The houses continuously collapsed, turning into dust.
Paper money fluttered to the ground, exuding a chilling aura.
Ji Xiang watched the paper money that hadn't vanished but had lost the power of the *nian*, his sense of unease growing stronger.
Finally, Ji Xiang stopped using the power of the Hui Ji Vajra to destroy the residences.
Perhaps at this very moment, the malevolent spirits in Avici Hell had finally caught their breath.
From the mouth of the Hell Seal, Ji Xiang could faintly hear indistinct sounds, many of which were vulgar curses, even foreign profanities, clearly with Indian accents.
"Little Ten, set it ablaze."
The little fox's ears twitched. Holding the Fire God's Command Flag, it waved it wildly all around!
Fierce flames engulfed everything. These residences were impervious to the changes of the five elements; the flames couldn't even burn the dust accumulated on the beams and bricks, which was astonishing.
At this moment, a voice suddenly emerged from the Hell Seal:
"Hey... Mortal, your act of absorbing these *nian* into Avici Hell is truly unwise!"
"You took my finger, and I opened a mouth on it. Using the opportunity provided by the Hell Seal, I can speak with you."
The voice was muffled and hoarse, and the black finger in Ji Xiang's sack began to shake, emitting an aura of extreme malevolence.
"Huh? That voice is?"
The sudden appearance of this voice made Ji Xiang feel extremely familiar.
After all, the surroundings were silent, and the little fox was trembling with fear. There were only two living beings present. When a voice that seemed to offer guidance suddenly appeared, it naturally brought comfort.
However, Ji Xiang soon realized that this voice was coming from the Hell Seal and was echoing the black finger.
Ji Xiang took the black finger out of the sack. Upon closer inspection, a mouth had indeed grown on the finger, sharp-tongued and shaped like a malevolent spirit.
Well, he was supposed to be expelling demons and slaying ghosts, but the more he killed, the more things felt wrong. In the end, it was a malevolent spirit from hell who couldn't stand it and decided to speak?
Had he really been discarding too much trash?
"Are you Candala, the Great Peacock King Bodhisattva?"
This was a peak Ascension realm expert. The last time he had encountered someone of this level was Yuan Miao Great Sage Lin Ling Su.
"How do you know my divine title?"
A surprised voice came from the Hell Seal.
Ji Xiang smiled, "That's not important. What's important is what advice you have?"
Candala pondered for a few moments before replying, "Indeed! Mortal expert, the time I can speak with you is not long. I can only tell you that these *nian* are not evil spirits; rather, they are used to suppress certain malevolent entities."
"By consuming these things, you have increased the suppressive power of Avici Hell, which has caused me suffering and prevented my liberation!"
Ji Xiang: "So, Candala, what is your advice?"
Candala's voice was displeased, "Hmph! Mortal expert, you should address me as Senior!"
Ji Xiang: "I never show courtesy to demons and heretics. You are Ascension, and I am also Ascension. You are trapped in hell, and my physical cultivation is insufficient, so don't act arrogant with me. If you have advice, state it directly. If not, I'll close the Hell Seal."
The ghost face of the Hui Ji Vajra Hell Seal had begun to show a look of anger, seemingly displeased by Candala forcibly speaking from its mouth.
However, Ji Xiang was currently in control of the Hell Seal, so he could control its opening and closing.
"Alright, alright! Let's not dwell on this! I'll tell you, I can teach you the Peacock Great King Mantra. If you use my severed finger to perform it, you can eliminate all poisons, pacify all calamities and fears, cure all illnesses, and avoid untimely death."
"As for me, I hope that after receiving my teachings, when your physical body recovers and your strength reaches full Ascension, you will come to hell to transcend me."
Ji Xiang frowned. The surrounding flames and yin energy intertwined and condensed, appearing increasingly bizarre.
"I will not transcend you. Avici Hell does not fall under the jurisdiction of my Daoist sect, and since you are already in Avici Hell, you are certainly not a benevolent being. If I were to seek you out, it would surely be to kill you."
"However, if you teach me your techniques, I would be very pleased. As for saving your life, that's out of the question."
To achieve liberation, if you were to emerge alive, it would be unknown whether you would be in the Outer Mountain River or the Inner Mountain River. If it were the Inner Mountain River, it would be fine; a peak Ascension expert is not an exceptionally powerful being, with Tian Xin and Hun Yuan above them. But if you appeared in the Outer Mountain River, that would be troublesome.
Candala was furious, "I am offering my good intentions, unable to bear the calamity of poison you are about to face!"
"I am a malevolent spirit of Avici Hell, and you are carrying my severed finger. I know clearly whether you will face a great calamity of poison! As for why I am in Avici Hell and have become a malevolent spirit, it is because I was harmed by someone and transformed into this Candala form... Forget it! You won't believe me even if I told you!"
People these days are truly shameless, still thinking of getting something for free?
Teaching you a cultivation method is for you to repay the favor, yet you say, "I have no shared enmity with evil"?!
"If you don't cultivate my methods, then so be it. I am not one to beg. I am merely giving you one last chance. When you are poisoned later, recite my holy name and draw an eight-petaled lotus on the ground, and I might be able to save you. But if you truly fear no poison, then suit yourself!"
"Sometimes, making a deal with a malevolent spirit may not be a bad way to save your life!"
After saying this, he left behind the Great King's holy name mantra, named "Maha Mayuri Vidyarajni Dharani."
For Ji Xiang, the contact method was left, which was acceptable.
As for the matter of poison, Ji Xiang felt it might be related to his inner sense of unease. Having learned that the *nian* on the paper money were used to suppress truly malevolent entities, Ji Xiang did not continue to destroy those residences.
However, many residences had already been destroyed, which might have caused significant repercussions, making Ji Xiang worried.
"Will something happen in Gusu City?"
Ji Xiang and the little fox walked back to the large tree on Ziji Street where the strange death had occurred.
Ji Xiang collected some of the blood of the Ziji Street strange, believing that this fellow's blood might be of some help. At this moment, Ji Xiang desperately needed a small space to store things. Fighting everywhere while carrying a sack was too troublesome and inconvenient for storing items.
It was time to learn a technique like "Sleeve Universe."
After collecting the blood, Ji Xiang proposed a retreat, to leave this place. This surprised the little fox, as its Grand-Ancestor had never feared any enemy, viewing everyone as easily defeated. Why was he planning a strategic retreat today?
It seemed the problem was quite serious.
Ji Xiang stated that if he wanted to leave, these ghostly entities couldn't stop him.
And at this very moment, cries of anguish erupted from within the residences being burned by flames.
There were still living people?
Ji Xiang stopped his steps as he prepared to leave.