The protective golden light from the Life Light Skill is extraordinary.
Although at a lower level it is not immune to all techniques, it is more than sufficient to protect against ordinary attacks and even curses, and when it breaks, it can resist a powerful strike once.
Therefore, upon entering the Ancient Secret Realm, Zhang Kui activates it every ten minutes.
The facts prove that his caution is justified.
When faced with attacks from invisible monsters in the tomb, he lights up suddenly like an alarm.
Elder Hua Yan also furrows his brows and lights up his lotus-shaped ancient artifact.
Instantly, a hazy woman's face appears in front of Zhang Kui, with a high bun, deathly pale skin, and three eyes on her forehead faintly visible.
"Courting death!"
Zhang Kui snorts coldly, and with his right hand wrapped in Cold Evil, he punches forward.
Poof!
Like breaking a water bag, a woman's scream seems to echo in his ears, and the interface experience increases by a small chunk.
It can be killed!
Zhang Kui is overjoyed and dashes forward, overtaking Elder Hua Yan to attack several "Divine Slaves" that have revealed themselves.
The few white-robed Daoists seem to belong to a technical category; though they expertly use talismans, their attacks have little effect on the "Divine Slaves," causing them to retreat hurriedly.
Seeing Zhang Kui's enthusiasm, Elder Hua Yan is content to hold back, instead turning his gaze toward the direction of the tombstone, his eyes showing a trace of seriousness.
After clearing out the "Divine Slaves" within the range of the Lotus Lamp, Zhang Kui finds that he has gained an additional skill point on his skill panel, bringing it to three.
The joy in Zhang Kui's heart is palpable.
These "Divine Slaves," although formless and terrifying, are easily dispatched once illuminated by the Lotus Lamp, much faster than outside.
Unlike others, his path to enhancing his strength depends on skill points, but obtaining them is not easy.
His current skills are Guiding Skill (Level 5), Tongyou Skill (Level 1), Demon-slaying Skill (Level 3), Talisman Skill (Level 1), Soul Capture Skill (Level 1), Rock Jumping Skill (Level 2), Clone Skill (Level 1), Invisibility Skill (Level 1), Life Light Skill (Level 1), Pot Heaven Skill (Level 2).
He's already learned ten of the Earth Demon 72 Techniques.
At the current pace, he barely has enough resources to manage his existing skills, let alone learn new ones.
Therefore, every opportunity to earn a skill point is very precious.
Zhang Kui squints slightly, scanning the surrounding darkness.
There should be many "Divine Slaves" here...
Just at that moment, he suddenly feels a shiver of terror, turning his head upward, his pupils dilate.
In the dark sky, a massive black hand suddenly appears, reaching toward them, blotting out the sky.
It's the one from Cold Yin Cave before!
Zhang Kui initially thought it was some giant creature, but now it seems more like a type of magic.
"Hmph!"
Elder Hua Yan had clearly noticed it early on, holding the Lotus Lamp in his left hand, his right hand crackling with electricity.
With a cold snort, he swiftly raises his hand, and a thunderbolt as thick as a bowl flies out, colliding with the massive black hand.
Boom!
A scorched smell fills the air.
Unfortunately, although the hand is pushed back, its palm singed, it strikes again at an even faster speed.
Elder Hua Yan's expression turns serious as he continuously fires thunderbolts with his right hand, repeatedly repelling the massive black hand.
Zhang Kui watches, feeling somewhat helpless.
The formless old ghost that was far stronger than Chang San of the Grain Avoidance Realm was grabbed easily by the hand; this is clearly a Celestial Tribulation Realm battle where he has little influence.
Just then, Elder Hua Yan's expression changes drastically.
Another massive black hand appears above, and outside the Lotus Lamp light, the heads of three-eyed women emerge, staring coldly at them.
Danger!
Zhang Kui's face turns grave, his grip on Lu Li's Sword is so tight his knuckles turn white.
Elder Hua Yan has to protect them, stretched thin; if he withdraws the Lotus Lamp, they'll face attacks from "Divine Slaves," but if things continue like this, they are bound to fail eventually.
Elder Hua Yan might manage to escape, but the rest, including Zhang Kui, might not survive!
Stay calm...
Zhang Kui quickly considers a solution.
He looks at the Lotus Lamp in the old Daoist's hand; ancient artifacts can only be used by their owners, he can't borrow it.
The biggest threat from these "Divine Slaves" is their formless nature.
Would the equally ancient black umbrella be useful?
He acts on his thoughts immediately, spreading his left hand open to reveal the black umbrella, and a swirl of black fog abruptly spreads, surprisingly forming a standoff with the Lotus Lamp's light.
Meanwhile, inside the black fog space, Zhang Kui's eyes brighten with joy.
