Ling Xiaodong looked up at the still imposing plaque of the Cheng Mansion. The scene of him ruthlessly beating Shao Yinhua just yesterday was still vivid in his mind. He had thought he wouldn’t have to come back, but unexpectedly, he had to revisit the same place the very next day.
The household servant standing at the entrance did not report back to the mansion as he had the day before; instead, he directly led them into the City Lord’s residence. It seemed prior arrangements had been made.
Inside the familiar main hall, the City Lord still sat in the main seat, but on the guest seat, there was only Wuyazi—Shao Yinhua was nowhere to be seen.
As soon as Ling Xiaodong and Ye Yiyun appeared, the City Lord became even more enthusiastic than the day before, quickly standing up and clasping his hands in welcome.
“Two Daoists, we’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival. You’ve finally come.”
“City Lord, you’re too kind.”
Ye Yiyun returned the gesture with a respectful clasped hands.
Wuyazi also stood up and said, “I must apologize for my dear friend’s rudeness yesterday. I hope the Daoists will not take offense.”
“No offense taken. My junior disciple was also impulsive. Now that the Luo Sect is coveting Peng City, it’s imperative that you and I join forces to eliminate them.”
Wuyazi stroked his beard and smiled, “Daoist Ye, your righteousness is admirable.”
“Please, please, everyone have a seat so we can discuss the matter in detail.”
The City Lord gestured for everyone to sit.
“How does Daoist Wuyazi plan to deal with the Luo Sect’s demonic ghosts?”
“Daoist Ye, please take a look.”
Wuyazi then picked up a wooden box beside him and handed it to Ye Yiyun.
Ye Yiyun took the box and opened it, a little surprised.
“This is… chixiao?”
Chixiao refers to red niter, a type of potassium nitrate distinct from the more common white and yellow forms.
According to the Materia Medica, the pure white variety is best, yellow is harmful, and red is deadly. Red niter is rare and seldom mined. It carries a strong yang attribute, making it a premium material used for drawing the most potent yang-type formations.
“Daoist Ye, your knowledge is impressive. This is indeed red niter. I’ve already inscribed the Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation throughout the entire mansion, waiting for those demons to walk right into the trap.”
The Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation: the Azure Dragon emerges from the sea, seeking traces across heaven and earth, with surging Qian energy that overwhelms and obliterates evil.
Beneath Wuyazi’s benevolent gaze was a hidden chill.
This formation was originally a grand Qian-Kun array that converts yin into yang, capable of reversing sun and moon, rivers flowing backward. Once a ghost or demon steps inside, its yin energy would be converted into yang, burning it to death.
However, in Wuyazi’s hands, by inverting the drawing, the formation’s effect reversed: instead of converting yin to yang, it would convert yang to yin. Living beings stepping inside would have their yang energy transformed into yin, resulting in an imbalance of yin and yang, causing death.
“When the demons attack, I’ll lure them in. I ask you two to activate the formation once they enter.”
Seeing the precious red niter and the Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation ready, Ye Yiyun finally relaxed and gladly agreed.
The two then discussed the details of their cooperation for the night before retiring to their rooms to conserve energy and await the darkness.
Inside Wuyazi’s room.
“How did it go? Did they agree?”
Shao Yinhua asked anxiously as soon as Wuyazi returned.
“With me on the case, failure is impossible,” Wuyazi replied calmly.
“That’s good. Pity I can’t personally deal with these two. My hatred remains unavenged.” Shao Yinhua said bitterly.
“If you’re not afraid of the karmic consequences of killing by your own hand, and willing to face the mysterious Master behind them, then be my guest.”
Wuyazi looked at Shao Yinhua with disdain and ignored her, then assumed a meditative posture, beginning to recuperate.
Soon, midnight arrived. The bright moonlight, combined with the mansion’s rockeries and exotic plants, created a beautiful scene. Yet everyone in the courtyard wore grave expressions, waiting for the Luo Sect’s night assault.
Red cords were strung throughout the yard, densely hung with yellow talismans and bells.
Wuyazi sat cross-legged at the center of the cords, while Shao Yinhua, previously absent, leaned against a pavilion pillar with eyes closed, holding a newly forged sword.
