Chapter 2593: Merged Phase Demon

A long, narrow canyon stretched ahead, its sides lined with steep, black rock walls. From within, loud booming sounds echoed periodically, faintly mixed with the chanting of Buddhist scriptures.

Inside the valley, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan activated their Buddhist treasures to slay the ghostly creatures. Three Void Refinement stage ghostly creatures, whether spewing sound waves or ghostly flames, were powerless against them. High-level ghostly creatures possessed formidable divine abilities, excelling particularly in concealment techniques. Coupled with the unique terrain of the Demonic Cave, Wang Changsheng found it extremely difficult to detect them.

However, with their Buddhist treasures, Glazed True Eyes, and the assistance of two sixth-tier Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas, the three ghostly creatures were no match. Before long, they were defeated, their bodies emitting plumes of green smoke, becoming translucent, and their aura weakening. Intense golden light swept over, piercing through the bodies of the three ghostly creatures. The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas flapped their wings lightly, flew up, and began to gnaw on the creatures' bodies, devouring them. Soon after, the three Void Refinement stage ghostly creatures were completely devoured, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's divine sense grew slightly stronger. The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas chirped happily and flew back to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

They had spent over half a month in the Demonic Cave, where the number of ghostly creatures was surprisingly high. They had eliminated more than ten Void Refinement stage ghosts and hundreds of Soul Transformation stage ghosts, leaving the two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas completely satiated. Most ghostly creatures attached themselves to demon beasts or corpses, but with their Buddhist treasures, none could harm them, becoming mere nourishment for the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas. They had found many Yin-attribute spirit herbs and fruits. The only drawback was their inability to locate the Water of the Underworld River, forcing them to continue their search.

They walked forward, with the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas following closely behind. Before long, they exited the canyon, and an endless black grassland appeared before them. This region was deep within the Demonic Cave, making the appearance of Integration stage ghostly creatures a possibility. Fortunately, they possessed the Ghost-Fixing Plate and a sixth-tier Void-Rending Beast. The divine sense in this area was heavily restricted; Wang Changsheng's could only extend five thousand *li*. Beyond that range, his perception blurred, meaning high-level ghostly creatures could only be detected using the Ghost-Fixing Plate.

They continued to walk forward, not moving quickly. Along the way, they encountered many demon beast carcasses, but no ghostly creatures were hidden within them. After advancing for over a hundred *li*, they arrived at a tall dirt mound. The ground ahead was uneven, dotted with numerous pits and visible skeletal remains. It seemed a great battle had occurred here, leaving behind traces of combat. Wang Changsheng unleashed his divine sense, carefully scanning the area. He discovered broken skeletal remains on the ground, with incredibly smooth cuts, suggesting they were made by flying daggers or swords. They continued their journey forward, observing numerous combat traces and a large number of demon beast skeletons along the way, indicating that high-level cultivators had previously visited this area.

Three days later, they emerged from the grassland to find a continuous range of black mountains before them. A chilling wind swept through, faintly carrying the desolate cries of ghosts. Upon entering the mountains, they observed more skeletal remains, some of which were humanoid, along with lingering traces of combat on the ground. Wang Changsheng surveyed the surroundings, noting a resemblance to the 'Ghost Abyss.' He reminisced about how he and Wang Ruyan had faced life and death together there years ago. Now, after over six millennia of shared joys and hardships, raising children, they had both successfully entered the Void Refinement stage.

A deafening roar suddenly echoed, interrupting Wang Changsheng's thoughts. Wang Changsheng was startled and frowned. The Ghost-Fixing Plate in his hand emitted a sharp screech, its spiritual light intensifying, and its pointer spinning rapidly.

"Not good, an Integration stage ghostly creature!" Wang Changsheng's expression changed, and he exclaimed.

Wang Ruyan reacted swiftly, releasing the Void-Rending Beast. The Void-Rending Beast spewed a thick beam of silver light that struck the void, causing it to ripple and reveal a cavernous opening over ten *zhang* wide. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and the Void-Rending Beast immediately flew into the opening, which swiftly closed behind them. The temporary void before them was about an *mu* in size. Wang Ruyan had tested it multiple times, confirming that this temporary space could last for a month.

A short while later, a bloody escape light and a green escape light streaked across the sky, heading directly towards their location.

"Wuwu!"

A mournful wail of a woman echoed, and the two escape lights slowed down. As the escape lights dissipated, a tall, thin old man in a green robe and the Blood Blade True Monarch appeared. Both were cultivators at the Grand Completion stage of Void Refinement.

A spatial fluctuation occurred, and a shadowy black ghostly hand materialized out of thin air, striking down like lightning. The green-robed old man moved his shoulders, sending out a long green rainbow that instantly shattered the black ghostly hand. A chilling wind swept through, revealing a shadowy black figure. A young woman in a black dress with delicate features appeared before them. A powerful wave of Yin energy emanated from her, clearly marking her as a ghostly creature. High-level cultivators who came to the Demonic Cave to seek treasures, if severely wounded with extensive damage to their physical bodies and no suitable living host for possession, would often alter their cultivation methods to become ghost cultivators. The biggest difference between ghost cultivators and ordinary ghostly creatures is that ghost cultivators can think independently and have their own ideas, while ghostly creatures mostly act on instinct.

The moment the young woman in black appeared, a black light soared skyward, transforming into the silhouette of a hideous specter. The specter, as soon as it manifested, let out a mournful wail. Upon hearing this sound, the green-robed old man and the Blood Blade True Monarch became dizzy, their eyes glazed over. The young woman in black flicked her wrist lightly, and a dark light shot out, heading straight for them. The dark light pierced through the green-robed old man's body, which rapidly desiccated into a corpse; even his Nascent Soul couldn't escape. The dark light then continued, poised to strike the Blood Blade True Monarch.

The Blood Blade True Monarch's chest glowed brightly, and a bloody light barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloping his entire body. With a muffled 'clank,' the dark light was blocked by the bloody light barrier, revealing its true form: a short, gleaming black dagger, its hilt engraved with a black specter. The specter's silhouette spewed a dark ghostly flame onto the bloody light barrier, causing its spiritual light to dim. The black dagger's spiritual light then surged, striking the barrier once more. This time, the bloody light barrier shattered instantly. The Blood Blade True Monarch was cleaved in two by the black dagger, his corpse transforming into a shimmering spherical bead.

"Substitute Calamity Pearl!" The young woman in black frowned slightly.

About ten *li* away, a bloody light appeared, and the Blood Blade True Monarch materialized. His eyes were filled with terror. A bloody light erupted from his body, and countless blood mist surged forth, enveloping his entire form. A shadowy black ghostly claw materialized out of thin air and swatted at the blood mist. With a thunderous bang, the blood mist was shattered by the black ghostly claw, vanishing without a trace. The Blood Blade True Monarch had also disappeared.

The young woman in black frowned, collected the green-robed old man's possessions, and transformed into a black rainbow, streaking through the sky and vanishing into the horizon.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan simultaneously exhaled in relief. They knew that if they had directly confronted an Integration stage ghostly creature, they would not have fared well.