The narrow corridor was too cramped for proper combat, and with the number of ghost soldiers growing by the second, even his golden kasaya could only hold them off for so long. With the two great figures holding the line, the rest of the cultivators retreated swiftly back to the previous chamber. A moment later, a fully armed phalanx of ghost soldiers stormed in after them! Everyone was instantly hit by a wave of dizziness, as if their very souls were being wrenched from their bodies. Thump! Thump! Thump! Their hearts pounded uncontrollably, and their consciousness began to blur. “Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ[1]!” Master Shenshan’s expression was solemn and dignified as he began chanting a Buddhist incantation. At once, the sensation of soul-rending vanished, and the oppressive weight lifted. The monk’s profound cultivation in Buddhist arts was on full display. Boom! A golden flame burst from his palm like a divine fire dragon, and it surged forward and slammed into the advancing ghost soldiers! Several were instantly incinerated, reduced to nothing but ash and scattered dust. Within this unusual tomb, the ghost soldiers seemed to be empowered by a mysterious force, and wave after wave surged forward without hesitation. Daoist Master Yuanyi unsheathed his sword, and a dazzling flash of white light swept through the room, instantly cutting down several ghost soldiers. With that, the cultivators present began to unleash their own unique skills. Prayer beads, monk staves, wooden fish, knives, copper-coin swords, talisman slips, peachwood swords, and soul-summoning bells... One artifact after another lit up, bombarding the charging ghost soldiers with bursts of power. Even Mr. Ma, who practiced the Immortal Summoning Art, began chanting incantations. Soon after, a surging, ominous aura erupted around him. It was the sign that his family’s guardian spirit had descended into his body! A cold glint flashed in his eyes. With a flick of his fingers, an invisible chain manifested, wrapping tightly around a ghost soldier and locking it in place. Then there was Old Ghost Wu, the eccentric corpse-rearer. He took a deep breath, and in an instant, his fingernails turned black and razor-sharp. He looked almost like a jiangshi himself. His movements turned unnaturally swift as he pounced at a ghost soldier like a beast. These ghost soldiers were no ordinary ghosts; they were dangerous and brimming with killing intent. But fortunately, every person here was a true expert, not some second-rate cultivator. Everyone began unleashing their full strength. Li Yanchu, wielding the Jiaoslayer, demonstrated its overwhelming dominance. In his hands, the saber's power surged, cutting through ghostly armor and dark energy alike. With a single flash of the saber, he cleaved a ghost soldier clean in half! By now, the Six Yang Force he cultivated had developed a powerful purifying property. It carried pure yang qi designed to exorcise evil. And these ghost soldiers? They were the embodiment of pure yin and malice, so they were the perfect prey. One after another, Li Yanchu struck down ghost soldiers. Three in total were completely annihilated in bursts of light and ash. In this dark and mysterious burial chamber, a fierce and brutal battle was unfolding. Waves of ghostly soldiers surged in relentlessly. “Who on earth is the owner of this tomb? Why are there so many ghost soldiers inside?!” Bai Hongtu formed a sword seal with his hand, controlling his saber to pierce straight into a ghost soldier’s chest. A sizzling sound rang out as white smoke hissed from the wound. His words voiced the thoughts of many other cultivators present. Even if the one buried here were a noble or a prince, a tomb couldn’t possibly contain so many ghost soldiers. After all, the conditions required to form ghost soldiers were extraordinarily strict. They couldn’t be born from an ordinary tomb layout. Suddenly, in the otherwise empty chamber, the shrill neighing of warhorses echoed out. Ghost soldiers on fierce steeds burst into the tomb, their long spears gleaming with deadly sharpness, charging in without warning. The thunderous beat of hooves filled the chamber, and murderous intent filled the atmosphere. One Daoist Master, wielding a peachwood sword, was caught off guard and had no time to defend. He was run through by a ghost soldier’s spear on the spot, and his entire body was lifted into the air by the spear. His death was unbearably tragic. These mounted ghost