Chapter 154: Breaking the Deadlock

The two processions, one for a wedding and one for a funeral, were drawing closer and closer.

Lu Bai kept as calm as he could, mulling over what He Liangzhi had just said. Suddenly, he asked, "Since the Red and White Collision Evil is a type of array, if we can find a way to break it, we should be able to escape, right?"

A lone Fierce Ghost, though powerful, wasn’t something Lu Bai was completely unable to fight.

If he could break the collision evil’s formation and separate the two Fierce Ghosts, he might be able to defeat them one by one!

He Liangzhi shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "That’s true in theory, but I’m afraid it would take several True Masters of the Martial Dao working together, or a Nascent Soul True Monarch, to even have a chance."

"Brother Lu, why don’t we just guess who ends up in the coffin and who ends up in the bridal sedan?"

Before he was possessed, He Liangzhi began to ramble, "Then again, getting the coffin isn’t much better. The Water Ghost will drag you back to the river and drown you..."

Just then, Ah Ming, unable to bear the eerie atmosphere of the Red and White Collision Evil any longer, spread its wings. With a mighty leap, it rose into the air and hovered, shaking its body as its feathers erupted in a crimson radiance!

Its red crest was so scarlet it seemed ready to drip blood, its Blood Qi clearly pushed to the absolute limit.

Its long, tricolored tail of red, gold, and black shimmered with an iridescent light as it swayed in mid-air.

Back on Zhongming Mountain, Ah Ming hadn’t known how to fly.

It could only pounce from the air, using the momentum from its clashes with the Tiger Demon to leap up again and again before diving back down.

But now, Ah Ming floated in mid-air, its body wreathed in Demon Qi, as it suddenly tilted its head back and let out a long cry to the sky!

"COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!"

The Rooster Crow could pierce metal and shatter stone, soaring straight to the heavens!

Along with this crow, rays of dawn-like light scattered down, and the surroundings were suddenly bathed in broad daylight as the night receded.

The crow instantly cut off the interweaving sounds of joyous and mournful music in the air.

Both processions paused simultaneously.

Wisps of green smoke even rose from the bodies of the ’people’ in the funeral procession, who were clearly taking considerable damage.

SPLASH!

The sound of water came from the coffin, and streams of vapor seeped out from its cracks.

The red and white mists, after shrinking for a moment, suddenly surged and grew even thicker!

Seeing that its crow couldn’t break the collision evil’s formation, Ah Ming grew more anxious. It glanced at Lu Bai and the Black Dog, hesitated for a moment, but didn’t flee on its own.

Taking advantage of the brief pause in the two processions, Lu Bai suddenly shoved the White Emperor Mother Coin in his hand into He Liangzhi’s palm, saying in a low voice, "Clench it tight! Don’t let go!"

"What?"

He Liangzhi was stunned.

Feeling a copper coin in his palm, he subconsciously did as Lu Bai said and gripped it tightly.

After being interrupted, the mournful and joyous music now started up again, weaving together once more.

The two eerie processions suddenly picked up speed.

In an instant, the red and white mists engulfed Lu Bai and He Liangzhi!

THUMP!

The next moment, Lu Bai felt his body lose control as he fell directly into murky river water.

Lu Bai held his breath and his eyes flew open. He was surrounded by pitch-black wooden planks, and above him was a coffin lid with a visible crack!

He had been chosen by the Water Ghost!

’Looks like He Liangzhi ended up in the bridal sedan.’

’I gave He Liangzhi the White Emperor Mother Coin, so it won’t be so easy for that Ghost Bride to possess his body.’

’For a short while, at least, He Liangzhi’s life shouldn’t be in danger.’

’I have to break this situation, and fast!’

When the red and white mists had surged over them, Lu Bai had an opportunity to act.

But even if he had, he knew he couldn’t possibly have broken the Red and White Collision Evil’s formation.

After all, even Ah Ming was helpless against it.

Lu Bai allowed them to do as they pleased, letting them carry him into the coffin, because he was waiting for an opportunity!

BOOM!

The coffin lid slammed shut, sealing the final crack. The world was plunged into absolute darkness, as if Lu Bai was the only person left.

