The icy sea fog, like tentacles soaked in shrouds, clung to every inch of the cargo ship's steel. The world was compressed into a gray, deathly silence, and the twisted, black figures—"ghost boys"—that steadily approached from the depths of the fog. They glided silently across the water, their paths seemingly devouring even the faint shimmer of the waves, leaving only a deeper darkness. The sorcerer's whispers, resonating directly into the soul, were like maggots in the bones, trying to penetrate the depths of everyone's consciousness, sowing fear and chaos.
"Hold your composure!" Lin Xingyun's low cry, like a morning bell, startled Aisha and several crew members, who had nearly been possessed by the demonic voice. He stepped forward, blocking the way. The newly formed "Compassionate Buddha's Hand Pattern" warmed his palm slightly, emitting a gentle yet resolute warmth that dispelled the surrounding chill. This Buddha's Hand Pattern seemed to possess a natural restraint against these sinister creatures. "Playing tricks!" Buakaw roared, his powerful energy blazing like a furnace, a faint red glow beneath his bronze skin. The whispers from his soul, meeting his intensely masculine and virile aura, were like ice meeting the scorching sun, their effect diminished. He clashed his fists, a dull thud echoing, his fighting spirit high.
Nguyen Thi Mai said nothing, quietly moving to the side of the boat and lightly pressing her hands against the water. Her aodai gown fluttered without a breeze, and the silver rings on her earlobes chimed rapidly. She was communicating with the polluted waters, attempting to regain control. Her clear eyes, reflecting the gray mist, gave her a particularly solemn expression. "The underwater 'vitality' has been suppressed. Something is polluting this sea."
Ayesha took a deep breath and quickly pulled several pieces of batik cloth from her bag. Her hands deftly pieced them together, hanging them at the cabin entrance and strategic locations. The ancient patterns on the cloth, symbolizing "exorcism," "calming," and "protection," gradually dimmed, forming a simple yet effective barrier that shielded most of the crew, blocking the direct impact of the demonic sound and slowing the approaching "ghosts" as if they had collided with an invisible wall.
The battle erupted instantly!
The first few "ghosts" to reach the deck let out silent screams, brandishing their shadowy claws as they lunged at Lin Xingyun. Lin Xingyun's eyes fixed, but he didn't dodge. Instead, he thrust forward the spiritual energy imbued with the "Compassionate Buddha's Hand Pattern" in his palm! There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a gentle, peaceful, yet immensely purifying golden ripple.
As the ripples passed over the "ghosts," these spirits, composed of resentment and shadow, hissed softly as if thrown into a blazing fire. They instantly twisted and dissipated, leaving only faint wisps of black smoke. The purifying power of the Buddha's Hand Pattern was remarkably effective!
However, the number of "ghosts" seemed endless, constantly pouring out of the fog. Even more troubling, the sorcerer holding the black smoke puppet muttered something, and the puppet's eyes glowed red. An even more sinister and powerful mental attack, like an invisible hammer, smashed down on Lin Xingyun!
Lin Xingyun groaned, feeling as if his soul was being torn apart, his consciousness blurring. This sorcerer's mental power far surpassed any opponent he had encountered before!
"Your opponent is me!" Buakaw roared, charging towards the bow, his target aimed squarely at the sorcerer! He didn't understand mental attacks, but he believed the strongest defense was offense! Disrupt the caster, and all spells would be shattered!
But the sorcerer had clearly been prepared. Buakaw had barely taken a few steps when, from the shadows of the deck beneath his feet, several shadow pythons, as thick as bowls, composed entirely of inky black energy, suddenly burst forth! These shadow pythons were many times more powerful than the previous ones. They not only bound and encircled, but also breathed a corrosive breath of darkness!
Buakaw's punches and kicks were swift, his fiery energy striking the approaching shadow pythons, causing them to hiss and dissipate the black energy. However, the shadow pythons, numerous and fearless, quickly entangled him!
Elsewhere, Nguyen Thi Mai's battle unfolded silently. Beads of sweat streamed down her forehead as she battled with the sorcerer for control of the seawater. Tiny ice crystals began to form in the mist, a sign of the water element being violently tugged at by two forces. She attempted to raise a massive wave to crash into the sorcerer's base (perhaps a hidden boat or some magically created platform), but countless shadowy hands seemed to be tugging at her from beneath the surface.
Ayesha maintained the barrier while continuously throwing small pieces of batik cloth with sharp patterns. These pieces hurled like darts at the "ghost boy" and the shadow pythons. While not lethal, they effectively disrupted their movements or left burning marks on them, relieving the pressure on Lin Xingyun and Buakaw.
