In the massive stone pit, the area near the spoon at the center had become a sheet of bare stone without any trace of vegetation.

The fact that Dijiang Guyu had suddenly grown two feet was completely beyond Jian Chou’s expectations.

Watching Dijiang Guyu’s legs spinning rapidly, it quickly ran out of the all-stone area within the stone pit and darted into the nearby forest, its figure only flickering between the dense trees.

Jian Chou immediately frowned.

The little marten still sat on her shoulder, extremely excited, its drool truly threatening to flow three thousand feet down.

However, Jian Chou had considerable concerns about that shadow floating above the bone jade earlier.

When she had first entered the range of this giant pot, an illusion of Luye Laozu cooking Dijiang in ancient times had appeared. Jian Chou clearly remembered ten souls and spirits emerging, all being scattered together, with one falling back onto Dijiang’s body.

Jian Chou clearly remembered that the ghostly light on Dijiang Guyu earlier looked very similar to what she had seen then.

Could it be…

After all these years, one soul or spirit of Dijiang still hadn’t dissipated and remained attached to Dijiang Guyu?

If this were true, obtaining Dijiang Guyu would be troublesome.

Don’t think that just because Gu Qingmei was the one swept away by the bone jade’s wing earlier, the next one wouldn’t be her.

For a small Foundation Establishment cultivator to oppose the ancient Dijiang, even if it was just a remnant soul, would undoubtedly be a fool’s dream.

The reason Jian Chou dared to pursue was solely because of the Ghost Axe.

Nothing abnormal appeared on the stone disc.

Jian Chou thought she might have to take a gamble.

Stepping on Ghost Axe all the way, she flew rapidly and soon reached the densely wooded area. Immediately, she saw towering ancient trees and lush vegetation, as if she had entered a vast forest.

That Dijiang Guyu ran close to the ground with incredible agility.

Jian Chou, flying in mid-air, had already pushed her speed to the maximum, but needed to constantly dodge oncoming trees. One careless moment and she would slam herself into an old tree trunk due to her slow reaction.

Several times, she passed by mere millimeters from branches and trunks.

The excited little marten was frightened by her death-defying speed, gripping Jian Chou’s clothes with both paws and crying “ao ao” continuously.

In just three to five breaths, Jian Chou could no longer see the bare rocks and giant silver spoon behind her.

At this moment, her gaze was focused, only able to see the fleeing Dijiang Guyu.

Dijiang Guyu made another turn, as if desperately trying to shake off Jian Chou. Directly ahead was a small earthen slope, and in front of the slope was a small cave that looked somewhat like one left by mice.

Dijiang Guyu headed straight for it without hesitation.

In an instant, Jian Chou nearly fell from the sky with amusement.

This bone jade was truly bringing shame to Dijiang!

The once mighty Dijiang that commanded wind and rain from the peak of ten thousand beasts, making all birds bow their heads—even if it was just a piece of bone, surely it hadn’t fallen to the point of crawling into mouse holes?

Moreover…

With such great power, why bother running at all?

Jian Chou didn’t quite understand, but the moment she saw Dijiang Guyu fleeing, she already had some vague suspicions. Seeing the bone jade about to crawl into even a mouse hole, her eyes immediately lit up.

Whoosh!

She transformed directly into lightning, passing through the dense forest!

Seeing that the bone jade had reached the mouse hole entrance, Jian Chou grabbed Ghost Axe in her hand while exerting force with her foot. Immediately, a smooth and brilliant battle disc lit up on her knee!

Heaven-Flipping Seal!

With her knee!

A fierce collision!

In mid-air, a phantom suddenly flew out from her leg, targeting not Dijiang Guyu but the small slope in front of it.

Boom!

With the tremendous sound of soil crumbling, the small slope not far in front of Dijiang Guyu was immediately scattered in all directions by Jian Chou’s leg strike!

Splashing soil immediately hit Dijiang Guyu. With its thin little legs and small feet, it was immediately knocked down by this pile of soil.

The soil covered the white bone “body,” leaving only two legs sticking out, constantly kicking.

The sight looked exactly like a turtle flipped on its back, or like a person buried upside down in the ground.

For a moment, Jian Chou was stunned.

“…”

The little marten was also stunned for a moment, then immediately cheered “aowuwuwu.”

It directly exerted force with both hind legs and jumped down from mid-air, heading straight for the bone jade trapped in the soil.

However, Dijiang Guyu was still Dijiang Guyu after all.

When the little marten rapidly approached, it seemed to sense danger. Its constantly flailing feet moved even faster, apparently trying to escape through this method. Unfortunately, it hadn’t grown two extra hands—only having two feet, with the entire bone buried upside down in the soil, it looked utterly pitiful.

