As five Binding Spirit Talismans shot out, the five spirits were as if struck by a immobilizing spell, an energy binding them in place, and immediately their forms became visible.
The energy contained within the Binding Spirit Talismans was precisely the bane of these spirits, burning them and causing them to shriek.
Zhang Daoquan, walking ahead, also sensed something was amiss. His body shot forward over ten meters, then he quickly turned around. The scene before him stunned him.
Ling Tian stood there, arms crossed, looking at him mockingly. Beside Ling Tian, on the ground, were five circles of light, each circle enveloping a spirit.
At this moment, the expressions on the spirits' faces were contorted in pain, making them look even more ferocious!
"Haha, Uncle-Master Zhang, your skills are impressive. You've mastered the Five Ghost Transportation Technique to perfection. However, as a disciple of Longhu Mountain, cultivating the Five Ghost Transportation Technique, isn't that a bit perverse!"
Zhang Daoquan's face was extremely grim. These five little ghosts were precisely those he had released. He had pretended to agree to return to Longhu Mountain to explain, but that was merely a ruse to make Ling Tian lower his guard.
He secretly employed the Five Ghost Transportation Technique, commanding these five little ghosts to ambush Ling Tian in the darkness.
The Five Ghost Transportation Technique involves commanding five ghosts. This術法 (shùfǎ - technique/art) has a history of over a thousand years of inheritance. It is worth mentioning that this術法 is actually a Daoist術法.
In ancient times, gods and ghosts were indistinguishable. Gods were ghosts, and ghosts were gods. Ancient shamans were also called "ghosts." The famous work "Mountain Ghost" by the great poet Qu Yuan of the Chu state describes shamans impersonating mountain ghosts, who were mountain gods.
The shamanistic culture of the Chu state was very prevalent, hence "ghosts" could also become protagonists in Chu poetry. The Five Pecks of Rice Taoism, a branch of Daoism, was closely related to shamanism. Many shamanistic practices were inherited by the Five Pecks of Rice Taoism. Therefore, in early Daoism, ghosts also meant immortals.
Legend has it that in ancient times, humans and ghosts mingled, and ghosts could appear in broad daylight. Celestial Master Zhang fought the Eight Ghost Commanders at Qingcheng Mountain, ultimately achieving victory and sealing the malevolent ghosts beneath Qingcheng Mountain, forbidding them from appearing during the day.
Later, ancient shamanistic practices merged with Daoism, and many shamanistic術法 were absorbed by Daoism. Thus, the Five Ghost Transportation Technique became a famous術法 in Daoism.
Initially, powerful Daoist figures used five ghosts to help them move things and work. These five ghosts were hardworking, tireless, and their abilities were heaven-defying; there was almost nothing they couldn't move.
Even if an object was very large and heavy, the five ghosts could easily move it with their abilities, hence the術法 was named the Five Ghost Transportation Technique!
Such a uniquely functional術法 was quickly exploited by those with malicious intentions for wicked purposes.
Some individuals, after mastering the Five Ghost Transportation Technique, used it for theft. The accumulated wealth of generations of wealthy people was emptied overnight by the Five Ghost Transportation Technique, leaving them destitute.
Others used the five ghosts to administer poison, launch surprise attacks, and set traps, making them impossible to guard against.
Due to the unprincipled abuse of the Five Ghost Transportation Technique by those with malicious intent, Daoism eventually imposed strict limitations on its dissemination.
By later generations, Daoist sects aligned with righteous factions had essentially ceased the inheritance of this術法. It only survived in obscure, minor sects, and even then, those who knew it were exceedingly rare.
However, if other Daoist sects mastered this術法, it might be somewhat understandable. But for Longhu Mountain, which held an irreconcilable enmity with such malevolent entities, for a Longhu Mountain disciple to master the Five Ghost Transportation Technique was simply unimaginable.
It would be akin to a Paladin of the Holy See mastering necromancy; nothing could be more preposterous.
"Ling Tian, don't slander me! Someone around us must be trying to ambush us. What do these little ghosts have to do with me!" Zhang Daoquan said evasively.
"Then I find it strange. In this desolate wilderness, who would bother sending ghosts to ambush me in the middle of the night? Moreover, within a dozen miles, there are no other living people besides us two!"
"How can you say that? Someone is hidden in the darkness, and you just can't see them..." Zhang Daoquan continued to argue.
"Heh, Uncle-Master Zhang, don't be so quick to deny it. You say you have no connection to these little ghosts, so it's simple. I'll help you prove your innocence!"
As soon as Ling Tian finished speaking, a Fire Talisman appeared in each of his hands. Seeing this, Zhang Daoquan was greatly alarmed.
"Ling Tian, stop..."
Before his words could finish, Ling Tian had already injected his true essence into the Fire Talismans. Two fireballs, the size of human heads, roared towards the five little ghosts confined in place!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The power of Ling Tian's Exploding Fire Talismans was far greater than those produced by Longhu Mountain itself. After a series of violent explosions, flames engulfed the five little ghosts.
No matter what kind of ghost, they were all malevolent entities, and fire was their natural nemesis. The immense energy of the Exploding Fire Talismans directly consumed the five little ghosts, burning them to ashes!
And at almost the same moment, Zhang Daoquan, over ten meters away, felt as if his mind had been struck by a heavy hammer. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing this, the smile on Ling Tian's face widened. "Uncle-Master Zhang, didn't you say these five ghosts had nothing to do with you? How is it that when I eliminated them, you suffered a backlash? How do you explain that?"
For術法 like the Five Ghost Transportation Technique, to command five ghosts, one must pay a certain price, such as expending a portion of their soul force.
Once the five ghosts are eliminated, this portion of soul force is also annihilated, so it is not strange for the user to suffer a backlash. This is precisely what Zhang Daoquan was experiencing.
Zhang Daoquan spat blood, his gaze towards Ling Tian filled with venom. He suddenly reached into his怀 (huái - bosom/pocket) and pulled out a talisman, shooting it directly at Ling Tian.
"Die!"
Whizzing towards him was a Yin Thunder Talisman. Ling Tian had already observed his every move with his Heavenly Eye divine ability. His small movements could not escape Ling Tian's eyes.
Ling Tian also raised his hand, and a Vajra Talisman shot out. The two talismans collided in mid-air. A flash of white light flickered, and the energy on the Yin Thunder Talisman was completely neutralized by the energy released from the Vajra Talisman, causing it to vanish into smoke.
Zhang Daoquan was not too surprised by this situation, as he knew very well that he had given Zhang Xiujian so many talismans, yet his disciple had been eliminated. This young man before him must have some skills.
So, he took out two more Yin Thunder Talismans from his怀, injected his true essence, and threw them at Ling Tian once more.
A cold smile appeared on Ling Tian's lips. He similarly threw out two Vajra Talismans, colliding with Zhang Daoquan's talismans.
Two beams of white light lit up in mid-air, and Zhang Daoquan's attack was once again effortlessly neutralized by Ling Tian.