The villain also has spring 2

Chapter 1915-11914 The Art of the Drum Demon

Chapter 1915-1.1914 The Art of the Drum Demon

"Let's see what happens next." Seeing the female ghosts swarming up downstairs, vying to sign in, Right Protector Xiahou Ying immediately made up his mind to use movement to control stillness.

The reason for the scramble was that the number of spots was very limited each time. Looking down from their vantage point, only the first 10 would be chosen, perfectly matching the number of the "Ten Heavenly Stems." It was a case of "being near the water tower, one gets the moon first." The reason the second-floor booths were empty was precisely because all the female ghosts were crowding downstairs, eager to be the first to sign and secure their spots.

A short while later, Madam Zhuang entered the room to refill everyone's cups.

Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, seized the opportunity to ask, "Who has been selected tonight?"

"Please forgive me, sir, but I was unaware of your background." The female ghost often used aliases when registering at the inn, so Madam Zhuang truly didn't know your identity. If it weren't for Wu Chen's telepathic message, the three of them would have been unable to learn the details.

"It's alright," Princess's strategist Li Huixin said with a smile. "Where is the Taoist priest staying?"

"Young master, look!" Following Madam Zhuang's gaze, a golden light shot out from the back hall. It spun several times above the female ghost's head, then transformed into a giant drum, crashing to the ground with a thud.

The giant drum is so big it's comparable to a stage.

"Hey!" Accompanied by a wisp of smoke, the old black sheep demon made a dazzling appearance.

It somersaulted through the air a series of somersaults, landing steadily in the center of the drumhead.

"Huh?" Princess's strategist Li Huixin saw clearly that the old black sheep demon seemed to be acting normally. He hadn't been "made worse by the old monk's bald brush."

"Master Yang is known for his supernatural abilities." Madam Zhuang knew this old Taoist priest, the Black Sheep Spirit, very well: "Many years ago, he was a drummer in the Beitunbao army."

"Advance at the sound of the drum, retreat at the sound of the gong." Left Protector Sai Xiaojing was naturally well-versed in military affairs.

"After retiring from the army, he returned to his hometown, traveled around, and became a nun. After completing his studies, he returned to Beitunbao and built a temple there, which he still does today." Madam Zhuang said softly, "Recently, 'a purple star descended from the sky, and the three realms were in chaos,' but fortunately, Master Yang used his magic to protect the peace of this area."

"So that's how it is." Meeting the eyes of the Left Protector Sai Xiaojing, how could the Right Protector Xiahou Ying not understand? The saying goes, "A sheep hangs up its head while the drum is struck, a hungry horse rings its bell." The Black Sheep Spirit was the one who struck the drum and hung the sheep in Beitun Fort. By chance, he attained enlightenment and took human form. As for whether he received guidance from a master, only the Black Sheep Spirit knew the truth.

The matter of "fate to the immortals" depends entirely on one's own destiny.

In fact, the Black Sheep Spirit was not a wicked or evil person. He took the vengeful ghost Le Niang as his disciple out of pity, unable to bear seeing her die with her eyes wide open. Later, upon learning that Le Niang had abused her magic, harming both herself and others, he also stepped in to subdue her. Unfortunately, he was caught off guard and betrayed by Le Niang, dying instantly. His magical powers vanished in an instant.

However, a "purple dragon descends from the heavens, plunging the three realms into chaos," a plot invasion that causes distortions and helps him defy fate.

However, the distortion must be removed, otherwise everything will be in vain.

It should be known that Master Yang was originally a black sheep spirit who cultivated Taoism, but now he has converted to Buddhism. Such abnormality is suspicious, and there must be something supernatural about it.

"Why does he have no murderous aura?" Princess strategist Li Huixin couldn't help but wonder as she glanced at the dim and lifeless Hunyuan Golden Core.

Once infected, one suffers from anything from mild burns to severe distortion and deformity. The Primordial Corpse Demon in the Guanyin Hall is a severely infected character in the story. However, the Primordial Golden Core embedded in the hilt of the Dugu Nine Swords has yet to light up, so the three cannot immediately discern the Black Sheep Demon's weakness.

"Let's see how he does it." Right Protector Xiahou Ying focused his attention and became vigilant.

"Very well." As the saying goes, "Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it." Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, decided to watch how he would perform.

"Those who are at the top, come up here." The old black sheep spirit spoke in an imperious manner, displaying the demeanor of a reclusive sage.

