Chapter 118: Dawnlight
Chapter 118: Dawnlight
Chen Chuan's gaze fixed on the flying head, and he drew his Wuji Spear, aiming it directly at the urban legend's forehead and pulling the trigger.
Bang!
A flash of fire erupted from the spear's tip.
The flying head seemed startled, emitting a shrill cry as it suddenly took flight, its long hair enveloping Chen Chuan's entire field of vision.
Chen Chuan was certain he had hit his target, but it seemed to have passed right through the skull, as if it were just a phantom. Simultaneously, his other hand gripped the hilt of his sword, and he instinctively slashed upwards.
The flying head let out another shriek. The previous gunshot seemed to have had no effect, but this time, where the blade struck, there was a faint sensation of resistance, as if it had cut through something ethereal. Yet, it also felt like a hollow, insubstantial strike.
At almost the same moment, he noticed that the signs of etherealization on his "Second Self" seemed to deepen momentarily. Through this, he immediately realized that he had indeed harmed the entity, but the effect seemed minimal.
At that moment, the flying head burst out of the silk canopy, hovering above it.
Chen Chuan glanced to the side and saw that beneath where the flying head had been perched, there was a pile of blood, flesh, and bone fragments like mud, making it impossible to discern what it was.
He turned back to the flying head, realizing that the gunshot had been ineffective, but the sword could somehow make contact. The difference between the two, he suspected, was likely due to the presence of altered tissue in the Snow Lady Sword. However, the altered tissue in the sword might not be sufficient.
If that was the case...
He deliberately took a few steps backward. The flying head, seeing him leave that position, hovered for a moment before diving back towards the pile of blood and flesh.
Chen Chuan thrust his long sword into the ground and waited for it to descend. Suddenly, he reached out, as if grasping something, and with a tight grip, he managed to seize a handful of the flying head's hair, halting it mid-air.
His spirit lifted; indeed, because his body had sufficient altered tissue, he could directly touch the entity.
However, this wasn't without a cost. Simultaneously, the signs of etherealization on his "Second Self" intensified.
He ignored this and grabbed the flying head with both hands, shouting as he exerted force with his waist and back, stepping backward while pulling the entity away from the pile of blood and flesh. The entity struggled and emitted shrill cries throughout the process.
The entity wasn't large, but the force it transmitted was considerable.
Since he needed to maintain his "Second Self" to defend against unknown assaults, Chen Chuan didn't choose to merge with it this time. Instead, he relied on his own strength to grapple with the entity. Fortunately, the altered tissue wasn't a mere display; he had come a long way, and his strength alone seemed sufficient for the task at hand.
At this point, he slightly adjusted his breathing, using his hands alternately to move forward. As he gradually approached, he shouted and grabbed the entity's skull, pulling it into his embrace.
The flying head seemed to struggle fiercely, its strength threatening to drag Chen Chuan along. Yet, he remained calm, not loosening his grip.
During the struggle, the entity nearly escaped several times, but each time, Chen Chuan used the method of momentarily merging with his "Second Self" to regain control. After a long while, he suddenly felt the entity vanish from his embrace.
Chen Chuan slowly straightened his body, brushing off his clothes. He didn't believe the entity had been eliminated; urban legends weren't that easily eradicated. It was likely that the sacrificial time had passed.
However, once the sacrifice was performed again, the entity would undoubtedly reappear. Only when it failed to reappear after the sacrifice would it be considered truly eliminated.
He walked to the altar and withdrew the Snow Lady Sword, then left.
"Chen Expert is coming out," said Gu Mingde, stopping the person behind him and approaching Chen Chuan alone. He looked at Chen Chuan, saw that he was unharmed, and his expression relaxed. "Chen Expert, "Second Self" seemed to deepen momentarily. Through this, he immediately realized that he had indeed harmed the entity, but the effect seemed to have been insufficient.
At that moment, the flying head burst out of the silk canopy, hovering above it.
Chen Chuan glanced to the side and saw that beneath where the flying head had been perched, there was a pile of blood, flesh, and bone fragments like mud, making it impossible to discern what it was.
He turned back to the flying head, realizing that the gunshot had been ineffective, but the sword could somehow make contact. The difference between the two, he suspected, was likely due to the presence of altered tissue in the Snow Lady Sword. However, the altered tissue in the sword might not be sufficient.
If that was the case...
He deliberately took a few steps backward. The flying head, seeing him leave that position, hovered for a moment before diving back towards the pile of blood and flesh.
Chen Chuan thrust his long sword into the ground and waited for it to descend. Suddenly, he reached out, as if grasping something, and with a tight grip, he managed to seize a handful of the flying head's hair, halting it mid-air.
His spirit lifted; indeed, since his body had sufficient altered tissue, he could directly touch the entity.
However, this wasn't without a cost. Simultaneously, the signs of etherealization on his "Second Self" intensified.
He ignored this and grabbed the flying head with both hands, shouting as he exerted force with his waist and back, stepping backward while pulling the entity away from the pile of blood and flesh. The entity struggled and emitted shrill cries throughout the process.
The entity wasn't large, but the force it conveyed was considerable.
