Chapter 36 Backstab

The antlers atop the great antelope demon's head extended over two meters long, resembling massive millstones. Their sinuous patterns wound for dozens of coils, tapering to sharp bony tips that produced a whistling sound as it moved.

No one knew what it felt like to be gored by them, and Yin Shui'er certainly didn't, nor did she wish to. But at this moment, the great antelope demon had lowered its body, its four limbs digging in as it roared and charged at her.

*Boom!*

It was like a small mountain, crushing everything in its path without mercy. Houses crumbled, bricks flew through the air like cannon fire.

Facing such an extreme offensive, Yin Shui'er knew a direct confrontation was impossible. She was merely a first-tier ability user; even releasing all her abilities wouldn't be enough to stop it, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Direct combat was out, so she had to use her wits.

She raised her left hand and pricked a sky-blue bubble on her chest with her index finger.

Then, with a soft cry, thousands upon thousands of water bubbles suddenly appeared in the air, densely packed.

Each water bubble contained the energy of water elements. They floated in the air like willow catkins in the wind, or like oxygen bubbles occasionally appearing in deep-sea caves, giving one the sensation of being submerged in the depths.

*Pop, pop, pop, pop…*

The antelope charged, and houses couldn't stop it, so naturally, the water bubbles couldn't either. Hundreds, even thousands, of water bubbles were continuously burst, the crackling explosions echoing through the space. The potent elemental energy, however, posed no threat to it.

Zero-point-five seconds later, it was in front of Yin Shui'er, who had completed her charge-up. Under her hands' control, the water bubbles in the sky vibrated wildly, beginning to merge.

The sounds of fusion echoed, and in an instant, all the water bubbles gathered together. The water elements flowed, forming a giant, sky-blue sphere. It was immense and heavy, like a luminous pearl embedded in the heavenly palace.

It was just large enough to contain the great antelope demon.

*Plop!*

The great antelope demon lost its footing. Water elements entered its nostrils, making it choke on water. But it immediately began to struggle, its horns of unparalleled strength butting angrily against the inside of the water sphere, causing the entire sphere to tremble.

Below, Yin Shui'er controlled the flow of water elements. Every time the great antelope demon gored at a spot, she would gather and extend the water there. Thus, no matter how sharp its horns were, they couldn't break through the water sphere.

"Rise!"

The great antelope demon's strength was significantly depleted from its struggles. Seeing that the time was right, Yin Shui'er clasped her hands together, pouring out all the ability energy from her golden core like a storm.

Instantly, the ribbon tied around the young girl's head was blown away, her long black hair flowing with the wind before landing on her back like a silver cascade.

And before her, the giant water bubble containing the great antelope demon had risen into mid-air, swaying precariously like a small sun hanging in the sky.

Within Hegano Village, countless villagers looked up at the sky. Everyone could see the massive, sky-blue sphere, appearing as if a divine miracle.

Ao Lang thrust the obsidian short sword into the abdomen of an alien ghost. A raging fire immediately erupted within the latter, turning it into a pile of ash in the blink of an eye.

He retreated behind a broken wall, looking up with a mixture of fear and unwillingness.

Even after only a few simple uses of the obsidian short blade, he felt as if he were addicted, completely captivated by the invincible feeling.

The alien ghost, half a head taller than him and with bones as hard as iron, was as fragile as a piece of parchment before this short sword, exclusively used by the exorcism division's ability users.

He didn't need to think; he simply had to thrust the obsidian short sword into the alien ghost's body, and they would die without any chance to struggle. It was so miraculous. If he could possess this obsidian short sword forever, wouldn't that mean he was essentially an ability user himself?

Ao Lang's face showed greed. The feeling was so wonderful. He had planned to wait for Yin Shui'er to be killed by the great antelope demon, and then he would take this obsidian short sword and flee.

From then on, even though he wasn't an ability user, with this item, he could secure a good life. But now, Yin Shui'er was about to win?

He didn't want Yin Shui'er to win, so he had to come up with a plan.

...

Yin Shui'er's body was weak, and she knelt on the ground, her face pale as she looked at the giant water sphere in the sky.

As a first-tier anomaly, this was the limit of what she could do. So much water elemental ability had completely drained her body. The surging river water was constantly repairing her damaged barrier, and even with the great antelope demon's sharp horns, it couldn't break through her water prison.

"Even mutated demonic beasts need to breathe. Given enough time, unless it has some special means, it will surely suffocate in there!"

Thinking this, Yin Shui'er felt a slight sense of relief. Although this was her first time fighting a second-tier great demon, the results seemed decent.

And as long as no more second-tier alien ghosts broke through the defenses on the west mountain, this seemingly desperate invasion of alien ghosts would be completely resolved.

"What are you doing?"

