Chapter 1798: Name Recitation

The chicken strolled at ease, while the ghost was terrified.

The white-faced ghost was stunned by a chicken, clutching its half-remaining head, unable to stop backing away.

“How is this possible…”

It still couldn't believe it was real.

Because beyond spacetime leaps and the Three Thousand Sword Dao, during the fight, it countered every move and also experienced the Black Chicken's Mo Sword Art, Nine Sword Art, Hidden Sword Art, and Heart Sword Art, all at the first realm.

All of them were mastered to perfection, integrated into simple, unadorned slashes. Without personally engaging in combat or being a grandmaster of the sword, one truly couldn't discern them.

In the final decapitating technique, the Black Chicken unleashed another Ghost Sword Art, slicing off a large portion of its soul body.

“What are you, and who transformed you?”

The white-faced ghost questioned sharply, a desire to retreat forming in its heart. It couldn't believe this was just a chicken.

It should never have uttered such arrogant words and provoked this carriage. A ghost's intuition was indeed accurate; they were not to be trifled with.

“Cluck… cluck…”

The Black Chicken did not respond in human speech, only clucked softly.

It held the sword in its beak, walking slowly and sideways, exuding immense pressure, especially with its cold, sharp eyes.

When it stared at the ghost, the ghost's body grew cold.

When it stared at people, everyone was astonished.

“What a powerful chicken!”

“That swordsmanship… no, just looking at its footwork, this chicken is terrifyingly strong!”

“Who exactly is in that carriage, and why do they possess such a formidable sword-wielding chicken, a sacred chicken?”

“I really want to raise one…”

“Hong Niang, you're alive!”

Comments flashed across the Golden Apricot's spectator screen.

Hong Niang was indeed alive, resurrected from her previous despair.

She found her professional footing again, wanting to provide commentary.

But after searching through her mind, she found no one among the major Supreme Void families of the Five Domains and Apricot Realm who could match the identity and strength associated with this carriage.

“Who are you!?”

In the battlefield, the white-faced ghost felt immense pressure from the chicken's gaze.

However, the chicken stopped attacking, merely circling it. The white-faced ghost dared not approach rashly and could only demand an answer.

When its demands yielded no result, it turned its gaze to the Sweet Osmanthus carriage:

“Who exactly are you people?”

Asking and knowing were merely ways to alleviate its inner fear.

On the Sweet Osmanthus carriage, Old Man Li ignored the ghost, speaking to the carriage interior: “This ghost is quite formidable, actually able to withstand so many of Sword Maiden's attacks?”

“Indeed.” The young master inside the carriage greatly acknowledged the white-faced ghost's strength, or rather, more than just its strength:

“To keep up with the Black Chicken and withstand seventy-one sword strikes, this ghost has at least a third-realm combat awareness.”

“It can speak human language, think, and understand fear. This ghost possesses extremely high human-like qualities, or rather, its intelligence is no less than that of a normal human.”

“Yet, it's this strong consciousness paired with a weak physical body. And as for its soul body itself, it's a low-level waste ghost. Truly strange…”

Among the millions watching on the Golden Orb, many smart individuals picked up on something. Hong Niang, in particular, was instantly filled with astonishment:

“Again?”

“Did Hong Niang mishear just now? Did he say 'again'?”

The white-faced ghost's face twitched, as if about to fall off, when Old Man Li continued:

“Yes, young master. It's different from the fifty-six we've slain before; its physical body is quite intact.”

At these words, the battlefield and its observers erupted into a complete frenzy:

“Slain?”

“They've slain ghosts like this, and fifty-six of them? Are they joking?”

“No, if they have this kind of strength, what were they playing at earlier? Did they deliberately not save Hong Niang to attract her attention?”

When Hong Niang saw this comment, her breathing became heavy, and her chest rose and fell slightly.

Was it truly so?

She quickly shook her head, dismissing such an overly flattering thought about herself.

Given this Black Chicken, which could reach the Saint Realm, there were few forces in the entire world capable of raising one.

“Yes, there are indeed very few people…”

Hong Niang's mind was working so hard it felt like smoke was coming out. She felt the range of possibilities was already very small, but it was as if her thoughts were shackled, unable to break through the thin layer of paper concealing the truth.