The battle reached a stalemate. Lin Xingyun relied on the Buddha's Hand Mark to barely withstand the sorcerer's mental attacks and the attacks of the "ghosts," but the energy drain was immense. Buakaw was trapped by the Shadow Python, unable to close in. Nguyen Thi Mai also struggled with the underwater battle.
This wasn't going to work! Lin Xingyun's mind raced, realizing he had to break the deadlock. He noticed that the sorcerer's power seemed to derive most of his power from the puppet in his hand, which continuously emitted black smoke!
"Aisha! Nguyen Thi Mai! Help me!" Lin Xingyun shouted, deciding to take a risky gamble!
He suddenly channeled most of his spiritual energy into the "Shadow Snake Witch Mark." His figure suddenly became ethereal, a shadowy afterimage that almost blended into the mist. Ignoring the "ghosts" around him, he weaved his way towards the sorcerer at breakneck speed! This was the ultimate use of the Shadow Escape technique! "Delusion!" The sorcerer sensed Lin Xingyun's intention, and a red light blazed in the puppet's eyes. More shadow pythons leaped out from the shadows on all sides, attempting to intercept Lin Xingyun! Simultaneously, a stronger mental attack locked onto him!
At this crucial moment!
Aisha bit her fingertip, smeared a drop of blood on a piece of batik cloth emblazoned with the "Evil-Breaking Arrow" pattern, and hurled it with all her might! The cloth transformed into a stream of light, not attacking the sorcerer, but aiming precisely at the deck in front of Lin Xingyun! As the cloth landed, the pattern on it shone brightly, forming a brief golden tunnel. Wherever it passed, the attacking shadow pythons retreated as if they had met their nemesis!
Nguyen Thi Mai also gave a delicate cry, abandoning her struggle with the entire waters and focusing all her strength on a single point: the water beneath the sorcerer's feet! She suddenly raised her hands upward! "Boom!" A massive column of water erupted from beneath the sorcerer, like a dragon emerging from the sea! Although he failed to strike directly (blocked by an invisible barrier), it significantly disrupted his spellcasting!
Now!
Lin Xingyun, shielded by the golden channel, slithered past the Shadow Python's interception like a ghost, appearing in an instant not far ahead of the sorcerer! The Chris dagger in his hand erupted with unprecedented brilliance, the wavy patterns on the blade seeming to come alive, drawing in the surrounding water vapor and starlight (although obscured by mist, the star power remained)!
He didn't attack directly with the sword. Instead, he held the dagger upright in front of his chest, his left hand, fingers together like a knife, pressing against the blade's spine! The power of his "Compassionate Buddha Hand Mark" and "Shadow Snake Witch Mark" merged in an unprecedented way. Through the dagger's medium, it transformed into an invisible and intangible spiritual blade imbued with the power of purification and severing. It traversed space and slashed the soul connection between the sorcerer and his puppet! "Puff!"
The sorcerer, struck by lightning, suddenly spat out a mouthful of pitch-black blood. The puppet in his hand cracked with a sharp sound, and the black smoke suddenly dissipated! For the first time, his abyssal eyes revealed a look of horror!
"You... you actually managed to sever the connection to the 'soul puppet'?! Impossible!" The sorcerer's aura instantly withered, and the surrounding fog began to fluctuate violently. The "ghosts" and shadow pythons became ethereal and uncertain.
He glared at Lin Xingyun with resentment, then fell backward, blending into the thick fog and disappearing. As he left, the thick fog on the sea quickly dissipated, sunlight returned, and the dark creatures disintegrated and vanished as if they had never appeared.
The sea returned to calm, as if everything that had just happened was just a nightmare. But the scars of battle on the deck and the exhausted expressions on the faces of the men testified to the fierceness of the encounter.
Lin Xingyun knelt on one knee, panting heavily. The previous mental blade had consumed most of his energy. Buakaw bore several more wounds, corroded by the dark breath, but his fighting spirit remained high. Aisha and Nguyen Thi Mai were nearly exhausted.
"He's gone," Nguyen Thi Mai whispered, looking in the direction the sorcerer had vanished. "But he'll definitely come back, or...someone more powerful will come looking for us."
Lin Xingyun stood up, his gaze determined. "Then let them come. The road to Angkor Wat looks destined to be treacherous. We must be faster and stronger."
The cargo ship set sail again, heading towards Cambodia. After this fierce battle at sea, the "Star Sea Wizards" team had strengthened its cohesion, but they also realized more clearly the treacherous and powerful enemy they would face. Angkor Wat ahead not only held ancient secrets but also might be a massive trap, or perhaps the site of the final decisive battle.
(End of Chapter 15)