Prehistoric: The female saint Shiji, brilliant and talented

It paused, as if recalling a distant memory: "The most terrifying thing about this door is that it can unleash countless curses in the world, with endless variations, making it impossible to defend against."

What's even more baffling is that it not only releases curses, but also seems to possess some kind of... bizarre ability to dispel or even transfer curses.

For this reason, in ancient times, there were some incredibly talented and powerful beings who, after witnessing this gate unleash its power and instantly kill a formidable enemy, were also captivated by its characteristics and ultimately defined it as an extremely special and unpredictable innate-level treasure.

However, some believe it is more like an ominous object carrying endless resentment and curses.

Shi Ji was shocked and couldn't help but ask, "You mean, this Gate of Curses can actually remove the curses from people?"

If that's the case, the value of this magical artifact is immeasurable, and it might even offer a glimmer of hope for his predicament.

The Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast confirmed, "Master's speculation is correct; theoretically, it does indeed have this miraculous effect."

However, the price to be paid to activate it and break the curse is extremely high, and it is no easy task.

First and foremost, it requires the caster to consume a massive amount of life essence and vital blood, almost a life-for-life exchange.

Moreover, after each use, both the caster and the magical artifact itself enter a long period of weakness, requiring an extremely long time to slumber and recuperate before they can recover even a small amount of energy.

Hearing this, Shi Ji nodded slowly, and a question that had been bothering her was finally answered.

No wonder this Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast, despite possessing such a powerful natal magic weapon, seemed somewhat restrained and unable to unleash its full strength when fighting me before. It turns out that most of its power was perhaps used to maintain a certain state, or perhaps it had consumed too much energy when activating the Gate of Curses, leaving it in a weakened state and unable to withstand the enormous losses that would result from activating its magic weapon at full power again.

"How long have you been in this state... relying on the stone coffin to preserve your soul, and with unstable power?

Shi Ji asked thoughtfully.

The Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast let out a long and heavy sigh, as if the sigh had traversed countless ages: "The years have passed in the blink of an eye. If we calculate carefully, it has probably been tens of millions of years."

"Tens of millions of years?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Ji frowned deeply. "You haven't been able to shake off this state even after such a long time? This place is clearly no longer safe. Our exchange just now was quite noisy and may have attracted other prying eyes."

Since you're not in good condition, why don't you leave sooner and find a secluded place to recover?

"We can't leave, Master."

The voice of the Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast was filled with endless bitterness and helplessness.

"Why can't you leave? Is there some kind of restriction here that's trapping you?"

Shi Ji looked around and carefully scanned the surroundings with her divine sense, but she did not find any obvious traces of an array.

The massive soul head of the Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast drooped slightly, revealing a sense of dejection: "It's not an external restriction, but... but my natal magic weapon, this 'Silent Stone Coffin,' whose core power has been sealed in a strange way, with a large portion of it blocked."

"Sealed? Who sealed your natal magic weapon?"

Shi Ji was greatly surprised. The being capable of sealing such a powerful magic weapon must be incredibly powerful.

"It was not someone else who sealed it."

The Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast explained, "Not long ago, perhaps sensing the change in the external atmosphere, the stone coffin, which had been dormant for countless years, awakened a trace of its spirituality and instinctively devoured the essence and blood of a cultivator who had accidentally wandered into this place."

However, perhaps the cultivator's soul contained some unknown forbidden power, or perhaps the stone coffin had been dormant for too long, and the sudden devouring of a living soul triggered an unpredictable change, causing the core rune chain of the stone coffin to become disordered, thus forming a self-enclosed state that imprisoned most of its power.

Now, my connection with the sarcophagus has become extremely weak, and I can hardly summon and wield most of its power as easily as I used to.

Shi Ji's eyes suddenly lit up as she caught the key information: "So, you were slumbering in the stone coffin when this unexpected 'feeding' backfired, plunging you into an even deeper predicament?"

"That's right, Master is very perceptive."

The Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast's tone was full of regret. "Originally, after a long period of nurturing, my soul and the stone coffin had recovered to their best state since the calamity. Although they were far from their peak, they still had the power to fight."

But who would have thought... that I would encounter someone as powerful as you, Master, at this crucial moment? After a fierce battle, not only did I fail to win with the stone coffin, but forcibly activating the partially sealed power further damaged my already weakened essence due to the stone coffin's mutation, causing me to plummet to the bottom... Alas!

