Chapter 199 - 198: Sparring

Chapter 199: Chapter 198: Sparring

Peach Blossom Evil?

He’d heard of that before. Xue Ning had also encountered a Peach Blossom Evil, and it hadn’t seemed that difficult to resolve.

At that thought, the tension in Huo Xingye’s chest eased.

"Has anyone strange shown up around you recently?" Huo Xingchen prompted. "You know, the type who always tries to get close to you for no particular reason."

Huo Xingye answered honestly. "Every day." From business partners to company employees, there were always a few people who struck him as being there for no reason.

Huo Xingchen was silent for two seconds, then pressed on, "Is there anyone who stands out? Someone you haven’t seen before."

Something clicked for Huo Xingye. "Last week, a business partner came over from Europe..."

Huo Xingchen perked up. "That’s her!"

Huo Xingye pushed him away. "Are you saying my Peach Blossom Evil is because of that business partner?"

Huo Xingchen stood up straight and nodded with certainty. "It’s her!"

A wry smile touched Huo Xingye’s lips. "Your skills really are subpar. That business partner is a man."

Gu Qingyin, who had been watching from the sidelines, let out a soft hiss of amusement. "My son’s charm is just too great!"

"Mom," Huo Xingye said helplessly.

Gu Qingyin chuckled. "It’s most likely this person. Tomorrow, Xingchen and I will go with you to your company to have a look." She stood up and clapped her hands. "It’s about time. Let’s go to the backyard to watch the show... ahem, observe the battle."

Huo Yunjing gave a helpless smile.

The group moved to the backyard, where they found a row of chairs set up, complete with fruit, drinks, and snacks.

Well... it certainly had the atmosphere of watching a play.

Huo Yunjing entered the Array of his own accord. Gu Qingyin and her three sons sat down in the chairs, snacking while they waited for the other combatant to take the stage.

"Grandmaster isn’t going to stand us up, is he?" Huo Xingchen asked, a little worried. ’Will Grandmaster really play along? It seems so pointless.’

Gu Qingyin didn’t speak. The corner of her lip curled into a cold smirk.

Before the smirk could fully fade, Gu Ziqian abruptly appeared inside the Array, facing Huo Yunjing, separated by a distance of exactly five meters.

Everyone immediately put down their snacks and watched with rapt attention.

Gu Qingyin gave them a strange look, then popped another strawberry into her mouth.

Inside the Array.

Gu Ziqian stood with his hands behind his back, looking like a transcendent master, and said in a mild tone, "You may make the first move."

Huo Yunjing also expressed his respect for his elder. "After you."

Gu Ziqian smiled at him, not moving or speaking.

Huo Yunjing: "...Then pardon my offense."

Despite his words, he still held back when he struck.

A flock of black crows flew out from behind him, their sharp beaks and talons glinting in the moonlight, looking even sharper than a guillotine’s blade.

The black crows were like sharp arrows, swarming toward Gu Ziqian from all directions, blanketing the sky.

Gu Ziqian stood his ground, merely waving a hand. His five fingers instantly transformed into five ropes of light that shot nimbly and swiftly into the sky, binding every crow that came near.

Huo Yunjing raised an eyebrow. The bound crows instantly burst into clusters of burning black flames, which then spread rapidly along the ropes of light toward Gu Ziqian.

Gu Ziqian chuckled lightly and raised his other hand. He opened his palm slightly toward the empty air, and instantly, a powerful stream of water shot out, its force looking no less than that of a high-pressure water cannon.

"Whoa!" Gu Qingyin’s eyes lit up. ’She hadn’t seen this move before; it was quite the spectacle.’

Huo Xingchen was thrilled as well. It was his first time seeing such a spectacle, and his heart filled with yearning. ’When will I be that powerful?’

As for Huo Xingye and Huo Xinghai, it went without saying. It was like a 5D surround-sound HD blockbuster, a complete audiovisual feast that money couldn’t normally buy.

