Chapter 2030: 異變和攝魂禁光

Feng Yao nodded and proposed, "Here's what we'll do! I'll set up a sixth-tier formation outside the Dark Yin Cave. Madam Jiao, Fellow Daoist Yuan, and the fifth-tier talisman soldier will control the formation, providing support from outside."

The five individuals present were all old monsters who had lived for centuries, so they were quite cautious in their actions.

Yu Xin didn't object; having someone provide support from outside was better.

They flew near the Dark Yin Cave. Feng Yao took out hundreds of formation flags, which pulsed with an erratic green light. The flags were covered in intricate formation patterns, their spiritual radiance flickering and their spiritual energy astounding.

This was the sixth-tier Dark Wind Spirit Lock Formation. Even a sixth-tier demonic beast would struggle to escape it once trapped.

With three Soul Transformation cultivators controlling it, trapping a sixth-tier ghoul for a period would be no problem.

After setting up the formation, Wang Ruyan, Yuan Shu, and the silver-clad youth remained outside to control it, while Wang Changsheng, Feng Yao, and Yu Xin entered the Dark Yin Cave.

As they stepped into the Dark Yin Cave, a chilling wind swept past.

Although the fifth-tier ghouls had already been eliminated, they dared not let their guard down. Feng Yao held the Ghoul-Seeking Compass, his face full of vigilance.

The Seven-Star Worm suddenly emitted a sharp, strange cry, spitting out a golden mist that struck the wall. A shrill, spectral wail echoed, and a plume of green smoke billowed. A ferocious ghoul figure flew out from the stone wall, only to be enveloped by the golden mist and disappear into the Seven-Star Worm's mouth.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Changsheng's eyes. There were few wondrous insects that could subdue ghouls, and the Seven-Star Worm was one of them.

Along their journey, they encountered dozens of ghouls, mostly third-tier and a few fourth-tier, all of which were devoured by the Seven-Star Worm.

Not long after, a dark, black light barrier blocked their path. A hideous ghoul face was visible on its surface.

"The Dark Yin Mother-Child Seal is still intact. There shouldn't be any issues." Feng Yao's face lit up with joy. He flipped his hand, producing nine black, glimmering formation flags. As he infused them with spiritual power, several flags instantly burst forth with dazzling black light, revealing grotesque ghoul faces on their surfaces.

With a wave of his right hand, the nine black formation flags flew from his grasp and hovered in mid-air. He cast a spell into each of them, causing the ghoul faces on the flags to emit eerie howls and spray black light, which struck the dark barrier.

The ghoul faces on the black barrier twisted and distorted, letting out a mournful, spectral wail before suddenly dissipating. The black barrier dissolved in kind, revealing a cavern about an *mu* in size before them.

A bone-chilling gust of dark wind surged out. Even through their protective spiritual light, Wang Changsheng and the two others couldn't help but shiver.

They exchanged glances and stepped inside together.

In the lower-left corner of the stone cavern was a pool over a hundred *zhang* in size, filled with black liquid.

In the center of the stone cavern stood a blood-red tree over ten *zhang* tall. Its trunk was so thick it would take ten people to encircle it. Its leaves were rhombus-shaped and entirely crimson. It bore no fruit, and from a distance, it looked as if it were pieced together from countless blood vessels.

Near the blood-red tree were several grayish-white stones, upon which faint blood-red runes could still be discerned.

"A Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Qilin Wood."

Feng Yao's gaze burned with fervor. The Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Qilin Wood was the primary material for crafting Soul Substitution Beads and other soul-substituting treasures. This particular Blood Qilin Wood was already ten thousand years old, perfectly suited for crafting such treasures.

"That pool contains Dark Yin True Water, doesn't it?" Wang Changsheng asked, pointing at the pool. Large Dark Yin ore veins could potentially yield Dark Yin True Water, a fifth-tier spiritual water used for alchemy, artifact refining, or cultivation.

"That's right. Fellow Daoist Jiao is an artifact refiner, so we can give you a larger share," Feng Yao said with a smile, his mood greatly improved by the sight of the Blood Qilin Wood.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, what about the Blood Qilin Wood? Do you intend to transplant it?" Yu Xin asked, pointing at the tree. A Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Qilin Wood's value was undeniably high; if auctioned, it would fetch an exorbitant price.

