Chapter 491

The Ghost Yin Wood Forest, as the outer barrier of the Ghost Domain Forbidden Ground, likely contains the laws of heaven and earth's order, just like Ghost Mother Mountain and Ghost Infant River.

Having experienced striking Ghost Mother Mountain with a sword and burning Ghost Infant River, thereby attracting divine punishment, Hua Changxi had to be extremely vigilant when facing the Ghost Yin Wood Forest.

Unable to use the Floating Light Sword or the Karma Fire, her offensive and defensive means were severely restricted, so crossing this eerie and unpredictable Ghost Yin Wood Forest would undoubtedly multiply the danger.

But no matter how dangerous, she still had to cross.

Hua Changxi did not dare to be careless; she restrained her aura to the utmost and cautiously approached the forest.

As soon as she stepped into the edge of the forest, the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped to freezing point.

She continued deeper.

At first, nothing happened; the Ghost Yin Wood Forest seemed not to have noticed the intruder.

However, after she had penetrated a thousand meters into the forest, countless branches on the originally gray-white trunks faced her without warning, as if staring intently at this uninvited guest.

At the same time, the mist ahead suddenly churned, and faintly, a strange sound resembling an infant's cry mixed with an old man's cough emerged, especially jarring in this deathly silent forest.

Immediately after, the ground began to tremble; dozens of thick Ghost Yin Wood roots burst from the earth, transforming into huge black pythons that came to strangle her with irresistible force.

These roots moved extremely fast, surrounding her from all directions, sealing off every escape route in the blink of an eye.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~"

The moment the attack came, Hua Changxi swiftly pulled out the fifth-rank Soul Hairpin from her hair.

A sound of piercing air suddenly arose.

In an instant, eighty-one soul needles as thin as ox hair shot out; the needles did not carry her own spiritual power but instead guided soul power, attaching ghost fire, and accurately stabbed toward the restless Ghost Yin Wood roots.

She deliberately restrained her spiritual power and dared not ignite any spiritual fire.

This infiltration into the Ghost Domain Forbidden Ground was mainly to investigate the reason for the broken sword's vibration; if possible, she did not want to cause too much commotion.

The last time she entered the Ghost Domain Forbidden Ground, it caused Ghost Mother Mountain and Ghost Infant River to become barren and desolate; if she were to burn the Ghost Yin Wood Forest this time, aside from possibly attracting divine punishment, the Ghost Clan experts would definitely attack her in a group.

"Boom!"

Perhaps sensing the existence of ghost fire, the originally ferocious Ghost Yin Wood actually hesitated for a moment, and their assault slowed slightly.

Seizing this opportunity, Hua Changxi immediately controlled the soul needles to weave back and forth through the forest.

Stab, withdraw, stab again!

Taking advantage of this brief interval, she forcibly cleared a path within the impenetrable encirclement of roots.

However, the Ghost Yin Wood's pause was only momentary.

With a grating, teeth-clenching sound, even more roots came strangling again like black pythons.

Relying only on soul needles and ghost fire to ward off the enemy was ultimately inadequate.

Just as the soul needles were too slow to return for defense, a thick Ghost Yin Wood branch descended from above and fiercely struck at Hua Changxi.

In the critical moment, Hua Changxi instinctively swung the pitch-black broken sword in her hand to parry.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound suddenly exploded.

The Ghost Yin Wood, originally so hard that even ghost fire could barely scorch it, broke apart instantly upon contact with the broken sword, as fragile as an eggshell hitting a boulder.

What was even more spine-chilling was that the broken branch did not fall to the ground; instead, it was as if seized by an invisible suction force, clinging tightly to the blade.

The next moment, the hard broken branch of Ghost Yin Wood rapidly melted like ice meeting boiling water, turning into black liquid, which was greedily and swiftly devoured by the black broken sword.

In an instant, the originally rusted and crack-ridden blade faintly glowed with a deep, eerie black light, captivating the heart and soul.

"Hmm?"

