Chapter Twenty-Two: The First Battle with the Taoist

Looking toward the direction of the priest, Feng Tianlin grew increasingly excited. This priest was clearly far stronger than those spirit tamers—he couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to battle him. Meanwhile, Long Mengting was rampaging through the building, killing indiscriminately. Feng Tianlin sent her the order to come up invisibly.

It was during this brief interval that the priest arrived. He looked to be in his early thirties, dressed in a yellow Taoist robe, gripping a peachwood sword in his right hand.

“Monster! I’ll see your soul scattered to the winds!” the priest shouted, slashing his sword in midair. A tangible sword mark shot toward Feng Tianlin. Yet, under the protection of Nightmare Body at level ten, even such a fierce attack seemed slow and clumsy. Feng Tianlin dodged it with his uncanny footwork, appearing instantly at the priest’s side.

Just as Feng Tianlin aimed a strike at the priest’s leg, the priest reacted with astonishing speed, using his sword to block the blow. The two were locked in a stalemate.

“Hahaha, Daoist Wang, you actually came to aid our Investigation Bureau of Supernatural Phenomena! You, you little foreign doll, are doomed today!” sneered Director Tian from the sidelines. Though his mouth was full of bravado, his body betrayed him as he clutched his money pouch and made for the exit. He didn’t believe for a second that Daoist Wang could truly defeat the foreign doll. After all, even Li Juetian, a D-rank like Wang, had been killed by this creature. The priest might be stronger than a spirit tamer, but how much stronger could he possibly be?

Daoist Wang hailed from a Taoist temple in Tianjing City. Before the resurgence of supernatural forces, he made a living telling fortunes and exorcising spirits. After strange beings began to reappear, he started hunting them to protect the people. He’d come to the Investigation Bureau today after sensing a powerful energy fluctuation, but on seeing only two E-ranked supernatural entities, he’d attacked without hesitation. He never imagined that this particular E-ranked being would be so formidable.

Just as Director Tian reached the door, a massive hand pierced his chest in an instant—it was Long Mengting, who had arrived just in time. Director Tian collapsed, his face twisted in unwillingness. Thus ended his life.

The priest, in truth, was not much stronger than Li Juetian. However, the energy within his body seemed to have a restraining effect on Feng Tianlin, allowing them to maintain their deadlock.

Seeing that Long Mengting had arrived, Feng Tianlin decided not to waste any more time with the priest. A glint flashed in his left eye—the real battle was about to begin.

He activated the Freezing Frost. Intense cold surged from his hands, filling the entire space. Daoist Wang’s legs were instantly frozen solid. Then came the Soul Interrogation. In an instant, it was as if the wails of ten thousand ghosts filled the air, tearing at Daoist Wang’s very soul, leaving his mind in chaos.

Daoist Wang fought desperately to steady his mind and flung all the talismans he carried into the air, forming a sword-hand with his fingers. “Heaven’s blessing, Earth’s perfection—by command of the Tao, act at once!”

The talismans began to whirl around him, shifting and changing. But in the next moment, the doll before him split into two, then three, then four—each wearing the same eerie smile.

“Mere tricks of illusion and confusion!” he roared, wildly hacking at the ice binding his legs. No matter how hard he struck, the frost remained unyielding. Gradually, the world around him began to change. The vast office was suddenly filled with vengeful spirits, wailing and shrieking as they circled him.

The ground beneath his feet turned insubstantial, becoming a vision of hell itself. Countless hands reached up from below, each one trying to drag him into the inferno. The dolls multiplied, filling every inch of space. Some were big, some small, some plump, some thin—all bore the same twisted, menacing grin.

“No, no!” Daoist Wang cried out in terror. Everything happening was a torment to his mind—and it was not yet over. A little girl smiled sweetly as she slowly sliced flesh from his body, forcing it down his own throat.

Terror—overwhelming terror! He bitterly regretted coming to help with this affair that had nothing to do with him.

As Feng Tianlin absorbed the fear and terror points generated by Daoist Wang, he realized these special humans could provide far more energy than ordinary people—the higher th