The child-like figure, with delicate features like a carved jade, known as Sun Lingtong, traversed the spatial ripples and entered the underground base.
But before his feet could touch the ground, his pupils contracted abruptly as he sensed a massive wave of mana surrounding him.
Mana shrouded in sinister aura flooded in like a cold tide, crashing against the shore with immense force.
"There's an enemy!"
"I've been ambushed!!"
Sun Lingtong instinctively tried to cast a spell to travel back.
But Luo Shang had been waiting here for days, fully prepared, having set up a half array around the underground base.
As soon as Sun Lingtong appeared, Luo Shang immediately dispatched his ghost minions, completing the array instantly.
The array activated, forcing Sun Lingtong to retreat, but there were no ripples in the air.
The sudden change in the battlefield environment rendered his spell ineffective.
"Child, you have grown tired of living, daring to slaughter my Soul Devouring Sect's Golden Core!"
"Speak!"
"Where is Qi Bai's corpse? Hand it over."
"If you cooperate obediently and submit, I might spare your life and wait for Bukong Sect to redeem you."
Luo Shang appeared, surrounded by ghostly shadows, and a chilling wind.
"A Golden Core Demon Cultivator!"
"You are Luo Shang, the true disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect."
In an instant, Sun Lingtong recognized Luo Shang's identity.
He couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart.
Sun Lingtong had already anticipated the Soul Devouring Sect would seek revenge. But he had not expected their demon cultivators to have infiltrated the underground base so deeply.
Luo Shang had laid in ambush for days, waiting like a predator, finally catching the prey he desired!
"I shouldn't have come back here!" Sun Lingtong regretted in his heart.
But immediately, he thought: The strategy of moving periodically was still the correct approach.
"If I had remained in one underground base all the time, I would have been discovered even earlier."
"But how did he find me?"
"Could it be because I ventured to open Qi Bai's storage bag last time?"
Sun Lingtong immediately thought of this. This clue was obvious—he had dismantled Qi Bai's storage bag here at that time.
"I clearly extinguished the smoke back then."
"Wait, now is not the time to delve into these minor details."
"The urgent task is to find a way out immediately!"
Even though the underground base had been surrounded by the array Luo Shang had set up, Sun Lingtong couldn't directly travel through space.
But there was still a faint hope he could break through physically.
"Hee hee hee," Sun Lingtong called out, "Do you think you can capture me just like this?"
Saying this, he reached into his robe and took out a stack of talismans.
Phantom Body Talisman!
He directly threw the talismans into the air.
The talismans burned mid-air, rapidly activating and transforming into Sun Lingtong's appearance.
Dozens of Sun Lingtongs ran in all directions, momentarily making it difficult for Luo Shang to discern the real one without targeted means.
Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo, having anticipated revenge, had started making preparations long ago.
This kind of Phantom Body Talisman was mass-produced by Ning Zhuo's subordinates, especially for confusion and escape.
"Thanks to Little Zhuo."
Sun Lingtong blended in with the phantoms, moving toward the outer wall.
"Right, I must alert Little Zhuo first!"
Sun Lingtong used three consecutive methods, worried that the alarm might not be sent out.
But after doing so, he immediately regretted it.
"What am I doing?"
"If Little Zhuo knows I am in danger, he will surely come to rescue me."
"Then, if he gets involved, wouldn't I be harming him?"
"Especially since he doesn't have the Martial Fighting Ape anymore!"
Sun Lingtong's face changed frequently.
Suddenly, a shiver ran through him, and he felt a chilling dread.
Instantly, cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he realized the peculiarity: "Since entering this underground base, I've been increasingly distracted."
"I've been affected!"
"Luo Shang practices the Soul-Dispelling Melancholic Skill, which is adept at stirring emotions, causing chaotic thoughts while keeping himself exceptionally calm."
Realizing this, Sun Lingtong immediately activated the Empty Seal deep within his soul.
His talent and comprehension were high, and after summarizing and reflecting on the previous battle with Qi Bai, he had improved in various aspects.
And so it was with the Empty Seal.
Sun Lingtong could now better harness the power of the Empty Seal than before.
The imprint unleashed its power, clearing his mind of all distractions.
Sun Lingtong's eyes became tranquil, with no hesitation left.
Luo Shang had been secretly using a spell, trying to identify the "Sun Lingtong" among the phantoms with the most emotional fluctuation.
Just as he was about to achieve results, everything dissipated, like a fisher's net rising from the water, but the fish slipping back in.
"Interesting," a sharp glint flashed in Luo Shang's eyes, his face expressionless.
With a thought, he summoned a Ghost General from the ghostly winds around him.
Several Ghost Generals, each with Foundation Establishment level cultivation, silently moved toward Sun Lingtong.
Though the Phantom Body Talismans were realistic, they lacked any actual combat power and were easily shattered by the Ghost Generals.
