Chapter 69: Passage of the Shadow Spirits

The answer to the three-headed beast was Zhang Kai’s furious punch.

Previously, when Zhang Kai unleashed his inner force, the creature appeared battered but suffered no real harm. Now, with a purely physical fist, one of the beast’s heads burst open like a watermelon, spraying grotesque green blood in all directions.

The three-headed beast shrieked; one remaining head instinctively tried to dodge. But Zhang Kai seized its upper jaw with one hand, clamped the lower jaw with the other, and with a savage grin, ripped violently.

A gruesome tearing sound echoed—the beast’s mouth was torn open all the way down to its neck. The pain sent its body into spasms, leaving its sole remaining head wailing in agony.

“If I’d known the power of American comics was this strong, why would I bother practicing cultivation?” Zhang Kai reveled in the violence, feeling immense satisfaction.

“Brother Diga, spare my life! I submit to you—I can be your lackey!” the three-headed beast pleaded in terror. Though it couldn’t fathom how Zhang Kai had grown so strong in such a short time, it knew without its beast spirit power restored, it was no match and could be easily killed.

“Too late. I gave you several chances, but you kept betraying me. Did you think my Hulk tribe was easy to bully?” Zhang Kai grinned, his ghastly green face looking eerie and terrifying.

The three-headed beast was momentarily stunned. “Aren’t you from the Ultraman clan?”

“Can’t a hybrid do the trick?” Zhang Kai retorted, delivering another punch.

The beast quickly dodged, not daring to take the blow head-on.

“All right, all right, whatever you say. Just don’t kill me. I don’t want to die!”

“You talk too much.”

Zhang Kai grabbed the beast, punched its back, and with a crack, broke its spine. Instantly, the creature collapsed, powerless to resist.

Not giving it any more chances to beg, Zhang Kai landed another punch, blasting apart its last head.

In a flash, the three-headed beast he once had to feign civility with was hammered to death by his own hands. Such was the allure of power!

Utterly satisfied, Zhang Kai leapt from the depths of the water.

With the mental force divided gone, two walls of water crashed together with a thunderous roar. Zhang Kai didn’t spare them a glance, simply soared back to the cave.

At the cave entrance stood Lady Liu, timidly eyeing Zhang Kai.

She could not comprehend what she saw. Was he truly human?

Zhang Kai ignored her, restored his original form, shouldered his backpack, and turned to leave.

Everything needing improvement had been improved. Only mastery remained—to wield his power with greater finesse.

Now, it was time to explore whether this Nether Spring Cave truly housed a deity capable of averting calamity.

Lady Liu quickly hopped onto Zhang Kai’s shoulder. Yet, she had lost her mischievous spirit, seeming more like a little maidservant.

They flew along the river channel, more than a hundred meters above ground, at tremendous speed.

But the Nether Spring Cave was unimaginably vast. Zhang Kai sprinted for hundreds of miles, yet found no end—nor a living creature, nor a single plant.

Only the overwhelming yin energy marked this place as unlike anything in the human world. If ghosts arrived here, it would be paradise.

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

Just as the thought crossed Zhang Kai’s mind, he sensed movement.

A few hundred meters ahead, darkness churned with mist.

The mist was black, abnormal, snaking along the ground like a serpent, flowing in one direction.

Within it, shadowy figures could be glimpsed.

Ghostly spirits?

Zhang Kai’s eyes burned with anticipation.

At that moment, the figures in the mist seemed to notice him. The swirling fog abruptly turned, enveloping him.

Zhang Kai remained unmoved, slowly descending to the ground.

Soon, the mist surrounded him, encasing him completely.

Figures emerged—soldiers clad in armor.

“Well, well, a living soul! Haven’t had fresh meat in ages.” A booming voice rang out, and a burly, bearded man rode out atop a tall horse.

The big beard’s gaze was greedy, his grin vicious—clearly not a benevolent ghost.

Zhang Kai said, “You alone?”

“Hey, boys, this kid looks down on me. What do you say?” the bearded man called out.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Then let’s split him. I want his heart, liver, and his bird—the rest is yours.” With a wave, the ghostly soldiers charged Zhang Kai without hesitation.

Zhang Kai grinned, his body swelling suddenly.

His clothes, already torn by his transformation, were ignored. He stood bare-chested, over two meters tall, skin ghastly green, exuding a ferocity equal to the ghostly soldiers surrounding him.

“Wait!” the bearded man barked.

The soldiers instantly halted their attack.

He scrutinized Zhang Kai. “You’re not human?”

Zhang Kai’s heart stirred; he sneered, “You’re the human. Your whole family is human.”

“Tch, of course I was human when alive. But since you’re not, are you here to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday too?” the bearded man asked.

“Why not? Can’t I come?” Zhang Kai replied.

“Hah, you’ve got a temper! But there’s something off about you—you smell too much like a human. How did you achieve that?” the bearded man pressed, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Kai.

Zhang Kai flashed his teeth, stomped hard—the ground cracked and sank beneath him—then said, “Come on, let’s fight. If you beat me, I’ll tell you.”

“Well, looks like you don’t know the meaning of death!” the bearded man sneered, yet did not attack. Instead, he continued, “But I like your attitude. When strangers meet, maybe fate’s at work—perhaps we could be friends.”

Zhang Kai stared at him for a moment, then replied, “Fine.”

“Men, onward.” The bearded man waved, and the ghostly soldiers changed direction, continuing forward through the mist.

Zhang Kai soared alongside, keeping pace with the bearded man.

As they traveled, the bearded man sized up Zhang Kai, praising, “Brother, what’s your name?”

“Call me Master Hao,” Zhang Kai replied.

“You’re the first to dare call himself ‘Master’ in front of me. You’ve got guts,” the bearded man grinned, revealing a mouthful of rotten teeth.

Zhang Kai remained expressionless. “It’s the same in front of anyone.”

“Hah, that attitude! I like it. Interested in joining me? We eat and drink our fill—guaranteed satisfaction,” the bearded man invited, clearly admiring him.

Zhang Kai glanced at him, “Can we fight? The kind where we kill and don’t bother with burial?”

As he spoke, his gaze was fierce—transformed into Hulk, he was already intimidating, and now he amplified it, becoming ever less human.

The bearded man cursed, “Damn, you’re making it hard for me. Some things can’t be killed—too much trouble. You’ve got a violent streak! What are you, anyway? Never seen your kind.”

Zhang Kai bared his teeth. “If you want to know, kill me and I’ll show you my true form.”

“Hah! Now you’re talking! Bring me my axe, and let the strategist carve something impressive for Master Hao!”