Chapter 139: Chapter 138: Zhuo Qingyan Suddenly Takes the Initiative

After a few peals of thunder, the green-clothed man turned into a charred corpse and collapsed in the main hall, completely lifeless.

Upstairs, Qiao Yunyao and Zhuo Qingyan were about evenly matched in Dao Practice, but Zhuo Qingyan’s melody, "Drunken Rain Pavilion," threw Qiao Yunyao’s mind into disarray and filled her with an inexplicable sorrow. The Black Banner in her hand and the ghosts within it began to slow.

Though Zhuo Qingyan had a Ghost Body, she had dedicated herself to Cultivation for many years, unfettered by worldly desires. Having recently absorbed some Power of Incense and Candlelight, her Divine Soul was pure and fortified, completely unmoved by the yin winds and ghostly wails.

Qiao Yunyao, on the other hand, was openly ambitious and her desires ran rampant. With an already impure heart, her mind was now stirred by Zhuo Qingyan’s melody. Scene after scene from her past swirled in her head, leaving her in a state of turmoil.

But before she could dispel the distracting melody, several thunderclaps drew her gaze. She turned to see her third senior brother struck down into a charred corpse, and the Soul-Stabilizing Seal was now in Gu Zhao’s hands.

Feeling the lingering Thunder Power in the air, Qiao Yunyao was shaken to her core, utterly horrified.

’The green-clothed man was the Stone King’s third disciple, with profound Magical Power and a high level of Dao Practice. Though he was a bit weaker than me, he was by no means someone an ordinary Mage could handle. I could only defeat him quickly by relying on the power of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner.’

’But while that Female Ghost is strong, she can’t completely overwhelm me. How could the Mage in Harmony with her possibly kill the green-clothed man in just a few moves?’

’The key is this lingering Thunder Power in the air... It’s Pure Yang, righteous, magnificent, and majestic, as if carrying the might of heaven and earth. The Yin Qi and Ghost Qi radiating from me and that other Female Ghost... if they so much as touch it, they’re instantly ground into nothing but wisps of smoke.’

She suddenly remembered the startled cry she had heard moments ago: "You’re not in Harmony!"

At that very moment, Zhuo Qingyan appeared before her and struck her in the chest with her palm. A sinister Ghost Qi surged into her, carrying a bone-chilling cold that threatened to freeze her Ghost Body solid.

Qiao Yunyao found the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner snatched from her grasp, but she didn’t dare try to take it back. All she wanted was to turn and flee, but a rippling curtain of light flashed before her eyes once more, causing her heart to sink into the abyss.

The next moment, a slender, delicate hand, as fair as jade and purer than snow, gently plunged into her chest, freezing her very heart. The frosty power pierced straight through to her Divine Soul.

"Spare—"

Before the word was even half-spoken, Qiao Yunyao’s Divine Soul was annihilated. Her Ghost Body disintegrated, dissolving into a puff of black smoke.

The Five Thunders Order once again absorbed wisps of Evil Qi, condensing a Thunder Seed and enhancing his Cultivation. Gu Zhao felt a pleasant warmth spread through his entire body.

Holding the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, Zhuo Qingyan vaulted down from the fourth floor. Her sleeves billowed as she floated gracefully to the ground.

Gu Zhao glanced up at her, then lowered his head, his expression growing serious as he studied the Soul-Stabilizing Seal in his hand.

Zhuo Qingyan cast a profound gaze at Gu Zhao and handed him the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. "Destroy it."

The Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner imprisoned and refined the souls of the dead, making it an extremely evil Magical Artifact. Naturally, Zhuo Qingyan would never use it. Gu Zhao’s Thunderbolt was the bane of all things yin and ghostly, so he could easily destroy it.

Gu Zhao put away the Soul-Stabilizing Seal and took the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. Feeling the imprisoned souls within radiating waves of bloodlust, madness, resentment, and hatred, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

’As the saying goes, when a person dies, their soul dissipates. Apart from the few who can become Ghosts and live on, a person’s soul is normally extinguished upon death. But the hundreds of souls in this Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner were all taken from living people, killed with a Secret Technique so their souls could be extracted and refined into this Magical Artifact.’

