After returning to the Li Mansion and not finding Linbei, Chuliang sat cross-legged, preparing to reward himself during this time.
Upon entering the White Tower, he saw a faint golden ghost shadow imprisoned in the cell.
Chuliang had previously wondered if the White Tower was an evil device for refining souls in exchange for treasures. However, he later discovered that it did not interfere with the dissipation and reincarnation of souls. The golden shadow it extracted seemed to be more of a mark, used to prove that he had indeed killed such an evil creature.
The most direct evidence was the painted ghost in front of him, as well as the earlier spirit cat. They were both apparitions, essentially soul vacuums.
If the White Tower had extracted their souls and refined them, their forms inside the tower should have been similar to their external forms. However, this was not the case. The White Tower only contained one soulless golden shadow.
So, it was a positive energy White Tower that encouraged the extermination of demons.
Thinking this, he pressed the word "refine."
Boom!
After the light faded, he caught the treasure in his hand, finding it to be a clear and translucent white jade token.
[Soul Exchange Charm]:
Temporarily exchange your soul with another body for three breaths. It is recommended to use it on the same species; entering another species will not be a good experience. The duration is short, but sometimes it's enough.
Chuliang pursed his lips, feeling somewhat disappointed by this reward.
Strictly speaking, this kind of token was not considered a talisman, but rather, it was a stored spell.
A practitioner could save one of their own techniques in a complex way and store it in this type of token. The higher the grade of the token, the better the storage effect. For example, this white jade token could retain at least eighty percent of its power.
Sometimes, these tokens could have miraculous effects, such as enabling complex spells to be cast instantly, or storing defensive spells for younger generations.
However, this method had many restrictions and consumed a large amount of resources, so it was not very common.
Like this jade charm storing soul-moving spells...
Chu Liang didn't see much use for it, it was better to give an empty white jade charm, this rare material could be sold at the Chuanjian Hall for a good amount of sword coins.
But this white jade charm, storing useless magical spells, was not as valuable.
Just as the reward ended, Lin Bei returned from outside.
"How did it go?" Lin Bei asked.
"Very smoothly, the Painted Skin Ghost has been dealt with," Chu Liang replied.
"That's good, things went smoothly on my end too. Yan Xiaohu has recognized me as his sworn brother, and vowed to turn over a new leaf and start afresh from now on," Lin Bei smiled.
Chu Liang nodded.
He then explained the specific process to Lin Bei.
"But it's strange..." After hearing Chu Liang's account of the events, Lin Bei was puzzled, "They all were bullying her, but why does Sītú Yàn not hold a grudge against Yan Xiaohu? He was in fear for half the time, but he's not even on her revenge list."
"Perhaps... it's because Yan Xiaohu did not discriminate against her because of her appearance," Chu Liang pondered, "While he did ask Sītú Yàn for money, he also asked others for the same amount. In that regard, he treated everyone equally. The ones who caused harm to Sītú Yàn are those with special treatment..."
"That makes sense, sigh..." Lin Bei nodded, then let out a sigh.
...
Late at night, when it should have been quiet throughout the night.
Returning to the Nanshan Academy, Song Qingyi practiced qigong for a while, then lay down to rest.
Even a practitioner at the Human Realm needs sleep to nourish the spirit until they reach the peak of their consciousness and vitality, only then can they replace sleep with meditation. But even with that experience, it's still not as comforting as a good night's sleep.
Not long after, approaching dawn, she was suddenly awakened by a sobbing sound.
"Hmm?" Song Qingyi sat up and confirmed that a faint crying sound was coming in through the window.
She got up, put on her clothes, and swiftly moved to the window.
This was the residence specifically arranged for her by Nanshan Academy, quite far from the other instructors' quarters, with hardly anyone living around.
Who's crying?
Following the sound, she didn't have to go far to see a tiny figure curled up in the corner, with double buns in her hair, crying with her back to her.
"Little one?" Song Qingyi hurried over, "What's wrong with you?"
At this moment, with the matter of the Painted Skin Ghost settled, she was not very alert, but at the moment the child turned around, a dense spiritual aura almost overwhelmed her. Song Qingyi's heart tightened, and she swiftly retreated!
But it was a bit late.
She saw the child's face again, jet-black, terrifying, with twisted and shattered blood vessels, like a rotten watermelon. In her mind, there was a clang, as if a heavy hammer had struck the depths of her soul.
Despite her quick reaction, she wasn't prepared for this blow and stood frozen in place for a moment.
At that moment, there were several muffled sounds under her feet, and seven or eight ghostly hands with knobbly joints and long black nails emerged from the soil, grabbing her ankles simultaneously!
Song Qingyi fiercely bit her tongue to regain clarity, took out the Inch-Heart Ruler from her sleeve, and intended to cut off these ghostly hands.
But then, a bone-chilling sensation crept up behind her!
She only felt extreme coldness herself, unable to move her stiff body.
However, if someone were to look from the side, they would see a long-haired, white-clothed female ghost covering her face, already pressed against her back, hands gripping her shoulder blades.
"Who is it?"
Song Qingyi, controlled by the ghost, remained composed and asked calmly. With so many apparitions appearing simultaneously, it couldn't be a coincidence.
Surely someone was manipulating them from behind.
"Heh, it turns out it's the young lady from Junzi Hall..." a hoarse and unpleasant voice sounded from the side.
A tall figure dressed in a tightly fitting black robe and hood slowly emerged. The voice sounded ancient, but the physique and posture did not resemble that of an old person, appearing somewhat eerie.
"You shouldn't have, you really shouldn't, disturb the Netherworld Illusion that I painstakingly crafted," the figure spoke with resentment, "I promised her to let her kill three enemies here, while I dedicated myself to collecting their souls. Who would have known... it was already over, she was ready to leave with me... and you decided to kill her at this time..."
"I am very angry..."
"You must pay the price..."
The ominous tone of the figure sent a chill through the darkness before dawn.
Song Qingyi didn't say anything more, but suddenly formed a hand seal with her left hand, and a golden light rose into the air – it was the half-page golden book.
As the half-page golden book ascended, it shed a clear radiance, instantly engulfing the several ghostly hands entwined around Song Qingyi in black smoke! Cracking and wailing sounds erupted immediately.
"Ah—"
The ghostly hands and the white-clothed female ghost retreated, and Song Qingyi regained her freedom. She didn't attempt to attack the figure in the black robe, as the previous battle had already proven that their cultivation far surpassed her own, at least a Golden Core Realm cultivator... and one who practiced the mysterious arts of a demon cultivator.
Escaping at that moment was the top priority.
She then turned and fled backward, and the figure in the black robe did not pursue, only giving a sly smile and pulling out a large black iron slingshot.
With a slight grip on the slingshot, the figure pulled it taut and, with a light shout, commanded, "Go!"
Swish—
A streak of lightning tore through the long night.