Chapter 1637
Closing the Net
After all, the reason why the two sides joined forces before was mainly because of the Shadow Panther clan.
But with the annihilation of the Ghost Leopard clan...
They thus no longer had a common enemy.
They therefore guard against each other.
In fact, if they weren't wary of the Shadow Leopard King lurking in the shadows, they probably would have already launched a full-scale attack.
Afterwards, they discussed it privately for a long time before agreeing on the division of the largest benefit, the Panshi Mountain Range.
They divided most of the high-level ghost lands within that small mountain range into two parts, one for each side.
As for the most valuable fifth-grade rock mountain in the rocky mountain range, it is shared by both parties.
The Rock Demon clan, however, was unwilling to share the small rock mountain range that belonged exclusively to them.
However, due to the circumstances, the five superior evil spirits joined forces, and their strength was somewhat greater than theirs.
As time went by, for various reasons, both sides put aside their hatred for each other.
The entire ghost realm then returned to peace.
But beneath the surface, undercurrents were always surging.
Even the subordinates of both sides often clashed.
Clearly, given the right opportunity, the two sides will clash again.
……
the other side.
In the ancient ghost realm, deep within a void, lies a hidden shadowy secret realm.
'This time, we've truly lost both our wife and our army.'
'With the tragic deaths of our clan's former powerful members, our clan's overall strength has been reduced by at least 60-70%.'
'It will be extremely difficult for our clan to find another opportunity to invade the ancient ghost realm in the future.'
Having just escaped back here using that special spatial rift, the Shadow Leopard King felt immense regret as he recalled the large number of his kin who had perished in the previous battle.
However, it does not regret the previous battle.
During the decades it led its army to fight in the fifth-grade top-level ghost land of the Rocky Mountain Range, its cultivation advanced extremely rapidly with the help of the rich ghost energy within the Rocky Mountain Range.
And that feeling can be extremely comfortable.
It even cherishes it dearly.
Moreover, if its previous plan to invade the ancient ghost realm succeeds, it may also be able to truly occupy that ghost land.
Therefore, it knew from the very beginning that although this was a risky move, the potential rewards were also great, and the two were directly proportional.
……
And this moment.
Ancient Ghost Realm.
Near the small rocky mountain range where the great battle had broken out, a dozen or so figures stood atop an inconspicuous, desolate mountain.
And they were none other than Ling Pengyun and other cultivators from the Cangxuan lineage.
They had been hiding here for a long time using the Netherworld Blade, observing the battle from afar.
'That previous battle was truly a spectacle.'
'Although the Ghost Realm has returned to peace, it is difficult for my Cangxuan lineage to find an opportunity to attack the Rock Demon Clan or the Five Supreme Demons.'
'But the severely damaged Shadow Panther clan is a good target.'
Ling Pengyun pondered for a moment, and his eyes gradually lit up.
The powerful figures of the Cangxuan lineage, such as the Star Sea Ancestor, shared the same idea.
They agreed and immediately left the place quietly.
They arrived near the spatial rift that Ling Pengyun had silently constructed with the Netherworld Blade years ago, which led to the Shadow Realm.
In addition, this spatial rift is special, and anyone can enter the Shadow Realm through it.
The Shadow Leopard clan attaches great importance to it, even after their defeat in the previous battle at the Rocky Mountain Range.
They did not temporarily withdraw all of their forces from the Ancient Ghost Domain, but instead dispatched a small number of powerful individuals and set up a formidable top-tier fifth-order high-grade array, as well as numerous methods to conceal their presence.
The defensive capabilities there were quite good.
With the combination of various methods of concealing one's presence, that place was extremely obscure.
If that spatial rift hadn't been created by Ling Pengyun, even a late-stage Nascent Soul expert like Ling Pengyun would have had a hard time finding this place.
That is why, even though the Rock Demon Clan and the Five Great Demons had searched this place before, they did not find anything unusual.
'These Shadow Panthers are quite wary.'
'However, this does present some minor problems.'
Upon seeing this, Ling Pengyun frowned slightly, revealing a hint of seriousness.
Although the Netherworld Blade he wielded was powerful, it allowed him to escape into the void, making him impossible for ordinary people to detect.
However, a high-grade array was set up at the entrance of that spatial rift.
Those grand formations all have the effect of locking the void.
It would be difficult for Ling Pengyun to directly lead people into the space and enter the spatial rift.
Therefore, the only option left is to fight.
He then informed the Star Sea Ancestor and other powerful figures of the Cangxuan lineage of this news.
"I've been itching to practice lately, so I'll use those Shadow Panthers as practice."
"Moreover, we have more than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators, and two of them are in the late Nascent Soul stage, so our strength is quite impressive."