“Fifty-six…” The white-faced ghost's face sank, its gaze lowered, muttering silently.

“Tsk tsk tsk…” It soon let out a pained laugh, suddenly raising its head, a sharp glint appearing in its blood-soaked single eye:

“You want to kill me? Impossible!”

The white-faced ghost's will to survive was surprisingly strong. It no longer cared about the Black Chicken's encirclement. It drew its sword and flung it backward.

“Spacetime…”

Before the sword could be fully drawn, the Black Chicken appeared out of nowhere, delivering a mountain-shattering horizontal slash that severed the white-faced ghost's escape technique.

The white-faced ghost's face turned green, and it immediately changed its move.

After 'Unloading the Dao,' it then 'Accumulated the Dao,' and with a 'Penetrating Dao' slash, a ghostly blue light erupted at close range.

But before the sword light could fully form, the sword-wielding chicken employed 'Four Ounces Deflecting a Thousand Pounds,' performing a 'Deflecting Dao Reversal' and 'Shocking Dao Release of Force.'

“Bang!”

The white-faced ghost's foot landed heavily, creating a deep pit in the ground, and its technique slightly deformed.

The Black Chicken, capitalizing on the ghost's vulnerability, intensified its attack, its head almost a blur of afterimages.

“Clang, clang, clang… clang, clang, clang…”

The sound of clashing metal rang out again. This time, the white-faced ghost only managed to parry thirty-two swords before its left arm was directly sliced off by the sword-wielding chicken.

“Ah—!”

A pained scream escaped, leaving it wide open.

The sword-wielding chicken used its momentum, placing its claw on the white-faced ghost's chest, pushing it back, and then performed a 'Pointing Dao' from a distance.

A bloody hole opened in the white-faced ghost's chest.

It pressed its lips together, stifling a groan, not daring to speak further—because the sword-wielding chicken's attack might fall at any instant; it couldn't scream anymore.

It steadied itself, no longer daring to flee, only wanting to parry the sword-wielding chicken's next torrential assault.

But the chicken halted its attack.

It turned sideways, its eyes watchful, slowly pacing...

“Crack!”

Sweat mixed with blood streamed down the white-faced ghost's face and body. Its teeth were clenched so hard they felt shattered. It felt utterly humiliated by a mere chicken.

On the Golden Apricot screen, millions of viewers erupted in an uproar:

“So strong! We knew it was strong, but not *this* strong!”

“What kind of ancient sword chicken is this? Only the Seven Sword Immortals could possibly fight at this level. Can Master Shou even defeat this chicken?”

“Why does it seem like there's no movement, and it hasn't even used the first or second realm, yet this white-faced ghost is under so much pressure?”

“Look, the white-faced ghost's hands are trembling. This chicken's power is considerable!”

“Ancient martial chicken?”

Whether it was an ancient sword chicken, an ancient martial chicken, or a master of both paths, the white-faced ghost couldn't tell.

It realized that at some point, its vision had become extremely narrow.

Not because it had lost an eye, an arm, or had a gaping wound in its chest, but because of fear.

“Come on!”

The white-faced ghost roared at the sword-wielding chicken.

The Black Chicken remained indifferent, still circling it, pacing unhurriedly.

The white-faced ghost cleaved the ground with a sword and roared:

“Come on! Fight!”

The chicken seemed to have already seen through the ghost's sword strike, knowing it had no killing power. It remained at the edge of the force wave, continuing to circle.

The white-faced ghost's Adam's apple bobbed. Beads of blood-like sweat poured down its face.

It turned its face to the side, but dared not shift its gaze.

It steadfastly stared at the Black Chicken, then faced the carriage and angrily rebuked the two humans who were still making sarcastic remarks:

“What a pair of corrupt young master and wicked servant! You merely rely on raising a spirit beast and then try to borrow a tiger's might…”

The Black Chicken's afterimage vanished.

The white-faced ghost stopped abruptly, its pupils dilating in shock. It had just been about to raise its sword to block...

“Slash!”

The Black Chicken's sword plunged directly into the white-faced ghost's right eye.

