Chapter 38: Battle Against the Fierce Spirit! (I)

Wang Sheng pushed his Seven-Star Footwork to the limit. However, due to the distance, he arrived slightly too late.

The chilling sword radiance struck the fierce ghost's nape, but feeling as if he had cut into a mass of cotton, he only made it cave inward instead of severing it. Although Abyss Listener was sharp enough, this was Wang Sheng's first encounter with such a ferocious ghost—he was unaware of its capabilities.

Right after, a surge of sinister Yang qi rushed toward Abyss Listener. Wang Sheng's hair stood on end as he swiftly adjusted his footing and withdrew his sword.

Taking advantage of that brief moment, the slightly short-statured figure whom Wang Sheng had locked onto smashed through the wooden window with his shoulder. Wood splintered and scattered as he barged into Li Shishan's bedroom!

However, the very next second, alarms blared throughout the Li residence, and the lights inside and outside the attic lit up simultaneously!

The Li family's security system had been activated!

As a security guard for the Li family, Jiang was undoubtedly aware of the system's existence. However, by the time he had tried to push open the wooden window earlier, he had already been consumed by rage and hatred. He now only cared about exacting revenge before the Wudang experts returned, completely disregarding everything else.

He couldn't even care less that Wang Sheng had suddenly come back.

The green-scaled malevolent ghost roared furiously as it turned its head to snarl at Wang Sheng. The harsh lights made its features grotesquely clear—a face covered in greenish scales; razor-sharp fangs; and an inflated, balloon-like body. Its enormous eyes burned with eerie blue-purple flames.

There was no telling how this vengeful spirit had been cultivated, but its creation undoubtedly involved bloodshed and filth.

Wang Sheng snorted coldly. This was the first time since his reincarnation that he had truly felt killing intent.

With evil spirits rampant and demons disrupting the world, how could he not strike them down?

Abyss Listener vibrated slightly, and Wang Sheng shot forward. In response, the green-scaled malevolent ghost let out an ear-piercing screech, like metal scraping against metal. It clenched its massive, drum-like fists tightly and slammed them down on Wang Sheng.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Wang Sheng changed his formation, shifting from Dubhe to Merak and Phecda to Megrez. He slid past the ghost's massive fists, his sword flashing across its shoulders and arms. He then charged straight into the attic.

Inside the first-floor bedroom, the young man in the security uniform was lunging toward Li Shishan's bed. Li Shishan had already woken up, but he was still in a dazed state. He could only watch as the security guard rushed toward him, completely unaware of what was happening.

Fortunately, a sharp cut through the air startled Jiang enough to make him turn his head. He found Wang Sheng's longsword only two or three meters away!

"How dare you get in my way! I'll kill you!" Jiang roared in fury.

He faced forward again, now looking as menacing as the ghost. Glaring at Li Shishan, he flicked his right hand, launching three dark wooden needles from three to four meters away. They were infused with sinister true essence, making it difficult for even a god to save anyone they so much as touched.

Finally, Li Shishan snapped out of his daze. However, though his lips trembled, he had completely forgotten to even attempt dodging. His face turned deathly pale, and his eyes darkened with despair, yet he just kept staring intently at Jiang's face, seemingly attempting to recall something.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng dashed toward the bedside. He only had simple thoughts running in his mind at that moment.

He had stood guard for most of the night, spent an entire day delaying his plans, and even promised Li Shiwu that he would ensure the safety of the Li family tonight. If he let Li Shishan die before his very eyes, it would be nothing short of incompetence!

Taking his past life into consideration, he had cultivated for nearly sixteen years, yet this was the first time that he had ever felt such an urgent need to save someone.

Seven-Star Shift: Big Dipper Manifestation!

Still, he was too slow—slower than he wanted!

Wang Sheng's spiritual consciousness erupted violently, pushing his true essence to circulate at full speed. However, the footwork accompanying the Seven-Star Sword Formation focused on shifts and repositioning; it lacked explosive linear acceleration.

Since that was the case, he had to take a gamble! Two to three meters away from the bed, Wang Sheng pointed his sword at Li Shishan's face!

North-Star Piercer, Seven-Star Sword Intent!

