As he spoke, I saw Old Moe raise the Phoenix Blade and slash it through the air before him. In an instant, nine feathers appeared—Vermilion Bird feathers—circling Old Moe.
"Nine Feathers... Departing the Spirit..."
In a flash, the nine Vermilion Bird feathers ignited into blazing flames, pounding toward John Chou and his group. Old Moe retreated to the top, slamming the Phoenix Blade into the ground before him. The blade stood upright in midair, and instantly, torrents of fire erupted outward in all directions.
Gradually, I heard the cries of countless Vermilion Birds. The ten balls of fire near John Chou transformed into nine Vermilion Birds, soaring and twisting through the air. The flames snaked and coiled, slowly forming a cage of fire in the sky.
The ten John Chous were completely swallowed by the sea of fire. The fierce flames unleashed by the nine Vermilion Birds seemed intent on burning everything to ash.
Amid the inferno, I saw one of the John Chous brandishing his ghost weapon, desperately fending off the relentless attacks of the Vermilion Birds.
In an instant, Old Moe raised the Phoenix Blade, hope flickering in his eyes. He charged at the John Chou below, the Phoenix Blade locking onto his target and stabbing downward.
With a thunderous crash, Old Moe's Phoenix Blade knocked aside the ghost weapon in John Chou's hand, then slashed down upon him.
With a sudden whoosh, engulfed by blazing flames, John Chou vanished entirely. The other nine John Chous also disappeared. My heart lurched, and everyone present—human and ghost—stared in astonishment at the scene.
Now, nine Vermilion Birds circled and danced around Old Moe.
"Did you forget something, Lan Qinmo?"
In an instant, one Vermilion Bird near Old Moe transformed into John Chou, who raised his ghost weapon and slashed at Old Moe.
"I knew it all along, John Chou. You disguised yourself as a Vermilion Bird, hoping to ambush me."
Old Moe reacted instantly, swinging the Phoenix Blade horizontally at the attacking John Chou. With a single blow, John Chou's ghost weapon snapped from the immense force, and his body was sliced clean in two. Yet I saw panic flash across Old Moe's face, as if he'd noticed something strange.
"I've already warned you, Lan Qinmo. You can't blame me for this. Ghosts are treacherous—have you forgotten?"
In a split second, a second Vermilion Bird took on the form of John Chou. Old Moe roared, and I realized that the vanished John Chous around us had all transformed from Vermilion Birds—he had replaced every bird with John Chou.
Brown tortoise shells appeared on Old Moe's body. In that moment, the nine John Chous in the air brandished their ghost weapons and lunged at him.
At this critical moment, Old Moe unfurled his crimson silk, just as before, intending to use the Four Sacred Beasts to replace himself. But one John Chou, quick as lightning, soared above Old Moe's head.
"You won't use the same trick twice in front of me."
With a sharp, slicing sound, Old Moe's crimson silk dissolved. John Chou seemed to sever something, and in the next moment, I cried out in shock.