Chapter 124: The Bird's Devouring

"I can see you're at your limit. If I leave, you’ll just be left here waiting for death!"

Fang You stood beside Abe Haruya as he spoke. "Let's join forces to defeat this demon. Even though I’m still wary of you, seeing you step forward to hold it back alone for the sake of your members, I am willing to lend you a hand!"

Suddenly, the Blood Ghost Dragon cleaved through the illusion with a single strike of its blade, a massive surge of malevolent aura rushing toward them.

"I’m going in first; you provide support!" With that, Fang You charged forward! The crimson peach-wood sword and the demon-slaying copper coin sword in his hands hummed with faint Taoist energy.

However, the next second, Fang You’s swords struck the Blood Ghost Dragon, yet it felt as if he were hacking at iron; he couldn't even leave a scratch.

"Interesting. So you must be Fang You!" The Blood Ghost Dragon swung its Ghost Malice Blade. Fang You dodged, but despite avoiding a direct hit, the razor-sharp aura still left several bloody gashes across his chest.

"It seems you know who I am?" Fang You watched the demon vigilantly.

"Of course. I’ve heard you’re quite formidable. I’d like to see if you can withstand my Ghost Malice!" The Blood Ghost Dragon swung the blade again.

"It can't be taken head-on!" Seizing the moment, just as the Ghost Malice Blade descended, Fang You leaped onto the weapon. Biting his tongue, he smeared his blood onto his copper coin sword and chanted, "Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Lie, Zhen, Zai, Qian! Kill!"

These were the Nine Syllables of the Taoist incantation, capable of invoking the power of celestial deities to slay demons. Combined with the potency of his own essence blood, the strike was incomparably sharp—enough to kill any ordinary demon in one blow.

Behind him, Abe Haruya drew a talisman and began an incantation: "By the decree of the Great Sun Deity, lend me divine power to purge this evil! By this spell, I command!"

A powerful decree of divine authority followed Fang You’s attack, striking directly at the Blood Ghost Dragon’s heart. The combined assault shattered the monster's aura and pierced deep into its chest. With a shrill cry, the Blood Ghost Dragon collapsed to the ground.

Fang You landed from the air. "You see? Don't underestimate the power of an Eastern Yin-Yang Master!"

Abe Haruya was stunned to see the demon defeated, but he smiled. "Thank you, Master Yin-Yang..."

Just then, a wave of malevolent energy pierced through Fang You’s chest from behind. Caught off guard, he fell straight to the ground.

Behind him, the Blood Ghost Dragon stood up, summoning six ghost spirits with its blade. "That was close. I was almost finished."

"But the power of the evil Ghost Malice Blade sensed my near-death state. It acted on its own, absorbing one of the seven ghost spirits trapped within the blade into my body to regrow my heart. Truly a magnificent weapon! Do you still think you can kill me six more times?"

The Blood Ghost Dragon manipulated the remaining six spirits as its wounds healed, its appearance growing even more horrific.

"Your body is nothing more than a puppet for this cursed blade. You’re just a host being manipulated by it. You’ve been consumed to the limit. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have given you this blade. It was never meant for human control."

"Hahaha!" The Blood Ghost Dragon laughed. "And what of it? At least it granted me this power!"

Wielding the blade, the monster marched toward Fang You and Abe Haruya. Fang You, chest pierced by the aura, lay incapacitated, his body eroded by the corruption.

Abe Haruya stood before the others, forming a sword out of talismans. "The mistake I made, I will rectify myself. Come!"

"Excellent," the Blood Ghost Dragon laughed with satisfaction. "Since I just consumed one spirit, you and that Yin-Yang Master can fill the vacancy in my blade! Hahaha!"

As the monster prepared its final blow, Shiqing and Wuyin stepped in front of Abe Haruya.

"What are you doing? Run! Quickly!" Abe Haruya ordered them.

Shiqing gripped his younger sister Wuyin’s hand tightly. "We are grateful to our Master for granting us the status of Yin-Yang practitioners. This time, let us protect you!"

Shiqing opened his arms. "Come, my birds!"

In an instant, a massive flock of birds swarmed the area. Unlike ordinary birds, these were filled with a fierce, malevolent hunger, staring at Shiqing as if he were their feast.

"Forbidden Flower-Bird Art: Return to the Source, Art of Life—come, my birds...!"

The flock descended like a tidal wave.

"What are you doing? Stop!" Abe Haruya roared.

"Using our bodies as the medium, drawing the birds to devour us, letting them carry our will. With our lives, we launch one final strike against an invincible enemy! Thank you, Abe Haruya, for being as warm as the sun."

In a heartbeat, Shiqing and Wuyin were consumed by the birds, leaving nothing behind.

"Shiqing! Wuyin! No...!" Tears streamed down Abe Haruya’s weary face.

The birds, having devoured the siblings, turned their eyes blood-red and charged at the demonized Blood Ghost Dragon.

"Small as the sparrow, yet complete in all its parts. Like a mayfly trying to topple a tree, like ants trying to swallow the world!"

The birds swarmed the Blood Ghost Dragon, tearing at its flesh. No matter how the monster struggled, more birds descended to consume it. Soon, the Blood Ghost Dragon’s body was being eaten faster than the blade could restore it with its malevolent energy and spirits.

In moments, the Blood Ghost Dragon was devoured completely, leaving only the lonely, cursed Ghost Malice Blade on the ground.

With a heavy heart, Abe Haruya placed a talisman on the blade and wrapped it in red cloth and rope. "I will take it back to Tokyo and seal it where it truly belongs."

He then looked at Fang You, who lay unconscious on the ground, his body riddled with corruption.

Abe Haruya fell into deep thought before whispering, "I shouldn't do this, but there is someone who really wants to see you."