Chapter Seventy-Eight: Departed Spirit

Fu Yang thought to himself that this guy was actually pretty reliable.

To his surprise, Ah Huang rummaged through the cloth pouch he carried, producing several talisman papers and a thin, thread-bound ancient book.

“What are you doing?”

Both Fu Yang and Shan Shan stared at him, but he simply flipped through the book on his own.

“Found it! This is it—the Tracking Talisman.”

Ah Huang excitedly pointed it out to Fu Yang, who was thoroughly bewildered.

“Oh, come on, aren’t you supposed to be a genius at Daoist arts? This Tracking Talisman can trace the whereabouts of demons and spirits in reverse. Unfortunately, I haven’t learned how to use it yet. Hurry up and copy it—draw one right now!”

Fu Yang’s face darkened. As expected, this guy wasn’t reliable at all…

He had no choice but to hold his breath, focus his mind, and, with brush in hand, draw a Tracking Talisman on the spot. Zhao Shanshan and Ah Huang watched in amazement.

“Xiao Yangzi, you really are incredible!”

“But you can only copy it by sight, you can’t remember it? What’s the use of that?”

“Don’t worry, after you’ve practiced longer, you’ll remember. If you ever get the chance to become a true Daoist priest, you won’t even need talisman paper for small spells like this…”

Ah Huang chatted away, tossing the freshly drawn Tracking Talisman in the direction of the muddy pond. It floated off lightly.

The talisman glimmered as it hovered above the pond for a while, then flew off toward the depths of the Arboretum…

“Hurry, let’s follow it! The talisman’s heading toward the tree demon.”

The three of them dashed after it, running along the forest path.

After a while, they finally reached the banyan grove within the Arboretum.

Thick, ancient banyan trees grew here, their lush branches and leaves forming a dense canopy that blocked out the sun. Even during the day, this place must be rather dim.

The glowing Tracking Talisman flew to the center of the banyan grove and stopped in front of the largest tree. Then, without a sound, it turned to ash.

It was obvious—the enormous banyan, hundreds of years old and requiring three or four adults to encircle, was the tree demon!

“That’s strange. When I traveled to Jiangcheng in my second year of high school, I don’t recall seeing such a huge tree in the Arboretum.”

Before being admitted to Jiangcheng University, Fu Yang had visited here before and was somewhat familiar with the Arboretum.

Zhao Shanshan pointed to the information sign next to the giant banyan and said, “Come look at this, there’s some info here!”

A quick read revealed that the great banyan was a nationally protected ancient tree, donated three years ago by a wealthy businessman of Jiangcheng descent, and transplanted into the Arboretum.

“Three years ago? That’s just when I entered university. Quite a coincidence.”

“Enough sentimentality, let’s figure out how to deal with this demon tree. It’s hundreds of years old, but who knows how long it’s had a spirit and become a monster…”

Fu Yang told Shanshan that when they got back, the police should investigate the businessman who donated the banyan. There was probably some hidden conspiracy behind it.

Zhao Shanshan nodded—she’d already thought of this when she saw the plaque.

“Ah Huang, do you know any spells that restrain tree demons?”

“Daoist arts aren’t usually divided so finely. But trees are wood, and in the five elements, fire overcomes wood—so fire should be effective.”

“Then should we attack together with fire talismans?”

Ah Huang shook his head. “That won’t work… This demon tree is too big. With our level of skill, the fire talismans won’t harm it—in fact, we might just enrage it.”

At this crucial moment, he was cautious.

Seeing the two of them stymied, Zhao Shanshan offered a suggestion.

“Why not leave it? Now that we know the demon is a tree, maybe using normal means is safer. Tomorrow, I’ll have the police contact the construction company; we can use heavy machinery to deal with it like any other tree! With seven or eight excavators surrounding it, what could a tree demon possibly do?”

“That’s not safe! Even if we act tomorrow, there’s no guarantee it won’t go berserk. If something happens in broad daylight, you’ll be under even more pressure from your department.”

Fu Yang refused.

After all, Zhao Shanshan was in charge of the case. If things went public, and the higher-ups needed a scapegoat to calm public outrage, she would be the one.

“Hey, Ah Huang? You really can’t think of anything? If you succeed, I’ll pay for that torn shirt you’re wearing…”

“Damn! Don’t mention the shirt. I just bought it yesterday, and you turned it into rags… There is a way, but it’s dangerous.”

“Cut the crap, just say it!”

“The practice and use of Daoist arts is essentially the soul of the Daoist communicating with the heavens and earth to draw power. The stronger the soul, the faster you can learn. So I suspect, Xiao Yangzi, you were born with a powerful soul, which is why you learn talismans and Daoist arts so quickly.”

Fu Yang, impatient, kicked him and said, “We’re in a crisis, get to the point—we can go over the theory later…”

Ah Huang gave him a wounded look as he rubbed his backside, then continued, “We can try a risky technique—let your three souls leave your body and search for the demon tree’s core. Then, hit it with a fire talisman and destroy it in one blow!”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s do it!”

“Think carefully. If anything goes wrong, and your three souls are damaged, you’ll be left with only the seven corporeal spirits—basically turning into what doctors call a vegetable.”

Ah Huang’s expression was grave, and Zhao Shanshan was deeply worried as well.

But since Fu Yang insisted, this was their only option.

They tied a complex knot with red string around Fu Yang’s right middle finger, then fastened the other end to a branch of the giant demon tree.

“If there’s any danger, immediately recall your souls! I’ll sever the branch instantly, cutting your connection to the tree demon. Remember this!”

Fu Yang flashed an OK sign at Ah Huang to show he understood, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

“By the urgent decree, may the Three Pure Ones grant me power! Three souls, depart!”

Ah Huang chanted the incantation, forming an intricate spell with his hands and striking Fu Yang’s back with force…

Fu Yang felt his body grow light, a mysterious sensation—like being weightless, as if he might float away.

He hurriedly opened his eyes and steadied himself.

The world before him was completely different!

At this moment, he existed in an incomplete soul form—everything seemed semi-transparent.

Looking down, he saw his own body standing motionless, eyes vacant. Ah Huang and Zhao Shanshan stood tensely at his side.

“These Daoist arts… are truly miraculous!”

He marveled inwardly and began to survey his surroundings.

At his ankle, he could see a faint, ethereal red thread connecting his spirit to his body and to the enormous demon tree before him.

After a brief half-minute of adjustment, he was able to control his soul quite freely.

“Let’s see what strange power this tree demon possesses.”

Fu Yang descended and stood atop a branch.

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