Chapter 214: Chapter 145: Submerged Land Level Demons Really Come in All Shapes and Sizes

The phantom Obades defended using Soul Defense as well.

The phantom Kumironi was also only capable of soul-based healing.

These pure Soul Bodies... were simply Lu Cang’s playthings.

He could absorb them with a mere flick of his wrist.

After mastering the Extreme Intent of Battle Technique All Transformations, even the activation of his Divine Level Soul Dominator Talent had become more versatile.

Before, he could directly absorb souls within a fifty-kilometer range.

But now, he could use Magic or Combat Skills as a medium to extract enemy souls.

The maximum distance had also increased to over two hundred kilometers.

After more than half a month of practice, Lu Cang’s Casting Distance had improved yet again.

In one fell swoop, Lu Cang absorbed the souls of the phantom Kumironi, phantom Obades, and phantom Lu Cang.

The phantom Lu Luwei was a bit too far away.

Meanwhile, Iz was having the time of his life playing with his own phantom.

Although the sky was dim and the entire Dungeon was oppressive and deathly silent,

the relaxed atmosphere couldn’t help but make Lu Cang sigh. ’Are we on vacation?’

’No wonder they dared to challenge a Tier Seven Dungeon at Level 5.’

These phantoms really didn’t pose any substantial threat.

However, not long after these phantoms were absorbed,

a new batch appeared.

They figured the phantoms had to have a source.

So, Lu Luwei began to search.

Soon, she found the source of the phantoms. It was, surprisingly, a mirror.

The mirror was continuously reflecting the distant figures of Lu Cang, Iz, and Chi Cheng...

And from these reflections, soul-forms identical in appearance to the group gradually took shape.

Once the source was found, the next logical step was to eliminate it.

Iz flew with the group in tow. His speed was simply incomprehensible.

Countless mountains and vistas blurred past them.

In the blink of an eye, they had crossed thousands of miles.

This mirror was no simple object.

It was hidden fifteen thousand kilometers away, constantly casting reflections of them...

...and endlessly creating soul phantoms that mimicked their every detail.

If they hadn’t found it, who knew how long it would have worn them down.

The imitated soul phantoms weren’t as strong as the originals, but what about a war of attrition against ten, twenty, or even a hundred of them?

’The thought alone is terrifying.’

Upon finding the mirror, Lu Cang sensed a soul dwelling within it—one that was separate from the mirror itself.

It met the conditions for being absorbed by Divine Level Soul Dominator.

So, with a casual gesture, he took its soul.

A simple, unadorned instant kill of the soul.

Taking the soul caused no physical damage, leaving behind a perfectly intact corpse.

’A Gatherer’s favorite kind of kill,’ Lu Cang mused.

This Demon wasn’t as massive as the others they had encountered.

’Submerged Land Level Demons really come in all shapes and sizes...’

Iz stood before the mirror, tapping it lightly with his knuckles. Lu Cang stood to the side, using his Decryption Scholar skills to perceive the creature’s physical structure.

Iz looked at Kumironi and asked, "Is this also considered a miracle of life?"

"Yes," Kumironi replied. "Any living creature can be considered a miracle of life."

The Demon was so novel that even Kumironi couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it.

Kumironi analyzed the life-form, explaining, "It uses the mirror’s surface to reflect an impression of a creature, then projects that impression as a soul."

"How very strange..."

Lu Cang mentally cross-referenced the Demon with his own knowledge of Demonology.

Before, his knowledge had come almost entirely from books.

Now, adventuring inside a Tier Six Dungeon, he was gaining a completely different kind of insight.

"A shame. This material still isn’t suitable for a War Spear," Chi Cheng said, patting the carapace covering the outside of the mirror.

"Still, just how big is this place?"

"Is this even a Dungeon anymore?"

It felt like they were walking in another world entirely, one with mountains, forests, vast plains, and even rivers of flowing soul.

A whistling soul-wind, a hazy, ghastly green aurora.

It was clearly another bizarre and treacherous world.

"Perhaps... we’re inside the Nest itself," Lu Cang mused.

"I’ve heard that every Dungeon is just a part of a larger Nest."

Chi Cheng said, "Now that’s a theory I’ve never heard before."

"Brother, you’re surprisingly well-read."

A hint of pride crept into Lu Cang’s voice, but he still replied humbly, "Haha, Brother Chi Cheng, I just happened to read it somewhere."

"But I have heard something else."

"That every Nest has a Master of the Nest."

"Haha, Little Lu Cang, what do you say? Think we’ll run into this so-called Master of the Nest?"

Chi Cheng slung an arm over Lu Cang’s shoulder.

An awkward smile appeared on Lu Cang’s face.

’No... It would be better if we didn’t. That thing is a legendary being, said to be comparable to a Divine Spirit.’

’I’m not ready to run into something like that.’

’The War God was one thing; at least he seemed friendly enough.’

’But the Master of a Demon Nest? There’s no way it could be anything but hostile.’

"We... should probably hope we don’t."

Chi Cheng laughed. "Just messing with you!"

"A Master of the Nest appearing in a Tier Six Dungeon? That’d be way too absurd."

’Chi Cheng, please shut up.’

’The whole reason I didn’t say "impossible" was to avoid jinxing us! Don’t say another word!’

’Then again...’

’A Tier Six Dungeon can’t turn into a Tier Seven Dungeon just because of a Sacrifice.’

’If an ironclad rule like that exists, then we probably won’t actually encounter the Master of the Nest.’

’A final-boss-type being like the Master of the Nest should only be found in the deepest level of the Nest.’

He stored the mirror, which was about three stories tall, in his spatial storage. For a Submerged Land Level Demon, this was considered quite small.

Afterward, the group continued their exploration.

The demonic tide in this area was incredibly dense, yet no Low Tier Demons spawned from it.