Zhang looked at the woman and asked, "What's your name?"
Xiao Yan smiled, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "I am Xiao Yan."
Zhang studied her for a moment before continuing, "How much do you and your followers want to fight against this ghost?"
Xiao Yan tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a seductive smile. A faint pink mist spread in the air as she slowly exhaled, her voice carrying a captivating rhythm. "Well, the real question is… how much would you pay for us?"
Zhang immediately felt a warmth creeping into his mind. His body tensed as he recognized the technique—a charm spell woven into her words.The mist carried a faint spiritual scent, designed to cloud a person's judgment, making them more generous, more willing to agree.
His lips twitched. Not bad. But he had seen these tricks before.
His qi surged slightly, breaking the charm's influence, though he showed no outward sign of resistance. Instead, he smirked. "How about two Profound Meridian Pills and twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones?"
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with surprise. Not because of the price, but because Zhang hadn't fallen fully into her charm. Still, the offer was tempting. The Profound Meridian Pills were rare, and with that many spirit stones, she could strengthen her entire group.
She turned her gaze toward the battlefield, watching the wailing ghost hovering in the distance. In its hand was an ominous black flag, its tattered edges fluttering despite the still air. The fabric pulsed as if alive, faint faces twisting and screaming within its surface. A soul-binding treasure.
Xiao Yan frowned. This was dangerous.
After a moment, she sighed and smiled. "I accept. But I can't risk my life blindly, especially when the payment isn't in my hands yet."
Without hesitation, Zhang tossed a storage pouch toward her.
Xiao Yan caught it effortlessly but didn't check the contents. Zhang raised an eyebrow. "You won't even check if I gave you the right payment?"
She stepped forward, the pink mist swirling faintly around her, though it didn't seem to affect him. "You're the genius Zhang. I doubt you'd ruin your reputation over a few spirit stones." Her eyes glowed slightly as she leaned in just a fraction closer. "Or do you want me to waste time counting while that thing prepares another attack?"
Zhang snorted. Smart.
He turned back to the battlefield. "Command your followers and prepare. That ghost bastard definitely has trump cards."
Xiao Yan's playful demeanor faded. She turned to her people and gave a crisp order. "Formation! Defensive first. Watch for soul attacks."
Her twenty followers immediately moved into position, forming a layered defense with spirit talismans lighting up in their hands.
The Ghost's Wrath
The ghost screeched, a piercing wail that sent shivers through the air. The black flag in its hands unfurled, and from its cursed fabric, dozens of shadowy figures emerged—twisted spirits with hollow eyes and gnashing teeth.
"That flag can summon ghosts?!" one of Xiao Yan's followers cursed.
Zhang narrowed his eyes. No—not just ghosts. The flag was writhing unnaturally, its surface pulsing like breathing flesh. This was something worse.
The summoned spirits rushed forward, their translucent claws slashing through the air. One of Xiao Yan's men barely dodged before a spirit tore into his arm. He screamed as his flesh turned gray and rotted instantly.
"They can consume life force! Stay back!" Xiao Yan snapped.
She stepped forward, her fingers tracing a rapid pattern in the air. A soft hum resonated, and the pink mist around her condensed into a glowing sigil that pulsed once—
"Seductive Illusion Art: Bewitching Mirage."
The ghostly figures hesitated. Their empty eyes flickered with confusion as Xiao Yan's illusion seeped into their spectral forms. For a moment, they wavered, their aggression weakening.
Zhang didn't waste time. With a flick of his hand, he retrieved a sword, infused with ghost-repelling runes.
With a swift motion, he leaped forward and slashed through one of the spirits. The rune-covered blade burned through its form, causing it to let out a ghastly shriek before dissolving into nothingness.
Xiao Yan followed up immediately. She drew a jade hairpin from her bun, infused it with her qi, and threw it like a dagger. The pin pierced through one of the ghosts, and a burst of pink flames engulfed it, consuming it entirely.
Her charm arts were not just for seduction—they had destructive power too.
The Flag's Hidden Power
But just as they started gaining ground, the black flag trembled violently. The ghost raised it high, and suddenly—
Flesh started growing from the flag.
Zhang's pupils shrank as he watched pale, distorted arms sprout from the fabric, twitching and convulsing as if alive. They weren't just ghostly summons anymore. The flag was manifesting real, physical flesh.
And then—
The arms reached for the nearest cultivator.
One of Xiao Yan's followers was too slow. The moment the fleshy hands grabbed him, his body convulsed, and a horrific scream tore from his throat.
Before Zhang could react, the follower's body melted. Flesh and bones twisted, dissolving into a bloody pulp before being absorbed directly into the flag.
Zhang's face darkened. "That thing can devour bodies… it's not just a soul weapon. It's something worse."
Xiao Yan clicked her tongue. "I hate when you're right."
She flicked her wrist, and a charm talisman flared in her hand. "Then we burn it before it gets hungry again."
Zhang smirked, his own qi surging. "Sounds like a plan."
The battle had only just begun.