"This is it?"
Wu Shi hurriedly turned his gaze over.
Even though he was the vice head of Mingshi Tang's Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Pavilion, this was his first time seeing the so-called Ghost Cavern.
It was a small island with a diameter of around two to three kilometers. At the very center of the island was a spring that resembled an eye. It was impossible to tell how deep the spring was, and it was surrounded by odd-shaped boulders. Even though the island had emerged from the swamp, it seemed to be protected by something. There was not the slightest bit of mud on the ground.
"If you want to kill me, come at me! If you don't, you can take your time to search for me. I'm not in a hurry! "
The sinister voice continued speaking. Following which, the group saw the island shrouded in a thin layer of mist, and it seemed as if it would disappear into the swamp at any moment.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Xuan chuckled softly as he prepared to head over. However, before he could get far, Division Head Liao hurriedly stepped forward to block his path.
"We mustn't go. The other party has clearly come prepared. Even we have fallen into his trap here. If we head over, we'll surely fall into his trap!"
Even someone of Hall Master Xing's strength had fallen into a trap without him realizing it. If they were to enter the island, there was a good chance that they would fall into the trap that the other party had set up beforehand.
"He already knows that we are here, so he must have made preparations beforehand. If we don't head over now, it'll only get more dangerous!"
Zhang Xuan shook his head.
Since the other party already knew that they were here, that meant that the other party had already made preparations beforehand. Rather than waiting idly, it would be better for them to head over.
Otherwise, it would be even more troublesome if they were in the open while the other party was in the dark.
"But …"
"Rather than waiting passively, we might as well see what he's up to. If he really wants to make a move, at least half of us would have died by now …"
Zhang Xuan chuckled softly before falling silent.
The other party was a Vicious, and his memory had clearly recovered far faster than that of the Primordial Spirit realm pinnacle elder he had. If the other party really wanted to kill him, he might still be able to stand against him. However, there was no way that the three Primordial Spirit realm pinnacle elders of Mingshi Tang would be a match for him!
In fact, even Division Head Wei and the others would be hard-pressed to stand a chance against him.
Instead of doing so, the other party invited them over. Naturally, they had to go over and see what was going on.
Seeing how stubborn Hall Master Xing was, Division Head Liao was at a loss as to what to do next. However, at this moment, he suddenly felt a hand tightening around his palm, and a wine gourd appeared in his grasp. At the same time, a telepathic voice sounded in his ears. "Pass the wine gourd to Hall Master Xing to drink."
"Drink?"
Hall Master Liao was taken aback.
The hall master had just been struck by lightning, and there was not a single part of his body that was unscathed. Even his Primordial Spirit was severely injured … Under such circumstances, he should be taking pills to recuperate. Why would he give him wine?
"Go!"
Just as Zhang Xuan was at a loss as to what to do, the feeble Wu shi suddenly walked over with a frown.
"Yes!"
Hearing Hall Master Xing's words, Division Head Liao dared not hesitate any longer. He walked up to Hall Master Xing, pried open the latter's mouth, and poured the wine into his mouth.
Not too long later, the latter opened his eyes. Even though he was spirited, he was still weak.
"Since Zhang Shi is going, let's go together. Even if we die, we'll die together …"
After saying those words, under Division Head Wei's support, Hall Master Xing stood up and followed behind Zhang Xuan with trembling legs.
With a light chuckle, Zhang Xuan leaped forward and leaped toward the land before him.
The others quickly followed behind him.
The island was eerily silent, as if there was some kind of formation isolating the air. Wu Shi and the others scanned their surroundings nervously with grim looks in their eyes.
"It seems like there's a grade-8 formation here!"
To be able to seal off the entire island to the point where even master teachers of their caliber were unable to see through it, it was likely that the formation was on par with the ones they had encountered in the Qiu Wu Palace.
A grade-8 formation … Even though they had become true Leaving Aperture realm experts, they were still no match for it.
Zhang Xuan nodded.
Even though he knew that it would be difficult for Vicious to kill him, he dared not let his guard down.
That fellow was able to trap even Kong Shi back then, and he had nearly failed to escape. The means that he had were truly fearsome.
Activating his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan scanned the surroundings discreetly.
There was indeed a formation on the island, but it wasn't used for offense. Rather, it was used to float and conceal oneself.
It turns out that the island doesn't float up from the ground. Instead, it's similar to a ship. Through the prowess of the formation, it floats above the marsh and only reveals itself to those who wish to see it …
Zhang Xuan deduced.
Vicious has to devour master teachers in order to recover, so he intentionally exaggerated the prowess of the Ghost Cavern to attract countless master teachers to search for him. Then, every year, he releases a few fated individuals …
The more he deduced, the more Zhang Xuan came to a realization.
It was said that the Ghost Cavern could raise one's Soul Depth, so it attracted more and more master teachers. Yet … most of the master teachers ended up being devoured by Vicious.
The sudden rise in their Soul Depth turned them into living advertisements for the Ghost Cavern.
Humans die in pursuit of wealth, and birds die in pursuit of food. Master teachers were no exception.
As expected of an old monster who has lived for several dozen millenniums. His means are far more profound than that finger of his …
Vicious' finger, which he had tamed at the Cloudmist Ridge, controlled spirit beasts and saint beasts to fight against humans. While he had devoured quite a few master teachers, the number of them was still far too few.
