Conclusion

There’s no time to use the 【Yin Gathering Art】!

Zheng Que didn’t hesitate for a moment. He immediately stopped the hand seals he was forming, swiftly cut his palm and smeared spiritual blood on both hands.

The Yang Qi contained in a cultivator’s blood, like a faint spark in the darkness, instantly stirred up a surge of Yin Qi.

The next moment a chilling wind struck his face, cold to the bone. Old Madam Zhao, moving like lightning, had already rushed before him. Her mouth gaped wide, the corners of her lips rapidly splitting open to an unbelievable extent, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth like some monstrous beast, biting down fiercely toward Zheng Que’s head.

Zheng Que immediately raised his hand and threw a punch straight at her face.

Thud!

A muffled sound. Zheng Que felt as if his fist had struck a piece of hundred-refined steel, the impact sending a wave of pain through his knuckles.

At the same moment Old Madam Zhao, having taken the heavy blow, finally halted her charge. But her speed was astonishingly swift. Her serpent-like arm traced an arc in the air and from a tricky angle grabbed toward Zheng Que.

Just then the hemp rope around Old Madam Zhao’s neck suddenly tightened, digging deep into her flesh, attempting to hoist her up once more.

However Old Madam Zhao’s strength at this moment was extraordinarily great. Despite the increasing pull from the rope her body remained firmly planted on the ground, showing no sign of rising.

Seizing the moment Qing Li was locked in a stalemate with Old Madam Zhao, Zheng Que immediately sidestepped, dodging her arm, and threw another punch at Old Madam Zhao’s temple.

Bang!

Amidst the muffled impact Zheng Que felt as if his punching fist was about to break. Yet Old Madam Zhao, suffering this heavy blow, merely tilted her head slightly to the side before steadying herself, appearing to have sustained no damage whatsoever.

Seeing that his punches couldn’t even breach her defense, Zheng Que’s expression instantly darkened. This thing wasn’t something he could handle. He needed to find a chance to retreat.

By now Old Madam Zhao’s expression had become extremely distorted. Her eyeballs bulged out, facial muscles twitching unnaturally. From her seven orifices, pitch-black blood slowly trickled out. The Yin Qi around her surged violently like a fiercely burning torch, black smoke billowing unrestrained, continuing to rise.

The entire Zhao family courtyard felt as if plunged into an ice cellar. Frost flowers piled up in layers on the ground, the surrounding temperature dropping again and again. Exposed skin already felt the cold like blades scraping, chilling to the bone.

“Die! Die!!”

“You all must die!”

Old Madam Zhao screamed with a frenzied expression, sharp teeth bared as she opened her mouth wide. Her two arms elongated once more, crossing in mid-air like a pair of scissors and closing in on Zheng Que from left and right.

“Mother! No! Stop!”

Just then Zhao Lao’er’s voice, filled with urgency, suddenly rang out from behind Old Madam Zhao.

Hearing her son’s words, Old Madam Zhao’s movements instantly stiffened. She turned her head to look at her son, seemed to perceive the deep fear in his eyes and immediately spoke to comfort him. “Lao’er, don’t worry!”

“In a few days… cough, cough… Mother will find you another wife.”

Hearing this, Zhao Lao’er, who had already been scared stiff, suddenly wore an expression of utter terror.

He hadn’t said a single word just now.

Something else was imitating his voice.

Whoosh!

The next moment Old Madam Zhao was hoisted high into the air.

She immediately tried to struggle, but the rope tightening around her neck suddenly transmitted a terrifying, immense force.

Crack, crack, crack.

Old Madam Zhao had barely moved her limbs when her neck was brutally snapped by the rope, the crisp sound of shattering vertebrae echoing through the air.

In the silent courtyard the noise of bones splitting continued in rapid succession. The hemp rope showed no sign of loosening, only tightening further.

The rope had almost completely embedded itself into Old Madam Zhao’s neck, which now took on a bizarre constricted shape, the thinnest part kept narrowing as if determined to sever her head entirely.

Sensing the mortal danger, Old Madam Zhao could no longer focus on attacking Zheng Que. Her elongated arms immediately retracted, clawing at the rope around her neck and tearing at it with desperate force.

The violent struggle between rope and flesh produced a low, rasping sound, like a dull saw grinding against wood: utterly chilling.

Seeing the situation turn in his favor, Zheng Que took a deep breath and immediately slashed his own wrist. As blood gushed out he swung his arm, splattering his spiritual blood toward Old Madam Zhao.

The Yang Qi within Zheng Que’s spiritual blood was exceptionally potent. The moment it appeared it radiated threads of scorching energy. Upon splashing onto Old Madam Zhao it instantly produced a sizzling, burning sound.

Aaaahhh!!

Old Madam Zhao let out a piercing, agonized scream. The Yin Qi enveloping her body trembled violently and the black smoke filling the courtyard surged like raging waves, as if struck by a powerful impact.

The moment the Yin Qi around Old Madam Zhao weakened, the rope around her neck surged with renewed strength.

Thump!

In the next instant Old Madam Zhao’s entire neck was severed. Jet-black blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering across the ground. Her head tumbled to the earth, dark blood staining her graying hair and pale, bluish face. Her crimson eyes remained wide open, bulging as they stared fixedly upward.

The headless corpse followed, collapsing to the ground. Gone was its earlier heaviness; the body now lay limp and lifeless, devoid of any remaining aura.

The Yin Qi shrouding the entire Zhao family, having lost its foundation, began to dissipate rapidly.

Daylight gradually filtered back in. In the distance, the fading sunset glowed faintly, like lightly applied rouge, its brilliance waning as night approached.

The frost on the ground melted swiftly and the temperature gradually rose, returning the courtyard to its normal state. The torrential rain of falling leaves came to an abrupt halt. Glancing aside, the two large trees now stood completely bare, their branches swaying silently in the wind.

Victory!

Zheng Que slumped to the ground, gasping for breath in great heaves. Sweat poured down his forehead, quickly soaking his collar.

This battle had nearly drained all the spiritual power within him.

Fortunately Qing Li had proven unexpectedly formidable.

Moreover, the method she had just used seemed to be that of a Calling Ghost.

At that moment Qing Li’s figure slowly materialized beside Zheng Que. The Yin Qi around her had thinned considerably, and her white robes appeared distinctly clear, no longer obscured by the billowing black smoke that had once shrouded her.

It was evident that she had also expended a great deal in the battle.

Lost in thought, Zheng Que glanced at the sky. Knowing that nightfall was approaching and that he couldn’t linger here any longer, he immediately rose to his feet and walked toward Zhao Lao’er.

Zhao Lao’er knelt on the ground in a daze, staring blankly at the corpse of Old Madam Zhao not far away. His expression was vacant, his entire being wooden, as if only an empty shell remained.

Zheng Que walked over, observed Zhao Lao’er in his current state and after a brief moment of thought, because he truly did not know how to comfort others, stepped forward and patted Zhao Lao’er on the shoulder, speaking bluntly. “Big Brother Zhao, your wife was not a ghost, but a long-dead corpse.”

“The real ghost was actually your mother.”

“Please accept my condolences.”

However, it would have been better if Zheng Que had said nothing. As soon as he spoke, Zhao Lao’er’s emotions completely collapsed. He buried his head in his hands and began to weep hysterically. “Mother! Mother…”