Chapter 45

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Chapter 45: The Phantom of the Diamond Temple

Zhang Yang’s eyes burned with excitement.

Purified Saint’s Blood!

This was far more valuable than ordinary Saint’s Blood.

Each saint possessed unique traits, and their bloodlines varied greatly—meaning not every drop of Saint’s Blood was compatible with just anyone.

However, purified Saint’s Blood had undergone refinement, stripping away all impurities and chaotic elements. What remained was the purest, most concentrated essence—capable of transforming an ordinary person into a martial genius overnight.

Its worth was immeasurable.

But with great value came great danger.

The Vast Forest had stood for over five hundred years, which meant the Diamond Temple had been abandoned for just as long.

And yet, in all this time, no one had claimed such an obvious treasure.

What did that imply?

Had no one discovered it?

Unlikely.

Though the temple was in a remote location, surrounded by dense woods and unique terrain, it was far from hidden. Many travelers could have stumbled upon it.

Zhang Yang carefully examined his surroundings.

Beyond the ruins, he noticed countless withered bones scattered across the ground.

Inside the three-story building, corpses lay strewn about, dried blood staining the floors and walls. Many of the bodies clearly belonged to the Demon Slayer Team.

Zhang Yang squinted, scanning the area for any lingering threats.

No movement. No sign of danger.

And yet, within that building, corpses filled the space.

He hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward.

The Ironback Blue Bull watched anxiously.

Behind them, Yun Luofeng’s heart pounded in his chest.

Taking advantage of their distraction, he slowly edged backward—then turned and bolted.

He understood the horrors of this place all too well.

The last time he had followed Lu Fang here, he had heard only the screams of his comrades—one after another—until silence swallowed them whole. He never saw what killed them.

And he had no intention of finding out.

Zhang Yang remained on high alert as he reached the entrance of the building.

Still, he sensed nothing.

There were no sounds. No presences.

Only the eerie silence of a place long abandoned, filled with death.

He inhaled deeply, releasing a slow, steady breath. "Whoosh…"

Then, he stepped inside.

His eyes swept the interior, searching for any sign of movement.

Nothing.

But the moment his second foot crossed the threshold—

A phantom shot out from the wall to his left.

It moved with terrifying speed.

Even with Zhang Yang’s heightened awareness, he had no time to react.

Instinct took over. He retreated instantly.

The ghost’s attack missed by a hair.

Its outstretched arm was briefly exposed to the sunlight—where it immediately began to smolder, green smoke rising from its decayed flesh.

Zhang Yang’s lips curled into a smirk. "A ghost?"

His stance relaxed slightly. "That makes things easier."

Ghosts were immune to physical attacks.

Swords, fists, even brute strength meant nothing to them—unless one possessed power far greater than the spirit itself or wielded a Boundless Artifact.

Unfortunately, the Vast Forest’s unique environment suppressed most holy weapons, reducing them to the level of mere spiritual weapons.

To an ordinary martial artist, ghosts were an unsolvable nightmare.

But Zhang Yang was no ordinary martial artist.

He stepped further inside.

The ghost shrieked and lunged at him again.

Zhang Yang raised his fist and struck.

Soul Binding Power!

This technique specifically targeted soul entities. It could even break the Underworld Spirit Forbidden Law, let alone deal with a mere ghost.

Bang!

The punch landed, and the ghost shattered instantly.

However, the destruction of one seemed to awaken many more.

Within moments, sharp, sorrowful wails echoed through the air.

Over thirty ghosts surged out from within the building, all lunging fiercely toward Zhang Yang.

Standing at the doorway, he remained calm and swung his fists.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His attacks were swift and precise. Not a single ghost managed to get close before being obliterated.

In the blink of an eye, all the spirits had been destroyed.

Zhang Yang ascended the stairs.

The second floor was empty—no ghosts.

The third floor was the same—silent and lifeless.

It was clear that the entire building had contained only those thirty ghosts.

Approaching the table, he picked up the small porcelain bottle and lightly touched the aged piece of paper. The moment his fingers made contact, the paper disintegrated into ash.

As he uncorked the bottle, a delightful fragrance filled the air.

"What a treasure."

Without hesitation, Zhang Yang stored the porcelain bottle away.

He turned to head downstairs, but from this vantage point, he noticed something outside—a shattered Golden Dragon statue.

The once-magnificent statue had been reduced to rubble. Only its head remained, barely attached to a small fragment of its body, while the rest lay scattered across the ground.

Even the dragon’s head was in a miserable state—its horns broken off, one eye missing, and its whiskers and teeth completely shattered. It looked utterly ruined.

Yet, despite its ruined state, the moment Zhang Yang laid eyes on it, a powerful feeling surged within him. The mysteries of Diamond Dragon Strength surfaced in his mind.

