Chapter 93: Mountain Ghost

The river water was pitch black, silent as death.

Jiang Jian advanced with his sword, the ghosts shoving aside like a receding tide.

Around the dark river, erosion features had already appeared.

In the darkness ahead, shadows loomed, growing ever more crowded.

“Do you really intend to wipe us out completely?!”

A shrill cry rang out.

Jiang Jian looked over.

A snake demon, its eyes blazing red, swam upstream and leapt from the water.

It stood there, trembling violently like a sieve.

Yet it did not retreat a single step.

Jiang Jian spoke softly: “Retreat, and you won’t die.”

He held Han Guang, channeling spiritual energy into it.

The long sword emitted a chilling gleam, its edge peerless.

The snake demon showed fear, yet still did not leave: “This is my home!”

It swished its tail, voice hoarse.

“We’ve lived in the dark river our whole lives, never ventured out.”

“Why should you drive us away?!”

“I won’t leave my home.”

“Not even if I die.”

As it spoke,

the snake demon’s body ceased trembling, closed its eyes, and awaited death.

Jiang Jian’s gaze was cold, silently watching it.

Deep in the dark river, several young snake demons screamed desperately, swimming toward them.

The snake demon sensed it, suddenly opened its eyes, and turned its head.

Seeing the young ones returning, calling to it,

the snake demon’s expression flickered with hesitation.

It wasn’t afraid of death—but it feared the young ones would die.

The next instant,

the snake demon turned back, leapt into the water, and curled its tail around several young ones.

It swam swiftly, diving deep into the dark river.

“I thought you’d slay a minor demon like this in one stroke.”

Liu Tiezhu stepped closer.

“Our goal is to clear the path,” Jiang Jian continued forward, speaking softly, “since it retreated, it’s no longer an obstacle.”

Liu Tiezhu raised an eyebrow: “You’re right.”

Jiang Jian suddenly stopped, staring ahead: “Can you sense it? Something’s ahead.”

As he spoke,

spiritual energy surged around Jiang Jian.

Liu Tiezhu sensed it briefly, his expression turning grave: “What is that?”

The next instant,

a horrifying scream erupted from the depths of the cavern.

A shrill, venomous wail pierced their eardrums!

After advancing several hundred meters,

countless demon corpses lay scattered haphazardly along the banks of the dark river.

Black mist rolled thickly, grotesque ghostly faces flickering within.

“Mountain Ghost.”

Liu Tiezhu stared at the monstrous sight ahead, his face grim: “Jiang Jian, be careful.”

Mountain Ghost—a terrifying spirit born in the depths of ravines.

It arises from the yin energy of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas.

Usually takes a female form, fond of consuming human, beast, and demon spirits.

“How did we run into this thing?”

Shan Ye arrived with the plant spirits, his face pale: “Are we this unlucky?”

Shi Xuan stood beside him, speaking gravely: “Mountain Ghosts are born near the Surge Spring realm. This thing is truly not to be trifled with.”

Shan Ye activated his identity device, made a quick estimate, and said: “We’ve traveled seven kilometers—7,000 credits already. Our gains are substantial.”

Yin Yin stepped forward, looking at Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, the decision to retreat is yours.”

All eyes turned to Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian remained silent, staring at the dark riverbank.

Mangled limbs and bloody stumps piled into a small mountain.

All recent kills—demons who had died not long ago.

Suddenly,

the light emitted by the plant spirits snuffed out instantly!

Countless black lights surged forth, twisting and converging, lunging at them!

The brown bear demon leapt in front of Jiang Jian, voice low: “Watch out!”

Hss!

The sound of flesh tearing rang clear in the darkness!

A large chunk of skin and muscle ripped clean off its broad back!

A geyser of blood sprayed out!

Shan Ye’s gaze hardened: “The Mountain Ghost has been awakened—it’s enraged. We won’t be able to leave now.”

The plant spirits’ light flared again, restoring illumination around them.

Two aloe demons continuously cast healing spells; emerald orbs spread, helping the brown bear demon stem its bleeding.

Jiang Jian willed his spirit, and a crimson barrier spread outward, shielding the group.

