Chapter 10: The Return of the Paper Doll

The leader did not know the full story, but from Ling Xuzi’s expression, he guessed something and offered his condolences: “My sympathies.”

Ling Xuzi suppressed his thoughts and smiled bitterly. “Sorry to trouble you tonight.”

“No problem.”

If nothing unexpected happened, and Ling Xuzi could spend the night safely in this tribe without unknown external forces interfering, then by dawn, there might truly be a chance to leave the Million Li Yin Mountains.

However, fate is unpredictable.

About half an hour later.

Ling Xuzi and the tribe’s leader were still drinking and chatting merrily.

“Hee hee...” Suddenly, eerie laughter echoed from beyond the tribe under the night sky.

The tribe leader stiffened, his face darkening sharply. He sprang from the house to glance at the sky.

A flat figure, resembling a paper doll made of clay or metal, floated in the sky outside the tribe.

At the same time, at the tribe’s edge, a translucent, multicolored light barrier enveloped the settlement.

One by one, people peered out from around the tribe.

“A paper doll? Strange—Is it made of clay or metal?”

“Whatever it is, it’s an evil spirit.”

“This evil spirit hasn’t thought it through. Without the protection of the gods, how could the Bear Tribe have survived here?”

“Go to sleep, go to sleep. Evil spirits can’t enter here. Get some rest; there’s work to be done tomorrow.”

Amid the murmurs, some ignored it and went about their business, while others stayed to watch.

Deep within the gathering place.

The tribe leader eyed Ling Xuzi and gritted his teeth. “Fellow Daoist, what exactly have you provoked?”

For that paper doll to have broken through the barriers and found Ling Xuzi, it must be terrifyingly powerful.

Even with the gods having already manifested and sealed the area, it still lingered... Clearly, this paper doll was not afraid of the gods, even if it was weaker than the Bear Tribe’s god.

“I didn’t expect this paper doll to be so sinister either,” Ling Xuzi admitted with a wry smile.

Secretly, he relaxed—fortunately, luck had brought him to this gathering place. Otherwise, if he were alone and the paper doll found him, he wouldn’t even know how he died.

The leader was about to speak when he paused and said, “High Priest.”

The tribe’s high priest appeared from nowhere.

Wearing a mask, the high priest said nothing, only staring at Ling Xuzi.

Ling Xuzi slightly bowed. “Sorry for the trouble tonight. But rest assured, once we get through tonight, I will offer a fair reward.”

Though the tribe’s leader and high priest were weaker than Ling Xuzi, they were not to be underestimated. If the true form of the Star God were still present, he could have instantly defeated the leader and the high priest, and the aftereffects could suppress the entire tribe.

But now, the Star God’s true form was mysteriously unable to re-manifest. Two fists could not match four hands, and it was better for his heart to side with the tribe’s god.

The high priest still said nothing but nodded slightly.

Obviously, he agreed to Ling Xuzi’s proposal.

Ling Xuzi finally breathed easier and turned his gaze to the paper doll outside.

Suddenly—

“I am the god here! If you do not retreat now, when will you?” A divine voice echoed mysteriously, flowing toward the paper doll.

“Hee hee...” The paper doll tilted its head, glancing at the tribe’s temple with a sinister laugh.

Ling Xuzi’s heart sank... Something was wrong.

If the evil spirit retreated, it would likely attract a large number of similar spirits to attack!

Why hadn’t the tribe’s god directly struck down the paper doll? Was it lacking confidence to win, or was it deliberately leaving the paper doll alive to ensure Ling Xuzi kept his promise tomorrow?

Or should he give the reward now and see?

Before Ling Xuzi could decide—

“Hee hee...” Another eerie laugh. The paper doll approached the multicolored light barrier.

To everyone’s horror, the paper doll did not dodge but collided headlong with the barrier.

“Sizzle, sizzle...” Smoke rose where the paper doll touched the barrier.

Within only three breaths, the paper doll forcibly passed through the barrier!

As a price... no, there was no apparent price!

On the surface, the paper doll’s body was no different than before.

“Ignorant evil spirit! If you do not retreat now, then when?” Brilliant divine light shone forth, transforming into a divine figure before the paper doll.

The figure’s features were unclear; only the radiant divine light surrounding it could be seen. Its true form resembled a standing bear.

Rather than a godly figure, it looked more like a bear deity.

The tribe’s people bowed their heads respectfully.

This was the true form of the Bear Tribe’s god.

Because of this god, their tribe had survived and thrived. Without its protection, only a few strong warriors could escape, while ordinary folk would perish at the hands of evil spirits.

The paper doll paused, then its eyes gleamed greedily. “So fragrant... more fragrant than that person...”

With that greedy voice, the paper doll lunged toward the bear god.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!” The bear god did not retreat but violently collided head-on, then dragged the paper doll to another location.

Given their combat strength, a fight inside the tribe would leave almost no one alive, regardless of the outcome.

Most could not see the battle clearly, only glimpsing the flashes of blood and divine light clashing beyond the settlement.

But Ling Xuzi and the others saw clearly.

Because of what they saw, all three of them grew pale.

The leader slowly clenched his fist. “This isn’t good...”

Their god had fallen behind.

This paper doll was even stronger than the Bear Tribe’s god?

Most crucially, the paper doll seemed fixated on their god. Now there was no chance to hand Ling Xuzi over.

The high priest broke his silence for the first time: “Fellow Daoist, let us join forces.”

If they continued to watch, once their god fell, no one could bear the consequences.

Many strong warriors had to act together, though their help might be limited... At least it would prevent the situation from worsening.

If they could hold out until dawn, sunlight would suppress the evil spirits, forcing them to retreat.

Ling Xuzi did not agree hastily but asked, “Do you know anything about this paper doll?”

The bear god’s initial hesitation suggested it knew the paper doll.

The tribe leader’s expression turned cold. “It’s your danger we face. If you keep dodging the question, do you believe we’ll kill you first?”

From nearby, more than ten warriors appeared.

All were strong members of the tribe.

“I’m not unwilling, but I know nothing. To act rashly would do more harm than good.”

He paused and sighed. “At this point, I won’t hide it from you. I’ve encountered this paper doll before. It’s extremely sinister. It somehow took away the true form of my Star God by means I cannot comprehend. If not for that...”

Suddenly—

“Roar!” An extremely furious roar thundered through the sky.

Everyone looked up simultaneously.

They only saw the divine light vanish into the earth without a trace.

Then, above the tribe, a seven-colored divine light manifested again, forming a phantom bear that enveloped the tribe.

This time, the paper doll could not pass through the divine light to enter the tribe.

The high priest’s voice turned uncertain. “The god tells me that it is no match for this paper doll evil spirit. This is the god’s manifestation of protection from its source. It can only hold for half an hour, during which it can forcibly block the paper doll from entering.”