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Just as the three were about to collapse—"Boom—Boom—Boom—" a dazzling streak of blue light suddenly tore through the air, followed by a rapid series of thunderclaps. The blast sent the Wraith Husks swarming around them flying in all directions, scattering them like bowling pins.
"Quick, run over here—these things aren't that easy to wipe out!" Shawn Young's voice reached their ears. Jack Chen, Ethan Zhao, and Simon Qi snapped to their senses and seized the chance to break free from the Wraith Husks, dashing toward Shawn, who was already at the staircase.
"Woooo—woooo—" A strange flute sound suddenly echoed through the air.
"Gaa—gaa—gaa—" The Wraith Husks that Shawn had blasted away started crawling up from the ground again as soon as they heard the flute. They let out bizarre, guttural howls, their pale eyes glinting with a cold, ghostly light. Each one bared its sharp canine teeth and darted around, looking especially frenzied!
"Ah! They're about to launch a full assault—it's that Japanese guy controlling them from the shadows! Everyone, get behind me—" As soon as Shawn heard the weird flute, he knew a Nine Chrysanthemums Society expert was commanding the Wraith Husks. Sensing danger, he quickly called everyone over.
Everyone quickly ducked behind Shawn. The flute's melody grew frantic, and in an instant, hundreds of Wraith Husks swarmed at them from every direction, moving much faster than before. The creatures leapt and howled, closing in like hungry wolves, more agile and frenzied than ever.
Shawn had already gathered his qi at his chest. As the horde of Wraith Husks charged up the stairs, he spread his hands and shouted, "Break—!"
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—" A dazzling burst of blue light, crackling with thunder, swept toward the Wraith Husks. Dozens of them were blasted backward by the powerful surge, their bodies trailing black smoke as their hospital gowns caught fire. The burning bodies smashed into those behind, and the force of the lightning and flames knocked out a whole crowd, clearing the way at the stairwell entrance.
"Whew—" Shawn exhaled. His "Palm Thunder" was so fast it didn't even need a chant—just a surge of qi, and it was unleashed. The spell was powerful and had a wide area of effect, making it perfect for sudden emergencies.
"Woooo—woooo—" That strange flute sounded again, like a death knell. Instantly, Wraith Husks from all directions shrieked and stampeded toward the stairs. Even those Shawn had blasted with Palm Thunder scrambled to their feet, some still ablaze, the air thick with the stench of burning flesh. The ones shattered by lightning looked even more terrifying, writhing across the floor, dragging themselves forward with their hands, joining the mad rush.
"Oh my god—there's so many of them, they're all coming this way!!" Fiona Nangong cried, trembling. Staring at the hundreds of Wraith Husks surging from every direction, her face went pale with terror. Even Ethan Zhao and the others beside her were shocked white by the overwhelming onslaught. They finally realized that brute force alone was useless against these monsters—their only hope of surviving was Shawn Young!
"Damn—it’s do-or-die now. These things are a real pain!" Shawn cursed, frowning. He knew that even another Palm Thunder wouldn’t cut it against this horde, so he quickly channeled his Celestial Essence, preparing to cast a different spell.
"Woooo—woooo—woooo—" The flute’s tune grew even more frantic, echoing through the air, clearly signaling the Wraith Husks to attack.
"Gaa—gaa—gaa—" Hundreds of Wraith Husks howled in a frenzy, stampeding toward Shawn and the others, driven wild by the flute’s command.
Suddenly, Shawn crossed his hands, forming sword fingers, and intoned a mystical chant:
"O hidden source, Heaven and Earth entwined,
Within and beyond the Three Realms shine—
Let radiant mist and Abyssal Lotus rise!
Divine might from eight directions,
Summon sacred arms and urgent fire,
By decree of the Supreme One,
Transcend all wandering souls and fiends—
By law and mercy, be redeemed!"
As Shawn finished the chant, the nearest Wraith Husks were less than two meters away. He swiftly traced a talismanic circle with his sword fingers in front of his chest, and in an instant, a dazzling mist appeared around him, shimmering with rainbow colors. More and more rainbows surged forth—
The rainbows carried a surge of water vapor, bursting like fireworks as they crisscrossed and enveloped the charging Wraith Husks. The thin mist was as sharp as blades, slicing through the hospital’s hordes of monsters in a flash.
"Pa—pa—" Shawn clapped his palms together. The water mist covering the Wraith Husks silently dispersed, and in a cascade of dazzling colors, the monsters’ bodies melted and shattered, disintegrating into white vapor that drifted like snowflakes through the air.
"Finally did it! That was close—" Shawn had just unleashed one of the supreme techniques of the Clear Sky Order—the Abyssal Lotus Divine Spell. This spell gathers underworld energy and celestial water power to purify and destroy all evil spirits and corrupted entities. It’s a unique technique of the Clear Sky Order! These Wraith Husks, stripped of their souls and driven mad by dark magic, were nothing but savage fiends. The Abyssal Lotus Divine Spell was the perfect counter, which is why it worked so well!
"Gaa—gaa—" The few remaining Wraith Husks glared with their pale, mottled eyes, letting out chilling howls and baring their teeth in a grotesque display. But they didn’t dare charge anymore—and honestly, they couldn’t scare Shawn and the others now.
"Hmph—kid, you’re pretty good! You actually managed to destroy my Wraith Husks. Looks like I underestimated you—" A man's voice, thick with a strange accent, echoed in midair. He shouted in clumsy Mandarin, full of frustration.
"You little Jap—were you born from a turtle? Hiding and sneaking around like some cowardly turtle spawn. If you’ve got guts, come out and show yourself! Is this what you call Bushido?" Shawn shouted loudly, his words laced with venom.
"Baka yarō! How dare you insult the spirit of Japanese Bushido, brat! I’ll teach you a lesson!" The man’s voice was furious.
"Damn it—I'm right here waiting for you! Come out, you cowardly Jap turtle spawn! If you don’t, you’re disgracing your precious Bushido, ha!" Shawn sneered.