Volume Five: Amethyst Turns to Smoke Chapter Eight: The Evil God of Five Poisons

When Yaoguang and her companions pursued their quarry into the village, Black Sky was nowhere to be seen. Only a dozen figures in black robes stood before the entrance to a mountain cave, its doors tightly shut. The scent of blood wafted from within. Yaoguang, her gaze cold, addressed Yitian behind her, “Yitian, please have the Immortal Providers arrange the formation. Grand Shaman Lixing and Grand Shaman of Licheng, assist me in capturing these black-robed men alive.”

Incantations echoed through the air. The Gu masters from Qingcheng Miao Village engaged the black-robed men in fierce combat; these were no ordinary foes, their strength formidable. The battle raged for over an hour. Only with the combined assault of the Golden Silkworm King and the Golden Python did they finally subdue their adversaries.

Behind Yaoguang, the Immortal Providers continued to assemble the formation. All understood what lay beyond that door.

“Xuanchen, fall back. Lord Master, follow me and break the door.” At Yaoguang’s command, five immortals appeared at her side: Master Xuanhu, Python Immortal, Yellow Immortal, White Fox, and Chang Immortal. Together, they formed hand seals and, with Yaoguang, pointed at the door. “Break,” they intoned. Six blades of light shot forth; the door crashed down.

Yaoguang led the immortals inside, where a vast altar awaited. At its center, a massive blood pool. Around it, pillars stood, each bound with the corpse of a young girl—some already decaying, insects crawling over their bodies, their Miao attire unmistakable. Fury flared in Yaoguang’s eyes; with her Orchid Sword, she struck pillar after pillar, each blow felling them until all lay in ruins.

From behind the altar, Black Sky emerged, four spectral figures in black robes following him, their bodies exuding ghostly energy. He grinned wickedly at Yaoguang, “Divine One, Little Black Sky is almost complete. I wonder what tricks you have left.”

“Ghost Sect,” Yaoguang laughed coldly, wasting no words. She stowed her sword and formed hand seals, a golden light stabbing toward Black Sky, but he deflected it with ease.

The black-robed men behind Black Sky began chanting and stepping through a ritual dance.

“No, they’re summoning a demon god!” Yaoguang was aghast. “We can’t let them succeed, or there’ll be trouble.”

The immortals behind her understood and joined Yaoguang in chanting, stepping the ancient Yu pace.

“She’s summoning heavenly thunder—stop her!” Black Sky cried. One of the black-robed men broke from the formation and, with Black Sky, charged at Yaoguang. At this critical moment, with the thunder formation nearly complete and Yaoguang unable to split her focus, a sword’s cry rang out. A long blade flew in, intercepting Black Sky and his ally’s attack, its every move deadly. Yaoguang recognized it as Jiang Yun’s Pure Serenity Sword. Freed from distraction, she pressed on, focusing on the ritual steps. Outside, winds howled, clouds gathered from afar, and thunder exploded across the horizon.

Yaoguang continued chanting as the black-robed men pressed their ritual dance. Thunder crashed, and Yaoguang halted, her right hand pointing to the cave ceiling, fiercely drawing upon unseen power. Thunder roared again and again. Those outside saw lightning strike the mountain summit, thunder shaking the earth. On the seventh bolt, with a resounding boom, the cave’s roof collapsed, a vast hole opening atop the mountain. At that moment, Yaoguang led the immortals in retreat, for she had seen the blood pool begin to boil.

“Jiang Yun, fall back,” Yaoguang called. Jiang Yun sheathed his Pure Serenity Sword and quickly withdrew behind the Immortal Providers.

Footsteps rang sharply; a naked figure emerged from the cave. It was human, yet not: behind it, two extra arms. Its face resembled a young girl, but bald, features stiff, skin pale. Black Sky and his followers trailed behind, their faces smug.

“Little Black Sky,” Yaoguang muttered, recognizing the Ghost Sect’s handiwork—they had succeeded in creating this abomination.

“Divine One, the Ghost Sect prevails once again,” one of the black-robed men boasted.

