Chapter 214
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Chapter 214: As the Curtain Falls
"What is evil, and what is a curse?"
The light around the theater stage faded, leaving an indescribable loneliness and desolation.
A graceful woman with enchanting features descended from the stage, her water sleeves fluttering as she moved with the elegance of a lotus. She appeared as delicate as a thin cloud veiling the moon, her movements as light as snow drifting in the wind.
It was none other than the female lead from the earlier performance!
A hint of lingering sorrow rested in her brows, yet her eyes gleamed with mockery: "A mere practitioner of the third level of Qi Training dares to speak so boldly?"
Wang Chen found it quite amusing.
In the world of cultivation, most Evil Spirits resided in foreign realms. Although the Yunyang Sect’s outer mountain gate had its share of low-level Evil Spirits like wandering child spirits, they barely affected the daily lives of most cultivators.
In cities like Yunshan City, there was simply no place for Evil Spirits to exist.
The Dingyang Bell, ringing twelve times a day, along with the protective formation, was enough to eliminate most threats.
Even in the towns of the external realm, where loose cultivators gathered, there were specific measures in place to guard against Evil Spirits.
The situation in the Mortal Realm, however, was entirely different.
Many Evil Spirits hid within the bustling streets, living alongside ordinary people. They often went unnoticed, only to suddenly create bloody incidents before vanishing without a trace.
Some even had their Evil Nests openly residing within the city.
For example, in this marketplace, the locals had grown accustomed to its presence, a thought that sent chills down one’s spine.
It was quite helpless.
Wang Chen stood up tall and politely bowed to the woman.
She was momentarily taken aback.
She had seen many Taoists and martial artists, and none had shown such politeness while knowing she was an Evil Spirit.
"Thank you," Wang Chen said sincerely. "You performed wonderfully."
In Wang Chen’s past life, someone with the attractiveness level, figure, acting skills, and singing voice of the woman in green would undoubtedly become famous.
She had put her all into the performance for him, so saying "thank you" felt only right.
"To show my gratitude, let me help you find peace!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chen formed a spell with his hands, and his aura surged powerfully.
Seeing the threat, the woman in green let out a fierce cry.
Instantly, ghostly figures surrounded Wang Chen, a myriad of strange and bizarre entities clawing at him.
The marketplace had transformed into a living hell!
"Lightning come!"
However, Wang Chen had already completed his spellcasting. With an authoritative shout, streaks of lightning suddenly descended from the sky, crashing down upon the ghostly figures above him.
In an instant, electric light darted about, weaving a dense lightning web that enveloped all the low-level Evil Spirits within!
Five Suns Thunder!
The spell derived from the "Supreme Clear Way of Heavenly Thunder" is one of the most formidable skills Wang Chen currently possesses.
He spent half a month in rigorous training atop Lightning Strike Peak, depleting a significant portion of the spiritual energy stored in the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil, and has since advanced this spell to an advanced level.
The Five Suns Thunder, embodying pure yang energy, is exceptionally effective against monsters, demons, and Evil Spirits.
With just one strike, all low-level Evil Spirits were obliterated!
The sheer destructive power of the spell even took Wang Chen by surprise.
Previously, while patrolling the three counties of South Shao, he had refrained from using this potent spell, effortlessly dispelling the Evil Spirits with the Exorcising Net without much exertion.
This time, merely intending to practice, he unexpectedly annihilated all the minions in one fell swoop.
He felt somewhat shortchanged!
In stark contrast to Wang Chen, the woman in green was utterly astounded.
She realized that Wang Chen was no ordinary young cultivator; his cultivation level far surpassed her initial assessment. With a shriek, she attempted to flee back to the stage behind her.
But a large net abruptly descended, ensnaring her within its confines.
Wang Chen had refined the Exorcising Net to such an extent that it responded as naturally as his own limbs. With his level of perfect mastery in Object Manipulation, he could ensure absolute precision at close range, allowing no Evil Spirit to escape his vigilant gaze.
