Su Nian's bronze bell trembled violently, unleashing a screeching sonic wave.The shikigami turned on each other in a frenzy, and their splattered remains scalded Chen Jiuzhang's hand, making him flinch.
From the black mist, Watanabe Miyuki emerged. Behind her floated a terrifying construct—the Demon-Suppressing Puppet, formed from seventy-two mechanical corpses, with a fake Heavenly Master Talisman embedded in its chest, glowing blood-red.
"You think two more nobodies can turn the tide?"She raised her hand. The puppet's massive fist tore through the air, crashing down toward Shen Qingluan.
Chen Jiuzhang's pupils contracted. He slashed with the Serpent-Slaying Blade, but the moment it touched the puppet, a strange force deflected it.Shen Qingluan's Imperial Seal fragment shield cracked under the pressure, fissures spreading rapidly.Coughing blood, she still managed a crooked smile:
"What are you spacing out for, Jiuzhang? Gonna watch me get turned into a Ziwei Star pancake?"
Beneath her joking tone was a stubborn defiance that ached to witness.For ten years, Chen Jiuzhang had stood unshaken while being hunted. Yet now, her pale smile shattered his composure.
"Cousin! Over here!"Su Nian hurled the bell into the air. Nine chains burst from it, binding the puppet's joints.Sweat beaded on her brow as she gritted her teeth.
"This bell was forged from ancestral Soul-Suppressing Bronze of the Blade Credit Clan. It can only hold it for ten seconds!"
Suddenly, Old Wu appeared behind the puppet, flinging the Prophecy Scroll into the air. It exploded into a cloud of talismans.
"Kids! Find its weak spot! This old man's prophetic map won't hold for long!"
Zhang Chengying sped around the puppet on his flaming electric scooter, the front compass spinning like mad.
"I see it! The fake Heavenly Master Talisman in its chest is resonating with Watanabe's Yin-Yang Jade! If we cut that connection—"
He didn't finish. A shikigami's claw slashed past his cheek, scorching his Thunderstruck Wood USB stick in the basket.
Chen Jiuzhang fixated on the flashing red glow in the puppet's chest.The Heavenly Master fragment in his pocket burned hot.Then he remembered what Chen Xuanshuang once told him:
"A complete Heavenly Master Talisman can command the power of Earth's leylines."
And now—the tremors beneath the earth were pulsing in sync with the puppet's strikes.
"So that's it!"
He bit his tongue, spraying blood onto Zhang's compass.
"Twenty-Eight Constellations—Dragon of Metal in the Neck—lend me the Earth's power to bind its soul!"
Golden light erupted from beneath the ground, only to be devoured by the puppet's red glow.Watanabe Miyuki laughed triumphantly.
"Too late! The soul of Yamata no Orochi is about to be reborn through the puppet!"
Shen Qingluan suddenly grabbed Jiuzhang's hand and forced the Imperial Seal fragment into his palm.
"Use my strength. Remember what Master Zhang said—'The breaker of the game is the human heart.'"
Her fingers were ice-cold, yet they ignited a fire in his chest.
The bell on Su Nian's waist let out a low, strained hum.The chains began to shatter one by one.
In that critical moment, Chen Jiuzhang overlapped the Heavenly Master fragment, the Imperial Seal piece, and the Serpent-Slaying Blade.
"By the blood of the Zhang clan, let Heaven and Earth bear witness!"
Three-colored light shot into the sky.The fake talisman in the puppet's chest shattered instantly.
Watanabe Miyuki screamed as the exploding Yin-Yang Jade launched her backward.The Demon-Suppressing Puppet collapsed with a thunderous crash.
As the dust settled, Shen Qingluan collapsed softly into Chen Jiuzhang's arms.Su Nian retrieved the bell, her face pale as paper.
"Cousin… that battle drained all the bell's power…"
Before she could finish, the sound of helicopters roared in the distance—reinforcements from the Paranormal Research Institute had arrived.
Old Wu rolled up the Prophecy Scroll like a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke that spelled the character for "Leave".
"Kids, Sanxingdui is no place to linger.Time to seek the secrets of the Guixu Ruins."
Chen Jiuzhang hoisted Shen Qingluan onto his back, glancing at his battered but resolute companions.
At his waist, Su Nian's bell chimed faintly, echoing the pulse of his birthmark.
He knew—this was just one stop on a long journey.
Beyond lay even greater threats, and deeper mysteries waiting to be unraveled.