Shi Ji's lips twitched slightly, and she felt a strange sense of "sympathy" for the ferocious beast.

This guy's luck seems to be exceptionally bad.

First, it suffered a calamity while asleep, its original body was completely destroyed, and only its remnant soul could rely on the stone coffin; after finally recovering some vitality, its natal magic weapon malfunctioned again, sealing away most of its power; then it encountered its own "tough nut to crack", and after a battle, it suffered even more damage, its essence was damaged again.

This series of unfortunate events could easily be written into a book called "The Unlucky Beast".

However, despite her sympathy, Shi Ji will not let her guard down.

He snorted coldly, his tone becoming serious and oppressive: "Right now, you only have two paths before you."

Firstly, they must submit to me, swear an oath to Heaven, and sincerely serve me as their master.

Perhaps I can try to help you find a way to break the seal on the stone coffin and restore your original state.

After all, having a powerful assistant is not a bad thing for me.

Secondly... if we cannot establish trust, then in order to eliminate any future troubles, I have no choice but to completely eliminate you here and now!

Your life or death is in your hands!

The massive soul of the Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast trembled violently. It could clearly sense the unwavering determination and chilling killing intent in Shi Ji's words.

The instinct for survival and the desire for a new life ultimately prevailed over everything else.

Without further hesitation, it lowered its enormous head deeply, gathering its soul power in an unprecedentedly respectful posture, and clasped its hands, proclaiming loudly, "Blessings of the Lord!"
This servant is willing to surrender!

From this day forward, the Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast, Ji, vows to serve Shi Ji as its master, to follow her through countless lifetimes, to serve her wholeheartedly, and to never betray her!
May Heaven and Earth punish me, and may my soul be scattered and my spirit destroyed!

Upon seeing this, Shi Ji nodded slightly, which was considered an acceptance of this pledge of loyalty.

Without saying another word, he turned and strode toward the exit of the dark abyss.

Within the abyss, a chilling wind howled, and a bone-chilling cold permeated the air, but for Shi Ji, whose cultivation was profound, these external disturbances could hardly affect her in the slightest.

His steps were steady, but his mind was quickly calculating the next steps and how to make use of the newly subdued Primordial Soul-Devouring Beast "Silence".

However, just as Shi Ji's figure emerged from the dense, inky darkness of the abyss and stepped into the relatively open, gloomy area outside, the scene before him made his heart skip a beat. Even with his composure, he couldn't help but gasp. As far as the eye could see, there was a vast, endless army of ghostly soldiers!

These soldiers from the underworld, clad in tattered armor and wielding rusted weapons, with eerie green soul fire flickering in their eyes, surged in from all directions like a tide, their chilling and murderous aura soaring into the sky, making the entire sky even darker.

A chilling wind swept through the army formation, carrying with it a mournful sound that added to the terror.

Shi Ji's expression instantly turned extremely solemn.

His divine senses moved like lightning, swiftly sweeping across the massive military formation.

These ghostly soldiers were extremely numerous, roughly estimated to number three to four million!

What alarmed him even more was that, in front of this massive army of ghost soldiers, there were dozens of ghost soldier generals whose auras were significantly stronger.

Their armor was more complete, radiating a cold luster, and the energy fluctuations surging around them had clearly reached the level of Immortal Lords!

In the ghost realm, ordinary Yin soldiers have low intelligence and limited strength.

The Yin soldiers at the Immortal Lord level are already mid-level commanders, and they usually only appear in large-scale campaigns or the defense of important areas, and are extremely rare to see under normal circumstances.

The sudden appearance of so many people clearly indicates that this place is extraordinary, or perhaps they are here specifically for me!

"A soul from another world!"
This area has been designated a restricted zone; you are not permitted to leave without permission!

The leader of the Yin soldiers, clad in heavy black armor and wielding a giant soul-destroying club, had the soul fire burning fiercely in his eye sockets. He locked his gaze on Shi Ji and emitted a cold and murderous mental fluctuation.

The other generals beside him also exuded a powerful aura, like invisible shackles, attempting to imprison the space around Shi Ji.

Shi Ji's gaze swept over the densely packed military formation. Although the situation was dire, a disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth: "You bunch of chickens and dogs, do you really think you can block my way? You're like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating yourselves!"

"You audacious madman!"
How dare you spout such nonsense!

All soldiers, heed my command! Form the 'Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Souls Formation' and capture this fiend for me!
Extract their life force, refine their blood and qi, to strengthen our army's prestige!

