Just then, a chilling wind swept through the surroundings, and the once pitch-black sky suddenly turned a blood-red. The scenery twisted and warped like surging waves, sending Old Ghost and the others into a state of panic.
"Putting on a show!"
Ning Beichen stamped his foot, and a surge of power suppressed the turbulent scene.
To Old Ghost and the others, what they saw was real.
But to Ning Beichen, it was all just a trick of illusion. Having witnessed grander spectacles, these were mere child's play, not worth mentioning.
"Get out!"
Ning Beichen grabbed the air, and the bronze ancient sword spun into his hand.
"Not coming out? Then never come out again!"
Ning Beichen gripped the bronze ancient sword, a majestic aura emanating from him. He then unleashed a sword strike towards the blood-red sky.
Boom, boom!
A colossal vortex appeared in the blood-red sky, attempting to resist Ning Beichen's attack.
However, this was akin to a moth flying into a flame.
"A mere glow worm dares to compete with the brilliance of the moon!"
Ning Beichen thrust his sword into the blood-red vortex and heard a pained cry from within.
Following that, a shadowy figure frantically fled from the vortex.
"Still trying to escape!"
Ning Beichen reached out and snatched the fleeing shadow from the air.
It was then that Old Ghost and the others saw clearly that the shadow was a woman.
Although her appearance was human-like, her eyes and hair were pure white.
"Are you the Sun Goddess?"
"Who gave you the courage and audacity to impersonate the Sun Goddess?"
Ning Beichen asked her.
The woman, pinned to the ground by Ning Beichen, looked up at him fearfully and asked,
"Who… who exactly are you? Why are you interfering in my affairs?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Beichen burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… You wreak havoc in my world and snatch the souls of my friends, and you accuse me of meddling?"
"I didn't know they were your friends. You can take your friends' souls."
The woman said to Ning Beichen.
This time, Ning Beichen was truly amused by her words.
"What are you, to bargain with me?"
Ning Beichen stomped on her, pushing her directly into the dirt.
"Ning Beichen, what is this woman? She's utterly detestable, completely disregarding our lives."
Old Ghost and the others asked curiously.
"I don't know, but she's definitely no good."
Ning Beichen flicked his toe, scooping the woman out of the dirt. Regardless of what she was, even if she truly was the Sun Goddess, Ning Beichen intended to end her himself.
"Ignorant human, release me quickly! If you kill me, you will face great calamity."
Even in this situation, the woman dared to threaten Ning Beichen.
Either she was a lunatic, mentally unstable, or delusional.
Or, she genuinely had some backing.
But no matter which it was, the outcome for Ning Beichen would be the same.
"Then let me see just how great this calamity will be!"
Ning Beichen raised his sword and brought it down, beheading her. Her head rolled to the side.
"Do you think you can truly kill me? I will return to find you and exact my revenge. Then, I will make you suffer endless torment!"
After uttering these words, the woman's head vanished along with her body.
As her corpse disappeared, the space began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
"Not good, the space is collapsing."
Ning Beichen's pupils contracted. He immediately took Old Ghost and the others' souls and flew out of the space on his sword. The souls trapped inside could not escape and soon vanished along with the collapsing space.
Not long after, a figure emerged from some void and plunged headfirst into the sea.
After a considerable time, Ning Beichen surfaced from the ocean, completely drenched.
When the space had collapsed, he had been struck by a powerful force. To protect Old Ghost and the others' souls, Ning Beichen had endured the impact and fled with them.
"Ning Beichen, are you alright?"
Old Ghost and the others asked him urgently.
"I'm fine. You are soul bodies; you cannot be exposed to sunlight, or you will burn. I'll take you back to your bodies."
Ning Beichen protected their souls with something and then transformed into a streak of light, heading towards where their bodies lay.
"Ning Beichen, you're back! Did you find Old Ghost and the others?"
Third Aunt, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed up to him upon seeing Ning Beichen's return.
Ning Beichen opened the protective barrier and released the souls of Old Ghost and the others.
"Third Aunt, we're back."
"Old Ghost? Is that you, Old Ghost? Aqin, you're Aqin, and Old Niu…"
Third Aunt stared in disbelief at the three soul bodies.
"It's us, we're back. Ning Beichen rescued us from that hellish place."
Old Ghost and the others said to Third Aunt with great excitement.
"You… how did you end up like this?"
Third Aunt exclaimed, utterly shocked at how transparent Old Ghost and the others looked.
"They are currently in soul form and need to have their souls returned to their bodies as soon as possible. I hope there won't be any lasting side effects."
With a wave of his hand, Ning Beichen returned the souls of Old Ghost and the other two to their respective bodies.
Soon after, Old Ghost and the other two began to wake up, complaining of splitting headaches, feeling as if they were being torn apart.
"They are alright now. They've just been away from their bodies for too long and cannot adapt immediately. Third Aunt, you stay and look after them. I'll leave with her. Notify me if anything happens."
Ning Beichen said to Third Aunt.
"I understand. Thank you, thank you for saving Old Ghost and the others, Ning Beichen."
Third Aunt said gratefully.
"Third Aunt, they are my friends too. Alright, I need to go. You take care of them."
After saying this, Ning Beichen left with Qiao Na's soul.
Shortly thereafter, Ning Beichen found Qiao Na's body in the bar and guided her soul back into it.
However, for the others, Ning Beichen could do nothing, as their souls had vanished along with the collapsing space.
"Alright, Qiao Na, you've recovered now. But I need to erase your memory and make you forget what happened."
Ning Beichen said jokingly, mainly concerned that she might spread rumors.