"On the other hand, the group of ghostly leopards guarding the spatial rift, although their overall strength is not bad, only has five powerful experts in the middle and late stages of the Nascent Soul stage, and their top-grade fifth-order high-quality array is barely up to par."
"No matter what, we have an absolute advantage."
"In addition, the primordial spirits of those ghost leopards are all valuable items, and the ghost array is an even rarer thing. If we can get our hands on them, we can make a small fortune."
"..."
The Star Sea Ancestor and the others were not afraid of battle; on the contrary, they were somewhat excited.
In recent decades, the Ghost Realm has been in chaos, and the Heavenly River Realm has been extremely peaceful, so they have not been able to find any good opportunities to make a lot of money.
Now that they have such an opportunity before them, how could they refuse it?
"Since you all agree, that's good."
Ling Pengyun felt relieved upon hearing the reply from Ancestor Xinghai and the others.
After resting for a while, they immediately got to work.
"The Dao Intent of Void!"
"Underworld Blade!"
"Great divine power... Netherworld Domain!"
"Congeal!"
With a thought, Ling Pengyun immediately activated the Void Dao Intent that he had already comprehended to perfection, and used it as the source to activate the Netherworld Blade.
Immediately afterwards, the Netherworld Blade unleashed an incomparably powerful spatial force, even forming a special shield that directly covered the spatial rift in the distance, along with the earth formation and everything else.
Moreover, the spatial aura within the cover underwent some changes, and all the ghostly power within it was gradually expelled.
Before long, a unique space formed on that land, completely different from its surroundings.
This matter is extremely important to the Nascent Soul demon leopards and the ghost formation within.
Not only were those ghost leopards unable to utilize the power of the surrounding world for arduous cultivation, but they, along with the formation, also found it difficult to mobilize the power of heaven and earth to unleash any powerful techniques.
Their overall strength has been reduced by at least 20% to 30%.
This is the power of the Great Divine Ability of the Netherworld.
This technique was modified by Ling Pengyun in his early years based on the special technique Ghost Immortal Domain that Ling Pengxing, a Ghost Immortal cultivator in his family, possessed, which was based on the Ghost Immortal Lamp.
Although this method is not as powerful as the Ghost Immortal Realm, it not only contains the effect of trapping the enemy, but can also use the blood of living beings to create the power of blood demons, and can also create ghost immortal mist to corrode the enemy, etc.
However, its ability to trap enemies is even stronger.
Even among those at the same level of great supernatural power, he is still considered to be in the middle tier.
Furthermore, since Ling Pengyun activated it with the Void Dao Intent of the Perfect Realm and the extraordinary treasure Netherworld Blade, even a Nascent Soul Perfect Realm expert would likely find it difficult to shatter it in a short time.
In an instant, the many shadowy leopards guarding the spatial rift were as if trapped in a cage.
Moreover, due to the special effects of that void domain, its unusual activity did not spread outside.
"The spatial domain technique is complete. Everyone, even if we turn this place upside down, it will probably be difficult for outsiders to detect any unusual activity here."
"We can go all out and kill those ghost leopards now."
"Just do it."
Ling Pengyun gave a shout and immediately summoned two fifth-grade superior natal treasures: the Nine Heavens Thunder Banner and the Morning Gourd.
"A supreme divine power... the Five Elements Morning Glow Thunderfire Dragon!"
"Congeal!"
The Nine Heavens Thunder Banner and the Morning Gourd instantly transformed into vast expanses of thunder from the nine heavens and precious fire from the morning glow.
Whirring whirring!
They quickly converged, forming a colossal thunder and fire dragon tens of thousands of feet long.
Its surface was constantly crackling with the glow of dawn and the light of thunder, which was extremely terrifying.
Moreover, it might be because in his early years, Ling Pengyun used the primordial spirit of a fire dragon in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm to refine the basic great divine power of the Thunderfire Dragon, the Morning Glow Fire Dragon Technique.
Its eyes were extremely bright and its aura was extraordinary, like a real dragon descending to earth.
"go with!"
As Ling Pengyun raised his hand, the Thunderfire Dragon soared into the sky, roaring as it passed by, and swiftly struck the top-tier fifth-order superior-grade ghost array that was protecting the spatial rift, causing countless booms.
Boom!
Moreover, because that thunder and fire dragon is extremely pure and powerful, it can be considered an excellent pure yang technique.
It held a significant advantage when facing that formation.
Even the moment it came into contact with the formation, the faint ghostly power contained within it melted away as quickly as snowflakes meeting a raging fire.
Sizzle! ! !
It managed to shake the formation by its own strength.
