The cultivator who had fled in panic was covered in blood, his true essence nearly depleted. Yet, he gritted his teeth and desperately fled, though despair already clouded his eyes. He likely knew his chances of escape were slim. But just then, he spotted Lin Feng and Wang Chen ahead. His mind was chaotic, unable to process the scene before him, nor did he care about the Loong-Tailed Crocodile confronting them. He screamed out:
"Fellow Daoists, save me!!"
Like a drowning man clutching at the final straw, he cried out for help and charged recklessly towards Lin Feng and Wang Chen!!
"ROAR!!!"
At that very moment, the Loong-Tailed Crocodile seemed provoked. It let out a thunderous bellow, its massive limbs churning as it charged towards Wang Chen like a living tank!
"Damn it! Of all the times!!" Wang Chen was both startled and furious at the sudden complication. He couldn't hold back a curse. Unprecedented gravity filled his eyes. His right hand flickered, and a pitch-black, cleaver-like magic tool appeared in his grasp. He spoke rapidly: "I'll hold off the Loong-Tailed Crocodile! Lin Feng, you handle that side!!"
"Got it!!" The situation was critical, leaving no room for discussion. Lin Feng responded grimly. Before his word fully faded, he had mobilized every ounce of his true essence. His right hand swept out, and the Crimson Soul Flying Sword shot forth like a crimson bolt. It streaked past the ear of the fleeing cultivator and slammed into the shadowy figure that was practically breathing down his neck.
"Thwick!" A soft sound pierced the air. The flying sword passed clean through the 'chest' of the shadowy figure as if piercing mere black mist. Yet, the figure's forward momentum abruptly halted. Simultaneously, a colossal BOOM shook the cavern behind Lin Feng, the entire space trembling violently—Wang Chen had clearly engaged the Loong-Tailed Crocodile.
Lin Feng had no attention to spare for the battle behind him. Frowning, his gaze locked onto the humanoid shadow ahead, profound seriousness etched on his face. His offensive didn't pause. The Crimson Soul Flying Sword arced through the air, reversing direction almost the instant it passed through the specter, slashing down in a vicious return stroke!
"Swish!" A flash of crimson-silver light cleaved the shadow diagonally in two. Instantly, a shrill, ear-piercing shriek, like the wail of tormented ghosts, tore through the cavern. The bisected shadow contorted violently. Black mist churned where its head should be, a hideous human face flickering within it for a split second. Then, as if swept away by a gale, the entire shadowy form was flung backwards.
"You dare harm my Specter?! You seek death!!"
An enraged, incredulous voice roared from the tunnel the shadow had emerged from. A young male cultivator, clad in a black-patterned long robe, strode out. The shadowy figure halted beside him, standing motionless like a dark reflection cast upon the ground.
"Specter?! An Evil Cultivator!!" Hearing the other's words, Lin Feng's pupils constricted sharply. Shock rippled through him. He finally understood the nature of the bizarre shadow—it was a Specter! And a cultivator employing such methods to control specters was precisely what the cultivation world termed an 'Evil Cultivator'!
Evil Cultivators, as the name implied, practiced sinister and unorthodox arts. Such cultivators were notoriously dangerous and universally despised. Their cultivation techniques, spells, and even magic tools often defied the natural order, causing grievous harm. Methods like controlling specters involved refining the souls of other cultivators like tools or artifacts, then enslaving them—a practice of extreme cruelty.
While Lin Feng scrutinized the newcomer with wary disbelief, the black-robed youth also glanced at the specter beside him, seemingly checking its condition. A flash of ferocious anger ignited in his eyes. He snapped his head up, locking his venomous gaze onto Lin Feng, his teeth grinding audibly.
"You actually managed to injure my Specter Puppet... Impressive!! Brat, I will extract your soul and refine your spirit! You will never know reincarnation!!"
