Chapter 41

If you’re going to survive, survive. When it’s time to be brave, be brave!

Since ancient times, evil wraiths have always been the greatest threat to human cultivators.

Face the evil wraith head-on.

Unless it’s truly unbeatable.

Otherwise, retreating won’t earn their forgiveness, and fear will only fuel their wickedness.

There’s no choice but to fight!

A burst of spiritual light exploded with Pure Yang Qi, heavily striking the head of the scarecrow.

“Squeak!”

The scarecrow’s head snapped violently backward.

As if it had been broken.

Wisps of white smoke began to rise from its face that had no eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, as if it were about to catch fire.

Wang Chen withdrew his hand, about to reach for the third Evil-Repelling Talisman.

Unexpectedly, a black straw rope shot out from behind the scarecrow and then whipped back, entangling his waist.

Wang Chen’s breath hitched!

This evil wraith was extraordinary; even after enduring two Evil-Repelling Talismans, it still retained powerful counterattack capabilities.

He felt as if his waist were being constricted by a python, his joints making an unbearable grinding noise.

He was about to be twisted in half!

If it weren’t for the fact that Wang Chen’s Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method had reached the level of Copper Skin, with a significantly enhanced physique compared to before, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on.

But even now, the time he could endure was extremely limited.

Not just that, from the area where the straw rope was wrapped, a sinister yin energy was penetrating the Cloud Light Mana Robe and seeping into his body.

Eroding Wang Chen’s mana!

At this moment, Wang Chen faced an unprecedented crisis.

Crack!

The scarecrow’s head was abruptly and forcefully twisted back into place.

The faceless visage was directly opposite Wang Chen.

Just two feet apart.

Wang Chen felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart, sniffing the scent of death’s fear!

“Kill!”

In the nick of time, Wang Chen shouted furiously, suddenly raising his clenched fist.

Mighty Strength Technique!

His arms swelled significantly in an instant, as the Qi-Blood power refined from his body refinement burst forth.

The next moment, a pair of fists gleaming with coppery luster brutally hammered at the scarecrow’s left and right temples.

Vajra Fist’s third style!

This strike concentrated ten parts of Wang Chen’s strength, mana, and soul power.

It could be said to be the strongest power he could exert.

Pop!

The scarecrow’s head suddenly exploded, countless bits of straw flying everywhere, its body collapsing apart.

The straw rope wrapped around Wang Chen’s waist snapped inch by inch.

[Mighty Strength Technique·Experience +1]

[Mighty Strength Technique (Mastery Level): 0/200]

[Vajra Fist·Experience +1]

[Vajra Fist (Mastery Level): 0/200]

Wang Chen had no time to pay attention to the message flashing before his eyes; as he gained his freedom, he quickly took out the third Evil-Repelling Talisman from his Storage Bag.

He slapped it towards the already dilapidated scarecrow.

Bang!

The evil wraith-possessed scarecrow shattered, and the sinister yin energy that had just poured out was entirely cleansed away.

[Human Virtue +25]

Wang Chen stumbled back a couple of steps, feeling unprecedentedly weak.

Without a second thought, he took out a Qi Recovery Pill from his Storage Bag and swallowed it, then drew the Goose-quill Saber from his waist.

The previous battle had erupted so suddenly and was entirely hand-to-hand combat, leaving no opportunity to use a weapon.

But now, the saber was no longer necessary.

The information displayed in his field of vision told Wang Chen that he had killed this evil wraith.

And he had earned a hefty 25 points of Human Virtue!

Holding the saber, he stood still for a moment, regulating the chaotic Qi-Blood and mana within his body.

After confirming there was no second evil wraith present, Wang Chen sheathed his weapon.

At this time, he noticed that among the scattered straw and wood ahead, there lay a curled-up corpse!

The corpse had been eroded so much that little flesh was left, revealing a skeletal frame wrapped tightly with long, black straw ropes.

