Chapter 33: A Heart-Pounding Battle

By the Soul Transformation Pool, Jiàn Wú Chén and the others were fully engaged in defense, resisting the onslaught of the ghost army. Due to the overwhelming number of ghost soldiers, although individually their cultivation levels were not strong, their united siege put immense pressure on everyone, completely trapping them in a dire situation.

A dark shadow flickered as the Ghost Realm expert returned to Yīn Lì's side, quietly recounting what he had seen. Yīn Lì's expression changed momentarily, but then a mysterious smile appeared on his face as he scanned the scene. After pausing briefly on Líng Bào Zūnzhě and Guǐ Zūn, Yīn Lì averted his gaze, looking at the human experts trapped there. At this moment, the ten human experts had been pushed back three feet by the ghost army, and their formation had shrunk slightly.

Within the formation, the radiance of the three divine swords was dazzling, emitting an overwhelmingly powerful divine aura, accompanied by the power to sever souls and extinguish spirits, which had already decimated nearly a thousand ghost soldiers, dealing them heavy blows. The other individuals brandished their long swords with prowess, their formidable cultivation clear from the dazzling sword aura. Protected by the Five Elements Formation, although the ten individuals were exerting all their strength, they had not wasted too much true essence for the time being, so there was no immediate issue.

While swiftly wielding his sword for defense and keeping an eye on the surroundings, Liǔ Xīng Hún's eyes revealed a hint of anxiety. Sensing the strength of the enemy, he was rapidly pondering how to escape this place. Encountering so many high-level experts here was something he hadn't anticipated before coming. Glancing at Jiàn Wú Chén, who was defending with all his might beside him, Liǔ Xīng Hún turned his gaze and whispered, "Wú Chén, let me ask you this: do you have the ability to escape from here alone in the most dangerous situation, disregarding any considerations, if it's just you alone? Can you break through?"

Taken aback, Jiàn Wú Chén glanced at him and asked, "What do you mean by this, senior brother? In the current situation, facing so many high-level experts, it's hardly realistic to try to break through. Moreover, even if we manage to break through the encirclement of these ghost soldiers, it's still uncertain whether we can escape from this eerie Shura Forest."

Sweeping his gaze around, seeing everyone fully focused on defense, Liǔ Xīng Hún whispered, "I mean, if there's a way to deal with these ghost soldiers, can you break out on your own?"

His expression changing, Jiàn Wú Chén discerned something unusual in Liǔ Xīng Hún's demeanor and whispered, "If there were no ghost soldiers blocking the way, Wú Chén could naturally break out easily. But how can we deal with such a large number of ghost soldiers? Senior brother, do you have a plan?"

"Naturally, there's a way. Over the years, our Tianjian Academy has traveled the world, collecting many treasures. Among them is a mysterious jade pot that can gather Yin spirits. Besides, Lù Yún's bag of holding also has the same effect. I only just remembered this now. Currently, I have the jade pot with me. As long as you can find a way to leave here, I can give it a try at the risk of my life, activating the jade pot to collect the large number of ghosts here."

Jiàn Wú Chén's face lit up with joy, whispering, "If that's the case, you can activate it now to gather these ghost soldiers. With our strength here, we won't fear the remaining ghosts."

Shaking his head slightly, Liǔ Xīng Hún whispered, "That won't work. This jade pot was obtained by me from the Hundred Zhang Abyss of Mount Lóufú. It contains a sinister aura. Once activated, it will engulf us along with the ghosts. I haven't used it all these years, and today, in the urgency of the situation, I just remembered it. Because it has never been used before, I dare not try it easily, fearing that one misstep could cost everyone's lives. For now, our only option is to find Lù Yún and have him use his bag of holding. That way, we'll have a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, unless absolutely necessary, I am reluctant to easily use that jade pot."

Disappointed, Jiàn Wú Chén sighed and looked at everyone, whispering, "Now that we have activated the Five Elements Formation, trying to break out suddenly would not only affect everyone but also give the enemy an opportunity. For now, let's wait and see. Hopefully, Lù Yún will return soon, and we can counterattack."

