Desolate Devouring Art
Chapter 1078 - Encountering Water Ghosts

Chapter 1078 - Encountering Water Ghosts

Over the past few days, Liu Wuxie had studied the map tirelessly, poring over every detail. His diligence finally paid off when he spotted a hidden opportunity.

He had long expected that cultivators from all over would flood into the Eastern Domain, laying ambushes along every major route. This underground waterway could be their only chance.

"Your plan sounds good in theory," Tian Wucang said with a furrowed brow, "but that river isn't just any river. It's called the Ghostwater River, and it's crawling with water ghosts."

Water ghosts, also known as water monkeys, were rare, demonic beasts renowned for their incredible strength underwater. In their element, they could cover a thousand miles in a single day.

If someone caught them, escaping would be nearly impossible.

"Do we have any other options?" Liu Wuxie asked calmly.

He had already guessed that the river wasn't just an ordinary river. Given the situation, however, he was confident that they could make it through if they remained cautious. After all, enemy forces were stationed all over the land, so appearing above ground would get them killed instantly.

"For now, it's still our best shot." Tian Wucang admitted. "We'll have to try."

After some final discussion, they returned to their rooms to rest. They needed every bit of strength for the journey ahead.

By dawn, Liu Wuxie felt fully restored. His energy and spirit reached new peaks, and he was on the verge of breaking through to the Seventh-level Spirit Profound Realm.

There was truth in the old saying, "reading ten thousand books was no match for traveling ten thousand miles." Along this journey, Liu Wuxie gained not only insight into the Eastern Domain's strange customs but also a deeper understanding of the world and his cultivation.

As the first light of day crept across the sky, the two men set off. Their goal was to reach the Ghostwater River before anyone else could spot them.

If anyone spotted them, it'd be too late for them to escape by then. Dozens of factions had already set traps around the river. If they were cornered near its banks, escape would be impossible.

Liu Wuxie considered taking flight but quickly discarded the thought. Too many aerial profound beasts circled overhead as flying mounts. Those creatures were stationed to guard the skies and were under orders to strike down anyone suspicious without hesitation.

Liu Wuxie and Tian Wucang left the city in haste; their bamboo hats pulled low as they sprinted toward Ghosthead Mountain.

At the same time, countless cultivators had already set their sights on the same destination. Intent on ambushing Liu Wuxie, they positioned themselves along the key routes leading to the mountain.

After a full day of travel, the two finally arrived at the edge of their planned entry point.

"There are so many people up ahead," Tian Wucang whispered. Hiding behind a massive tree, they spotted thousands of cultivators stationed along the path, each radiating a formidable aura.

The entire mountain pass had become a hunting ground, with enemies lying in wait like predators circling a rabbit's den.

The other nearby routes were no different. All had been seized by cultivators of the Eastern Domain, forming an airtight blockade.

"We're going to the river," Liu Wuxie said without hesitation.

Activating the Ghost Eye, he peered through layers of rock and terrain. What he saw made his expression darken. There were far more enemies hidden beneath the surface than those visible above. Dozens of experts had concealed their presence, lying silently in ambush.

By now, the two had already changed into coats made from fish skin, specifically designed for swimming. The slick surface repelled water, allowing them to move swiftly through the current.

It wasn't as effective as the Water Repellent Bead, but it was the best they had.

Seizing the moment when no one was watching, Liu Wuxie and Tian Wucang dove into the river. Icy water surged outward around them, seeping through their clothes and chilling them to their bones.

The Ghostwater River was nothing like an ordinary stream. Its waters were thick and murky. It was filled with swamp runoff and decay, rendering visibility nearly nonexistent.

With his vision obscured, Liu Wuxie relied on his Ghost Eye to navigate. Even then, he could barely see more than a few dozen meters ahead.

Fortunately, they didn't need to steer; they only had to follow the river's flow downstream.

Moving carefully, the two swam slowly through the current. They couldn't afford to let the current sweep them away. Their feet occasionally sank into patches of sticky mud. Every now and then, savage aquatic creatures would dart toward them from the shadows.

Fish with razor-sharp fangs lunged at their legs and backs, biting into flesh. Tian Wucang flinched in pain, barely holding back a cry as blood seeped from the wounds.

The Ghostwater River was fraught with peril. If powerful water ghosts ended up noticing them, they would be doomed. Unbeknownst to them, their blood was dispersing into the current, casting a faint red trail that spread slowly throughout the river.

Monsters lurking in the depths began to stir.

Near the surface, several water ghosts floated idly in a semi-dormant state. The moment they caught a whiff of blood, their eyes snapped open. With a sharp hiss, they sank into the depths like shadows melting into darkness, hunting the source of the scent.

Water ghosts possessed an extraordinary sense of perception. They could track their prey with uncanny accuracy by sensing shifts in water flow and subtle vibrations.

With a single glance at each other, the water ghosts silently reached an understanding and darted forward. Each move propelled them nearly a thousand meters through the river.

In an instant, they disappeared into the surrounding darkness.

"Brother Liu, more creatures are closing in," Tian Wucang warned, transmitting his voice through divine sense.

They weren't in immediate danger yet, but the number of strange aquatic beasts swarming them made progress increasingly difficult.

Tiny organisms were clinging to their skin. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't shake them off. Those parasites had terrifying strength, tearing through their clothes and latching onto bare skin, greedily sucking their blood.

