Chapter 24: Breath Tornado

A colossal blade of light flashed, momentarily parting the dense fog before it swiftly closed in once more.

Yet, the scene witnessed in that brief gap was enough to strike terror into the heart.

What was the true origin of this dense fog? Why did wandering souls rampage beneath the bright sun?

Whence came so many spectral forms? Even if every soul in Xiaolin Town had transformed into a malevolent ghost, their numbers could not possibly swell to such a degree, almost filling the entire field of vision!

Of course, everyone present now understood. With such a dense throng of wandering souls, it was likely that the entirety of Xiaolin Town... no longer held a single living soul!

One of the seven major towns under the jurisdiction of Fenglin City had fallen.

In that moment of disarray, it was still Wei Yan's calm voice that first resonated, quelling the burgeoning panic: "Those skilled in fire-attribute Dao techniques, use the area fifty paces beyond the formation as a warning line, and draw a line of fire. The rest, eradicate the wandering souls within the warning line in the shortest time possible!"

The Five Elements Dao techniques were the most fundamental, and practitioners skilled in the fire attribute were numerous. Following Wei Yan's command, flames ignited fifty paces outside the formation. Then, guided by Wei Yan's adjutant, these flames instantly connected, forming a circular line of fire.

Outside the fiery circle, the spectral forms temporarily retreated. However, the wandering souls that were drawn into the fire circle instantly turned violent.

Li Jianqiu abruptly sheathed the flaming longsword, clasped his hands in a seal before his chin, then resolutely let them fall to his sides. Two swords, wreathed in fierce flames, appeared in his grasp.

The twin blades, like intertwining dragons, carried him as he instantly pierced through the spectral horde. One sword to banish ghosts, two swords to rend souls.

Simultaneously, a flash of sword light whirled, and countless specters gradually vanished. The sword light retracted, revealing Jiang Wang's agile form.

The Purple Qi Comes From the East Sword Technique, the first killing move!

All were stunned, not expecting that this cultivator who had yet to condense a Dao spiral would extinguish souls purely through sword techniques, and with even greater efficiency than their own methods.

As soon as Jiang Wang made his move, Zhao Rucheng also sprang into action, his longsword flashing like lightning, cleaving through the specters in his path.

Though he typically appeared lackadaisical, in his application of the Purple Qi Comes From the East Sword, he was not far behind Jiang Wang.

Among those present, only Du Yehu and Ling He exchanged glances. The mundane martial power they excelled at was indeed difficult to wield effectively against these ethereal, extraordinary targets. If they purely stimulated their blood energy, they could indeed shock and slay a few specters, but facing such a multitude of wandering souls, how much blood energy could they possibly expend?

In truth, Jiang Wang had not hidden the Purple Qi Comes From the East Sword Technique from them. However, Du Yehu held unwavering faith in his own fists, disdaining external aids, and held no interest in swordsmanship. As for Ling He... it was likely due to his innate talent; his progress was slow, and he had yet to master the killing technique, unable to employ it in actual combat.

In the beginning, as the elder brother who toiled as diligently as Jiang Wang, his combat prowess, which did not lag behind, was entirely forged through sweat and toil.

The situation on the field appeared under control, but anyone with a discerning eye knew the peril.

What had appeared thus far were merely ordinary wandering souls. Now, for some unknown reason, Xiaolin Town had become a gathering place for so many spectral entities, and there were bound to be malevolent ghosts, fierce specters, and even ghost generals among them!

This was no longer a situation this small team could handle. The wisest course of action at this moment was to swiftly extricate themselves from the battle.

But having traversed this path, they had long since lost their bearings in the dense fog. The fiery line was surrounded by layers of specters; how could they easily break through?

Wei Yan stepped out of the fiery circle, allowing the specters to swarm and bite at him. His battle armor, appearing mottled and damaged, vibrated slightly, and the specters that were nearly clinging to him had already dissipated.

But there was no joy on his face. Instead, he retreated into the fiery circle again, his voice low and grave: "Who is skilled in wind-attribute Dao techniques? Attempt to disperse this fog!"

Though he addressed the group, his gaze was fixed upon Wang Changxiang.

Compared to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, wind-attribute Dao techniques were relatively uncommon, but Wang Changxiang was a master of this path.

