The ten-odd-zhang long pale blue whip body whipped into the air, still carrying five pierced paper effigies!
On these paper effigies, bursts of power fluctuations comparable to the early stage of the Spirit Seizing Realm simultaneously erupted. Their eyes, which appeared very agile, were filled with cold malice.
Ji Yuan's expression remained calm. After a brief observation, he resolutely shook the long whip in his hand.
Fierce magical power immediately exploded from the whip body, instantly rushing into the five paper effigies like a breached flood.
However, the expected scene did not occur. His magical power did not shatter the paper effigies; instead, it vanished like a mud ox entering the sea, causing no disturbance whatsoever.
The only difference from before was that the five paper effigies had acquired some marks as if soaked in water.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan's expression couldn't help but stiffen, and he frowned slightly.
But before he could do anything further, the five paper effigies simultaneously opened their mouths!
He then realized that their mouths were not painted on but truly existed. As they opened, a suction force emanated from their pitch-black mouths.
This suction force, when felt on his body, seemed incredibly weak, no stronger than a light breeze.
Just as he was bewildered, his expression suddenly changed. He immediately felt as if his soul was about to be forcefully pulled from his body by this suction force!
He immediately formed several hand seals, and then a phantom image of a seven-story pagoda emerged from his body. After enlarging to a certain extent, it shrunk towards the top of his head.
Finally, a small, pale blue seven-story pagoda appeared above his head, emitting wisps of radiant light.
In an instant, his soul, which was about to leave his body, stabilized. The strong soul light no longer flickered, and he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Then, Ji Yuan looked at the five paper effigies with a cold expression. Seeing that they had closed their mouths, as if displaying silent mockery, a surge of anger inexplicably rose within him.
He swung the pale blue long whip in his hand. The ten-odd-zhang long whip body was pulled out from the paper effigies, then returned to its original length, landing on the ground at his feet.
As a result, several paper effigies fell to the ground and then hopped towards him.
Ji Yuan retracted his long whip, and with his other hand, drew Yuan Bao from his back. As magical power surged into the gleaming sword body, wisps of sword energy immediately appeared.
He took a step forward, and his figure instantly appeared several zhang away. With a nonchalant gesture, he sent a sword strike towards a paper effigy before him.
Swish!!!
As the sword light flashed and disappeared, the paper effigy froze in place. It looked at its missing arms, where wisps of sword energy still lingered at the wounds, constantly infiltrating its body.
Ji Yuan tilted his head, seemingly surprised by this outcome. However, he quickly reacted and kicked the paper effigy's abdomen, sending it flying several zhang away.
"It seems... no big deal?"
He was quite surprised. When he had seen Liu Donglai earlier, the latter's magical weapon, a long sword, had been unable to leave even the slightest mark on the paper effigies.
Even setting that aside, these paper effigies of the renowned Yin Yang Sect seemed to have no other advantages besides their numbers.
They gave him a feeling of being overrated!
As he was thinking this, the remaining four paper effigies had already surrounded him and were simultaneously punching down.
However, as a radiance flashed across Ji Yuan's body, the four fists were blocked by the divine light descending from the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda. Even with the powerful force pouring down, they could not shake it in the slightest.
"Devour souls!"
Ji Yuan shouted in a deep voice and formed a hand seal with one hand.
The next moment, a suction force emanated from the bottom of the small pagoda above his head. Countless spiritual energies from the surroundings surged in, being continuously swallowed by it.
On the paper effigies, a large number of spiritual lights also appeared, and were absorbed into the bottom of the pagoda by the soul-devouring force.
It was at this moment that he saw the vibrant colors on the paper effigies rapidly dimming, and the agility in their eyes gradually becoming hollow and silent.
In just three to four breaths, the four paper effigies fell stiffly to the ground, becoming no different from ordinary objects. The magical power within them, comparable to the early stage of the Spirit Seizing Realm, was also dissipating from their bodies as if it had lost control.
These dissipating magical powers were eventually swallowed by the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda. With just a few turns of the pagoda body, they transformed into streams of pure spiritual energy, flowing into Ji Yuan's body to replenish his previously depleted magical power.
Seeing this, his eyes immediately lit up. He then turned his gaze towards the other side of the camp, where paper effigies were still continuously appearing from the night.
"Go!"
He sheathed his long sword, then formed a hand seal with one hand and pointed at the group of paper effigies in the distance with the other.
The Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda above his head immediately shot out, reaching the heads of Wu Chengqing and the others in a few breaths. Then, the pagoda body swayed in the wind, immediately growing more than ten times its size!
In just a moment, a giant seven-story pagoda several zhang high appeared in mid-air. The terrifying suction force at its base turned into rings of spiritual energy vortexes, powerfully devouring the spiritual energy of the area.
At the same time, countless spiritual light points emerged from the bodies of thirty to forty paper effigies, and under the suction generated by the soul devouring, they all entered the bottom of the giant pagoda.
Now, with Ji Yuan's full activation, the power of the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda had undoubtedly increased by several notches compared to before. In just a blink of an eye, more than ten paper effigies fell, and the magical power dissipating from their bodies was also swallowed into the giant pagoda.
In just over ten breaths, to the shocked gaze of Wu Chengqing and the others, all the paper effigies fell, no longer emitting any aura, having become mere inanimate objects.
After this, the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda in the sky swayed and instantly flew back. When it returned to Ji Yuan's palm, it had shrunk back to a size of several inches.
