Dongzi arranged two cushions in the center of the formation, setting up the space for the two of them to conduct the ritual together, then placed the small coffin directly on the ground.

When Xiao He saw the small coffin, she was utterly stunned, as if the very stars had ceased to shine. "Where did you get this? How did you even learn to handle such bizarre things?"

"Sister Xiao He, there's an infant inside. I don't know if it's connected to the Master, but this child seems very important to that female ghost. I can't be sure, but this small infant appears every time the female ghost has killed someone," Dongzi explained to Xiao He with a pretense of clarity.

Hearing this, Xiao He exploded with anger, rising to her feet with a single burst of energy, shaking the chair: "What? This is connected to Zhou Huan? Tell me immediately where this infant came from!"

"Reporting, Sister, the Master and I got it from the belly—no, I mean, from inside the corpse of the deceased," Dongzi stammered, completely flustered by Xiao He's reaction.

Xiao He’s delicate eyebrows shot up, her fair face commanding awe: "Fine. You two go ahead and summon that female ghost. I’d like to see what attitude your Master takes."

"Don't worry, Sister Xiao He, just watch closely. With Tianxiong and me here, nothing can stop us," Dongzi boasted incessantly, while Li Tianxiong remained silent, having already taken his seat on the central cushion ahead of time.

Li Tianxiong first sealed the small coffin with cinnabar, then took out a steamed bun, upon which he wrote the character "Go" (): "Brother Dong, later you must use the same move you used when sparring with me. I think that move is quite effective; summoning Ruan Xiangning shouldn't be a problem."

Dongzi nodded in agreement, and the two began their soul-summoning rites separately. This time, with the small coffin serving as a focal point, the process was slightly easier. Dongzi employed his usual 'Ghost Climbing the Wall' chant, holding an amulet in each hand, shouting: "Amulets rise with both hands, lost souls return to their native place; light a stick of incense, let the fragrant cloud drift and the ghost climb the wall."

Dongzi continued to chant this way, while Li Tianxiong, holding his ritual tool, sat quietly, his Vajra Sutra already prepared—this was Tianxiong's safeguard against unforeseen developments.

The midnight bell tolled. The streetlights outside were dim and hazy; not a single pedestrian remained on the road. Amidst the towering skyscrapers of the city, there was no trace of the daylight’s noise and clamor; that night was gripped by a deathly silence.

"Long call for the soul finds no rest, dots of paper incense sing the spirit's shirt. If the Ghost Lord floats near, call out for the noble child's spirit light to flash!" Li Tianxiong uttered new verses, swaying the incense in his hand back and forth. The incense and talismans in Dongzi's hands all floated up as he, too, chanted his spell.

Xiao He grew irritable listening: "What nonsense are you two chanting? It’s so chaotic!"

"Mistress, just watch from the side and don't move randomly, lest an accident occurs—we won't be able to attend to you!" Li Tianxiong spoke to Xiao He from within the formation. After their exchange, Xiao He quieted down, while Dongzi kept repeating his incantation.

The two worked diligently for a full hour, but there was absolutely no effect. Forget about summoning Ruan Xiangning, a vengeful spirit from a past life; not even a single stray ghost showed its face.

"Tianxiong, what is going on? Why are we struggling so hard and haven't attracted a single ghost?" Dongzi was growing anxious now.

Xiao He also stood up, anxiously asking Tianxiong, "Yes, yes, why hasn't even a shadow of a ghost appeared?"

Li Tianxiong glanced at the sky; the celestial scene was unchanged from before: "Strange today. Why can’t we call a single ghost, not even a wisp of yin wind?"

Dongzi couldn't hold back, standing up and pulling two bundles of talisman paper from his hands, flashing them: "I refuse to believe it! Hmph, perhaps this female ghost doesn't want company for her child. Fine, I'll burn it and see if she shows up then."

In truth, while these people were toiling away, Hong Kun and Shi Bingyuan had already begun their own operation elsewhere. However, the situations on both sides were vastly different. Shi Bingyuan’s summoning worked instantly; he had already filled his entire storefront with spirits, so much so that not even a ghost-fly could escape.

"Hong Kun, go light the Welcome Fires at the entrance. It seems if we don't find a couple of big ghosts, we won't be able to control these minor ones; they're so disobedient, we can't even drive them away," Shi Bingyuan instructed. Hong Kun went out and used his lighter to ignite the two lamps set on stands on either side of the doorway. There was also a large banner already placed, inscribed with the words: "Those who come, come; those who go, go; return, go back!"

These words were penned by Shi Bingyuan with a brush. The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, and though vastly inferior to Zhou Huan's standard, the style was essentially beyond the reach of modern people.

Hong Kun lit the two lamp bases, filled with diesel fuel. The two raging "Welcome Fires" swayed with the night wind.

Shi Bingyuan threaded his thick stack of talismans together with a peach-wood sword, then brandished it back and forth in the air: "Spirit of the lonely, wild ghosts, come forward and speak! Gold and silver ingots are offered!" As soon as he finished speaking, the string of talismans on his peach-wood sword burst into flame.

