450: Chapter 449 Slaying 4 A-Rank Ghostly Beings

[indestructible flowing shadow: This item has been deeply eroded by The Gloom and cannot be authenticated. Using it requires an additional 30 points of spirituality value per minute.

Note: For this stage, you have selected "All-Cutting Slash" and cannot currently utilize this item's properties.]

"You mother...!!"

Killing intent flashed in Chu Xuan's eyes. The spirituality value cost for indestructible flowing shadow had actually increased by so much. Fury instantly rose in his heart as he charged straight at the tall dark figure.

By now, the Fire of Nirvana surrounding the tall dark figure had dissipated. The fist-sized hole in its chest was also being healed by the gathering darkness, yet it continued to wail.

As Chu Xuan rushed forward, the tall dark figure was about to hide back in the darkness, but its head was struck squarely by the demon-subduing pestle, which was imbued with the Fire of Nirvana.

In an instant, the dark figure's head exploded.

Chu Xuan's own head also jolted violently. In that brief pause, he saw the headless dark figure's surroundings gather ink-like darkness once more, reforming into a complete head.

"The night becomes its body?" Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. He lunged forward, suddenly reaching out to grab the cloak on the dark figure and ripping it away with force.

The tall dark figure tumbled to the ground, while the cloak fell into Chu Xuan's hands.

[You have obtained the "night cloak." You have already authenticated this item, but due to deep erosion by The Gloom, each use requires an additional 30 points of spirituality value, and it cannot be stored in your Exclusive Space.

Note: For this stage, you have selected "All-Cutting Slash" and cannot currently utilize this item's properties.]

Receiving this prompt made Chu Xuan even angrier. He swung his hand, sending another Slash crashing into the tall dark figure.

Amidst the wails, Chu Xuan finally discovered the tall figure's true appearance.

Although it was still somewhat blurry, Chu Xuan could make out that the opponent looked exactly like him.

Except for the fact that three ghost faces were growing on its chest.

"Slash!"

The dark figure suddenly raised its hand and pointed at Chu Xuan. Instantly, more than a dozen Slashes flew out, aiming straight for Chu Xuan's vital points like his head and neck.

But Chu Xuan blocked them with a sudden wave of his hand.

[You have taken Slash damage. Your health points -80]

Traces of blood flowed down his arms. Crisscrossing scars appeared on Chu Xuan's arms, and a bloody gash was sliced across his cheek.

Chu Xuan's eyes grew even colder as he delivered a series of savage kicks to the figure.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With every kick, a ghost face would vanish amidst the wailing, and the opponent's features became increasingly clear.

Looking at that pained, distorted face, Chu Xuan felt as if he were beating himself up.

He was indeed beating himself.

Chu Xuan also felt as if his own chest and abdomen had been kicked. He understood that this was a type of ability that could return attacks to the initiator.

"You can't kill me... I will be resurrected in the darkness!" The face looked at Chu Xuan with a sinister grin. But before the words could fully leave its mouth, it suddenly opened its maw wide and vomited out a blood-stained paper effigy.

The effigy's eyes were filled with bloody tears, but it moved like a living creature, hopping toward Chu Xuan before leaping up and landing in his embrace.

[You have obtained the death-substitution item "i dont want to die." You have already authenticated this item, but due to slight erosion by The Gloom, you can spend 50 points of spirituality value to cleanse it.

Detected that you are a Purifier; you may cleanse it using the Fire of Nirvana.

Note: For this stage, you have selected "All-Cutting Slash" and cannot currently utilize this item's properties.]

Chu Xuan's eyes shifted slightly. He hadn't expected the paper effigy to be only slightly eroded by The Gloom, and that it could even break free from the Specter's control to run out and find him on its own.

The Fire of Nirvana surged. The bloody tears on the paper effigy in Chu Xuan's hand vanished. After letting out a couple of giggles, it returned to a state of stillness.

At the same time, the Specter tried to get up and flee, but Chu Xuan suddenly pinned it down with a palm, the Fire of Nirvana burning continuously.

An incomparably shrill scream echoed in all directions.

"Let's see how you resurrect now!!"

Chu Xuan sneered, tightening his grip. The Fire of Nirvana lasted for over a minute until the screaming finally stopped, and the figure vanished completely.

[You have slain A-Rank Specter X4 (Fused Entity), which had 9,850 points of spiritual essence remaining, providing you a feedback of 3,940.]

[You have obtained rule fragment X2]

Only then did the killing intent in Chu Xuan's eyes gradually subside.

He checked his health points; 5,025 points remained.

This battle, lasting less than two minutes, had actually cost him nearly 300 health points—almost a tenth of his total HP. It was even more troublesome than slaying an ordinary S-rank Specter.

Especially that ability to return attacks; without a corresponding skill to counter it, one could only choose to tank it.

Fortunately, the gains this time were substantial, no less than those from slaying an S-rank Specter.

Especially the rule fragments; this was the first time Chu Xuan had obtained them from an A-Rank Specter, and to get two of them was truly unexpected.

Chu Xuan turned to look back. Although the darkness remained, it had thinned significantly, no longer so oppressive and heavy, appearing just like an ordinary night.

Lin Liguo and the other Night Watchers had also returned to normal, though they were still in poor condition, looking somewhat dazed.

Cai Hou and Fat Pig had also recovered. Although they still looked like monsters, at least their blue faces and fangs were gone, making them look less terrifying.

"Chu Xuan, we are truly sorry. We were just influenced by a foreign consciousness within us and couldn't control ourselves..."

Cai Hou looked slightly nervous, appearing afraid that Chu Xuan would settle scores later, and hurriedly explained:

"I don't know what those animal specimen containers on the fifth floor were, but this might be a side effect of our semi-successful, semi-failed Fusion state. It wasn't something we could control."

Amidst his thoughts, Cai Hou gritted his teeth. "As compensation, and since you led us through the stage and gave us that high-grade life essence to drink...

I promise here that once this mission is completed, the two of us will find a way to give you 2,000 points of spirituality value and 20 soul crystals. Please, let bygones be bygones..."

Chu Xuan smiled. "Don't worry so much. I didn't take it to heart."

Pausing slightly, Chu Xuan added, "However, since it's a gesture of your sincerity, I won't refuse."

Seeing that everyone had mostly recovered and the stage hadn't ended yet—with over two minutes left on the final clear countdown—Chu Xuan immediately waved his hand.

"Let's go!"

Chu Xuan took the lead, guiding the others as they leaped out of the castle one after another.