It's merely an extension of life, not a continuation. This comes at the cost of wounding the Divine Soul, forcibly keeping oneself alive for a period to await the dissipating of the opponent's Magic. It's a desperate measure used only when there is no other Path available.

Yet, for Black Magic Chen, the brilliance lies not in this.

Theoretically, even if they use iron nails to extend life, their lifespan has already run out, and they cannot shield their clan members from this curse.

Thus, right from the start, the Chen Family Head spoke of the most insidious and fierce Method, which is to borrow lifespan from the next generation, using the borrowed lifespan to invite the heavens back, shielding the clan members from the curse in the process.

Amidst the angry shouts, as the iron nails pierced the skull, they gritted their teeth, endured the pain and oppression, stood up resolutely, and rushed out of the hall without hesitation, knowing the urgency deprived them of time for a single word.

As for the Method used by the Chen Family Head to break this curse, they understood it immediately.

It's a foolish Method.

The Chen Family mastered the Granny Meng's Shop from the Eight Sceneries of Netherworld, thus they could avoid karma through the Shop, but they were avoiding karma under the domain of the Evil Sky and Ghost Land.

If the resentment of the people disperses the heavens, the Chen Family's ability to evade karma will be lost.

The only way is to invite the former heavens back, and immediately they must go out, measure the boundaries, re-invite the heavens back. Once the Evil Sky covers overhead, the Chen Family will still be invincible under this realm.

"Swipe" "Swipe" "Swipe"

As everyone went out, the Chen Family's Head tightened his jaw, stepped repeatedly within the hall, then with a swing of his palm, he opened the lids of three of the four iron coffins in the hall.

Suddenly, a rolling murderous aura surged out from the coffins, almost instantly permeating the region, supporting against the curse power dropping from the sky.

He spared no hesitation, loudly chanting, driving the corpses within the three coffins, accompanied by a cloud of black mist, flying out of the old house in an instant, while he sat on the Taishi Chair, face pale, blood streaming, panting heavily.

"This..."

Simultaneously, seeing him issue the order, an old woman almost completely blind showed a look of despair: "Is it worth going this far?"

Is it the name Black Magic Chen that's crucial, or is it the life of the whole Chen Family, young and old, that is?

She couldn't articulate this, but the Chen Family Head undoubtedly had an answer.

"The foundation of the Chen Family cannot be ruined in my hands."

And the Chen Family Head, in this empty hall, panted heavily for a long time before speaking lowly: "This crisis, we must endure it, even if it costs us our lives, we must endure it."

"Otherwise, wouldn't twenty years of planning be a joke?"

"..."

The old woman remained silent, powerless to answer; the principles she understood throughout her life offered no persuasive answers in the face of these events.

"Father, have you lost this duel?"

But at this moment, a voice sounded from outside the hall, as a woman wrapped fully in a black robe stepped across the threshold, unseen in her form, but as she walked, she seemed ethereal.

"Ah Bao..."

The Chen Family Head looked up at her.

His own daughter, Chen Abao was known for her intelligence and charm among the ten surnames, sweet and obedient.

He had originally considered this duel too dangerous, coupled with her delays due to worldly affairs, she hadn't managed to cross the bridge, so he hadn't let her come.

Until this curse descended, with someone blocking the curse, he dared to call her up.

Clearly out of concern, but now, with so many clan members down the hill affected, how could she as the Chen Family's eldest daughter...

His voice trembled, dared not ask her about her injuries.

Forcing himself to strain his blurry eyes, he gazed at her intensely, making sure she was still alive, forced to say: "In this duel, we... underestimated those evil spirits."

"In the Black Magic Chen family, none can escape this curse."

"But you are different, Ah Bao. You've long been betrothed to a Zhao Family boy, essentially half Zhao Family now, so today I..."

"...today, I'm sending you to marry!"

"..."

Chen Abao stood there, her expression unreadable, but when she spoke, there was a sob in her voice: "Not even a bridal sedan, how do you expect me to marry?"

"With marriage, you no longer belong to the Black Magic Chen line, so regardless of victory or defeat, you can evade this curse."

The Chen Family Head looked at his daughter, striving for a voice that was both gentle and authoritative, spoke quietly: "Moreover, that Zhao lad is kind to you, the only one among your playmates who never fought with you."

"If you marry him, I'll have peace of mind, just, in case...if we lose the Chen Family, privately ask him, whether after you have children, can one be surnamed Chen?"

"..."

"What good is the Chen surname?"

The Chen Family Head tried to speak steadily, but Chen Abao spoke with anger: "I just came up, I heard everything outside."

"Father, are you willing to risk the whole family for the name Black Magic Chen?"

"What's so good about this name? It's not even pleasant, others mock us as Ghost Chen behind our backs!"

"..."

The Chen Family Head's expression was shrouded in sadness, barely able to smile, said: "Ah Bao, you...you don't understand this yet."