Chapter 36: The Formation

“Look, there’s a cave over there!” A Daoist pointed to the right.

Everyone turned their heads and indeed saw a cave at the base of the rock wall. Its entrance was wide enough for three people to walk side by side. Inside, it was pitch black, with no end in sight. A cold, sinister aura wafted faintly from within.

“This must be the lair of the evil creature. Shao Gongzi must have been taken inside!” Hu Fu’s eyes lit up, and he charged forward with his peachwood sword.

“Wait!” Bai Yu quickly grabbed him. After carefully examining the cave entrance, he felt that the aura was strangely familiar, very much like that of a certain female ghost. He warned, “Daoist friend, the yin aura here is extremely strong. What lies within may very well be a fierce ghost. It’s best not to rush in recklessly.”

“Hmph, mere yin energy. We are cultivators—what is there to fear?” Hu Fu snorted coldly and shook Bai Yu off. He paid no heed to the warning, eager only to be the first to rescue Shao Xian. “If you’re afraid of death, don’t follow!” With that, he strode straight into the cave.

“Hey, you—” Bai Yu tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Seeing someone take the lead, the others hesitated briefly before also pulling out their magical tools, preparing to enter. Fierce ghosts were dangerous, yes, but with so many of them together, they might manage.

Unable to stop them, Bai Yu grew anxious. He turned to Yun Jiao. “Girl, what do we do? Should we go too?”

Yun Jiao looked at the cave mouth. Tendrils of black mist seeped outward. She shook her head. “Don’t you see the words written there?”

“What?” Bai Yu blinked. “What words?”

“On the left, it says ‘Fools.’ On the right, ‘Come quickly.’ And across the top: ‘Courting death.’”

Bai Yu: “…”

Old Zhou: “…”

The others: “…”

Even if she was right, did she have to spell it out so plainly?

“But Shao Gongzi…” Bai Yu hesitated. Not rescuing him didn’t seem right either—they had come here to earn money, after all.

Yun Jiao frowned slightly, then looked at the cave again. “Old man, didn’t Shao Laoye say his son disappears every midnight?”

“That’s right,” Bai Yu nodded automatically. “That’s what he said.”

“Then isn’t it strange?” Yun Jiao’s gaze lingered on the cave. “If the young master is taken by a fierce ghost from this cave every night… then how does he return?” Fierce ghosts didn’t just send people back nicely.

“…Huh?” Bai Yu blinked, stunned. Before he could respond, a scream rang out from the cave.

A blue shadow flew out and crashed heavily to the ground—it was Hu Fu. A moment ago, he had been brimming with confidence; now he was covered in blood, barely clinging to life.

“Daoist Hu!” Ji Feng, the blue-robed cultivator, cried out in alarm, hurrying forward. But a shrill chorus of ghostly wails erupted from the cave, followed by a fierce gust of wind. Waves of icy yin energy surged out as massive clusters of black shadows swarmed from the darkness, encircling the group.

“How can there be so many fierce ghosts?” Everyone froze in shock. The ghostly forms numbered in the hundreds. With their meager cultivation, they might handle one, but a horde? It was impossible.

“Damn it!” Bai Yu cursed. Again?! Why did they always stumble into a pack of fierce ghosts? Fortunately, they still had their trump card. “Girl, quick—summon the Patriarch! With him here, even an army of ghosts is nothing!”

Instinctively, Yun Jiao reached to her side—then stiffened.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Yu asked when she didn’t move.

Yun Jiao turned her head stiffly. “…The Patriarch isn’t here.”

“What?” Bai Yu gaped. “Wasn’t he always hanging from your waist?”

“…Earlier, at dinner, I borrowed Shao Residence’s kitchen to cook him a bowl of soup,” Yun Jiao admitted. “A big bowl.”

So…

The Patriarch was still in the house, drinking soup!

w(Д)w

What use was a Patriarch like this?! Damn it!

We’re going to die, we’re going to die, we’re going to die…

But strangely, though more and more ghosts emerged from the cave, they didn’t attack. Instead, they circled around the group, wailing in unison. Their cries were shrill, piercing—and filled with suffering.

Yun Jiao froze, about to think deeper, when suddenly the ground beneath them flared with dazzling red light. The ghosts howled louder, their cries twisted with pain.

“This is… a ghost-forging formation!” someone shouted. Realization dawned. “Someone is using us to refine ghosts!”

“Quick! Guard your dantian and break out of the formation!” Ji Feng cried urgently.

The cultivators finally reacted, channeling their spells in an attempt to break free. But it was too late. Every talisman, every weapon was repelled by the red light. They couldn’t even reach the surrounding ghosts.

The red glow grew brighter and brighter. The ghosts abruptly stopped, positioning themselves at five points around the circle. One by one, the cultivators felt something draining from their bodies—their spiritual energy, their cultivation. If this continued, the formation would strip them dry until they died.

Their strength waned rapidly, breathing grew heavy, panic spread. “What is this formation?”

Yun Jiao’s expression darkened. “The Hundred Ghost Convergence Formation!”

The others blinked, stunned. Before they could react, a smug laugh echoed from the cave.

“Hahahaha… I didn’t expect anyone would actually recognize my array.”

From the cave emerged a plump figure, round as a ball. As he grinned, the fat on his cheeks quivered.

“Shao Laoye!” the cultivators gasped, eyes wide with disbelief. Was it him? Did he set up this formation? But why—hadn’t he begged them to save his son?

“Thanks to you all, I can finally complete the ‘Hundred Ghost Convergence Formation.’” Shao Laoye laughed triumphantly, his whole body jiggling, his eyes narrowing to slits. “From today, the Shao family will enjoy another hundred years of glory.”

“You… you’re sacrificing us for the array!” The cultivators finally understood. “You lured us here on purpose!”

Cultivators drew upon heaven and earth’s spiritual energy to temper themselves, each carrying qi within them. But this formation, built with yin spirits, required yang energy to balance. Spiritual qi was the perfect fuel.

(End of Chapter)