The Necromantic Path withered, a spectral glimmer escaping its depths. The baleful aura instantly choked the verdant growth, causing the doppelganger locked in mortal combat with Tasan to recoil. It melded with its four remaining brethren, each executing intricate hand seals, muttering incantations of dread power.

As the spectral light pulsed and the baleful aura intensified, a shimmering barrier enveloped the quintet. In moments, the sheen succumbed to a creeping grey, petrifying into solid stone.

Yet, before the petrification was complete, fissures spiderwebbed across the stony surface. With a resounding crack, the barrier shattered, leaving the five doppelgangers pale of visage but their eyes wide with terror. Without hesitation, they turned and fled, scattering into the vastness.

Wang Lin’s gaze hardened. He surged forward, vanishing from sight, only to reappear beside one of the fleeing specters. In the instant of his arrival, he unleashed a beam of golden light from his lips.

Contained within that beam was a miniature seal, no larger than three inches. But as it emerged, it swelled, rapidly transforming into a ten-zhang behemoth, aimed directly at the retreating form.

The ten-zhang seal emanated an awe-inspiring force, as if time itself had frozen. The doppelganger’s face drained of color, all strength within his body seemingly bound by the seal’s oppressive presence. He felt as if facing the very wrath of the heavens.

With a deafening roar, the seal descended. A tortured cry pierced the air as the doppelganger’s physical form shattered. His nascent spirit attempted to flee, but at that moment, the ten-zhang seal, previously dim, blazed with renewed intensity, bathing the surrounding thousand zhang in blinding light! The seal became a miniature sun.

A final shriek echoed from the spirit as the golden light pierced through, weaving intricate seals across its ethereal form. Unable to escape, the spirit was drawn inexorably into the seal, disappearing into its depths.

The remaining four doppelgangers, stricken with shock, prepared to flee further. But Wang Lin, clutching the seal, pursued relentlessly, his stride unwavering.

The four specters scattered, their flight desperate. After a few moments, Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with understanding, a cold smile gracing his lips.

“You seek to lure me away…” he murmured. He abandoned the chase and settled into a meditative pose in the void. Tasan, ever vigilant, stood guard around him. Wang Lin closed his eyes, allowing his divine sense to spread, probing the surrounding expanse. After several breaths, he snapped his eyes open, and with newfound purpose, he shot off in a single direction.

Meanwhile, the four fleeing spirits shifted their trajectory, converging upon Wang Lin. One, fueled by desperation, surged ahead. As it approached within a thousand zhang of Wang Lin, a resolute glint appeared in its spectral eyes. It ignited its very spirit and flesh, its cultivation base surging to an almost deranged level, its speed increasing tenfold. In a heartbeat, it was within ten zhang of Wang Lin, and with a thunderous roar, it detonated itself!

The power unleashed by a Yang Spirit Peak self-destruction was immense. A wave of annihilation rippled outward, sweeping towards Wang Lin.

In this perilous moment, a crystalline light flickered in Wang Lin’s eyes. He retreated swiftly, striking his storage bag. Three miniature banners soared forth, spinning rapidly to form a vortex of violet energy. Simultaneously, Wang Lin unfurled the Mountain and River Screen.

With a flick of his wrist, the surroundings transformed into a painted panorama of mountains and streams. The force of the Yang Spirit doppelganger’s self-destruction battered against the canvas, causing it to warp and distort. Though the screen absorbed much of the blast, a portion still pierced through, for it was not a true Mountain and River Painting.

The violet vortex surrounding Wang Lin absorbed some of the remaining energy, but ultimately, a breach appeared. The destructive force poured through, slamming into Wang Lin’s body, tearing through his flesh and heading straight for his soul. Wang Lin retreated, his face paling slightly, but his eyes burned with murderous intent.

“Fortunate am I to possess the Ancient God Armor. Otherwise, this self-destruction would have left me severely wounded, if not dead!”

At that moment, the other three doppelgangers arrived, their eyes alight with ruthless resolve. One after another, they chose to detonate themselves, unleashing waves of annihilation that rushed toward Wang Lin, determined to eliminate him at any cost.

Wang Lin’s eyes flashed with frigid light. He would not allow history to repeat itself. Instead of retreating, he charged forward. He thrust his right hand forward, and the withered Necromantic Path shimmered into existence. The beast bone within pulsed with baleful light, and a chilling aura spread, engulfing one of the onrushing doppelgangers. Grey light spread from its feet, rapidly turning it to stone.

Wang Lin moved like lightning, appearing before the petrified doppelganger. His two fingers formed a sword and plunged into its brow, causing it to shatter into countless fragments of stone. At that moment, the two remaining doppelgangers arrived, their self-detonation reaching its peak, fueled by a mad fire!

In this moment of extreme peril, Wang Lin remained calm. He pointed to the side with his right hand, and the Immortal Art of Immobilization took effect, freezing one of the doppelgangers in place. In that instant, Tasan leaped forward, grabbing the immobile doppelganger and sprinting away. With a deafening blast, the doppelganger detonated, the powerful force washing over Tasan. His face paled, his body swayed, but he held on, bearing the brunt of the explosion.

With the destruction of two more doppelgangers’ self-destruction attempts, only one remained. However, its body, already torn apart by the uncontrollable power within, erupted into a raging tempest, directed toward Wang Lin.

Just then, Wang Lin summoned the Sealing Immortal Seal. Instantly, it grew to a hundred zhang, standing vertically before Wang Lin like a colossal shield!

The roar of the explosion echoed, as the destructive force crashed against the enormous fragment. The impact sent Wang Lin staggering backward, more than thirty steps. When he finally stopped, his eyes burned with unparalleled murderous intent.

After enduring the devastating force of the self-destruction, Wang Lin, consumed by a burning desire for revenge, shot off like a fiery comet, hurtling toward the void ahead. Tasan followed close behind!

The Necromantic Path hovered above Wang Lin, while the Sealing Immortal Seal floated beneath him. Pressing onward, following the direction perceived through his divine sense, he traversed countless miles. Soon, with his murderous gaze intensifying, Wang Lin saw it: the vast array and the crystal coffin within, and beyond the array, a black-robed man with a sinister gaze, concealing a flicker of shock! The void held no wind, but the force of the hundred-zhang Seal fractured the nothingness and created a fierce gale.

The wind stirred, whipping the black-robed man’s wide sleeves. Wang Lin’s pupils constricted. He saw it clearly: beneath the black robes was bare bone! Aside from his head, everything beneath the black robes was… bone!