Chapter 2742: Merged Stage Ghost Cultivation

On the outskirts of the Myriad Spirits Abyss, a vast black plain stretched out. The sky above was a dreary grey, giving off a sense of oppression.

Chilling winds blew in gusts, accompanied by intermittent, mournful wails of ghosts.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Master Miaode walked slowly forward. Wang Changsheng held a Ghost-Fixing Plate in his hand, his face full of vigilance.

Two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas flew ahead. As soon as they detected a ghostly creature, they accelerated, as creatures below the seventh-tier were no match for them at all.

If it had only been Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, they wouldn't have let the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas roam freely, as the loss would be immense if they were killed by an Integration-stage ghostly creature.

During their journey to the Demonic Heaven Cave, Wang Changsheng had encountered several powerful ghostly creatures that even the Ghost-Fixing Plate couldn't detect. Now, it was different; with Master Miaode by their side, the ghostly creatures wouldn't even have time to hide.

Wang Changsheng sought Master Miaode's help, firstly because he valued Master Miaode's character and strength. The chance of Master Miaode killing someone for treasure was very low; otherwise, he could have killed them last time to seize their treasures. His strength was beyond question. Secondly, Wang Changsheng hoped to use this opportunity to build a closer relationship with Master Miaode, so Wang Ruyan could consult him on the method of refining formation talismans.

Wang Ruyan was an outsider after all, not Master Miaode's disciple, so he didn't reveal the core secrets. However, he did provide guidance and pointed her in the right direction, saving Wang Ruyan many detours. Whether she could refine high-tier formation talismans depended entirely on Wang Ruyan's talent and effort.

This was quite normal. When Wang Changsheng communicated with other artifact refiners, they wouldn't tell him the most crucial techniques. However, pointing him in the right direction or sharing some insights could save him many detours.

The Ghost-Fixing Plate in Wang Changsheng's hand emitted a piercing sound. The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas let out excited chirps, their wings flapping continuously as they flew forward.

After flying over a hundred li, each cicada spewed out a golden flame, heading straight for the ground.

The ground burst open, and a white skeleton, over a hundred zhang tall, emerged from the earth. Its body was entwined with countless wisps of black aura, and two clusters of black flames burned in its empty eye sockets, emitting powerful yin energy fluctuations.

The skeleton resembled an ape. As the golden flames landed on the skeleton, a mournful wail echoed, and a shadowy grey ghost figure flew out from within the skeleton. It flickered in and out of sight, making it easy to hide given the surrounding environment.

The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas each activated their Dharmakayas. Two massive illusory golden cicadas floated high in the sky. Golden light burst from the surface of the illusory cicadas, and countless fine golden rays shot out, heading straight for the grey ghost figure.

The grey ghost figure spat out a stream of black ghostly fire, meeting the attack, and at the same time, transformed into a chilling wind, flying into the distance.

Before the ghost figure could fly much further, countless blue water vapors emerged from the nearby void, condensing into a gigantic, hazy blue hand. The surrounding void tightened, and the ghost figure's body felt as heavy as billions of catties, rendering it immobile.

Densely packed golden rays shot forth, piercing through the grey ghost figure's body.

The grey ghost figure let out mournful wails, its body writhing incessantly. Two streams of golden flame descended from the sky, landing on it, and a puff of green smoke rose.

The grey ghost figure screamed repeatedly, its body emitting puffs of green smoke, appearing and disappearing. The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas swarmed forward, devoured the grey ghost figure, and let out cheerful chirps.

Wang Changsheng nodded. After advancing to the Integration stage, his magic power had become much deeper. When he manipulated the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to attack enemies, it barely consumed any magic power. Of course, prolonged manipulation of spiritual energy against enemies would definitely consume a considerable amount of magic power.

Based on this alone, the gap between the Integration stage and the Void Refinement stage was enormous. He estimated the gap between the Mahayana stage and the Integration stage to be even greater.

Wang Changsheng only needed to mobilize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to immobilize a late Void Refinement stage ghostly creature. This was the vast difference between the Integration and Void Refinement stages, and it also depended on one's cultivation technique.

Master Miaode said nothing, as it was merely the killing of a late Void Refinement stage ghostly creature.

After devouring the late Void Refinement stage ghostly creature, the two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas continued forward.

Along the way, they encountered many ghostly creatures. The Ghost-Fixing Plate provided early warnings, and the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas could also detect the creatures' presence. They activated their Dharmakayas to attack the creatures, while Wang Changsheng manipulated the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to immobilize them. Ghostly creatures below the Integration stage were no match for the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas and were all killed.

The two Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas feasted to their satisfaction, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's spiritual senses grew slightly.

Three days later, the three of them appeared in a continuous black mountain range, standing on a low dirt mound.

Large amounts of yin energy condensed into clouds, floating above the mountain peaks or valleys. The restrictions on spiritual senses here were significant, making Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan look grim.

The Myriad Spirits Abyss was a notoriously dangerous place in the Profound Spirit Continent. Many Integration-stage cultivators had perished there.

Master Miaode's expression remained calm; he had killed many Integration-stage ghostly creatures and demonic beasts.

"According to the map, the ghostly creature's lair is in a cave a thousand li away," Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice, holding a piece of green beast hide in his hand.

The Water of the Underworld River was also in this mountain range, but after so many years, it was uncertain whether it was still there. Perhaps other high-tier cultivators had already taken it.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan recalled the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicadas into their spirit beast bracelets, as they were not a match for Integration-stage ghostly creatures.

Master Miaode nodded, transformed into a golden streak of light, and flew forward. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan followed closely behind.

They flew for several hundred li, but the Ghost-Fixing Plate remained unresponsive.

Not long after, the three of them landed on a black mountain peak over a thousand zhang tall. Wang Changsheng could clearly see a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, about a dozen li ahead. Large amounts of yin energy were condensed above the valley.

Wang Ruyan activated her Lihuo True Eyes, looking towards the valley. Inside the valley, there was a cave about a zhang wide. At the end of the cave was a cavern several mu in size, but she didn't find any ghostly creatures.

The Ghost-Fixing Plate in Wang Changsheng's hand was also unresponsive. This was unusual; that ghostly creature must be skilled in concealment techniques, to the point where even the Ghost-Fixing Plate couldn't detect its presence.

Master Miaode flicked his sleeve, conjuring a shimmering wooden fish. He struck a spiritual art into it and began chanting Buddhist scriptures.

Waves of Sanskrit sounds resonated. As Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan listened, their minds became calm and peaceful, without a single distracting thought.

Half a quarter of an hour later, a chilling wind flew out from the valley, revealing a beautiful young woman in a black dress. A cold aura emanated from her, and she wore a black storage ring on her left hand. Her aura was even more powerful than Wang Changsheng's.

"A mid-Integration stage ghost cultivator!"

Wang Changsheng frowned. There was only a one-character difference between a "ghost cultivator" and a "ghostly creature." The former possessed stronger divine abilities and also had treasures.

According to Jiang Feng's information, this was an Integration-stage ghostly creature's lair. However, his encounter with an Integration-stage ghostly creature here was decades ago, so changes might have occurred.

Fortunately, Wang Changsheng had been cautious and invited Master Miaode for help. If he and Wang Ruyan had come alone, they would have been seeking their own demise.

"You stinking monk! I haven't interfered with you, have I? Can't your Buddhist sect tolerate us?" the young woman in the black dress said coldly. It was widely known that the Buddhist sect possessed various divine abilities that countered ghostly creatures.