Chapter 87

The training camp, to hone these prodigies, regularly dispatches combat missions through the Garrison of Demonic Suppression and major factions.

A month later, an emergency mission was issued to the training camp.

【Emergency Investigation Mission: Outside Renyuan Pass, Silent Mine.】

【Mission Background: Originally a spirit stone vein, abandoned fifty years ago. Recent monitoring detected anomalous psychic fluctuations deep within the mine, suggesting the emergence of an unknown demonic beast or malevolent entity—three small patrol teams sent to investigate have gone missing.】

【Mission Objective: Enter the mine, investigate the source of the anomaly, assess threat level, and eliminate if necessary.】

【Mission Requirements: Teams of elite students to execute; recommend inclusion of psychic or perception-specialized adepts.】

【Threat Level: High (suspected presence of a late-stage or peak-level psychic demonic beast of Wang Jie rank)】

【Mission Reward: Massive credits, plus additional bonuses based on investigation outcome.】

This mission immediately drew serious attention from the top prodigies. Psychic demonic beasts are exceedingly rare and treacherous, their attack methods bizarre and impossible to guard against.

After coordination between Lei Zhan and other factions, it was decided that Jiang Xia’s five-member team would be augmented with two additional prodigies specializing in this field.

Sixth on the Prodigy List: Su Wan, a psychic control expert from the Su Clan; Eleventh on the Prodigy List: Li Qing, a martial arts alliance array master skilled in soul defense.

Du Gu Yun and others did not participate, as they were in seclusion to break through to Wang Hou.

The seven-member team arrived at the entrance of the Silent Mine in a specially crafted rune-armored vehicle.

A cold, decaying aura surged forth; the mine’s depths were pitch black, like a monstrous maw ready to devour.

“Such intense resentment and psychic contamination.”

Su Wan furrowed her brow, her gentle psychic light radiating outward to dispel the surrounding negative emotions. “Hold firm to your minds—do not be disturbed.”

Li Qing swiftly set up several warning and defensive arrays at the entrance: “There’s a powerful soul barrier inside—my arrays’ detection range has been drastically reduced.”

Jiang Xia activated his Sharingan, his crimson pupils scanning the mine’s interior.

In his vision, gray-black threads of psychic energy permeated the tunnel, growing denser the deeper they went.

“Follow me. Watch my steps.”

Jiang Xia said grimly; his Sharingan could clearly reveal the locations of these psychic traps.

He stepped forward into the mine, the others following close behind.

The mine’s interior was a labyrinth of twisted passages, abandoned rails and mine carts scattered everywhere, mining traces still etched into the rock walls.

“Something’s coming!” Wang Teng suddenly growled, extending his Soul Devouring Scythe toward a left-side branch tunnel.

Several translucent, twisted ghostly shadows drifted from the darkness, emitting piercing shrieks as they lunged at the group.

These phantoms had no physical form; physical attacks were nearly ineffective.

“Wraiths! Residual souls corrupted by intense psychic energy!”

Su Wan activated her ability, unleashing powerful psychic force that shattered the foremost wraiths into mist.

Ling Zhantian’s Divine War Qi, yang and pure, suppressed yin evils—he punched forward, his blood aura like a wolf’s smoke, incinerating one wraith into blue smoke.

But the wraiths seemed endless, surging from all directions.

“This won’t work—we’ll exhaust our strength.”

Wang Shichen said calmly, attempting to slice the wraiths with spatial fissures, but with little effect.

Jiang Xia's gaze sharpened; his Rinnegan activated. "Try this! Shinra Tensei!"

He extended one hand toward the densest cluster of wraiths—immense suction erupted, forcibly pulling dozens together.

“Now, Wang Teng!” Jiang Xia barked.

Wang Teng understood; his Soul Devouring Scythe erupted with thick gray-black death energy: “Fengdu Secret Incantation: Soul Devour!”

The scythe swung—a massive spectral skull materialized, jaws wide, swallowing every wraith drawn in by Shinra Tensei.

“It worked!” Wang Teng exclaimed.

The group pressed deeper; the psychic pressure intensified, phantom whispers filled their ears, and twisted illusions flickered before their eyes.

“Hold fast to your true selves!” Li Qing continuously emitted his ability to stabilize their souls.

Jiang Xia’s Sharingan and Rinnegan remained active, keeping him lucid as he guided the team past the most dangerous psychic traps.

Finally, after crossing a vast underground fissure, they reached the deepest chamber—a massive subterranean cavern.

At its center lay a black pool, bubbling incessantly.

Above the pool floated a colossal, slowly pulsing black tumor, its surface covered in contorted human faces and endlessly opening and closing mouths, emitting a nauseating stench.

“That’s it!”

Su Wan’s face turned pale, pointing at the tumor. “The source of all anomalous psychic fluctuations!”

“It’s a juvenile Wang Ling—it’s feeding on the mine’s resentment and negative earth energy to grow!”

“Wang Ling?”

Jiang Xia’s pupils contracted; he recalled the term from theoretical lessons—a rare and deadly psychic demonic beast. Mature specimens reach Catastrophic rank, capable of easily corrupting the minds of all living beings in an entire city.

“Destroy it before it fully matures!” Ling Zhantian roared, charging forward.

“Wait!” Jiang Xia blocked him. “Its surrounding psychic barrier is too strong—forcing entry will trigger violent backlash.”

He studied the tumor closely; his Sharingan pierced its surface, revealing a condensed energy core at its center, within which a spinning black spirit crystal rotated.

“Its core is that crystal. Su Wan, Li Qing—work together to weaken its psychic barrier.”

“Everyone else, follow my orders—strike the crystal simultaneously!” Jiang Xia issued commands swiftly.

Su Wan and Li Qing nodded, sitting cross-legged. Su Wan’s psychic force split into countless fine threads, attempting to penetrate the barrier; Li Qing layered arrays to steadily erode its energy.

The Wang Ling sensed the threat—its pulsing quickened. More wraiths erupted from the pool and rock walls, surging wildly toward the team.

Simultaneously, a torrent of psychic assault crashed over them, seeking to shatter their will.

“Not today!” Jiang Xia’s left eye’s Mangekyo pattern spun. “Ciku Itachi Mi!”

Powerful illusionary force surged backward, temporarily disrupting the tumor’s psychic output.

Wang Teng swung his Soul Devouring Scythe, alongside Ye Lingxi, holding back the flood of wraiths.

The three moved in perfect sync, carving a bloody path through the wraith tide.

“The barrier is weakening!” Su Wan cried, blood trickling from her lips—she was drained.

“Wang Shichen!” Jiang Xia barked.

Wang Shichen formed hand seals, space trembling: “Target locked! Coordinates fixed!”

“Now!” Jiang Xia’s right Rinnegan glowed—he initiated first. “Xinla Tian Sai!”

A powerful repulsive force erupted from him, instantly clearing the surrounding wraiths and slamming violently into the Wang Ling’s psychic barrier.