The gravest error this Evil Spirit made was getting too close to Wang Chen!
The woman in green thrashed wildly within the Exorcising Net.
However, the more she struggled, the tighter the net’s ropes constricted, causing her skin to crack and her once beautiful visage to twist into a hideous mask.
In the next instant, a grotesque mass of flesh and blood erupted from her human skin, covered in black eyes.
This was unmistakably the Evil Spirit’s true form!
Yet, revealing its original form was in vain; under the Exorcising Net, all Evil Spirits are equal, and its dark forces were mercilessly drained, shrinking it until it vanished completely.
This time, Wang Chen did not retract the net at the last moment to use his flying sword for the kill.
Given the Evil Spirit’s peculiar nature and potential special abilities, he deemed it safest to eliminate it directly with the Exorcising Net to avoid any unforeseen complications.
The Exorcising Net absorbed a substantial amount of pure spiritual energy.
It was time to return and advance his cultivation!
Wang Chen retrieved the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil.
Inside the net was a silver crystal bead.
An Evil Energy Pearl!
This was the second Evil Energy Pearl he had acquired in the Mortal Realm.
A serendipitous find indeed.
Moreover, the spiritual energy stored within the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil was now ample for Wang Chen to engage in closed-door cultivation and ascend to the Qi Training ninth level.
Furthermore, with the eradication of this Evil Nest, the inhabitants of South Shao could look forward to a period of peace, offering a glimmer of hope to their otherwise arduous lives.
He had truly lived up to his title of "celestial guardian."
With these thoughts, Wang Chen surveyed his surroundings and flicked his wrist, releasing four Exorcism Talismans.
Bursts of spiritual light silently exploded, transforming into myriad fireflies that dispersed into every corner of the marketplace.
Wang Chen dispelled the lingering dark energy.
Some spiritual light also fell upon the stage.
The wooden platform, which had borne countless moments of joy and sorrow, suddenly collapsed, burying the past beneath the rubble of broken walls.
At this moment, Wang Chen realized that dawn had already broken.
He had watched the performance all night!
Adjusting his robe sleeves, Wang Chen left the marketplace.
Returning to the previous intersection, he found the little beggar curled up in the corner, tightly clutching the reins.
“Oh!”
Upon seeing Wang Chen return, the large blue donkey let out a cheerful bray and rushed towards him.
This caused the little beggar to be knocked over while still asleep.
“Ow!”
He abruptly woke up, clutching his head in pain, then was dragged several steps by the large blue donkey.
Wang Chen quickly restrained the large blue donkey and asked, “Are you alright?”
The little beggar was quite resilient; being dragged a few steps did not cause him much harm.
Once he understood what had happened, he hurriedly returned the reins to Wang Chen, saying, “I’m fine…”
Wang Chen smiled and replied, “Thank you.”
Considering that the little beggar had watched over his mount for the entire night, Wang Chen handed him a gold ingot while taking the reins.
This gold ingot weighed ten taels, enough to buy dozens of donkeys.
However, the little beggar did not accept it.
He stared blankly at Wang Chen, and suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him. He immediately knelt and knocked his head on the ground three times, saying, “Taoist, please accept me as a disciple; I am willing to serve you like an ox or a horse!”
Wang Chen chuckled in surprise, “I’m not qualified to take on disciples.”
According to the sect’s rules, he could only accept disciples after breaking through to open a house.
After a moment of thought, Wang Chen took out a booklet from his storage bag and placed it in front of the little beggar along with the gold.
While he had no fate to become a master and disciple, it was still fine to offer a bit of opportunity.
This booklet was a martial arts manual he had obtained from a martial artist possessed by Evil Spirits.
Though it was not particularly useful, Wang Chen kept it for leisure reading.
Now, giving it to the little beggar was just right.
Riding on the large blue donkey, he swaggered away.
The little beggar got up dejectedly from the ground and looked down at the booklet he held.
He could read and recognized the title on the cover: "The Great Sadness of Yin and Yang in the World’s Struggles!"
