Chapter 156: Predicament

Looking at the young woman’s smile, Lu Bai felt a chill crawl down his spine!

’This scene before me isn’t real?’

’Even the Eye of Illusion can’t see through it?’

The Cyan Cloud Sword pierced her body, but there was no reaction.

The surrounding guests, the master of ceremonies, the manor’s owner—all of them froze in place, their expressions locked.

The next moment, the scene before him shattered like a mirror, breaking apart piece by piece!

The brightly lit manor, the boisterous guests, the lavish banquet, the festive decorations...

Everything twisted, faded... and then vanished!

Lu Bai surveyed his surroundings.

The manor was still the same manor.

But now it was dilapidated, with corpses strewn haphazardly across the ground. They were the same guests he had just seen, their skin already beginning to rot and reek.

In the main hall where the wedding ceremony had taken place, only two ghastly green Ghost Fires burned with a faint glow.

On the wall, the character for "double happiness" was crudely smeared in a dark brown stain. The color looked like dried blood, a shocking sight!

He Liangzhi lay unconscious before the hall, his bright red wedding robe now like a tattered, filth-stained burial shroud.

The Ghost Bride had vanished without a trace.

Lu Bai hurried forward to check on He Liangzhi.

He Liangzhi’s face was ashen, his breathing faint, and his limbs were ice-cold. It was clear that a sinister energy had invaded his body, but thankfully, his life was not in danger.

"Ah Mo, you stay and watch over Brother He. Ah Ming, you’re with me. We’re going to take a look around the manor."

Lu Bai said, calling for Ah Ming to follow him. He planned to patrol the manor.

Unexpectedly, after entering the manor, Ah Ming clung to the Black Dog and refused to get off, no matter how much Lu Bai called.

Lu Bai went to pick Ah Ming up, only to find the little one’s body trembling slightly.

’Why is Ah Ming this scared?’

Even when they encountered the Red and White Collision Evil earlier, Ah Ming hadn’t been this terrified.

Lu Bai swallowed, his heart pounding with alarm.

He glanced at the Black Dog.

The Black Dog was quiet and seemed normal, except it wasn’t showing its usual aggressive state when encountering evil spirits, nor was it letting out any threatening growls.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Bai, Cyan Cloud Sword in hand, circled the manor alone.

In the vast manor, with its several hundred residents, not a single one had survived. All were dead!

There were no visible wounds on any of them, but their deaths were tragic, their faces twisted as if they had witnessed something utterly terrifying before they died.

’What a vicious Fierce Ghost!’

Lu Bai clicked his tongue in amazement.

’No wonder even the Eye of Illusion couldn’t see through that illusion.’

’I wonder where that Ghost Bride went.’

Lu Bai had a feeling his last strike hadn’t injured her.

’Maybe the Ghost Bride sensed the aura of the Ancient Mirror and got scared off?’

Lu Bai returned to the main hall. He Liangzhi was still unconscious.

Lu Bai walked over and tore the filthy Red Robe off He Liangzhi’s body.

’We can’t stay here for long.’

After a brief hesitation, Lu Bai bent down, hoisted He Liangzhi onto his back, called to the Black Dog and Ah Ming, and headed out of the manor.

Only after leaving the manor did Lu Bai let out a sigh of relief.

He glanced back at the manor and shook his head. Too much had happened tonight.

It felt like a dream.

Fortunately, though it was frightening, he had made it through unscathed.

Lu Bai composed himself, and with He Liangzhi on his back, he started toward Jingzhou City.

Their horses had long since disappeared during the Red and White Collision Evil, so they had no choice but to proceed on foot.

Luckily, he had stored his valuables, like the two Storage Pouches he’d picked up, in the pack he carried with him.

Although he had left the manor, several questions still lingered in Lu Bai’s mind.

’What happened at this manor on the wedding night?’

’How could such a powerful Fierce Ghost suddenly appear?’

’And what about that young Water Ghost?’

’Why did he apologize to me?’

