Chapter 53: Physical and Mental Dual Attacks

"Protect the child!" Xie Chen flipped his palm and summoned a compass. As the spiritual needles spun wildly, he shouted, "This formation is based on the earth's veins. A strong attack will only result in a stronger backlash. We must break its core!"

Shen Yunzhou's sword flashed like a rainbow as it cleaved through the horde of corpses, and he said coldly, "I'll go and kill him."

"Let's go together!" Ji Qianqiu's fist shook the beams and pillars, sending rubble crashing down: "Smash those damned bones!"

Fang Li shielded the unconscious child behind her, using green vines to weave a net to block the vengeful spirit.

"Commander, analyze the weaknesses of the formation's core."

[Here it comes! That skull crystal has the strongest energy but is also the most fragile! Use pure spirit attacks on the crystal's interface, but you can't out-duel the late-stage Golden Core cultivator, you black-robed guy!] The system screamed.

[Wait... the earth's veins are flowing differently! The spiritual energy is thinnest in the northwest corner; it's possible a path could be torn out from there!]

Fang Li raised her hand and cast three cleansing talismans, which exploded with golden light and forced back the vengeful spirits: "The earth veins in the northwest corner are the weakest!"

Xie Chen's compass suddenly shone brightly: "It is indeed the Gate of Life!" The jade talisman turned northwest, and the barrier crashed down fiercely!

The man in black robes let out a fierce roar, and his skeletal magical artifact pointed directly at Xie Chen! A streak of filthy, evil light shot out, devouring all the vengeful spirits in its path!

The sword energy descended like an avalanche! Shen Yunzhou followed the sword, forcefully cleaving through the evil light, his robes fluttering as he crashed into the altar! Ji Qianqiu charged forward like a thunderbolt, his fist blasting the ground, aimed directly at the black-robed man's face!

The black-robed demonic cultivator's withered face suddenly twisted, and with a shrill howl, the crystals in his skull's eye sockets exploded with a blinding, evil light.

"boom!"

The shockwave sent Ji Qianqiu flying.

His black robes ripped apart, and he crashed into a broken pillar before rolling to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The vengeful spirits on the ground grew arms wildly, shrieking as they coiled around his limbs!

A streak of icy blue sword energy descended! Shen Yunzhou's robes fluttered, and with a slight tremor of the sword tip, a surge of chilling energy erupted, freezing and shattering all the ghostly hands within a ten-foot radius.

"Rise." He grabbed Ji Qianqiu by the back of his collar with one hand and threw him backward: "Protect the center of the formation!"

Xie Chen's hand gestures changed rapidly, and the golden light protective array hummed and expanded, forcefully withstanding the impact of the evil light.

Outside the formation, black energy surged like a tide, while inside, the robes of the people fluttered wildly, and spiritual light clashed fiercely with evil light.

"Purify!" Mo Yunqing shouted, and countless golden talismans for dispelling evil were scattered out with a wave of his hand.

Golden flames exploded, burning the writhing corpses, the stench of burning flesh mixed with a nauseating odor.

His fingertips moved swiftly, and the Purifying Fire Talismans fluttered like butterflies, causing the black mist to hiss and melt away wherever they passed.

Ironclad roared repeatedly, wielding its heavy shield with impenetrable force, smashing away several corpses that broke through the golden flames and rushed towards it.

The corpses, their bones shattered yet still struggling to rise, were instantly and completely destroyed by Ji Qianqiu's attack, which was imbued with the power of violent blood and qi.

Fang Liqing wrapped her vines around the unconscious child's waist and retreated hastily. Suddenly, she felt a tightness in her ankle and a chill ran straight to her head, startling her so much that she almost jumped up.

"Damn it! A double attack of physical and mental damage! This dungeon is draining my sanity!" she screamed as she quickly pulled out a blank talisman paper, used her finger as a pen, poured in spiritual power, and began to draw rapidly.

"Soul Suppression - Seal!" Three talismans were forcefully slammed into the cracks in the ground! The talisman light surged, temporarily suppressing the surging vengeful spirit's arm. She took a breath and patted her chest in lingering fear.

Just then, a clear and melodious flute melody quietly joined the chaotic battlefield.

Chu Yunfan appeared out of nowhere, holding a jade flute, and began to play it.