Liu Wuxie's True Dragon Physique and Divine Thunder Physique made his body as resilient as refined steel. The parasites couldn't pierce his skin. However, Tian Wucang wasn't so fortunate, and bleeding wounds were already all over him.

With no other option, Liu Wuxie swam over and released a protective energy shield, forcing the parasites back and relieving some of the pressure.

"Thank you, Brother Liu!" Tian Wucang said gratefully. The parasites wouldn't be able to kill him immediately, but they would certainly drain him dry if they were left alone.

The two pressed onward, reaching what was perhaps the most perilous stretch of the journey. Once they crossed the mountain range submerged beneath the river, they would officially enter Ghosthead Mountain.

Suddenly, loud splashes echoed from all sides. The two froze in place.

"What was that sound?" Tian Wucang looked around instinctively. A deep dread welled up in his chest as he sensed countless eyes fixed upon them. Without Ghost Eye, he could only see a few meters through the murky water.

However, Liu Wuxie was different; he could see clearly.

Dozens of water ghosts had gathered in the shadows, surrounding them with bared fangs. The most terrifying aspect was their physical form, featuring four arms and four legs.

It was the secret behind their terrifying speed and agility. Their limbs fanned out like propellers, making it nearly impossible for anyone to escape them upon being grabbed.

Neither Liu Wuxie nor Tian Wucang dared to move.

"Brother Liu... are we surrounded?" Tian Wucang asked, reading the grim look on Liu Wuxie's face.

"We are," Liu Wuxie replied flatly.

If it were just one or two, they wouldn't pose a threat at all. However, over forty water ghosts had surrounded them.

Even worse, these monsters had a twisted habit. They wouldn't kill their victims immediately. Instead, they would toy with them, drag them down, and drown them in agony to savor their prey.

"What do we do?" Tian Wucang asked anxiously.

Surfacing would draw the attention of the cultivators scouring the region above, but staying below the surface meant facing these monsters in their domain.

"Then we'll fight our way out," Liu Wuxie said as he summoned the Heretic Blade. He motioned for Tian Wucang to stay close.

He would have spared the ghosts if they hadn't provoked him. Since they dared to encroach on him, however, he would show them no mercy. Still, Liu Wuxie knew that he couldn't afford to make too much noise.

A commotion could expose their location.

Perhaps sensing his resolve, the water ghosts didn't rush in. Instead, they tightened the encirclement little by little, sending smaller aquatic beasts ahead to harass and distract him.

Dozens of vicious creatures surged toward Liu Wuxie like a tide. Liu Wuxie had to divide his focus, fending off the tide while keeping a wary eye on the water ghosts creeping closer to them.

At last, they made their move.

The water ghosts shot forward like arrows, and their speed in water exceeded even Liu Wuxie's reflexes.

"Get the hell out of here!" Liu Wuxie roared.

With a mighty swing of the Heretic Blade, he cleaved through the water, creating a violent vacuum tunnel that blasted the charging ghosts away.

A shockwave rippled across the surface of the Ghostwater River, sending waves outward in a wide ring.

Above, the patrolling human cultivators paused.

"Did you hear that? Sounded like a fight below the surface," one Spirit Profound Realm expert said, frowning as he turned his head toward the disturbance.

None of them dared get too close to the water, so all they heard were faint echoes from beneath.

"You're just imagining things," another scoffed, waving him off before continuing the patrol downstream.

After forcing back several water ghosts, the others surged in from all directions. Their massive hands reached out for Liu Wuxie and Tian Wucang with terrifying speed, leaving Liu Wuxie no time to think.

Tian Wucang's limited cultivation meant that he stood no chance against such a coordinated assault.

"Get lost!" Liu Wuxie snarled, immediately recognizing their intent to separate the two of them.

He retaliated with a fierce swing of the Heretic Blade, unleashing sharp blade auras that shot outward in four directions.

The water ghosts closed in too quickly to dodge, and the blows struck them. Blood burst from their figures, dyeing the surrounding water a dark crimson.

Instead of retreating, the scent of blood only made them more savage. They let out screeches and charged at Liu Wuxie and Tian Wucang in a berserk frenzy.

Above, a few human cultivators who had just left the area paused, turning toward the Ghostwater River again. Violent ripples spread across the surface.

"I told you something's wrong down there," said the Spirit Profound Realm cultivator at the riverbank, now walking closer. He had just caught a faint trace of blade aura in the air.

The thickening scent of blood stirred the water ghosts even more. Waves of them rushed in from all sides.

"Brother Liu, go! I'll hold them off!" Tian Wucang shouted with firm resolve. "If this continues, neither of us will make it out alive!"

He had lived long enough with the Cursed Physique, and he had grown numb to the slow, cursed decline. There was no cure, and he could only wait for the end.

Rather than wasting away, he prepared to sacrifice himself to buy Liu Wuxie enough time to escape.

However, Liu Wuxie's eyes flashed with fury.

"No! If we go, we go together!" he growled. He wasn't the kind of man to abandon a companion. If he were to leave now, the water ghosts would tear Tian Wucang apart within moments.

The Heretic Blade sliced through the water again and again, each slash faster than the last. Despite the heavy drag of the murky river, Liu Wuxie's movements showed no sign of slowing down.