The Altar Blood Formation and the Rage of the White-Robed Ghost

The moment the vines broke through the ground, they carried a chilling, putrid air, like countless black venomous snakes, snaking towards everyone's ankles. Li Ye reacted the fastest, snatching up his broken trekking pole and smashing it against the ground. Sawdust flew everywhere, but he only severed the thinnest vine. The rest, in turn, twisted faster, instantly entangling Meng Yao's calves. Black energy crept up her trouser legs, and her face, which had just regained its color, turned pale as paper again.

"Stick the talisman paper to the vine!" Su Wan roared, pulling out the last of the talisman paper, not caring about the blisters on her fingertips from the flames. Lin Munan immediately understood, drawing the short knife from his waist and picking up a piece of talisman paper. Using the sparks to ignite it, he placed it precisely on the vine entwined with Meng Yao. Golden flames shot up, and the vine corroded with a sizzling sound, but instead of breaking like before, more branches emerged from the flames and wrapped around Lin Munan's wrist.

"This vine is connected to her resentment! It won't burn to death!" Chen Ba's voice trembled, and the fragments of the bronze compass in her palm were burning. "The runes on the altar are providing her with energy. We must break the formation first!"

Lin Shen had already rushed toward the altar, his silver-powdered dagger slicing through the air, stabbing at the black rune carved into the center. But before the dagger could touch the stone, a white-robed ghost suddenly appeared in front of him, her pale hand grasping the dagger's blade. Silver powder sizzled in her palm, and black mist continuously emanated from the wound, yet she seemed insensitive to the pain. With her other hand, a piercing chill, she struck Lin Shen's chest fiercely.

"Puff!" Lin Shen was sent flying backwards by the blow, slamming heavily against the altar's stone pillar. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. He tried to struggle to his feet, but felt a block of ice pressing against his chest. Every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain. The old wound on his arm had reopened, and black energy was seeping into his bones through the wound.

"Brother Lin Shen!" Xiuxiu's peach wood sword suddenly erupted with a blinding red light. She bit her tongue, desperately trying to save herself, and spat blood onto the sword. "Blood Sacrifice: Break the Evil!" With a roar, the peach wood sword transformed into a streak of red light, piercing straight into the back of the white-clothed ghost. This time, the red light wasn't easily neutralized; instead, it pierced through her white clothes, exploding a golden halo behind her.

For the first time, the White-Robed Ghost revealed a look of pain. Her shrill scream shook the altar, and the surrounding vines instantly shrank slightly. But the next second, the runes on the altar suddenly lit up, and a thicker black aura flowed through her hair and into her body. The wound on her back healed at a visible speed, and her resentment only intensified.

"It's useless!" The shadowy voice came from the top of the altar. He had unknowingly stood at the center of the formation, holding the black Buddhist beads with the human face reflected on them. "Her resentment has been bound to the blood formation. Unless you can kill all the souls she has killed, she will never die!"

As soon as the words fell, countless tiny footsteps suddenly echoed around the altar, and dense black shadows emerged from the cracks in the ground—they were the souls devoured by the white-robed ghost, their faces distorted, and they pounced on the crowd. Meng Yao had just been pulled to safety by Li Ye when she saw a ghost clawing at her face. She subconsciously raised her damaged camera to block it, but the camera casing was instantly corroded by the black energy, and she trembled with fear.

Su Wan distributed the last few pieces of talisman paper to everyone, and lit one to stick on the stone pillar: "I will block the ghosts, and you go to break the formation! The center of the formation is at the top of the altar, and the Buddhist beads in the black shadow's hand are the key!" As soon as she finished speaking, three ghosts rushed to her side. The golden light of the talisman paper formed a barrier around her, but it was hit by the ghosts and kept flickering, as if it would shatter at any time.

Lin Munan drew his silver bow to full strength, firing three silver arrows simultaneously at the dark figure atop the altar. But as the arrows reached mid-air, they were entangled by vines spun out by the White-Robed Ghost. Black energy instantly corroded the silver arrows into piles of rust. "None of you dare approach him!" More black blood flowed from the White-Robed Ghost's eyes. The vines beneath her skirt suddenly thickened and swept towards Li Ye and Chen Ba like a giant python.

Li Ye pushed Chen Ba away, only to be lashed in the back by the vines. He flew forward and slammed into the stone wall, his blood spurting onto the stone surface before being instantly frozen by the black energy. Chen Ba climbed up to help him, but saw more vines entwining them. The surrounding spirits were increasing in number, and cracks had appeared in Su Wan's barrier.

