After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Xie Jinchen was dressed in black, almost blending into the darkness. Only the string of emerald green Buddhist beads on his wrist barely emitted a faint light under the corrosive influence of the surrounding ghostly energy.

"Heh..." Xie Jinchen chuckled softly, his voice exceptionally clear in the deathly silent forest where only the sound of ghostly energy could be heard, carrying a lingering hint of mockery, "My life is quite valuable."

Before he could finish speaking, the three most powerful ghosts closest to him pounced on him with shrieks.

The ghostly claw, carrying a chilling intent that seemed to tear at the soul, aimed straight for his heart.

Xie Jinchen's footwork shifted strangely, his figure gliding away like a ghost, while at the same time he flipped his wrist, sending out several yellow talismans.

"Boom boom boom!"

The talisman exploded in mid-air, transforming into blazing yang fire and warding off evil golden light, temporarily forcing the three fierce ghosts back. Their souls sizzled and burned, emitting painful howls.

But this light, amidst the overwhelming resentment of the fifty vengeful ghosts, quickly dimmed like a candle flame in a storm.

More vengeful ghosts surged in from all directions, their wails and howls terrifying. The dense yin energy almost condensed into black mist, surrounding Xie Jinchen.

He fought and retreated, scattering talismans as if they were free: thunder talismans, fire talismans, exorcism talismans…

Various runes flashed continuously in the black mist, temporarily halting the ghost tide.

These were all left to him by Jiang Dusheng for self-defense; they were quite powerful, and ordinary evil spirits would crumble upon contact with them.

However, the number of vengeful ghosts was far too great, and their resentment had accumulated to an excessive degree.

No matter how many talismans Xie Jinchen possesses, they will eventually run out.

"Sizzle!"

A sharp claw hidden in the shadows finally broke through the protective aura and slashed a deep gash on Xie Jinchen's left arm, exposing the bone.

The moment the blood gushed out, it froze into black ice crystals, and the biting cold seeped into the body through the wound.

Xie Jinchen groaned, his face paled, but his eyes grew even colder and calmer.

He slammed his right palm onto the acupoint above the wound on his left arm, temporarily sealing the blood vessels and slowing the spread of the cold and damp energy.

At the same time, he kicked another fierce ghost that was pouncing at him, causing its spirit to stagger backward.

Xie Jinchen looked at his body and saw that he had very few talismans left, and his physical strength was also rapidly depleting.

The dozens of vengeful ghosts around them did not seem to be attacking randomly. They were subtly forming some kind of formation, their resentment intertwined, advancing and retreating with measured steps, gradually tightening the encirclement and forming a trap to strangle and kill them.

He unleashed his last few Thunderfire Talismans, forcing back several fierce ghosts that were charging at him from the front.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, his gaze swept over the jade prayer beads on his wrist, which still faintly emitted a soft glow despite being eroded by ghostly energy.

"It seems... I'll have to rely on you again this time." He murmured, whether to the prayer beads or to the person who gave them to him, it was unclear.

Immediately, he raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of hideous ghostly figures and the dark, dense forest, looking towards the direction of Changling City.

There are conspiracies, deadly traps, and... a stubborn and aloof figure.

"Jiang Dusheng," his voice was extremely low, almost drowned out by the ghostly howl, "I promised you that I would not use this evil aura lightly again... I'm afraid I'll have to break my promise."

Without further hesitation, he abruptly closed his eyes, retracting all his perception of the outside world and sinking his entire mind into the deepest part of his body.

A malevolent aura, forcibly sealed off by layers of Buddhist teachings and will, is beginning to stir restlessly as it senses the overwhelming ghostly energy from the outside world and the impending crisis facing its host.

Xie Jinchen held his breath, ignoring the increasingly close howls of the vengeful ghost and the bone-chilling cold surrounding him, and began to rapidly chant:

"The evil spirits slumbering in the Nine Netherworlds, the blood flowing backwards from the Yellow Springs."

"I will use my blood as a catalyst, and offer myself as a sacrifice to the powerful enemies surrounding me."

"Break the shackles! Unlock the seal!"

"Imperial Edict—"

"The death is imminent!"