The female ghosts who were chosen tonight floated onto the drumhead. They formed a circle around the old black sheep spirit. "Sun Qingzi said: 'When death is imminent, beat the drum; when death is imminent, rein in the horse.'" The old black sheep spirit lightly touched the drumhead with his toes, and the drumbeat began: "The *Sima Fa* records seven drumming methods: 'Drumming the banners, drumming the chariots, drumming the horses, drumming the foot soldiers, drumming the troops, drumming the soldiers.' Those who cultivate also possess seven drumming techniques: 'Heaven, Earth, Gods, Immortals, Humans, Demons, and Ghosts.' Tonight, I will impart to you the 'Drumming Ghost Technique.' This will connect the Yin and Yang realms, helping wandering ghosts and spirits to be reborn sooner."

“‘Vivid and expressive,’ ‘The brush may break, but the meaning continues.’” Recalling Wu Chen’s words before she left, Princess’s strategist Li Huixin had a flash of inspiration: “The old monk’s worn-out brush can not only paint colors, but also sounds.”

“That’s right.” Right Protector Xiahou Ying also thought of that.

"I will only demonstrate once, so please remember this well." With that, the old black sheep demon leaped into the air, landing lightly on his toes before springing back up. He repeated this motion, changing his form in mid-air while striking the drumhead with his toes, causing it to boom loudly. A chilling wind swept through the air, and the heavens and earth trembled.

The female ghosts, forming a circle, followed suit. They too flew up and down with the old black sheep spirit, their golden lotuses beating the drum.

“Look,” Princess’s strategist Li Huixin said, looking at the quietly lit Hunyuan Golden Elixir: “It has a malevolent aura.”

"Let's see how this evil Taoist tries to conceal his true intentions." Right Protector Xiahou Ying gently stroked the hilt of his sword, poised to strike.

"Alright." Princess's strategist, Li Huixin, immediately took the Ruyi Jewel in her hand and chanted an incantation. Beneath the interlocking, undulating waves, streams of malevolent energy lurked, silently invading the female ghost's body with the vibrations.

With the help of Princess's strategist Li Huixin's "information network," Wu Chen witnessed it firsthand. It felt like inflating a rubber doll. As more and more malevolent energy was pushed in by the drumbeats, the female ghost visibly became "heavier." No longer like a rootless duckweed, swaying in the wind, she instead felt increasingly grounded, a sense of fulfillment welling up within her. The female ghosts, unsuspecting, danced even more vigorously, performing their "Drum Ghost Technique."

“I understand now why the old monk’s worn-out brush kept getting darker the more he tried to draw,” Princess’s strategist, Li Huixin, seemed to have a sudden realization.

"Break it down into smaller parts and share the spoils." Wu Chen transmitted his voice from afar, revealing the truth in one sentence: "Because the mural was infected with distortions, the old monk with the bald brush broke the evil energy into smaller parts and distributed them to the various people in the realm. As a result, they are neither human nor ghost, neither demon nor monster. It is precisely because they were 'vividly depicted' and 'the brush was broken but the meaning remained connected' that they were filled with the evil energy of the realm."

"My lord, the evil energy has entered your body, and burn marks will surely appear." How could the Left Protector, Sai Xiaojing, sit idly by?

"Make your move," Wu Chen ordered.

"Stop, you evil cultivator!" Left Protector Sai Xiaojing leaped down.

"Hmph!" The old black sheep demon sneered, without slowing down: "I knew you had ill intentions."

After saying that, he stomped down with both feet.

"Boom—" The drums sounded loudly.

Waves of sound surged and transformed into countless ghostly hands, grabbing at the left and right guardians of the Demon Hunting Sect.

Right Protector Xiahou Ying wielded the Dugu Nine Swords, its sword energy like a rainbow, annihilating all the ghostly hands. In contrast, Left Protector Sai Xiaojing was trapped in a fierce battle. Her Jia Yuan Divine Axe moved with wide, sweeping strokes, yet she couldn't withstand the relentless, sinister ghostly claws. Even the head of her battle axe was marked with numerous claw imprints.

Seeing that her moves were running out and danger was imminent, the Left Protector, Sai Xiaojing, let out a sharp cry and forcefully split her hands to the left and right. The long-handled battle axe unexpectedly split in two, becoming two short-handled axes.

Wielding her whirlwind double axes, she severed the demonic claws that entangled her. Left Protector Sai Xiaojing reversed the handles, striking the backs of the axes together with tremendous force.

With a deafening crash, like a great bell, the Five Elements Inner Elixir burst forth with golden light. Ten thousand lines of fire ignited simultaneously, and ten thousand rays of golden light erupted, burning all the ghostly claws in the sky to ashes.

After glancing at the axe blade marked with countless ghostly claw marks, Left Protector Sai Xiaojing leaped into the air, cleaving Mount Hua with both axes, aiming straight for the old black sheep demon on the drum: "Demon, prepare to die!"