Ling Han shook his head. He couldn’t make heads nor tails of the situation; at least not now. There was no need for him to waste any more time on this.
The ghostly shadow had been a little muddleheaded, and it clearly didn’t possess any intelligence. This was evident from how it had been tailing Ling Han and the others just then. That had been an extremely childish act. Thus, they naturally wouldn’t be able to get any answers from the ghostly shadows themselves.
That being the case, they immediately launched divine sense attacks to exterminate the remaining ghostly shadows.
These beings were especially strange, and after they were killed, they transformed into mist that would eventually dissipate. They didn’t leave any corpse.
Ling Han used his divine sense to communicate with the Asura Demon Emperor and ask him questions. He was a genuine native of the Netherworld.
After listening to Ling Han’s account, the Asura Demon Emperor hurriedly replied, “According to Master’s description, I’m 90% certain that those were beings from the Netherworld. They’re called the ‘Shadow-eating Tribe’.”
“Shadow-eating Tribe?” Ling Han asked in surprise.
“That’s right, these beings feed on shadows,” the Asura Demon Emperor said. “Moreover, they can absorb someone’s life essence by swallowing their shadow. They’re formless killers. However, the ghostly shadows that Master spoke of are clearly a bit strange. It appears as if they’ve lost their sentience and awareness. They simply attached themselves to others’ shadows by instinct, and they didn’t cause any tangible damage.”
Ling Han nodded in agreement. Those shadows were most likely members of the Shadow-eating Tribe. However, their awareness had already been severed by the tomb owner, and thus they even lost their ability to feed. They were simply left with an instinctive hobby of following shadows.
“Let’s continue,” Quan Lixuan said in a haughty voice. “Who cares if those ghostly shadows are from the Netherworld or not. They’re fairly weak anyway, and we can deal with them in no time at all.”
Indeed, divine sense attacks were extremely effective and damaging toward ordinary living beings. Quan Lixuan and the others were all descendants of super-powerful forces, so it was only natural that they all possessed secret techniques to cultivate their divine sense. Thus, not only did they possess a powerful divine sense, but they also possessed the ability to launch divine sense attacks.
As such, they held no fear of the ghostly shadows that roamed this place.
They set off again, and after a short while, the shadows on the ground increased again.
They were prepared this time, so they weren’t afraid in the least. They attacked together and obliterated all of the ghostly shadows.
In fact, it wasn’t only divine sense attacks that could wound these ghostly shadows. Flames, lightning, and other attack methods could also threaten the lives of these shadows. It was just that they weren’t as effective as divine sense attacks.
Meanwhile, these ghostly shadows were least afraid of direct physical attacks. A clear example of this was the Asura Demon Emperor, who had still managed to live for 100,000 years even though he had been separated into nine pieces.
“Haha, so this level is actually this easy to pass!” After walking for a while, they arrived before a giant metal door. It was extremely likely that this signified the end of the first level.
Everyone wore a faint smile.
To ordinary Mountain River Tier cultivators, this level wouldn’t be easy to pass. This was because the ghostly shadows came and went without a sound. Moreover, apart from the descendants of super-powerful forces, how many people practiced secret techniques pertaining to divine sense attacks?
Thus, if it were some other team, this level would definitely be incredibly challenging to pass.
“Hold on!”
Only upon arriving closer did they discover that there was a gigantic Demonic Beast lying before the giant metal door. They had failed to see it before as the color of its scales was far too similar to that of the tiles on the floor.
This Demonic Beast… It was extremely difficult to describe its appearance. This was because it was lying on the floor at the moment, and this made it look like a flat piece of rug.
“Is this Demonic Beast guarding the door?”
“It looks like we have to defeat it.”
“Let’s probe its strength first.”
Shao Sisi smiled faintly, and said, “I’ll try first!”
She retrieved a set of bow and arrows. The bow was decorated with several divine patterns, and the arrows were too. This was a set of God Tools.
“So it turns out that Lady Shao is also an expert in archery!” the others praised. They were also a little fearful at the same time. Experts in archery could launch attacks from incredibly long distances, and it was mighty difficult to defend against such attacks.
“I only know a bit about archery,” Shao Sisi said modestly. She drew her bow.
Weng!
The divine patterns on the bow and arrow lit up, exuding a domineering aura.
Everyone’s heart shuddered. The might of this arrow couldn’t be underestimated. Even they would have to be especially careful if they came up against such an attack. If they were caught off guard, it was extremely likely that they would be hit by this attack.
Chapter 1115 - The Tiger That Guards the Door
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Xiu , the sharp arrow shot out.
This arrow was incredibly fast, turning into a streak of light that rapidly shot towards that strange Demonic Beast.
Ling Han nodded internally. This shot might not be as powerful as the Annihilating Dragon Star Arrow, but the gap wasn’t very large. However, if he shot the Annihilating Dragon Star Arrow with this bow and arrow, the might would definitely be even stronger.
…If he shot out the Ultimate Arrow, it would be even more so.
Ding!
