Chapter 71: If One Shot Isn’t Enough, Then Let There Be Two

After sending the Burhams out of the room, Zoe reached out with a wave of her hand, and a black satchel appeared out of thin air. She drew from it a small silver vial, unscrewed the cap, and walked to the center of the room. Slowly, she poured the contents onto the floor—fine silver powder that settled into a beautifully intricate form:

A hexagram.

Seeing the silver six-pointed star, Lin Xiao mused. The hexagram was a foundational symbol in the occult, representing mysterious powers; it was often referenced in films and television.

“Move the child over and place him at the center of the hexagram. I’m going to recite the exorcism incantation and drive out the demonic power within him.

I don’t know what tier of demon this power originates from. If anything goes awry, do not panic. Just restrain the host with all your strength, and our lives will not be in danger.”

Zoe’s voice was grave as she warned him. Lin Xiao did as instructed, promising aloud not to panic, though inwardly he felt anything but confident.

He’d performed two exorcisms before, but he couldn’t guarantee this one would go smoothly.

The Mind Flayer that had possessed Will, and the witch’s wraith that had overtaken Joey’s body, both belonged to the world of the uncanny, but their terror and mystery were nothing compared to demons.

A demon, after all, was a true devil, said to be an angel who had fallen into hell and been transformed into a being of both divine and infernal nature—creatures unlike any Mind Flayer or witch’s ghost.

Lin Xiao even doubted that, even with a second awakening as the True Dragon Star Lord, he could match a demon, let alone now, before his transformation was complete. Was he really ready to confront such a being?

“You needn’t worry, Mr. Byers. This isn’t a true demon—only a trace of demonic power projected into the child’s body.

Had it gone undiscovered, it would have gradually taken over his mind, molding him into a monstrous soul. By absorbing more and more evil, he would eventually truly wield demonic power.

Right now, the power has just awakened, and the child’s mind is resisting, struggling against the demonic influence. This is the best possible moment for us to exorcise it.”

Zoe explained gently, and only then did Lin Xiao breathe a little easier. He certainly didn’t want to lose his life over a yacht—he could buy a boat any time, but where was he supposed to buy another life?

He lifted the little boy and placed him inside the hexagram. Afraid the child might struggle, Lin Xiao chopped him on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold.

Zoe shook her head helplessly—this guy was far too rough. How could he treat a child with such force? What if he scarred the little one’s fragile heart?

She went on setting up around the formation, pulling out bottles and jars, arranging them around the hexagram. Then she took from her satchel a vial of red potion and, with great care, let a drop fall onto the boy’s forehead.

At that very moment, the boy’s eyes snapped open. Zoe, startled, responded with a quick punch, knocking him out once more.

Lin Xiao coughed awkwardly and pretended nothing had happened.

Zoe flushed slightly as she stood, embarrassed, and pretended likewise. The two exchanged a tacit understanding, saying nothing more.

Zoe then put away her staff and vials, waved her hand to make the satchel vanish once again, and pressed her palms together, chanting a long incantation in an unfamiliar tongue.

Lin Xiao listened, completely bewildered. It reminded him of listening to English audio exams in college—he heard the sounds but understood not a word.

Did he pass those exams? What do you think?

As Zoe’s chanting continued, the red liquid on the boy’s forehead began to shine with a brilliant crimson light. A holy aura radiated outward, filling the entire room.

The unconscious boy stirred and awoke again, his face twisted with rage as he glared at them, struggling to rise.

A large foot descended from above, pinning his chest firmly to the ground. Lin Xiao looked down at the little troublemaker and sneered.

“What are you staring at, kid? Think I won’t smack you? I’ll hit you so hard even your mom won’t recognize you.”

The boy’s eyes bulged, veins standing out against his skin in frightening relief as the markings on his face grew ever clearer.

Zoe was drenched in sweat, chanting faster than ever—more fluent than any monk reciting sutras. Who knew if she’d secretly taken extra lessons? Her speed was uncanny.

Suddenly, the boy let out a howl of agony, spewing a cloud of black smoke straight at Lin Xiao’s face.

“I was ready for you.”

Lin Xiao raised his right hand and unleashed the Holy Light skill without hesitation. With two exorcisms under his belt, he knew these things always liked to spit something nasty at you, so he’d been braced from the start.

The dazzling holy light met the black smoke in midair, the two canceling each other out with a crackling sizzle like steak on a hot iron plate.

Zoe had been about to pause her chanting, but seeing Lin Xiao block the evil miasma, she pressed on, the incantation accelerating further. Her hands moved unconsciously, forming mysterious gestures.

As Lin Xiao maintained the Holy Light, he glanced at Zoe’s motions, thinking, There’s always overlap between East and West, isn’t there? That gesture—wasn’t it just like a village shaman summoning spirits back in China? Do you all have the same teacher or what?

The black smoke pouring from the boy clearly wasn’t inexhaustible. After a dozen seconds, he ran out of breath. Zoe quickly warned:

“His malice has been forced out—the demon’s projection is about to manifest! We cannot let it escape! Do you have any powerful attacks?”

She hadn’t thought much of Lin Xiao’s abilities before, thinking he’d be of little help. But after he blocked the evil energy, she realized she’d underestimated him, and instinctively asked for his input.

“Powerful attacks? As it happens, I’ve just learned one. I’ll go on the offensive—you focus on protecting me.”

Lin Xiao didn’t dare act recklessly in the face of a demon’s projection. Caution was always wise; most men liked to show off in front of beautiful women, but when your life was on the line, modesty was best.

Zoe nodded solemnly. Her magic leaned toward defense, not offense, but the skill Lin Xiao had just used was clearly formidable, hardly weaker than her own.

Lin Xiao marshaled his mana, the heat gathering in his palms, ready at any moment to summon a Lightning Talisman and strike that wretched demon projection head-on.

Suddenly, the boy shot upright. A black shadow burst from his crown and fled wildly toward the window.

“Now!” Zoe cried.

Lin Xiao raised his right hand, palm aimed at the shadow. At his will, the Lightning Talisman coalesced, and a thick white bolt of lightning crashed down from above, striking the black phantom dead-on.

A shrill, inhuman scream rang out. The shadow grew hazy, but still it did not dissipate, writhing frantically as it tried to escape.

Zoe leveled her staff and unleashed an invisible force, binding the shadow fast. Her ability, in fact, was very similar to Number 11’s.

Lin Xiao, long accustomed to working in tandem with Number 11, seized the fleeting opportunity. If one lightning bolt wasn’t enough, he’d just use another.

Holy Light!

Spear of Light!

He unleashed three consecutive Holy Light skills, hurling three radiant spears that struck the shadow, which howled in agony, writhing in midair.

Zoe’s face had turned pale as she struggled to hold the shadow fast, sweat beading on her brow. Urgently, she cried:

“I can’t hold on much longer! Your lightning attack was very effective—why aren’t you using it again?”

“Because I can only use it again when my mana drops below a certain threshold.”

Lightning Talisman!