’Holding the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, I can feel that unleashing my Thunderbolt would indeed wipe out the remnant souls inside, but that seems a bit too cruel.’

’After all, these are the souls of mortals. They died in agony, were tormented in this banner for who knows how long... and then to be annihilated by my Thunderbolt at the very end... That’s just too...’

’Fortunately, the Taoist Sect has methods for purification!’

*"Nature of Heaven and Earth, let foul Qi scatter. Profound mystery within the void, bright is the Grand Origin."*

’The Purifying Heaven and Earth Divine Curse I just learned is already coming in handy.’

Gu Zhao chanted the Curse, his True Qi surging into the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. He channeled his Qi, using the Curse Technique to soothe the violent thoughts of the souls within. The magnificent, profound Taoist True Qi, carrying the might of heaven and earth, made the Divine Souls within the banner tremble in submission. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

*"By the power of the firmament, the Supreme Profound commands. Slay the demonic, bind the evil, and deliver countless souls from their bonds."*

With the might of heaven and earth, following the path of the sage kings, the Taoist True Qi washed over them. The aura of the souls in the banner gradually grew peaceful. Then, under wave after wave of True Qi, they submissively began to dissipate. Some even transmitted feelings of gratitude before they vanished.

After a moment, only Yin Qi remained in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner. All the souls within had completely dissipated.

At the same time, after reciting the Purifying Heaven and Earth Divine Curse, Gu Zhao felt an inexplicable clarity settle over his Divine Soul and mind.

’Eradicating Evil and Accumulating Merit, Doing Good Deeds and Accumulating Virtue...’ Gu Zhao mused, nodding. ’So there really is something to this whole "joy of helping others" thing.’

After one recitation of the Purifying Heaven and Earth Divine Curse, not only were the souls in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner purified, but even the lingering Yin Qi in Zhenxiang Courtyard was completely dispelled, ensuring it would no longer affect the common folk.

"Let’s go." Gu Zhao handed the cleansed Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner back to Zhuo Qingyan. "It can still release some yin wind and Ghost Qi. It should still give your Magic a bit of a boost."

Zhuo Qingyan smiled, took the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner, and then took his hand in hers. "Let’s go."

...

By the time they returned to the Zhuo Family Mansion, it was not yet midnight.

"Great. We still have time to get some sleep."

’If this were the modern world,’ Gu Zhao mused, ’going to bed just after midnight would count as an early night!’

Zhuo Qingyan glanced at the night sky, then back at Gu Zhao. "Brother Gu, you don’t practice your Cultivation at midnight?"

Caught slacking, Gu Zhao quickly came up with an excuse. "Well, we just had a big fight. I think I’ll take a day off to rest."

Zhuo Qingyan said meaningfully, "All the patrons of Zhenxiang Courtyard fled, but the Biqing Building and Hanliu Pavilion on Spring Street are still open for business. When we left, I noticed they were completely unaffected."

Gu Zhao gave a dry cough, waved dismissively, and headed for his bedroom. He was surprised, however, when Zhuo Qingyan followed him inside.

Gu Zhao looked back curiously. "Is there something else?"

Zhuo Qingyan walked to Gu Zhao’s side and looked up at him. An enigmatic light flashed in her eyes as she suddenly said, "Actually, my original plan was to give myself to you after I had my revenge."

Gu Zhao: ???

"But now that I think about it, repaying a debt of gratitude with my body... that would be demeaning to us both," Zhuo Qingyan continued.

Gu Zhao: !!!

Zhuo Qingyan’s sudden directness completely floored the inexperienced Gu Zhao.

Seeing his gaze darting about, his breathing growing heavy, how he was utterly flustered and didn’t even dare to look at her, Zhuo Qingyan smiled.

’And to think he was always teasing me! I thought he was so experienced. But after watching him for a while, I realized he’s all bark and no bite...’

"Brother Gu, are you... still a virgin?"

Gu Zhao reflexively denied it. "No, I’m..."

Zhuo Qingyan took another step forward, closing the distance between them. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and his gaze was filled with the sight of her pale skin. "This is my home. This room was prepared by my late father to be my bridal chamber. Are you willing to take me, here and now?"

’She’d already laid it all on the line. Any questions could wait until morning!’