The arrow arrived, releasing a series of fiery sparks, and then bounced back.
The Demonic Beast seemed to have been startled awake, and suddenly stood up.
It was like someone suddenly grabbing a rug in the middle part, and then picked it up, making for a very bizarre sight. But in the process of rising, the form of this Demonic Beast was also changing. It actually turned from a thin “rug” into a fierce tiger.
It was 30 meters long and 15 meters tall. It was completely crimson, and the fur on its neck seemed to be burning, displaying its awe-inspiring presence.
Everyone watched this with shock, not because of the appearance of the Demonic Beast, but rather because this shot from Shao Sisi had actually not had the slightest effect.
This was extremely astonishing.
“The abilities of Demonic Beasts are beyond our expectations.”
“What should we do? Force our way in?”
“How about we first have a few of us draw this Demonic Beast away, then open the large doors, and we go together afterwards?”
“This is not a bad idea, it is obviously meaningless to continue wasting our time here.”
Everyone nodded.
After a discussion, they decided to have Du An, Quan Lixuan, and Su Jing draw the Demonic Beast away, whereas the remaining number would be responsible for opening the doors.
They were all geniuses of the present era. Since they had already laid out a plan, they would naturally proceed according to their plan to the letter, not hesitating in the slightest.
“Ugly, come chase us!”
The trio began to provoke it, but that Demonic Beast merely lay there lazily, ignoring them completely. Just like it had not pursued them when it had been shot earlier, it was so lazy that it practically raised their hackles in anger.
Du An and his group quickly made their moves, blasting out stream after stream of Origin Power towards that Demonic Beast.
At first, the Demonic Beast was too lazy to care, but when it had been hit many times,
it finally lost its patience. With a roar, it charged towards the three of them.
This pounce was extraordinarily fast.
Du An and his group fled in different directions, using the terrain in this place to play a game of hide and seek with this Demonic Beast.
Ling Han and the others rushed out too, and began to barrage the doors.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
Large bangs sounded out continuously, but what shocked them was that these doors were so sturdy they seemed unbreakable.
Everyone used their respective ultimate moves, but no matter how powerful their attacks were—even normal cultivators at the peak stage of the consummate level of Mountain River Tier would be insta-killed—they were completely useless against these big doors.
“We can’t open it, we can’t open it at all!”
They had no choice but to admit that in the face of these doors, their power was just like an ant trying to shake a tree, unable to move the latter in the slightest.
Shao Sisi, who was a careful person, suddenly pointed at that Demonic Beast as she exclaimed, “Look at the neck of that tiger.”
Everyone turned their heads and saw that there actually seemed to be a key hanging around the neck of that Demonic Beast.
“Looks like we must defeat this fierce tiger, and take that key to open these doors.”
“We cannot use shortcuts.”
“Then, let us call Brother Du and the others back, and battle with our full effort.”
All of them were heroic characters. Previously, they’d chosen to draw the tiger away only because they had not wanted to waste their time, but now that their only option was to battle, they feared nothing.
Shui Yanyu and the spear-wielding man stepped back to one side. In this kind of battle, they could not possibly interfere, or it would be merely seeking their own deaths. That was because this demonic tiger was very powerful. If that had not been the case, Du An and the others would not have needed to draw it away, and would have only had to trap it on one side.
They sent out a signal for Du An and the others to return.
“Huh?”
Du An and his group all circled back, and when they saw that the big doors were still tightly locked, they couldn’t help but be curious.
“There is no need to ask. We can’t open these doors at all; we need the key hanging on the neck of that Demonic Beast,” Guan Rong explained.
“Haha, then we just have to fight.” Du An and his group were also not the slightest bit afraid.
The eight great prodigies stood together to receive the demonic tiger that was racing back towards them.
The strength of this demonic tiger was a little inconceivable; there were actually as many as 80 divine patterns on its body!
What kind of concept was this?
It was equivalent to an eight-star genius. Furthermore, as it was at the peak stage of the consummate level of Mountain River Tier in the first place, added with the power of eight stars, it was so incredibly powerful that none would dare to befriend it.
No wonder there was a need for 10 to form a team. Though Ling Han and the others were all prodigies among prodigies, fighting this Demonic Beast, they would only be defeated. Theoretically, the number of 10 would be able to compensate for the gap of a single star in battle prowess.
After all, these prodigies had not yet formed their fifth Mountain River, so against this Demonic Beast, they were practically at a loss for what to do.
“Come on!” All eight were confident.
Aside from Ling Han, the other six had reached the peak stage of the consummate level of Mountain River Tier, their power reaching as high as six stars, and added with the secret techniques they knew, their battle prowess was at least seven stars. The battle prowess they showed when using their ultimate moves would definitely be capable of reaching eight stars.
Hence, there was still quite a high chance that they would win the battle.
“I’ll focus on the front,” Ling Han said.
This gained the complete agreement of Shao Sisi, Su Jing and Du An. Though Xia Wuque was very displeased, he did not object. They all knew that the toughness of Ling Han’s physique was far superior to theirs, so he was the best choice to be the main assault on the front.
