Chapter 132: Extinguishing Demons

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan discussed how to deal with the Dark Ghost Silkworm. After agreeing on a plan, they organized their clan members, who then entered the cave one after another.

A second-tier giant python puppet crawled ahead, with Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan following closely behind. Ten Qi Refining cultivators brought up the rear.

The cave was dark, damp, and filled with a strong yin aura, but this did not hinder Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's vision.

The cave was somewhat winding. After turning a corner, they came upon a natural grotto, over a hundred zhang in size. An ape puppet lay on the ground, but aside from that, the grotto was bare.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the giant python puppet opened its mouth, spewing a thick stream of crimson flame that struck the stone wall.

With a loud boom, a grayish-white filament shot out from the corner and struck the giant python puppet, producing a muffled thud.

Wang Ruyan flipped her hand, revealing a small, red-glowing mirror. She pointed it towards the corner of the grotto, and with a flash of red light, a thick column of crimson fire shot out, striking the corner.

A loud bang ensued, and flames surged before quickly dissipating.

A large, bloated black silkworm appeared before Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

The black silkworm was curled into a ball, measuring about a zhang in length. It had two black antennae on its head and a row of short legs along its underside.

Wang Changsheng originally had five second-tier puppet beasts and brought two more before departing. However, he had to abandon two after encountering a ghost general, leaving him with five.

He shook his sleeve, and two spherical beads shot out, transforming into a crow puppet and a green eagle puppet.

The crow puppet opened its mouth and spewed a dozen crimson fire blades, while the green eagle puppet shot out a dozen green light swords, all striking towards the black silkworm.

A strange cry echoed. A grayish light illuminated the black silkworm's body as a thick layer of gray stone appeared on its surface. It curled its body into a ball, resembling a giant meatball.

A series of explosions erupted as the crimson fire blades struck the gray stone layer, causing flames to surge. The subsequent green light swords plunged into the flames, producing muffled thuds.

A faint whooshing sound heralded several grayish-white filaments flying out from the flames, shooting towards Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

The red mirror in Wang Ruyan's hand flashed with red light, and a thick column of crimson fire shot out to meet the incoming attack. Simultaneously, a green jade pendant on her chest glowed brightly, and a robust green light barrier materialized, protecting her entire body.

Wang Changsheng took out a white jade ruler and waved it forward. With a flash of white light, a robust white light screen materialized, enveloping him.

Wang Mingzhan and the others also swiftly cast protective barriers on themselves to prevent any mishaps.

The filaments collided with the crimson fire column, erupting into a large swath of flames and sending a powerful shockwave sweeping outwards.

The giant python puppet swiftly crawled towards the black silkworm, moving with remarkable speed. The crow puppet and green eagle puppet also lunged towards the black silkworm.

At that moment, the black silkworm opened its mouth and spewed a cloud of black light, enveloping the giant python puppet. A green orb of light then shot out from the puppet's head and swiftly vanished into the black silkworm's mouth.

Wang Ruyan frowned and hastily warned, "That's Soul-Sucking Light, Fellow Daoist Wang! Do not let the puppet beasts get close to the Dark Ghost Silkworm. They naturally counter ghostly creatures and are highly sensitive to spirits."

Even without Wang Ruyan's warning, Wang Changsheng had already maneuvered the crow puppet and green eagle puppet to evade, switching instead to offensive spells against the Dark Ghost Silkworm.

The Dark Ghost Silkworm's defenses were incredibly powerful; even intermediate spells failed to inflict any damage.

Flames surged and explosions rang out continuously. Wang Mingzhan and the others deployed their spiritual artifacts to attack the Dark Ghost Silkworm, but their efforts proved even less effective.

Wang Ruyan raised an eyebrow, then flipped her hand to reveal a glowing blue talisman. "Fellow Daoist Wang," she said to Wang Changsheng, "I have a top-tier, second-grade spiritual talisman called the 'Three-Foot Freeze Talisman' that can freeze it. Do you possess a heavy-type magical artifact?"