The commander of the black-armored ghost soldiers was furious. He swung his soul-destroying staff forward and gave the order to attack.

"kill--!"

The deafening shouts of battle were not sounds in the physical sense, but rather the convergence of countless spiritual fluctuations from the spirits of the dead, rushing straight into the depths of the primordial spirit.

In an instant, millions of ghost soldiers surged towards Shiji like a black torrent bursting its banks.

Swords, spears, and halberds gleamed with a cold light, and malevolent energy condensed into various ferocious ghost heads, roaring as they swept in.

The entire earth trembled slightly under the charge of such a massive army; the scene was so grand that it would frighten even ordinary immortals and gods.

Faced with this overwhelming offensive, Shi Ji remained calm and composed.

With a slight thought, a clear and melodious sword ring rang out, and the next moment, ninety-nine dazzling streaks of light emerged from an ancient "Mountain and River Ring" on his finger.

It shot out from the center!

These ninety-nine flying swords are all different in shape. Some are as thin as cicada wings, agile and graceful; some are thick and ancient, powerful and heavy; some are wrapped in lightning, extremely yang and strong; and some exude a chilling aura, freezing the void.

These were all magical treasures that Shi Ji had painstakingly collected and refined. Now that they were all unleashed, they instantly intertwined in the air to form a net of death swords, exuding a terrifying killing aura!
"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!"

The sword light crisscrossed, moving with lightning speed.

Wherever the flying sword passed, the Yin soldiers at the forefront melted away instantly, like ice and snow thrown into the blazing sun.

Their souls were easily torn apart and shredded by the incomparably sharp sword energy, turning into pure yin energy and specks of soul light, which were then completely annihilated by subsequent sword energy.

The piercing tearing sound continued incessantly; it was the final lament of the Yin soldiers' souls as they collapsed.

Shi Ji stood firmly in place, her robes fluttering, her divine sense controlling her ninety-nine flying swords with perfect precision as they weaved and ravaged through the massive Yin army formation.

The flying swords sometimes break into smaller units, each fighting independently, precisely targeting and eliminating minor leaders who attempt to organize their formations; at other times, they gather and disperse unpredictably, forming small sword formations to carry out wide-ranging clean-up operations.

As the sword flashed, swathes of ghostly soldiers fell like wheat being harvested, tearing huge gaps through the dark army formation.

In just a few breaths, more than 20,000 Yin soldiers were reduced to ashes by the flying swords, leaving not a trace.

This terrifying and overwhelming combat power immediately caused a huge commotion among the surging army of ghost soldiers behind them.

Although they are not highly intelligent, they possess an instinctive fear of destruction.

The momentum of the charge was momentarily halted, and many of the ghost soldiers' eyes, which were blazing with soul fire, revealed obvious fear.

"How can it be?!
This person's flying sword is incredibly powerful!

Upon seeing this, the leader of the black-armored Yin soldiers' soul fire flickered violently in his eye sockets, revealing an incredulous horror.

He originally thought that with his army of millions, he could wear down the enemy, but he did not expect Shi Ji to be so powerful and her killing efficiency to be so frightening.

Seeing that morale was already low, if the stalemate continued, the casualties would likely be even heavier, and the entire army might even be wiped out.

The black-armored commander made a decisive decision and issued a retreat order: "The enemy is troublesome!"
"All troops, heed my command! Temporarily avoid the enemy's advance and retreat immediately!"

Upon receiving the order, the once-mighty army of ghost soldiers was suddenly relieved as if granted a pardon. They turned around and transformed into wisps of black smoke, fleeing in panic towards the dark mountains and valleys in the distance, causing chaos to erupt.

"Trying to leave now? It's too late! My 'Stone Sword of Annihilation' hasn't even had its fill of blood yet!"

Shi Ji snorted coldly, how could she let these ghost soldiers leave so easily?

He took a step forward, his figure moving like a ghost as he chased after them, simultaneously summoning the seemingly simple and unadorned stone sword.

As soon as the stone sword left his hand, it grew longer in the wind, expanding to thousands of feet in an instant, resembling a gray-white stone mountain stretching across the sky!
On the surface of the stone sword, the naturally formed patterns seemed to come alive, exuding a terrifying aura as heavy as a mountain and capable of annihilating all things.

With a flick of the Stone Sword Technique, the enormous stone sword, carrying the force to crush everything, slashed down fiercely towards the densest area of ​​the fleeing Yin army! (End of Chapter)