Chapter 20：Defeat the Zombie King completely

The souls of 999 pure young maidens, all in the prime of their youth, had been cruelly drained of their life essence, their spirits bound in torment. How could Tianfan not be enraged?

"Heh, gods? I've never believed in gods. Even if one were to descend, I'd still kill them!" The old zombie cackled arrogantly, holding the blood sphere above his head.

"Demonic Corpse Blood Spirit Sphere!" 

With a roar, the zombie hurled the blood sphere toward Tianfan. Countless wailing souls twisted and intertwined within it before it exploded, transforming into a torrent of vengeful spirits rushing towards him.

Tianfan, his earlier fury subsiding, now wore a grave expression. His right hand formed a sword seal as the azure sword above his head began to spin slowly. Both hands swiftly conjured intricate, mysterious hand signs, summoning a faint silver formation. The circular formation, surrounded by five fiery lights, rotated gently, seeming tangible yet almost ethereal.

As the blood sphere charged toward him, Tianfan pushed his hands forward. The silver formation expanded suddenly, enveloping him. When the blood sphere collided with the formation, the vengeful spirits howled, but the barrier held firm, preventing them from breaking through.

Gradually, the silver formation began to spin faster, its divine light growing stronger. The blood sphere, under its pressure, started to shrink, on the verge of vanishing.

"Impossible, this can't be happening!" The zombie king roared in terror, his face contorted in fear. Desperately, he opened his mouth, trying to draw the sphere back. That sphere was his most prized creation, refined over centuries, and now Tianfan was purifying it.

"Blood Spirit Sphere, return!" the zombie bellowed, intensifying his pull.

"You think you can take it back? Too late!" Tianfan sneered coldly. His right hand withdrew, forming the Five Elements Seal, while his left hand pressed down on the silver formation. 

"Five Elements Barrier, Seal!"

At Tianfan's command, a sacred aura surged from the center of the formation. A faint "Seal" character appeared, and as it descended, the formation shattered into a silver light, encasing the blood sphere. Once the "Seal" landed upon it, the vengeful spirits ceased their howling, their eyes becoming vacant. Yet, only for a moment. Soon, they screamed again in anguish.

Gazing at the trapped souls within the silver barrier, Tianfan clasped his hands together, his expression solemn, and began chanting an ancient scripture: 

"Yin and Yang give birth, aligning with the heavens. Immortal souls transcend, Tai Chi calms the heart. The gate of rebirth, the six paths of bliss, beyond the dust of the world…"

It was the Soul Passage Scripture, recited during the royal rituals of the Dragon Dynasty. The solemn chant echoed through the cavern, starting soft but rising like the roaring Yellow River, reverberating throughout the space.

As the sacred verses resounded, the countless vengeful spirits in the barrier grew dazed once more, their eyes gradually filling with light. The demonic red glow that once surrounded their souls faded, revealing their pure forms. Seeing their original innocent selves, Tianfan's heart tightened painfully.

They were like budding flowers, tragically plucked before they had the chance to bloom. What could be crueller than such a fate for these young maidens?

"No, no! You can't do this!" 

The old zombie screamed in horror, realizing what was happening. This wasn't just purification—it was draining his most vital essence, the demonic blood he had painstakingly refined over centuries. In a frenzy, he charged at Tianfan.

Tianfan glanced at him coldly. The azure sword above his head flared brilliantly and, with a single slash, shattered the zombie's protective field, sending him flying.

Ignoring the zombie, Tianfan continued his chant, sacred energy swirling around him. Under the influence of the Soul Passage Scripture, the 999 maidens gradually shed the demonic aura that had bound them. Their faces filled with hatred, they glared at the zombie lying on the ground.

"Yin and Yang give birth, aligning with the heavens. Immortal souls transcend, Tai Chi calms the heart. The gate of rebirth, the six paths of bliss, beyond the dust of the world…"

The sacred verses poured from Tianfan's lips, and within the silver barrier, hundreds of maidens turned their gazes toward him, their eyes softening. All their pain, bitterness, and hatred dissolved under the soothing power of the scripture.

Tianfan knew it was done. He ceased his chant, sweat beading on his brow. The scripture had purified their souls, removing all the stains. Now, they could finally reincarnate.

The 999 souls exchanged glances before bowing deeply to Tianfan. 

"Thank you," they said in unison, their words a heartfelt expression from their very essence.

With that, their souls began to fade, turning into a fine white mist. One by one, 999 pure white lights rose into the sky, merging with the moon's glow before scattering to the four winds.

Tianfan watched them depart, knowing they had gone to be reborn. Just as he was about to lower his head, a pearl-sized orb of white light descended slowly from the heavens, hovering quietly before him, emitting a soft, pure glow.

Tianfan reached out, gently catching the light. As the glow faded, a crystal was revealed—clear and transparent. Through it, he could see every line on his palm with perfect clarity, even more distinctly than with his naked eye. Though he didn't know its purpose, he carefully stored it away.

Inside the mountain's belly, the zombie king, now deflated like a punctured balloon, had lost all his earlier arrogance. Watching Tianfan approach, he instinctively retreated in fear.

"Xiaofan, kill it! Only then can the dozen villagers be saved." 

Behind him, Sun Yueying shouted. Tianfan nodded, the azure sword descending into his hand as he continued his steady approach toward the old zombie.

"My lord, no, master! Master, save me!" 

In utter terror, the zombie king turned to the shadowy figure of Yin Yang Gongzi, pleading desperately. For the first time, true fear filled him.

Yin Yang Gongzi closed his folding fan, stepping forward with Li Ming and the other two behind him. The zombie king immediately sought refuge behind them. With a self-satisfied smile, Yin Yang Gongzi gave Tianfan a slight bow. 

"Brother, I ask that you show mercy and spare my servant. In return, you would gain the goodwill of Yin Yang Sect, sparing yourself many future troubles in your travels."

Though his words seemed courteous, the underlying threat was unmistakable: refuse, and you'll make a powerful enemy.

Tianfan, having studied countless ancient texts and poems, could hardly miss the hidden meaning in his words. Smiling faintly, he replied: 

"Impossible."

At this, Yin Yang Gongzi's once smiling face turned dark and menacing.