CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: EXTERNAL THREATS

At this moment, deep in a small alley outside the Qi Family Mansion, in another household, countless paper copper coins were scattered everywhere.

An elderly figure stood before the candlelight.

In the height of summer, she was wrapped in a thick cotton jacket.

Gazing at the flickering candlelight, a deep-seated hatred filled her eyes.

"Hongmei, my poor daughter, you can finally rest in peace. Mother will soon avenge you, not just that venomous Madam Zhou, but everyone in the Qi Family’s main house will be buried with you. They are all responsible for your death!"

She murmured, occasionally punctuated by coughs.

There was a touch of pain in her eyes.

Her daughter was originally a second-class maidservant in the main house. Due to her diligent service, she was taken as a concubine by Qi Yuanwu. Everything was going well until she unexpectedly became pregnant, leading to a chain of unfortunate events that ultimately ended with her falling into a well, dying along with her unborn child.

She had warned her daughter to be wary of that venomous woman, but no matter how much they guarded against it, they couldn’t compete with the influence and power of the Qi Family, leading to such a tragic end.

What made the old woman resentful was that Qi Yuanwu, the head of the Qi Family, didn’t even say a fair word, treating it as if an ant had died rather than a beloved concubine carrying his own bloodline. How could she not be filled with hatred?

At this moment, a deep, mocking voice came from outside the window.

"If you rely solely on your current methods, you might not be able to get your revenge!"

Upon hearing this, the old woman looked towards the person outside, her eyes twisting with anger.

"You lied to me! Didn’t you say that this type of Magic can completely eliminate that venomous woman, Qi Yuanwu, and everyone in the Qi Family’s main house?"

She was enveloped by a thick layer of Yin Qi and resentment.

On her face, terrifying and festering sores appeared, resembling a living toad, instilling fear.

The figure outside the house slowly appeared at the doorway, glanced at the old woman’s sores, but showed no surprise, merely nodding.

"That was under the condition of no interference; now someone is meddling, ruining your plan!"

Under the cloak, the figure appeared particularly chilling in the dark wind.

The old woman became anxious; she had paid such a high price, and if it ended in failure, who would then avenge her daughter and grandson?

"What should I do then? Tell me quickly! You surely have a way, don’t you?"

Her figure now resembled that of a vengeful ghost!

The figure didn’t mind the old woman’s rudeness, replying, "It’s simple. Dig up the Nightmare Suppression Object, perform the final Magic now, then find a way to aid your daughter!"

The old woman froze for a moment upon hearing this.

"Isn’t it supposed to be done with a daily worship? Today, it’s not yet midnight, right?"

"There’s no time now; speed it up, or you might not succeed!"

The figure had a sly smile in his eyes.

He had barely found an opportunity on Madam Zhou’s side and would not let it end in failure!

The old woman nodded, not hesitating any longer, wrapped herself in a black scarf, and hurried towards the Qi Family Mansion.

...

Within the Qi Family’s inner courtyard, with a thunderous roar, a terrifying, gloomy Qi surged like a torrent from the bottom of the well, accompanied by countless horrifying long black hairs, resembling an endless stream of black worms.

The runes surrounding the well wall burst, and the yellow flags snapped with a crash.

The black hair shot out like the Heaven and Earth Net, swiftly heading towards the depths of the inner residence.

Daoist Tianxu, upon witnessing this scene, was greatly shocked.

Such an unexpected event was beyond his imagination; to his knowledge, although the Mother and Child Fiends were formidable, they shouldn’t have been able to break through the ancestral Magical Artifacts of the Iron Immortal Temple.

He was no stranger to dealing with such fierce vengeful ghosts.

Surprised and dismayed, he couldn’t even bother about the shattered Dharma Artifacts as he drew a purple-red longsword from his waist with a swift motion.

The Spiritual Mechanism flowing on this longsword was more intense than on those other items, faintly resonating with a layer of the Rhythms of Magic.

This was the Supreme Treasure of the Iron Immortal Temple.

A true Dharma Artifact, nurtured with Magical Power.

