As soon as the two walked up the stairs, they immediately noticed something in the center of the third floor! Under the illumination of the phone’s flashlight, they saw an object there that seemed to have a circular outline, but it was about half the height of a person...
Chu Keqing frowned, "It looks like... a big jar?"
"More than that." Chen Yan took a deep breath and waved the phone around, then saw in each of the corners of the third floor...
There were men and women, old and young. They were painted with colorful dyes, but under the flashlight in the dark, they looked even more eerie!
Chen Yan squinted his eyes and took two steps forward, looking at the object in the center that resembled a big jar.
Chen Yan shouted loudly.
Then his eyes followed the flashlight’s beam, sweeping over the paper figures in the corners.
"The jar in the center... it’s your ritual altar, isn’t it? If you don’t show up, I’ll smash it!"
Silence surrounded them.
Chen Yan sneered, stood still, and pointed his pinky finger at the jar...
The Finger Sword unleashed, a beam of Primordial Qi shot out...
The crisp sound echoed as the Primordial Energy Finger Sword struck the jar, making a ringing noise.
Chen Yan’s heart skipped a beat... It seemed solid, likely not made of ceramics. Judging by the sound, it appeared to be some kind of metal?
Finally, in the corner to the left, a small paper figure moved slightly, then took a stiff step forward.
This paper figure wasn’t tall, had a hair bun on top, with a rosy touch painted on its face, looking like a somewhat festive boy.
"All practitioners should mind their own business! Why have you two come to trespass my domain?!"
The paper figure’s voice was rough and harsh.
Chen Yan frowned and said, "Of course, I’m here for Huang Mingyi’s soul. Stop pretending with me now, will you?"
The boy paper figure let out a sinister laugh, "You have some cultivation... The name you called downstairs... is it from the Cloud Sect? I’ve heard of it. But do you really think I fear you?"
As those words fell, rustling sounds began to arise around the empty third floor. The paper figures in the corners, men and women, young and old, numbering over a dozen, started to slowly move!
"I can transform endlessly! From one, I can become a thousand!! Since you have entered, you will stay and serve as nourishment for my altar!"
The boy’s voice was harsh and carried a malicious grin.
From one, becoming a thousand? Quite the boast...
There’s hardly enough space for one thousand paper figures on this floor, let alone for you to show one thousand...
Just a dozen dares to boast as becoming a thousand?
Chen Yan glanced at Chu Keqing, who did not seem scared; she just took a deep breath, extending both hands with a few talismans between her fingers.
"You on the left, I on the right," Chen Yan whispered, "If you can’t hold on, just call for help."
"Alright! Don’t worry, senior, I’m no stranger to tough situations," Chu Keqing took a deep breath.
Chen Yan nodded, holding his rod as he moved to the right!
Seeing Chen Yan quickly taking a few steps forward, a tall paper figure rushed towards him, bringing a gust of cold wind, its hands reaching for Chen Yan’s throat.
Chen Yan struck down with his rod, causing the paper figure’s head to cave in! With one hit, it was slammed to the ground!
Another paper figure pounced, only to be struck by Chen Yan’s rod, flying backward instantly.
But at least five to six paper figures rushed forward. Chen Yan’s rod swung back and forth, but suddenly his leg tightened as a previously knocked-down paper figure clung to his calf.
Chen Yan grunted, raised his rod, and pierced through the paper figure’s head.
Yet these paper figures were strangely strong, despite their slow movements, they barely flinched from Chen Yan’s strikes. Even when their bodies were twisted or broken, they still charged at him.
After a few more strikes, Chen Yan threw away the rod, taking out a stack of Six Yang Righteous Qi Talismans.
One talisman hit a paper figure, instantly igniting it in flames! The paper figure quickly crumbled in the fiery blaze!
Chen Yan moved quickly, using the Escape Rune Technique. The paper figures couldn’t touch his shadow. After a few steps forward and backward, he struck again with more Six Yang Righteous Qi Talismans, causing five to six paper figures around him to collapse in the flames, reducing to burnt paper shreds and bamboo frameworks.
He turned to look at Chu Keqing’s side. Although her movements seemed slow, she used an unusual footwork pattern to navigate through the attacking paper figures, advancing and retreating with precision—she seemed trained and skilled?
Chu Keqing suddenly stretched out her hand, slapping a paper figure with a talisman. The paper figure immediately froze in place, unable to move. Using the immobilized paper figure as a pivot, she circled around with agile steps, dodging and running, immobilizing three more in two circles.
In no time, the six paper figures attacking Chu Keqing were all immobilized on the spot.
Watching from his position, Chen Yan recognized the talisman Chu Keqing used: the same Talisman Order: Immovable as a Mountain that she had tried to use on him when they first met.
The Cloud Sect Leader indeed collected talented disciples. After dealing with the paper figures, Chu Keqing slightly panted, turned to Chen Yan, and nodded.
The two of them surrounded the paper figure boy from both sides.
The boy paper figure seemed furious, "W-wait a moment!"
Chen Yan picked up the rod from the ground and laughed, "Hmm? You want to negotiate since you can’t win?"
"What will it take for you two to let this go?" the paper boy asked grudgingly, "Name your terms."
Chen Yan looked at the paper boy, "Anything goes?"
The paper boy grumbled, "Just state your terms, fellow practitioner."
"I want..." Chen Yan pondered for a moment, then stepped closer, "I want to be the President of the United States, can you make it happen?"
Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "No? What’s the use of your words then."
"Don’t talk nonsense!" The paper boy grumbled, "I... can give you money."
"Money?" Chen Yan smiled, "Not impossible, how much can you give me?"
The paper boy was silent for a while, then slowly said, "Thirty million! How about it? Thirty million, to buy your departure!"
Chen Yan’s smile vanished, he tapped his rod twice on the ground and slowly shook his head, speaking with clear disdain, "Just thirty million? Even as a ghost, you don’t have much money; you’re a poor ghost."
Suddenly, Chen Yan’s smile returned, and he waved his hand!
His rod flew out from his hand, shooting towards the paper boy!
The paper boy twisted its body, dodging to the side! But Chen Yan had already pointed a finger!
A beam of Primordial Qi shot out, splitting the paper boy in two!
Chen Yan walked over and lightly kicked the scattered paper figure, "Not only poor, but also weak."
"..." The paper boy on the ground glared at Chen Yan, growling in anger, "You trespass my domain, destroy my paper slaves! Just you wait!"
"Alright, I’ll wait," Chen Yan nodded, stepping on the paper boy’s head, smashing it down and grinding it under his foot.
In a luxurious mansion atop a mountain, an elderly man suddenly sat bolt upright on a grand bed!
His face twisted in pain as he opened his mouth and spat a mouthful of blood on the bed sheet!
Struggling, he rolled off the bed, barely managing to stand, then hobbled amid the furniture, finally reaching a small door within the bedroom. Opening it, a small shrine was revealed!
Upon the shrine sat a black crystal-like stone.
The old man knelt before the shrine and murmured, "Respected one... someone has taken the ghost body altar I prepared for you!"
The black stone trembled, then a cloud of black smoke shot out, rushing into the old man’s nose and mouth!
Seconds later, a trace of black gas flashed across the old man’s face, then slowly dissipated.
Rising from the floor, the old man’s previously halting steps became agile, moving swiftly!
The old man hurried out the door, heading downstairs. A disciple of the household rushed forward, "Elder Zhong? Late at night, you..."
The old man ignored him, pushing the door open and leaving.