Hua Changxi was slightly stunned, her eyes full of disbelief; she had never imagined that a broken sword so damaged could still be this sharp!

What surprised her even more was that the broken sword could actually "devour" the Ghost Yin Wood.

Because of the broken sword, the surrounding Ghost Yin Wood roots that had been frenziedly attacking actually stopped their assault once again.

This pause was far longer than before, as if the entire forest had gained intelligence and felt profound fear toward this black blade.

By the time the Ghost Yin Wood launched its next attack, the devastating, all-out killing momentum was completely gone, replaced by cautious, probing strikes.

Now that she knew this broken blade could cut through Ghost Yin Wood like tofu, Hua Changxi no longer hesitated. Gripping the broken blade, she charged directly at the Ghost Yin Wood roots.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

Crisp snapping sounds rose one after another, like a symphony of harvesting.

In just a few breaths, large swaths of roots were severed and fell to the ground.

However, Hua Changxi soon found herself in a situation where there was 'nothing left to cut'—all the Ghost Yin Wood roots that had been attacking from all directions had withdrawn completely, not a single one remaining.

Not only that, the originally impenetrable Ghost Yin Wood forest actively parted to both sides, forcibly opening a path as if urging her—hurry up and leave!

Witnessing this scene, Hua Changxi was initially stunned. Then her gaze fell upon the black broken blade that was frantically "devouring" the Ghost Yin Wood roots, and she understood in her heart.

How could this be an ordinary weapon?

This was clearly the bane of Ghost Yin Wood, an overwhelming weapon!

As the last wisp of root was devoured, the thick layer of rust on the black blade's surface mostly peeled off, revealing the deep, ink-black metal beneath, faintly shimmering with a captivating luster.

Hua Changxi was both surprised and delighted. Her gaze turned fervent and focused as she happily examined the broken blade in her hand.

However, the moment she stared at the blade, a sudden change occurred.

Her originally joyful and gentle gaze unknowingly took on a deep, dark ink hue. Deep within her eyes, a vortex seemed to slowly rotate, and even her mind swayed along, as if about to be sucked into the pitch-black blade.

"Hiss~"

A sharp stinging pain came from the back of her hand, like ice water splashing over her head, instantly snapping Hua Changxi awake.

She suddenly regained her senses, cold sweat soaking her back.

Especially when she felt that above her Nascent Soul, the originally stable black flame showed signs of uncontrollable expansion, Hua Changxi's expression turned extremely serious.

However, being deep in the Ghost Yin Wood forest with dangers all around, she could not investigate further. She could only forcibly suppress the agitation in her heart, no longer looking directly at the blade, but gripping the handle tightly, focusing her mind, and carrying this alluring yet dangerous black blade as she cautiously crossed the Ghost Yin Wood forest that had yielded a path of survival.

Without the obstruction of the Ghost Yin Wood, Hua Changxi sped along and soon exited the forest.

As soon as she left the forest, at the far end of the sky, a towering, eerie giant castle appeared in her field of vision.

The castle stretched endlessly; within it, halls piled upon halls, with multi-layered eaves and upturned corners, as if never-ending.

Thousands of green ghost lamps dotted the structure, their eerie green light flickering and dancing in the darkness, casting the colossal edifice as a ghostly palace, exuding a suffocating solemnity and malevolence.

Hua Changxi looked around, and unable to determine her bearings, she ultimately decided to move towards the castle.

After her figure completely disappeared into the darkness, several members of the Ghost Race also emerged from the Ghost Yin Wood forest.

"Quick, report to the Ghost Realm Fort! A Netherworld powerhouse has emerged from the mountains, trespassed into the forbidden area, and cut down a batch of Ghost Yin Wood to nurture a magical artifact."

Not only is Ghost Yin Wood the sacred tree of the Ghost Race, but because it can absorb and refine Netherworld Qi, it is a highly coveted nourishing substance for all beings in the Nine Nethers. It can be used for cultivation to increase power, for nurturing magical artifacts, or for irrigating nether plants and soul grasses.