83: Chapter 83 That bastard's here again!

[This day, the night is dark and the wind is high.]

[You sit cross-legged in the Alchemy Chamber, feeling the golden trait [Free and Easy Wandering] in your mind bloom with light again, and the corners of your mouth rise accordingly.]

[It is that exciting time of the month again, the "opening blind box" phase.]

[You skillfully mark the coordinates for [Time-Space Reversal] in the Alchemy Chamber.]

[Then, you activate [Thousand Faces] and [Breath Concealment Technique], transforming once again into that harmless-looking Mortal old man.]

[The next second, [Carefree Roam (Gold)] activates!]

[Your figure instantly disappears from the Alchemy Chamber without a trace.]

[...]

[Yinfeng Forest.]

[Just as its name suggests, this place is filled with gusts of ghostly wind and eerie ghost Qi.]

[The tall trees block the sky and the sun, and even the moonlight cannot penetrate. From time to time, the shrill howls of unknown Yao Beasts echo through the forest, making one's hair stand on end.]

[Two Cultivators at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage from the Heavenly Demon Valley are walking through the forest back-to-back, looking vigilant.]

["Damn it, this ghostly place is really not meant for humans," one of the tall and thin Cultivators complains in a low voice.]

["Who's to say it isn't?" The Short and Stout Cultivator spits, "Those big shots above must have had their brains kicked by a donkey, insisting on this two-person team setup. If a Tier 2 Yao Beast were to jump out in this forest, the two of us wouldn't even be enough to fill its teeth."]

["You don't know anything!" The tall and thin Cultivator snorts coldly, "This is called prevention before it happens! Haven't you heard about that 'Ghostly Old Man' in the Sect recently? He specifically targets our patrols! Elder Blood Slaughter personally gave the order that we must travel in pairs and carry this thing!"]

[As he speaks, he pats a small black banner hanging from his waist.]

[That is the Soul-Locking Banner specifically issued by Immortal Master Blood Slaughter.]

["Tch, what Ghostly Old Man, I think it's just rumors," the Short and Stout Cultivator curls his lips, looking unconvinced, "It must be those hypocrites from the Azure Cloud Sect playing ghosts! If he were really that powerful, why hasn't he destroyed our headquarters?"]

["Better safe than sorry," the tall and thin Cultivator is clearly much more cautious, "I don't want to die in a ghostly place like this without knowing why."]

[The two are talking.]

[Suddenly.]

[A "swish" sound, a very light sound of footsteps, comes from the darkness ahead.]

[The sound is like dead leaves being gently crushed.]

[The hearts of the two jump violently, and they instantly fall silent, each gripping their own Magical Artifact.]

["Who!" the tall and thin Cultivator shouts sternly.]

[The footsteps do not stop.]

[Instead, they get closer and closer.]

[A hunched figure leaning on a walking stick slowly walks out from the darkness.]

[It is that familiar old man again.]

[It is that familiar coarse linen clothing again.]

[When they see the appearance of the person coming, both Demonic Path Cultivators are stunned.]

["Old... old man?" The Short and Stout Cultivator cannot believe his eyes.]

["Mortal?" The tall and thin Cultivator also frowns.]

[But in the next second, the color on his face drains away "whoosh," becoming as pale as paper!]

[He remembers!]

[That legendary rumor in the camp!]

[A Mortal old man... leaning on a walking stick!]

[This image is exactly the same as described in the rumors! Not a single bit of difference!]

["No... no! It's him! It's that ghost!"]

[The tall and thin Cultivator is scared out of his wits. He lets out a terrified scream, and without thinking, he turns around, pours all his magic power into his legs, and flees frantically!]

["Run my ass! It's just an old thing! Coward!"]

[The Short and Stout Cultivator clearly hasn't realized the severity of the problem. Looking at his companion's sorry state, his face is full of disdain.]

[In his view, in these wild mountains and forests, it's most likely just a lost old guy.]

[He gives a grim smile, raises the mace in his hand, and smashes it towards you.]

["Old thing! Regardless of what kind of monster or demon you are, eat your grandpa's mace first!"]

[You look at the stubborn fat man rushing towards you, and helplessly shake your head.]

[Why are there always such stubborn greenhorns who don't believe in evil?]

[You just gently lift your left hand, the one not holding the walking stick, and point in the air towards the Short and Stout Cultivator.]

["Puchi!"]

[A crimson Sword Qi appears out of thin air, instantly wrapping the Short and Stout Cultivator, along with his mace.]

[Five Qi Towards Origin Sword Canon — Wind and Fire Prairie Fire Sword Technique! (Wood and Fire dual attributes)]

["Ah—!"]

[A shrill scream, not like a human voice, comes from the flames.]

[In just an instant.]

[The Short and Stout Cultivator is burned alive into a piece of charcoal, and finally, turns into a pile of fly ash.]

[Even his Storage Pouch does not escape.]

["Tch, a mistake," you smack your lips with some regret, "The heat wasn't controlled well, wasted a package."]

[And the tall and thin Cultivator, who has already run more than ten meters away, hears the scream behind him and looks back.]

[When he sees his companion instantly burned to ashes, he is scared out of his wits, using even the strength of his milk, running even faster.]

[As he runs, he takes out a red Talisman from his bosom, about to slap it on himself.]

[That is a Message Talisman!]

[Your eyes turn cold.]

[You form a sword with your fingers and point remotely at his back heart.]

[Xiu—!]

[A golden Sword Qi arrives first, instantly piercing his body.]

[The tall and thin Cultivator's body stiffens violently. He looks down at the bowl-sized blood hole in his chest, his eyes full of despair and unwillingness.]

[In the end, he still couldn't escape.]

["Thump."]

[His corpse falls heavily to the ground.]

[You slowly walk over, leaning on your walking stick, and skillfully fish out the Storage Pouch from his body.]

[Then, you pick up the Soul-Locking Banner hanging at his waist that he didn't have time to use.]

[You hold it in your hand and play with it for a moment.]

["Hmm, this thing has quite heavy Devilish Qi, the quality is not bad, it should sell for a good price."]

[You satisfy yourself by putting it into your own Storage Pouch.]

[Just when you are about to leave.]

[You suddenly notice a wisp of cyan smoke rising from beside the corpse of the tall and thin Cultivator, and then it drifts in one direction.]

["This is... Soul-Tracking Incense?"]

[Information about this Demonic Path secret Spell immediately appears in your mind.]

[This is a vicious Spell specifically used to track enemies. Once planted, no matter where you run to the ends of the earth, your location will be locked by the other party.]

["Heh, interesting."]

[...]

[Meanwhile.]

[In a mountain cave dozens of miles away from here.]

[A Core Formation Mid-stage Demonic Path Cultivator sitting cross-legged suddenly opens his eyes.]

[In the incense burner in front of him, a black stick of incense burns without fire, emitting a wisp of cyan smoke.]

["There's a situation!"]

[His spirit lifts, and he immediately takes out the Jade Slip for messaging, saying in a deep voice: "Elder Blood Slaughter! The fish... has taken the bait!"]