"I have a Blue Cloud Cudgel," Wang Changsheng replied, "it can shatter even thousand-jin boulders."

Wang Changsheng retrieved the Blue Cloud Cudgel and, upon injecting a large amount of spiritual power, it immediately shone brightly.

Wang Ruyan flicked her wrist, and the blue talisman shot out, flying like lightning towards the Dark Ghost Silkworm.

As soon as the blue talisman came within three zhang of the Dark Ghost Silkworm, it instantly burst open, transforming into a vast expanse of bone-chilling cold air.

The Dark Ghost Silkworm's body froze at a visible rate, transforming into a giant ice sculpture.

Wang Changsheng quickly rushed to the ice sculpture. Muffled crackling sounds emanated from within his body as he wielded the Blue Cloud Cudgel and smashed it towards the giant ice sculpture.

With a loud boom, the Blue Cloud Cudgel struck the ice sculpture, causing it to shatter into pieces. The Dark Ghost Silkworm's body also split apart, spilling blood onto the ground.

Wang Ruyan quickly walked over. Seeing the shattered Dark Ghost Silkworm, a hint of joy appeared on her face as she began, "Fellow Daoist Wang is truly..."

"Careful, Immortal Fairy Wang!"

Wang Changsheng suddenly sensed something attacking them from behind, though he couldn't yet discern its nature.

He instinctively lunged towards Wang Ruyan. With two muffled thuds, the protective barriers on both Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan shattered, and several almost invisible black threads brushed past them.

Wang Changsheng tackled Wang Ruyan to the ground, feeling himself press against something soft.

Several muffled thuds followed as the black threads vanished into the stone wall.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please get up," Wang Ruyan said shyly, a flush creeping onto her cheeks.

Wang Changsheng then realized his right hand was in an inappropriate place. He quickly rolled over, and with a gentle flick of his white jade ruler, a robust white light screen materialized, enveloping both him and Wang Ruyan.

Wang Ruyan got up, straightened her clothes, and with a flushed face, transmitted a message: "Do not speak of what just happened."

Wang Changsheng had his back to the cave entrance, so Wang Mingzhan and the others only saw him tackle Wang Ruyan to the ground; they did not see where his hand landed.

Wang Changsheng gave an awkward smile and nodded in agreement.

He turned his head to look behind them and saw a massive black silkworm in the corner, twice the size of the previous one.

The crow puppet and green eagle puppet unleashed crimson fire blades and green light swords, respectively, sending them towards the black silkworm.

A harsh, strange cry pierced the air as a thick layer of gray stone appeared on the black silkworm's body, encasing it.

The crimson flames and green light swords struck its body, producing a series of explosions and surging flames.

"Immortal Fairy Wang," Wang Changsheng asked softly, a solemn expression appearing on his face for the first time, "Do you have any more second-tier spiritual talismans? This Dark Ghost Silkworm is even more powerful than the last one."

"I possess a talisman treasure," Wang Ruyan replied. "It originally belonged to Third Granduncle, but he died at the hands of a yin beast. I can use it as well. Guard me while I activate it."

Having spoken, Wang Ruyan flipped her hand, revealing a palm-sized wooden box. From it, she took out a glowing blue talisman adorned with the image of a small knife.

Perhaps as a precaution against Wang Changsheng, a thick green light barrier materialized around her, enveloping her.

She tossed the blue talisman forward, and her fingers swiftly formed hand seals, striking the talisman with spell formulas. The blue talisman immediately glowed brightly, and the small knife pattern seemed to come alive.

"Sixth Uncle," Wang Changsheng instructed, "all of you attack that black silkworm together, but don't use the puppet beasts. Just keep it entangled for a while."

After giving his command, Wang Changsheng took out the Dark Ice Flag, injected a large amount of spiritual power into it, and gave it a forceful shake. A vast swath of bone-chilling white cold air shot out towards the black silkworm.

Wang Mingzhan and the others either deployed spiritual artifacts or cast spells, all attacking the black silkworm.

For a time, explosions and surging flames filled the air.