"Western deity, called Zhu Nong, brings fire to bless, all living beings. Behold the Eastern Guardian, the Flame-Slaying Evil-Breaking Array... arise..."
Rufina Howard raised both hands, floating gracefully, her entire body shimmering with fiery red light. Her gaze was piercing as she waved her arms.
With a thunderous roar, flames erupted around Lord Wraith.
"Qingyuan, stab just below the chest—that's where Lord Wraith's ghost core is!"
Mason Yu's shout rang out behind me. All around Lord Wraith, streams of fire pierced through his body from every direction.
I raised my sword and thrust it toward the spot Mason Yu had indicated.
A sizzling sound rose up—I felt as if my skin were scorched, smoke curling off in black wisps.
Lord Wraith screamed, glaring at us with venomous eyes. Suddenly, he kicked out, landing a heavy blow on Justin Huang's chest and sending him flying with tremendous force.
"Hmph, I was only toying with you. You take this so seriously. Let me deal with that little girl first—she seems troublesome."
As Lord Wraith spoke, my sword had already pierced his chest, just below the heart. Suddenly, a sword was hurled toward us—the Celestial Chord Sword, radiating gentle white light.
Just as my baleful energy was about to pierce Lord Wraith, a hand, shriveled like a dead branch, suddenly extended from his body and dissipated my attack. I steadied myself and fell to the ground.
All Justin Huang and I had to do was lure him. The moment I dropped, the Celestial Chord Sword was already at Lord Wraith's side.
"Change formation—Fire Cloud Pillar!" Rufina Howard shouted. Instantly, the long red talisman papers circling Lord Wraith spun wildly. A pillar of fire shot skyward, swallowing his voice.
"Spirits of the Western Sea, let the winds rise and clouds surge—lift me skyward!"
A pale blue talisman swept past. Mason Yu leapt upward, and as the talisman flashed, blue light burst beneath his feet, propelling him into the air.
With a thud, Justin Huang finally crashed to the ground. As I landed, I rolled aside quickly—my hair and clothes were already scorched.
Determination blazed in Mason Yu's eyes. I saw only the hilt of the Celestial Chord Sword where he landed, his severed arm extended. I stared in shock.
"Serpent Shedding Technique—regenerate!"
I watched as black, scale-like layers, resembling snake skin, began to grow from Mason Yu's wounded arm, elongating. With a wet snap, white fluid splattered everywhere, and his arm emerged from the jaws of a pitch-black serpent.
I couldn't help but scream in shock.
The moment Mason Yu grasped the Celestial Chord Sword, his entire body was engulfed in radiant white light.
"Celestial Chord Sword, heed my command—release... quake, separate, converge, unite as sun and moon... arise...!"
With a thunderous bang, flames erupted. I stared in astonishment—Lord Wraith’s hand had been pierced by the Celestial Chord Sword, Mason Yu gripping the hilt.
A surge of silvery light, like moonlight, shimmered across the sword’s surface. The Celestial Chord Sword itself began to change; its once green blade now bore an orange mark—a serpent’s pattern appeared on the sword, leaving me stunned.
"You can't escape, Lord Wraith."
Mason Yu roared, the Celestial Chord Sword began to tremble, and sharp whistling sounds pierced the air around us.
"Lord Wraith..."
The old ghost bellowed, and instantly, the twelve Blue Wraiths behind Lord Wraith looked ready to fly toward us, their bodies flickering with green light.
"Haste, break, resist! Celestial Chord Sword in hand, fear no specter—sharpen the blade, cut down the fiends, ha...!"
Mason Yu shouted, and with a deafening crack, Lord Wraith’s withered hand exploded. Amid the shrill vibrations, Mason Yu danced through the sky, leaving shadowy silhouettes behind.
"First strike—pierce the soul! Second strike—slay the spirit! Third strike—banish the ghost...!"
Lord Wraith’s body was riddled with holes. With a boom, an orange burst of light erupted in the sky, and Lord Wraith screamed in agony.
"Ethan!" Rufina Howard shouted. I nodded and quickly retreated.
With a splatter, Mason Yu spat out blood, swinging the Celestial Chord Sword at Lord Wraith in a frenzy. For the final blow, he raised the sword high and brought it down upon Lord Wraith.
With a metallic clang, Mason Yu’s Celestial Chord Sword was caught by Lord Wraith’s hand. Lord Wraith’s battered body began to slowly regenerate, and he smiled.
Justin Huang scrambled to his feet and charged at Lord Wraith.
"So, you truly have the Serpent Affinity. But you’ve used the Serpent Transformation Technique, haven’t you? What a pity—if you were a true heir, those last strikes would’ve destroyed much of my ghostly essence. Too bad."
"Mason!" I shouted. The Celestial Chord Sword drifted down, and Mason Yu was sliced in half by a streak of green light. Lord Wraith swooped toward us, his withered hand raised, purple nails slashing through the air.
"Everyone, get down!"
Hugh Thompson shouted. Lord Wraith swept his hand, sending five pale purple beams slicing over our heads. I screamed as Justin Huang’s body was cut into five pieces.