Ghost Servants

"Activate simulation!"

Taking advantage of a rare moment of free time, Shen Yi opened the simulator, hoping to see if this simulation experience would yield any rewards.

[Simulation started. Remaining simulations this month: 0]

[Year 1: You reaped great rewards in the Grotto-Heaven Ruins.]

[Year 2: You returned from the Grotto-Heaven Ruins.]

[Year 3: You encountered a scheme by your enemies, were imprisoned, and tortured to death.]

[Simulation ended. Rewards obtained: None]

No rewards? Shen Yi felt like crying. In previous simulations, he at least received a temporary reward. This time, there was nothing. It was truly strange. He had been hoping to obtain the other half of the stone key to open the stone casket he acquired at the auction.

He inwardly lamented his misfortune, shook his head, and managed a wry smile. His gaze cleared once more. The simulator was, after all, just an aid; he still had to rely on his own efforts. With this thought, he felt a sense of peace.

"Quick, look! The palace gate is moving!"

Someone suddenly exclaimed, igniting excitement among the crowd.

Everyone stopped cultivating and rose to their feet, rushing towards the palace gate, afraid of falling behind and losing their advantage.

To everyone's disappointment, the palace gate only opened a crack, revealing a sliver of light within. The crowd eagerly peered inside, but their vision was obscured by mist, yielding no results.

This continued for several days until the palace gate finally opened halfway. The mist inside also gradually dissipated, revealing faint glimmers of light.

"There must be a great treasure inside! Charge!"

With a roar of agreement, everyone charged towards the half-open gate, intending to break it down with their physical strength. However, they were repelled by an invisible force just three steps from the entrance.

"Is this a barrier?"

"Fellow cultivators, why don't we combine our strength to break this barrier today and return sooner!"

This suggestion was immediately met with agreement. Everyone unleashed their spiritual energy towards the barrier. Various colored spiritual energies converged, forming a powerful force that countered the invisible barrier.

"We'll only exert a third of our strength. By the time these fools break through the barrier, their spiritual energy will be mostly depleted. Then we can reap the rewards!"

Wang Mingxuan whispered to his companion, intending to slack off. However, as soon as his spiritual energy touched the barrier, his expression changed drastically. The spiritual energy within him was surging towards the barrier uncontrollably. "Damn it!"

Shen Yi was also struggling. He cursed inwardly, "As expected, there's no such thing as a free lunch. So, this dense spiritual energy was meant for the barrier to absorb at this moment. The owner of this grotto-heaven was quite calculating!"

"Since you are not benevolent, do not blame me for being unrighteous!"

Shen Yi spat, pulling out many talismans from his embrace. He channeled a portion of his spiritual energy into them, activated them, and hurled them all towards the gate.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The barrier vibrated.

"It's working!"

Seeing this, everyone else also activated their talismans and magical artifacts, throwing them towards the palace gate.

A deafening barrage of explosions ensued. The result was significant. The combined power of the talismans and artifacts from hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators was no less than an attack from a Golden Core cultivator. The barrier finally showed a crack and began to shatter bit by bit.

"Charge!"

The moment the barrier broke, the crowd surged forward, putting all their effort into rushing into the palace.

Shen Yi, however, stopped the four people beside him, handing them some pills to restore their spiritual energy. He suspected that the palace was far from simple.

Wang Teng also spoke up at this moment, "Inside, there is a Soul Summoning Banner. It's something I need." Seeing their surprised expressions, he added, "Actually, this Grotto-Heaven Ruins is the former residence of an elder of the Mysterious Nether Cult. I only found out in a stone forest near the outer perimeter of the ruins. It contained information about the palace, but the stone forest was damaged, and the information was incomplete. It only mentioned a Soul Summoning Banner, which was the elder's life's work."

Shen Yi and the others finally understood. However, none of them were particularly interested in the Soul Summoning Banner. But since Wang Teng desired it, they were all willing to contend for it on his behalf.

"Let's go. We've recovered most of our strength. I suspect it's already chaos inside."

Shen Yi called out, leading the way into the palace.

As soon as they entered, they felt a chilling aura. Strange statues of monsters were placed around, giving off a bizarre atmosphere.

"As expected of an elder from the Mysterious Nether Cult, even their palace is so... down-to-earth."

Shen Yi quipped, but his expression grew more tense. The place was eerily quiet. There were no signs of fighting, nor any trace of the cultivators who had entered earlier.

"Look there!"

Jiang Miaoyi exclaimed. Following her gaze, they all gasped.

A giant skull, its eyes burning with a faint flame, seemed to grin at them as they watched.

"Holy crap!"

Shen Yi was genuinely startled. He had never believed in ghosts or spirits since childhood, but today he witnessed true terror.

"Has anyone else noticed the air getting colder?"

Yuwen Yue's demeanor changed drastically, losing its allure and gaining a cold edge.

"Over there!"

Wu Liujian gripped his long sword, his gaze sharp, fixed intently on a statue behind them.

"Careful!"

Shen Yi and Jiang Miaoyi spoke in unison. They both circulated their spiritual energy and attacked each other. Just as their attacks were about to hit, they narrowly dodged to the side at the last second.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, the two figures swapped positions, each striking a statue and repelling the sneak attack.

"Ghost servants!"

Wang Teng exclaimed, alerting everyone. It turned out these statues were actually ghost servants.

The five ghost servants, wielding various weapons with a dark glow in their eyes, advanced step by step towards Shen Yi and the others.

"One each, deal with them carefully!"

Shen Yi instructed, then took the lead, facing the ghost servant wielding the Judge's Brush. Jiang Miaoyi engaged the one with the chain, Wu Liujian went for the one with the iron broom, Yuwen Yue clashed with the ghost servant holding a long staff, and Wang Teng kept the one holding the long banner occupied.

The Dragon Elephant Fist's powerful gusts struck the ghost servant, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, causing no damage whatsoever. Conversely, the ghost servant waved its brush, unleashing a wave of ghostly energy. The Judge's Brush flickered, writing the character for "death," forcing Shen Yi back several steps.

"This ghost servant is not right!"

The others encountered similar situations; they couldn't inflict any damage and were instead suppressed by the ghost servants.

"If mere statues are this formidable, I can't imagine what challenges lie ahead!"

Shen Yi gritted his teeth and charged forward again. He threw a punch, only to be forced back by ghostly energy. His arm was accidentally brushed by it, immediately turning black. He quickly circulated the Undying Scripture, managing to dissipate the ghostly energy.

"Be careful, this ghostly energy is poisonous."

Shen Yi shook his arm. Although the Undying Scripture could dispel the ghostly energy, it couldn't be used as an offensive measure; it only prevented him from being corrupted by the ghostly energy.