Its previous speed was all an act; the burst it unleashed now was even faster, exploiting the ghost's inertia and taking it by surprise.

“Ah—!”

The stone sword, like a drill, twitched and twisted after piercing the skull. The agonizing pain came not only from its body but also from its soul, wounding its very essence!

The white-faced ghost could no longer hold back and cried out in pain.

The moment its mouth opened, the sword-wielding chicken, still holding the sword in its beak, spun downwards. Its claw reached into the white-faced ghost's mouth, its toes curling to pull.

“Its tongue!”

Hong Niang shrieked: “The Black Chicken pulled out the white-faced ghost's tongue with its foot!”

The white-faced ghost was utterly terrified.

What was happening? Was it just because it had repeatedly cursed its master?

Before it could finish thinking, a pain shot through its eye. The sword-wielding chicken pulled the sword out of its skull.

The elongated tongue was lightly touched by the sword blade, and with a ripping sound…

“It's severed!”

“Just because this ghost still wanted to spout arrogant words, did it really get the 'tongue-cutting punishment' Old Man Li mentioned earlier?”

Hong Niang felt a sense of satisfaction.

If Uncle Jin and Old Man Fu had died with such indignity, then she felt immense satisfaction now.

When this white-faced ghost tortured and killed others, it surely never imagined it would face such retribution!

“Woooo—”

A sharp, miserable wail echoed through the battlefield.

The Black Chicken, having severed the white-faced ghost's tongue, flapped its wing against the ghost's half-remaining head, using the momentum to spring back out of the battle…

And continued to pace.

“Ugh!”

“Uh-uh-woo!”

The white-faced ghost broke down, its mental state completely shattered.

It clutched its face and throat, suffering terribly. The special, water-like binding spiritual force from the Black Chicken's sword lingered on its wounds, like salt being continuously poured onto them.

Too painful!

Unbearable pain!

“Kill me, kill me, kill mmmph…”

The severed tongue did not prevent the white-faced ghost from making sounds. It writhed on the ground, wailing incessantly, no longer able to endure such torture.

“Young Master.”

Old Man Li on the Sweet Osmanthus carriage called out, a hint of regret in his expression: “This one doesn't seem to have Death God power. No matter how much we provoke it, it won't unleash it?”

“No, they are very cunning. Some hide it very well.”

“But usually, with this much provocation, it should have erupted by now. If I put myself in its shoes, I'd either commit suicide or mutate. I certainly couldn't stand this inhuman torture anymore…”

“It truly is inhuman. It's a vengeful ghost, and a ghost's energy is beyond your imagination.”

Hong Niang listened, utterly bewildered.

The discussion between this master and servant seemed to be on an entirely different level from what the millions of spectators on Golden Apricot were focused on.

It sounded absurd…

But they seemed very experienced?

The white-faced ghost hunted practitioners from the Ghost Buddha Realm for a living.

This master-servant pair from the carriage seemed to exist specifically to hunt “beings/non-beings” like the white-faced ghost?

And what they were after…

“Is this young master trying to use this… Senior Sword Maiden, to force out the white-faced ghost's hidden power?”

“Death God power, is that the one I know, Ancestral Source power?”

Hong Niang didn't even know if this “sword-wielding chicken” possessed intelligence, so she could only respectfully address it as “Sword Maiden.”

After all, this chicken was too strong, a strength rarely seen in a lifetime.

It felt like the last empty spot among the Seven Sword Immortals, in terms of sword mastery, should be given to this chicken.

Even Beibei might not be able to defeat this chicken!

“Gasp, gasp, gasp…”

The white-faced ghost lay on the ground, gasping for breath, its mutilated body trembling incessantly.

Whenever it gasped too heavily, the Black Chicken would approach and casually prod it with a sword, and soon the white-faced ghost dared not even breathe loudly.

It was like a volcano suppressed for a long time, wanting to erupt but daring not, its entire ghostly form twisted to the extreme.

“Enough torture.” Finally, a soft sigh came from the distant Sweet Osmanthus carriage from the young master:

“So, it's a gutless ghost…”

“Sword Maiden, kill it. Make sure its body and spirit are utterly annihilated.”

