Chapter Eighteen: Perilous Situation

Buzzz! Just when I thought there was no hope left for me, a series of muffled thuds suddenly rang in my ears.

I turned to see the Moonlight Corpse standing by my side, now sweeping her voluminous white robe around me, shielding me completely. I could see black gashes appearing across her once-smooth arms, her body stained with countless dark smudges.

"You..." I was utterly shocked, unable to fathom what part this Moonlight Corpse intended to play.

"Don't worry, I will protect you forever!" The gentle voice made my heart tremble. It sounded so familiar, as if I had heard it somewhere before. Yet, looking at the exquisitely beautiful, anciently dressed ghost before me, I couldn't muster any excitement.

If you were guarded by a ghost who swore to protect you for eternity, how would you feel?

"I think that won't be necessary..." I muttered, keeping my eyes fixed on the Moonlight Corpse before me, then quickly moving toward Zhao Fifteen.

At that moment, Zhao Fifteen had just set the unconscious Chen First aside. In a flash, he was by my side. "Xiao Dong, let's go inside and take a look!"

"Go inside?" I glanced at the cave mouth, thick with chilling demonic energy, and shivered involuntarily.

"Come on!" Without waiting for my reply, Zhao Fifteen grabbed me and charged straight into the cave.

As we entered the cave saturated with deadly energy, I could almost feel the malignant aura slicing at me like knives.

"Grandpa Zhao, do you think the Moonlight Corpse will follow us?" I asked.

Zhao Fifteen didn't answer, instead warning with a grave tone, "Be careful. The great ghost has hidden itself in here—there may be some secret within. This cave's evil aura is extremely heavy. It's far from simple."

I nodded, though my heart was restless. Suddenly, I found myself hoping the Moonlight Corpse would follow us in. At least, she had just shielded me from those terrifying black swords; if danger arose again, she'd protect me. I still didn't understand why the Moonlight Corpse, who had flown from the Spirit Spring Reservoir of Spirit Spring Village, would guard me. But for now, I didn't dwell on it—so long as she protected me, that was enough.

The cave seemed very deep, and as we ventured further, I saw countless corpses. Faint blue lights flickered upon them, and as I approached, they flew toward the back of my hand.

"Xiao Dong, these are good things—they can replenish my magical power!"

I nodded and, whenever I encountered a corpse shining with blue light, I touched it with my right hand, instantly absorbing it.

"Xiao Dong, go down from here!"

In Zhao Fifteen's palm appeared a small blood-red sword, which seemed to sense the direction of the ghostly energy.

Following closely behind him, we descended cautiously.

As soon as we went down, the scene before my eyes left me stunned.

Everywhere shone with ghostly blue light, the ground littered with human skulls. At that moment, Zhang Keqing was surrounded by clusters of skulls.

The white ghostly hair that had encircled Zhang Keqing had vanished. She now sat cross-legged among the dense mass of skulls, countless blue lights illuminating the whole space.

There were even other corridors here; in the distance, two stone doors could be seen, both tightly shut.

"The great ghost is behind that stone door. We must hurry and rescue Zhang Keqing!"

I nodded and began to grab the clusters of blue-lit skulls before me. Instantly, countless blue rays surged toward the back of my right hand, upon which the fiery red fox tattoo began to shimmer.

Buzz!

As Zhao Fifteen reached for the seated Zhang Keqing, a muffled sound rang out—the stone door before us swung open. The great ghost whipped its head around, sending a wave of white hair flying at Zhao Fifteen. He leapt back, hastily drawing a barrier talisman in midair, barely blocking the onslaught of ghostly hair.

"Xiao Dong, fall back!" Zhao Fifteen shouted, hurling his protective talisman toward me.

At the same time, he flung forth the blood-red sword and spat out a single word of command.

The entire space quaked sharply.

But the great ghost was now standing beside a skull that had lost its glow. Meeting those eyes, I felt as if I stood upon the edge of a cliff—one step closer and I would plunge into an abyss from which there was no return.

I staggered back a step.

Suddenly, a chill shot through me—I cried out in alarm, feeling a hand grip my shoulder, its icy touch seeping into my very bones.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." That voice was so familiar.

I didn't need to turn; I knew it was the Moonlight Corpse.

At that moment, the great ghost standing before the cross-legged Zhang Keqing's body trembled fiercely.

"It's you again!"

"I gave you a chance. Yet you still seek to destroy the mountain's geomantic array and prematurely unleash the Sun Corpse. You truly deserve death!" The Moonlight Corpse's voice was now icy cold, utterly unlike the gentle tone she used with me.

"You can't stop me now. I've already obtained the water from the Yellow Springs. Hahaha! Just wait till I return to kill you again!" As the great ghost spoke, it darted into Zhang Keqing's body before the Moonlight Corpse could strike.

"Damn!" Zhao Fifteen's face changed dramatically. He tried to advance, but the aura now radiating from the great ghost hurled him back.

"You want to leave? I won't allow it!" The Moonlight Corpse flashed forward, driving her palm toward the center of Zhang Keqing's brow.

Suddenly, Zhang Keqing, who had been sitting cross-legged, snapped her eyes open. But now, her gaze burned with murderous intent. She threw her head back, and in an instant, thousands of strands of hair shot forth, surging toward the Moonlight Corpse.

"Destroy!"

The Moonlight Corpse's strike missed; she retreated a step, forming a hand seal between her palms. With a forceful blow, she struck the oncoming hair, which immediately erupted in brilliant flames.

In that same instant, the great ghost let out a wild laugh, transforming into a streak of light and bursting out of the cave.

As it fled, the entire cave began to shudder violently.

"Go!" The Moonlight Corpse's face was now etched with deep concern.

When we finally bolted out of the cave, we saw a silvery silhouette appear in the distance, suspended in the void.

"All of you wait for me! The day I become a Diamond Corpse will be the day of your destruction!"

"After it!"

Zhao Fifteen spat out a mouthful of vital blood, a blood-red sword instantly appearing in his hand as he hurled it toward the silvery figure in hot pursuit...