He wasn’t sure if this Golden Dragon statue had been sculpted by the Diamond Temple based on a real Golden Dragon, but even in its damaged state, it exuded an undeniable aura—one that resonated deep within him.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes, focusing intently as if stepping into a marvelous realm.

Moments passed.

He closed his eyes.

In his mind, an image of a majestic Golden Dragon appeared, roaring into the heavens. Alongside it, the martial technique Diamond Dragon Strength took form.

He understood it.

Just by observing this battered and nearly unrecognizable statue, he had grasped the deeper intricacies of Diamond Dragon Strength—perhaps even surpassing the knowledge of its original creator.

"Diamond Dragon Divine Power."

A smile crept onto his lips as he renamed the technique. It was no longer just Diamond Dragon Strength—it had evolved, reaching an even higher level.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

A golden light flickered within them.

The same glow spread across his body, illuminating his hair and eyebrows with a faint golden sheen.

At that moment, he seemed on the verge of transformation—exuding a majestic presence akin to Dragon Might itself.

Then, his expression darkened.

Above the enormous remains of the Golden Dragon head statue, a new presence had appeared.

A ghost.

But unlike the others, this one did not fear the sunlight.

Even more shocking—it glowed with a faint golden light, its form appearing more solid than any spirit Zhang Yang had encountered before.

"Diamond Ghost," Zhang Yang whispered.

This was no ordinary spirit.

Unlike lower-level ghosts, a Diamond Ghost had broken free from its constraints—it no longer feared the sun. It possessed unique traits, and if it continued to evolve, it could ascend to a Ghost King, gaining intelligence and possibly even memories of its past life.

The Diamond Ghost stared at Zhang Yang coldly.

Zhang Yang returned the gaze.

For a brief moment, it was as if an agreement had been reached between them.

Then—

Both moved at the same time.

The Diamond Ghost shot forward, phasing straight through the window.

Zhang Yang responded instantly.

A powerful roar erupted from his body, resonating like the cry of a dragon. At the same time, Baxiang Divine Fire surged around him as he launched a devastating punch.

Diamond Dragon Divine Power!

Baxiang Power!

Soul Binding Power!

Three divine powers fused into a single strike—his strongest attack yet.

Now, Diamond Dragon Divine Power had reached a level comparable to Baxiang Power.

Bang!

The battle was simple.

Against a soul entity, fighting in this manner was effortless.

Under the force of Soul Binding Power, the ghost’s very essence trembled in fear.

Diamond Dragon Divine Power and Baxiang Power disrupted its diamond constitution, while Baxiang Divine Fire burned even fiercer—threatening to consume the ghost entirely. The flames grew, roaring like an unstoppable inferno, nearly setting the entire three-story building ablaze.

Zhang Yang stood motionless amid the chaos.

The Diamond Ghost let out a piercing, agonized scream.

Its body flickered, barely maintaining its form.

Reeling from the impact, it crashed into the Golden Dragon head statue.

The statue trembled from the force of the collision, its already fragile structure crumbling further. Cracks spread rapidly across the ghost’s special body, signs of imminent destruction.

The Diamond Ghost howled in desperation.

Then, in one last act of defiance, it slammed its hands against the ground.

The earth rumbled.

Massive cracks, resembling black pythons, spread outward—eight in total—forming a circular pattern at their endpoints.

Within these fissures, golden blood boiled, pulsating with an eerie energy, hinting at a powerful secret technique.

At the center stood the Diamond Ghost. Its wild, guttural roars resonated through the ruins as the boiling golden blood surged into its body. The moment the blood merged with it, the cracks on its form vanished—its injuries fully restored.

Rejuvenated, the Diamond Ghost fixed its gaze on Zhang Yang and let out a furious roar, issuing a direct challenge.

Zhang Yang responded with a cold laugh. Then, without hesitation, he lifted his foot and stomped down with immense force.

The already fragile three-story building could no longer withstand the impact.

Boom!

The structure collapsed instantly, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The force of Zhang Yang’s stomp extended beyond the wreckage, shaking the ground within a thirty-meter radius. Three of the eight massive cracks shattered under the pressure, their paths disrupted. At the same time, Baxiang Divine Fire descended, consuming the boiling golden blood within the fissures, reducing it to nothing.

Zhang Yang then pointed directly at the Diamond Ghost and curled his fingers in a beckoning gesture.

The ghost, as if deeply humiliated by his taunt, let out an enraged howl and shot into the sky.

As it ascended, something strange occurred.

The golden blood, which had once flowed through the cracks, detached from the ground and followed, rising into the air. As it gathered above, it coalesced, reshaping itself into a golden sword that shimmered with a sinister glow.

Whoosh!

The sword materialized in an instant—and struck just as swiftly.

Puff!

The golden sword pierced through the Diamond Ghost, running straight through its body. The tip of the blade emerged from the front of its chest, gleaming with supernatural radiance.