Chapter 20: The Celestial Eye and the Art of Spirit Talismans

As the golden light gradually faded, it revealed Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s current form. This time, the transformed girl looked about sixteen years old. In her right hand she held a sharp, traditional Chinese sword. Her long, black hair flowed down her back to her waist, straight and glossy, a textbook example of jet-black locks. On the left side of her hair was a green gourd tied with a ribbon, and a tuft of hair stood upright near the back of her head, forming a quirky cowlick. She wore a white ancient-style Daoist robe, exuding a sharp aura like a sword, yet with an ethereal air reminiscent of an immortal.

“Combat ability, able to slay evil spirits, and to identify those possessed by sinister gods. So, it’s her after all. She’s well-suited, though I wonder just how much power she can wield,” she mused, briefly examining her outfit and feeling the myriad Daoist techniques that surfaced automatically in her mind.

“Zhuang Xiaoyuan??? Is this a divine descent transformation? You’ve already reached the Divine Descent rank?” Wen Hui exclaimed, witnessing firsthand as Zhuang Xiaoyuan conjured a black card from thin air. The golden radiance that followed made Wen Hui squint, and when she opened her eyes again, it was no longer Zhuang Xiaoyuan before her, but a stylishly dressed ancient beauty.

Wen Hui’s face showed astonishment, but deep within her eyes flickered a barely perceptible joy and rekindled fighting spirit.

“I haven’t reached Divine Descent rank; it’s just that my guardian spirit is rather unique. Wen Hui, protect yourself. Leave the rest to me,” Zhuang Xiaoyuan said earnestly, now in the guise of the ancient Daoist maiden.

Noticing that the evil spirits were closing in on the support squad, Zhuang Xiaoyuan wasted no time. “Open the Heavenly Eye.” Her fingers intertwined to form the Eye Opening seal, and a crack appeared on her forehead, revealing a red eye within. As the Heavenly Eye opened, she could feel her divine power draining rapidly. She needed to act quickly.

Sweeping her gaze over everyone, the Heavenly Eye saw clearly whether any humans were possessed by sinister gods. Through their bodies, Zhuang Xiaoyuan could distinctly discern the shadowy figures within those who were possessed.

“Spirit Talisman Art: Immobilizing Charm, Spirit Talisman Fixation.” A yellow talisman appeared in her hand, and without hesitation, she affixed it onto those identified by the Heavenly Eye as possessed. This was an immobilizing charm, designed to restrain the enemy’s movements. Unless one possessed power beyond a certain threshold, escape was impossible.

Of course, as a talisman infused with special magic, its power would gradually fade over time. With her current divine energy, the immobilizing charm would last at most half an hour. By then, the battle would be decided—either humanity would prevail, or the sinister gods would, or the city’s armored guardians would arrive. With such commotion, surely those defenders would have sensed something amiss.

Through the Heavenly Eye, she saw that two of the wounded nearby were possessed, and even in the distant support squad, one was as well—perhaps the possession had transferred from another? The reason was irrelevant. If it’s a sinister god, it must stay put.

Two immobilizing charms were placed on the wounded who were possessed, and immediately, they froze, unable to move.

After explaining to the injured Wen Hui that those immobilized by the talisman were the possessed, Zhuang Xiaoyuan stamped her right foot and dashed toward the support squad at astonishing speed. Truly worthy of a dual-trained rogue immortal, her body was incredibly strong—at least three or four times more powerful than her original self. Each stride covered eight or nine meters.

As she raced toward the support squad, a second summoned Commander-level demon emerged from the spatial rift. With its arrival, the rift swiftly closed. Even a mid-ranked sinister god could summon only one Commander-level demon. Yet even one was troublesome enough, and now there were two. And the possessed sinister god was no feeble entity, either.

Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s speed did not falter at the appearance of the demon; the first Commander-level demon was nearly upon the support squad. If it reached them and the hidden sinister god within their ranks suddenly erupted, there would be significant casualties.

Confronted by the second demon’s grasping right hand, Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s momentum remained unchecked. She raised her right hand, stabbing the Sword of Immortal Doom into the demon’s palm. With a wet squelch, the sharp blade sank up to the hilt, and black liquid oozed from the wound—the demon’s foul blood. The demon seemed oblivious to the injury, closing its hand in an attempt to seize her.

Digging her heels into the ground, Zhuang Xiaoyuan leapt upward, still gripping her sword. With her jump, the Sword of Immortal Doom carved a deep gash across the demon’s palm, letting her evade its closing grip.

“Roar~~” This time, the demon finally felt pain. It howled in fury, and its remaining three hands reached for her.

With crimson pupils, Zhuang Xiaoyuan coolly tracked the demon’s movements, dexterously dodging its attacks, weaving left and right at speed. She had already reached the demon’s flank.

To catch her, the demon would have to turn, but Wen Hui was not far ahead of it. The demon itself lacked intelligence, but the sinister god did not. Hidden on the demon’s back, the sinister god, unable to stop Zhuang Xiaoyuan, soothed the demon’s rage and directed it to attack Wen Hui.

Though it was her first confrontation with a demon and she knew nothing of its habits or abilities, Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s transformed self was a legendary rogue immortal—a cultivator who trained in immortal arts and had forged a divine body. She saw clearly the demon’s movements and the sinister god’s commands. Yet she didn’t pause, only, as she passed the demon’s flank, she slapped several yellow talismans onto its black-and-red skin—“Spirit Talisman Art: Command Talisman.”

As she finally passed the demon, appearing behind it, she kept moving at speed, her hands forming an immortal seal as she chanted, “Spirit Talisman Detonation.”

Thunderous explosions erupted from the demon’s flank, each yellow talisman detonating in bursts of fire, illuminating its black-and-red body.

“Roar~~” The sudden explosions stoked the demon’s fury, as its body suffered considerable damage. The skin where Zhuang Xiaoyuan had affixed the talismans was blasted into pits and craters, and black, foul blood dripped onto the ground.

The demon ignored the shouts of the sinister god on its back and turned to pursue Zhuang Xiaoyuan. In the brief moment it took to turn, the wounds she had inflicted were already beginning to heal.