Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 87: The Spirit-Binding Array

Instantly, the hole in the barrier of air widened slowly. Once it was large enough for him to pass through, Zhang Heng hurriedly stopped. If he kept bleeding, he would lose his life right here.

Witnessing Zhang Heng break through his Hundred Ghosts Gathering Yin Formation, the Ghost Sage Daoist was shocked, but not overly concerned. After all, he had already merged with many heroic souls.

A chilling laugh echoed as the Ghost Sage Daoist burst out, “Hahaha, so what if you can enter? It’s already too late. You’ve lost.” He laughed triumphantly, after a thousand years of preparation, was success finally at hand?

“Too late? I don't think so,” Zhang Heng said coldly.

Without another word, he began to prepare a spirit array.

He stretched out his left hand before his chest, while his right hand pressed together his index and middle fingers, gathering spiritual energy and focusing his mind. As he carved the formation on his left hand, he shouted, “Binding Spirit Array, go!” With a forceful thrust, he pushed his left hand forward.

Now, the Ghost Sage Daoist existed only as a consciousness—a formless body. The Heart-Guarding Sword of Dugu Bai could not harm him. Yet, consciousness was still a kind of spirit body, and this Binding Spirit Array, taught by the system, was designed precisely to confine such entities.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

The Ghost Sage Daoist tensed as if facing a great enemy. This was a critical juncture—if Zhang Heng interrupted him now, all his efforts might be in vain.

Yet, in the next instant, he burst into wild laughter. “Hahaha, boy, are you here to entertain me?”

Despite Zhang Heng’s impressive stance, nothing seemed to change.

The Ghost Sage Daoist continued absorbing the yin spirits.

Mu Wanqing looked at Zhang Heng in bewilderment.

The five people being drained of their blood, though unable to speak, could still sense what was happening. For a brief moment, they thought they were saved.

But when Zhang Heng’s attack proved useless, their despair only deepened.

Zhang Heng gathered his spiritual energy again and attempted the same move. “Binding Spirit Array, go!”

The Ghost Sage Daoist’s laughter grew even more unrestrained. Mu Wanqing watched Zhang Heng anxiously, but she could do nothing but stand by helplessly.

Zhang Heng felt disheartened. Was it truly impossible? Were they really going to lose?

Seeing the hopeless expressions on Wu Hong and the others’ faces, Zhang Heng felt increasingly useless.

At this moment, the system’s voice sounded again.

Ding—Host must use his own blood to activate the formation.

Blood? His own blood again? Zhang Heng had no time to ponder. Switching hands, he used spiritual power to reopen the wound on his already-healed left index finger. Blood once more flowed freely.

With a resolute gaze, he meticulously drew the formation on his right hand with both blood and spiritual energy.

This time, every step was excruciatingly difficult. Nearly all his spiritual power was drained before the formation was complete.

Zhang Heng knew that this time, the Binding Spirit Array had succeeded.

He thrust his right hand forward, shouting with all his might, “Binding Spirit Array, go!”

The Ghost Sage Daoist had just finished absorbing all the yin souls and was about to merge them when, at the crucial moment, an invisible force bound him in this space, immobilizing him and halting his actions.

He had no choice but to muster all his strength to resist the suppression.

At that moment, the Hundred Ghosts Gathering Yin Formation came to a halt. The five whose blood had been drained collapsed weakly to the ground. The stronger ones could barely cling to consciousness.

Yun Xiaotian, the weakest among them, only at the second stage of the Core Formation realm, had been drained for so long he couldn't even remain conscious, and fainted directly.

But Zhang Heng had no time to care. He quickly took out a low-grade Clarity Pill and handed it to Mu Wanqing to give to him.

Zhang Heng stared intently at the Ghost Sage Daoist, staggering weakly towards him.

He was now utterly devoid of spiritual energy, but he did not care. Spiritual power could always be restored.

What mattered most now was whether this Binding Spirit Array could truly trap the consciousness of the Ghost Sage Daoist, who had fused tens of thousands of heroic souls.

The Ghost Sage Daoist howled in fury.

Yet it was useless—the Binding Spirit Array was designed specifically to restrain spirit bodies, perfectly countering him.

The array began to contract, confining him to a space barely big enough for one person.

The Ghost Sage Daoist struggled with all his might, but it was futile.

“Just one step away—just one step! I refuse to accept this!” he roared in anger.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng smiled, “At last, you’re trapped.” With that, he collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

Mu Wanqing rushed over and cradled him in her arms. As Zhang Heng gazed at the anxious beauty, he closed his eyes, powerless.

“Miss Mu, I’m fine—just a little tired. Let me rest for a while,” he murmured, settling comfortably in her embrace.

Mu Wanqing had never been this close to a man before, but seeing Zhang Heng so drained, she could not bear to push him away and simply held him as he rested.

Everything seemed to be turning for the better. The others began recovering their strength on the platform, ignoring the Ghost Sage Daoist’s relentless howls.

In truth, Zhang Heng had already recovered. He was only out of spiritual energy and had lost a little blood. With so many spiritual items in his spatial ring, he could easily restore his energy.

But after risking his life for so much, surely he deserved to linger a while longer in the beauty’s arms.

The Ghost Sage Daoist continued to scream. After a thousand years of plotting, to be thwarted at the final moment by a mere youth—how could he accept it?

Helplessly imprisoned by the array, he could only try to bargain with Zhang Heng.

“Young man! If you kill me, you gain nothing. I am a master at the Tribulation Crossing level. Release me, and I will give you resources, guide your cultivation, and help you become the strongest in this world. What do you say?”

At these words, Zhang Heng leapt up from the ground, ignoring Mu Wanqing’s startled expression, and strode straight toward the Ghost Sage Daoist.

Seeing this, the Ghost Sage Daoist grinned smugly, thinking Zhang Heng had agreed. After all, what cultivator would refuse the guidance of a Tribulation Crossing master? With such help, his cultivation would surely soar—anyone would know what to choose.

He continued to entice, “Yes, that’s right—immense resources, great power, beautiful female cultivators beckoning to you. All you need do is remove the Binding Spirit Array from me, and you shall have it all.”

But Zhang Heng was no ordinary man. There was no mentor in the world better than the system.

He had only approached because the Ghost Sage Daoist’s incessant shouting had ruined the atmosphere.

Moreover, this villain had harmed so many cultivators. Just trapping him was not enough—he needed to be destroyed.

“Young man…” the Ghost Sage Daoist tried to continue, but before he could finish, Zhang Heng slapped him hard across the face.

“Keep it down. All your noise is giving me a headache,” Zhang Heng said impatiently.

Mu Wanqing had thought Zhang Heng might have been tempted to release the villain, but seeing his response, she relaxed and a faint smile blossomed on her delicate face.