The specter in the air roared with intense, piercing cries. Zhou Huan focused his gaze and saw the plume of black smoke near the second-floor windowsill repeatedly hurtling toward him. Moments later, an old woman, surprisingly robust despite her appearance, stood in the center of the formation, clad in a long cloak, with streaked white hair and a sickly green face. When she turned her head, Zhou Huan could hardly believe his eyes. Though her hair was a stark, almost unacceptable white, her face possessed skin so youthful and features so beautiful that it was impossible to guess what manner of evil entity she was. Yet, she clutched an infant, seemingly less than a month old, and smiled at Zhou Huan: "You are superfluous. I have long since acquainted myself with every formation you lot research. Tell me, which gods can you summon today?"

"Old woman, old woman, I truly cannot discern what kind of hag you are, but you certainly look rather young. However, why must you consume children? If you had simply taken the child that someone suffered to bring into the world, that might be one thing," Zhou Huan retorted. The old woman merely laughed harder upon hearing this.

Following a burst of maniacal laughter, the crone hoisted the child in her arms and declared, "Watch closely, and I will show you the benefits of eating infants. See how white my hair is? I shall eat him now!" The old woman tossed the child high into the air. As the infant descended, she caught him and brutally snapped him over her knee, bisecting the small body. Then, she opened her monstrous, blood-soaked maw and began devouring the child piece by piece, her mouth dripping with gore. The crimson sight seemed to exhilarate the spectral entity.

"Master, what was that move? I couldn't see it at all. She actually completed that entire sequence—even ate the child. What do we do now?" Shi Bingyuan asked Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan offered no immediate reply, instead addressing the hag: "Do you comprehend the enormity of your sin right now? Do you know how utterly wicked your heart must be to push your speed beyond human perception? Is that truly a virtue? You may very well find yourself in the eighteenth layer of hell, unable to find redemption for eons!"

"Hahahaha, I crawled out of hell myself. Who dares to stop me? I won't leave empty-handed this time. Since I have encountered you, Zhou Huan, it must be our karmic destiny. Hand over your child. Stop waving that ridiculous formation around to show off; I find it thoroughly tiresome to hear and to witness." The old ghoul mumbled ceaselessly. Zhou Huan's expression grew increasingly resolved. He finally achieved a certain level of mastery, allowing the two streams of True Qi within him to operate in perfect harmony. Shi Bingyuan mirrored his master, also circulating his internal True Qi, which flowed identically to Zhou Huan's two streams.

Hong Kun’s True Qi remained in its original state. Tian Xiong’s Qi had now returned, transforming the disciples’ auras entirely; they now possessed a distinctly Buddhist flavor—slow yet powerful, tumultuous yet serene, as if utterly unblemished by dust. It was an unconventional circulation of power.

"Hahaha, you lot are quite amusing. Don't think I, this old woman, am ignorant and know nothing. Hong Kun’s Qi is clearly that of the Longevity Master Sect—no debate there. Tian Xiong’s power originates from Wutai. As for you, Zhou Huan, and you, Shi Bingyuan, both of your energies come from several reclusive grandmasters. I know these individuals, and we are on good terms, so I won't reveal their identities. Hmph! With your superficial parlor tricks, you think you can contend with me? Fighting my energy will exhaust you! Let me show you the true might of my spirit form again. Your Qi flows too sluggishly. Watch this!" As the old ghoul spoke, her spirit form began to swell. Her long white hair fanned out in all directions, and her cloak billowed high behind her. An intensely bright black energy continuously churned within every corner of her spirit body, accelerating to a speed that was almost unbearable.

Zhou Huan remained still, and Shi Bingyuan sat like an unmoving statue. Tian Xiong’s mental fortitude, honed recently, was exceptional. Hong Kun’s focus lagged slightly; seeing the hag's physical transformation, he froze, trembling, unable to utter a sound. "Old woman, what kind of cursed trick is this?"

"Ha!" The old ghoul spat out a gout of black miasma, which struck Hong Kun squarely on the chest. Hong Kun instantly rocketed backward, slamming violently into the corner of the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Hong Kun, regardless of the cost, get back to your post!" Zhou Huan commanded. His eyes snapped open, and he condensed the True Qi in his hands, snatching up a talisman paper. He flung a Ten Thousand Buddha Curse talisman straight toward the old ghoul. However, the ghoul’s spirit form possessed incredible agility and simply phased through it, immediately retaliating by hurling another stream of black energy back at Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan expertly dodged the returning attack. In this manner, the four figures within the formation exchanged blows with the ghoul’s spirit form for nearly two hours, achieving no decisive victory. Neither side suffered injury or visible harm. This stalemate began to make Zhou Huan anxious, as the appointed time had not yet arrived to fully activate the Nine Palaces Heavenly Gate Formation he had prepared. Although he possessed the formation talismans and incantations, their power was drastically diminished compared to the formation in its complete state.