Just as it was about to be captured by the approaching little marten, Dijiang Guyu’s entire body immediately emitted a faint white light, and a ghostly orb immediately broke through the soil!

An inexplicable aura suddenly emerged from deep within this forest.

Jian Chou’s heart jumped in alarm. She immediately rushed forward, grabbing with her left hand to call back the little marten while swinging an axe with her right hand!

At the same time, that massive wing that had extended from the ghostly light earlier finally appeared again!

Jian Chou immediately felt as if facing a great enemy!

However…

When she saw that wing, Jian Chou was stunned—

It had shrunk?

The wing that had been over ten zhang long earlier now only measured three zhang.

Although three zhang still looked terrifying, compared to the previous earth-shaking momentum, the difference was far too vast…

The axe shadow of Split-Sky Axe had already struck out viciously!

The Ten Thousand Ghosts pattern on the axe head continuously lit up, and vaguely, it seemed as if fresh blood constantly flowed on the Ghost Axe. Even on the axe shadow that had been struck out, countless evil ghost phantoms emerged.

They struggled with the constantly disappearing and reappearing axe shadow, and when they sensed the aura of that wing, each one’s eyes turned red!

Wu wu wu…

The air filled with ghostly wails!

The evil ghosts watched the ghostly orb floating above the bone jade with greedy, burning gazes, some even disgustingly drooling…

Ghost Axe had once slain ten thousand ghosts, naturally possessing a fierce aura.

The evil ghosts emerging now were all once slain by this axe, probably having wisps of their souls remaining on the axe’s body, their ferocity undiminished.

Who knows what attracted them when they saw that ghostly shadow—each one became like wolves and tigers.

In a flash, Jian Chou felt as if she heard a tremendous collision sound in her ears.

But in reality, there was nothing.

The phantom of Ghost Axe collided with the phantom of Dijiang’s wing, like two shadows crashing together, immediately dissipating completely!

Only tremendous spiritual energy fluctuations shook countless trees throughout the forest, fierce winds passing through, leaving branches and leaves in ruins!

Dijiang Guyu, still buried in the soil, seemed hit by something and kicked its little legs a few times, appearing somewhat weakened.

That ghostly orb floating above, seeing one strike fail and Jian Chou’s figure approaching closer with Ghost Axe, immediately became panicked and began spinning in place, as if looking for somewhere to hide.

The little marten had already pounced in front of the bone jade, unhesitatingly opening its mouth to bite.

That ghostly orb immediately manifested into a small four-winged, six-legged beast form, spreading all four wings to reveal an attacking posture while emitting roaring sounds from its sack-like body.

“Roar ah—”

“Squeak—”

The little marten’s claws scraped a mark on the ground, barely stabilizing its body, only having its head fur blown messily by the wind from this roar.

It bared its teeth, warily watching that ghostly orb.

Dijiang had no eyes, ears, mouth, or nose—only that sack-like body. Though currently just a small orb of light, it still possessed an extremely frightening presence.

Seeing it had intimidated the little marten, one of its wings immediately raised, growing larger against the wind!

However, just as this wing grew to exactly three chi long, a massive axe came crashing down!

Boom!

Poor Dijiang’s wing hadn’t even fully extended before being directly smashed down by this axe!

Though it was only a ghostly orb, this axe carried an aura that made it fearful, locked onto it, making all four wings and six legs go weak together.

What was this?

What was this thing?!

Dijiang now only had a remnant, incomplete soul hiding here. This Ghost Axe that had slain ten thousand ghosts had a restraining effect on all soul-type entities. Though it was Dijiang, after so many years of weakening, it no longer had its former glory!

As the saying goes, “Strike while the enemy is ill to take their life.” When this wisp of Dijiang’s remnant soul extended its wing earlier, Jian Chou had already discovered the opponent’s strength wasn’t as terrifying as she had imagined.

Thinking carefully, this ghostly thing was quite scheming.

When it swept away Gu Qingmei with one wing earlier, it was terrifying and spectacular, making people lose the will to resist.

If Jian Chou hadn’t been determined to obtain this Dijiang Guyu and unwilling to let it fall into Kunwu’s hands to pave the way for Xie Buchen’s advancement, she probably wouldn’t have had the courage to pursue.

Once no one pursued, Dijiang’s scheme would have succeeded, successfully escaping disaster.

But it hadn’t expected to encounter Jian Chou!

The little bone was too stupid, actually getting knocked down into the soil by this woman, unable to turn over no matter what!

This forced Dijiang’s remnant soul to extend its “wing” a second time, completely exposing itself.

In that instant, Jian Chou understood everything.

First, Dijiang’s remnant soul needed to depend on this piece of bone to move, or the two were fundamentally one entity that couldn’t escape separately. Otherwise, in the critical situation earlier, the remnant soul would have abandoned the bone jade and fled alone—there was no reason to strike again.