Abyss Listener vibrated slightly as he fired a ripple from the tip of his sword.

Clang!

The sword energy deflected the three wooden needles and sliced off a small tuft of Li Shishan's white hair!

Pointing his Abyss Listener straight at the young security guard's face, Wang Sheng pushed himself off the edge of the bed with his left foot, launching himself backward like a swift swallow.

Now that the enemy had shown his murderous intent, Wang Sheng could no longer afford to be careless. Even an eagle would exert its full strength when hunting a rabbit—how could he do any less when facing a corrupt cultivator who had vicious ghosts and poison needles at his disposal?

Jiang immediately dodged to the side. With a thick accent, he furiously shouted, "Don't meddle in things that don't concern you, Wudang Disciple!"

Wang Sheng completely ignored him. He had already fully activated the Seven-Star Sword Formation, and his opponent was right at its center.

Unfortunately, the room was filled with furniture and decorations, limiting Wang Sheng's movements and slightly weakening his sword formation's power. Moreover, he could tell that the wooden cauldron in the young security guard's hand was an artifact used by corrupt cultivators. It continuously released toxic mist in an attempt to hinder Wang Sheng's assault.

Even so, within seconds, Abyss Listener drew blood. It carved a wound so deep on the opponent's left arm that his bones could be seen.

A furious howl echoed from the side. As the security guard had commanded, the green-scaled malevolent ghost had charged through the window and was now lunging at Li Shishan. The security guard seemingly planned to hold Wang Sheng back while the ghost claimed Li Shishan's life!

Wang Sheng merely smirked. How deep was the hatred fueling his opponent's actions? Well, not like it had anything to do with him.

What's taking Senior Brother Zhou so long?

Left with no other choice, Wang Sheng retreated and once again positioned himself in front of the bed. This time, however, he could no longer dodge as he had before; he had to face the green ghost head-on.

He swung his sword like a dragon dancing, each stroke spilling ink-like brilliance, as if it swept through the netherworld itself!

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen sword phantasms interwove in front of the ghost, resembling two intersecting Big Dipper asterisms. Wang Sheng swung his longsword forward, sending the sword phantasms toward the ghost.

With only brute force in its arsenal, the ghost lacked any real defensive techniques. Hence, the barrage of sword phantasms, infused with Wang Sheng's true essence, blasted the ghost backward. It sustained deep gashes all over—a perfect testament to Abyss Listener's sharpness.

Wang Sheng vaguely recalled that ghost evocations had distinct ranking systems. The green-scaled ghost was not among the highest-tier vicious spirits, but it was still formidable against Spirit Convergence Realm cultivators.

The ghost's severed scales quickly regenerated, releasing tendrils of black mist that made it look even more menacing.

"Get lost!" the security guard snarled, his face twisted in rage as he flung more wooden needles at Wang Sheng's vital points.

Wang Sheng easily deflected them with a flick of his sword, his long hair flowing behind him and exuding an air of effortless mastery.

"Junior Brother, I'll assist you!" he heard someone shout from outside the window.

Zhou Yinglong had finally arrived.

Wang Sheng remained completely focused. With his Seven-Star Footwork and holding Abyss Listener, he guarded a three-meter radius around the bed.

After Wang Sheng forced the green-scaled ghost away from Li Shishan once again, Zhou Yinglong leaped in through the window. Upon seeing the ghost, he froze momentarily before quickly chanting an incantation:

"By the power of True Martial, dispel demons and protect my Dharma body!"

A projection of the True Martial Great Emperor appeared above Zhou Yinglong's head. However, the ghost's presence seemed to trigger the spell's full power, rapidly draining Zhou Yinglong's spiritual consciousness.

In exchange, the projection behind him grew slightly more solid than when he had performed exorcism during the day. A mighty, indescribable pressure filled the attic, resembling the vast majesty of the heavens or the descent of divine power.

The green-scaled ghost turned its head and roared furiously at Zhou Yinglong. Zhou Yinglong's hand trembled slightly, but he refused to retreat. Gripping his sword tightly, he charged at the ghost.

Wang Sheng immediately shifted all his attention to the young security guard and unleashed his full strength. Countless sword phantasms erupted, trapping his opponent within the sword formation.