Let's head over to take a look and see what the spring is that can attract so many master teachers …
Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan began making his way over to the spring.
"Zhang Shi, be careful … The spring is capable of reflecting one's distracting thoughts. It'll be difficult for you to escape once you fall into it!"
Zhang Jiuxiao noticed that Zhang Xuan was walking toward the spring, intending to take a look.
He had once cultivated here for a month.
He knew that the spring was capable of reflecting one's thoughts, and the longer one looked at it, the more thoughts one would have. As a soul oracle, if he were to learn of these thoughts and make use of them to form inner demons … Even if he didn't make a move, they would still be unable to stop him!
Perhaps, this was the reason why that fellow had brought them to this island.
"It's fine. I'm interested to see what my distracting thoughts are …"
Zhang Xuan chuckled.
Since Zhang Jiuxiao could think of this, it went without saying that he could as well.
However, if he didn't step forward, the other party wouldn't be able to find him, and he would be forced into a passive position.
"Zhang Shi …"
Seeing that Zhang Xuan wasn't listening to his advice, Zhang Jiuxiao turned to Wu Shi, hoping that the latter could help him persuade Zhang Xuan otherwise. However, the latter's injuries were simply too severe, such that he couldn't even speak.
Zhang Xuan turned to Hall Master Xing, and just like Wu Shi, his eyelids were also slightly drooping, as if he would fall asleep at any moment.
"Alright, the rest of you wait here. I'll head over alone. If there's any danger, rush over immediately to save me …"
After instructing Hall Master Xing, Zhang Xuan walked over to the spring.
The water was incomparably clear, and it reflected the starlight. It felt as if it could illuminate one's soul. Looking into the water, Zhang Xuan saw some illusions, reminiscent of thoughts.
Hu!
Following which, Zhang Xuan felt his consciousness being pulled out of his body, and he was plunged into a pitch-black environment.
It was similar to the Inner Demon Ordeal he had experienced back then. It felt as if he had entered a sealed room, devoid of light and sound.
After an unknown period of time, a pitch-black figure slowly floated out of the darkness, and a bewitching voice sounded.
"Zhang Xuan, it's me …"
Soon, the figure walked up to Zhang Xuan and revealed her appearance. It was no other than Lozosy.
With a faint smile on her lips, she looked at Zhang Xuan calmly, as if a goddess who had descended from the heavens. She was just as beautiful as before, so beautiful that it was hard to believe her eyes.
"Looks like there's something new this time around …"
Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.
The inner demons that he had encountered previously were all hideous and repulsive, but this one was still a little more intelligent. She had morphed into the appearance of Lozosy based on the distracting thoughts in his mind.
It seems like Vicious has made a move!
Zhang Xuan chuckled softly.
The spring was able to reflect one's thoughts, and the person that he was thinking about the most was Lozosy.
But before he could even take a look, an inner demon that resembled Lozosy had already appeared in his mind. Vicious must have made a move on him.
If it had been anyone else, they might have really been controlled by the lover that they had been thinking about day and night. However, Zhang Xuan was different.
Putting aside the fact that he possessed the Library of Heaven's Path and the Eye of Insight, just the fact that he had undergone the acknowledgement of Celestial Master Teacher four times and Celestial Saint one time was more than enough for him to remain clear-headed in such a situation.
"Zhang Xuan …"
'Lozosy' walked up to Zhang Xuan, and her pitch-black eyes were filled with tenderness that could melt a person's heart.
"You're here …"
Seeing her in such a state, Zhang Xuan seemed to have been mesmerized. He hurriedly walked up to her and grabbed her soft hand.
"Un, I really missed you …"
Lozosy murmured softly.
Zhang Xuan nodded before sending a telepathic message over. "I missed you too … Right, I have a manual on me, the [Great Art of Inner Demons]. Do you want to learn it?"
"Great Art of Inner Demons?" Lozosy frowned.
"Indeed. If one cultivates an inner demon, one will be able to grow stronger and become an independent entity," Zhang Xuan replied telepathically.
"…" Lozosy.
"Don't worry, I created this cultivation technique by combining soul oracles, spirit enchantment, and many other occupations together with the Vitreous Heart Tempering Sutra. If you don't believe me, I can explain it to you!"
Holding onto the other party's hands tightly, Zhang Xuan opened his mouth and continued transmitting his voice over. "Inner demons are actually a kind of spirit as well. They carry the unique thoughts of humans, and just like a split personality, they will appear at a crucial moment to deal a fatal blow to the cultivator. However, once the cultivator dies, the inner demons will vanish as well. Why can an inner demon only become the vassal of a cultivator? Why can't it escape from such a fate? There's a detailed explanation in my Great Art of Inner Demons … "
"This …"
Lozosy's eyes glazed over, and the more she listened, the more agitated she became.
"This is my Great Art of Inner Demons. Do you want to learn it? If you want to learn it, acknowledge me as your teacher, and I'll impart it to you … "
Zhang Xuan's voice sounded once more.
"Teacher …" The inner demon kneeled down and kowtowed.
Pu!
As the inner demon kneeled down, Zhang Xuan seemed to hear the sound of someone spurting blood.
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