“That idiot is going to get us all killed!” Zheng Guangsha’s face twisted in despair, his mouth bitter.
Shi Ya had only wanted Tang Wannian dead—but now, Jiang Tian had provoked her. No one would be spared.
“You first.”
Shi Ya’s resentment surged. She raised a hand toward Yang Guochang, her fingers flickering like oiled serpents.
“Spare me, Great Immortal!” Yang’s face paled as he screamed.
Then—snakes.
Dozens of vipers and scorpions materialized, swarming over his body. Yang thrashed in the writhing mass, his screams bloodcurdling.
“Ahhh! Fire! I’m burning!”
Tang Wannian’s body erupted in flames. He collapsed, howling as if plunged into hell.
The crowd froze in terror.
Zheng Li’s makeup streaked with tears. “Even Master Yang is dying. None of us are leaving alive.”
Zheng Guangsha’s hands trembled as he dialed his wife. “I… I won’t be home for dinner.”
Amid the chaos, Jiang Tian stepped forward.
“Tang Wannian, you sinned. But evil spares the virtuous. Donate 200 million to charity, repent sincerely—and I’ll save you.”
“I will! I swear!” Tang didn’t believe Jiang could save him, but what choice did he have?
Yang Guochang’s mind screamed: “This ghost defied Maoshan sorcery! And this fool still challenges her?!”
Zheng Guangsha groaned. “Bragging at death’s door…”
Jiang Tian halted three meters from Shi Ya.
“All conditioned existence is like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow.”
His voice boomed like thunder:
“None of this is real. Disbelieve—and it vanishes.”
CRACK.
The flames and insects shattered like glass. Gone.
“How?!” Zhao Xueqing’s lips parted in shock.
Shi Ya’s beautiful eyes narrowed. “You see through my illusions. Impressive.”
Jiang Tian smirked. “Child’s play. Shi Ya, you’re a ghost in a land of living energy. Stay, and you’ll be destroyed.”
“You think YOU’RE my doom?” Shi Ya’s face contorted into a grotesque mask. “I’ve slaughtered countless like you!”
“Last chance.” Jiang’s hands stayed clasped behind his back. “Persist, and I’ll scatter your soul to the winds.”
Shi Ya’s laughter turned jagged. “Then I’ll feast on your life force!”
Black miasma surged from the walls, coalescing around her. Her form stretched, twisted—until a towering demon loomed, nine feet tall.
“DIE, JIANG TIAN!”
The demon’s claw lashed out, fast as lightning.
Jiang sighed. “A shame. You could’ve been something.”
Then—
“Thunder. Come.”
Lightning crackled to life in his palm.
“WHAT?!” Zheng Guangsha’s jaw dropped.
Yang Guochang’s knees buckled. “Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Thunder Magic?! Impossible!”
Even Zhao Xueqing whispered, “Is this… real?”
Shi Ya flinched. Lightning was the bane of all ghosts.
She fled.
“After her!” Tang Wannian yelled.
Yang Guochang—now calling Jiang “Master Jiang”—shouted, “Don’t let it escape!”
Jiang flicked his fingers.
“Go.”
The bolt lanced through Shi Ya’s back.
“NO! I REFUSE—!”
Her body erupted in blue fire. Two seconds later—only ash remained.
Silence.
Then—
Yang Guochang kowtowed, forehead bleeding. “A true immortal master! I was blind!”
Zheng Guangsha shivered, realizing he’d mocked a man who could erase him with a thought.
Tang Wannian bowed deeply. “My life is yours, Master Jiang.”
Jiang eyed Yang. “Your arrogance endangered everyone. Do you submit?”
“I submit! I submit!” Yang’s head thudded against the floor.
“Then crawl out of Linzhou. If I see you again—”
Yang scrambled away, his disciples tripping over themselves to follow.