At this, Liǔ Xīng Hún shook his head in resignation, realizing that his efforts were in vain.

In the dark forest, Lù Yún moved forward along the route analyzed in his mind, but each time he was just a little late, always narrowly missing the opportunity. Stopping in mid-air, Lù Yún began to ponder how to decipher the mysterious and complex formation. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes lit up, and his whole body emitted a dazzling golden light. Suddenly, he transformed into a golden light, disappearing into the forest at an incomprehensible speed.

As a golden light, Lù Yún appeared in his spiritual form, his speed instantly multiplied several times. This way, it was easy to catch up with the speed of the formation, easily passing through the intricate Shura Absolute Formation. Outside the forest, a golden cloud, shimmering with dazzling light, appeared in the sky. After scanning the surroundings, the golden cloud swiftly returned to the Shura Forest.

As the light flashed, Lù Yún returned to his original form, his eyes filled with surprise as he looked outside the forest. Although he had only glanced briefly, he clearly saw that there were two ghostly figures standing outside the forest. While they were not from the same faction, it was obvious that their goal was the Soul Transformation Pool. Lù Yún couldn't understand why they would both appear here at the same time, whether intentionally or unintentionally, making it difficult to guess.

Turning back, Lù Yún glanced at the depths of the forest before returning. However, as soon as his figure disappeared, a mysterious black shadow appeared in the forest, grinning as it watched Lù Yún's back, chuckling softly before disappearing.

Back at the Soul Transformation Pool, seeing that everyone was temporarily safe, Lù Yún felt slightly relieved. His figure flashed, and he miraculously appeared in the center of the Five Elements Formation, greeting everyone loudly. Seeing Lù Yún return, everyone rejoiced, and Yún Fēng eagerly asked if there were any results.

Calmly looking at everyone, Lù Yún said, "This formation is extremely peculiar, and it's very difficult to escape because it's constantly in motion. Even if you calculate a way to break it, without the speed to match, it's all in vain. Currently, although I have found a

 way out, whether we can all leave safely is uncertain."

Sighing softly, everyone's mood grew heavy, pondering their way out while continuing to resist the ghost army's attacks. Glancing at Lù Yún, Liǔ Xīng Hún said, "Lù Yún, do you know how to use the bag of holding? Now, as long as you activate the bag of holding, we can gather the ghost soldiers around us, and then we can temporarily escape this predicament and find a way to break out."

Taken aback, Lù Yún then remembered the bag of holding on his person and quickly retrieved it from his chest. Glancing at the inconspicuous gray cloth bag, Lù Yún recited the incantation, casting the spell with both hands. Soon, the bag of holding flew into the air, transforming into a giant sack dozens of feet in size, accompanied by a whirlwind that devoured everything, aggressively aiming at the ghosts and sucking them in.

Amidst the howling wind, countless streams of air rushed from all directions toward the bag of holding, turning into a gaseous form and being sucked into it. On the ground, numerous ghost soldiers, defenseless, were sucked in by the raging wind, unable to struggle, and turned into wisps of black gas, disappearing into the miraculous bag of holding. At the edge of the pool, Yīn Lì and other high-level experts roared in anger, seemingly not expecting that Lù Yún would suddenly unleash this miraculous and domineering treasure, crazily devouring their army.

Time seemed to pass quickly at this moment. In just a short time, countless ghost soldiers disappeared into the bag of holding. Yīn Lì, Líng Bào Zūnzhě, Guǐ Zūn, and the other four high-level experts dodged and roared, their bodies swiftly moving to evade the powerful suction of the bag of holding.

As Lù Yún retracted the spell, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face as he gently caught the bag of holding. Everyone around breathed a sigh of relief, their faces filled with excitement as they looked at the precious item in Lù Yún's hand. Yún Fēng chuckled and said, "This thing looks inconspicuous, but it's unexpectedly useful. In the future, when encountering those ghost soldiers, let's collect them all and turn the Ghost Realm into an empty shell. Hehe, that'll be fun."

Jiàn Wú Chén's face showed a hint of jealousy, but he quickly concealed it. Glancing around, he said, "Now is the perfect opportunity. Let's first eliminate these ghost creatures and then find a way to enter the Soul Transformation Pool and retrieve the Soul Sealing Talisman." Everyone snapped back to attention, immediately turning to charge at the ghostly figures.

