A flash of golden light flickered in Master Shenshan’s eyes as he spoke in a deep, resonant voice, “A monk must not lie!” Just then, an invisible force descended upon Master Wuxing. It was a Buddhist Mantra of Truth. Master Shenshan’s voice carried solemn authority as he asked, “Wuxing, were you the one who killed Zhang Ping?” Wuxing was just about to deny it, but that invisible force took root in his mind, compelling him against speaking anything untrue. “A monk must not lie.” With the mantra’s power binding him, the vow weighed heavily upon his heart and soul. For Buddhist disciples, this kind of Mantra of Truth held incredible restraining power. Its most basic effect was that they could not lie. Wuxing’s body immediately froze, and his robes were soaked in sweat. He stammered out, “Y-Yes... I killed him.” The slightly heavyset monk beside him, his senior brother, instantly widened his eyes. He too had felt the power of that mantra well up in his heart. He knew exactly how powerful the Mantra of Truth was. “Why, Wuxing!? Why did you kill Zhang Ping!?” he cried out in disbelief. Wuxing’s expression twisted into a bitter smile. He’d thought his actions were concealed well enough. He hadn’t expected the Daoist to use the long-lost Qi Sight, nor for the Buddhist side to follow up with a Mantra of Truth. He was exposed right after he acted. “Senior Brother, I... I...” A look of torment contorted Wuxing’s face. Suddenly, from his chest surged a sinister apparition: a twisted, fanged evil spirit. In an instant, it pounced and tore the heavyset monk to shreds. His senior brother had barely raised his hands in a defensive mudra[1] before the evil ghost ripped him apart on the spot. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NoveI★Fire.net Wuxing’s voice echoed coldly through the stunned silence, “Naturally, so that none of you may ever leave this place alive!” Master Wuxing’s face twisted into a maniacal, obsessive grin. Then, the demonic phantom surged once more, lunging straight at Li Yanchu! The ghostly figure collided with the qi shield surrounding Li Yanchu, producing a piercing clash like metal striking metal. “Asura Dao[2]! What is your connection to the Western Vajra Sect!?” Master Shenshan’s voice suddenly turned fierce and commanding. He extended his palm, and a massive hand formed of golden blazing light instantly reached out to grab Master Wuxing. But just then, the surrounding torches were once again snuffed out by an unseen force, and the group was plunged back into darkness. Whoosh! A dark shadow sprang forward with murderous speed, and from above, a thunderous rumble echoed. Something was lurking on the ceiling, and its sinister presence was heavy and ominous. Immediately, Li Yanchu drew the Jiaoslayer and slashed at the charging shadow. A crescent-shaped saber qi erupted forward and collided with the dark figure. In an instant, sparks burst forth like fireworks. At the same time, everyone finally caught a glimpse of the dark figure. It was a massive beast resembling a giant lizard, and its body was grotesque and monstrous. Li Yanchu’s strike had successfully repelled it. With a sudden shift of his footwork, Li Yanchu darted sideways, and his figure blurred through the air. He poured his Six Yang Force into the Jiaoslayer, and the weapon instantly lit up with a brilliant, radiant glow. With a single slash, Li Yanchu’s saber sank deep into the beast’s flesh and cut to the bone. Roar! The monstrous creature let out a pained howl, writhing in agony. Yan Chixiao also struck with unrelenting force, joining Li Yanchu in a ruthless pincer attack on the lizard-like abomination. In just moments, the creature's tail was severed, and it tried desperately to flee into the shadows. But Li Yanchu flashed forward, his feet crushing the green bricks beneath with explosive force. Then, the Six Yang Force surged into his saber as he swept the tip in a brilliant arc. In an instant, the lizard-like beast’s head was cleanly severed. Its insides were instantly torn apart by the scorching, penetrating Six Yang Force, and the body exploded in a burst of gore. As the dust settled, Li Yanchu turned around to see that the larger of the two lizard creatures had already been sliced in half. At this time, Daoist Master Yuanyi stood cold and composed, his ancient, unadorned longsword gleaming with a frigid light. As for Master Wuxing, he had vanished