As the shambling corpse approached, the ghost guarding the door paused, utterly bewildered. Before he could even process what was happening, the headless figure was upon him.
The earlier ghosts who had tried to seize the divine sword had, at least, been of some help. They had severed more than half of the figure's body, and one of its two legs was broken. So, even though it still clutched the divine sword, its movements were wobbly and uneven, preventing it from properly wielding the sword's intended techniques.
Witnessing this, Liu Buli, despite feeling utterly disgusted, couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. Fortunately, this ghost died when its head was severed, and its body's self-healing ability vanished completely. If its severed limbs could regenerate, they would truly have no hope.
After the initial shock, the three of them, almost in unison, launched an attack on the shambling corpse. It was clear to everyone that if the battle continued as it had been, their stalemate would persist for a long time. However, whoever could obtain the sword would have the means to end the fight in a single blow.
At this moment, everyone's thoughts converged.
Yet, the divine sword was not so easily subdued. Having already absorbed so much blood and soul, its edge became even sharper and more terrifying. Even though its host's condition was deteriorating, the sword, on its own, could still fight against the three of them.
What further relieved Liu Buli was the sword's apparent instinct to seek out the strongest. Realizing the ghost was the most powerful among them, it quickly focused its main attacks on him.
Seeing their opponent occupied by the divine sword, Liu Buli and Lu Wuming didn't hesitate. Their original plan was to escape with the sword if possible, but if not, their lives were paramount.
Exchanging a glance, they both turned and ran towards the exit. Unfortunately, they had overestimated the divine sword and underestimated their opponent.
After only a few steps, a dense ghost aura appeared before them. A sharp ghost claw swept towards them. Fortunately, the two quickly stopped, and a bottomless chasm appeared on the ground before them, a testament to the ghost's attack.
"I said, I'm watching here. You won't be leaving again."
As he spoke, he continued to deal with Liu Buli and the others while simultaneously fending off the divine sword.
Even with this dual offensive, the ghost's aura did not diminish in the slightest.
For Liu Buli and his companion, it was a case of misfortunes never coming singly. More ghosts gathered around them, aiding the main ghost against the divine sword while also launching attacks on Liu Buli and Lu Wuming.
Seeing the new wounds accumulating on their bodies, Liu Buli realized that if this situation continued, neither of them would be able to escape.
But even if he told Lu Wuming to go first, his foolish disciple, who couldn't think things through, would never listen. As Liu Buli struggled to think of a solution, Lu Wuming, who had been by his side, spoke up. "Master, listen to me. If you find an opportunity, you run first. They won't kill me, and I want to know why the Ghost King has been looking for me. I won't die, so even if I'm captured, you don't need to worry. You handle your own matters first, and then come back to save me. I promise I'll wait for you."
Liu Buli had actually anticipated Lu Wuming would say this. From a survival perspective, Liu Buli was the "ordinary person" who would truly die if he perished.
Therefore, rationally speaking, Lu Wuming's suggestion was the most sensible course of action.
However, when it came to matters of the heart, if one could be so rational, it wouldn't be love.
Even knowing Lu Wuming wouldn't die, Liu Buli couldn't be sure what the Ghost King intended to do by capturing him. What if he did to Lu Wuming what the previous Liu Buli had done to him? The mere thought was unbearable. How could he possibly leave Lu Wuming here alone?
His frustration grew, and Liu Buli didn't answer Lu Wuming's proposal. The exit was so close, yet they couldn't reach it. This feeling...
It was pure torture.
As Liu Buli desperately pondered his next move, the area of the exit flickered once more. Unlike when they had first entered, it was as if the door had been violently torn open from the outside. Sharp, pointed claws extended inward, and Liu Buli couldn't shake the feeling that a few rays of sunlight from the outside world had accompanied them.
Then, a colossal black dragon emerged from the rift. With a roar, it unleashed a scorching dragon's breath upon the surrounding ghosts without hesitation.
Dragons, as symbols of auspiciousness, possessed an aura of purity and clarity.
It was an aura that all ghosts detested.
The moment the dragon's breath appeared, the gathered ghosts immediately scattered. They didn't care how powerful the breath was; they simply feared touching it.
Because once touched, that sacred power made them acutely aware of their own inherent filth, causing them immense discomfort and leaving them nowhere to hide.
Only the initial ghost guarding the door did not flinch. Instead, it fixed its gaze on Liu Buli, and when it noticed his attempt to escape in the chaos, it immediately pursued him.
Raising its ghost claw to strike, its movement was blocked by a long sword that suddenly appeared before it.
A beautiful girl with a cold, serene expression glared.
Staring into the ghost's eyes, which were not covered by its mask, she said, word by word, "You dare to injure my master in front of me! How audacious!"