Quan Lixuan and the others, meanwhile, had never witnessed Ling Han’s defenses, and were slightly surprised. A cultivator in the high extreme of Mountain River Tier was going to take the front?
But even Xia Wuque had not objected, so they naturally could only choose to trust him.
Ling Han drew out the Divine Demon Sword, and after awakening its power, immediately charged towards the demonic tiger.
Peng!
The demonic tiger waved a paw, and suddenly slapped down on Ling Han. Its power was too strong, almost reaching the true apex of Mountain River Tier. Ling Han was completely unqualified to stand strong against an attack of this strength.
“Wa!” He spat out a mouthful of blood, and couldn’t help but be depressed. Previously, he had been sucked dry by Empress Luan Xing; he had just recovered a little with much difficulty. Now, he was forced to throw up blood from an attack. Did the world have some kind of grudge against him?
This attack caused a few of his bones to be dislocated, but Ling Han’s Origin Power merely trembled, and his bones naturally went back to their appropriate positions.
He bounced off his feet, and once again charged over. Using the Fast Technique, his offensive was like a wave.
Quan Lixuan and the others watched on, dumbfounded. Being smacked with such powerful strength, you f****** came off unscathed. What kind of freak were you?
However, though Ling Han’s physique was freakish, that Demonic Beast was no ordinary character, either. Under Ling Han’s multiple slashes and attacks, it also appeared to be similarly unharmed as if it was indestructible like diamond.
This was really inconceivable.
Previously, it had transformed into a “rug”, being extremely soft, but now, it seemed to be like high-grade Godly metal, being incredibly hard. How could these two completely opposing traits possibly appear on the same body?
The Demonic Beast pounced, its battle prowess powerful, appearing to be almighty.
Ling Han restrained it up front, and the seven of them attacked with their full effort. However, every attack was a waste of energy. The freakishly high defenses of this Demonic Tiger had even surpassed Ling Han’s.
“This is definitely not a Demonic Beast, but rather a puppet!” Ling Han concluded. He had possessed such a physique only through cultivating the Indestructible Heaven’s Scroll, so how could it be matched by any random creature that crossed their path? However, if this Demonic Beast was really a puppet built from Godly metal, it would be understandable. One would only need to use Level Five Godly metal to build this puppet, and the defenses were naturally not something that could be resolved by Mountain River Tier.
This would also explain why its strength was so powerful.
Chapter 1116 - Want a Reward?
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“It should be a puppet. Otherwise, one would have needed to form the fifth Mountain River to reach eight stars of power.”
“If it had really formed the fifth Mountain River, I do not believe such a being would agree to being a guard of the door here.”
“But if it really is a puppet, what do we do?”
Puppets had no vital points, knew no pain, and aside from the fact that their brains were a little dumb, they were practically a perfect fighting machine, and there was no way around them.
They had more or less confirmed this. This demonic tiger’s defenses had surpassed the limits of Mountain River Tier, and it was already invincible by nature, so how were they supposed to defeat it?
Ling Han pondered for a moment, and then answered, “There are two possibilities.
“Firstly, there is a limit to the amount of time a puppet can move. We would only need to persist for a
certain amount of time, and it would naturally stop attacking.”
“And secondly, we do not have to destroy the puppet, but merely take the key.”
The others nodded respectively. This could not possibly be irresolvable, or it would have lost the meaning of existence.
“Let’s take the key!”
They immediately came to a decision. It was very simple: even if this demonic tiger had a limit to the amount of time it could move, they did not know how long that period of time would be. Hence, it was naturally best for them to take the key, and this was also the crux of their problem.
“Brother Ling and I will be responsible for drawing the attention of this demonic tiger, and you guys take the chance to snatch the key,” Shao Sisi said. She once again drew out her bow and arrow, and aimed right at the eyes of the demonic tiger, shooting arrow after arrow.
So rich!
Usually, Ling Han could not bear to use the Godly Arrows he had obtained, because there were only so many of them. The moment he shot them out and did not manage to retrieve them, that would mean one less arrow in his possession.
Shao Sisi, on the other hand, continued to shoot arrow after arrow without stop, and she did not look like she had the slightest intention of retrieving them. He really had no idea exactly how many arrows she had actually brought.
As expected of the princess of the Thousand Frost Majestic Empire, rich and imposing!
Ling Han sighed, and cheered himself up to continue to stand strong against this demonic tiger on the frontline to gain time and create an opening for the others.
Du An and the others, meanwhile, began attacking the collar that had the key hanging from it. After a few times, they looked immensely pleased because though the collar was also very sturdy, it was not unbreakable.
With this, their confidence naturally increased greatly, and they were strongly on the offensive.
After a few hundred attacks, the collar was finally broken. However, this was only a collar, and it was useless for them to just create a hole in it. It was still firmly hanging on the neck of this demonic tiger, so they had to create another hole on the other side—only then would the collar finally drop.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 573