CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: THE CRAZY HUNT_1

Energy Beads, existing within the guardian spiritual bodies of natural relics, were considered a kind of heavenly and earthly treasure. They contained pure energy, which could be directly absorbed to increase one’s cultivation level.

The Spiritual Energy contained in this Energy Bead is almost comparable to a low-grade Spirit Stone! Qin Wudao thought as he grabbed an Energy Bead. Activating the "Chaos Heavenly Scripture," he began to absorb the Spiritual Energy within it.

In an instant, the Spiritual Energy within the Energy Bead was consumed completely. It transformed into an ordinary stone, dull and devoid of light, looking as if it had weathered thousands of years, revealing numerous cracks.

If I had tens of thousands more Energy Beads, perhaps I could break through to the late stage of the Nirvana Realm! Feeling a slight increase in his strength, Qin Wudao’s eyes sparkled. A bold idea formed in his mind: he would kill a large number of ghostly creatures to obtain more Energy Beads.

BOOM!

A terrifying aura erupted from his body, sweeping out for thousands of meters and startling the ghostly creatures sleeping underground.

BUZZZZ.

The ground began to tremble, and cracks began to split it open. Grayish gas drifted from each fissure, coalescing in the void into skeletal ghostly creatures with blood-red glowing eyes. The powerful aura emanating from their bodies shook the void.

Seventy-two Fasang Realm ghostly creatures and thirteen Nirvana Realm ghostly creatures! Qin Wudao’s spiritual sense swept over them, clearly discerning their strength. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as the ’Heavenly Dragon Demonic Flame’ flew out from his back, morphing into a black fire dragon that coiled above his head.

The terrifying temperature burned the void!

Sensing the intense heat, the many ghostly creatures watched with wary eyes, hesitating to attack. Ultimately, they were creatures of dark Yin, naturally fearful of things of unyielding resolve and Zhi Yang. Spiritual fires like the ’Heavenly Dragon Demonic Flame’ were especially their nemesis.

But the bones of ghostly creatures were forever filled with brutality and lust for slaughter. They quickly reverted to their true nature, unleashing their attacks with astounding killing intent. Dozens of attacks converged from all directions, forming a veritable prison.

Facing the overwhelming onslaught, Qin Wudao remained impassive. "Kill!" he uttered coldly.

Without hesitation, the ’Heavenly Dragon Demonic Flame’ above his head blazed with dazzling light. The flames billowed, unleashing dragon roars that echoed throughout the azure sky. Black flames streaked through the void.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Explosions echoed incessantly wherever the flames passed. All ghostly creatures that came into contact with the flames exploded, turning to dust and swept away like fallen leaves in an autumn wind, meeting no resistance.

In the first breath, seventy-two Fasang Realm ghostly creatures exploded into nothingness.

In the second breath, thirteen Nirvana Realm ghostly creatures were grievously wounded, dissolving into a sky full of ash.

What could one accomplish in merely two breaths? For ordinary people, two breaths were just enough time to sip water, take a few steps, or eat a mouthful of food. Yet, in that short span, all the previously menacing ghostly creatures had vanished. Only eighty-five Energy Beads remained, hovering in the void and emanating a faint, precious glow.

"Not bad at all!" Qin Wudao stood rooted to the spot, his black hair billowing. A satisfied smile touched his lips as he gained a new appreciation for his own strength. Judging by these ghostly creatures, there seemed to be little difference in effort between killing Fasang Realm and Nirvana Realm ones.

Next came the harvest. With a mere thought, he stored eighty-three Energy Beads in his spatial storage, leaving just two hovering before him. One Energy Bead was large, the other small. The larger was from a Nirvana Realm ghostly creature, the smaller from a Fasang Realm one.

Projecting his spiritual sense to observe the Spiritual Energy stored in the two Energy Beads, Qin Wudao mused inwardly, Just as I suspected. The Energy Beads condensed by Nirvana Realm ghostly creatures are equivalent to medium-grade Spirit Stones. By that logic, Energy Beads from Transcendent Realm ghostly creatures should be comparable to high-grade Spirit Stones...

The Spiritual Energy within the larger Energy Bead was over ten times denser than in the smaller one.

"Now, it’s hunting time!" Qin Wudao clenched his right hand, crushing the Energy Beads he held and absorbing all their Spiritual Energy. An even more terrifying surge of power erupted from him without restraint, and he began to charge recklessly through the ruins like a bulldozer.

Innumerable ghostly creatures were roused, only to be annihilated by attacks descending from the sky the moment they poked their heads from the ground.

"What a monster!" A disciple from the Sword Sect witnessed Qin Wudao’s frenzied rampage, his mouth twitching. This world is truly perilous, he thought. Ever since entering the Ghost Tomb ruins, he had proceeded with utmost caution, terrified of disturbing the ghostly creatures. Qin Wudao, however, acted as bait, deliberately luring them out only to obliterate them with overwhelming force. Is the gulf between people really so vast?

Ten thousand meters away, Duan Yonghui stood atop a small hill, facing the wind. As he watched Qin Wudao slaughtering the ghostly creatures, murderous intent flared in his eyes. They turned an ominous red, especially upon seeing the ’Heavenly Dragon Demonic Flame.’ The ’Heavenly Dragon Demonic Flame’ should have been mine! he seethed inwardly. Yet now, it has become a deadly weapon in the hands of my enemy! First, I must rendezvous with the Young Master!

After a long moment, Duan Yonghui calmed himself. He soared through the air, concealing his aura completely, like a shadow. He moved like a phantom from the Underworld, lurking and waiting.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the ruins, Zhang Yangtian hovered in mid-air. His body radiated two distinct energies: one half Yin, the other Yang. As these forces alternated, they unleashed incredible power. The void within a thousand-meter radius warped and shifted with his energy. When he wielded Yang energy, the sky brightened as if it were day! And when he wielded Yin energy, the world plunged into darkness, utterly devoid of light. This alternation of Yin and Yang subtly altered the laws of heaven and earth! The power of this ability was evident.

Any knowledgeable and experienced Martial Artist present would have been utterly astounded, for this phenomenon signified a powerful physique: the Yin Yang Divine Body. In the Ninth Great Age, among six hundred prodigies with special physiques, only one achieved the rank of Great Emperor—the Yin Yang Great Emperor, who also possessed the Yin Yang Divine Body.

"Weak! Far too weak!" Zhang Yangtian roared, unleashing his Yin and Yang energies simultaneously. As day and night flickered, all ghostly creatures in the area exploded and died.

...

"HA HA HA HA!"

"The time to break these shackles and attain freedom is finally at hand!"

While Qin Wudao and Zhang Yangtian were engrossed in slaughtering the ghostly creatures, in the center of the ruins, from beneath a giant Stele, a timeworn voice echoed—laced with weariness, excitement, and agitation. "Countless years of waiting... finally about to bear fruit!"

"My children, kill for me!" the voice commanded.

The Stele began to tremble, diffusing a profound and mysterious energy.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground across a ten-thousand-meter expanse cracked open. Hundreds of towering, ebony skeletal ghostly creatures emerged, their auras immense. All were Transcendent Realm Martial Artists!

"As you command, My King!" they intoned, respectfully saluting the Stele. Then, they brandished their bone weapons and began to hunt for prey. With every step, more ghostly creatures clawed up from the earth to follow them.

Before long, a hundred legions of ghostly creatures had formed in the Ghost Tomb ruins!

A cloud of white gas drifted from the Stele, coalescing into a ghostly figure with a snow-white body. It was dressed in crimson ceremonial robes and wore a crown, exuding an air of incomparable nobility. How exhilarating! it thought.