"I originally intended to transplant it, but Feng went missing and hasn't rejoined us. Without his help, I'm not confident I can move the Blood Qilin Wood. If either of you fellow daoists has a method, feel free to try." Feng Yao admitted truthfully, as a living Blood Qilin Wood held even greater value.

"I don't know anything about planting techniques. Fellow Daoist Jiao, what about you?" Yu Xin shook his head, looking at Wang Changsheng.

"I have a Nascent Soul-stage Wood Demon. I can give it a try; I hope it succeeds." Wang Changsheng released his Wood Demon, instructing it to transplant the Blood Qilin Wood.

If the Blood Qilin Wood could be successfully transplanted, Wang Changsheng would receive the largest share.

Both Yu Xin and Feng Yao were surprised to see the Wood Demon.

The Wood Demon's body swelled significantly. Its thick, long green thorns swept across the ground, kicking up dust, revealing a formation spanning over a hundred *zhang*. The formation had hundreds of uniformly sized indentations, most of which contained grayish-white stones. There were also three spirit-gathering stones, and at the center of the formation was a dull, blood-red gourd.

To ensure the Blood Qilin Wood's smooth growth, Feng Yao's ancestor had set up this formation to prevent any issues.

Feng Yao collected the spirit-gathering stones and the blood-red gourd. Then, dozens of thick, long green thorns suddenly smashed down onto the ground.

Following a series of thunderous rumbles, the dozens of green thorns plunged into the earth. The ground shook violently, and dazzling green light emanated from the surface of the green thorns.

The Blood Qilin Wood slowly rose, its roots breaking free from the soil.

Suddenly, the Blood Qilin Wood's leaves instantly withered.

"The transplant failed, as expected." Feng Yao frowned, his face full of regret, though he had already prepared himself for this outcome.

"Since the transplant failed, let's divide the Blood Qilin Wood!" Yu Xin suggested, taking out a golden short blade.

"Watch out! There's a ghoul!" Wang Changsheng suddenly shouted, his face filled with vigilance.

The golden needle of the Ghoul-Seeking Compass suddenly spun rapidly, eventually pointing directly at the Blood Qilin Wood.

A beam of blood-red light shot out from the Blood Qilin Wood, instantly appearing before Feng Yao.

The Seven-Star Worm immediately spat out a burst of golden mist, enveloping the blood-red light.

The blood-red light coalesced into a blood-colored demonic ape, about a *zhang* tall, with a pair of blood-red fleshy wings on its back. Its eyes were entirely crimson, its fangs protruded, and its ghastly aura surged skyward. It was clearly a ghoul at the Soul Transformation Grand Completion stage.

This spectral ghoul was proficient in stealth, having hidden within the Blood Qilin Wood the entire time. Not only did Wang Changsheng and the two others fail to detect it, but even the Ghoul-Seeking Compass and the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada hadn't noticed it.

This also showed that for some special ghouls, the Ghoul-Seeking Compass was ineffective.

If it hadn't intended to attack Feng Yao, neither the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada nor the Ghoul-Seeking Compass would have detected it or given a warning.

The blood-colored spectral ghoul let out a grating roar, its body erupting with a brilliant blood-red light. The golden mist was suddenly torn apart.

"A mutated spectral ghoul!"

Feng Yao paled in fright, his face filled with shock. His body flickered, and he instantly vanished.

The blood-colored spectral ghoul opened its mouth and spat out a blinding sheet of blood-red light, which engulfed the Seven-Star Worm. A mini Seven-Star Worm flew out, was swept into the spectral ghoul's mouth by the blood-red light, and disappeared. The Seven-Star Worm itself seemed to lose control, plummeting from mid-air and lying motionless.

"Soul Sealing Forbidden Light!"

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply. This was an incredibly rare ghostly divine ability. Not to mention spirit beasts or spirit insects, even cultivators, if touched by the Soul Sealing Forbidden Light, would have their primordial spirit and soul taken away.

The Seven-Star Worm had only recently advanced to the fifth tier, and the tier difference was too vast. Furthermore, with the spectral ghoul wielding the Soul Sealing Forbidden Light, it was no match for the mutated spectral ghoul.