Chapter 408 - 248 Rooster Soul Summoning_2

"Don’t worry."

Wang Daoxuan smiled reassuringly, "This matter has nothing to do with you. Just stay inside and sleep. No matter what noise you hear, don’t come out."

"Alright, alright."

Guan Peide nodded quickly, instructing his son, "Go tell everyone to close all the doors and windows tightly tonight. No one is allowed to leave, even for the bathroom!"

"Yes, Father."

The Guan family bustled about and all retreated to their rooms, locking the doors.

Despite what was said, who could really sleep? They all stayed fully dressed, huddled on their beds, staring at the windows, barely daring to breathe.

Li Yan and the others, naturally fearless, prepared themselves and stood guard in the courtyard.

Unknowingly, midnight finally arrived.

Wang Daoxuan opened his eyes and began the ritual in front of the magic platform, stepping in the Astral Step. He spat water and brandished a money sword, chanting, "Wandering souls, where do you dwell, three souls descend early, seven spirits come forth..."

"Heavenly Gate opens, Earthly Gate opens, a thousand-mile Child sends the soul, I command with the Xuan Qi’s might to Chen Tianjun, swiftly as a decree!"

After finishing the spell, he waved the money sword, slamming it on the magic platform. He drew up a Yellow Talisman, formed a mantra, and folded the rice witch’s hair within it.

Sha Lifei, following instructions, hurriedly picked up the large rooster.

On the rooster’s back, a Grass Spirit Paper Man was tied with a red rope.

Wang Daoxuan stuffed the Yellow Talisman into the rooster’s mouth.

Strangely, after swallowing the talisman, the rooster’s demeanor changed immediately, becoming more majestic and no longer struggling.

Li Yan could smell Divine Astral emanating from the rooster. Incense surrounded it—a subtle yet righteous presence.

He understood this was the Divine Astral borrowed by Wang Daoxuan from the Ancestor, attached to the Yellow Talisman through the Sha connection.

With the knowledge he had gained over time, he had a clear understanding.

The Ancestor of Wang Daoxuan’s Western Xuan lineage was also an Ascender, and had succeeded. Thus, even when the Ancestor Altar’s incense was not flourishing, they could still borrow Divine Astral.

Sha Lifei placed the rooster on the foot-wide path entwined with red rope, then quickly stepped back to help Wang Daoxuan protect with Lv San.

The rooster stood on the path but didn’t move, looking around as if unfamiliar with the surroundings.

Wang Daoxuan remained patient, taking the Soul Suppressing Bell in hand. He gently shook it, silently reciting the Soul Summoning Spell.

Li Yan took Yellow Paper, lighting it in the fire basin.

Whoosh~

Unbeknownst to them, a Yin Wind rose in the courtyard.

The flames in the basin flickered, and the ash swirled in the air, never leaving the Eight Trigrams Array.

This flame served like a watchtower, and the rooster immediately had a target, nodding and swaying as it stepped into the Eight Trigrams Array.

As the rooster walked, it looked around, seemingly searching for something, while the Grass Spirit Paper Man on its back remained still.

Li Yan and the others were not anxious, waiting quietly.

They knew that the rooster, despite appearing to wander aimlessly in the Eight Trigrams Array, was actually communicating between Yin and Yang, searching for the old woman’s soul.

The sound of wind and the bell was extraordinarily clear in the silent night.

Everyone in the Guan family stayed inside, not daring to venture out.

Even the old master of the Guan family, having a bit of temper, sat alone with a large blade on the main hall chair, waiting silently...

...

Following Wang Daoxuan’s instructions, all villagers of Guan Family Village had already hung peach charms, sealed their doors and windows, and hid inside.

They found solace in the fact that nothing had happened by midnight, and some had even succumbed to sleep.

In Wu Laosi’s home, the candlelight was still dim.

This man was rummaging through cabinets, then moved the wardrobe aside, pried open a gap between floor tiles, and dug out a bundle of Silver.

His wife and child sat on the bed, bewildered.

Wu Laosi, having taken out the Silver, turned to see his wife still unmoved and became angry, "Woman, why haven’t you packed yet?"

"Husband."

His wife’s face turned pale, "If we leave, the government will pursue us, and Qing’er won’t enter the ancestral hall."

"Also, didn’t that Daoist say there were evil things outside? We mustn’t go out."

