C58 Ghost Soldier

I couldn't see my own shackles, nor could I see them with the help of a reflective surface like a mirror. My only option was to infer my fate from the auspicious or ominous signs on them.

Anxiously, I glanced behind Deaf Zhang and saw that his shackles hadn't shortened at all. They were just as long as they had always been, indicating he would live a long and full life.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I quickly reassured Deaf Zhang, "Mr. Ergou, we're not going to die! You still have that Skinning Talisman, which is way more powerful than the Pond Collecting Talisman, right? Let's focus our attacks in one direction and try to break through!"

"No, the Skinning Talisman, while a hundred times more powerful than the Pond Collecting Talisman, can only target a single ghost. We're better off using the Pond Collecting Talisman. Changsheng, let's head south; it looks like there are fewer ghosts that way," Deaf Zhang advised, tossing the Pond Collecting Talisman toward the indicated direction.

The talisman burst into a purple glow, absorbing some of the ghosts, and we seized the moment to dash through, successfully creating an opening.

What we hadn't anticipated was the ghosts multiplying like mushrooms after rain. No sooner had we vanquished a group than a fresh horde surged forward.

"Hmph, save your efforts. You two kids think you can defeat tens of thousands of Ghost Soldiers? But rest assured, I won't let them kill you..." the Evil Taoist sneered.

"What do you mean?" I called out, confused. Wasn't the Evil Taoist summoning the Ghost Soldiers to kill us?

"Have you not noticed? I've merely commanded the Ghost Soldiers to swarm around you, not to take your lives," the Evil Taoist said with a cunning smile.

A chill ran down my spine as I realized he was right; the dark apparitions were merely hovering around us. If the Evil Taoist wished, with just one command, we would be shredded by the multitude of ghosts.

Desperately, I asked, "What exactly are you planning to do?"

With a cold, dismissive twist of his mouth, the Evil Taoist replied, "I intend to let the dense Yin Qi slowly kill you. In no more than five minutes, you'll be as lifeless as the birds flying in the sky."

As the Evil Taoist's voice faded, several sparrows flying over Hundred Ghost Slope plummeted to the ground, their bodies a mangled, bloody mess.

It wasn't just the birds; insects from the sky also began to drop like rain. Even the sparse wild grasses on Hundred Ghost Slope withered away.

For a moment, aside from the three of us, not a single creature remained alive on Hundred Ghost Slope. I glanced at Deaf Zhang, who was usually brimming with vitality, now visibly wilting.

Could it be...

I nervously eyed Deaf Zhang again, my attention drawn to the shackles behind him. Oddly enough, the iron chains remained unchanged, indicating that our lives were not yet forfeit.

But considering our current predicament, how could there be any hope for survival?

Something else was peculiar. Deaf Zhang's condition was deteriorating, yet I was experiencing the exact opposite. My body, eroded by the Yin Qi, surged with power, even more so than after I had just consumed a corpse.

Yes, ordinary people exposed to Yin Qi for an extended period would fall gravely ill or even die, but not me. I thrive on this Yin Qi!

Before we knew it, five minutes had passed, and we were still alive, much to the Evil Taoist's dismay. He scoffed, "You two are full of surprises. You, the Pond Collecting Man, have the most abundant Yang Qi I've ever encountered. The pure Yang energy within you can counteract the Yin Qi of tens of thousands of Ghost Soldiers."

"You... You Evil Taoist, now you've witnessed the might of us Pond Collecting Men... If it hadn't been for your underhanded sneak attack, my master would never have fallen to you!" Deaf Zhang managed to say, his voice weak but filled with spirit.

Meanwhile, I feigned complete exhaustion and collapsed to the ground. It was an act for the Evil Taoist, a ruse to make him let down his guard and keep things as they were. Once I had absorbed enough Yin Qi and gathered sufficient strength, I would seize the moment to strike back unexpectedly.

The Evil Taoist glanced at Deaf Zhang with disdain before sneering, "Hmph, I could crush your master in the light of day with ease. You Pond Collecting Men are no more significant than ants to me! In half an hour, the Yang Qi within you will be depleted... However, I have no desire to wait that long, as you are the greatest unknown factor!"

That final remark from the Evil Taoist was intended for my ears. I lifted my gaze only to meet his chilling, dark green eyes fixed on me!

A shiver ran down my spine. The Evil Taoist fell silent and then hoisted the Yin Tiger Talisman high above his head...