without a trace. Bai Hongtu walked over and said with astonishment, “Just one strike. Daoist Master Yuanyi only made a single move, and the creature was dead.” Li Yanchu’s brows lifted slightly. That’s the power of a true master. He himself hadn’t even pierced the smaller beast’s defenses with his first attack... Yet this man cut down the larger one in a single blow. The gap in power was undeniable. “Did you catch sight of Master Wuxing earlier?” Li Yanchu asked. Bai Hongtu shook his head. “As soon as the torches went out, he disappeared completely.” To disappear right under the noses of so many top-tier cultivators, Wuxing was anything but ordinary. After all, even without light, at least half the people present could still attack by locking onto his qi flow, especially someone like Master Shenshan, a powerhouse in his own right. Though there had been a moment of chaos, the group quickly settled back into a tense calm. Only this time, a heavier weight settled in everyone’s hearts. In just this short time since entering the tomb, they had already lost two capable fighters, and one had betrayed them and fled. And they hadn’t even encountered the true threat yet. Master Huizhen returned and said to Master Shenshan and the others, “I was incompetent and allowed that evil creature to escape.” Just moments earlier, Huizhen had sensed the creature’s aura and given chase, but the tomb was riddled with traps and mechanisms, and he soon lost the trail. The group pressed onward. This tomb expedition was of great importance; its very danger only underscored the urgency of eliminating the evil within. The corpses of the middle-aged monk and Zhang Ping were temporarily left behind. It was the same logic as the mural within the tomb chamber. If the exorcism succeeded, they could return later to retrieve the bodies. If it failed... there would be no later. These high-level cultivators were rather indifferent toward such matters. Along the way, Wang Yunting remained silent, merely trailing his fingers lightly along the stone walls of the passage. Meanwhile, Li Yanchu glanced over and noticed that wherever Wang Yunting’s fingers passed, they left deep grooves in the stone. Unless he was using some kind of tool, that kind of finger strength was truly astonishing. When the group reached a fork in the passage, the sound of heavy footsteps suddenly echoed through the corridor. Thud. Thud. Thud. The steps were weighty and deliberate. There was also the distinct clatter of armor, sharp and cold, filled with martial tension. Hearing this, the group immediately halted. But within the corridor, though the sounds of footsteps and clashing armor rang clear, no figures appeared. Ghost soldiers are passing through! That terrifying thought struck the minds of every cultivator present. This phenomenon was usually only seen at ancient battlefields soaked in blood and grief. But now, it was unfolding right before them, inside this ominous tomb. The mood grew heavier than ever, as this tomb was far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated. Even veterans like Granny Chang and Old Ghost Wu had solemn expressions etched across their faces. As the ghost soldiers drew closer, the chilling aura of slaughter pressed down on the group like a heavy weight, making it hard to even breathe. Soon after, Master Shenshan and Daoist Master Yuanyi immediately stepped forward. Golden light flared from Shenshan’s body as his kasaya[3] robe flew from his shoulders and transformed into a shimmering light barrier in front of the group. Meanwhile, Daoist Master Yuanyi flung out a dozen talismans, which floated into the air and rapidly assembled into a mystical Daoist formation. A host of ghostly soldiers, clad in armor and wielding spectral weapons, charged forward before crashing into the protective formations set up by the two masters. “Fall back to the chamber!” Master Shenshan barked. 1. A mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture, typically involving hand and finger positions, used in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. ☜ 2. An asura in Buddhism is a demigod or titan of the Kāmadhātu. They are said to live more pleasurable lives than humans, but are also in thrall to qualities such as wrath, pride, envy, and insincerity. ☜ 3. Kasaya are the robes of fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns, named after a brown or saffron dye. ☜