Chapter 1132: If You Can't Hide, Face It Head-On
Zhong Siyu had cultivated a type of Ghost Art. Once this Ghost Art was successfully cultivated, she could sense the presence of an Underworld Official within a certain range, even if the Underworld Official had sealed their own power fluctuations and aura.
She had accidentally obtained this Ghost Art from an Underworld Official she had slain. As for who in the Underworld Office created this Ghost Art, or what its main purpose was, no one knew. However, in the eyes of Underworld Officials, this Ghost Art was completely a chicken rib, utterly useless. Thus, not many Underworld Officials cultivated it; aside from those with special intentions or unique ideas, other Underworld Officials naturally wouldn't bother with this useless Ghost Art.
While this Ghost Art was a chicken rib for Underworld Officials, for Zhong Siyu, it was a rare and invaluable art. If she cultivated it, it would undoubtedly be of great help to her. Because, under normal circumstances, if an Underworld Official hid in the shadows and sealed their own power, she would certainly be unable to perceive them. This could potentially inflict significant harm upon her, or even lead to irreversible doom.
Although she was full of confidence in her own strength, she couldn't rule out such a possibility. After all, Underworld Officials possessed a strong suppressive effect on ghosts, and there were indeed Underworld Officials more powerful than her. If she cultivated this Ghost Art, she could avoid this problem.
Beyond preventing Underworld Officials from launching sneak attacks while hidden, cultivating this Ghost Art could also serve as a means of hunting them. Because once an Underworld Official entered her detection range, she would be able to sense their presence and could actively strike based on that perception. Whether an Underworld Official feared her strength and sought to escape by sealing their power fluctuations and aura, or tried to hide, before this Ghost Art, they would have nowhere to hide.
Therefore, from any perspective, cultivating this Ghost Art presented only benefits and no drawbacks for her. After Zhong Siyu cultivated this Ghost Art, it indeed earned her many merits.
Before Zhong Siyu recognized Yang Haoran, she actually didn't know that the person hiding in the shadows was him. She only knew that an Underworld Official was secretly lurking in the distance.
Initially, her attention was focused on the White-Haired Old Woman and the other Grand Spiritualists. Furthermore, her body was excessively weak, and her abilities in all aspects were greatly diminished; her sensing ability was, of course, no exception. Therefore, she did not immediately perceive Yang Haoran's presence.
It wasn't until she decided to expend a great cost to employ an even more powerful technique that her various bodily abilities were forcibly stimulated and enhanced, and only then did she sense Yang Haoran's presence.
According to Zhong Siyu's thoughts at the time, she decided to first lead the White-Haired Old Woman and the other five to the Underworld Official hiding in the shadows. Given the irreconcilable feud between Underworld Officials and Spirit Mediums, once the hidden Underworld Official was exposed, the White-Haired Old Woman and the others would certainly not let them go. And that Underworld Official would definitely not passively await death, allowing the White-Haired Old Woman and the others to slay them. She could then seize this opportunity to escape.
If the plan succeeded and she managed to escape the area, then she naturally wouldn't need to use that extremely costly technique. Conversely, if the plan didn't go smoothly, leading to her escape failing, it wouldn't be too late for her to use her final resort then.
What she absolutely hadn't expected, however, was that the skulking Underworld Official hiding in the shadows would actually be Yang Haoran, with whom she shared a deep connection!
Although Zhong Siyu and Yang Haoran had a deep connection, there was no profound affection between them. In terms of their respective identities, they should have been like fire and water.
Yet, after their unexpected encounter, Yang Haoran showed no killing intent towards Zhong Siyu. Instead, he greeted her amiably, as if facing a long-lost friend.
When Zhong Siyu saw Yang Haoran, her taut nerves immediately relaxed. She was already gravely wounded; her ability to persevere until then relied entirely on her tightly wound nerves and superhuman willpower. In such a state, the sudden relaxation of her nerves caused an immense disparity that instantly overwhelmed her, making her faint.
As for why she didn't become more vigilant upon seeing Yang Haoran, but instead felt her taut nerves suddenly relax, if she were still conscious, she certainly wouldn't be able to explain what was happening. However, Yang Haoran could guess a thing or two.
The reason lay in the fact that Zhong Siyu had, early on, fallen victim to the Enchantment Art he had cultivated. Thus, Zhong Siyu felt an inexplicable trust towards him. It was precisely because of this that her taut nerves suddenly relaxed upon seeing him.
That Zhong Siyu showed no hostility towards him upon seeing him, even relaxing completely and fainting, Yang Haoran could indeed guess the reason for this. However, after he had sealed all his power fluctuations and aura, why Zhong Siyu could still sense his presence was something that greatly puzzled him.