Sun Lingtong attempted to break through the wall, but the Ghost Generals intercepted him.
The four Ghost Generals identified the real Sun Lingtong and immediately surrounded him.
Sun Lingtong dodged left and right with incredible speed and agility, making the Ghost Generals' efforts look clumsy.
However, this state didn't last long.
Sun Lingtong couldn't maintain the power of the Empty Seal for extended periods; it severely drained his spirit.
He had to stop using it, and once again, he was besieged by chaotic emotions and distractions.
His movements became hesitant and erratic.
The Ghost Generals, being spirits specially refined by Luo Shang, were minimally affected by such interference.
Thus, Sun Lingtong quickly found himself in a perilous situation.
Seeing this, Luo Shang seized an opportunity and instructed the Ghost Generals to strike together.
Using the Ghost Generals as the base, they formed a battle array.
The array created a light shield that enveloped Sun Lingtong, continuously tightening.
Seeing himself trapped like a sitting duck, Sun Lingtong had no choice but to fight desperately!
With a flip of his wrist, two daggers appeared in his little hands.
Using his divine sense, he pulled out a vial from his storage pouch and let it fall.
Mid-air, he shattered it with a dagger, spilling the concoction inside.
Sun Lingtong, skilled in divine sense manipulation, wrapped the concoction around the daggers.
Next, while dodging the Ghost Generals' attacks, he channeled mana into the daggers.
The blades began to glow brightly.
The radiant blue light, sharp and clear as diamond, illuminated the darkness.
Sun Lingtong's self-created sword skill—Meteor Fall!
His face was set with resolve.
The Meteor Fall sword skill was designed for desperate situations.
Its power was immense, but so were its repercussions, making it a forbidden technique in his arsenal!
The daggers, like meteors, shone with a final brilliance in the despairing night.
Would it be the fall of the meteors or his enemies, depending on Sun Lingtong's execution?
Sun Lingtong merged with the blades, becoming a dazzling blue meteor that shot forth.
His speed was astonishing, crashing through the light shield.
The Foundation Establishment level Ghost Generals tried to dodge, but Sun Lingtong's attacks shattered and overwhelmed them!
Without the array base, the light shield dissipated.
Sun Lingtong took advantage and charged toward the outer wall.
Luo Shang remained expressionless, pointing a finger suddenly.
A concealed ghost materialized from the shadows, at Foundation Establishment level, blocking Sun Lingtong's escape route.
With dwindling strength, Sun Lingtong faced the ghost's lunge, having no time for adaptive maneuvers.
To his surprise, the ghost exploded on contact.
Boom!!
The star-like light around Sun Lingtong was shattered.
Ghostly energy and starlight intertwined, clashing, and spreading everywhere.
"Everything is under control," Luo Shang said, his face still void of emotion.
Just at that moment, space rippled, and a crossbow bolt shot through the air, aimed at Luo Shang's back!
The bolt's tip was coated in purple poison, exuding a palpable lethal aura.
The bolt's structure was silent, but as it neared Luo Shang's back, it emitted a loud cicada chirp!
Instantly, the battlefield's atmosphere changed.
It felt akin to an old, decrepit, damp, and dark house filled with rot and moldy air. Suddenly, a wall collapsed, letting in sunlight and fresh air.
It was summer sunlight!
Accompanied by rolling waves of heat and boundless life energy.
To confront Luo Shang, Yang Chanyu had chosen this move with powerful yang attributes.
As long as Luo Shang had set up the ambush, Bukong Sect's Yang Chanyu had been preparing for just as long!
Practicing Old Cicada Technique, she excelled at reserve attacks.
Her mana fully concealed while gathering strength, awaiting the right moment to unleash an all-powerful strike.
She had accumulated this energy for as long as Luo Shang had lain in ambush!
Thus, the crossbow bolt, imbued with piercing power, struck Luo Shang.
Luo Shang, having activated his protective robe, found it pierced as if it were paper.
Eyes wide in desperation, he unleashed everything he had in defense!
An inner armor surfaced but was pierced.
A long flag flew out, its pole snapped.
A medallion appeared, shattered by the bolt.
The last thing blocking the bolt was a jar, which was also broken.
Sealed within the jar was a Nascent Soul level Ghost General!
Compressed into a ball, affixed with four talismans for suppression.
The ghost was struck hard by the bolt.
Awakened from a peaceful slumber by the violent blow, it expanded into a nine-foot-tall female ghost in rage.
With an ear-piercing wail, she shook the entire underground base.
"Grandmother Qiushui, save me!" Luo Shang's divine sense reached out to her.
She ignored him, angered, and lunged at Yang Chanyu.
Swish.
The next moment, Luo Shang's body shook violently as the poisoned bolt pierced his heart.
Luo Shang's full strength defense crumbled, ultimately struck by Yang Chanyu's reserved and powerful attack!