Glancing at the seven ghostly creatures, Lù Yún whispered, "Master, senior brothers, Yún Fēng, and Senior Brother Liǔ will each deal with one evil ghost. The remaining Yīn Lì, Líng Bào Zūnzhě, and Guǐ Zūn will be taken care of by Ào Xuě and Cāng Yuè, with Jiàn Wú Chén dealing with Yīn Lì. The rest of you, be vigilant and watch for any movement around us. Now, let's launch the attack."

Following each other's words, they began a comprehensive attack. Ào Xuě and Cāng Yuè had previously fought against the Ghost Venerable in the First Discourse, but this time, their second collaboration against the Spirit Leopard Venerable appeared much more composed. The two divine swords danced in the air like clouds, swirling like dragons; dazzling purple-golden light, accompanied by the power to shatter mountains and split rocks, formed a dragon and phoenix in mid-air, enveloping the Spirit Leopard Venerable.

With a sneer, the Spirit Leopard Venerable's evil eyes flickered with a cold gaze, moving at a speed faster than light, swiftly maneuvering around the area to form a row of green shadows, vaguely resembling a raging leopard. The powerful demonic aura pervaded within a radius of hundreds of feet around the Soul Transformation Pool. With each rapid leap, the leopard demon unleashed thirty-six shadow punches. With astonishing speed and formidable strength, these punches converged into a formidable force, swiftly striking out.

Sword qi soared like rainbows, fist power roared like thunder; the collision between the two powerful forces in the air produced a fierce impact. Thunder roared, and the qi shot out like dragons, the powerful explosive force pushing both sides back several yards. Upon landing, the three figures bounced back and swiftly launched another dense attack.

On the side, Jiàn Wú Chén wielded the Heavenly Spirit Divine Sword, enveloped in colorful radiance, using the Heavenly Sword Technique of the Tianjian Academy to engage in a fierce battle with the sinister entity. As a leader among the ghost generals of the Ghost Realm, the sinister entity's cultivation level was extremely rare in the entire Ghost Realm. Coupled with its possession of the Xuan Soul Yin Seal, one of the three greatest treasures of the Ghost Realm, its attack power was extraordinary.

At this moment, the sinister entity counterattacked Jiàn Wú Chén while keeping an eye on the surroundings, its dark green eyes revealing a hint of mystery. Swiftly dodging, the sinister entity tried to avoid direct confrontation with Jiàn Wú Chén in order to preserve its strength. Thus, the battle between the two sides became a chase, with each side caught in a stalemate.

Glancing at the fight between Yún Fēng and the others, seeing that they were temporarily safe, Lù Yún withdrew his gaze and quietly watched the Ghost Venerable. With a cold smile, Lù Yún said, "Ghost Venerable, this name sounds quite majestic. I wonder why you have come here. Is it your personal intention, or does it represent the intention of your Ghost Island?"

With a sardonic smile, the Ghost Venerable said, "That doesn't matter. Just like how I don't ask why you're here. Now, between you and me, as long as we determine the winner, the victor can stay. As for other matters, you don't need to know too much."

Cold and indifferent, Lù Yún said in a deep voice, "I asked just because I wanted to know how many experts from your Ghost Island have come this time. Since you are unwilling to answer, I'll ask another question. After that, we will settle our lives and deaths. How about it?"

Looking at Lù Yún, the Ghost Venerable's eyes flickered with uncertainty and hesitation. After considering for a moment, it said, "Fine, ask your question, but I also want to ask you one in return, as part of the exchange."

Sweeping his gaze around, Lù Yún said calmly, "I heard that there is a mysterious Ghost Realm here, located on Ghost Island. I wonder what mysteries lie within that Ghost Realm?"