Since he needed to maintain his "Second Self" to defend against unknown assaults, Chen Chuan didn't choose to merge with it this time. Instead, he relied on his own strength to grapple with the entity. Fortunately, the altered tissue wasn't a mere display; he had come a long way, and his strength alone seemed sufficient for the task at hand.
At this point, he slightly adjusted his breathing, using his hands alternately to move forward. As he gradually approached, he shouted and grabbed the entity's skull, pulling it into his embrace.
The flying head seemed to struggle fiercely, its strength threatening to drag Chen Chuan along. Yet, he remained calm, not loosening his grip.
During the struggle, the entity nearly escaped several times, but each time, Chen Chuan used the method of momentarily merging with his "Second Self" to regain control. After a long while, he suddenly felt the entity vanish from his embrace.
Chen Chuan slowly straightened his body, brushing off his clothes. He didn't believe the entity had been eliminated; urban legends weren't that easily eradicated. It was likely that the sacrificial time had passed.
However, once the sacrifice was performed again, the entity would undoubtedly reappear. Only when it failed to reappear after the sacrifice would it be considered truly eliminated.
He walked to the altar and withdrew the Snow Lady Sword, then left.
"Chen Expert is coming out," said Gu Mingde, stopping the person behind him and approaching Chen Chuan alone. He looked at Chen Chuan, saw that he was unharmed, and his expression relaxed slightly. "Chen Expert, how is it?"
Chen Chuan looked at Gu Mingde, then at the crowd behind him, and said, "Captain Gu, everyone, this is a protracted battle. I've prevented this thing from feeding on blood, but the sacrifice here can't be stopped, or it might run to another place. During the next sacrifice, I'll intervene again to stop it."
Gu Mingde said, "I've already sent a telegram to the rear. The things Chen Expert needs will be brought here soon, and we have ample supplies. As long as the method is feasible, we can keep fighting this ghost thing."
"That's right. Chen Expert is taking the biggest risk, and we're just standing guard here. What else is there to worry about?"
"You're right. Chen Expert, rest assured. We'll be your solid support!"
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "You're all right. With your support, I can focus on dealing with that thing at the front."
"With a fist clenched in gratitude, he said, 'I entrust the matters outside to you all.'"
The group solemnly returned the gesture, a respectful farewell.
Chen Chuan walked to the side, examining the yellow jade in his hand. Half of it had already turned black. After placing it back, he sat down, unaware of the changes during the battle. Only after dealing with the flying head did he feel a force stimulating the mutated tissue within his body, prompting him to regulate it with his breath control technique.
The effect was far more potent than his daily medication. If not for his understanding of his mutated tissue's structure, this sudden growth, as described by Cheng Zitong, would have overwhelmed him. But now, it only served as a supplement.
As he sat there, leaning on his sword, the group thought he was resting, which was understandable. Merely being near those flying heads could cloud one's mind, yet Chen Chuan faced them head-on, even the source of the flying heads. The pressure he endured must have been immense, and they wondered how he managed to withstand it.
Everyone moved cautiously, afraid of disturbing him.
By noon, people from the foot of the mountain brought offerings and ascended. Some were assigned to handle the worship and offerings, thankfully not requiring entry but only participation from the outside.
As dusk approached, Chen Chuan led some people into the ancient temple, placing the offerings on the altar. Seeing the scattered flying heads, they were momentarily stunned, aware of how troublesome these creatures could be. Their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at him.
"Thank you all," Chen Chuan said.
"It's no trouble, Expert Chen. How can our small task compare to what you've done?"
After a few polite exchanges, they had to leave, knowing they couldn't stay long. Even a short visit left them feeling unwell, nauseous, and dizzy.
Stepping out into the sunlight, they felt like they had been reborn. They couldn't help but marvel at how Chen Chuan endured inside for so long.
Chen Chuan sat on a nearby platform, leaning his Snow Lady Sword against it. He looked up; the sunlight filtering through might be the only warmth in this place.
Alone in the ancient temple, he seemed to merge with the surroundings, his eyes bright and his sword at the ready, sharp and menacing.
As time passed, the light dimmed, gradually enveloping the temple in darkness.
Two sacrifices were to be performed, one at 6:30 am and another at 6:30 pm, and the time for the first was approaching.
Chen Chuan checked his watch and, seeing the time was right, stood up. He lit the torches around the temple walls, illuminating the area with their flickering light.
In the dancing flames, elongated shadows, toppled stone statues, and the surrounding remnants of flesh and blood created an even more eerie atmosphere.
Suddenly, the bound sheep on the altar began to tremble. At the same time, its skin tore open, blood seeping out and flowing in all directions.
Chen Chuan looked up at the altar, and in a moment, the torches flickered violently. Without warning, a flying head emerged from the shadows above, plummeting towards the offerings below. Its long hair floated, casting a large shadow over the scene.
Chen Chuan stepped forward, instantly covering five to six meters. With precise accuracy, he whipped his leg, striking the skull and kicking it off the altar.
The flying head, interrupted from its feeding, let out a familiar shrill cry. It attempted to approach the altar again, but Chen Chuan stood firm, relentlessly driving it away with kicks and blows. After countless attempts to keep it at bay, the flying head finally disappeared once more.