The Golden Apricot screen sharply focused on the sword-wielding chicken. It saw the chicken flap its wings, take a light leap with the sword in its beak, and spin sideways in mid-air.

Brilliant silver sword energy sliced through the void, tearing directly towards the trembling white-faced ghost on the ground.

“This is insufferable!”

The white-faced ghost slammed its heavy sword into the ground, letting out an explosive roar, then its body shattered, flesh and blood splattering.

As space fluctuated, a ghostly light shot out from the explosion site, heading straight for… the Sweet Osmanthus carriage!

“Corrupt young master and wicked servant, I've endured you for too long!”

The ghostly light transformed into a monstrous demon standing a hundred zhang tall.

Massive Death God power converged, forming a heavy greatsword clutched in its hand.

This demon and its greatsword, filled with unspeakable hatred, ignored its own back and thrust straight towards the carriage roof.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck—”

The Black Chicken pursued, sword in beak, but was a fraction of a second too slow.

“It won't make it!”

Hong Niang covered her mouth.

Fewer comments appeared on the Golden Apricot screen; everyone watched, holding their breath.

In the scene, Old Man Li looked up.

This frail old man, who in everyone's eyes should have been extremely weak, now looked at the sword falling from the sky like a pillar, a hint of disdain appearing at the corner of his lips.

“Young Master…”

He called out softly, his expression even showing a hint of expectation.

As the heavy sword plunged down, he tilted the carriage sideways.

At that moment, the horses swerved and the carriage tilted. The direct target of the heavy sword, which had been the carriage roof, was now the window!

“Whoosh…”

The wind blew.

The upward-facing window curtain lifted slightly.

Hong Niang's beautiful eyes immediately widened. Clenching the Golden Orb, she frantically pushed the screen closer, determined to reveal the young master's true appearance.

Couldn't see clearly!

His full face was completely obscured!

After the curtain was lifted by the wind, only a clean, fair profile was slightly revealed, but it was only up to his lips and the tip of his nose; not even his eyes were shown.

“He's handsome…”

Hong Niang's heart stirred. She was just about to remark that this young master from the carriage hadn't disappointed.

The carriage curtain suddenly rippled outwards.

Following it, a large hand emerged, with two fingers forming a sword seal, lightly tapping upwards against the heavy sword forged from Death God power.

“Boom!”

Despite such a crude clash of immense power, and spatial force waves sweeping out, the Sweet Osmanthus carriage astonishingly did not fall apart.

Hong Niang was almost overwhelmed.

One eye frantically peered into the fluttering carriage curtain.

The other eye watched the standoff between the sword-finger and the heavy sword.

Her spiritual thoughts also had to control the Golden Apricot screen, ensuring it didn't deviate and stayed focused on the key point…

“Impossible!”

The void demon shrieked again in disbelief.

It stood with its sword, having endured dozens, even hundreds, of slashes from the Black Chicken, yet it couldn't push the Death God's sword down even an inch.

The person inside the carriage was actually stronger than the sword-wielding chicken!

With just two fingers, without even using spiritual essence or Ancestral Source power, he resisted the Death God's sword, which had been charging for so long, solely with his physical body!

“What kind of body is that?”

“Absolutely impossible!”

The carriage, teetering on a single wheel, was like a skyscraper about to collapse, yet stubbornly remained upright.

“Nothing is impossible. Any miscalculation is simply beyond your comprehension.”

“In other words, you are merely a frog in a well.”

The sickly young master's mocking voice came from inside the carriage. After a pause, it turned chilling, and he suddenly commanded:

“Named: Ten-Stage Sword Finger.”

Power surged, and the Golden Apricot screen suddenly blurred.

From the young master's sword-fingers, a clear, water-like liquid suddenly flowed, coiling around his two fingers and finally emitting a faint glow.

“Boom!”

The faint glow transformed into a sword light.

The sword light pierced directly through the inside of the Death God's sword, ripping open the demon's body, and then, unimpeded, shot into the sky, leaving a trail of icy frost.

A single sword stroke, a frosty rainbow three thousand li long, splitting the demon in the cold sky and piercing the heavens!