily retreated, black light flickering around him.
"Who are you? We have no quarrel! Why attack me?" he demanded, his voice tinged with panic.
"Hmph! Slaughtering mortals for your selfish desires? I cannot ignore such evil!" Li Xiaoyi's voice was icy as he flung his artifact once more. This time, it transformed into a majestic five-zhang-long dragon with a single horn and a limbless body. It roared as it charged at the Grand Patron.
The artifact was no ordinary weapon; its ability to transform into a dragon marked it as a supreme-grade spiritual artifact, almost as powerful as a low-level magic treasure.
As Li Xiaoyi unleashed the full might of his cultivation—revealing himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator—the Grand Patron's face turned pale with terror.
"Ghost Banner! Self-destruct!"
Desperation forced the Grand Patron's hand. With a grimace, he sacrificed his prized artifact.
The ghost banner erupted in a cacophony of wails as the countless ghostly faces on its surface shattered, releasing a surge of pure yin energy that spread like a tidal wave.
The explosion threw Li Xiaoyi back, her chest heaving as she steadied herself. Though her artifact's attack had been blocked, the Grand Patron paid a steep price. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his spirit severely wounded by the destruction of his bonded artifact.
"Let's talk this over!" he pleaded, his voice trembling. "This was all a misunderstanding. Spare me, and I'll repay you handsomely."
"Save your breath," Li Xiaoyi snarled, her face icy with resolve. "You die today."
This time, she poured even more spiritual energy into her artifact. The dragon roared louder, its size doubling to over ten zhang as it charged at the Grand Patron with renewed ferocity.
"Fine! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" The Grand Patron's expression twisted with hatred. He reached into his storage bag and pulled out a pink orb.
"You may hide your identity from others, but not from me. If I die, I'll make sure you pay dearly!" His voice dripped with venom as he hurled the orb into the air and began chanting.
"Lust Orb, explode!"
Crack!
The pink orb shattered into fine powder, releasing a sweet, cloying scent that quickly spread through the battlefield. The rosy mist coiled around Li Xiaoyi, while smaller wisps floated toward the surrounding crowd.
"Lust Orb!" Li Xiaoyi's face turned ashen with alarm, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
She retreated swiftly, forming hand seals to activate a concealed protective charm. A dull orange glow erupted from the jade pendant around her neck, encasing her in a protective barrier.