On the other side, Ye Yiyun held a golden compass tightly, standing ready. This golden compass was the formation’s core, used to activate the Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation.
Ling Xiaodong stood nearby with his sword in hand, a mix of nervousness and excitement stirring within him. Exorcising demons was the main purpose of his descent from the mountain.
Time passed with no movement, and the silence in the courtyard became oppressive.
Ling Xiaodong looked up at the moon now high in the sky and whispered uncertainly, “Will they really come?”
At that moment, the bells hanging on the red cords jingled without wind, their clear chimes echoing throughout the City Lord’s residence.
“They’re here!”
Wuyazi’s eyes snapped open, and he sprang up, expression serious.
An invisible, chilling yin wind swept through their bodies. Ling Xiaodong shivered as the temperature in the courtyard suddenly dropped, even frost forming on the leaves.
Dim purple flames spontaneously ignited, coalescing into a humanoid figure. Beneath the purple fire, the outline of a woman appeared, with eerie green eyes glowing within the flames.
“It’s Guijiang Luocha! Be careful!”
Ye Yiyun recognized the true form hidden in the purple flames immediately and warned.
Wuyazi waved his white fly whisk and raised a single sword finger, pointing directly at Luocha floating in midair. The Yin-Yang symbol appeared at his fingertip.
“The north wind blows, the west wind flows. The red phoenix soars, the eastern fire dragon roams. A true master holds the summons, calling you as thunder and cloud. Quickly come to the Thunder Altar, to save from bitter misery. As swift as the law!”
A swift bolt of lightning shot from his finger but was casually swatted aside by Luocha.
Though it caused no harm, the attack enraged her. Luocha immediately dove toward Wuyazi on the ground with a fierce assault.
“Shao Yinhua!” Wuyazi shouted.
Shao Yinhua dashed forward, brandishing her sword as Wuyazi dodged Luocha’s violent attacks in the courtyard, continuously casting spells to lure her into the Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation.
When Luocha entered the formation’s boundary, Wuyazi shouted,
“Activate the formation!”
Golden light burst from Ye Yiyun’s compass, and the hidden formation beneath the ground glowed a fiery red.
Seeing the formation activate, Shao Yinhua led Wuyazi out of its range, leaving only Ye Yiyun and Ling Xiaodong inside.
Luocha, sensing danger, tried to escape but slammed headfirst into an invisible formation wall.
The purple flames covering her body gradually turned red, the searing pain causing her to fall from the air, thrashing wildly on the ground.
Seeing the formation’s overwhelming power, even a Ghost General like Luocha was powerless within it, Ling Xiaodong finally exhaled in relief, his grip on the sword loosening slightly.
The red flames engulfing Luocha blazed fiercer, and her massive form began to shrink. Normally, she would have been killed right here by the formation, but suddenly, something unexpected happened!
The red-covered Luocha contracted into a small orb no bigger than a pill, then suddenly exploded!
Wuyazi stared at the explosion inside the formation, a faint, hidden smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
It worked!
The formation Wuyazi drew was not just the inverted Azure Dragon Red Blood Formation, or Ye Yiyun would have noticed something wrong immediately.
He had set an upper limit on the original formation: once the converted yin energy reached that threshold, the extreme yang would generate yin, flipping yin and yang once again!
The effect of converting yin to yang instantly reversed to converting yang to yin, meaning both people inside the formation would die from their yang energy turning into yin.
During the explosion, Ling Xiaodong only saw a flash of red light. There was no shockwave, as if the explosion had never happened.
He lowered the hand that had shielded his face and looked toward the formation. Luocha had already turned to ash and smoke.
Was it really over just like that?
Ling Xiaodong felt it was somewhat unreal. He had stood watching for a while without taking action. He had expected a drawn-out battle lasting hundreds of exchanges, barely winning in the end, just like his master’s novels.
“Aunt Yun, we won!”
Ling Xiaodong turned to report to Ye Yiyun, who remained seated within the formation.
But Ye Yiyun did not reply. Her face was deathly pale, and she was utterly weak, unable to sit upright, collapsing to the ground.
“Aunt Yun!”