Chapter 22: The Scalpel

Chapter 22: The Scalpel

"Hey, Xiu! Your two minutes are up!" Zhao Hao shouted just as Fang Xiu was reaching his peak.

Fang Xiu immediately looked composed. "Step back. I want to test out this new spiritual power."

"Have you really become the kind of psychic Wang Ziteng mentioned?" Zhao Hao asked, his voice filled with excitement.

Fang Xiu only nodded in response. Catching the hint, Zhao Hao quickly sprinted down the left corridor.

Suddenly, Fang Xiu raised his right hand, and a mysterious spiritual energy clung to it.

He looked over at the "doctor," who was busy eating, and muttered, "You get to be the first one to feel this pain."

He was really impressed with this newfound power to cause pain. Plus, he had a hunch that this power wasn't one to be overlooked.

In anyone else's hands, this power might be considered weak. But in his hands? It was like a godly skill.

A perfect move to finish an opponent.

That was because when he used this power, it channeled the anguish he felt from dying 21 times. No one could possibly handle such an overwhelming force.

And the more he experienced death in the future, the stronger this pain would become. It was a power with endless potential.

SMACK!

Without any warning, Fang Xiu threw a punch directly at the "doctor's" face.

Caught off guard while eating, the "doctor" had no time to react.

THUD!

A soft sound echoed.

"Aaaargh!!"

The "doctor" let out a painful scream, collapsing heavily onto the floor. She grabbed her head with both hands as she shook uncontrollably. The sharp tool she held, a scalpel, slipped from her grasp.

Even though Fang Xiu saw some results, he looked concerned; the punch didn't create the impact he was hoping for.

The "doctor" seemed to be in agony, but she wasn't experiencing the same level of pain Fang Xiu had felt. Something had interrupted the flow of the spiritual energy, and after that punch, Fang Xiu felt drained.

He couldn't gather enough energy for another punch.

Using only a fraction of his spiritual power had limitations. The reason it didn't work as expected was probably that he couldn't penetrate the "doctor's" defenses fully. Her head showed no obvious wounds, only minor scratches, which might have blocked the full force of the pain.

He needed to think of a stronger approach next time.

_'Just using my fists has limits. Perhaps a weapon can do better. Can regular weapons channel this spiritual energy, though?' _

As he thought about it, Fang Xiu's eyes landed on the scalpel the "doctor" had dropped.

"Xiu, which door do we pick?" Zhao Hao asked.

The two from behind the pillar emerged, relieved to see familiar faces. "So glad you guys are safe."

"Fang Xiu, lead the way."

Zhao Hao was taken aback. "Seriously? You two were hiding? You ran so fast earlier, and now you're asking Xiu to decide?"

The two just smiled awkwardly before looking at Fang Xiu expectantly.

Ignoring them, Fang Xiu checked the doors and said, "We'll just go one by one."

Zhao Hao and the others were shocked.

_'In this haunted place where every second counts, who has the time to test out all doors?'_

But before any protests could be raised, Fang Xiu was already striding toward the door on the west. The rest had no choice but to follow.

Suddenly, an inhuman scream filled the room, making everyone's hair stand on end. The ceiling shook, sounding like something was racing across it, making their hearts race faster in terror.

"It's the Specter! It's right behind us!"

"But how? Wang Ziteng and Wu Dahai held it off! How is it so fast?"

Fang Xiu quickly surmised that his earlier actions, attacking the Specter and taking the scalpel, had made it relentlessly pursue them.

"Move, NOW!"

Without hesitation, Fang Xiu yanked open the west door, charging through with the others close on his heels.

Beyond the door, to their astonishment, was a staircase spiraling upward. They sprinted up, driven by adrenaline.

Fang Xiu led the charge. Although his spiritual energy was drained, his heightened psychic abilities provided an extra push, making him surge ahead with incredible speed.

But the Specter was faster. The "doctor's" eerily elongated limbs propelled her upward at a frightening pace.

Within moments, she reached the top, overlooking the rest. But her focus was solely on Fang Xiu. Without warning, she lunged at him.

Caught off guard, Fang Xiu was tackled and pinned down. The "doctor's" stretched limbs felt like steel bands, rendering him immobile.

ROAR!

She snarled in anger, her mouth gaping wide, aiming for Fang Xiu's neck.

SPLASH!

A gush of red stained the floor.

And just like that, another round came to a tragic halt for Fang Xiu. "