Zen Master Baimei nodded. “Merciful Buddha, I had heard about the Zhang family’s Soul Gathering Spell, but I thought it was lost already. Young Benefactor, it seems you’re becoming more and more competent as time passes by…”

I smiled. “Zen Master Baimei, you’re giving me too much praise. I’m just lucky that I received my grandfather’s inheritance.” “Everything in this world is predestined,” said Zen Master Baimei. “It was your destiny to receive your grandfather’s inheritance. You don’t need to be humble about it.”

Since we couldn’t delay things any further, Zen Master Baimei asked, “How are your preparations?”

I gave him a confirming nod. “We’re ready to start.” Zen Master Baimei looked reluctant as he gave me the pagoda that had sealed Bai Qi. “Just be bold. If you fail, I’ll back you up!” I gave Zen Master Baimei a resolute nod. “Zen Master Baimei, thanks for your help.” Zen Master Baimei brought his palms together in front of his chest and smiled.

I asked everybody to hide outside the building; only Mr. Qin, Qin Minghao, and I remained in the room. I took a deep breath and looked at Mr. Qin. “Are you ready?” Mr. Qin nodded and stood up, his empty sleeve billowing in the wind. I helped him take off his shirt, then used a mix of corpse oil and human ashes to draw the Soul Summoning Formation on his chest. The Soul Summoning Formation was needed to maximize the effects of the Soul Gathering Spell. I had learned this formation from Senior Shu, and I finally had a chance to use it. After everything was done, I asked Mr. Qin to lie next to Qin Minghao. Then I placed the Thunder Sword across their chests.

I looked through the window and felt the death energy coming. The temperature dropped sharply. I soon felt cold. I took a deep breath because I knew that the best time to perform the Soul Gathering Spell had arrived. I took another deep breath and picked up the Thunder Sword. Then, I proceeded toward the window.

There was a small sacrificial altar by the window where the pagoda was placed. To prevent Bai Qi from sneaking out of the pagoda, several eggs were placed around the structure.

These were eggs that were almost about to hatch. As the chickens were forming, their Yang energies were at the pinnacle. Zen Master Baimei told me that this pagoda couldn’t restrain Bai Qi for much longer, which is why they had been using this traditional method for one month already to subdue Bai Qi. Zen Master Baimei had eaten only eggs these days, and he was pretty sick of it.

However, his words made me feel uneasy. It meant that even he couldn’t seal Bai Qi again. If he went out of control, Zen Master Baimei could only use his life force to suppress him.

In other words, if I failed, not only would Mr. Qin and Qin Minghao die, but my life and Zen Master Baimei’s life would also end! I carefully took away the eggs. A moment later, I felt rippling waves outside the windows. Darkness crept in like a hostile, swarming tide. Soon, it covered the pagoda entirely. I took a deep breath. Bai Qi was taking in the death energy. He was awake, and he would soon break the seal. I stood next to Qin Minghao and observed the pagoda. Shortly after, the pagoda began to vibrate. As it shook, a wisp of black smoke slowly rose from underneath it. I took a deep breath and retreated several steps, still keeping my eyes on the pagoda. More and more death energy exuded from the pagoda. The more wisps of energy emerged, the bigger the cracks. Eventually, the flood of energy seemed to have broken the dam. The energy furiously flew out, and all the wisps congregated at the window, which created a monstrous figure.

When I saw the figure, I couldn’t help but shudder.

The monster was at least two meters tall, had muscular limbs, hideous facial features, and red eyes as bright as lights.

Was the monster before me what Bai Qi had turned into after his death? I couldn’t help but feel shocked.

The closer the Ghost King was to me, the higher the pressure I felt. His formidable aura was enough to make my scalp go numb.

The Ghost King spotted me and slowly walked toward me. He smiled coldly. “Little rats, you must die.”

As I looked at the giant Ghost King, I backed off until I reached Mr. Qin. I immediately started to perform the Soul Gathering Spell. I chanted, “The disciple looks at the blue sky, while Netherworld's souls gather! I shout, Ghost King, come! I whisper, earth army, come! Come and enjoy the human heart we offer. You just have to listen to my command…” The Ghost King was bewildered and glanced at me then at Mr. Qin.

