Chapter Eleven: The Phantom Warrior

Because he was determined to seek out Lu Qingcai for vengeance, Liu Chen paid special attention when the Daoist explained the various schools of magic, focusing specifically on the spiritual treasures practiced by the Lu family. According to the Daoist, talismanic arts cultivate immortality, while the spiritual treasure path emphasizes the power of ghosts and spirits. As for the Lu family, their foundational tradition was the Thirty-two Heavenly Purification Sacred Arts, intermingled with techniques for exorcising ghosts.

Lu Qingcai, standing before him now, practiced what was most common among Lu family disciples: the Five Great Divine Talismans. From childhood, after receiving the talisman and becoming a disciple, one’s family would summon a ghost whose birthdate matched the five elements, and offer incense daily. As one’s mastery deepened, one could become a Red Sun Master, able to resonate with spirits and ghosts. Harnessing their power, they would refine the ghost, binding it to the talisman. This method was renowned for its ability to traverse a thousand miles in a day and night, inflicting harm invisibly.

What Liu Chen saw in Lu Qingzong—a particularly successful example of this refinement—was striking. Through eyes now capable of perceiving the netherworld, he observed the ghosts attached to the five talismans: their aura was powerful, their features clear; their garments and armor were distinct and detailed.

For ordinary people, such ghosts were simply unsolvable. Not only could they not be struck, but even the lightest touch would let the ghost’s yin energy consume the victim’s body. A fortunate one would end up weak like the middle-aged man earlier; a frailer soul would die instantly.

To Liu Chen, however, these ghosts were utterly useless. Though refined, they were essentially clusters of yin energy. For Liu Chen, a zombie, encountering them was no different than an ordinary person basking in sunlight.

If Lu Qingzong had gone further—infusing his own vital energy into the ghost and transforming it into a visible, stone-splitting force in daylight—he might have been a match for Liu Chen.

But reaching that level meant he was no longer a Red Sun Master, but a True Fate Master—a figure capable of presiding over a region within the Daoist sect. The Daoist whom Lu Qingzong just called “Third Uncle,” residing in the earthen fortress, was likely of such cultivation.

Understanding the nature of the ghosts within the talisman, Liu Chen had no reason to waste his energy on them. He charged straight ahead, neither dodging nor avoiding.

Before Lu Qingzong’s horrified eyes, the talisman harboring two ghosts crashed against Liu Chen’s body, only for Liu Chen to casually tear it in half and let it drift to the ground.

“How dare you!”

Lu Qingzong’s voice was both shocked and furious—shocked that his magic had no effect on Liu Chen, furious that Liu Chen had destroyed his talisman.

Talismans of this caliber, considered magical artifacts, were not easily created; only true masters could craft them. Just one cost enough to support a normal family for five or six years.

At Lu Qingzong’s age, he lacked everything, especially money. The price of two silk talismans was enough to make him grit his teeth in pain.

Even worse, once the talisman was torn, the ghost bound within was utterly exposed to the world. In the blazing sunlight, it was nothing short of a hellish inferno for the ghost. Though the refinement allowed it to endure briefly, it was only a matter of time before it perished.

Even if he could immediately recall it, the damage would be immense; it would remain useless for three to five years. Since Lu Qingzong’s abilities depended entirely on these five talismans, how could he not be furious?

But his anger was quickly suppressed. With the talisman destroyed, Liu Chen had already rushed forward, now standing before Lu Qingzong.

“Damn it, how could this happen!”

Lu Qingzong couldn’t gauge Liu Chen’s martial prowess, but judging from Liu Chen’s expert stealth and the ease with which he tore the talisman, Lu Qingzong knew he was no match for Liu Chen.

A spiritual treasure Daoist specializing in talismans, confronted by a martial master at close range, faced dire consequences. With his deep family heritage, Lu Qingzong knew this well.

Death—certain death!

Gripped by terror at the brink of life and death, all arrogance drained from Lu Qingzong; gone was the swagger he’d shown with the middle-aged man. His face was now a mask of panic as he leapt from his horse, desperately holding the remaining three talismans between himself and Liu Chen, despite knowing they were useless.

His urge to escape worked, as the horse now stood between him and Liu Chen. As for the talismans, they met the same fate as the previous two.

Watching Lu Qingzong stumble and fall as he landed awkwardly—having cared only for distance—Liu Chen felt a twinge of annoyance. This pathetic display was nothing like the Lu Qingcai in his memory. At least, Lu Qingcai had been far more decisive and successful at fleeing.

Liu Chen felt a little disappointed; he had no interest in bullying someone so much weaker than himself. Still, encountering a spiritual treasure Daoist was rare, and perhaps he could extract Lu Qingcai’s whereabouts from him.

Mounting the horse, Liu Chen prepared to seize the now defenseless Lu Qingzong and drag him off for questioning somewhere secluded. But just as he reached for him, a sudden gust from the fortress swept toward them.

“Thud!”

Liu Chen dodged, and heard a heavy thump accompanied by a cloud of dust. Turning, he saw a burly warrior in heavy armor, wielding an octagonal hammer, materialize where Liu Chen had stood moments before, leaving a crater in the earth.

“Who are you, that you dare harm a member of the Lu family?”

The voice rang out from the fortress—it was the Daoist Lu Qingzong had called “Third Uncle.”

But the man had no intention of allowing Liu Chen to reply. Even as he spoke, the armored warrior split into three, charging at Liu Chen together.

Seeing the identical, expressionless faces of the three warriors, Liu Chen recognized them as the next stage of the Five Great Divine Talismans—the “Force Spirits.” At this level, the talismans truly deserved the title of divine. Not only could they wield martial skills, but they could shift between corporeal and incorporeal forms, soaring through the sky or burrowing beneath the earth.

If one’s martial cultivation did not reach the furnace of blood and intent, if one lacked the hundred-fold formations of a true soldier, one was nothing more than livestock before these Force Spirits.

But Liu Chen relied on no ordinary martial arts. Through his twin black spirit eyes, unless one was an enlightened true master, all magical arts could be broken.

Though these Force Spirits possessed some authority through vital energy, they were, at heart, still ghosts. In the face of Liu Chen’s ghostly flames, they were no different from Lu Qingzong’s earlier ghosts.

Just as Liu Chen was about to incinerate the three Force Spirits, he caught sight of the villagers previously ensnared by Lu Qingzong’s soul-capturing spell, now awakening and attempting to flee with the help of several strong men.

Seeing this, Liu Chen decided to help, since he was in no danger. He suppressed his ghostly flames and, using the Enemy-Breaking Eighteen Styles taught by the Daoist, met the Force Spirits’ attack head-on.