"I invoke the Magic Sword to vanquish evil!"

Uttering a fierce command, the Spiritual Mechanism in his hand condensed into a purple-red sword shadow that slashed fiercely at the countless black hairs, successfully severing them, revealing two nearly frenzied figures within.

It was a beautiful woman, now covered in a ghastly hue, holding a sinister baby with sharp fangs in her arms.

The crimson sword light pierced slowly into her forehead, inflicting significant damage.

Yet, it didn’t manage to cut her completely in half, and a series of runes flew from the ground at the doorway, transforming into a wall of runes, blocking her black hair.

This injury enraged the Mother and Child Vengeful Ghosts, and the female ghost released the Child Ghost, transforming into a thick black mist surging toward Daoist Tianxu.

"You meddlesome old Taoist, today I’ll take your life too!"

"Devour!"

The Child Ghost, swifter than the others, transformed into a shadow, racing like lightning towards Daoist Tianxu, so fast that even Daoist Tianxu couldn’t evade it.

He could only stir his Spiritual Power to form Gang Qi to protect himself.

At this point, Zhang Jian, observing from the wall, shook his head silently, knowing that the Gang Qi of the Qi Cultivation Stage wouldn’t withstand the Child Ghost’s fierce claws, which possessed even stronger Yin Qi than the female ghost and was particularly adept at speed.

But just at this moment, Zhang Jian’s eyes flickered as he saw Qi Yi flicker into motion, wielding a Sharp Sword that transformed into a majestic sword shadow, striking fiercely on the Child Ghost’s claws; searing blood sprayed forth, immediately breaking the Child Ghost’s claws, and an intense, invisible Blazing Qi mechanism surged like a torrent towards the Child Ghost, scorching it to wail in agony.

"A mere ghost dares to act rampant in front of this general? Courting death!"

Qi Yi’s eyes were filled with biting cold as the sword in his hand swept out layers of fiery blood light, like a fierce tiger sweeping through.

"Refining Internal Blood, Pure Yang Qi Blood?"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian was greatly surprised.

Refining the Organs is the fourth stage for a Body Refining Martial Artist, equivalent to the Innate stage for an Inner Cultivation Martial Artist, and his maternal grandfather turned out to be a Refining Organ Martial Artist.

There aren’t many Refining Organ Martial Artists among the Body Refining Martial Artists.

Its breakthrough difficulties are even greater than those for Inner Cultivation Martial Artists.

"No wonder he appears younger and more vibrant with age, rosy cheeks even in his sixties, this grandfather is something special..."

Zhang Jian thought to himself.

The scarlet longsword streaked like a shooting star, igniting Supreme Yang Qi that incinerated all, enveloping the unprepared Child Ghost in a vast net.

Moreover, a surging Dragon and Tiger Qi erupted around his grandfather.

Like the roar of dragons and tigers, it resonated with the mountains and rivers.

Witnessing this scene, Zhang Jian was visibly moved.

For the first time, he saw a military general of the Court unleash such power; indeed wielding Dragon and Tiger Qi was formidable enough to suppress all sorts of unorthodox evils.

If an ordinary Cultivator had a lower realm, they might be subdued by that Dragon and Tiger Qi and killed outright.

"No wonder those Heterodox Sects remain in hiding, causing harm only from the shadows?"

Zhang Jian pondered silently, the pride he felt after breaking through gradually subsided, for even Cultivators must tread carefully under the colossal entity of the Daqian Court.

Now observing these two suppressing the Mother and Child Fierce Ghost, Zhang Jian abandoned the thought of intervening.

Glancing toward the depths of the flower garden, he sensed the person performing the Nightmare Suppression Technique might take action, and with a thought, he hurried toward the garden.

Upon arrival, he soon discovered a stealthy figure lurking around the garden, and upon spotting this figure, a slight smile appeared in Zhang Jian’s eyes before he vanished, only to soon lead another figure into the garden.

Soon after, a scream echoed from the garden, a piercing cry immediately drawing the attention of the Qi Family’s patrolling servants.