But at that moment, Yin Shui'er suddenly noticed that the alien ghosts around her were increasing. They were all the weakest skeleton guards, the kind she could usually kill dozens of with a simple use of her abilities.

But now, without her abilities, she was just an ordinary person. She couldn't fight this horde of alien ghosts, so Yin Shui'er quickly stood up and stumbled towards the middle-aged night watchman of Hegano Village.

But to her surprise, the middle-aged man holding the obsidian short blade, Ao Lang, who had so confidently promised to lure away the other alien ghosts, was now coldly backing away several steps.

"Sir, you said that when it's dangerous, I can take the villagers and leave first."

Ao Lang's legs, which had been trembling, steadied. His mood shifted from nervous to excited, and a flush appeared on his pale face.

This was a simple choice. What would he gain by saving Yin Shui'er?

Based on his experience of more than half his life, the exorcism division would at most give him some gold and silver afterward, and not a particularly large amount. It wouldn't change his tragic status; he would still remain at the bottom of this chaotic world.

But if he possessed the obsidian short sword, his life would be vastly different. He could live in seclusion and use this peerless divine weapon to pose as an ability user. Ordinary alien ghosts would no longer be his match, or he could sell the weapon and get enough gold and silver to support himself for ten lifetimes!

"Sir, you can only blame this tragic world. I've been stuck in the mire of the bottom for too long, and I don't want to go back."

"You scumbag!"

Yin Shui'er watched as he tucked the obsidian short sword into his inner pocket and immediately understood. This person wanted to seize her weapon and therefore didn't want to save her.

"It's also your responsibility to eliminate harm for the people. If I die, aren't you afraid of accountability from the exorcism division afterward!"

Ao Lang chuckled again upon hearing this. He casually dodged the alien ghosts' attacks, adjusting his position and deliberately leading them toward Yin Shui'er. He said with a smile,

"Sir, you're mistaken. I am merely an ordinary night watchman. If an ability user like yourself still falls in battle, what can I do? What can the exorcism division punish me for?"

"Oh, sir, the skeletons behind you are catching up. You should be running faster now, not glaring at me with those eyes."

The white bone skeletons swarmed like invading ants. Above their heads was the giant water sphere, and beneath their feet lay the withered bones of countless deceased. They charged fiercely at Yin Shui'er.

Ao Lang's expression was cold as he walked to the base of the broken wall, raised the obsidian short sword in his hand, and then fiercely struck the exorcism bell.

*Clang!*

The two foreign objects collided, and the metallic sound echoed throughout the entire space. The exorcism bells throughout Hegano Village began to ring, and the alien ghosts let out screams.

"Damn it!"

Ao Lang furiously kicked the large red lantern. He had intended to destroy the exorcism bell so that Yin Shui'er couldn't find another way out with its help. He hadn't expected it to backfire.

But then, the large red lantern, sensing the presence of the night watchman and being touched like that, emitted a dazzling light as it rolled out from behind the wall.

*Hiss…*

The white bone skeletons' bodies began to burn slowly when exposed to the light.

Although he wasn't as powerful as Xu Mu in exorcism abilities, even the slightest illumination was immensely destructive to these white bone alien ghosts.

Perhaps after they adapted, they would regain their courage and charge again, but at this moment, all the alien ghosts were in disarray. They had no intention of bothering Yin Shui'er and began to scatter in all directions.

"Fine, let her live a little longer!"

Ao Lang gritted his teeth, picked up the large red lantern, and carefully placed it behind the wall. Then he looked at the dense white bone alien ghosts, feeling a sense of relief.

Yin Shui'er was surrounded, and as a woman without the strength to even tie a chicken, she shouldn't be able to break through this encirclement.

...

Ao Lang fled, leaving Yin Shui'er alone.

In her moment of crisis, she squeezed out the last trace of ability from her body, even mobilizing the elemental energy that protected her vital organs. She kicked away the scattering alien ghosts in mid-air, smashing a path through them like bowling pins.

Then, she spun and leaped, narrowly dodging several alien ghosts wildly swinging their axes. She accelerated, rolling and crashing against the broken wall.

Yin Shui'er picked up the large red lantern and the bronze bell from behind the wall. Using the low wall as leverage, she climbed onto a slightly higher rooftop. This position was easy to defend and difficult to attack, allowing her to hold out for at least half an hour, perhaps a turning point would arrive!

She arranged the lantern and the bell properly, then surveyed her surroundings.

But she didn't notice that behind her, a headless alien ghost covered in green fur with rotting flesh had already stealthily gripped the eaves made of tree trunks with its claws. It was less than ten meters away from the girl on the rooftop.

Yin Shui'er, however, was completely unaware. Her attention was fixed on the front.

There stood a white bone skeleton nearly two meters tall. It was the first to recover from the bronze bell and golden light, and it lunged at her with bared teeth and claws.

...