Erasing

For a time, the few people were locked in a desperate struggle.

"This can't go on, we have to find a weakness!"

Shen Yi and the other four were forced together, backs against each other, cautiously dealing with several ghost servants.

"Give me some time!"

Wang Teng's eyes hardened, as if making a decision. He then sat down cross-legged. The other four, seeing this, protected him in the center, continuously releasing their spiritual energy to buy him time.

Without Wang Teng's assistance, the pressure on the four instantly increased. Wu Liujian, fighting two ghost servants alone, finally let his guard down. He was caught on the chest by an iron broom, and black blood flowed out. His face turned instantly pale.

Shen Yi let out a long roar, his body covered in spiritual energy. He leaped to the front, replacing Wu Liujian whose chest had been cut open. Jiang Miaoyi and Yuwen Yue were also not faring well, both receiving attacks. Their wounds immediately turned black, and even their spiritual energy circulation was hindered.

"You guys hurry up and get rid of the poison, I'll hold them off!"

Shen Yi instructed them over his shoulder, then turned his full attention to the ghost servants.

He parried and blocked, dodging left and right. In the dim palace, Shen Yi's spiritual energy bloomed into a golden light, engaging in a fierce battle with the five ghost servants. Despite the eerie ghostly aura, they were helpless against Shen Yi. They tried to attack the people behind him, but Shen Yi blocked them.

Wang Teng's previously faint spiritual energy suddenly surged with pressure, and black energy, very similar to the ghost servants' aura, began to emanate from him.

As if sensing a great threat, the ghost servants' attacks intensified. Shen Yi was already struggling to cope. Suddenly, he felt a chilling aura from behind him, colder than the aura in the palace.

He saw a strange red light flash in one of Wang Teng's eyes. With just one glance, the ghost servant wielding the Judge's Brush knelt on the ground. Wang Teng stood up and walked towards the five ghost servants, like the footsteps of death, treading on the fear of the ghost servants.

Shen Yi silently retreated to the side. The situation no longer required him to act; he began to help Jiang Miaoyi and the other two expel the ghost poison.

Wang Teng's chilling aura had already frozen the ghost servants solid. He cast a fierce glance at the skull, smiled sinisterly, and raised his hand, crushing the five ghost servants. Seeing this, the skull let out a shrill cry and retreated unwillingly.

"Ugh!"

With no more danger, Wang Teng finally couldn't hold on and vomited a large mouthful of blood, leaning weakly against the corner of the wall.

"Don't forget my Soul Summoning Banner..."

Shen Yi chuckled wryly, looking at the unconscious Wang Teng, lost in thought.

After waiting for them for a long time, Jiang Miaoyi and the other two finally recovered. Although their faces were still pale, they were able to circulate their spiritual energy.

"You guys continue to recuperate here, I'm going to chase that skull!"

Shen Yi gave instructions and then pursued it alone. Having just entered the palace, they were ambushed, and the path ahead was bound to be difficult. This skull was too bizarre; he couldn't let it go.

He chased it deeper into the palace, where it was shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see their surroundings. However, Shen Yi could sense that the skull was somewhere nearby.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

The sound of something breaking through the air reached him. Shen Yi's expression changed, and he quickly ducked, narrowly avoiding the sneak attack.

"What a vicious method!"

Shen Yi looked back. Three fist-sized pits had appeared on the ground, with a piece of white bone stuck in each. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were human finger bones. He dared not move rashly, and could only wait for the mist to dissipate.

After a period of stalemate, a cold wind blew, and the dense fog that had been lingering instantly vanished. Shen Yi finally saw that behind the skull, there was a long banner with the character "Soul" embroidered on it, shimmering with an eerie light. It looked extremely strange.

"Now let's see how you escape!"

Shen Yi leaped up, clenched his fists, and smashed them fiercely at the skull. He saw the skull reveal a chilling smile again, making his hair stand on end.

"Rise!"

The skull actually spoke. Before its voice even finished, the Soul Character Banner behind it fluttered gently. Shen Yi felt his head grow heavy, and he became drowsy. Forcing down the sleepiness, Shen Yi punched down. The skull quickly dodged to the side. Unexpectedly, Shen Yi changed his move and grabbed the banner, immediately dispelling the feeling of drowsiness.

Seeing this, the skull showed a hint of panic and turned to flee. "Rise!" Shen Yi wouldn't give it a chance. Mimicking the skull's method of control, he activated the Soul Character Banner. In Shen Yi's hands, the banner's power was even greater. A surge of ghostly energy swept out, trapping the skull. Facing this being that was neither human nor ghost, Shen Yi punched out, shattering the bone.

A dark light flashed and disappeared, and the surrounding scenery changed again. Shen Yi saw a long sword placed on a candle holder in front of him. With just one glance, Shen Yi knew the sword was extraordinary. Just as he was about to step forward to take it, he was interrupted by a sharp aura.

"Stop! This treasure belongs to my Qingxuan Sect! If you know what's good for you, get out of my way, Lin Feng!"

"Qingxuan Sect?"

Shen Yi sneered upon hearing this. It was Qingxuan Sect again. What a coincidence.

As soon as he turned around, Lin Feng saw Shen Yi's appearance, and his face instantly turned ashen, an expression of extreme displeasure.

"Shen Yi, I've taken a liking to this treasure. Please show some mercy."

Lin Feng quickly calculated in his mind. Shen Yi's strength was comparable to his, but he could hold his own against their senior disciple Wang Mingxuan in a one-on-one fight. To encounter this bane of his existence was truly unlucky. He immediately lowered his stance.

"Alright, if you have the ability, come and take it!"

Shen Yi picked up the long sword with one hand and held the banner in the other, provoking Lin Feng. The Qingxuan Sect had provoked him several times. In Shen Yi's heart, no matter how much Lin Feng lowered his posture, he would not let him leave today.

"Since you are determined to seek death, I will grant your wish!"

Seeing that Shen Yi was resolute in not letting him go, Lin Feng decided to fight to the death.

Shen Yi waved the Soul Character Banner in his hand, and violent ghostly energy surged towards Lin Feng. The poor Lin Feng was engulfed by the ghostly energy and fell unconscious before he could even react. Shen Yi walked up to Lin Feng, his eyes cold, and ended his life.

Returning to Jiang Miaoyi and the others, Shen Yi was relieved to see them unharmed. By this time, Wang Teng had also woken up, but having used a secret technique, he was severely weakened and had no strength left to fight.

"This is for you, to compensate for your Flowing Frost Sword."

Wu Liujian accepted it without refusal, his eyes filled with gratitude. Ever since the Flowing Frost Sword had broken, he had been without a magical artifact. To possess one again now, how could he not be overjoyed?

"This is a spirit artifact?"

Wu Liujian drew his long sword. Its blade was crimson, its edge gleaming sharply, and faint sword cries could be heard. The characters "Crimson Firmament" were engraved on the blade. Wu Liujian's hands trembled slightly. This Crimson Firmament Sword was clearly a mid-grade spirit artifact.

Wang Teng, watching the calm Shen Yi, had a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. However, Shen Yi's gaze was fixed on another room, as if he were plotting something, and he didn't notice Wang Teng's expression.