Hu Yuzhi looked down at her gradually rotting body and fell silent.
Yu Nian now understood that this little white - boned spirit had indeed been used by someone with ulterior motives. So she hooked her finger and retrieved the red thread on Hu Yuzhi's body. Then she asked, "Who instructed you to capture living souls?"
Hu Yuzhi's voice was muffled. "I've never seen that person, not even heard his voice."
He Zhiping was a bit puzzled. "Then how did you two communicate?"
"Through a talking yellow parrot."
On a very concealed treetop, a yellow shadow quickly disappeared without leaving even a trace of aura.
Yu Nian seemed to sense something and looked up, her gaze falling in a certain direction.
Feng Chengyuan walked up to her and softly asked, "What's wrong?"
"I seemed to sense a strong killing intent just now, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye. Maybe... I was mistaken."
There were only a handful of people who could completely hide their aura within such a short period of time.
Seeing Hu Yuzhi in a daze, Xie Yiming tentatively walked up to her and put away the talisman net, but was suddenly grabbed by the arm by Hu Yuzhi.
She didn't use much strength. Her palm - sized face showed a grayish deathly aura. A shiny drop appeared in her deeply - sunken pale eye sockets. Her thin back twitched violently, and her voice was filled with a thick crying tone. "I was originally from Ningyuan Village. I was ugly since I was a child, and no one liked me. When it was time for me to get married, my family gave a lot of money to the matchmaker before they could arrange a marriage for me. But that man regretted it one day before the wedding and eloped with a beautiful woman. My in - laws blamed me, tied me up, and threw me into this mountain forest to starve to death. My bones absorbed the essence of heaven and earth for a hundred years and became a spirit... I finally got a chance to live for myself again. I just wanted to be beautiful. Is that wrong?"
Hu Yuzhi's crying grew louder. Tears streamed down from her skull.
Xie Yiming's hand trembled. He had never seen such a crybaby of a demon. He was at a loss. Although it was hateful that Hu Yuzhi had tied him up, she hadn't actually killed anyone.
His heart softened. He draped his clothes over her and said seriously, "Everyone has a love for beauty, but you shouldn't capture living souls... Besides, you're not ugly at all."
Hu Yuzhi was stunned. She suspected she had misheard. "How am I not ugly? My true form is just a skeleton. I don't have a plump figure, fair skin, or big eyes and a high nose bridge... Where am I good - looking?"
Xie Yiming was a bit confused. "Everyone has different aesthetics. In this world, if some people like double - eyelids, there are others who like single - eyelids. If some people like fair skin, there are others who like wheat - colored skin. You envy others for their plump figures, but maybe there are people who envy your tall and thin figure and your pleasant voice. In my eyes, you're very good - looking. Why do you have to cater to others' aesthetics and belittle yourself?"
Yu Nian and Feng Chengyuan nodded in agreement.
Seeing that Hu Yuzhi was still in a daze, Xie Yiming strode up to Feng Chengyuan and asked boldly, "For example, between the two of us, who is better - looking?"
Hu Yuzhi pointed at Feng Chengyuan without hesitation. "Him."
Xie Yiming:.......
Suddenly, Hu Yuzhi laughed. She wiped the tears on her face and shyly glanced at Xie Yiming. Her voice was soft. "But I like you more."
Xie Yiming's face instantly turned as red as a sunset cloud. He coughed violently. "Don't talk nonsense!"
Hu Yuzhi nodded and stopped talking, but she followed Xie Yiming closely.
Yu Nian smiled. She put the stone statue back in its original place. She whispered something softly. With a "bang", the stone statue shattered.
The originally flowing and reciprocating circle of malevolent qi suddenly stopped. But the distorted and howling faces on the ground were still crazy. Their blood - red eyes stared at everyone firmly. The scene was indescribably strange and terrifying.
Xie Yiming had a headache. He said to Hu Yuzhi, "Sister, please don't follow me anymore. You might as well break this malevolent situation with this time!"
Hu Yuzhi looked a bit aggrieved. "The method of creating this illusion was also taught to me by that person through the parrot. I don't know how to break the illusion."
Yu Nian looked at the overcast sky and slowly walked to the center of the front hall. She made hand seals with both hands, closed her eyes, and whispered, "The primordial qi of chaos fills my form. I step forward in the Yu Steps to reach the sun's brightness. The sky turns and the earth revolves, covering the six jia. I step on the asterisms and cover the Dipper, aligning with the nine spirits. I point my finger to subdue demons and startle all evil. The heavenly gods help me hide myself. All misfortunes and disasters will not invade me!"
It was seen that Yu Nian took a step forward with her left foot first, and then her left and right feet alternately moved forward. When she took the seventh step, the places where her feet landed faintly formed the shape of the Big Dipper. The whole movement was clean and neat, and her figure was agile and swift.
When Yu Nian opened her eyes, everyone felt that the aura around her suddenly turned cold. Her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered, "Break!"
The powerful tremor shook the entire courtyard. A few unknown flowers fluttered down at Yu Nian's feet. Centered on her, the pure golden light spread out like a tide in all directions, swallowing up all the overflowing malevolent qi. The terrifying faces on the ground scattered with the wind. The ancient trees in the courtyard quickly dissipated at a visible speed. When everyone came to their senses, they had already returned to the cold grotto, as if everything they had just seen was just a dream.
"The illusion has been broken. Those captured living souls will return to their own bodies in a moment."
Xie Yiming still seemed to be in a daze from the shock just now. He stared straight at Yu Nian with his two eyes. It was not until Feng Chengyuan's slightly cold gaze fell on him that he stammered, "The move you just used..."
Yu Nian was a bit confused. "It's the Heavenly Gangs Seven - Star Steps. Were you distracted during class on Yinyin Mountain?"
Xie Yiming was a bit crazy. "Of course I know it's the Heavenly Gangs Seven - Star Steps, but why do you, a carefree Taoist priest, know this?"
The method of stepping on the asterisms and the Dipper belongs to the level of using actions to communicate with the spiritual in Taoist magic. It is an advanced technical method that can restrain all things and subdue demons. It's not difficult to learn, but if you really want to use it skillfully, you need decades of cultivation.
The strange thing was, how on earth did Yu Nian, a little girl who looked a few years younger than him, manage to do it?
Yu Nian pondered for a moment. "Maybe it's just talent."
Xie Yiming twitched the corner of his mouth. He felt extremely insulted in his Taoist career.
The matter was resolved. Yu Nian pulled Feng Chengyuan and walked out of the grotto.
Xie Yiming walked slowly towards the cave entrance. He always felt that he had left something behind. He turned his head and met Hu Yuzhi's eyes.
Hu Yuzhi had now transformed into her pre - death appearance. Her clear eyes stared at Xie Yiming without blinking.
Xie Yiming was a bit embarrassed by her stare. After hesitating for a long time, he instructed, "We're not arresting you because your nature is not bad. As a white - boned spirit, it's not easy for you to cultivate. Don't harm people anymore."
Hu Yuzhi responded softly. She lowered her head deeply, and her shoulders began to tremble again. She cried silently.
Xie Yiming was a bit confused. He walked up to her and comforted her for a while. Finally, he sighed softly. "If you really feel lonely and scared as a demon, you can come back to Yinyin Mountain with me."
Hu Yuzhi suddenly looked up. There were no tears on her face at all. She smiled brightly. "It's a deal."
Xie Yiming:???