Volume Two: Travels in Qi Chapter 84: The Consciousness of the Ghost Sage

"Zhang Heng, have you discovered anything?" Wu Hong asked anxiously when he saw Zhang Heng rise to his feet.

Zhang Heng bowed slightly to Wu Hong and then solemnly said, "Elder Wu, and everyone else, I understand what has happened here, and I know how to save you all. There's nothing you need to do; simply stay here and wait patiently."

"Remember, do not attack this barrier with spiritual energy again. Your energy will only be absorbed by this cursed place—it won't break it, and it'll only accelerate its operation."

In truth, the moment Wu Hong and the others were trapped inside, the formation had already activated. Their spiritual power and vital blood would be gradually drained by it. However, if they refrained from using their power, the speed at which the Hundred Ghosts Gathering Yin Formation absorbed their strength would slow considerably. This would grant Zhang Heng much more time.

Once the formation gathered enough energy, every cultivator who entered this tomb would likely perish, including Zhang Heng himself. He had to act quickly.

"Kid, if you can't hold out, just run. I've lived long enough; there's no need for you to risk yourself for us," Wu Hong shouted from behind, but Zhang Heng had already moved far ahead.

To prevent future generations from discovering his consciousness, the Ghost Sage Daoist hid his body and soul in a concealed place.

Time was of the essence; Zhang Heng sped toward the deepest part of the tomb, employing the Shadow of the Small Polar Light technique.

Upon arriving, Zhang Heng was startled—the door to this chamber had already been broken open. Had someone arrived before him, or had the consciousness of the Ghost Sage Daoist awakened?

No, there was the sound of fighting inside. Someone truly had come before him.

Without hesitation, Zhang Heng slipped inside.

The person who had entered ahead of him was her—the cold and aloof Mu Wanqing. She had managed to find this place?

Her opponents were four stone warriors, clad in iron armor, wielding giant axes, tall and imposing.

These stone warriors were nothing like the skeletal remains Zhang Heng and the others had encountered before; each radiated a terrifying aura.

Although Mu Wanqing was gifted, she was still young, only at the ninth stage of the Primordial Pill Realm. These stone warriors, though dormant for thousands of years, still possessed the combat strength of the Return to Ruins Realm. Naturally, Mu Wanqing was no match for them.

She was already covered in wounds, her delicate face scarred by the giant axes, her spiritual energy nearly exhausted, clearly on the verge of collapse.

With her cultivation at the Primordial Pill Realm, she was able to withstand four Return to Ruins stone warriors for so long—a testament to her abilities.

Seeing someone intrude, especially someone without any cultivation, Mu Wanqing called out coldly, "If you don't want to die, get out!"

Zhang Heng pretended not to hear and kept moving forward.

Mu Wanqing, seeing he ignored her warning, said nothing more; she was already unable to hold out and had no energy to waste on words.

Just then, distracted by warning Zhang Heng, she was caught off guard by a stone warrior, who punched her, sending her flying like a broken kite.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng darted forward, leapt, and caught her, landing on the ground. He dropped Mu Wanqing to the floor, paying her no further attention.

Zhang Heng's gaze was sharp, fixed on the four stone warriors charging at him.

Such cruelty—to attack a beautiful girl like this. Zhang Heng muttered, "I must teach you a lesson," then strode toward them.

He recited, "My heart is like a sword."

Zhang Heng raised his left hand, drew a line in the air, and a fierce sword light swept out, instantly passing through the bodies of the four stone warriors.

Their bodies were cleaved in two—the lower halves stopped abruptly, but the upper halves, propelled by their incredible speed, still lunged at Zhang Heng. He quickly shifted his stance, dodging out of the way.

Looking back, he saw Mu Wanqing still lying on the ground, helplessly staring at him. Zhang Heng had no choice but to return, pick her up, and flee swiftly.

Fortunately, Zhang Heng was fast enough now; neither of them was injured.

Seeing the bloodied, pale-faced girl, Zhang Heng felt pity. He took a small vial of spiritual liquid from his space ring.

Though Mu Wanqing was cold as an iceberg, she had, in a life-or-death moment, warned a powerless stranger and suffered injury as a result. This spoke to her pure heart, and Zhang Heng couldn't bear to leave her to die here.

(Zhang Heng swore, it was definitely not because the girl was beautiful.)

Though, if he were to personally feed her the spiritual liquid and tend to her wounds, he might win her favor. But right now, Zhang Heng had no such thoughts.

Ahead of them sat a skeleton, cross-legged. Suddenly, a dark, swirling mass emerged from its skull—it must be the consciousness of the Ghost Sage Daoist.

Ahahaha, ahahahaha! A chilling laughter echoed—the classic villain’s laugh.

Zhang Heng was speechless. Couldn’t this guy do something new?

The Ghost Sage Daoist’s consciousness had just awakened; he ignored Zhang Heng, lost in his own laughter.

"Ah, hahahahaha! At last, I am awakened. Soon, I will regain my strength. The Four Great Sacred Grounds—wait for me!" The sinister voice was full of furious rage.

Zhang Heng was pressed for time and had no choice but to interrupt the Ghost Sage Daoist’s monologue.

"Hey, you ghostly thing! Pretending I don’t exist? That’s a blow to my dignity," Zhang Heng declared, pointing boldly at the mass of darkness.

The black cloud suddenly focused on Zhang Heng, observed him for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Who would have thought, just awakened and such a delicious meal delivered to my door? Looks like it’ll be hard not to conquer the continent now!"

"Meal?" Zhang Heng snapped. "I’ll scatter your soul to the winds—let’s see how you eat then!"

The Ghost Sage Daoist was ruthless, charging straight at Zhang Heng.

"You’re just a mass of dark smoke, and yet you dare act so arrogantly? My heart is like a sword!" Zhang Heng summoned his Heartguard Sword and rushed forward. With a flash, he unleashed a strike, thinking, "It’s over."

But the Heartguard Sword, which had never failed him, now faltered. The sword light sliced through the black mist, cleaving it in two, but the dispersed darkness simply reformed.

A chilling voice echoed again. "You, devoid of cultivation, yet possessing such formidable means—I can’t wait to devour you."

He laughed again, sinister as ever.

"Damn, why doesn’t it work?" Zhang Heng shouted.

Because the Ghost Sage Daoist now existed only as consciousness—a spectral form—the Heartguard Sword could only harm physical entities, rendering it ineffective.

What now? Brother System?

Damn it, his strongest attack was the Heartguard Sword, bestowed by the Lone Sword Saint. Without it, he was just a low-level cultivator. If it didn’t work, he was done for.

System’s cold voice rang out. "I will teach you a formation. Master it, and you can subdue him."

Formation? Brother, are you kidding? Zhang Heng was panicked. Today was his first encounter with formations, and now the system wanted him to learn one to defeat the enemy? How could he manage that? He’d probably be killed before he even learned it.

As Zhang Heng argued with the system, the black shadow charged at him again.