Chapter 107: Night Walker

“The ones who obstruct us won’t even spare members of your sect! All of you must die!”

One of the mystic-level nightwalkers brandished a long blade, pointing it at Jiu’er with murderous intent, his tone brash and arrogant.

“Oh? Is that so? If you’re so powerful, why bother killing us mere fledgling disciples of the Dao? Why not go after the Heavenly Dao Sect? If that doesn’t work, the Prajna Temple is an option too.”

Jiu’er cast a glance at the two nightwalkers before her, a faint sneer curling her lips as she spoke coldly.

The Heavenly Dao Sect and Prajna Temple stood as the paramount forces in the Buddhist and Taoist worlds; confronting them was tantamount to courting death.

“Hmph. Who exactly are you? You’re no ordinary person, not even a cultivator. How could you possibly withstand our specially forged blades with mere bare hands? Unless you’re one of those ancient Dao elders. But those elders made a pact with our Heavenly Demon Sect’s leaders—not to enter the grand formation. Any violation means automatic expulsion from Emperor Dragon High.”

The mystic-level nightwalker questioned again, his voice laced with disbelief. This young girl had instantly slain one of their comrades. The sheer force of her strike had left the two nightwalkers wary and unwilling to act rashly. Her power was terrifying, beyond human limits.

“Heh, you overestimate me. You think I’m old?”

Jiu’er smiled faintly, but her eyes burned with deadly intent. She knew these nightwalkers were formidable. If she were to strike and another attacker like Zhang Shouzheng appeared, she wouldn’t be able to assist him, and the outcome would be grim. Thus, she held back.

Jiang Putai proved resilient, locked in a fierce battle with another nightwalker. The opponent’s blade technique was strange and close-range, sticking to Jiang Putai like a shadow, never allowing him more than three feet of distance. Each strike was lethal—aimed at his neck, heart, or severing tendons in his hands and feet.

Yet Jiang Putai had some mastery of martial arts. Unlike Jiang Mingyue, who had grown larger and significantly increased in strength and speed, Jiang Putai’s every punch echoed with explosive force in the air, a manifestation of qi energy.

The two remained deadlocked, unable to harm each other.

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The golden light of the Fragment of the Investiture of the Gods gradually faded. Jiang Mingyue slowly opened her eyes, the ancient character on her brow sinking back into her forehead. The fragment turned into a misty gray. A strand of her left hair had turned silver, and she looked utterly exhausted. Zhang Shouzheng reached out to touch his shoulder, feeling no pain, but seeing Jiang Mingyue nurse him at the cost of her own vitality filled him with profound gratitude.

Sensing Zhang Shouzheng’s guilt, Jiang Mingyue smiled faintly. “No need to blame yourself. Just for helping our Jiang family recover this fragment, I would give my life to save you.”

“Senior brother, could you check the surroundings?” Jiu’er’s cold voice came from behind him. Zhang Shouzheng, wielding his broken sword, stood shoulder to shoulder with Jiu’er. At that moment, Fan Xiaopang hurried over to stand beside Jiang Mingyue, planting his feet firmly and striking a pose. “Fatty will guard here. Leave these nightwalkers to you all!”

“All right. Don’t run off on your own. Jiu’er, one each, let’s finish this quickly!”

Zhang Shouzheng flicked his foot, releasing a dazzling silver sword light from his broken blade, thrusting toward one nightwalker, while Jiu’er pounced on the other.

These nightwalkers were human, not malevolent spirits, so most spells were ineffective. Powerful spells required incantations and hand seals, making the broken sword sect’s Demon-Slaying Sword Technique far more direct and effective. This technique was unpredictable and capable of slaying ghosts, whose forms were elusive and whose movements outpaced those of humans.

The Demon-Slaying Sword Technique was specifically designed to counter ghosts. Just as a nightwalker dodged aside, he saw a flash of silver light as the broken sword thrust toward his face, forcing him to hastily block.

Zhang Shouzheng had been practicing this sword technique without guidance, relying on self-study and several battles to become somewhat proficient. Wherever the nightwalker appeared, his sword struck accurately at his face.

“Damn it! Isn’t this the long-lost Demon-Slaying Sword Technique of the Broken Sword Sect? How can you wield it? Are you a descendant of the Broken Sword Sect? No, didn’t Senior Qingya extinguish the Broken Sword Sect? Didn’t she say Guo Guixiang was dead?”

The nightwalker abruptly retreated, breaking free from Zhang Shouzheng’s sword’s reach, gasping heavily. His dark eyes shone with shock. Fortunately, Zhang Shouzheng’s technique was not yet fully refined; otherwise, the cunning angles of the Demon-Slaying Sword would have already ended his life.

“You actually know Qingya! Tell me where she is, and I might spare your life!”

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Zhang Shouzheng’s expression darkened. He never imagined Qingya was connected to the Heavenly Demon Sect. It was said that the sect had many foreign disciples; Qingya was once a mysterious figure from abroad. Could she have been part of the Heavenly Demon Sect back then? And now, after all these years, this fellow still knew Qingya—meaning he must have encountered her recently.

Qingya still lingered within Sister Tingting’s body, but given the Heavenly Demon Sect’s ruthless methods, they might expel Tingting’s soul to let Qingya take full control. Hence, it was urgent to find Sister Tingting.

“Hmph, empty boasts. Even if we’re evenly matched now, do you think you can stop me if I choose to leave?”

The nightwalker snorted and hastily fled in another direction. Zhang Shouzheng shouted in anger and gave chase. Reaching Jiang Mingyue’s side, he handed her the last thunder talisman, instructing, “Use this talisman to break the final formation node. This nightwalker carries vital secrets—I must catch him! Be careful!”

Seeing the nightwalker flee, one trembling nightwalker disengaged from Jiang Putai, and the one wounded by Jiu’er also retreated swiftly.

“Jiu’er, let’s pursue!”

Zhang Shouzheng called to Jiu’er, then surged forward with focused speed. The three nightwalkers ran swiftly, growing more distant, making Zhang Shouzheng increasingly anxious.

Jiu’er soon caught up beside him. “Senior brother, I’ll use the power of the undead to catch them. Climb on my back.”

“All right, but your zombie form can’t be seen by others, so…”

Zhang Shouzheng climbed onto her back and opened the Yin-Yang umbrella, just covering Jiu’er’s head. Her eyes turned a fierce crimson, nails extended several inches, sharp fangs bared. She pushed off the ground with her feet, leaping several yards forward before landing, then pushed off again, propelling her body even higher.

An eerie sight unfolded: from afar, only a figure under an umbrella was visible, indistinct as to gender, bounding forward at an astonishing speed.

The three nightwalkers had burst out of the grand formation, heading toward the Great Mirror Lake. Jiu’er, carrying Zhang Shouzheng, gave chase, steadily closing the distance.