Yaoguang said nothing, her gaze icy as she formed hand seals. The immortals behind her began their ritual dance. Golden light struck Little Black Sky, but it was unscathed. Yaoguang retreated swiftly; the creature emanated black energy, advancing step by step. Seeing the formation incomplete behind her, Yaoguang fought and withdrew, luring Little Black Sky toward the formation. Yet it was impregnable, impervious to all attacks. Yaoguang grew anxious; she could not let it escape the clearing, or countless lives would be lost. Ordinary techniques were useless, but using divine power now would jeopardize the formation, which she still needed to activate. Just then, Yitian’s voice rang out behind her, “Miss, the formation is ready.”

Yaoguang rejoiced, attacking while guiding Little Black Sky into the formation.

“Don’t enter!” Black Sky cried in alarm, finally recognizing the formation—an ancient Heaven-Slaying Demon-Exorcising Array. Once activated, any evil spirit would be destroyed. He tried to intervene, but it was too late. Little Black Sky stepped into the array. Instantly, the Immortal Providers at the rear began chanting in unison, their voices rising.

“Quick, set the formation, quickly!” Black Sky cried. “This is the Heaven-Slaying Demon-Exorcising Array; we must stop them!” As he spoke, the black-robed men behind him sat cross-legged, chanting. With each incantation, the murderous aura around Little Black Sky intensified, growing more violent. Four arms battered the array’s barrier.

Thunder rumbled. The dissipated clouds gathered anew. A bolt of lightning struck Little Black Sky, scorching its skin black.

“Ah!” Little Black Sky raged, pounding the barrier harder.

Thunder crashed again and again. With each strike, the creature’s skin was charred and incomplete, its frenzy growing. The barrier weakened under its relentless assault. Thunder roared, wind howled, rain poured in torrents, and the Immortal Providers shifted steps and incantations. The lightning, once silver, turned purple—more potent than before. Each bolt staggered Little Black Sky, yet it pressed on, attacking the array.

The Ghost Sect continued their chants.

Thunder boomed yet again. The black energy around Little Black Sky reached its peak.

“Miss, it’s time,” Yitian reminded Yaoguang, noting the transformation. The Heaven-Slaying Demon-Exorcising Array was designed to provoke all evil energy, then destroy it in one stroke.

Yaoguang soared skyward, immense phoenix wings unfurling behind her, golden light streaming. She chanted, right hand raising her sword to the heavens. Gold flooded the blade, a beam shooting skyward. As the light reached the heavens, a whirlwind rose beneath Little Black Sky, enveloping it as it struggled in fury.

“By my divine might, I slay the evil spirit!” Yaoguang wielded her sword, golden light entwined with heavenly thunder descending upon Little Black Sky.

Boom! The earth was blasted open, a crater carved deep. Little Black Sky, along with all its evil energy, was reduced to ashes by the golden thunder.

A hiss. Four Ghost Sect members spat blood. Seizing the moment, Yaoguang flicked her sword, sending beams of golden light through their chests. Their bodies felt emptied, hollowed out.

Black Sky, seeing disaster, tried to flee. He managed only a few steps before a massive serpent wrapped around him—Jinlin appeared, restraining him. The Golden Silkworm King darted forth, disappearing into Black Sky’s body as he screamed in terror, black blood flooding from his mouth.

“So filthy,” Jinlin remarked, releasing Black Sky once the Silkworm King emerged. Black Sky collapsed like a pile of rotten flesh.

Xue’er returned, chirping at Yaoguang. After listening, Yaoguang frowned and turned to Grand Shaman Lixing. “Xue’er not only devoured Black Sky’s life-bound gu, but also infused his meridians with chilling poison. Even if he’s not sentenced to death, he’ll gradually turn to stone—like a living statue, conscious yet unable to move, not even his eyes. Xue’er said, ‘He wanted immortality, why bother? Just freeze him forever.’”

“Well…” Grand Shaman Lixing, hearing this, was at a loss. Truly, the nature of one’s master is reflected in their spirit creatures. Yaoguang’s temperament was lively and unconventional, and her companions were equally mischievous.