Its slowly rotating body trembled, and immediately,雜駁 (mixed/messy) magical power was scattered. Then, the refined pure spiritual energy flowed into his body, returning to several acupoints and his dantian.
For a time, he actually felt "stuffed." His dantian and acupoints were almost packed with pure spiritual energy.
This spiritual energy did not require refinement; as long as it circulated with the cultivation method, it could be easily absorbed and converted into his own magical power, with no hidden dangers.
Only at this moment did Ji Yuan realize what a significant impact the decision to choose the inner core of the Crimson Feather Evil Tiger as the core of the Xuan Tian Pagoda had brought him.
Even now, the ability of soul devouring had demonstrated extremely extraordinary power!
"Fellow Daoist Ji... truly has remarkable skills!"
Wang Xiaoxuan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but exclaim.
They had to go all out, and at least be on high alert against such enemies, yet they were easily neutralized by him. Whether it was the dozens of talismans used without batting an eye, or that small pagoda, which was clearly a top-grade magical artifact at the very least.
These were all things they could only dream of in normal times!
"Don't get distracted, more 'things' are coming!"
Wu Chengqing shouted in a low voice, his expression more solemn than before.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan immediately turned his gaze towards the night outside the camp. With the effect of his Dharma Eye, he seemed to see something unusual.
"Is that... paper money?"
He gazed for a long time, then murmured to himself.
He saw yellow and white circular paper flying in the air within the night, resembling the paper money and ghost money scattered by mortals during funerals.
In everyone's ears, faint crying sounds suddenly arose, as if coming from afar, yet also as if right beside their ears.
With these cries, a sense of sorrow inexplicably rose in everyone's hearts. Even some handyman disciples who had not yet entered the Dao, and whose willpower was slightly weaker, were already shedding tears uncontrollably.
Even Ji Yuan and the others, protected by their magical power, still felt sorrow welling up within them, their eyes uncontrollably moist, as if they might shed tears at any moment.
"It's the Mourning Chant technique of the Yin Yang Sect!"
Wu Chengqing snorted, his gaze filled with displeasure.
First paper effigies, then the Mourning Chant technique. Did these demonic cultivators want to send them off?
Ji Yuan's expression also turned cold. Although he knew these were the inherited techniques of the other party, it was hard for anyone to not feel angry when treated this way.
Moreover, the demonic cultivators had remained hidden from beginning to end, not revealing any trace so far.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Without a second thought, Ji Yuan retreated quickly while slipping several talismans from his sleeve, which he then tossed into the air.
When the talisman cores were ignited, pure, righteous energy surged from the three Vast and Righteous Evil Dispelling Talismans, sweeping out in all directions.
Under the sweep of this righteous energy, sharp cries immediately rang out, no longer distant or near, but clearly right beside them!
Ji Yuan's brow twitched. He threw out three more Yang Light Lamp Talismans, and masses of yang energy condensed into lamp-like forms, scattering a blazing light.
The next breath, over ten blurred figures materialized, appearing within everyone's sight. They had already silently arrived outside the camp.
"They're specters!"
Wang Xiaoxuan exclaimed in a low voice, her expression suddenly changing.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan unhesitatingly took out a handful of talismans, all of which had innate restraining effects on specters and other yin-evil beings.
He unleashed all the talismans in his hand, causing the more than ten blurred figures to instantly annihilate, leaving no trace in the world.
These specters looked frightening, but they had no cultivation themselves. If they attached themselves to someone, they might be able to harm people through some secret method. However, if discovered in advance, they would be completely useless.
Any talisman for expelling ghosts and warding off evil could scatter their souls!
But as the specters before them vanished, the chill in Ji Yuan's heart intensified, and his brow twitched uncontrollably.
Without time to think, he instinctively threw the small pagoda in his hand, causing it to hover above his head, emitting wisps of radiant light to protect his body.
Almost at the same moment, three wooden rods hanging with white strips suddenly appeared out of thin air, carrying a force like ten thousand pounds, and heavily struck the radiant light around Ji Yuan.
In an instant, even the light that was not stirred by the strength of the four paper effigies, comparable to the late stage of the Flesh Realm martial artists, began to tremble.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan's expression changed. But before he could do anything, he saw three figures emerge from an empty space.
These three wore white robes, sharp white paper hats on their heads, and held wooden rods adorned with white paper strips. Their ashen white faces were covered in a thick aura of death.
As soon as they appeared, the temperature within the camp immediately dropped. It was already winter, and now it felt as if they were in a blizzard.
These three figures, resembling the Black and White Impermanence who capture souls in mortal myths, raised their wooden rods and once again struck the protective radiance heavily.
"Boundless... Heavenly Venerable!"
Ji Yuan grunted. Although protected by the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda, he still felt his internal blood and qi churning. An impulse of anger instantly erupted within him.
He drew Yuan Bao from his back with his other hand, and a horizontal slash with the bright sword edge. As magical power violently poured into it, dozens of small sword energies immediately burst from the sword body!
Seeing this, the three white-robed figures immediately retreated, and at the same time, let out sharp, piercing shrieks.
Visible waves of sound immediately spread out in all directions, not only causing the dozens of sword energies to shatter but also causing Wu Chengqing and the other two, who had rushed to provide support, to clutch their ears in pain.
Even if they sealed their hearing with magical power, they could still not escape the sharp shrieks. This sound seemed to appear directly in their minds.
Let alone Wu Chengqing and the other two, even Ji Yuan, despite being protected by the Xuan Tian Soul Devouring Pagoda, could not help but let out a pained growl amidst this sharp shriek!