Chapter 20: Dispelling the Willow Creek Curse

The Wraith swelled, drawing power from the blackened skull and the tortured echoes of its past victims. Its form solidified into a truly monstrous apparition, flickering with unstable power that briefly touched the daunting threshold of the Foundation Establishment Realm. The oppressive cold intensified, and the very air crackled with malevolent energy.

"PERISH!" The mental shriek echoed as the Wraith unleashed its final, desperate attack.

It wasn't a single beam or strike, but a chaotic Spectral Storm. The air filled with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of shrieking, semi-corporeal claws composed of pure Yin energy, slashing out in all directions. Bolts of freezing darkness shot through the storm, and waves of soul-chilling cold washed over the area, accompanied by intensified illusory whispers trying to shatter Lin Fan's will. It was an overwhelming, area-denial assault designed to rip apart anyone caught within.

Lin Fan braced himself. There was no dodging everything in this confined space. Survival was key. He pushed his Iron Skin Art to its absolute limit, Qi forming a dense, shimmering layer just beneath his skin. Simultaneously, he executed Wind Step not in large leaps, but in frantic, short bursts, weaving and ducking within the storm, trying to present the smallest possible target and avoid the most concentrated volleys of attacks.

Spectral claws raked across his reinforced vest and robes, leaving chilling trails of frost and decay. Yin bolts slammed into his Iron Skin barrier, the impacts jarring him, the cold seeping through despite his defenses. The mental whispers clawed at his consciousness. It felt like being submerged in icy, razor-filled water.

He focused, gritting his teeth against the onslaught. He knew this peak power was temporary, fueled by a desperate surge. He just had to endure it. He deflected claws with his Flowing Shadow Sword, the blade feeling sluggish in the intense cold, and occasionally lashed out with a disruptive Wind Blade to clear space immediately around him, though the effect was limited against the sheer volume of the storm.

During a particularly violent flurry, a spectral claw slipped past his guard, raking across his arm. Even through the Iron Skin, it left three shallow, bleeding cuts that immediately felt unnaturally cold, the Yin energy trying to invade his bloodstream. He winced, channeling his own Qi to counteract the invasive energy.

Then, just as his endurance was being pushed to its limits, the storm began to falter. The Foundation Establishment-level pressure flickered and dropped sharply. The barrage of claws and bolts lessened, becoming sporadic. The Wraith's swollen form wavered violently, shrinking, its connection to the skull flickering like a dying candle. It had burned through its borrowed power.

Now!

Ignoring the throbbing cold in his arm, Lin Fan saw his chance. The Wraith was momentarily exhausted, its form unstable, its focus wavering. He exploded forward with Wind Step, not towards the Wraith itself, but angling directly towards the stagnant pool and the cracked, blackened skull that served as its anchor.

The Wraith shrieked again, sensing his intent, trying to muster a defense, but it was too slow, too weak. Lin Fan reached the edge of the pool, raised his Flowing Shadow Sword high, and poured nearly all his remaining Qi into one, final, decisive strike aimed directly at the ancient skull.

"SHATTER!"

The sword descended, humming with power. It struck the skull with incredible force.

CRACK!

The ancient bone, already cracked and brittle, couldn't withstand the focused, Qi-empowered blow. It shattered into dozens of blackened fragments, sinking into the murky water of the pool.

The effect was instantaneous and dramatic.

The moment the skull shattered, the Wraith let out a final, piercing shriek that wasn't just mental but echoed audibly through the clearing – a sound of utter dissolution. Its spectral form, its anchor destroyed, violently destabilized. It flickered like a failing projection, then dissolved completely, vanishing into countless motes of harmless, dissipating Yin energy that were quickly absorbed by the surrounding environment.

Silence.

Absolute silence fell over the clearing. The oppressive cold vanished instantly, replaced by the natural cool dampness of the wetlands. The mentally intrusive whispers ceased entirely. Even the thick, unnatural fog began to thin noticeably, allowing faint moonlight to filter down through the willow canopy for the first time since Lin Fan had entered the area. The eerie, malevolent presence that had permeated Old Willow Creek was gone.

Lin Fan stood panting, leaning heavily on his sword. His Qi reserves were critically low, his arm burned with cold from the Wraith's claw mark, and he felt mentally drained from resisting the constant pressure. But he was alive, and he was victorious.

DING!

[Detected Host successfully neutralizing a high-level threat significantly exceeding Host's cultivation realm through tactical skill and resourcefulness.]

[Threat Neutralization Calculation: Peak Sixth Layer Wraith (Momentarily Foundation Establishment) + Collapse of Yin Soul Trap Array Fragment.]

[Overcoming Adversity Bonus Awarded: 600 System Points.]

[Current System Points: 245 + 600 = 845]

A welcome notification. 600 points for defeating the Wraith – a substantial reward reflecting the difficulty and power gap.

He took another deep breath, directing his Nine Cycles Refining Art to pull in the now-cleaner ambient spiritual energy, beginning the slow process of recovery. He looked around the clearing. The fog was definitely receding, revealing the muddy banks, the now-clearer water of the creek, and the skeletal remains of willow trees more distinctly. The place still felt damp and secluded, but no longer actively malicious.

He approached the stagnant pool where the skull had been. Reaching into the water, amidst the shattered bone fragments, his fingers closed around something small and cold. He pulled it out – a smooth, dark bead, about the size of a thumb nail, radiating a faint but pure Yin energy.

He used Basic Appraisal: [Item: Yin Essence Bead. Material: Condensed Yin & Resentful Energy (Purified by Formation Collapse). Quality: Low-Grade Spiritual Material. Use: Cultivation resource for Yin-attribute techniques, forging Yin-attribute items, alchemy ingredient. Handle with care.]

Bonus loot. Useful, perhaps, if he ever learned Yin-attribute skills or needed materials for trade. He stored it carefully in his storage ring.

The task was complete. He had investigated the disappearances, identified the cause (the Yin Soul Trap Array and its Wraith guardian), and neutralized the threat by destroying the core node and the Wraith itself. He had the Alpha Wolf core from the previous task as proof for that bonus, and for this task, his detailed report and the verifiable cessation of disappearances (which the sect would monitor) would suffice, especially corroborated by the shattered node fragments if needed. He had earned his Contribution Points.

Tired but satisfied, Lin Fan turned to leave Old Willow Creek. The path out seemed clearer now, the oppressive atmosphere lifted. He emerged from the thinning fog back into the moonlit wetlands, the eerie creek receding behind him. Two major tasks completed in a single day, significant Contribution Points waiting, System Points replenished somewhat, valuable combat experience gained, and new gear and skills acquired and tested. It had been a productive, if dangerous, day.

He focused on recovery as he began the journey back to the sect, the promise of rest and rewards urging him onward.