’What did he mean by "Wangjiang Tower"?’

’Was the Red and White Collision Evil outside Bai Family Village a coincidence, or was it orchestrated by the Corpse Refining Sect Cultivator?’

Just then, Lu Bai felt a stir behind him.

"Brother Lu."

He Liangzhi slowly regained consciousness and called out weakly. His breath came out with a hint of bone-chilling cold.

"Brother He, how are you?"

Lu Bai asked.

He Liangzhi’s teeth chattered. "I’m so cold. My Blood Qi is suppressed. That Ghost Bride is incredibly powerful."

"Just hang in there a little longer," Lu Bai said. "We’ll be fine once we reach Jingzhou City."

"Brother Lu, something’s not right."

He Liangzhi said suddenly, his voice laced with confusion and fear.

Lu Bai’s steps faltered. He stared at the familiar village in the distance, and a sudden chill shot through him, making the hairs on his body stand on end.

’Bai Family Village?’

’But I was clearly heading toward Jingzhou City.’

’How did I end up back at Bai Family Village?’

’The two places are in completely different directions!’

’Did I get turned around?’

After a moment’s thought, Lu Bai turned around, putting Bai Family Village at his back, and sprinted forward.

A short while later, the familiar sight of Bai Family Village appeared before him once again.

"It’s a Ghost Wall."

He Liangzhi swallowed and whispered the reminder.

Lu Bai narrowed his eyes.

’It seems that Ghost Bride hasn’t left after all!’

’But this Fierce Ghost’s Cultivation is too high. The Eye of Illusion can’t even see through the Ghost Wall she’s created.’

After some deliberation, Lu Bai set He Liangzhi down. "Brother He, rest for a bit. I’ll think of a way."

"Okay."

He Liangzhi nodded.

Lu Bai quickly immersed his Heart and Spirit in the Ancient Mirror.

’This Ghost Bride is tricky.’

’I have to increase my combat strength as fast as possible. I can’t hold anything back!’

Lu Bai controlled a ball of Level 1 Soul Light within the Ancient Mirror, merged it with the Red Ming Celestial Patrol, and silently commanded, ’Comprehend!’

Soon, a Sword Move appeared in Lu Bai’s mind.

Dawn!

The sword rose like the morning sun at first light.

Lu Bai raised his Cyan Cloud Sword and, following the Heart Method Mantra for this Sword Form, swung it in a single slash!

A highly condensed crimson Sword Qi formed instantly. Like the sun rising in the east, it bloomed with a scorching radiance, dispelling the surrounding darkness.

This was only the entry level. Lu Bai merged another ball of Level 1 Soul Light, quickly raising it to Minor Success.

Immediately after, Lu Bai controlled the strand of Level 2 Soul Light in the Ancient Mirror, merged it into the Ultimate Skill, Red Ming Celestial Patrol, and silently commanded, ’Repair!’

Ripples spread across the mirror’s surface.

A moment later, three more Swordsmanship techniques appeared in Lu Bai’s mind.

Including the previous one, he had now repaired four Sword Forms!

Lu Bai stared at the Level 3 Soul Light in the mirror.

After a slight hesitation, he merged it into the Red Ming Celestial Patrol.

BOOM!

A tremor ran through Lu Bai’s entire body.

The Red Ming Celestial Patrol was fully repaired. All eight Sword Moves surfaced in his mind.

Holding the Cyan Cloud Sword, Lu Bai began to practice the forms on the spot.

Dawn, Golden Crow Incarnation, Burning the Eight Desolates, White Rainbow Piercing the Sun...

Although his Swordsmanship was only at the Minor Success stage, when combined with Lu Bai’s powerful Blood Qi, the blade grew scorching hot. The brilliant Sword Qi painted the surroundings in a crimson hue, turning night into day!

"What incredible Swordsmanship!"

He Liangzhi, watching from the side, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "It’s a shame that Ghost Bride refuses to show herself. Otherwise, with Swordsmanship like yours, Brother Lu, even she might not be able to withstand it."