"Zhou Huan, is that all the tricks you have? Come on, keep fighting if you dare! I’m not afraid of any of you, hahahaha! Today, this old crone intends to have you join my ranks, granting you true freedom from serving others, listening to orders, and having to spend money. Look how easy my life is: defy me and you get beaten; get hungry, and I eat a child. Nowadays, mothers don't even want their babies; they plan abortions the moment they conceive. Raising you lot shouldn't be an issue at all," the ghoul cackled with arrogant triumph.

Hong Kun, his mouth full of foul blood, spat it a great distance, then slowly began to readjust his True Qi. His eyes, though pained, were fixed on the ghoul. "Ghoul, you hurt me today, didn't you? Fine. I promise I will make you pay for this later." Suddenly, Hong Kun shot forward, his hands transforming from fists to open palms, flying horizontally toward the old woman.

The old ghoul’s massive mouth snapped open and clamped down tightly on Hong Kun's head, as he shrieked loudly, seemingly preparing to swallow him whole.

Zhou Huan broke into a cold sweat upon seeing this. That was his apprentice! This was a life-threatening situation. Zhou Huan immediately flew forward, rushing to the hag’s side. First, he transformed his True Qi into a spirit form and seized the ghoul by the jaw, applying counter-leverage upward. Although Hong Kun’s head was temporarily safe from being severed, it couldn't be pulled free. At that very moment, Tian Xiong began shouting from below the platform: "Nine Palaces Heavenly Gate Formation, Green Tara, hasten to your death!"

Tian Xiong conjured a Myriad Buddha Talisman in his hand, chanted the required verse, sprang high into the air, and sent the talisman hurtling directly toward the ghoul’s face.

Shi Bingyuan followed suit, preparing his own talisman, leaping high into the air toward the ghoul’s face. With the combined force of both, while Zhou Huan fiercely grasped the ghoul’s spirit body, the two talismans struck the ghoul's visage squarely. Upon impact, a rolling, dark green vapor erupted from the hag’s face, followed by her huge mouth slowly opening in an expression of agony so profound it seemed unbearable even to an outsider.

Streams of corrosive green fluid began to seep from the old ghoul’s face, their potent sourness stinging her eyes and nose. Seizing the moment, Zhou Huan plastered all the prepared talismans he carried onto the ghoul’s body. The hag suddenly became light as a feather, drifting ethereally in the air, her spirit seemingly devoid of will, floating aimlessly on the cool night breeze, drifting toward an unknown destination.

Zhou Huan roared instantly, "Apprentices, stop her! Don't let her escape!" The disciples each rushed to their positions. Combined with the Buddhist Myriad Buddha Curse, the power of the Nine Palaces Heavenly Gate Formation should have been immense. However, since the Nine Palaces had not yet fully manifested and the Heavenly Gate remained closed that night, they lacked that ultimate power, relying instead on the strength of the four supporting fighters.

Fortunately, the four masters' combined efforts managed to blast the old ghoul’s spirit away. But to everyone's utter astonishment, the ghoul’s spirit suddenly became misty and intangible, slowly ascending into the air before vanishing completely.

"Master, what happened? The ghoul's body has disappeared?" Shi Bingyuan asked, frantic.

Zhou Huan was equally distressed. "It's over. It seems our efforts tonight were in vain. We failed to neutralize that creature."

"Master, where do you think she went? Perhaps...?" Tian Xiong suspected the spirit hadn't vanished but had likely employed a spirit invisibility technique, temporarily retreating to recuperate. After all, dawn was approaching, and she couldn't afford to tangle with Zhou Huan and the others much longer, which was why Tian Xiong voiced this possibility.

Zhou Huan let out a long breath. "Bingyuan, you have one hundred days to fully open the Nine Palaces Heavenly Gate. At the hour of Zi [11 PM to 1 AM], we must draw in the vital energies of Heaven and Earth. Tomorrow night is our crucial moment; we absolutely cannot let this ghoul escape again. During the day, Tian Xiong and I will focus on healing Hong Kun. Tonight, no one in the formation can be missing. The ghoul has likely suffered losses, and if she reappears, she will be exceedingly cautious. Therefore, we must hurry, maximize our rest, and launch a full assault tonight."

With Zhou Huan's arrangements made, the apprentices eagerly dispersed to prepare. Throughout the day, Zhou Huan did not see Xiao He awaken; she remained in a deep slumber. Dongzi was diligently writing out his talismans, meticulously crafting each one. Zhou Huan did not disturb him, instead pulling Hong Kun into his room to begin treatment. In the kitchen, Yang Xiaoling and Da Luobo managed the household affairs; given the circumstances, Xiaoling could not continue her business elsewhere and had to delegate management to others.