The expression on the Ghost Venerable's face changed, showing a hint of shock. It seemed not to have expected such a question. Its green eyes rolled incessantly, and after a while, the Ghost Venerable spoke, "Your question is strange and not easy to answer. What I can tell you is that there are five realms in the Ghost Realm, with the most mysterious being the Ghost Realm, and the most dangerous being the Realm of Life and Death. The reason the Ghost Realm is mysterious is because it is said to contain the Ghost Demon Tome. That thing is said to be able to infinitely transform, becoming whatever it wants, and hardly anyone can discern it. For example, it can transform into your appearance in front of you, except for what you know in your own heart, others will not be able to detect the slightest difference. Also, it is said that whoever enters the Ghost Realm will disappear without a trace."

Lù Yún smiled faintly, feeling somewhat relieved to have gained some understanding of the most mysterious realm in the Ghost Realm. The Ghost Realm had five realms, and he had entered four of them, which was perhaps rare in the world. After observing the surroundings for a moment, Lù Yún asked, "Alright, now it's your turn to ask a question. After that, we will begin."

Looking at Lù Yún, the Ghost Venerable's eyes flashed with a strange expression, and it asked softly, "Why does your body contain the aura of bloodthirst, and why can I sense the aura of the Ghost Realm on you, but you are clearly human and not a ghost? Also, it seems that there is something evil and strange hidden on your body."

His expression unchanged, but Lù Yún was shocked in his heart. He didn't understand how the Ghost Venerable had seen through it; this was a secret he had always kept hidden. Looking at the Ghost Venerable, Lù Yún calculated in his heart that he must find an opportunity to silence him, or else it would be detrimental to him in the future. Shifting his gaze away, Lù Yún said in a deep voice, "Your intuition is quite accurate, but unfortunately, you haven't completely figured it out. If you want to know, you can find out for yourself when we start. Now, let's begin. Others have been fighting for quite some time; we shouldn't waste any more time. This battle is inevitable. Now, I will personally learn from the Ghost Venerable's skills. Be careful."

With a flash of red light, the Ru Yi Heart Soul Sword above his head burst forth with a strong light, and Lù Yún's whole body burned with flames, his imposing aura like that of a god of fire. In his eyes, which shimmered with red light, there was a hint of coldness as sharp as piercing ice, making the Ghost Venerable's heart tremble. With a speed that was twice as fast as before, the Ghost Venerable's figure dashed around Lù Yún, forming a black line of movement that surrounded him. These countless black chains emitted a sinister and evil aura, seemingly trying to erode Lù Yún's protective qi shield.

As his figure moved, Lù Yún began to attack. The flaming Ru Yi Divine Sword, accompanied by a roaring sword chant and a flame, began to press towards the Ghost Venerable in a rotating and contracting manner. Meanwhile, the black chains surrounding Lù Yún emitted a sinister and evil aura, undulating like waves, encircling his body and preventing his attack. The fierce and unyielding Sword Qi of the Luminous Sword, with its burning heat capable of consuming all, encountered the mysterious chains that could devour souls, and they made a sizzling sound as they collided, extremely jarring and terrifying.

With a flash of red light, Lù Yún's entire body ignited with flames, exuding a mighty and majestic aura like that of a fiery war god. In his eyes shimmered a hint of coldness as sharp as piercing ice, causing the Ghost Venerable's heart to tremble, and its movements accelerated twofold. Now, the shadow of the Ghost Venerable appeared like faint black mist, elusive and unreal. With a silent and invisible burst, the miraculously dominant psychic attack launched nineteen waves of high-speed, twenty thousand frequency powerful psychic waves from various angles, assaulting the Ghost Venerable.

Slowing down, the Ghost Venerable let out a furious and horrified roar, appearing angry and shocked. After casting a fierce glance at Lù Yún, its green eyes turned cold, and its entire body shot out directly towards him. However, just as its figure approached within three feet of Lù Yún, it suddenly rebounded back, cleverly evading Lù Yún's powerful sword strike. Rebounding again, the ghostly figure appeared before Lù Yún, its evil eyes carrying a hint of cruelty and ruthlessness.

Glancing at Lù Yún's rapidly swinging long sword, the Ghost Venerable roared, "Receive my Nine Revolutions Endless, and witness how I take your soul, destroying your body. First Revolution!" With a roar, the Ghost Venerable's black shadow flickered, revolving around Lù Yún at a frenetic speed of thirteen hundred and sixty revolutions per moment. The powerful airflow generated by the high-speed rotation produced an immensely strong centrifugal force, seemingly aiming to tear Lù Yún's body apart.