The talismans burned away. Hong Kun then navigated through the throng of spirits, using his spirit-pushing technique to shove aside the onlookers who had gathered, clearing a wide path. Following behind Hong Kun were two enormous lone spirits. These two stood before Shi Bingyuan, extending their hands, and mumbled in unison: "Give... money!"

Shi Bingyuan grew instantly angry: "You two useless ghosts, can't you speak properly? Can you speak a little faster!" Shi Bingyuan then raised his hand and struck each useless ghost twice with the sword tip.

"Alright, we'll speak quickly! After all these years, we can finally expel this stuff from our throats, hahaha! Master Shi, tell us what you need. We'll complete the task and take the money and leave—oh, I mean, go ghost!" The two ghosts, struck by the sword points, expelled two mouthfuls of yellow phlegm onto the ground.

Shi Bingyuan ordered: "Hong Kun, fetch ten bundles of burning paper and two bags of ingots—give them less than the usual!" Then Shi Bingyuan held a talisman and ignited it toward the two ghosts, saying: "Remember this: drive away every spirit watching here. Afterward, this wealth will be yours. Otherwise, don't blame my talismans for making you suffer."

"Hahaha! That’s easy!" The two ghosts turned around and roared: "Everyone watching here, get lost, or we’ll start killing!" As they spoke, the two ghosts pulled out two guns from their coat pockets—and these were ghostly spectral firearms.

These words proved effective; most of the ghosts departed, leaving only those who were too terrified to move, staring blankly at Shi Bingyuan and the others.

"Damn it, these idiots haven't left yet? Then we'll just shoot them!" The two ghosts aimed their ghost guns, and several white flashes shot out, striking the few foolish ghosts who hadn't moved. In the impact, the forms of several of the killed spirits disintegrated, turning into thick smoke.

"Alright, Brother Evil Ghost, take your money and be gone!" Seeing that no special ghosts remained in the room, Shi Bingyuan turned and sat down. The spirit money and ingots in Hong Kun's hands quickly burned away, and the two ghosts were busy raking the ashes and stuffing them into their pockets.

At that precise moment, a beam of light flew in through Shi Bingyuan's main entrance. With the light's entry came the melodious sound of a bamboo flute. This music was not the desolate sound heard the day before, but rather a sorrow tinged with happiness.

"Master, Ruan Xiangning!" Hong Kun shouted immediately upon seeing the light.

A smile gradually spread across Shi Bingyuan’s face. His grand summoning banquet had indeed worked! The table laden with offerings resembled a feast, complemented by the luxurious twin columns of light at the entrance; how could any ghost resist?

The moment Ruan Xiangning arrived, she immediately struck the two evil ghosts with her hands. Seeing Ruan Xiangning’s rudeness, the two evil ghosts turned and fired a shot each. Ruan Xiangning blew on the bamboo flute in her hand, and a barrier made of sound waves blocked the bullets flying toward her.

"Brother, this is bad! This ghost is stronger than us! Let’s flee!" The two evil ghosts realized the situation was dire and turned to run.

Ruan Xiangning did not pursue them. Still veiled, she stopped playing and pointed her bamboo flute at Shi Bingyuan, cursing furiously: "Old fool who doesn't know how to die, what do you want me here for again? I said it already: once I find my other half, I won't come out to cause trouble anymore. Are you ever going to stop?"

Shi Bingyuan burst into wild laughter: "You ungrateful spirit! How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me, Shi Bingyuan! Zhou Huan fell for your trick because of your past connection, but I, Shi Bingyuan, will not buy your nonsense. Release Zhou Huan immediately! You are separated by yin and yang, you cannot be together—don't you even understand that?"

"Hahaha, what if I understand? What if I don't? He is with me now anyway. Even if he is dead, I am still with him. What’s not to enjoy?" As she spoke, Ruan Xiangning flew onto the offering table, picked up a piece of fruit, and began to eat.

Shi Bingyuan raised one palm, holding a handful of ash and a pinch of cinnabar, chanting: "Gods and ghosts concede, a wave extinguishes the soul; two paths of crossing goods, shoot, shoot, shoot!" With his palm power, two streams of powder shot out.

Ruan Xiangning remained unhurried, enduring the impact with her body. Where the blows landed, white smoke rose, and the flesh turned into pus. The rotting flesh fell away, but the spots where it fell immediately began to regenerate new flesh. In the blink of an eye, fresh flesh covered the wounds that had been as wide as several bowls.

"Hmph hmph hmph! Old man Shi, you think your petty tricks can deal with me? Then I’ll properly show you my might!" As she spoke, Ruan Xiangning blew on her bamboo flute, causing Shi Bingyuan to stagger backward repeatedly.

Hong Kun reacted quickly, twisting two talismans into balls and stuffing them into Shi Bingyuan’s ears while stuffing her own ears as well, trying to prevent injury from the flute sound.

But the one thing neither of them expected happened: Shi Bingyuan and Hong Kun both froze, stunned.