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Chapter 259: Sixty Years of Pure Yang
Chapter 259: Sixty Years of Pure Yang
Upon realizing the formidable strength of his opponent, Hu Ma's entire being was on high alert. He released his whip and employed the techniques he had diligently practiced, brandishing his knife towards the scar-faced elder.
The elder, however, maintained a smile, unhurried and composed. He wielded a white bone whip, the bone fragments on it clattering as he swung it. A white shadow flickered and swayed within the woods, engaging Hu Ma in an evenly matched battle.
At this moment, Hu Ma's heart was filled with anxiety.
He utilized the Ghost Ascending Stairs technique with his legs, moving unpredictably with peculiar body movements. His left hand transformed into the Soul Seizing Hand, and as long as he grabbed his opponent, he could tear away a portion of their soul. The knife in his hand exuded a menacing aura, each strike aimed at vital points.
Hu Ma had dedicated extensive practice to his techniques. Not only had he mastered the three moves taught by Second Uncle, but he also diligently honed the skills taught by Wu Hong, the junior overseer.
Furthermore, as a New Year Guardian, Hu Ma possessed exceptional skills in close combat, and he had never suffered a loss in such situations.
However, facing this scar-faced old man, he couldn't gain the upper hand for the time being. The opponent seemed to be from the Life Span Dao sect, and his abilities appeared significantly superior to Hu Ma's.
Yet, Hu Ma's strength in close combat was formidable, so even when facing this opponent, he didn't suffer immediate defeat. It was only by relying on the advantages of being a New Year Guardian that he could barely bridge the gap in skill.
But he could only bridge the gap; gaining the upper hand was incredibly challenging.
Especially the white bone whip in the opponent's hand, each time it was raised, it threatened to reduce one's lifespan.
If he endured several more strikes, it was uncertain if he would be injured, but his lifespan would surely diminish. In other words, the number of times one could withstand this whip was limited. No matter how profound one's skills or how sturdy their body, after a few lashes, they would be left without a life.
Hu Ma, being already dead, wondered if he would lose his lifespan if struck by this whip.
He was hesitant to test it, as being hit by the whip seemed to tangibly diminish his Dao virtue.
With each lash, a portion of his lifespan would be lost, as if the whip were a poison specifically targeting his Dao power.
"Buzz..."
Just then, Hu Ma suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous, as if his body were being torn apart. He experienced a slippery sensation on his skin, as if something had wrapped around him, causing his movements to slow down. Before he knew it, a lash landed on his shoulder.
"What's happening?"
Hu Ma was startled, and he heard Zhang Agu's voice in his ear: "That evil thing is getting closer, affecting the spell altar!"
Hu Ma had already entered the woods swiftly, and upon entering, he had killed the snake charmer.
But the snake charmer was cunning; although he was dead, the venomous snake he had released before his death was a formidable creature. It wasn't about its bite, but its sheer malevolence.
As long as it appeared near the spell altar, the altar would be affected.
Hu Ma had initially been affected by two things: the strange snake and the artisan's head-banging for blessings.
Hu Ma's roar had killed the artisan, and the spell power on the altar was gradually recovering. However, the two-headed snake was getting closer to the altar, and its influence was growing stronger.
At this moment, while engaging the short and stout old man, Hu Ma couldn't spare much attention for the other side.
Simultaneously, even the red lantern in mid-air dimmed slightly.
Red Lantern Goddess had already killed two evil spirits, but two more remained. However, her half-length incense was about to burn out, and with the altar's influence, her spell power also seemed somewhat unstable.
"Clatter..."
At that moment, the old lady Cui, seeing the scar-faced old man blocking Hu Ma, gritted her teeth and hurriedly struck the wooden clapper by her side. The sound of the clapper rang out one after another, struck with urgency.
As the clapper sounded, the sound of hurried footsteps could soon be heard from outside the woods.
It was the beggars who had followed Hu Ma earlier, originally hiding in the woods, unwilling to get involved in such a battle. Now, called in by Old Lady Cui, they held dog-beating sticks, some with lime, carrying stinking wooden buckets and bundles.
"If you kill this kid, everyone will have roasted chicken to eat tonight, and you can wander the alleys of Dongchang Prefecture as you please!"
Old Lady Cui shouted, her eyes fixed on Hu Ma as she offered a generous reward.
The beggars' eyes lit up at the mention of roasted chicken, women, and such a tempting promise. Some raised their dog-beating sticks, while others lifted wooden buckets, surrounding Hu Ma, eager to join the fight.
"Hold on!"
Unexpectedly, the scar-faced old man shouted: "I can handle this kid. You foul creatures, stay away from me, or do you want to break my spell?"
As he spoke, he waved his whip, lashing out with force, forcing Hu Ma to retreat.
"Are you thinking of running away?"
Hu Ma gritted his teeth, a thought flashing through his mind.
If he couldn't win, then he could only flee at this point.
