Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation Chapter 95
Without delay, since Situ Hong had previously entered the cave both to feed and to hunt the Ghost-Eyed Spiders, he was more familiar with the environment than the others, so it was most suitable for him to take the lead.
The cave passage was still fairly wide, enough for three people to walk side by side, with a height of about one zhang, around three meters.
“Junior brother, pay attention to the webs under your feet and the blind spots above your head. The clustered webs do not matter. What you really need to watch for are the straight silk threads. If touched, the Ghost-Eyed Spiders will immediately detect it.
The blind spots above are also their favorite hiding places. Keep the light bead close to the rock wall above your head. I will take the front, you follow behind.”
He gave instructions as they advanced.
After walking about a hundred meters and turning a corner, the light from behind disappeared completely, and the surroundings fell into silence.
Situ Hong then formed a hand seal and took from his storage pouch a shield-shaped artifact. It hovered around him, constantly rotating, radiating a faint spiritual glow.
Seeing this, Wang Yu imitated him. After rummaging through his storage pouch with his divine sense for quite a while, he finally found the spoils he had kept earlier.
A Blackscale Shield and a Golden Rattan Whip, both high-grade artifacts.
“That is only because senior brother had not yet found the correct path.”
Wang Yu’s reply made Situ Hong’s face turn slightly dark.
He had only been chosen by the Peach Blossom Ghost Mother five years after joining the Blood Reversal Sect, and at that time he was only at the third layer of Qi Refining.
His mouth opened slightly as if to argue, but his expression suddenly changed.
“They are coming.”
Wang Yu abruptly looked into the depths of the darkness, the crescent imprint in his eyes beginning to surface. He could see in the dark, but not very far. His sight was much shorter than under full light.
A rustling sound reached his ears, faintly mixed with sharp screeches. A strange and brutal aura poured into his senses, yet his divine sense could hardly detect it.
“Not right, it is hidden.”
Situ Hong suddenly shouted, and cold black mist erupted from his body as ghostly figures rushed out.
Wang Yu understood. His right hand brought the index and middle fingers together, the other three pressed toward his palm.
Taking a light breath, he placed the hand seal before his lips.
“Flame Spitting Technique.”
This was the first time he used this technique in real combat, but in such a sealed environment, its power was pushed to the extreme.
Pale flames with flickering bluish outer light poured continuously from Wang Yu’s mouth, starting thin and growing thick, spiritual power flowing through his meridians to gather in his throat.
The hand seal further catalyzed it.
The flame, with its chilling attribute, surged forth and completely filled the passage ahead.
Within the fire, a large spider half the height of a man revealed its true form, shrieking miserably, its hairy long legs flailing chaotically.
In just three breaths it was burned into a charred lump, carrying a faint roasted scent of protein.
Situ Hong gasped.
The exhaled air condensed into a thick white mist. The drop in temperature was immense. This was the nature of cold flame, clearly perceived as freezing, yet in truth burning with intense heat.
Its properties were strange and exceedingly rare.
“Junior brother Wang, this flame is extraordinary.”
Wang Yu gave him a glance, not intending to hide it. He had long wanted to reveal his alchemy skills, and telling Situ Hong was not a bad choice.
“The Alchemy Records of the Scripture Pavilion mention the Cold Chi Alchemy Technique. This is a type of pill flame used in alchemy. It works quite well in combat too.”
“Pill flame?” Situ Hong was shocked, then quickly asked, “Junior brother Wang, you know alchemy. How deep is your attainment?”
“Not bad, first-rank high-grade.”
Situ Hong was speechless. His chest suddenly felt tight.
But remembering they were still inside the Ghost-Eyed Cave, he had no time for more questions. After Wang Yu withdrew the cold flame, Situ Hong hurried forward to examine the corpse.
Soon his expression grew serious.
“A Ghost-Eyed Spider of first-rank middle stage. That is why you burned it to death in one strike. But something is not right.”
“How so.”
“Invisibility.” Situ Hong paused, then said, “As far as I know, only the Spider Queen and a handful of elite Ghost-Eyed Spiders possess the ability to become invisible.”
“But this thing is not only invisible, it can also block divine sense perception. Only a vague shadow can be seen. If its intelligence were not too low and it had not made noise while approaching, I fear…”
Wang Yu’s brows furrowed.
“You have never encountered this before?”
“No.”
His left eyelid twitched. Wang Yu felt a bit helpless. He always seemed to encounter accidents, as if he had some sort of trouble-attracting constitution.
“Have you been into Cave Five before?”
“No.”
“What about our fellow sect members who entered before?”
“I have not heard of any information about this.”
“Then they must not have come out.”
He spread his hands. After Situ Hong pried out three mature Ghost Eyes and put the corpse into a storage pouch, he said,
“No matter what, the mission must be completed. Stay alert.”
“Agreed.”
Since they had just entered the cave, there was no reason to retreat. Both had confidence in their own strength, so they decided to move forward.
“Junior Brother Wang, take a few steps back. Today I will let you witness your senior brother’s means.”
If it could save some spiritual power, Wang Yu was naturally willing.
“Please.”
Situ Hong gave a low shout and took out a large black banner from his storage pouch, taller than a man. The banner surface bore the image of a fierce ghost. It was none other than the famous artifact of Five Yin Peak, the Hundred Ghost Banner.
He infused spiritual power and shook it a few times.
One after another, ghostly skulls in black smoke flew out. There were no less than forty in total, most of them carrying the aura of early Qi Refining, with five at mid Qi Refining.
The black banner swung forward. A mass of ghost skulls and wraiths surged out together, the formation terrifying to behold.
Situ Hong wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and explained,
“These are superior-grade wraiths I captured at the Ghost Altar Burial Ground, spending nearly two thousand contribution points. After cultivation by the sect, their foundation is excellent, and they have the potential to reach late Qi Refining.
“Especially those five at the front. Combined with the Five Ghost Evil Arts of Five Yin Peak, they may even have a chance to step into Foundation Establishment in the future. But raising them consumes far too much.”
The Ghost Altar Burial Ground was one of the sect’s hidden foundations, a special structure meant solely for spending contribution points, just like the Corpse Breeding Grounds were for Heavenly Corpse Peak.
It was well known that wild wraiths and evil ghosts had little potential and only food value. Only those born in special spiritual lands had cultivation value, much like how humans were born with spiritual roots.
Wraiths and evil ghosts also had a kind of “spiritual root,” but theirs could be improved through later cultivation. To raise so many at once, it was no wonder he felt it was costly.
The sect’s resources had high quality and great potential.
Naturally, the price was also far beyond what ordinary disciples could bear. Moreover, they still had to raise their natal spirit ghost, which was why disciples of Five Yin Peak were notoriously poor.
Since the other party had spoken so openly, Wang Yu responded with words of praise. But in truth, he remained extremely cautious. He always felt that Situ Hong was pretending.
Of course, this did not mean that Situ Hong harbored malice. Perhaps it was just his habit of concealing strength. Wang Yu never hesitated to assume the worst of others, yet he also possessed patience and tolerance.
This side of him was shown only to those who posed no danger to himself.
“Let’s go.”