It was just one sentence, but it thrilled the malicious ghost completely.
Jiang Luo sneered at him, and raised his right hand in front of the malicious ghost as if something had just been born there—something that slammed forcefully into the malicious ghost.
“Boom—”
The water at the bottom churned violently. Waves surged on the surface, and huge volumes of river water surged toward the banks, drowning the tall, thick reeds.
A sharp sound of water being split echoed as the malicious ghost was blasted onto the shore by a roaring water column. He landed lightly—even soaked head to toe, his mood was untouched.
He adjusted his sleeves and looked up toward the water.
Jiang Luo stood up from beneath the surface and, almost miraculously, began walking across the surface. Beneath his feet, golden runes rippled in the waves. They formed the shape of a golden python. Jiang Luo stepped from the runes to the land, and the golden python formed from the spells leapt from the water and coiled itself around him.
Its teeth were sharp. Though made of spell script, it was as fierce and oppressive as the real thing. Jiang Luo tilted his lips into a smirk. Water dripped from his black hair, his figure disheveled, but his aura was overpowering.
Before unlocking the Yin-Yang hoop, Jiang Luo hadn’t fully believed the funeral shop owner’s words.
He had researched the Yin-Yang hoop himself and had also asked Kuang Zheng to help. Comparing their findings to what the funeral owner had said, there were no major discrepancies.
But what truly made Jiang Luo believe was the first time he tried to activate the hoop the previous night.
In a safe environment, he indeed experienced a near-breakthrough reaction—evidence that “a near-death state can activate the Yin-Yang hoop” was true.
As long as that was possible, Jiang Luo dared to risk it.
Fortunately, he had succeeded.
The frustration he’d buried deep in his heart was finally being unleashed. He gently flicked the Yin-Yang hoop, which shimmered against his skin, and said with a smile: “First movement, to determine direction.”
The golden python lifted its head and faced north.
“Second movement, to judge fortune or misfortune.” Jiang Luo stepped toward the malicious ghost, shaking his right hand mid-stride. The Yin-Yang hoop pulsed again.
“Third movement,” Jiang Luo smiled pleasantly, asking: “How do you want to die, Chi You?”
Third movement determines Yin and Yang.
The python’s vertical pupils locked onto the only ghost present. Its mouth opened wide, and a thin, sharp tongue slid across its deadly teeth.
The python, glowing with holy golden light, wrapped itself around the black-haired youth. Jiang Luo lifted his hand to stroke the python’s head, looking at the malicious ghost with a smirk.
There were thirteen total golden incantations on the Yin-Yang hoop. Twelve of them corresponded to the twelve earthly branches and their zodiac animals. Jiang Luo’s talent was exceptional, and his resonance with the ring was perfect. As soon as it activated, it manifested the Si Snake.
Seeing this, the malicious ghost’s entire body surged with glee. He chuckled softly as the moonlight dodged around him and black mist spread.
“How do you want me to die?” the malicious ghost asked, clearly intrigued.
Jiang Luo simply patted the python’s head.
The spell-formed python soared into the air and lunged toward the malicious ghost viciously. Jiang Luo said lightly, “I’m a respectful and well-behaved student. Naturally, a good student should care for his teacher. How about letting you die… happily?”
He beamed, “Teacher, do you like this way of dying?”
The malicious ghost, pursued by the python, chuckled lowly, “Sounds pretty good.”
The golden runes of the Yin-Yang hoop were inherently powerful against ghosts. Soon, the malicious ghost was looking rather ragged. Just as the python struck again, Chi You suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Luo. He smiled at Jiang Luo and ran his hand down beside his hair.
“You really are different,” the malicious ghost said almost reverently. “You’re incredible.”
“Am I?” Jiang Luo sneered coldly. He raised his hand, and the golden spell transformed into a dagger, “I can be even more incredible. Want to try?”
As Jiang Luo thrust the dagger forward, the malicious ghost caught his hand and smiled,
“Now that’s getting a little dangerous.”
Jiang Luo gave him a bright grin, suddenly withdrew the dagger, and reshaped the spell into a whip. Before the malicious ghost could react, it lashed across his body with a harsh crack.
A sizzle echoed—the strike burned like fire, releasing wisps of white steam.
On the malicious ghost’s cheek, a whip mark the size of a thumb appeared.
The end of the whip emitted white vapor, shrouding his handsome face. The red mark added a sinister, deranged beauty to his already unnerving aura.
Chi You lifted his hand and gently touched the wound, then looked up at Jiang Luo.
Jiang Luo didn’t retreat at all. In fact, he taunted softly, “Teacher, is that good enough?”
Chi You slowly smiled, “It’s more than enough.”
He murmured, “Since you’ve given Teacher such a wonderful gift… I suppose I must return one in kind.”
He played with Jiang Luo’s hair, smiling ambiguously, and just before the python struck him from behind—he vanished into thin air.
Silence fell. The golden python glanced around and then quietly dissolved back into runes, returning to the Yin-Yang hoop. Jiang Luo could tell from the rune’s reaction that Chi You had completely left.
He let go of the whip and allowed the final rune to settle back into place, still smiling.
Even though there was still a mess to deal with, Jiang Luo’s smile didn’t waver.
The police arrived soon after, along with Jiang Luo’s companions. To prevent Lu Youyi and the others from thinking he’d attempted suicide again, Jiang Luo spoke first: “I’ve awakened the Yin-Yang hoop.”
He explained the general function of the Yin-Yang hoop to the others, but in his mind, he was thinking about something else.
The Yin-Yang hoop had one last function.
In addition to the twelve secret incantations that formed the twelve Chinese zodiac branches, there was also a thirteenth secret incantation.
To summon the thirteenth incantation, one must use the “Four Movements to Attract the Ghost Soul.”
After the Four Movements, the thirteenth incantation would summon the most powerful ghost soul in the world to aid Jiang Luo. However, because this ghost did not belong to the Yin-Yang hoop, gaining its help came at a price.
And what that price was—would be entirely up to the ghost to decide.
This incantation was far too unstable. The title of “strongest ghost soul in the world” was also dangerously ominous. If he accidentally summoned some malicious, brutal spirit, Jiang Luo could very well lose everything. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never invoke the thirteenth incantation.
His companions, distracted by him, kept pressing for details on how he had activated the Yin-Yang hoop. When they walked into the light, Kuang Zheng suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Jiang Luo, your hair…”
Jiang Luo paused and walked to the car’s side mirror, lowering his head to take a look.
In the black hair over his shoulders, a small streak of snow-white hair was mixed in. It looked like it had been intentionally highlighted—black and white contrasted sharply, adding a cool, elegant flair to his appearance.
In an instant, Jiang Luo understood: this was the “gift” Chi You had left him.
The vitality of that strand of hair had been taken by Chi You.
