Divine Level Witch Doctor

The shadow moved with incredible speed, its killing blow reaching Lu Qing’s back in an instant.

Only then did Lu Qing become alert. She spun around hastily, only to see several thin, sharp tentacles lunging at her. She wanted to dodge, but it was too late!

She pulled the trigger again. The handgun spit a scorching flash of fire, severing one tentacle, but more of them swarmed toward her! Just in the nick of time, a brilliant light burst forth from her clothes. The moment the tentacles touched the light, they recoiled as if seared by a Flame, retracting instantly.

Although she had escaped disaster, Lu Qing’s heart was still pounding with fear. She took a closer look and realized the ’tentacles’ that had just attacked her were actually long, thin, spiky leaves. They belonged to a plant by the window, potted and standing half as tall as a person!

Lu Qing was astonished. ”How can a plant attack someone? Could it be the legendary Cannibal Flower? But it doesn’t even have any flowers.”

Zhao Yuan said, ”That’s a Human-Catching Vine! I never expected a carnivorous plant that’s supposed to exist only in the primeval forests of Panama to show up here. What’s even more surprising is that it’s been turned into a Corpse Puppet! Plant-based Corpse Puppets are a rare sight indeed.”

’He appeared calm, but inwardly, he was terrified. Thank goodness I gave Lu Qing the Exorcism Talisman on our way here. Otherwise, that sneak attack from the Human-Catching Vine would have left her severely injured, if not dead!’

However, in Ying Ji’s eyes, Zhao Yuan’s composure read as confidence and foresight.

This made Ying Ji gnash her teeth in hatred.

’Damn it! I can’t believe that woman is carrying a Magical Artifact too! But does she think a Magical Artifact is enough to keep her safe? Impossible!’

She took a deep breath. While directing the Corpse Puppets to launch a fierce assault, she pulled a small knife, crafted from some unknown animal bone, from her robes and slashed it across her arm.

Crimson blood gushed out. Ying Ji dipped the Bone Blade in the blood and swiftly drew a series of runes in the air.

”Huh?!”

A sudden wave of weakness washed over Zhao Yuan, leaving his entire body drained of strength. He could no longer swing his whip with the same speed.

’A Curse Technique?’

’He suddenly recalled what the files said about the abilities of a Witch Priest. Besides Raising Gu and Lower Yin, they were also skilled in Curse Techniques!’

’This weakness I’m feeling... it must be from the Curse Technique!’

Ying Ji was also staring in astonishment.

’My Curse Technique shouldn’t be this weak!’

’Every other time I’ve used a Curse Technique, it instantly robbed my target of their ability to fight. A situation like this, where it only makes them feel slightly weak... this is unprecedented!’

’It must be his Magical Artifacts! They must have blocked most of the Curse!’ The realization struck Ying Ji in an instant.

She wasn’t dismayed. She consoled herself, ’It’s fine. Even just a little weakness is enough! My Corpse Puppets will definitely seize this opportunity to take him down in one fell swoop!’

Almost at that exact moment, the five Corpse Puppets and the Human-Catching Vine attacked Zhao Yuan from all directions, intending to strike him down while he was weakened!

”Perfect timing!” Zhao Yuan roared. He forced his Bone Marrow Refining Technique into action, converting Wish Power into physical strength to overwhelm the effects of the Curse Technique. With a flick of his wrist, the long whip shot out like lightning. CRACK! CRACK! The two Corpse Puppets charging from the front were sent flying back.

He then channeled his power into the Ink Pot Line, snapping the tough cord. The four Fearless Pearls and a single Exorcism Talisman flew off like buckshot, hurtling toward the other three Corpse Puppets and the Human-Catching Vine!

Ying Ji’s pincer attack was shattered in an instant!

”Now, it’s my turn to fight back!”

Zhao Yuan roared. Seizing the opening created as the Corpse Puppets were knocked back, he leaped forward like a hawk pouncing on a rabbit, charging straight for Ying Ji.

Ying Ji was horrified.

She was a Witch Priest, and her strengths lay in Poisonous Gu and Curses. In other words, she was a Mage, not a melee fighter. Seeing the ferocity of Zhao Yuan’s charge, she scrambled to escape.

”You’re not getting away!” Zhao Yuan instantly opened his Storage Ring Space, pulling out a Shrinking Earth Talisman and an Enchanting Talisman.

The two Talismans activated simultaneously.

The Shrinking Earth Talisman doubled Zhao Yuan’s speed, making him as fast as a phantom! And while the Enchanting Talisman failed to completely control Ying Ji’s Divine Sense, it did manage to affect her, causing her to slow for just a moment.

Zhao Yuan seized the opportunity, rushing to her side and subduing her. With a flip of his hand, he pulled a Stone Blade from his Storage Ring Space and pressed it against Ying Ji’s neck.

”If you so much as twitch,” Zhao Yuan said in a low voice, ”I guarantee I’ll slit your throat and let you die choking on your own blood.”

Seeing its master captured, the nearby Ghost Spirit flew into a rage and prepared to mount a rescue. However, Zhao Yuan detected its first movement. Not caring whether it could understand him, he snarled, ”Don’t you move, Ghost Spirit, or I’ll kill her!”

As he spoke, he pressed down hard. The sharp Stone Blade pierced the skin of Ying Ji’s neck, and a trickle of crimson blood seeped out.

The Ghost Spirit immediately went still, not daring to make a move.

The five Corpse Puppets and the Human-Catching Vine had intended to rally and capture Lu Qing to use as a hostage against Zhao Yuan. But the Exorcism Talisman Zhao Yuan had given her prevented them from getting close. With Ying Ji now in Zhao Yuan’s hands, they were hesitant to act for fear of harming her, and dared not make a rash move.

Ying Ji was sick with regret.

’If only I had listened to the Ghost Spirit and prepared sooner, how could I have ended up in this situation?’

At the same time, her heart was also filled with curiosity about Zhao Yuan.

’Based on the power Zhao Yuan just showed, he hasn’t reached the Qi Listening Realm, so why can he see the Ghost Spirit? How did he know where I live? And how did he know that water boiled with Willow Leaves could destroy the Hundred Insects Gu?’

Question after question surfaced in Ying Ji’s mind. But as a captive, she had no way of asking them.

Seeing that he had the situation under control, Zhao Yuan breathed a silent sigh of relief. ’That was a close call,’ he thought.

’It was a good thing Ying Ji didn’t know the true extent of my skills and abilities. Otherwise, even if I could’ve subdued her, I would have paid a heavy price for it! After all, her skills in Raising Gu and Curses are the real deal!’

Once Lu Qing came over, Zhao Yuan wasted no more time. He asked directly, ”Start talking. Why are you cultivating an Evil Gu like the Teng Mo? What’s your goal? Besides the three known dead and the one victim I saved, has anyone else been parasitized by the Teng Mo larvae you’re raising?”

”Huh?” Ying Ji stared, stunned.

Zhao Yuan frowned. ”What do you mean, ’huh’? Answer me!”

Ying Ji raised an eyebrow and retorted, ”Aren’t you the one raising the Teng Mo?”

Zhao Yuan sneered. ”What’s this? You did it but won’t admit it? Now you’re trying to turn the tables and frame me?”

Ying Ji’s brow furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, the pleasant chime of a doorbell suddenly rang out.