With a slight change in expression, Lù Yún watched the rotating ghostly figure, a hint of seriousness in his eyes. Despite his immensely powerful psychic attacks just now, he hadn't managed to harm the Ghost Venerable, which was both puzzling and shocking to him. It seemed like the first time since he started his journey that his psychic attacks had been ineffective. Sensing the powerful tearing force, which was fiercely destroying his protective true qi, Lù Yún's heart shook. Gathering all his true essence, a strong dark blue light appeared around him, forming seven layers of defense.

The Ru Yi Heart Soul Sword burst forth with radiant light, the high-speed, scorching-hot movement resembling a flying dragon, accompanied by a red glow, transforming into a fiery dragon that hovered above Lù Yún's head. Amidst the thunderous dragon roar, the fire dragon descended from above, reversing the yin and yang in its motion, swirling and dancing around Lù Yún's body, forming a sharp contrast with the black ghostly figure. Lù Yún's eyes flickered with a faint rainbow light, his psychic waves rapidly calculating the Ghost Venerable's trajectory, ready to deliver a powerful blow once he analyzed its movement.

Suddenly, a flash of light gleamed in Lù Yún's eyes as his true essence erupted at three times its speed. The Ru Yi Divine Sword, glowing with dazzling red light, transformed back into its sword form, accompanied by a column of annihilating sword aura, slashing diagonally. The blazing red light, coupled with the rotating sword column, formed a sweeping attack, forcefully striking the high-speed rotating shadow.

"Second Revolution!" With a burst of shouts, the Ghost Venerable's body unexpectedly reversed its rotation, ingeniously avoiding Lù Yún's powerful strike. The black light flickered, and after the Ghost Venerable's body reversed, its speed did not slow down at all; instead, it increased by threefold. Trapped within the encirclement, Lù Yún's body shook. In the instant of the intense interchange between positive and negative rotations, his strength suddenly tripled, causing his formidable true qi shield to shatter into four streams.

Glancing in shock at the still-rotating Ghost Venerable, Lù Yún suddenly realized that the Ghost Venerable's Nine Revolutions Endless was definitely not an ordinary technique. With its immense cultivation, the display of this domineering technique's power was unparalleled, likely unmatched in the world. Lù Yún's guess was accurate; the Ghost Venerable's technique had an astonishing origin. It didn't come from the Ghost Realm but from the mortal world, a fact known only to the Ghost Venerable. The Nine Revolutions Endless comprised nine revolutions, each representing a different aspect of power, with the ninth revolution, "Life," being absolutely impossible for anyone to escape from.

With a cold shout, Lù Yún once again surged his true essence. His powerful cultivation and thick true qi formed a high-speed rotating wave around him, mysteriously neutralizing the intense pressure from all sides. His thoughts raced as his psychic waves analyzed every movement, every change in breath, and every fluctuation of true qi of the Ghost Venerable. Gradually, a hint of strangeness flashed in Lù Yún's eyes as they shone brightly, carefully observing the surrounding figures.

While Lù Yún and the Ghost Venerable engaged in mysterious arts and launched powerful attacks, the others were also exerting themselves, gradually reaching a critical point. Among the groups in combat, Ào Xuě and Cāng Yuè had gained the upper hand, forcing the Spirit Leopard Venerable to retreat step by step, roaring furiously. Meanwhile, Jiàn Wú Chén and the sinister entity were still in pursuit, making no progress. Yún Fēng had nearly secured victory by employing the Yin-Yang technique, besieging his opponent and assimilating its soul. However, Zǐ Yáng Zhenrén found himself gradually falling into a predicament despite his eruption of true essence and fierce sword attacks. Fēng Yuǎnyáng was currently evenly matched with his opponent, while Lǐu Xīng Hún's Heavenly Sword Technique remained unrivaled, securing his advantage.

