Chapter 46: Breaking the Deadlock

This voice suddenly echoed in my mind. By the time I came to my senses and wiped my eyes to look at Xu Yingying again, she was standing there in her red wedding dress, gazing back at me—there was no trace of the woman entangled in red silk. At this moment, the murderous aura on Xu Yingying’s body grew heavier and heavier, forming behind her an enormous shadow of malice, as tall as the dragon itself. This shadow bore a striking resemblance to Xu Yingying, like a monstrous version of herself.

The giant hands of the shadow gripped Xu Yingying tightly, rendering the pillar of Yellow River water suspended in the air powerless against her.

“Xu Yingying—she’s this powerful?” I was utterly stunned. This was no mere vengeful spirit—she was an existence on par with the most fearsome of ghosts.

Who exactly was that man in black, to be able to command such a formidable specter? Or perhaps someone even more powerful was backing Xu Yingying?

A chilling, mocking laugh rang out. “A dragon, is it? This is the first time I’ve seen such a thing.” Xu Yingying’s face, seized by the giant shadow in midair, showed no fear, only a growing savagery. Arrogantly, she declared, “Today I’m going to cut off the dragon’s head and strip its sinews!”

With those words, the malice around her coalesced into a massive long blade in her hand. The towering shadow slowly raised the blade, and together with Xu Yingying, leapt high into the air, swinging the blade down toward the dragon’s head.

“You foolish dragon, what are you waiting for? Run!” I shouted at the ashen dragon, which still hovered dazed in the sky.

The murderous aura, unstoppable, slashed straight toward the head of the canal where the dragon was trapped. As the blade fell, I could clearly sense a tremendous surge of “geomantic energy” rising from the water.

This geomantic energy is an elusive, ineffable force, one that blends seamlessly with nature itself. It comes in many forms—strong or weak, auspicious or ominous—shaped by the environment. Changing the surroundings would alter the flow of this energy. When people dwell in places where the geomantic energy is too harsh, it can bring death; when it is damp and cold, it brings endless sickness. Thus, geomancers assess the strength, quality, and direction of this energy, adjusting it with trees, flowers, and plants to achieve the best balance for human habitation. The very force that had trapped the dragon was this powerful geomantic energy. It was the same energy that nearly severed Xu Yingying at Qinglong Mountain.

Now, the blade of malice struck precisely where the geomantic energy, reflected between the mountain peaks on either side of the riverbank, was at its strongest—tearing open a massive breach in the invisible barrier.

“This is the moment!” I shouted to the dragon, “Break free, now!”

The dragon did not hesitate. Sensing the gaping hole in the geomantic web that had ensnared it, it plunged into the water and surged forward, breaking through the formation by sheer force.

Xu Yingying, suspended in the air by her monstrous shadow, saw the unraveling of the formation and, for the third time, terror flickered across her face. She tried to flee, but it was far too late.

The mountains flanking the Yellow River, sensing the malice, began to sway in the storm. The wind howled louder and louder, branches rattling like a chorus of roaring beasts. Invisible currents of geomantic energy, carrying leaves with them, swept from the peaks toward the vengeful spirit.

The malicious energy enveloping Xu Yingying was scattered by the torrent. The giant shadow behind her vanished into nothingness, leaving only her corpse, still swaying in the air. In the next instant, as if all strength had left her, Xu Yingying dropped with a splash into the “Dragon Head Canal,” sinking deep like a stone.

A roar echoed.

Xu Yingying was clearly unwilling to accept her fate. She tried to rise again, but the mountain reflections shimmering on the river’s surface became countless blades, stabbing into her body. Xu Yingying, now fully aware of the power of this geomantic barrier, could only stare at me from the water’s depths and cry out, “Pi Yangxi, what kind of man are you, using such lowly tricks to ambush me?”

I remained silent.

Xu Yingying continued to shout, “Pi Yangxi, do you really think this geomantic formation can hold me?”

I stood dumbfounded, staring at her in the water, seeing the look of indifference on her face—clearly, she still had something up her sleeve.