Ghost of the Ancient Kingdom

"There are several Ice Leech Larva corpses on the ground."

Bai Xiaowen stepped into the Underground Space as well. Half-crouching, he examined them carefully and said, "It seems this place is a Death Zone for Ice Leech Larvae... Even larvae with such low intelligence possess the instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm, so they would not set foot here."

"Master, look at this." Sigdrifa pointed to a corner of the Ice Wall in the Underground Space.

Bai Xiaowen walked over and brushed away the Frost Particles on the wall.

The Ice Wall was likewise engraved with symbols of God's Script. However, unlike the black stone of the Frozen Ancient God Seal that bore God's Script, this material was completely different—white and smooth like marble.

If the Frozen Ancient God Seal black stone was meant for imprisonment and emitted cold currents, then the symbols here were more inclined toward protection.

Bai Xiaowen had sensed this through Psionic Waves.

"These symbols are carved directly into the stone wall." Bai Xiaowen touched it. The wall was extraordinarily hard and seamless, with an ancient, mysterious energy faintly contained within it. It was impossible to dig out.

Otherwise, Bai Xiaowen would have liked to excavate a few pieces of marble for research.

"Boss, this Underground Hall is empty, and the light is too dim. I can't see the end of it." Kitz tried walking a few steps deeper inside, then quickly returned to report.

Bai Xiaowen searched with his Spirit Sense, then frowned. "Something's wrong. There seems to be a force here that suppresses Spirit Sense. Even my Spirit Sense can't probe the terrain. We can only take it one step at a time."

Bai Xiaowen was not particularly afraid. He had already realized that among the intruders in this Land of Origin, his strength should rank in the upper tier.

Even if a Divine Bloodline Grade monster appeared, Bai Xiaowen had the power to fight it. His earlier solo kill of the Divine Descendant Creature Okandis was enough to prove how much his combat power had improved. The three years of Meditation during the spatial journey had not been wasted.

Bai Xiaowen waved his hand, releasing three strands of Soul Essence into Kitz, Butcher, and Sigdrifa respectively, fully restoring their condition. Then he took out two Spirit Crystals, sat cross-legged on the ground, and restored himself to perfect condition as well.

Once they were prepared, Bai Xiaowen's group continued deeper into the Underground Hall.

"There's wind," Kitz said quietly.

"Good." By the light of the Daoist Mark above Kitz's head, Bai Xiaowen saw another deep passageway at the end of the hall. The Cold Wind was blowing from that new passageway.

Suddenly, an Aged Sigh rang out in Bai Xiaowen's mind.

"Turn back... Turn back... Turn back..."

Bai Xiaowen's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Kitz and the others. "Did any of you hear something?"

Kitz, Butcher, and Sigdrifa exchanged looks, then shook their heads blankly. "No. There's only the Sound of Wind."

Bai Xiaowen told them about the voice he had heard.

Kitz's expression changed, and he felt a chill crawl down his spine. "Boss, maybe we should leave. This place is too strange."

Bai Xiaowen shook his head with a smile. "Don't be afraid. The more it tries to play tricks, the more it proves it has a guilty conscience... We're completely in the dark in this Land of Origin. Now that a new source of information has finally appeared, how can we simply leave?"

Bai Xiaowen recalled Kitz and Butcher.

It should be noted that if Kitz, Butcher, and the others were not at full Spiritual Power, recalling them would not automatically restore it. The spiritual energy of Profound Ice Star was equally scarce, which also affected the Summoning Space.

Otherwise, Bai Xiaowen's exploration would have been much easier. He could have summoned his subordinates, had them use Spiritual Power without regard for the cost, then thrown them back into the Summoning Space to recover, much like Wolf Valley, rotating them into battle. Unfortunately, such a bug-like situation did not occur.

Bai Xiaowen had already used Soul Essence to restore Kitz and Butcher's Spirit Power Values. Letting them return to the Summoning Space to rest now meant that when he summoned them again, they would enter the field in perfect condition without affecting their combat effectiveness.

As for Sigdrifa, she naturally had to remain with Bai Xiaowen throughout. If they encountered any special circumstances, she might be able to recall fragments of her memories from before her death. She was also a source of intelligence not to be underestimated.

After recalling Kitz and Butcher, Bai Xiaowen and Sigdrifa continued forward.

"Turn back... Turn back..."

The Aged Voice grew increasingly urgent, its repetitions coming faster and faster.

"Stop chanting. I'm not turning back. Come out and face me!"

Bai Xiaowen's voice echoed through the Underground Hall.

The Aged Voice vanished.

