Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 67 - Ghost In The Palace

Lingtian Jun ground his teeth, his stance faltering as Ghost's overwhelming aura surged, causing him to instinctively step back. The Dache Shadow Assassins mirrored his retreat, their expressions masked in discomfort as they moved several feet away, one arm shielding their noses and mouths from the palpable energy. The air thickened with an ancient, foreboding presence, evoking a sense of unease that crawled beneath their skin—a dark, eldritch power long forgotten by most.

Lingtian Jun winced, his hand rising to cover his mouth, his voice barely a whisper in the oppressive atmosphere.

"What is this ancient energy...? How can someone like you wield such an ethereal force?" His eyes remained locked on Ghost, searching for answers amidst the swirling miasma.

Ghost stood in stoic silence as the aura around him intensified, now suffused with a deep, pulsating crimson that enveloped him like a sinister cloak. The Silver Mask upon his face radiated an otherworldly brightness, its luminance almost painful to behold for those who dared to meet his gaze directly.

With a low, raspy chuckle, Ghost's voice cut through the rainforest like a haunting whisper.

"You've no idea what other power resides within me." His words, though quiet, reverberated with a thunderous force that echoed ominously, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard.

Suddenly, several of Dache Assassins began to collapse one by one, dropping to the ground and clutching their chests in agony, where their hearts beat frantically. He Xuan, too, fell to her knees, her hands gripping her chest as pain surged through her. Her eyes widened with anguish, struggling to contain the searing torment as she looked up at Ghost.

"It's excruciating, isn't it?" Ghost's voice took on a harsh, aggressive edge. "The blood within you boils as we speak. Just because you carry a trace of my celestial blood does not make you worthy recipients, corrupted or not."

The screams of the Dache Assassins intensified, filling the rainforest with a chorus of anguish. Some of them clawed at their own skin, which began to peel away from their bodies due to the intense heat coursing through their veins. Blood oozed like molten lava, turning the forest floor into a nightmarish tableau of suffering and decay.

Lingtian Jun, He Xuan, and the few remaining Dache Assassins stood transfixed, horror etched into their features as they witnessed their comrades' grotesque transformation. The once-proud warriors melted into repulsive pools of flesh and blood, staining the forest floor with their demise. He Xuan, though wracked with excruciating pain, found an unexpected reprieve in the pure essence of Elder's Blood coursing through her veins. This untainted force battled against the fiery torment of the corrupted blood, allowing her to remain upright amidst the chaos.

With urgency born of desperation, He Xuan approached Lingtian Jun. Her voice, though strained, cut through the cacophony of agony.

"We must retreat now!" she warned, her words heavy with the weight of their predicament. "Or we risk losing everything here." With a swift gesture, she signaled to the surviving Assassins, urging them to follow her into the dense, foreboding undergrowth of the forest.

Lingtian Jun found himself isolated in the grim aftermath, frustration etched deeply into his features as he surveyed the fallen Assassins strewn across the blood-soaked ground. The harsh reality of their situation was undeniable—they were woefully outmatched by the ancient entity before them. With grim resolve hardening his expression, he swiftly drew his sword. In one fluid motion, he mounted the blade, willing it to carry him skyward in a desperate bid for escape.

Ghost's laughter rang out once more, a chilling echo that reverberated through the rainforest. "You won't escape my grasp that easily!" He taunted.