"Women! What do you know?!"

Wu Laosi cursed, "Over five hundred taels of Silver! I’ve worked like a dog my whole life and never earned that much. Yet Guan Peide wants to take it for a Land God Temple!"

"I took a risk finding this, why should I hand it over?"

"We’re outsiders. Let anyone who wants to enter the Guan ancestral hall do so. With Silver, we can eat and drink well; who cares about that!"

"I’ve thought it through. Once we’re gone, we’ll join the Jing Chu Mountain dwellers. When they lose, the court will surely redistribute land in the prosperous Yunyang Prefecture."

"Then, we’ll change our names, and once the Silver is retrieved, we’ll never have to worry again!"

"No, I won’t leave!"

The woman shook her head, clutching their child, trembling, "With evil spirits outside, we’d have nothing if we died. I can’t let Qing’er take risks with you."

"You’re defying me!"

Wu Laosi’s eyes widened. He grabbed a stick, ready to strike.

Unexpectedly, the woman was equally fierce. She drew a hidden pair of scissors, pressing them to her throat, crying, "Wu, don’t push me. I’d rather die than leave with you!"

"Mom! Mom!"

The young child began to bawl.

Wu Laosi glanced outside, anxious to avoid drawing others’ attention. He gritted his teeth and said, "Ungrateful!"

With a curse, he grabbed a hatchet and the Silver, awkwardly leaving the courtyard, fleeing towards the village outskirts.

The homes in Guan Family Village weren’t far apart, so his commotion was naturally heard by neighbors.

But being fearful, they were unwilling to intervene at such a time.

Wu Laosi sprinted through the darkness, and soon he’d exited the village. Though terrified, he quickened his pace, muttering curses under his breath, "A bunch of bastards."

"Guan Peide, wait. When I join the mountain dwellers, I’ll return and wipe out your Guan Family Village!"

Liu the Cripple wasn’t a good person either and was seen as a close brother. Daring to profit from the dead was clearly no good deed.

With Silver in hand, abandoning wife and son, he felt free with no fear. Imagining his future life of luxury, he feared nothing now.

But suddenly, he stiffened.

It felt like a cold hand had gripped his shoulder, while a pungent scent of blood invaded his nostrils. Though he tried to move, his body shook uncontrollably and his pants dampened.

Soon, cold, bloody hands seemed to grasp his right shoulder, head, and eyes, as Wu Laosi’s gaze turned vacant.

Crash!

The Silver fell to the ground behind him.

He, stiff and on tiptoe, headed deeper into the forest...

...

Li Yan and the others were unaware of what transpired outside the village.

They all watched the rooster with a hint of anxiety in their eyes.

As midnight passed, if they couldn’t find the soul, they’d miss their chance entirely.

Unbeknownst, the Yin Wind around intensified.

Li Yan twitched his nose, frowning slightly, smelling a putrid beastly odor.

Simultaneously, Lv San’s Little White Fox abruptly raised its head, poised on the ground, baring teeth towards the Eight Trigrams Array.

Then, its large tail flicked, and it leaped into Lv San’s arms, shivering violently.

Lv San frowned, speaking gravely, "It’s the Mountain Lord!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan understood.

The Mountain Lord was a tiger.

The source of the disturbance was a tiger spirit!

Simultaneously, the large rooster seemed to notice something, repeatedly stepping in place, moving in circles.

Wang Daoxuan saw this and shouted, "Daoist, the Guiding Messenger has arrived! Why don’t you quickly flee!"

As he spoke, he vigorously shook the Soul Suppressing Bell.

Jingling!

The bell’s crisp sound was distinct amidst the Yin Wind.

On the rooster’s back, the Grass Spirit Paper Man suddenly stirred.

The rooster, as if startled, sprinted around the Eight Trigrams Array, flapping its wings wildly.

Meanwhile, the cold, foul odor grew stronger.

Finally, the rooster exited the Eight Trigrams Array, swiftly racing along the red rope path, reaching the platform.

Whoosh!

The Grass Spirit Paper Man lifted into the air, hanging on the red rope, slowly moving towards the old woman’s body on the bed.

At that moment, Li Yan’s eyes widened. With a clang, he drew the Duan Chen Blade and pointed it at a dark corner of the courtyard.

"Roar!"

A low growl reached everyone’s ears.

In the corner, an indistinct shadow fixated on them...