Second, Dijiang’s remnant soul wasn’t as terrifying as she had imagined. It must have been weakened for various reasons. Moreover, though Dijiang was strong, what remained here was only a wisp of remnant soul—how strong could it be? The strike that swept away Gu Qingmei earlier was merely a bluff.

Third, the evil ghost shadows on Ghost Axe, upon seeing the remnant soul, actually developed covetous desires for this divine and fierce creature like Dijiang, showing no respect whatsoever. This meant that in the ghost world, Dijiang’s remnant soul was definitely at the bottom of the food chain!

Moreover, Ghost Axe indeed had a restraining effect on Dijiang’s remnant soul!

If this were the case, what did she have to worry about?

This was the perfect opportunity to strike.

The mighty Dijiang, reduced to such a state, was truly lamentable. Jian Chou almost couldn’t help but shed tears of sympathy and pity.

Of course, while sympathizing with Dijiang’s remnant soul, Jian Chou struck without hesitation!

Clean and efficient, without dragging things out!

Poor Dijiang fell to the plains, today bullied by a mere cultivator—anger rose from its heart.

But the aura emanating from Ghost Axe made its remnant soul tremble, not daring to approach in the slightest.

The moment one wing touched the surface of Ghost Axe’s head, smoke immediately rose!

“Sizzle!”

Like fresh chicken wings thrown onto a red-hot iron plate, immediately producing a burning sound.

Dijiang cried out strangely and unhesitatingly withdrew its wing immediately. Its body shrank, and the manifested Dijiang form immediately returned to a ghostly orb, directly diving toward the little bone still on the ground!

With a “whoosh” sound, it directly disappeared into Dijiang Guyu’s body!

In that instant, Dijiang Guyu’s struggling legs paused for a moment, then, as if sensing greater danger approaching, immediately began struggling with even more violent force!

This scene…

It was so pitiful that Jian Chou didn’t want to look.

She held Ghost Axe, watching the legendarily precious Dijiang Guyu buried in soil, unable to free itself no matter what—truly pitiful to the extreme.

The little marten approached to look and sniff, its eyes rolling around, then actually pointed one paw at the bone jade and placed the other on its belly, making extremely human-like “haha” laughter.

This sound echoed through the mountain forest, causing the buried Dijiang Guyu to feel embarrassed and angry.

Its two feet protested by constantly kicking, but it just couldn’t get out!

Couldn’t!

Get!

Out!

“Ji ji ji ji…”

The little marten’s laughter changed again. It directly approached, grabbed one of Dijiang Guyu’s legs with one paw, and pulled it out from the ground.

At the same time, brilliant starlight suddenly spread from behind.

The little marten looked back in surprise to see that it was the battle disc extending from beneath Jian Chou’s feet.

She maintained the summoned battle disc state as she walked over, just afraid this Dijiang Guyu would escape again.

Held by the little marten’s small paw, Dijiang Guyu struggled continuously, swaying under the paw—truly pitiful.

The little marten shook it vigorously, and all the soil on the bone jade immediately fell off.

Its lustrous jade-like color immediately showed through.

The entire Dijiang Guyu looked pleasing to the eye—now this was a good bone!

Seeing this, the little marten practically drooled and unhesitatingly licked it directly!

Slurp!

Its fleshy tongue, carrying sticky saliva, licked across the struggling Dijiang Guyu!

In that instant, Dijiang Guyu stopped moving, stopped struggling.

The next moment, a sound like a baby’s cry suddenly emerged from Dijiang Guyu, echoing through the mountain forest—

“Wu wah…”

Heart-wrenching!

The little marten was startled by this crying sound and immediately threw the bone away!

Ao wu, what kind of monster was this!

Fortunately, Jian Chou was quick-eyed and fast-handed, directly catching the bone jade and gripping it in her hand. It felt lustrous and smooth to the touch, extremely pleasant, except for those two little feet dangling from the bone, which gave Jian Chou a feeling.

Most importantly…

Had this bone become sentient?

It was just licked once!

What was there to cry about?

Jian Chou immediately felt overwhelmed, not knowing what to do with this thing for a moment. Did she need to…

Comfort it?

Before she could think of a solution, a muffled sound suddenly came from the stone disc floating not far from her!

“Bang.”

Someone had fallen.

Meng Xizhou’s voice then came from within the stone disc: “Damn it… Little Master, you’re not dead, are you? Ahhhhh, it hurts like hell…”

Outside the massive stone pit, the spiritual energy accumulated by that formation had reached a terrifying degree.

Visible storms swirled around the formation’s exterior!

The thin Liao Kong was already covered in blood, once again smashed to the ground by that terrifying pressure!

In mortal danger!