Wang Changxiang did not hesitate either, immediately drawing with his fingers before him, clearing the surrounding specters with wind blades. Then, his hands moved like butterflies, changing seals. Finally, he clasped his hands before his lips, his index and middle fingers touching, and his thumb, ring finger, and little finger each touching. Into the triangular area formed by the middle and ring fingers, he exhaled.

The gentle exhalation passed through the finger formation and suddenly became violent, constantly rotating and growing at a speed visible to the naked eye, and directly crashed into the dense fog. Like a raging divine dragon, roaring within the thick mist.

Wind-attribute Dao technique, the Tornado's Breath!

This wind was no ordinary gust, but one of the Eight Winds, the Eastern Ming Shu Wind.

The Ming Shu Wind, capable of making all things appear. Used here, it was perfectly suited for the task.

This level of Dao technique power, even among sixth-grade cultivators, was not easily mastered. But Wang Changxiang was able to grasp this technique before opening the Heavenly Gate, a testament to his formidable strength.

Wang Changxiang's face paled as he completed the Dao technique, evidently this technique was a considerable burden on him. He barely managed to stand steady, "I'll leave the rest to you."

Wherever the roaring tornado passed, the dense fog was scattered, one layer after another. Everyone was able to see their surroundings clearly for the first time since entering Xiaolin Town.

Candied hawthorn skewers leaned against the wall, the rice shop connected to the soy sauce shop, and the flag of the restaurant still fluttered in the wind.

Everything appeared unchanged—were it not for those wandering souls.

The wandering souls within the fiery circle had been swept away by this point, but those outside the circle still gathered and lingered. They instinctively feared the flames, but also instinctively were unwilling to abandon these living souls rich in vitality.

"This is bad!"

The exclamation sounded a warning, and everyone saw that the roaring tornado had only just passed, and the dense fog in the distance was gathering again. Such fog could not be dispersed even by the Tornado's Breath.

"Let's take this opportunity to withdraw first," Li Jianqiu suggested in a low voice, clutching his two flaming swords.

In the interval created by the Tornado's Breath, everyone had been able to determine the path ahead. With their combined strength, and in the absence of a ghost general, retreating while fighting offered a high probability of a safe withdrawal.

Wei Yan held his blade and looked at the approaching fog once more, his thoughts unknown.

His adjutant was also anxious, "Sir, the current situation in Xiaolin Town is no longer something we can handle! We must mobilize a large army. And the people in Xiaolin Town are all dead; it is meaningless for us to stay here. How about..."

Wei Yan interrupted him: "The specters seen at the moment are all ordinary wandering souls, not even one with clear consciousness. You must understand, with so many specters gathered here, it defies common sense."

Wang Changxiang frowned and said: "The entire Fenglin City region does not have any cultivators specializing in ghost control techniques. The matters here should be handed over to the city guards. When the army arrives, the baleful aura will surge, and these wandering souls will disperse without attacking."

"The Qingjiang Water Clan is stirring, and the city guards are being dispatched to suppress them. By the time they return... perhaps it will be too late." Wei Yan was compelled to reveal a piece of crucial information.

Qingjiang was a major river that flowed through the entire Qinghe Prefecture, and the Lvyu River outside Fenglin City was one of its tributaries. But the Qingjiang Water Clan had long ago signed an alliance with the Zhuang Court; why would they suddenly stir?

Jiang Wang pondered internally. It was merely "stirring," indicating that the Qingjiang Water Clan was exercising some restraint. But matters concerning the water veins of the entire Qinghe Prefecture were of utmost importance, and the officials could not be careless, so the mobilization of city guards in various locations was only natural.

The Devouring Heart Demon appeared... the Qingjiang Water Clan stirred... Xiaolin Town's hundred ghosts walked in broad daylight. These matters seemed unrelated, but there was an unseen hand, weaving them together.

"Something is amiss," Wei Yan shook his head, his decision already made: "Everyone, follow me and charge forward! I will not stop, and no one shall stop! Those who fall behind will rely on fate!"

Without waiting for others to object, as soon as he finished speaking, he stepped out of the fiery circle with his blade, taking the lead and charging towards the depths of Xiaolin Town.

As his adjutant, Zhao Lang naturally followed without hesitation. Then came Li Jianqiu, Wang Changxiang. They were all experienced and, though they did not approve of Wei Yan's decision, they understood even more that strength could not be divided at such a time.

Finally, the entire team quickly mobilized, with Wei Yan as the arrowhead, and fiercely plunged into the heart of Xiaolin Town!