Observing the intense battles, the three onlookers found it difficult to decide where to focus their attention, as each skirmish was equally thrilling. Anxiously watching the ongoing battles, Dù Lì whispered softly, "It seems that the outcome hinges on Lù Yún, Cāng Yuè, and Jiàn Wú Chén. Yún Fēng's group seems to be at a stalemate for now."

Nodding slightly, Bì Tiān spoke in a deep voice, "The situation doesn't look optimistic, but we won't lose. Yún Fēng is close to victory now, and with his assistance, the other three won't be far behind. The remaining battle will depend on Lù Yún."

As soon as his words fell, a piercing scream suddenly echoed through the battlefield, then abruptly vanished. Fixing their gaze, they saw Yún Fēng employing the mysterious Yin-Yang technique to annihilate his opponent, then swiftly flying towards Zǐ Yáng Zhenrén. Amidst the ongoing battles, the high-level practitioners were all taken aback, each with their own feelings. Jiàn Wú Chén's eyes turned cold, a mysterious smile flickering in his eyes, unable to fathom his intentions.

With a sharp roar, Jiàn Wú Chén suddenly ceased evading and, clad in dense black aura, charged towards Jiàn Wú Chén. Ji

àn Wú Chén was taken aback, unable to comprehend why it suddenly stopped evading. Watching the approaching figure, Jiàn Wú Chén's eyes burst into a dazzling brilliance, and the Heavenly Spirit Divine Sword radiated with colorful light, forming a five-colored divine dragon soaring into the sky. With a thunderous dragon roar, the five-colored divine dragon swiftly circled in the air before rushing towards the sinister entity.

In midair, the five-colored light dragon shimmered with dazzling radiance, charging towards the sinister entity in the style of chasing the moon. With a sinister smile, the sinister entity's figure suddenly disappeared just before colliding with the five-colored divine dragon, vanishing into thin air. His expression changed, Jiàn Wú Chén's true qi condensed, forming a faint purple light shield around his body, defensively probing the whereabouts of the sinister entity.

After spinning around once without finding anything, Jiàn Wú Chén's heart sank, unable to understand where the sinister entity had hidden. However, just as he was puzzled, Bì Tiān's alarmed cry suddenly came from the periphery, "Watch out above, move quickly!" With a sinking heart upon hearing this, Jiàn Wú Chén didn't have time to think further; his body shot out rapidly.

In midair, the sinister entity silently appeared above a dark cloud, a dazzling black light beam shooting straight into the sky from between its hands. Casting a cold glance at Jiàn Wú Chén below, the sinister entity's hands suddenly pressed downward, its entire cultivation converging into an immensely powerful force, exerted on the dark jade seal. As the dark jade radiated with intense green light, an overwhelming sense of gloom enveloped the Heavenly Spirit Divine Sword, pressing it downwards.

His body trembling, Jiàn Wú Chén's face paled considerably. With a fierce glare at the sinister entity, Jiàn Wú Chén suddenly erupted with a violent aura, the radiant light surrounding his body causing the Heavenly Spirit Divine Sword's aura to swell. After descending three feet, the sword rebounded upwards, forcefully pushing away the dark jade seal. Extending his right hand, Jiàn Wú Chén grasped the long sword, his entire being transforming into a purple vortex swirling upwards.

With a sharp roar, Jiàn Wú Chén erupted with a tremendous aura, his entire body surging with power that overwhelmed everything around him. Amidst the thunderous roar, Jiàn Wú Chén, like an enraged beast, locked his ferocious gaze on the sinister entity, continuously launching a barrage of attacks with the Heavenly Spirit Divine Sword, striking one thousand one hundred and ninety-six times in succession. Amidst the roar of fury, the sinister entity seemed caught off guard, never expecting Jiàn Wú Chén to conceal his true strength all along and suddenly unleash a fatal blow at this critical moment.

The black shadow trembled, and the ghostly aura shattered as the sinister entity was sent flying back three zhang. In midair, a hundred zhang-long five-colored sword pillar, imbued with a sacred aura that devoured all Yin spirits, swept down and struck the sinister entity's figure. With a tragic scream, the sinister entity's entire body suddenly dimmed, a faint trace of breath rapidly escaping before disappearing without a trace.