I looked at the Ghost King in fear. It was the moment of success or failure.

If Mr. Qin’s heart couldn’t entice the Ghost King, our plan would fail, and things would turn for the worse.

The Ghost King shifted his gaze between Mr. Qin and me. It looked like he was considering the matter, wondering if Mr. Qin’s heart was good enough.

Luckily, after pondering for a while, the Ghost King settled on Mr. Qin. In an instant, his body shrank, and he entered Mr. Qin’s body through his nostrils.

I heaved a sigh of relief. “Ghost King, today, I offer you a red, fresh heart. If you work for me, you will receive many benefits.” Mr. Qin’s body suddenly convulsed. Then, he sat up, his bright red eyes gazing at me.

My heart was racing.

Did he agree or not? Why is he just staring at me?!

All of a sudden, Mr. Qin laughed, which caused his pale face to twist. “I want his heart.”

“No problem,” I said. “However, you must help me first.”

“Speak!” The Ghost King was impatient. “Subdue the soul in that sword,” I said. The Ghost King sneered. “That’s pretty easy.”

Then, the Ghost King picked up the Thunder Sword and observed it. “Hmph, this is an intimidating character! Wait here. I’m going to devour the soul in this sword. Then, I will swallow your heart.”

Then, Mr. Qin slumped on the ground. The Ghost King escaped his body and entered the Thunder Sword.

Instantly, the fierce battle between two famous warriors in history, the God of Slaughter and the God of War, had begun.

I was elated and seized the opportunity. I immediately chanted the incantation of the Soul Gathering Spell. “Thousand souls, perish!” Along with my footwork, the dark atmosphere dissipated. A beam of cold moonlight pierced through the dark, gloomy death energy as it entered the room and directly covered the Thunder Sword. The Thunder Sword hovered in the air and released a mist of dark air to resist the moonlight. At the same time, I saw two shadows struggling inside the sword. They were trying to escape.

Bai Qi and the Hegemon King of Western Chu had sensed that something was wrong. They were trying to run for their lives.

However, they couldn’t break through the layer of moonlight. No matter how hard the two souls struggled, they could only chip at the moonlight a little bit. Neither of them could escape. I kept chanting the Soul Gathering Spell and confined the two souls. When Zen Master Baimei and Senior Shu heard the noise in the room, they rushed in. When they saw the situation, they were startled. Senior Shu immediately read some spells while Zen Master Baimei held his prayer beads. Together, we tried to suppress the Thunder Sword. The Thunder Sword became frantic. It vibrated, struggled, and tried to get rid of the moonlight confinement. However, it eventually failed.

“ROOOAR!” At last, I heard an angry bestial roar echo from the sword. Then, the blade furiously thrust into Mr. Qin’s chest.

I couldn’t move fast enough to stop it. The sword had pierced through his heart.

“Blood spell! Get sealed!” I took a deep breath and went over to him. I dipped my index and middle fingers into his blood and drew a formation on the Thunder Sword.

The sword gradually quieted down and stopped moving. However, the surface looked as if it was burned; it had turned black.

I exhaled in relief.

Is it over? 

However, the pitiful Mr. Qi couldn’t be more dead.

The door to the room was pushed open. Qin Sisi and Qin Tiantian rushed in.

Qin Tiantian asked, “How did it go?”

Qin Sisi was more concerned. “How are my father and my uncle?”

From their questions, we could assess their different personalities.

Anyway, the Thunder Sword was sealed once again.

After several days, Qin Minghao recovered. As for Mr. Qin, although he still had a small chance to live, he deliberately unplugged his oxygen tube and let himself die.

Afterward, Qin Minghao sent Qin Tiantian to the bottom of society for her re-education.

Since we had helped the Qins solve a fatal calamity, the payment we received was pretty big.

However, I didn’t feel happy. Wealthy families like this one looked amazing on the outside, but they were actually pretty vicious on the inside.

Rather than paradise, it was more like living in hell.

Once you entered this gate of wealth, you’d lose your love, friendships, family, and eventually yourself. You’d have to struggle for your life amidst the mountain of gold and get past oceans of blood.

Was it really worth it?

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