Chapter Four: The Body of the Nine Fiends

The seven infant heads on her belly seemed to stir as the woman moved, each tiny mouth extending a crimson tongue that licked ceaselessly across her abdomen.

“Sister Zhang, what is this…”

Zhang Keqing’s face was grim, and she managed a bitter smile. “Looks like we’re facing some troublesome major ghosts tonight.”

She pulled me back two steps and began to explain.

The ghost before us was called the Nine Fiend Ghost Body. Apparently, something had gone awry when setting up the Nine Fiend Corpse earlier, allowing this vengeful spirit to slip into the path of the Fiend Ghost. Now, seven of the nine fiends were already housed within her body. If we didn’t eliminate her now, and she gathered all nine, her soul would transform into a Vajra Soul—much like the indestructible Vajra.

I’d read plenty about corpses and spirits in the Longevity Bureau. The Vajra Corpse was rumored to be a kind of zombie capable of altering its own fate. Of course, becoming one was exceedingly difficult—centuries might pass without a single case, and without intervention, it might take millions of years. When a Vajra Corpse appeared, it was an event that shook heaven and earth.

I knew little of the Vajra Soul.

Fortunately, Zhang Keqing went on to explain that the Vajra Soul was akin to an immortal soul—though all spirits eventually fade, the Vajra Soul was simply stronger and slower to dissipate than others.

She spoke of her own concerns. The female ghost before us was clearly intent on transforming into a Vajra Corpse. With the Vajra Soul in hand, all she needed was a body with a dragon bloodline to complete the process.

Thus, we had to stop her now.

The towering female ghost watched us with a cold smile. In a flash, she lunged, reaching for both Zhang Keqing and me.

Zhang Keqing stepped forward, shielding me behind her. Without hesitation, she drew her sharp fingernail across her right middle finger, and began to trace symbols in the air.

Many of these symbols I recognized.

“Let the ghost soldiers pass, open the path with runes, descend the heavenly warriors!”

She finished the ritual in mere seconds, pressed her bloodied finger to her brow, and instantly, Zhang Keqing before me seemed to transform into someone else.

“Useless. I’ve met plenty of little Yin-Yang adepts like you before,” the ghost sneered. “You know a few arts—excellent supplements. I’m about to receive my eighth child, you’ll make a fine meal.”

—

That voice was raspy, reminiscent of a beauty whose throat was ruined by late-night drinking.

“Step back. Set the Seven-Step Soul Pursuit Array—I’ll deal with her!” Zhang Keqing’s voice was icy. By now, I’d grown used to her tone.

As I retreated, a gust swept past me. Zhang Keqing shot forward, delivering a palm strike to the ghost, who towered a head taller than her.

Crack—rip!

Her palm landed on the bathroom door, which shattered with a thunderous crash. The wind she summoned was torn apart with a sharp hiss.

“Heavenly warrior possession?” The ghost’s words sent a chill through me.

I hurriedly grabbed the yellow talismans from my backpack and began folding them into paper figures—a task at which I was well-practiced. In less than thirty seconds, I’d crafted seven yellow talisman paper dolls, arranging them neatly at the bathroom entrance.

Meanwhile, the battle between Zhang Keqing and the female ghost was at its peak. I formed a sword gesture with my fingers, ready to activate the array at any moment.

Zhang Keqing was ferocious now, like a celestial maiden descended to earth. Standing in the center of the bathroom, one hand formed the sword gesture, the other gripped a peachwood sword, her body surrounded by yellow talismans. Each strike conjured gusts of wind, filling the bathroom with the sounds of hissing and booming. Had I not grown accustomed to dealing with spirits, I would have thought I was watching a movie. Of course, without opening the Nether Sight, I wouldn’t even see the female ghost—only Zhang Keqing, practicing alone.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

I nodded.

“When I retreat, activate the array. I must summon the divine fire from five directions to destroy her completely.”

I nodded again. Zhang Keqing stood firm, her peachwood sword suddenly glowing a deep red, as though ignited. She hurled the sword at the ghost, sidestepped, leaving an opening toward the Seven-Step Soul Pursuit Array.

“Go!”

—

As I uttered the command, a wave of dizziness swept through me. I watched as the seven yellow talisman paper dolls, poised within the array, rose up and charged at the female ghost. In that instant, the dolls grew larger, each mirroring the ghost’s appearance.

Seeing this, excitement surged through me—this was my first real fight with a ghost in a month.

I’d set up the Seven-Step Soul Pursuit Array many times before, but never seen such results.

“Keep control, I’m setting up the array!” Zhang Keqing called.

I responded, fingers forming a sword gesture, pointing at the ghost not far away. The seven faceless yellow talisman figures rushed toward her.

“Child’s play. Break!” the ghost scoffed.

This time, I was stunned. As the seven figures charged, the ghost extended a hand—her sharp nails pierced my paper dolls effortlessly.

My sword gesture tingled, and a chilling energy seeped into my palm.

“Get out of the way!” Zhang Keqing warned.

But before I could react, the ghost’s mocking face appeared just ten centimeters before my eyes.

“Do you think you can escape in front of me?”

Her voice now mingled with a man’s rough timbre, making it all the more unsettling.

There was no chance to run. By the time I heard Zhang Keqing’s warning, cold hands had already closed around my neck.