The next second, two Green Lights suddenly lit up in the darkness ahead. Like searchlights, they cast beams several meters long, and vertical pupils could vaguely be seen within the green glow.

"Roar!"

A deafening roar rang out as a mountain-crushing pressure surged toward them.

A sharp cry sounded as Sigdrifa had already engaged the enemy in the darkness.

Bai Xiaowen fired two Daoist Marks at the Hall Ceiling in quick succession. By their light, he finally saw the enemy clearly.

It was a strange snake with two thick Giant Claws!

The strange snake was enormous, over thirty meters long. Coiled at the passageway entrance, it resembled a small hill. No one knew how it had hidden there without being discovered.

Its Upper Body was raised high, and its two claws tightly gripped a Giant Spear and a Giant Tower Shield. It fought like a Human Soldier.

Its Energy Level was slightly stronger than Sigdrifa's. It was a genuine High-Rank King.

However, Sigdrifa's strength was not to be underestimated. Furthermore, she was far more agile than her opponent. Using a Tangled Fight style, she did not need to worry about losing for the moment.

"Could that voice from earlier have come from this strange snake? It possesses Human Intelligence. Like that Okandis, can it communicate?"

This possibility flashed through Bai Xiaowen's mind. He immediately made up his mind that even if it cost a great deal of Spiritual Power, he would capture this strange snake alive.

With Sigdrifa holding the enemy back in close combat, Bai Xiaowen directly summoned the Silver Throne and sat upon it while casting Origin Thunder.

Blinding lightning flashed.

However, when an Origin Thunder bolt struck the strange snake, a faint layer of light rippled across its body, neutralizing most of the Origin Thunder's power while also causing Bai Xiaowen to lose control over it.

The remaining Lightning Force was swallowed by the strange snake.

When the strange snake opened its mouth, Bai Xiaowen clearly saw the residual Lightning Force of the Origin Thunder revert to its origin and become basic True Yuan Power, which it absorbed.

"This strange snake, like the Ice Leech Larvae outside, has a talent for devouring Spiritual Power! And what was that shield-like light around its body just now? Why did my attack lose control the moment it landed?"

If he had not lost control of the Origin Thunder, then with Bai Xiaowen's Expert Level 5 Spirit Power Mastery specialization, the strange snake would never have been able to swallow the residual force of Origin Thunder as a snack.

Bai Xiaowen decided to change tactics and test other methods.

Yet the next second, the strange snake's eyes glowed Red Light. Sigdrifa's agile figure suddenly froze in place.

The strange snake's right claw shot forward, and the Giant Spear thrust toward Sigdrifa's chest.

Bai Xiaowen raised a hand. Sigdrifa vanished from where she stood, replaced by a Sword Seal.

Using the Shape Shift Dao Technique on others required their cooperation and the absence of resistance. Although Bai Xiaowen had trained Shape Shift to the proficient level, he still lacked the ability to forcibly use Shape Shift on others. After all, the Shape Shift Dao Technique could only be considered a low-tier Dao Technique.

The strange snake's crimson eyes turned toward Bai Xiaowen. In an instant, he felt as if a needle had pierced his mind, and his head throbbed with agony.

"It's a mental attack! No, it should count as a Spirit Sense attack..."

Just as the thought crossed Bai Xiaowen's mind, Red Light flashed from his Left Eye.

The Eye of Evolution instantly drew upon Bai Xiaowen's True Yuan Power and launched a counterattack. A Red Light visible only to Bai Xiaowen reflected back at a speed faster than the strange snake's own red glow.

The strange snake let out a Howl, abruptly tossing aside the Giant Spear and Tower Shield as it rolled across the ground.

Bai Xiaowen immediately cast the Seven Fiends Great Handprint. Great hands of True Yuan Power flew out one after another, pinning the strange snake firmly to the ground.

This time, the strange snake's body did not display that strange shield light that had neutralized attacks earlier. It was directly pinned to the floor.

The recovered Sigdrifa charged forward with her battle spear raised, its tip pressed against the strange snake's vital point seven inches below its head.

That was only because Bai Xiaowen had used Telepathic Communication to tell Sigdrifa not to strike too heavily. Otherwise, she would have already driven her spear in.

"Stop, outsiders. You have passed the test." The Aged Voice rang out once more.

"What test? And who are you?"

Bai Xiaowen did not lower his guard. Although this strange snake's energy level was only High King Rank, its bizarre defensive shield ability and its talent for absorbing Spiritual Power attacks made it exceptionally troublesome.

The Aged Voice sighed. "You need not be so tense. I am merely a ghost of the Ancient Kingdom. I bear you no ill will."