However, after reforming, his—or rather, her—appearance had changed drastically.

She was no longer an androgynous man, but a very beautiful and bewitching woman.

This caused Zhang Deming’s dark expression to lighten slightly—but only just.

Aside from the fact that she was a woman, it was also because Zhang Deming had identified her as a Charmer of the Strange Ability Class.

These types of people mostly followed a path focused on extreme control.

They were extremely dangerous, but if their control abilities failed, that danger level would plummet.

"A plant-type Mage?" the woman asked.

"Who are you?

I don’t believe we’ve met.

So why are you targeting me?

Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me?

As for that Extreme Charm Path of yours... forget it. I don’t think I could handle you!

Besides, I’m not really into that sort of thing!" Zhang Deming said quickly, remaining on high alert.

The woman’s expression stiffened slightly. Looking at Zhang Deming, she said, "It’s true, we don’t know each other. I just owed someone a favor, so I’m helping them go fishing.

Hm?

Oh, looks like he’s here. Well, bye-bye. See you around if we’re fated to meet again."

With that, the woman dissolved into a cloud of pink mist and drifted away.

Her Escape Skill was commendable; it had traces of true Magic.

Of course, for a Strange Ability User following such an extreme path, it made sense. If her self-preservation skills weren’t strong, she might as well have given up on cultivation entirely.

Zhang Deming was completely bewildered. All he’d figured out so far was that he had been targeted and someone was trying to ’fish’ for him, but their hook had come up empty.

’What now? A direct ambush?’

But Zhang Deming didn’t make a rash move. The instant the woman vanished into a cloud of mist, he clearly felt a weak One-Star Trapping Array materialize around him.

The Array wasn’t strong, but breaking through it would still take more than the blink of an eye.

At the same time, a sensation of being locked onto kept him from making any sudden moves.

CLAP... CLAP... CLAP...

As Zhang Deming stood on alert, the sound of clapping rang out.

Zhang Deming turned his head and saw a somewhat stooped figure in the distance slowly approaching.

As the figure slowly drew near, Zhang Deming got a clear look at him.

He was stooped and his face was gaunt, looking as if he had one foot in the grave. He was clearly a stranger, and yet he gave Zhang Deming a sense of familiarity.

He was clearly an old man with one foot in the grave, yet he carried himself with the affectations of a dapper young lord, creating a jarring contradiction.

Clapping his hands slowly, he stepped forward, sized Zhang Deming up for a moment, and said, "You really aren’t easy to find, are you?"

Zhang Deming looked at him in confusion. "Sir, do we know each other?"

The old man chuckled. A tattered, black shadow rose up from behind him, guarding him like a guardian spirit.

Zhang Deming’s expression changed drastically. It was him—the Strange Ability Soulless, Qu Hua!

No wonder! No wonder he seemed familiar.

’Good grief,’ he thought. ’It’s been over half a year. How did he end up like this?’

’Back then, he looked like he was in his twenties or thirties. Now he has one foot in the grave.’

"So, how did you find me?" Zhang Deming asked.

Zhang Deming hadn’t expected an answer, but to his surprise, Qu Hua replied smoothly.

"If that Wandering Soul Mist hadn’t spent some time inside me, you might have truly vanished without a trace."

Zhang Deming frowned. He wasn’t carrying the main ingredients for his advancement; he had left them in the Qingyou Jade Pavilion.

As if sensing Zhang Deming’s confusion, Qu Hua thoughtfully explained:

"The aura of that stuff is incredibly unique. Once you touch it, its scent won’t dissipate for years unless you use special methods to remove it.

On top of that, the Strange Ability Class is obscure knowledge to begin with, and Wraiths are even rarer. I imagine you wouldn’t know about this."

"So..."

Zhang Deming’s frown deepened. From their previous encounter, he knew Qu Hua was no fool.

For him to be speaking so amicably, even offering such a detailed explanation... something was clearly wrong.

’Right! I discovered them suddenly and attacked immediately, which should have caught both Qu Hua and the woman off guard. So, what kind of technique is he trying to prepare that requires so much time?’

The moment he figured it out, Zhang Deming stopped listening to Qu Hua’s explanation and, without another word, attacked.

’Vine: Thorny Earth Spike!’

Innumerable thorny vines erupted from the ground, shooting toward Qu Hua.

The black shadow behind Qu Hua reacted instantly, enveloping him. For a moment, his entire body became ethereal.

Dozens of thorns passed right through his body.

His form still ethereal, Qu Hua glanced at the surrounding thorns. "The last time we met, you were only an Apprentice. This time, you’re already a Tai Chi Cultivator.

That must be thanks to what you gained last time, right?

You’re quite lucky, aren’t you?

Hmm. Last time, you chose the Fetal Jade. So, you’re a Plant System Summoner?"

He glanced again at the surrounding thorns. "So, these vines are alive, are they not?

What a pity. As a Wraith, I’m afraid I’m a natural counter to you."

As he spoke, he moved out of the vines’ range. The now-limp thorns attempted to entangle him, but it was futile.

Qu Hua’s form solidified back into that of an old man, a massive, tattered black shadow looming behind him as he stared at Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. "Is that so? If you’re such a perfect counter, why haven’t you attacked yet?

You’ve been stalling this whole time. What are you planning?

As much as I’d love to stay and chat, I’m afraid I don’t like taking chances.

Do you really think victory is already in your grasp?"

At Zhang Deming’s words, Qu Hua’s brow twitched.

Zhang Deming didn’t give him any more time; he was already making his move as he spoke.

’Technique: Enhancement Skill!’

’Rune Technique: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique - Qu Qingxian!’

The two Techniques activated almost simultaneously.

The instant he finished speaking, Zhang Deming cupped his hands before his chest, and a white ball of light materialized between them.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Deming thrust the ball of light into his own body.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Deming’s aura surged, transforming him from an early-stage Tai Chi Cultivator into a Peak Tai Chi Cultivator on the verge of breaking through to the Duality realm.

The perpetually composed Qu Hua’s expression changed drastically.

"A Three Lives Tai Chi Peak Cultivator? How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible!"

Wasting no more words, Zhang Deming waved his hand, and a Water Dragon instantly spiraled out from him.

Simultaneously, a stream of water shot from Zhang Deming’s palm into the top of the Water Dragon’s head. The creature’s eyes instantly came alive with spirit.

"Rune Technique: Spirit Water Technique!"

Without the slightest pause, Zhang Deming raised his hand again.

"Rune Technique: Dragon Horn!"

A single Dragon Horn slowly sprouted from the head of the Water Dragon, which had the form of a Hornless Chi Dragon.

Under the dual enhancement, the Water Dragon’s aura exploded, fully reaching the level of a Pseudo-Duality Cultivator.

After a brief moment of shock, Qu Hua also moved to act.

...