Lu Bai didn’t struggle. He just lay calmly in the coffin, his hand gripping the Cyan Cloud Sword.

His left hand clutched the Cyan Emperor Mother Coin and the Desolate Emperor Mother Coin, ready to strike at any moment.

GLUG! GLUG!

Just then, the river water outside began to churn, sending bubbles rising upwards.

The Water Ghost was finally making its appearance!

Through the Eye of Illusion, Lu Bai could see clearly. A young man wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat slowly appeared above him, gradually descending.

Lu Bai still didn’t move, as if he had given up all resistance.

’Closer, just a little closer!’

Lu Bai chanted silently in his mind.

Suddenly!

Lu Bai felt a large hand suddenly clamp down hard on his wrist.

His other wrist was grabbed as well!

Having cultivated to the level of a Fierce Ghost and completed their Seven Spirits, they were already capable of physical attacks.

This young Water Ghost’s strength was immense; no matter how Lu Bai circulated his Blood Qi, he couldn’t break free from its grip!

’It seems to have seen through my plan.’

"I’m sorry, young man... Sigh..."

As the young Water Ghost drew closer, a sigh suddenly echoed in Lu Bai’s mind.

Lu Bai was slightly taken aback.

Yin Soul Little Ghosts harmed the living mostly out of survival instinct, not because of good or evil.

To continue existing in the world, they had to complete their Seven Spirits.

This Fierce Ghost had sought him out to possess his body; only with a physical form could it cultivate to a higher level.

In all his time cultivating, the ghosts and evil spirits Lu Bai had encountered were mostly filled with resentment and malice.

The only exception was in Niu Family Village, where the Yin Souls of a family of four had no intention of harming anyone, lingering in the mortal world simply out of attachment and lingering feelings for their village.

But now, this young Water Ghost was actually showing a hint of guilt.

This was the first time Lu Bai had ever sensed such an emotion from a Ghost Soul or evil spirit.

At the same time, the young Water Ghost was now practically pressing against Lu Bai’s body.

Lu Bai got a clear look at the face under the bamboo hat.

A deathly pale, bloated face with thick eyebrows, empty eyes, and soaking wet hair plastered to its cheeks.

The young Water Ghost was entangled in stinking seaweed, and murky water dripped continuously from its tattered Daoist Robe. The cracks of its fingernails were caked with riverbed silt.

The surprise in Lu Bai’s mind was fleeting; he didn’t dwell on it.

’No matter why this young Water Ghost is showing such emotions, it’s still trying to kill me and possess my body. There’s no room for negotiation!’

With his hands restrained, Lu Bai directly channeled his Blood Qi to stimulate the Ancient Mirror.

The Ancient Mirror vibrated, and a huge, dark vortex suddenly appeared on his chest, erupting with a powerful suction force.

The two of them were too close.

At this distance, the Ancient Mirror’s power was at its peak!

This was the moment Lu Bai had been waiting for!

The eerie light that burst from the Ancient Mirror enveloped the young Water Ghost completely!

"Ah!"

The young Water Ghost let out a blood-curdling scream, and its once-vacant eyes were now filled with profound terror.

Under the eerie light of the Ancient Mirror, its straw raincoat and bamboo hat were rapidly burning away, dissolving into nothing.

Not even the river water could extinguish the flames!

The young Water Ghost hastily released Lu Bai’s hands, trying to break free and escape.

His hands now free, Lu Bai poured his Blood Qi into the Cyan Cloud Sword. It suddenly erupted with two streaks of Blood Prohibition as he thrust the sword straight forward.

PCHT!

With one strike, the sword pierced through the young Water Ghost’s chest!

"AHH!"

The young Water Ghost screamed again.

Thick smoke billowed from the wound.

Before it could react, Lu Bai, clutching two of the Five Emperors Mother Coins in his left hand, smashed them viciously into its face!

The Cyan Emperor Mother Coin and the Desolate Emperor Mother Coin embedded themselves in the young Water Ghost’s face, the surrounding skin rapidly rotting away.

Even after suffering such heavy, successive blows, the young Water Ghost unexpectedly still had the strength to struggle, trying desperately to escape.