He maintained the massive spell barrier.

Jiang Jian’s Shen Que spiritual energy was being drained at an alarming rate, second by second.

Shan Ye had already activated “Endless Vitality,” rapidly replenishing Jiang Jian’s spiritual energy.

Yin Yin suddenly spoke: “Jiang Jian, stop wasting spiritual energy. The barrier won’t work against it.”

Before her words ended,

black light surged from nothingness, lashing violently around Shi Xuan!

Clang!

A piercing, deafening clang echoed through the cavern!

The Spirit Bracelet activated—green light erupted around Shi Xuan, and he was flung backward by immense force!

The black light missed its target, paused briefly, then shifted course, lunging at Yin Yin!

“Flowing Wind, Returning Snow.”

In an instant, Yin Yin’s form dissolved, turning into frost petals that drifted down.

The twisted black light struck empty air again, sinking into the rock wall, corroding a massive hollow.

Hearing Yin Yin’s warning, Jiang Jian dismissed the spell barrier.

He reversed Han Guang and slashed at the black light!

Clang!

A blazing white swordlight exploded outward—missing its target, it shattered the rock wall, sending shards flying everywhere!

“You’ve got quite a few tricks for staying alive.”

A cold, melodious voice echoed through the cavern.

Light and shadow coalesced, forming a black-clad girl, barefoot, hovering above the cave.

She looked down at Jiang Jian and the others, arms outstretched, hair swirling.

Her translucent body split into two, then four.

Within seconds,

dozens of identical forms had multiplied.

These Mountain Ghost clones loomed above, eyes filled with mockery.

“Playing at spirits!”

Shi Xuan rose to his feet, furious, brandishing Yueyue Dao and slashing upward!

The blade’s blazing light split into dozens of beams, each aimed at a Mountain Ghost clone!

At the same time,

the brown bear demon, wracked with pain in its back, eyes blazing red, leapt upward, its demonic power surging in both palms as it slammed toward the Mountain Ghost!

"Just a few tiny bugs—I can crush them with one slap."

Dozens of the Mountain Spirit’s clones sneered simultaneously.

As the blade-light neared their bodies, all the black-robed girls suddenly turned insubstantial!

The next instant.

Their faces twisted into grotesque ghostly visages, lunging downward!

The brown bear demon took the first hit, several ghostly faces piercing straight through its body.

It was left with multiple bloodied holes, crashing hard to the ground!

Shi Xuan’s blade missed its mark, losing its purchase, and was seized again by the ghostly faces—the aura barrier around its spirit bracelets hissed and rapidly faded!

Liu Tiezhu suddenly opened his eyes, pointing to the right: "There!"

His face pale, teeth clenched, he unleashed his innate killing technique!

"Soul Bind!"

The moment the words left his lips.

One of the ghostly faces instantly reverted to a black-robed girl, her form freezing rigid!

Snowflakes coalesced; Yinyin appeared beside the Mountain Spirit, her pale fingers curling slightly as the vermilion light transformed into a blade, piercing straight through the Mountain Spirit’s skull!

"Damn thing!"

The black-robed girl, her head bristling with blades, eyes blood-red, spun around and slapped at Yinyin!

Frost vanished!

The Mountain Spirit’s slap struck empty air again!

Boom!

A massive palm print sank into the distant rock wall, the solid cliffface collapsing instantly!

In that instant.

Jiang Jian, wielding Hanguang, poured wild spiritual energy into his dantian, slashing upward in one stroke!

The blade roared with radiant flame, slicing straight through the black-robed girl’s body!

Crack!

All the Mountain Spirit’s clones shuddered violently and exploded!

Countless yin energies scattered; the cave seemed to rain black rain.

Strangely,

The fierce aura of Hanguang was entirely swallowed by the Mountain Spirit’s body.

Like a stream flowing into the sea, not a sound was made.

"You little insect."

The black-robed girl lowered her gaze, reached out, and gripped the blade of Hanguang.

"How dare you sully my spiritual form?"

Her voice was colder than ice frozen for ten thousand years.

(End of Chapter)