Without a doubt, this was a poor soul who had been harmed by the evil wraith!

Eight or nine out of ten were cultivators not much different from Wang Chen.

If Wang Chen’s response had been even slightly wrong just now, he probably would have ended up like the other party.

Reduced to a blood supplement for the evil wraith!

He took a long breath, feeling a sense of relief as if he had survived a calamity.

Since his arrival in this world, one danger after another seemed to follow him in quick succession.

It was very difficult to just survive.

He didn’t know whether it was a butterfly effect he caused or a destined encounter!

Revitalizing his spirit, Wang Chen took out a bottle containing Corpse Dissolving Powder from his Storage Bag,

as well as a Rebirth Talisman.

Right when he was about to dissolve the corpse,

a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Putting the bottle away, Wang Chen formed a spell with his right hand and pointed at the corpse on the ground.

His fingertips immediately emitted faint sparks, and soon his entire hand was engulfed in blazing flames.

A lifelike Fire Crow emerged from the flames, spreading its wings and flying towards the corpse.

Boom!

The palm-sized Fire Crow struck the corpse and instantly turned into a crimson flame that enveloped it.

[Fire Crow Technique (Beginner): 0/100]

Wang Chen had always failed to comprehend the Fire Crow Technique, but now he had crossed the most important threshold!

Actual combat was indeed a powerful aid to Breaking Threshold.

He looked at the series of spells displaying “Mastery” in the skill section of the cultivator panel,

and felt quite emotional.

Just tonight, Wang Chen’s Mighty Strength Technique, Spirit Light Shield Armor, and Vajra Fist had all reached Mastery Level,

without consuming a single point of Human Virtue!

Now the Fire Crow Technique had also reached the beginner level.

However, if he had a choice, he would rather stay at home and slowly make breakthroughs.

The corpse on the ground gradually turned to ash, and Wang Chen activated the Rebirth Talisman in his hand.

This Rebirth Talisman was something he bought along with Spiritual Tea during his last trip to Cloud Mountain City.

The price was very cheap.

“Dust to dust, earth to earth, may the lost soul return to the earth…”

Chanting the Rebirth Mantra, Wang Chen silently wished that the dead may reincarnate and not suffer in the next life.

Perhaps it was an illusion born from his thoughts,

when Wang Chen finished chanting the Rebirth Mantra,

he actually saw an almost-transparent shadow rise from the ashes.

Hovering in the air, it bowed to him.

Wang Chen instinctively bowed in return.

When he looked up again, the shadow was nowhere to be seen.

“Fellow Daoist, may your journey be peaceful.”

Just as Wang Chen was about to leave, a faint glimmer caught his eye from the corner of his eye.

Huh?

Wang Chen took a step forward and bent down to sift through the ashes, unearthing a silver-white glowing pearl the size of a dragon’s eye!

This pearl was ice-cold to the touch, smooth and well-rounded.

Upon closer inspection, mists seemed to swirl within.

A Yin Qi Pearl!

Wang Chen was initially stunned, then overjoyed!

The Treatise on Evil Wraith noted that a few evil wraiths contained Yin Qi Pearls, which could drop after their demise.

Yin Qi Pearls were very precious materials, valuable for both cultivation and Artifact Refining.

Wang Chen couldn’t believe that the first evil wraith he had killed had dropped such a valuable Yin Qi Pearl.

Newcomer’s luck?

Considering that if Wang Chen hadn’t unexpectedly performed the soul rites for the victim, simply ignoring the corpse,

then this Yin Qi Pearl would never have been exposed.

This must also be a case of good deeds receiving good rewards!

With a thought, Wang Chen formed another spell, and points of Spiritual Light appeared at his fingertips.

Moments later, a light Rain started to fall, softly pattering down.

The rain imbued with Spiritual Energy moistened the earth, blending the ashes into the soil.

Leaving no trace behind.

First installment delivered, please vote.