Xia Qiuxi finished speaking, holding the elderly woman who was cradling the middle-aged man, and cried even more sorrowfully.
In her eyes, her soul was lost, wasn't that the same as being dead?
"Ah! My son! Don't leave your old mother! My son!"
Her cries were heartbreaking.
I raised my eyebrows and also touched the man's neck with my hand.
I discovered he did indeed have a pulse, but it was very, very weak.
He had a pulse, yet his body was devoid of a soul?
There was only one reason for this situation.
That was that this person's lifespan had not yet ended.
The time for him to truly die had not yet arrived.
Even if his soul had left his body, his physical form would not immediately die.
However, this state would not last long.
If no one intervened to light a lamp to prolong his life...
Under normal circumstances, with a heartbeat, the physical body could last
at most two to three days, and at shortest, perhaps one or two hours.
And that was even with the soul remaining intact.
If the soul were killed outside, the physical body would also die immediately.
I had not experienced these things myself.
But Master had spoken of them, and I had also seen them in books at the shop.
Old Mo must have chased after it because he discovered this, and he went to pursue that person's soul.
Thinking of this, I dared not delay.
I immediately said to Xia Qiuxi:
"Qiuxi, you know how to light a life-extending lamp, right?"
Qiuxi nodded:
"I do!"
"Good, Qiuxi, you stay here and light a life-extending lamp for him.
Don't let his physical body die.
I'll go and bring back his soul!"
I spoke quickly.
Upon hearing this, the two nodded repeatedly.
The surrounding villagers, including the elderly woman, heard my words,
and their expressions changed, showing a hint of surprise and amazement as they looked at us.
"My, my child, my child can still be saved?"
The elderly woman looked at us with hopeful, widened, cloudy eyes.
I nodded:
"Currently, there is still a sliver of hope."
Hearing this, the elderly woman's eyes showed more hope.
I then looked at Uncle Li, continuing to press for information:
"Uncle Li, in which direction did Mo Ting chase?"
Uncle Li pointed to the left;
"It seemed to be in that direction!"
I nodded, then continued:
"Uncle Li, gather everyone together, don't let them scatter.
Xiao Yao, place the talismans you just drew around the area!"
After saying this, I didn't wait for their reply.
I turned and ran out.
The surrounding villagers saw this, and they made way for me to pass.
Then I began to chase forward in the direction Uncle Li had pointed.
My speed was fast, and I constantly observed my surroundings.
I followed the village and ran directly into the nearby mountain forest.
As soon as I arrived here, I sensed something unusual.
There was a faint trace of demonic energy in the air.
I was a bit confused, what was going on?
Weren't there only malevolent ghosts?
There were actually monsters around here?
While surprised, I already heard sounds of fighting from deep within the forest.
If I wasn't mistaken, that should be Old Mo.
With no time to think further, even if there were monsters, I had to deal with him first.
I quickly took out the Eye-Opening Talisman.
Forming a sword finger, I whispered a few words, and finally chanted the incantation rapidly:
"As urgent as the law commands, open!"
The talisman dissolved, and my eyes felt a sudden chill.
The dim surroundings instantly became clearly visible.
The demonic energy pervading the edge of the forest was also visible under the sky.
They were wisps of green mist,
intermingled in the air from all directions...
I quickened my pace and continued to chase forward.
I moved through the mountain forest, following the direction from which the demonic energy drifted.
The sounds from the depths grew clearer.
Before long, I saw within the mountain forest.
Old Mo was engaged in a fight with a humanoid monster.
The monster was male in appearance, wearing yellow robes, but it was enveloped in green energy, with towering demonic power.
Behind it, four large yellow tails swayed continuously.
It had a fox-like face and emitted low growls.
Good heavens, this was actually a four-tailed fox.
Its cultivation was higher than Xiao Mei's.
At the same time, near the edge of their confrontation, stood a person's soul with a vacant gaze.
It stood there motionlessly.
This was precisely the soul of that middle-aged man...
It seemed this fox demon had charmed away the middle-aged man's soul.
An evil demon, then there was nothing more to be said.
Just kill it.
I shouted directly:
"Old Mo, I'm here!"
After speaking, I drew my peach wood sword and charged forward.
Old Mo was at a disadvantage, being suppressed by the fox demon.
Seeing me arrive, he let out a few hearty laughs and said to the fox demon:
"Fate has made its choice.
Monster, you have no chance."
After saying this, he raised his peach wood axe and chopped down with it.
The fox demon's face contorted, its growls incessant, as it blocked with its claws and simultaneously clawed at Old Mo.
And I, at this moment, also swung my sword down.
"Get lost!"
I slashed my sword down, and waves of profound energy rippled.
With a "bang," I sent the fox demon flying back.
The fox demon landed on all fours and slid backward three to four meters.
It stared at us with a ferocious expression, fox whiskers already appearing on its face.
At the same time, it spoke to us in a deep voice:
"The soul, you can have it back. Let me leave."
Hearing its words, I sneered coldly:
"Do you think that's possible?"
"Stealing a soul and expecting us to let you go? Dreaming!"
Both Old Mo and I spoke in unison.
Seeing that negotiation was impossible, the fox demon howled again:
"Aow!"
Its voice was loud, echoing through the mountain forest.
Following this, its demonic energy surged.
Green mist billowed.
Its entire body suddenly erupted.
With a pounce, it lunged towards Old Mo and me.
This monster was not weak; its cultivation was likely only slightly less than mine.
But facing the combined assault of Old Mo and me, it surely had no chance.
However, I didn't want to get entangled with it for too long, intending for a swift battle.
So I said to Old Mo:
"Let's finish this quickly!"
Old Mo nodded, "Alright."
As soon as the words fell, the fox demon slashed a claw, directly at our faces.
But we both blocked it.
We pulled back to create distance again.
At the same time, I heard Old Mo let out a low roar:
"Lightning Technique!"
Arcs of electricity danced, instantly spreading to the peach wood axe with crackling sounds.
Meanwhile, I had already activated the Qian Kun True Method,
accelerating the flow of spiritual energy within my body and converting it to Taoist energy,
preparing to deliver the finishing blow to this monster...