Qu Hua was originally just a Two-Life Tai Chi Cultivator, and now, he was also severely injured. He desperately tried to stall for time, reluctant to act.

But facing Zhang Deming’s decisive, full-force assault, he had no choice but to fight for his life.

’Rune: Wraith!’

The black shadow behind Qu Hua detached from him, shedding its spiritual form and becoming an entity of pure soul.

’Strange Ability: Wraith!’

’Rune: Body Feeding Soul!’

As the Strange Ability and the second Rune Technique activated, faint whispers drifted from the Wraith, and a dark scythe slowly materialized.

At the same time, Qu Hua aged rapidly once more.

He already looked like he had one foot in the grave, and now, after this, his pale, withered hair instantly began to fall out, leaving only a few sparse strands on his head.

The wrinkles on his face deepened, and countless age spots appeared.

His entire body entered a state of complete senescence. He trembled so precariously it seemed a gust of wind could blow him over.

Just then, the scythe finished materializing.

The Wraith glanced back, giving Qu Hua a contemplative look. Then, seeing how little time its master had left, it split its face in a malicious grin.

At that moment, Zhang Deming was ready. The Water Dragon, which had evolved to the point that it now resembled a Flood Dragon, charged directly at Qu Hua.

As the Water Dragon closed in, the shadowy Wraith ducked down, enveloping Qu Hua’s body completely. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Then, it brandished its scythe and began to battle the Water Dragon.

The Water Dragon was on the verge of reaching the power of a Duality Great Cultivator, but the Wraith didn’t even possess the strength of a Tai Chi Three Lives, being at Two-Life Peak at best.

Moreover, the Wraith’s illusory nature was completely useless against the Water Dragon’s attacks, so it was instantly forced onto the defensive.

It was continuously bitten or struck by the Water Dragon. Its misty body would be torn apart from time to time, only for the black mist to surge and automatically repair the damage.

Although it was in a precarious situation, it managed to hold on each time.

Zhang Deming frowned slightly. He could clearly sense that the black mist was also stalling for time.

Whatever it was stalling for, it was definitely not something Zhang Deming wanted to see happen.

Zhang Deming glanced at the battle. He couldn’t intervene at all.

After a moment of contemplation, he raised his hands again, holding them up as if supporting something.

’Rune Technique: Spirit Nurturing Summoning - Feng Mingyou!’

"Dammit! Another one?"

The instant Zhang Deming made his move, a furious and panicked voice emanated from within the Wraith.

As the voice spoke, the shadowy Wraith gave another strange smile, its body rippling slightly as if an internal struggle was taking place.

Zhang Deming paid him no mind. Another sphere of light appeared in his hands, and within it, a teacup bobbed up and down.

This time, Zhang Deming didn’t absorb the sphere of light into his body. Instead, he tossed it out, and the sphere slowly coalesced into a human figure.

"An Outer Body Incarnation? How is that possible? Who in the world are you?" Qu Hua’s shocked voice came from within the Wraith’s body.

The moment the figure appeared, Zhang Deming didn’t summon Feng Mingyou’s consciousness to come and assist in the battle.

A Spiritual Shield rose around his Main Body as he sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The newly formed Mirror Image Body opened its eyes. Without a word, it made a grasping motion with its left hand, causing an illusory teacup to appear, while a stream of water flowed from its right.

"Wait, you’re no ordinary person either, are you? We can cooperate," Qu Hua said urgently.

Zhang Deming completely ignored him, raising a hand to pour the stream of water into the teacup.

"I have a tea, named Augment. I invite you to partake!"

Steam rose from the teacup and flowed into the Water Dragon’s body.

The rising steam was not only of the same Water Element as the dragon, but it was also a boost of power from the exact same source and nature. Under this empowerment, the Water Dragon instantly broke through the final barrier.

"ROAR..."

The Water Dragon tilted its head back and let out a long, melodious Dragon’s cry.

Its eyes were remarkably lifelike, as if it had truly become a living creature. Its power, having barely broken through to the Duality realm, was now on full display.

Due to the immense Tier suppression, combined with the fact that its summoner was severely injured and it was showing signs of rebellion, the Wraith was completely outmatched.

The Water Dragon first whipped its tail, shattering more than half of the Wraith’s body.

Immediately after, it opened its mouth and spat out a Water Arrow. There was no suspense at all; the impact directly blasted the Wraith into dissipation.

A trembling, frail body was sent flying out from the impact.

The moment the ancient figure appeared, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

At the same time, the last bit of life force remaining in his body was expelled along with that mouthful of blood.

Although he had only just died, a thick aura of death qi quickly began to emanate from his aged corpse.

The Water Dragon couldn’t be bothered with any of that. It raised a claw and snatched the corpse, tearing it into a sky-full of bloody mist.

It then flicked its tail at the sky, and the Trapping Array dissipated.

The instant he could see outside clearly, Zhang Deming’s pupils contracted violently.

Feng Mingyou’s Mirror Image dissipated instantly, and the Main Body’s eyes snapped open.

A Vine shot out and rapidly coiled around some of the items Qu Hua had dropped. There was no time to inspect them.

Light Wings appeared at Zhang Deming’s heels. He leaped onto the Water Dragon’s back. The dragon, barely at the Duality realm, carried Zhang Deming as it flicked its tail and shot off into the distance.

After flying at lightning speed for half a kilometer, the Water Dragon dissipated, and a pale-faced Zhang Deming landed on the ground.

Just then, Zhang Deming sensed something and whipped his head around. He saw that back at their battle site, not far away, a mirror-like surface resembling a lake had appeared.

The mirror’s surface rippled slightly. All traces of their battle were swallowed by the mirror. Qu Hua’s pulverized flesh and blood also sank into its depths.

In just a few short moments, everything had vanished.

Watching all of this, Zhang Deming took a sharp, cold breath. ’Good thing I was fast enough. Otherwise, I might have been invited back for tea... hm... more like, to be fed upon.’