The black flames were extinguished upon meeting the water.

Huo Yunjing remarked unhurriedly, "Impressive."

Immediately after, the surrounding temperature plummeted. First, the splattered water droplets froze into ice, and then the column of water closest to Huo Yunjing began to change as well.

In just a few breaths, the water column froze solid in mid-air, turning inch by inch into a pillar of ice.

Gu Ziqian frowned. He tried to channel more power into the water column to break the ice but found his efforts were futile. With a soft sigh, he shattered the ice pillar himself.

The pillar of ice disintegrated into a fine powder that drifted through the air, creating a dreamlike and exceptionally beautiful sight.

"Your power isn’t bad," Gu Ziqian said, staring at Huo Yunjing. He reluctantly admitted, "You’re barely worthy of my disciple."

Huo Yunjing smiled humbly. "I’m still a bit lacking compared to Master."

Gu Ziqian was noncommittal, only saying, "Now you shall receive a move of mine."

Huo Yunjing’s expression grew slightly more serious. He extended a hand and said, "Please, Master."

Gu Qingyin pursed her lips. ’These two ghosts,’ she thought, ’each one is more pretentious than the other.’

Gu Ziqian used his finger as a brush, his Soul Power as ink, and the void as paper, directly drawing a Ghost Talisman in mid-air.

Even with the Array blocking the way, Gu Qingyin could still clearly feel that immense power. Her expression changed instantly. She got up and rushed to the edge of the Array. "Master!"

Gu Ziqian heard her. He smiled slightly, his eyes fixed on Huo Yunjing. "Care to concede?"

Huo Yunjing was indeed surprised, but for this level of power to make him concede? ’Honestly... it’s not enough.’

He smiled. "Please."

Gu Qingyin pursed her lips and said no more.

’She wasn’t sure of Huo Yunjing’s true strength, but she believed in his character. He wasn’t the type to put on a brave front just to save face. He must be somewhat confident.’

’And Master... his power was far greater than she’d imagined. The title of Ghost Immortal was just the icing on the cake for him; it wouldn’t be a big deal if he lost it.’

’After all, being a Ghost Immortal meant shouldering responsibilities. How could that compare to the comfortable freedom he enjoyed now?’

Just as Gu Qingyin’s mind was racing, Gu Ziqian unleashed the Ghost Talisman in his hand.

The Ghost Talisman transformed mid-air into an illusory city, pressing down on Huo Yunjing with overwhelming momentum.

Huo Yunjing’s expression was serious. He formed a hand seal, and two enormous palms suddenly appeared at his sides. They rose up as if to support the heavens, catching the falling city.

A glint flashed in Gu Ziqian’s eyes. He increased his Soul Power output, and the somewhat illusory city instantly became clearer, its power multiplying.

The giant arms bent slightly under the pressure but soon held firm, because another pair of arms stretched out from below, followed by a third and a fourth pair.

A total of eight arms not only supported the city but also pushed it back up a bit.

The three brothers watching from outside the Array stared with eyes so wide they seemed about to pop out of their sockets. One could only imagine the shock in their hearts.

Only Gu Qingyin was worried sick—afraid the city would fall and obliterate Huo Yunjing’s soul, afraid her Master would lose control and suffer a backlash, and even more afraid that their powers would run rampant, break the Array, and endanger everyone in the villa.

Fortunately, after the two ghosts were locked in a stalemate for a while, they both began to withdraw their power in unison.

The city changed direction and flew high into the sky, while the arms slowly dissipated on the spot.

Gu Ziqian stared at Huo Yunjing suspiciously. "You don’t seem like a new ghost."

Huo Yunjing remained as steady as a mountain. "The same could be said of you."

Gu Ziqian smiled. "I was a Heavenly Master in my past life. You were just an ordinary person."

Huo Yunjing: "I’m exceptionally gifted."

Gu Ziqian: "Hmph."