Seven-Star Flare: Sword Radiance Flash!

The young security guard's small cauldron emitted waves of green light to block Wang Sheng's attacks, yet in three moves, Wang Sheng still managed to stab the man in his right shoulder. The wound numbed the guard's entire right arm, throwing him off balance.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Sheng knocked the small cauldron from his opponent's hand. With a precise burst of sword energy, he then sent it flying into the corner of the room.

The man glared at Wang Sheng. "How dare you destroy my treasured cauldron!"

sword phantasms flickered once more, piercing the man's left shoulder socket and thigh joints. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, powerless.

Should I kill him?

Eliminating him would indeed be an act of upholding justice, but it would also bring trouble. After all, he was merely a cultivator without any legal authority, and this was not some remote, lawless place.

Kidding. Why would it be legal to murder in the Hua Republic?

His sword couldn't even block bullets yet. Even if he could in the future, how long would it take to cultivate to the point where he wouldn't fear heavy firepower? He still had family and friends, and he wanted to cultivate in peace.

Fortunately, injuring his opponent just enough to immobilize him and then finding a way to cripple his cultivation was still within the bounds of righteousness.

Wang Sheng's sword phantasms flickered once more as he left over a dozen wounds on the man's joints, his sword control as precise as a surgeon was with a scalpel. They would heal within a few days, but until then, he was completely immobilized.

Hearing a muffled groan from the side, Wang Sheng glanced over only to find that the green-scaled ghost had struck Zhou Yinglong and sent him crashing into a set of shelves in the corner. The ghost pursued Zhou Yinglong relentlessly, who could only roll to the side and grit his teeth to suppress the pain.

Wang Sheng immediately rushed forward to assist, channeling his spiritual consciousness at full force. Holding his sword, he shouted, "True Five-Star Radiance, illuminate the dark! Let a thousand gods and saints protect my spirit!"

His spiritual consciousness surged outward like rippling waves, sweeping toward the green-scaled ghost. Though his ears buzzed faintly, his spiritual suppression had completely stopped the ghost!

A corrupt cultivator had cultivated the ghost from a small wandering spirit. Essentially, it was just residual spiritual consciousness wrapped in primal qi, controlled using exorcism techniques.

Abyss Listener had no particular restraining effects against malevolent ghosts, but exorcism techniques would be the perfect counter.

Wang Sheng took two steps forward. "Scatter, slay, and vanquish all demons! Make haste, as the decree commands!"!"

His spiritual consciousness surged forward again. He felt slightly dizzy, but he still successfully forced the green-scaled ghost into the corner of the room.

"Senior Brother, protect Patron Li!" Wang Sheng politely instructed.

He then swung Abyss Listener, slicing off one of the ghost's arms. The exorcism spell triggered a surge of spiritual energy, causing the ghost to begin melting!

"True Five-Star Radiance, illuminate the dark! Let a thousand gods and saints protect my spirit! Scatter, slay, and vanquish all demons! Make haste, as the decree commands!"

He chanted the exorcism spell as he swung away with Abyss Listener. Unable to resist, the ghost was gradually cleaved apart.

By the bed, Zhou Yinglong, who had been clutching his chest and wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, was momentarily captivated by Wang Sheng's relentless assault on the ghost. Had he glanced at the security guard at that moment, he could have stopped what was about to happen. However, with his mind in turmoil, he failed to notice anything.

He had never experienced such a battle before. The fact that he had charged in to fight the ghost head-on already showed his resilience.

The man who had been kneeling motionlessly on the ground had somehow managed to crawl forward. His bloodied hand was now reaching for the small cauldron that had rolled into the corner.

I must avenge them... I must avenge my father and brother...

In a trembling, barely audible tone, he shouted, "I offer my living soul! Merge with my mortal body, sever my desires, and feed its divine power!"

His entire spiritual consciousness surged toward the now-open small cauldron.

Just as Wang Sheng cleaved the ghost's head apart, he turned around, his gaze locking onto the security guard.

Zhou Yinglong quickly grabbed Li Shishan, who had almost been shocked to death, and retreated to the side. A thick, green mist poured out from the cursed cauldron and engulfed the bloodied security guard.