As a New Year Guardian, he could afford to take a loss, turn around, and use the Ghost Ascending Stairs technique to escape without much trouble.
But if he did that, what about the others...
"Junior Overseer, I'll help you drive away this evil thing. You over there, you should also hurry up!"
Just then, on the altar, Zhang Agu, unaware of Hu Ma's predicament in the woods, could still sense his mounting pressure through the oil lamp on the altar.
He had already ventured into the woods, and with the presence of a malevolent spirit nearby, affecting the Spell Altar, it only made matters more troublesome.
Without time to think, she let out a low sigh, her expression showing a hint of determination.
Sitting before the Spell Altar, she lifted her gaze towards the dark night surrounding them. Suddenly, she held a talisman in her palms and pressed it against her forehead, beginning to chant an ancient incantation.
"Hmm?"
Hu Ma immediately felt the difference as the incantation began.
He had a slimy sensation all over his body, as if something was clinging to him, restricting his movements. He was at a disadvantage when fighting the scar-faced elder.
But now, the thing that had been clinging to him seemed to be withdrawing.
On the Altar, the oil lamp gradually brightened as Zhang Agu chanted.
As Zhang Agu continued her low chant, her face grew paler, her eyes turning bloodshot, and beneath her skin, something seemed to be moving. Her forehead darkened slightly, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"A-Gu, what are you doing?"
At this moment, Hu Ma was unaware of what was happening on the Altar, but behind Zhang Agu, a terrified voice suddenly spoke up.
It was Zhou, the manager. He seemed to have realized something: "Are you using your own life force to forcefully resist that malevolent aura?"
Zhang Agu didn't respond, silently enduring the pain. After a long while, she whispered, "The malevolent spirit has entered the Altar. Someone must endure its presence. When a Ghost Walker initiates a ritual for the first time, they need a master to oversee it, in case the ritual attracts something that the novice can't handle."
Zhou was shocked beyond words: "But you two aren't actual master and disciple. Why go to such lengths?"
"It doesn't matter to me."
Zhang Agu glanced at the gradually brightening oil lamp and smiled shyly, saying, "Anyway, I'm about to get married soon. It doesn't matter if my life force gets injured or not."
"Did Zhang Agu drive away the malevolent spirit that entered the Altar?"
On the other side, in the woods, Hu Ma was also startled.
He could clearly feel that the thing clinging to him had been withdrawn, and even the Red Lantern Goddess in the air seemed to have regained her power at this final moment.
Undoubtedly, Zhang Agu had taken action and resolved the malevolent aura that had entered the Altar.
However, a sudden thought flashed through his mind: If it was this easy to resolve, why was Zhang Agu so shocked earlier?
In other words, although it seemed simple, she had also paid a price?
Not knowing what Zhang Agu had done, he felt a slight sense of oppression, clenching his teeth.
"Alright, children, get ready to make your move."
Just at that moment, the scar-faced elder brandished his bone whip, forcing Hu Ma to retreat. He shouted loudly, and the beggars surrounded Hu Ma, waving their dog-beating sticks. Some threw lime, while others summoned the small spirits they had raised.
Old Lady Cui seized the opportunity and quickly chanted, causing paper puppets to float into the woods from outside, surrounding Hu Ma.
She could control the paper puppets to carry a palanquin, which was one of her skills. Although it wasn't particularly powerful, it was useless in a battle of spells. However, it was useful now to trap Hu Ma and allow the children to take action.
Surrounded by the dense malevolent aura rushing towards his face, Hu Ma was filled with dread.
Hu Ma clenched his teeth. He had regained his calm after the tranquility of the Spell Altar, and now he was determined to resolve all the troubles.
"Huff!"
At that moment, Zhang Agu was watching as Hu Ma's oil lamp gradually recovered and brightened. She felt a little relieved.
Suddenly, the oil lamp flared up, illuminating the surrounding area for over a dozen feet.
The unexpected change startled even Zhang Agu, who looked towards the woods in disbelief. Although she had taken over the Altar, it still belonged to Hu Ma, and the lamp's brightness represented his Dao Virtue.
But how could his Dao Virtue have increased so much in an instant?
Behind her, Zhou also felt a shock: "The Junior Overseer's skills seem a bit off..."
"Could he have finally used that copper coin?"
"..."
"Tsk!"
The scar-faced elder was about to withdraw from the fight, intending to have his men capture Hu Ma. Suddenly, Hu Ma reached out and grabbed the elder's bone whip.
The elder was taken aback and was about to laugh: "You don't know..."
Before he could finish saying "die," his expression changed. Hu Ma's Dao Virtue surged, and with a swift pull, he snatched the bone whip from the elder's hand. With a twist, he broke it into several pieces, scattering the bone fragments on the ground.
The elder stumbled, almost falling, and when he lifted his head, his face was filled with terror:
"The Pure Yang Child's life force, a sixty-year cultivation?"
(End of Chapter)
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