The "Divine Slaves" are now fully visible, all appearing as three-eyed women, icy-cold like corpses, dressed in ancient palace attire.
"Senior, confidently face the enemy while I protect the others!" Zhang Kui emerges with a shout, swiftly enveloping the other white-robed Daoists within the black fog.
"Hahaha, good boy!"
Elder Huayan let out a loud laugh, quickly putting away the Lotus Lamp. Suddenly, a Floating Dust appeared in his right hand, and his figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, weaving and striking between the two large hands.
Inside the Black Fog Space...
"Everyone, stay calm and don't move!"
Zhang Kui instructed the white-robed Daoists, then eagerly looked into the distance.
The black fog had already enveloped over twenty "Divine Slaves," who were stumbling around in a daze.
Swish!
Zhang Kui instantly appeared above those "Divine Slaves." The Lu Li Sword flashed blue light, slashing down relentlessly.
Above each fallen Stone Man, Elder Huayan transformed into lightning, forcing the two blackish hands to continually retreat.
If not for his need to carefully avoid the void darkness outside the Secret Realm, he could have resolved the battle faster.
Below,
The black fog surged tumultuously, like a man-eating monster.
Soon, it started spreading around, as if gradually devouring the entire Stone Man passage.
Inside the Black Fog Space, it's not only "Divine Slaves" that were pulled in, but also some bizarre giant venomous insects and many zombies wearing clothes from very different eras.
No matter what it was, Zhang Kui, his mind consumed by battle frenzy, wielded the Lu Li Sword with a chilling Cold Evil aura, scattering shattered ice everywhere, with a layer of white frost forming on the ground.
Everything was moving in a favorable direction...
…
To the east of Qingzhou, the mountains stretched endlessly and windingly.
White mist lingered among the mountains, with ravines crisscrossing, and streams gurgling, scattering beads and jade. Each ancient cypress and pine stood lush and verdant, with old trunks and crooked branches stretching out, their leaves swaying in the wind, rustling audibly.
A fierce wind rose, causing small animals to flee wildly, and an Immortal Crane flapped its wings and descended.
"Why is that old bastard Tianji Zi hiding here..."
The Immortal Crane muttered while glancing around, immediately looking towards a patch of ancient forest, fluttering its wings a few times.
Shhh! Shhh!
The blue wind, as sharp as a knife, swept towards the old forest like a whirlwind, breaking the soil and rocks along the way as if scraped by countless knives.
The old forest twisted for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.
The Immortal Crane blinked its eyes and muttered:
"Old bastard Tianji Zi's array really is exceptional..."
"Who?!"
An angry shout erupted, and an elder with a gloomy expression, a Tai Chi Diagram tattooed on his forehead, appeared abruptly outside the old forest, leaning on a cane.
He looked at the Immortal Crane, his expression focusing slightly,
"It's you, you damn bird, causing trouble in my place!"
The Immortal Crane gave an awkward smile,
"Hehe, don't blame me, don't blame me. The truth is, the Old Drunkard is in trouble, trapped in the Ancient Secret Realm. I'm here to ask you to help out."
The elder snorted coldly,
"No time. He's so skilled, he won't die, and will come out on his own in a while."
The Immortal Crane widened its eyes and started cursing like a shrew. "Easy for you to say! What if something really happens?"
"I'll wreck this hellhole of yours, you ungrateful bastard. The Old Drunkard saved your life, didn't he?"
"Damn bird, shut up!"
Tianji Zi's eyes flashed with anger but also a hint of helplessness, "Let me tidy up, and I'll go with you. Never at ease..."
After speaking, he instantly vanished.
"Hmph, that's more like it..."
The Immortal Crane hummed contentedly.
Inside the array on the other side, there were only a few simple thatched huts, with a Pill Furnace in front, emitting thin blue smoke.
Tianji Zi's figure appeared suddenly, pondered for a moment, then walked towards the hut on the left.
Opening the door, there sat a young girl, head hanging with disheveled hair, with iron hooks engraved with runes piercing through her body.
The iron hooks were attached to black chains that linked to the Tai Chi pattern stone slab on the ground, with blood oozing and already darkened and solidified.
Tianji Zi gave a snort,
"Stop pretending to be dead, fellow Daoist. Who would have thought you'd hide here? After I return, if you still refuse to hand over the item, don't blame this old Daoist for being ruthless and completely breaking your Primordial Spirit!"
Saying this, he turned around, closed the door, and left. In no time, he soared into the sky with the Immortal Crane.
After Tianji Zi left, the young girl slowly lifted her head, her face exquisitely beautiful, with a diamond-shaped crystal, like a jade eye, on her forehead.
The girl closed her eyes expressionlessly, and the crystal on her forehead began to glow, causing the blood on the chains to sizzle.
And the chains, too, began to petrify and decay...