soldiers were clearly far more powerful, emanating an intense murderous qi. Even the shrieks of their warhorses seemed to carry a power that shook one’s very soul, making it hard to stay focused. A Daoist had just driven back a ghost soldier with a talisman when the thunder of hooves erupted behind him. As he turned around, the tip of a sharp spear was already right in front of his face. It truly was like wind, appearing and vanishing in an instant. Just then, a figure burst through the air. His body shrouded in qi shield and brimming with battle intent. He charged head-on into a mounted ghost soldier, knocking both rider and horse over. If this had been a veteran soldier of flesh and blood on the battlefield, such a collision would have snapped bones and torn muscles. But even though the ghost soldiers lacked physical form, the qi shield around Li Yanchu’s body still struck with such force that the ghostly figure visibly faded. “Thank you!” the Daoist exclaimed in gratitude. Had it not been for Li Yanchu’s forceful interception, he would have surely died beneath that ghost soldier’s spear. Li Yanchu gave a slight nod. In his hand, the Jiaoslayer swept through the air in a wide arc, and with a flash of saber light, he cleaved a mounted ghost soldier clean in half. With a single slash, both rider and steed were shattered! The surrounding monks and Daoists all wore astonished expressions. Just how strong was this man? These ghost soldiers, due to their unique nature, were far more formidable than ordinary cavalry. They moved like the wind and possessed terrifying strength. Their spears were deadly sharp, as evidenced by the Daoist who had just been instantly killed. And yet, even so, Li Yanchu could send one flying with brute strength alone, and then cut another in half with a single blow of his saber. He was overwhelmingly powerful! This kind of ferocious fighting style, which resembled a rugged martial artist of the jianghu more than a cultivated mystic of the Daoist sects, left a deep impression on the monks and Daoists present. The thunder of hooves roared again as more ghost soldiers on horseback came charging in. They were swift and unstoppable! The warhorses they rode were also spectral beasts with glowing blood-red eyes. At that moment, dozens of ghostly cavalry charged forth, exuding a chilling aura that reminded one of clashing metal and warhorses. No one had expected to encounter such a terrifying number of ghost soldiers in this tomb. Elsewhere, the ferryman Hu Li wielded a short black rod, its entire surface pitch dark. After killing a ghost soldier, his body was suddenly enveloped by a shadowy figure and vanished into the darkness. It was that demonic creature from before; it had returned! When a Buddhist monk rushed over, Hu Li’s body had already been gutted, and his internal organs were torn out and shredded beyond recognition. The creature had been lurking in the shadows all along, waiting for the perfect moment to strike! When he saw this, Master Huizhen's expression darkened. He had gone after the creature earlier, only for it to escape his grasp. And now, another life had been lost! “Buddha’s Light Illuminates All!” Master Huizhen shouted. A brilliant golden radiance burst forth from his body, instantly lighting up the entire burial chamber. Only then did everyone clearly see that the monstrous creature had already launched itself straight at Master Huizhen. It was an enormous lizard-like demon, even larger than the two from earlier combined. Its vertical pupils gleamed with vicious intent. Clearly, this was an intelligent creature. Master Huizhen swung his Demonslayer Staff without hesitation, smashing it downward with full force. But the lizard demon was lightning-fast. It twisted its body mid-air and narrowly evaded the blow. A black shadow shot from its mouth, and in the blink of an eye, it was already at Master Huizhen’s chest. A golden sheen spread across Master Huizhen’s chest, and in that instant, his entire body transformed into a golden figure, taking the full brunt of the attack head-on. Just then, two mounted ghost soldiers charged in, their bodies emanating a deadly mix of baleful and ghostly qi. They then brandished their long spears and lunged viciously at Master Huizhen’s back. In an instant, Master Huizhen’s body was sent flying by the impact. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on ⓝovelFire.net 1. Oṃ maṇi padme hūm̐ is the six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. ☜