Chapter 43: Dispelling the Soul-Devouring Mark

“What is this?”
At that moment, Jiang Xiaofei’s soul had returned to his body. He gazed up at the ghostly face above, sealed in ice like a work of art—a sculpture of frozen terror—utterly astonished. The frigid air, laden with an icy current, bit sharply, as if winter itself had descended.
Yet it was clearly summertime; how could this be?
Soon, Jiang Xiaofei noticed the crystalline spindle in Lan Lianshuang’s palm. Fixing his eyes upon it, he sensed a powerful force of ice emanating from the crystal—an energy capable of freezing all things.
“What could this be? It holds such domineering cold power,” Jiang Xiaofei wondered, then turned to Lan Lianshuang and asked, “Miss Lan, may I ask what that object in your hand is?”
Lan Lianshuang played with the spindle, smiling as she replied, “This is an ancient artifact, called the Frost Spindle. A mysterious elder gave it to my father, and on my eighteenth birthday, my father entrusted it to me.”
Jiang Xiaofei understood at once, nodding slightly. “So it’s an ancient artifact. No wonder it possesses such power.”
Lan Lianshuang frowned and asked, “Professor Jiang, do you know about ancient artifacts?”
Jiang Xiaofei nodded, “I know of them, but I have never seen one.”
As they conversed, the ghostly face encased in ice suddenly stirred. The ice crystals shattered inch by inch as it broke free from its prison, then rushed toward Teng Pan, who lay on the ground.
Seeing this, Lan Lianshuang cried out in alarm, “Professor Jiang, it’s broken through my seal!”
Jiang Xiaofei said nothing. His gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his palm, a vast stream of black and white energy surged forth, flowing toward the ghostly face.
Sensing the threat behind it, the ghostly face spun around, opening its monstrous maw to unleash a torrent of ghostly energy, attempting to resist the black and white surge.
But as soon as the ghostly energy touched the black and white stream, it was annihilated.
Realizing the person before it was beyond its ability to fight, the ghostly face turned and fled into the dark void.
Lan Lianshuang, seeing this, wielded the Frost Spindle and called out, “Ice, seal!”
Instantly, a cold abyss appeared ahead of the ghostly face. Endless icy currents roared within, blocking its escape.
Jiang Xiaofei, seeing this, focused his gaze and guided his hands in a series of arcane gestures. The black and white energy formed a Yin-Yang seal, pressing down upon the ghostly face.
As the Yin-Yang seal descended, the ghostly face sensed a dire threat and transformed into a woman dressed in black.
A vast aura of ghostly energy radiated from her, splitting into countless ghastly faces that surged forth like a legion of spirits, attempting to erode the Yin-Yang seal.
Lan Lianshuang was stunned. “How can it turn into a woman?” she exclaimed to Jiang Xiaofei.
Jiang Xiaofei ignored her, focusing all his strength to press the Yin-Yang seal upon the woman in black.

Under the seal’s pressure, countless ghostly faces were extinguished like moths drawn to a flame. The woman in black gradually faded, her form dissolving into nothingness.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei finally breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew the black and white energy.
Lan Lianshuang hurriedly asked, “Professor Jiang, has the Soul-Devouring Mark been destroyed?”
Jiang Xiaofei did not reply, but frowned deeply. Just now, he had felt a pair of eyes watching him, yet no matter how he tried, he could not discern their direction.
Outside the athletic field, beneath a tall tree, a mysterious figure cloaked in darkness observed Jiang Xiaofei and murmured, “How interesting. He can even dispel the Soul-Devouring Mark left by the Ghost Emperor.”
Then the figure disappeared into the shadows.
Back on the field, Lan Lianshuang, seeing Jiang Xiaofei’s silence, said no more and walked to Teng Pan’s side, kneeling to check on him.
Teng Pan’s face was deathly pale, and he remained unconscious.
Lan Lianshuang frowned and called out, “Professor Jiang, please come look. What’s happening? Why hasn’t he woken up?”
Jiang Xiaofei returned to himself and replied, “Don’t worry. After suffering the torment of the Soul-Devouring Mark, his body is weak and he’s fallen into a coma. He’ll wake up tomorrow.”
Lan Lianshuang breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Thank you, Professor Jiang. If you hadn’t helped, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
Jiang Xiaofei smiled, “It was nothing, just a small effort.”
Then he asked, “You seem so concerned about him. Do you like him?”
Lan Lianshuang quickly replied, “How could I possibly like him?”
Jiang Xiaofei frowned, “Then why worry about him so much?”
Lan Lianshuang explained, “We were betrothed as children, but even though I don’t love him, I don’t want to see him die.”
“So that’s it.” Jiang Xiaofei nodded. “Now that the Soul-Devouring Mark has been dispelled, there’s nothing more to worry about. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Jiang Xiaofei turned to go.
Lan Lianshuang hurried after him, “Professor Jiang, wait, I have a question for you.”
Jiang Xiaofei turned and frowned slightly, “What is it? Please ask.”
Lan Lianshuang said, “I want to know why Gao Muqiu would use such a sinister spell as the Soul-Devouring Mark.”
Jiang Xiaofei smiled, “You’re quite clever, but I can’t tell you that.”

Lan Lianshuang asked, “Why not?”
Jiang Xiaofei replied, “Because it’s a secret, and it’s for your own good.”
He added, “And I advise you not to provoke Gao Muqiu.”
Lan Lianshuang said nothing, only looking at Teng Pan lying on the ground.
Jiang Xiaofei had nothing further to say and turned to leave the athletic field.
As he walked, he pondered the events of the night, sensing something imminent—especially the gaze from the darkness, which made him wary.
As he was lost in thought, a tall figure appeared, approaching and calling with a smile, “Professor Jiang, it’s so late—what are you doing at school?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Xiaofei looked up to see Zhou Shiqin standing before him, smiling.
Seeing Zhou Shiqin, Jiang Xiaofei frowned in surprise. “Principal Zhou, why are you at school too?”
Zhou Shiqin laughed, “I came to see you!”
Jiang Xiaofei immediately thought of something, frowning, “Were you following me?”
Zhou Shiqin laughed, “How could it be called following? I’m just concerned about you.”
Jiang Xiaofei frowned, “So you saw what happened just now?”
Zhou Shiqin laughed, “With all that commotion, it was impossible not to see!”
Jiang Xiaofei said nothing and walked straight toward the school gate.
Zhou Shiqin hurried after him, “Don’t be upset! I just want to know who you really are and why you came to the school.”
Jiang Xiaofei said nothing, heading toward Happiness Apartments across the street.
Zhou Shiqin, displeased, called after him, “Jiang Xiaofei, stop right there! If you don’t, I’ll revoke your position as professor and make you leave the school!”