However, now was not the time to dwell on this. Not to mention that Zhong Siyu was currently unconscious; even if she were awake, it was unlikely she would tell him if he asked. What he most needed to do now was resolve the trouble at hand.
Seeing Zhong Siyu faint, Yang Haoran was just about to tell Bai Xue to take Zhong Siyu to a safe place and then return to help him deal with the Grand Spiritualists before them. However, before he could utter a word, Cold Yue launched an attack on him.
"Yang Haoran, since you've come today, don't even think about leaving here alive! The grudge of that day, I, Cold Yue, shall surely repay today!"
As Cold Yue's voice, laced with endless fury, rang out, powerful Communication Power transformed into a fierce, entirely black monstrous beast that lunged towards Yang Haoran.
By the time Yang Haoran turned his head, the monstrous beast formed by coalesced Communication Power had already lunged right before him. Faced with this situation, Yang Haoran's expression remained unchanged, though the fingers clutching his cigarette lightly flicked away ash.
As the cigarette ash fell, terrifying Spirit Power surged forth from Yang Haoran's body like a breached dam. The incoming monstrous beast was directly sent flying by the powerful energy fluctuation that erupted from Yang Haoran.
In the current situation, Yang Haoran did not hesitate in the slightest. He not only unsealed his own power but also opened both his Heaven and Earth Souls in one go. It was precisely because of this that the power fluctuation he unleashed at that moment was able to send the attacking monster flying.
Cold Yue's move caused the other five Grand Spiritualists present to react. Without any hesitation, they all launched attacks on Yang Haoran and Bai Xue.
Yang Haoran's appearance made the six greatly value him, though this value had nothing to do with fear. Cold Yue and Shang Yuanqi valued Yang Haoran because their grudges ran too deep; both wished to kill him to vent their fury. The other four had no personal animosity with Yang Haoran before this. They valued Yang Haoran because of his identity.
Given Yang Haoran's identity as the Guardian of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office's Ninth District, successfully slaying him would undoubtedly be a great achievement, guaranteeing rich rewards. If they could capture Yang Haoran alive, the rewards they could obtain would be even more astonishing. Thinking of such incredible benefits, how could they not value Yang Haoran?
As for why they didn't fear Yang Haoran, that was naturally easier to understand. They simply didn't believe Yang Haoran would be a match for the six of them. Even with a helper by his side, they still didn't think Yang Haoran could contend with all six of them, so they naturally felt no fear whatsoever.
Faced with the six's attacks, Yang Haoran chose not to meet them head-on. After all, six Grand Spiritualists were no joke. Even if he was confident in his own strength, he knew that choosing to meet them head-on was a path to certain death. He wasn't arrogant to that extent.
If he possessed a defensive Soul Armament, like Xu Meijing's Earth Soul Armor, then he might have considered meeting them head-on. After all, the battle had just begun, and the attacks launched by the six weren't their strongest techniques; taking them head-on wouldn't be impossible. But without such a defensive Soul Armament, he naturally dared not do so.
While dodging, Yang Haoran simultaneously defused a portion of the six's attacks and sought an opportunity to set up a containment barrier in the area. He didn't want the intense battle here to attract the attention of others. Dealing with six Grand Spiritualists at once was already troublesome enough for him; if new enemies were drawn in, it wouldn't just be trouble—it would only put him and Bai Xue in an even more dangerous situation.
Yang Haoran setting up a containment barrier was, in the eyes of Cold Yue and the other five, nothing short of a blatant provocation. From the current situation, no matter how one looked at it, their side held the absolute advantage. They hadn't even worried about Yang Haoran escaping and thus hadn't set up a containment barrier themselves. Yet Yang Haoran, the one in the weaker position, actually took the initiative to set up a containment barrier, trapping all of them within it. What else could this be but blatant provocation in their eyes?
"Yang Haoran, why are you so eager to set up a containment barrier? Are you worried that the six of us will run away? You don't actually believe you can contend with us six, do you?"
A Grand Spiritualist scoffed, and though he had only just entered the Grand Spiritualist realm, the disdain in his gaze as he looked at Yang Haoran was as if he were looking at an idiot.
"Heh heh, the main reason I set up the containment barrier is to prevent others from interfering with our battle. Of course, what you said is indeed one of the reasons; I actually am a little worried that without a containment barrier, you might try to escape."
Yang Haoran's words and actions undoubtedly ignited a raging inferno of anger within the six. Originally, only Cold Yue and Shang Yuanqi harbored burning fury, but now the other four were likewise consumed by blazing wrath.
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