Chen Chuan stood for a moment, then took out the yellow jade from his embrace. It had turned entirely black. He gently squeezed it, and it crumbled into dust between his fingers.
This time, the yellow jade had shielded him from some of the harm. Tomorrow, he would have to endure it all.
However, he clearly felt that the flying head's existence was shorter than before, indicating the effectiveness of this method.
He waved his hand, signaling his departure. After updating Gu Mingde and the others, he retired to the tent prepared for him, silently guiding the growth of his mutated tissue.
The next morning, he entered the ancient temple again. The day's events unfolded similarly to the previous one, with each attempt successfully keeping the flying head at bay from the sacrificial offerings.
After a day of enduring the continuous assault, the Second Self's injuries had intensified, but they were still within bearable limits. It was a battle of attrition, and the damage to the Second Self was cumulative. Judging by the current situation, even without any unexpected changes, the limit would be reached within the next day or two.
On the third day, after some adjustments, Chen Chuan once again entered the ancient temple. When the sacrificial ritual began and the Flying Skull appeared, he successfully drove it away once more. But this time, the Flying Skull only stayed for a few minutes.
He had a premonition that the next time might be the moment to completely eradicate this menace.
As the sun moved across the sky, another day passed by, seemingly slow yet fast. By dusk, just as the sacrificial ritual was about to begin, a member of the commissioned team outside suddenly shouted, pointing towards the mountains, "Captain Gu, look!"
Gu Mingde's expression changed as he looked in the direction of the shout. Flying towards them from all directions were numerous black dots, and upon closer inspection, they were Flying Skulls. There were so many that he estimated there to be over a hundred.
He immediately realized, "These must be from other bases of the Flying Head Sect. It seems Chen Expert's plan is working!"
He shouted, "Prepare to engage!" Then he added, "Try to prevent these things from entering the temple!"
The commissioned team responded loudly, raising their guns and firing towards the Flying Skulls. Over a hundred people had gathered on the mountain, and the deafening gunshots startled countless birds. Occasionally, a Flying Skull would be shot down, but about a third of them managed to squeeze through the hole and into the ancient temple.
Gu Mingde's gaze turned towards the temple, his expression grave. They had done all they could, and now it was up to Chen Chuan to deal with those inside.
Inside the ancient temple, Chen Chuan was also waiting for the Flying Skull to reappear. Following his previous method, dealing with it should not have been difficult. But as the Flying Skull entered, he immediately felt a sense of interference.
He had a premonition that if the root of the Flying Skull came into contact with the fresh blood, it might recover, and that would be troublesome.
In this critical moment, his eyes flashed with determination. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing the root of the Flying Skull and holding it under his arm. Then, he drew his gun, turned, and fired. The continuous sound of gunshots echoed, causing the Flying Skulls to panic. He fired until his gun was empty, then discarded it and charged forward, sword in hand, to meet the Flying Skull.
With each swing of his sword, a Flying Skull fell. When the last flash of sword light passed, not a single Flying Skull remained in the vast hall.
At that moment, he thought he heard a deep sigh beside him. Simultaneously, he felt something light brush past his hand. Turning to look, he saw a pile of ashes falling, along with black strands of hair scattering onto the ground.
Chen Chuan noticed that his Second Self seemed to have suffered a severe blow, rippling like water and fading to near transparency.
At the same time, the altered tissue within him also experienced an unprecedentedly intense stimulation.
He frowned, realizing the severity of the situation...
Breathing techniques alone were no longer sufficient.
Taking a deep breath, he removed his cover garment and began practicing Tai Chi in the hall. After a few repetitions, he felt he couldn't keep up with the growth rate of the altered tissue. So, he tried imitating other Qigong stances and the techniques specifically taught to him by He Xiaoxing.
He practiced repeatedly, time passing as he honed his skills. Eventually, he realized it might still not be enough, so he simply drew the Snow Lady Sword and, in coordination with his breathing, continuously executed the heavy strike technique. In that moment, the sword's aura overflowed, its light flashing, causing the remains of the Flying Skulls on the ground to shatter under the force of his residual energy.
He continued his training throughout the night, finally sheathing his sword as the first rays of dawn illuminated the sky.
Stepping outside, he raised his head, and a glint seemed to flash in his eyes.
Exhaling deeply, he stood with his sword sheathed, thinking. First, he cleaned up the ashes and black hair on the ground, straightened his clothes, and slung his sword over his shoulder.
Outside, the team had been anxiously waiting, Gu Mingde's beard growing longer with each passing moment. They, too, had not slept all night.
After the Flying Skulls entered the ancient temple the previous day, Chen Chuan had not emerged as he usually did, and they had no idea what had transpired inside. Now, with the break of dawn, if he didn't appear soon, they would have to find a way to break in.
Just then, they heard footsteps, and those who had been sitting stood up, their eyes turning towards the temple entrance.
As the footsteps grew clearer, they saw Chen Chuan, sword in hand, emerging from the shadows and walking into the morning light, his figure gradually becoming more distinct.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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