"If this goes on, we'll all die!" Lin Shen struggled to stand up. The pain in his chest made his vision black, but he looked at his fallen companion and still clenched his dagger. "Xiu Xiu, can you use the blood sacrifice again? This time, aim for the center of the formation!"

Xiuxiu's face was as pale as paper, and the wound on her tongue was still bleeding, but she nodded and sprayed blood onto the peach wood sword again. This time, the red light was brighter than before, but also more unstable—her spiritual power was almost exhausted. "I can only hold on for three seconds! Brother Lin Shen, you must seize this opportunity!"

"Three seconds is enough!" Li Ye endured the severe pain and climbed up, picking up the broken stick on the ground, "I'll attract the attention of the white-clothed ghost!" He rushed towards the white-clothed ghost, and the broken stick hit her shoulder hard, but she grabbed his neck with her backhand. The black air climbed up to Li Ye's face along her fingertips, and his eyes became empty in an instant.

"Li Ye!" Chen Ba screamed, controlling the last few evil-suppressing insects to fly towards the white-robed ghost's eyes. Although the insects were instantly devoured by the black energy, the white-robed ghost's movements paused for a moment. In that instant, Xiu Xiu's peach wood sword transformed into a red light and shot straight towards the center of the altar. Lin Shen also took advantage of this opportunity, enduring the sharp pain in his chest, and climbed towards the top of the altar.

The moment the red light struck the center of the formation, a golden light exploded, dimming the black runes on the altar. The white-robed ghost let out a heartbreaking scream, and its grip on Li Ye loosened slightly. Li Ye seized the opportunity to break free. Although his consciousness was still hazy, he threw the broken staff in Lin Shen's direction, landing right next to him.

Lin Shen grabbed the broken staff and used it to climb to the top of the altar. Seeing the black figure trying to activate the Buddhist beads to reactivate the formation, he unhesitatingly thrust his dagger into the shadow's wrist. The silver-powdered dagger pierced the shadow's skin, and black blood splattered onto the Buddhist beads. The beads instantly emitted a sharp humming sound, and the face on them began to twist and scream.

"You dare!" the black shadow raged, its other hand clawing at Lin Shen's face. Lin Shen dodged sideways and simultaneously kicked the black shadow in the chest, knocking him out of the formation's core. Without the black shadow's control, the black energy at the formation's core instantly weakened, and the white-clothed ghost's movements became sluggish, and the vines beneath her skirt began to wither.

"Now!" Lin Munan seized the opportunity, drew his silver bow, and fired a blood-soaked silver arrow at the white-robed ghost's chest. This time, the silver arrow didn't deflect, but pierced through her body. Golden flames spread along the arrow's shaft, setting her white clothes on fire.

The White-Robed Ghost let out one last shrill scream, its body twisting in the flames. Instead of dissipating, it transformed into a ball of black air and fled away from the altar. "I'll be back... I'll never let you go..." Her voice faded away, eventually disappearing into the night.

Seeing the situation was dire, the black shadow transformed into a stream of black energy and attempted to escape, but was slashed in the calf by the dagger thrown by Lin Shen. Black blood dripped onto the altar and was instantly absorbed by the core of the formation. "The next time I encounter you, I will destroy you and your blood formation!" Lin Shen roared, but he no longer had the strength to pursue—the pain in his chest was so severe that he was almost unconscious.

The runes on the altar dimmed completely, and the surrounding souls dissipated with the black air. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground. Meng Yao's calf still bore the marks of the vines, shimmering with a faint black aura. Li Ye's face was still pale, his eyes only just returning to clarity. Su Wan's barrier vanished, and she sat down on the ground, gasping for air.

Lin Shen leaned against the stone pillar, gazing at the dark night sky in the distance, but his heart remained uneasy. The White-Robed Ghost had only temporarily retreated, and the black shadow was still alive. Furthermore, they all knew that the conspiracy behind this ancient town was far more terrifying than they had imagined.

"We... need to leave here as soon as possible and find a place to rest." Lin Shen's voice was filled with fatigue. "Next time we encounter the White-Robed Ghost, we must find a way to completely quell her resentment. Otherwise... we will never be able to leave Qingwu Town."

Supporting each other, they slowly descended the altar. The night deepened, and the wind in Qingwu Town carried a biting chill, as if the White-Robed Ghost's resentment still lingered, awaiting its next opportunity for revenge. And out of their sight, the black mist lurked in the shadows, staring intently at their backs, its eyes filled with resentment and fury.