"Can you let me go?"
The vengeful spirit pleaded hopefully, its voice cold and piercing, enough to make an ordinary person shiver.
Lin Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, noncommittal: "You speak first."
The vengeful spirit paused, seeing that the other hadn't agreed directly, and said sinisterly:
"Then if I don't speak, kill me. But if you kill me, the girl will die too!"
It raised its twisted head, displaying the ferocity unique to vengeful spirits on its hideous face.
Seeing this, Lin Heng chuckled coldly, and with a single step, he was at the Ancestral Hall, then instantly beside the spirit.
A burning incense stick had already appeared in his hand.
Without any excess words.
Lin Heng grasped the whole bundle of incense and stabbed it into the spirit's leg.
This spirit was in a spectral form, being a sinister creature, after being suppressed by the Spirit Suppressing Compass, it was like a lamb to be slaughtered.
Once the Daoist Temple's incense pierced it, smoke instantly hissed out, the searing pain causing the spirit to scream as if being slaughtered.
Lin Heng remained indifferent, continuing methodically to stab various parts of the spirit.
Each stab caused the spirit to emit a piercing scream.
Its soul form emitted black smoke continuously, like a person bleeding uncontrollably after being stabbed.
"Damn..."
"Isn't this too brutal?"
The unfolding scene left the people present in shock.
No one expected this Daoist, who saves people, to directly torture a vengeful spirit!
The piercing screams gave everyone present a jolt of fear.
Yet, the Daoist's expression remained calm and collected throughout.
This inevitably perplexed them.
Who was truly the vengeful one here?
Why did it seem the Daoist was far more ruthless than the spirit?
"Stop the stabbing, stop it."
"I'll speak, I'll speak!!"
At this moment, the spirit finally couldn't endure any more, with a hoarse sob, its face full of fear.
Was this a Daoist before its eyes?
This, damn it, was clearly a madman!
"That girl, after I chased her away, she ran toward the village..."
The spirit said sobbingly, its face full of grievance.
The plan was perfect, possessing a human today, and by tomorrow's full moon night, with ample yin energy nourishment, it hoped to fully control the body!
Henceforth, it could cultivate the path of corpse and ghost in human form.
To ensure safety, it specifically ran to this remote area, wanting to avoid the Spirit Suppression Bureau or Buddhist Sect members.
But who would have thought.
There was a Daoist Temple on this mountain!
With a ferocious Daoist inside!
Most frustratingly, the two Magical Artifacts in the Daoist's hands were terrifying.
Especially that Feather Duster, its righteous aura, made it feel that a single touch would reduce it to ashes!
That Compass too was peculiar, able to lock its ghostly aura.
Leaving it unable to escape or fight back, completely becoming a prisoner, at the mercy of the Daoist!
This feeling, undeniably, was truly suffocating!
"That's all I know. The girl's soul is very fragile, she can't run far, should still be in the village!"
The spirit said dejectedly, deep in its eyes, there was an unconfessable hatred.
Upon hearing its confession, those present were invigorated.
"Daoist, shall we go down the mountain then?"
The villagers chimed in eagerly, Tie Zhu even more so, looking impatient.
However, Kong Wen and the others didn't seem too pleased.
No one had expected this spirit to be such a coward!
Vengeful spirits are known for their ferocity and malevolence, covered in resentment.
Preferring to fight to the death rather than easily compromise.
Some minor pain made it confess, this was utterly disgraceful to vengeful spirits worldwide!
Especially Kong Wen, inwardly seething.
If he'd known this spirit was so cowardly, he would have used his artifact to scare it too!
"Elder, now it seems, things don't look so good."
As everyone followed Lin Heng down the mountain, Wang Yuan couldn't help but show worry.
But Kong Wen replied solemnly: "It's not that simple, a frightened little girl, even if found, won't dare to interact with strangers."
"To summon back her spirit?"
"Unless he has some Daoist way of resurrection, it won't work!"
Kong Wen's gaze was sharp.
However, as they descended the mountain and reached the village.
They witnessed Lin Heng inexplicably take out a dark-colored bell artifact.
"Wait, that thing?"
Kong Wen's face changed slightly, his brows furrowing.
The next moment, Lin Heng directed Tie Zhu:
"When I ring the bell later, call out your daughter's nickname normally, as if you're calling her back for dinner, understand?"
"Understood!" Tie Zhu nodded vigorously.
"Go ahead."
Lin Heng stood at the center of the village, under everyone's watch, activated his cultivation, and shook the Second Grade bell.
Originally, he thought the bell was for corpse guiding like those from Maoshan or Xiangxi.
But after placing it in System Space, he saw the information introduction and learned it was a Second Grade Soul Summoning Bell!
He initially thought it useless, planning to send it along with the Soul Suppressing Compass and other artifacts to Lingxi Daoist Temple.
Who would have thought it to be used here.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
Accompanied by Lin Heng's shaking, the Second Grade Soul Summoning Bell rang out with a vast and distant sound.
Tie Zhu's fist dripped with sweat, he took a deep breath, striving to remain calm and called the child's nickname as usual.
"Er Ya, come back for dinner!"
"Er Ya, come back for dinner!"
"Er Ya..."
Everyone held their breath, gazing tensely and expectantly in all directions.
Yet, after several minutes.
No movements were seen.
"Does this really work?" Many frowned, doubt rising in their hearts.
Then suddenly, a villager widened his eyes, pointing toward Tie Zhu's house.
"Tie Zhu, look, Er Ya's coming!!"