"Kill him!!" The Evil Cultivator barked the command. The specter instantly let loose a piercing, inhuman shriek. Its body dissolved into a plume of black smoke, transforming into a gust of icy, spectral wind that swept forward. In the blink of an eye, it reformed mere meters before Lin Feng. It lunged, feet not touching the ground, a horrifying ghostly visage materializing before it, radiating pure dread.
Lin Feng clearly sensed the potent aura radiating from this specter—almost equivalent to a Golden Core Perfection cultivator! Seeing it surge towards him, he dared not be negligent. A thought flashed through his mind. The Crimson Soul Flying Sword whistled around him in a protective arc before slashing directly towards the specter's head.
However, the enemy was now aware of the flying sword's potency and wouldn't let it strike unopposed. A mocking sneer twisted the Evil Cultivator's lips. His hands interlaced into a complex seal as he uttered a sharp command: "Scatter!"
"Swish!" The Crimson Soul Flying Sword cleaved through empty air. The specter, milliseconds before the blade struck, exploded into countless tendrils of black smoke. The next instant, the smoke seemed to gain a life of its own. It fragmented into dozens of independent, shadowy wisps, scattering in all directions like shrapnel. They formed a vast, ethereal net, completely encircling Lin Feng. When the shadows solidified, they revealed themselves as semi-transparent specters, surrounding Lin Feng from every conceivable angle!
Lin Feng lacked experience fighting such foes. He hadn't anticipated this maneuver. By the time he realized the danger, escape was impossible.
"So it's just a reckless fool who doesn't know his place..." The Evil Cultivator, initially wary due to Lin Feng possessing a tool capable of harming his specter, now curled his lip in disdain. A cold laugh escaped him. "Let me show you the taste of a Hundred Ghosts Devouring the Soul!!"
Before his words fully faded, he violently thrust his right hand towards Lin Feng, fingers clawing at the air! Instantly, spine-chilling wails and ghostly howls erupted around Lin Feng. The surrounding specters, like vultures spotting carrion, lunged at him en masse!
Just as the horde of specters threatened to engulf Lin Feng, a blinding white light erupted! An invisible force radiated outwards from his core. The specters hurtling towards him were violently flung back as if struck by a powerful shockwave. Simultaneously, an earth-shattering roar tore through the cavern!
"ROAR!!!"
The colossal phantom of a White Tiger materialized out of thin air, positioning itself protectively over Lin Feng. Its massive maw gaped open, swallowing several specters whole before they could react. A sweep of its enormous paw shredded another handful into dissipating wisps of dark energy.
"What?!" The Evil Cultivator's face contorted in shock and disbelief. He hadn't anticipated Lin Feng possessing two artifacts capable of countering specters! And judging by their power, both were Epic Spirit Weapons!
Shock rapidly morphed into avarice. The Evil Cultivator's aura surged violently. His right hand flickered, producing a small, dark banner. With a vicious wave, a fresh swarm of specters poured forth, buzzing towards Lin Feng like locusts!
"More?!" Lin Feng's expression tightened across the cavern, yet he showed no panic. True essence flowed unceasingly from his core into the White Tiger Fierce Soul Talisman clutched in his left hand. Guided by his will, the phantom tiger above him roared again, lashing out at the encroaching spectral horde.
Fearing his standard spirit light barrier might falter against such concentrated spectral assault, Lin Feng dared not let the White Tiger spirit venture far from his immediate defense. The battle momentarily reached a stalemate.
"ROAR!!" "BOOM!!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath Lin Feng's feet lurched violently. A deafening explosion echoed from behind him. His heart skipped a beat. Though he didn't turn, his divine sense instantly swept backwards. He discovered Wang Chen's battle with the Loong-Tailed Crocodile had moved deeper into a tunnel. Wang Chen didn't seem in immediate peril, though it was clear the fight would drag on. Likely, Wang Chen had intentionally drawn the beast away to avoid interfering with Lin Feng's own desperate struggle.
"Swish!!"
In the split second Lin Feng's focus wavered towards the rear battle, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air from the front! A slender, jet-black, shuttle-shaped magic tool shot straight towards his face!