“How disgusting.” Jiang Feng couldn’t help but blurt out in disgust.
The next second, Li Youwei returned to normal.
Her eyes glared fiercely at Jiang Feng. “You deserve to die.”
“Today, it’s you who deserves to die.”
Jiang Feng retorted arrogantly.
With Li Qiao by his side, he wasn’t afraid!
With Li Qiao here, he had nothing to fear!
“A mere human dares to challenge me? You’re asking for death!”
In the next instant, Li Youwei launched her attack.
Li Qiao flicked out a talisman, striking Li Youwei’s body. A blood-curdling scream erupted instantly.
Black energy seeped from Li Youwei’s body as the talisman on her back burst into flames. Her face twisted in agony.
“Ah—”
Li Youwei’s shrill shriek pierced the air.
Li Qiao watched her coldly as the ghostly aura around Li Youwei thickened. She sneered, “Li Youwei, stop struggling. You’re no match for me.”
“In your dreams! All of you will die—by my hand!” The vengeful spirit of Li Youwei grew increasingly deranged.
She lunged at Li Qiao, conjuring countless black energy blades that shot toward her.
Each blade carried a sinister ghostly aura.
Like tangible weapons, they sliced through the air with a chilling sharpness, hurtling toward Li Qiao at terrifying speed.
Li Qiao remained unfazed.
With a wave of her hand, the peachwood sword in her grip deflected the incoming blades.
“Is this all you’ve got?” Li Qiao mocked.
“Impossible! I’m a vengeful ghost—a vengeful ghost! I refuse to believe this!” Li Youwei screamed in frenzy. She couldn’t lose to Li Qiao.
Yet, no matter how she attacked, she couldn’t land a single hit. Her ghostly techniques were completely suppressed.
The more she fought, the angrier she became. The more she hated.
Gritting her teeth, Li Youwei muttered an incantation. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she spat out a thick cloud of black smoke.
The smoke condensed into two dark spheres midair—one brimming with resentment and malice, the other reeking of death.
Li Qiao’s expression shifted slightly.
“What are you doing?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Li Youwei grinned sinisterly.
The next moment, the two spheres collided.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted.
The bedroom instantly filled with a dense, black miasma of death.
The dark energy spread outward, soon enveloping the entire Jian household.
Li Qiao’s pupils constricted sharply.
Li Youwei’s smirk widened. “I knew you’d try to disrupt my technique with that peachwood sword. So, I absorbed the energy of lesser ghosts—enough to kill every single one of you.”
Damn, she’s cunning! Li Qiao cursed inwardly. Thankfully, the ancestral master’s protection was safeguarding everyone.
“I won’t let you succeed.” Raising her peachwood sword, Li Qiao aimed it at the black sphere at the center of the miasma.
A metallic clang rang out.
Crack.
The black sphere shattered.
The deathly energy dispersed instantly, as if meeting its natural nemesis.
“How…? Impossible!” Li Youwei’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
Li Qiao pointed the sword at her.
Li Youwei stumbled back in panic. “S-Stay away! Or I won’t hold back!”
“A measly newborn ghost,” Li Qiao scoffed. “Seeking death.”
She tightened her grip on the sword and advanced.
Li Youwei scrambled backward. “W-What are you doing? Don’t come any closer!”
Li Qiao smirked. “A worthless little ghost dares to oppose me?”
“I’m not a ghost—I’m a vengeful spirit!”
The peachwood sword glowed with a golden light. The moment it neared Li Youwei, searing pain engulfed her entire body.
“Stop! Please, no more! It hurts…”
Terror twisted her features.
Her legs trembled as she frantically crawled away, like a cornered animal.
“Weren’t you determined to kill us earlier?”
Her ghostly energy was nearly depleted. She stood no chance against Li Qiao.
Fighting back would only doom her.
She couldn’t take that risk.
Her only option now was to flee.
“You think you can escape?” Li Qiao saw right through her.
“I can!” Li Youwei spun around and bolted.
“Since you delivered yourself to me, I’ll grant your wish.”
With that, Li Qiao leaped after her, swinging the sword in a deadly arc.
“No!” Li Youwei shrieked, barely dodging the strike. Desperate, she lunged at Li Qiao again, trying to stop her.
Li Qiao snorted. She’d anticipated this.
As Li Youwei closed in, Li Qiao pivoted sharply. The sword swept horizontally—
THUD!
Li Youwei was sent flying, crashing to the ground in agony.
“If you value your existence, stay down. Otherwise… I’ll cut you down where you stand.”
The threat silenced Li Youwei instantly.
“Who refined you?” Li Qiao demanded, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Li Youwei’s face paled. She hadn’t expected this question.
“I… I don’t know.” Her evasion was obvious.
Li Qiao raised the sword again.
A weapon designed to slay ghosts.
Terror gripped Li Youwei.
She dropped to her knees, kowtowing frantically.
“I was wrong, Master! I swear, I’ll never dare cross you again! I shouldn’t have tried to kill anyone—please, spare me!”
“Last chance. Who refined you?”
After a tense pause, Li Youwei whispered, “…A man.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know where he hides.”
“Is he a ghost?” Li Qiao frowned.
Li Youwei shook her head vehemently. “No! He’s a celestial master—a mysterious one. Never shows his face.”
“Are you sure?” Li Qiao was skeptical.
“Why would I lie?” Li Youwei snapped, frustration seeping into her voice. “Go investigate yourself if you don’t believe me!”
Li Qiao fell silent.
Suddenly—
“AHHH!”
Li Youwei screamed. A burning sensation erupted on her wrist.
She looked down.
The blood-red curse mark on her skin was… shifting.
Her breath hitched.
Why was it turning green? Something was wrong.
She examined it closely.
The crimson mark faded steadily, the heat intensifying until—
WHOOSH.
The entire mark turned emerald, spreading across her arm.
Li Qiao’s eyes widened slightly.
“What’s happening?” Li Youwei gasped.
This idiot.
Li Qiao didn’t enlighten her. Instead, she pressed on about the celestial master.
“Li Youwei, you’re in no position to bargain. Where is he?”
The ghost’s face contorted in conflict.
“Fine. Keep your secrets.”
Li Qiao raised her sword.
“WAIT!” Li Youwei panicked. “I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”
“Final warning. Where is he?”
Gritting her teeth, Li Youwei hesitated before muttering, “…The Li family.”
The Li family?
Li Qiao narrowed her eyes.
Was this celestial master the very one the Li family worshipped?