"Pengyun, I'm here to help you."
Ancestor Xinghai's brows were full of excitement. He immediately summoned the Nebula Sea Dragon Banner and summoned a sea dragon comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul demon beast.
Although it is not a pure Yang technique, it was transformed from the spirit of the Sea Dragon Banner and was nurtured by the Star Sea Ancestor for a long time, so its power is not much less than that of the Thunderfire Dragon.
Yan Siyi and the other powerful members of the Cangxuan lineage also made their moves one after another.
A barrage of powerful attacks immediately appeared, instantly dimming the great formation.
Even small cracks appeared very quickly.
"Why are there so many powerful righteous cultivators appearing in the Ghost Realm?"
"Moreover, how could those powerful righteous cultivators possibly discover this place? Our clan has set up numerous concealment methods here."
"..."
The five late-stage Nascent Soul stage Shadow Leopards stationed at the spatial rift noticed the unusual activity and were immediately shocked.
At this moment, they also subtly noticed that there was something wrong with the Netherworld Domain technique activated by Ling Pengyun and the Netherworld Blade.
They were quite knowledgeable, having heard the legend of the Netherworld Blade, and their imaginations immediately began to run wild.
'If the item in the hands of that righteous cultivator is indeed the legendary spatial treasure, the Netherworld Blade, then that person is likely the mastermind behind the scheme from the ancient Ghost Realm.'
'Even the spatial rifts that mysteriously appeared in our clan's Shadow Realm are likely his doing.'
'And their attack on our people at this time is likely a deliberate attempt to close the net.'
'I wonder if my clan will be able to survive this calamity.'
'If I had known this would happen, I should have advised the Leopard King against forcibly entering the ancient ghost realm.'
"..."
The five evil spirits, who were in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, showed fear and worry in their eyes. They immediately used some means of communication to ask for help.
However, all those means of communication were blocked by the Netherworld Domain that enveloped the surrounding space.
In this way, they can only rely on themselves.
They were utterly helpless and could only grit their teeth and unleash some powerful attacks, fully activating the high-level ghost array and even summoning the array's artifacts to fight the enemy.
They even deliberately entangled Ling Pengyun's Thunderfire Dragon Great Divine Power.
In addition, the Shadow Leopard clan, being skilled in physical combat, seized this opportunity to break out of the formation, intending to join forces to kill Ling Pengyun and seize the Netherworld Blade from his hands.
After all, if this succeeds, they will have a chance to turn the tide and escape successfully.
"They're just a bunch of trapped beasts, how dare they act so arrogantly?"
Ling Pengyun's brows furrowed as he observed the actions of the Nascent Soul Shadow Leopards.
He immediately summoned the fifth-grade high-quality Black Dragon Armor and donned it, and wielded the fifth-grade mid-quality Qi and Blood Natal Treasure, the Hunyuan Axe, and went straight to meet the attack.
During this time, he also activated a special physical supernatural power called "Primordial Battle Body Technique".
His body suddenly burst forth with countless rays of the Five Elements, exuding an incomparably powerful aura of a peak mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Immediately afterwards, his body swelled to about three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in size, resembling a small giant.
Moreover, his entire body was radiant with a light of the five elements, and his physique was several times stronger.
Even if it were to withstand a mid-grade fifth-tier attack from a spiritual treasure, it probably wouldn't be a problem.
Not to mention, he was also wearing black dragon armor.
His current defense is extremely strong.
His strength was astonishing, and the Hunyuan Axe in his hand was not only sharp but also weighed tens of millions of kilograms.
With a sudden swing, he unleashed a force of billions of jin with the axe, directly blasting away one of the attacking mid-stage Nascent Soul demon leopards.
The other four mid-to-late stage Nascent Soul demon leopards struck his body, but they did not pose any threat to Ling Pengyun; they only forced him back a little.
Once Ling Pengyun regained his footing, he unleashed a series of powerful swings, continuously wielding his giant axe to bombard the attacking ghost leopard.
For a time, he fought against the five mid-to-late stage Nascent Soul demon leopards and was barely able to stabilize the situation and protect himself.
"That was truly exhilarating."
Ling Pengyun fought with great gusto, growing fiercer with each blow, like a savage beast.
"How come this righteous cultivator is also skilled in the art of physical cultivation?"
"..."
The five late-stage Nascent Soul stage ghost leopards were extremely surprised by this, but with the arrow already on the bowstring, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue.
But by this time, the Star Sea Ancestor and the others had also realized what was happening and immediately stepped in to help, surrounding and annihilating them.
However, there is a significant gap in strength between the two sides.
They were unable to cause much trouble and were quickly killed. (End of Chapter)