The flute music contained a powerful and righteous energy. Wherever the sound waves passed, the dim light of the evil array dimmed, and the restless vengeful spirits that rushed towards them slowed down, their twisted and painful expressions being soothed for a moment.

"Master! What's that black-robed man doing? He doesn't seem to be moving! Is he holding back a powerful attack?" Fang Li asked anxiously in her mind as she continued to draw soul-suppressing talismans to seal the cracks in the ground.

The leader's voice suddenly rose: [The black-robed man's energy is pleading for power from a higher being! The target's energy level is skyrocketing! He's reached the peak of the Golden Core stage! Interrupt him! We must attack that infant skull artifact! It's a power medium!]

"The magic artifact's shield has a gap!" Xie Chen's array plate flashed with spiritual light: "Three inches to the northwest, where the spiritual energy is thinnest!"

Shen Yunzhou's sword stance suddenly changed, and the cold, star-like sword light accurately pierced the spot Xie Chen had pointed at! The black-robed demonic cultivator let out a strange laugh, and the skull-shaped magic weapon turned towards the tip of the sword.

"Pfft!"

The sword energy pierced through the crack in the shield, severing half of his withered finger! Before the demonic cultivator could finish screaming, Mo Yun's golden talisman blasted into his face, shattering his hood and tearing his skin.

"Insects... how dare you hurt me!" the demonic cultivator roared, pressing his severed finger against the skull.

As blood seeped into the crystal, the evil light suddenly turned dark red! The entire corpse array roared and trembled, all the prayer flags fluttered wildly, and the demonic chants summoning souls suddenly became sharp and piercing.

Xie Chen shouted, "Protect your mind! Demonic Sound Corrodes the Soul!"

The golden protective array flashed continuously, barely isolating the sound waves.

Fang Li gritted her teeth and slapped on a few more soul-suppressing talismans, but the talisman paper quickly charred and curled at the edges. [No! The resentment is too strong; the talisman paper can't hold up!]

The system screamed: [He's sacrificing his own life essence to summon a higher-dimensional being! His energy peak has broken through the Nascent Soul stage—it's going to explode!]

"Stop him!" Xie Chen also sensed the rapidly rising terrifying energy. His expression turned solemn, and he took the lead in launching several sharp talisman light arrows, which shot directly at the demonic cultivator's wrist and the skull artifact.

"Haha! All your efforts have been in vain!" The demonic cultivator let out a hoarse, maniacal laugh: "Our lord is about to descend, and you will all become his prey!"

The demonic cultivator's body visibly withered, but the skull artifact radiated an overwhelming evil light.

He chanted eerie incantations in a hoarse voice, each word causing the void to tremble.

Shen Yunzhou raised his sword again, but was violently repelled by the surging black energy.

Mo Yun's golden talisman collided with the evil light and was silently annihilated. Chu Yunfan's flute playing gradually became sluggish, and blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

"Physical attack!" Fang Li shouted sharply, "Attack that skull!"

Tiepan roared and hurled his twin axes! The axe blades spun and cleaved toward the magical artifact, but were shattered by black energy three feet away.

"Damn it! You're so full of tricks!" Ji Qianqiu was staggered by the sudden surge of corpse energy, his arm was cut open and corroded by black energy, and he was completely enraged by the demonic cultivator's arrogant words.

His eyes were bloodshot, and with a roar, he charged forward with all his might, disregarding everything else!

"roar!!!

"Junior Brother Ji!" Mo Yun exclaimed in surprise.

Ji Qianqiu ignored them completely, forcefully shoving aside several walking corpses blocking his path. His thick protective qi and blood withstood the impact of several corrosive corpse energies, making a hissing sound, but he seemed unaware of it.

"Smash it for me!" The fist, as big as a clay pot, carrying immense blood and fury, slammed into the eerie green infant skull in the demonic cultivator's hand!

This change happened suddenly and at an astonishing speed!

The demonic cultivator's laughter abruptly stopped. He had never expected someone to charge into the fray so fearlessly. For the first time, a look of shock and anger appeared on his pale face.

He tried to dodge or block, but Ji Qianqiu's desperate attack was too fast and too fierce! Just as the crimson fist was about to strike the magical artifact, he screamed in terror:

"How dare you! My Lord, save me!"