I had clearly seen the ghostly figure in the water.
Without a word, I drew the peach wood sword from my sword bag and charged at the fish-headed demon.
The fish-headed demon also noticed me.
Seated on the stone stool, it lifted its head slightly.
Its pair of dark green eyes gleamed with an eerie light, and beneath its carp-like head, jagged teeth were revealed.
Two whiskers swayed continuously at the corners of its mouth.
Seeing me charge, it let out a low growl in the water:
"Wooo..."
Its voice was resonant, causing the surrounding water to churn into a maelstrom.
The corpse fish and specters surrounding it all turned their gaze upon me, shifting their forms and rushing towards me in a swarm.
Seeing the schools of corpse fish and specters, I grew stern and swung my sword.
Three specters moved with incredible speed, meeting me in an instant.
Even in the water, they emitted low "wooo" growls.
Their sharp claws swiped towards me.
Specters were the lowest grade of ghosts, not truly considered "ghosts."
They were merely the deranged remnant souls in the spiritual netherworld.
A sweeping sword stroke unleashed a terrifying surge of vital energy.
Instantly, it stirred up a wave, which swept out with a "hum."
The three specters were instantly killed, turning into black smoke.
They transformed into bubbles, rising towards the surface.
The surrounding corpse fish and specters also kept up their incessant "wooo wooo" calls, and in a moment, I was encircled.
I felt no fear, nor did I cease my attack.
Controlling myself, I swung the peach wood sword, relentlessly slaying.
The corpse fish were swift, each opening its maw to bite me.
The specters attacked from all directions.
In the water, my strength was suppressed.
I could not unleash my full combat power, and each sword strike consumed one and a half times the spiritual energy required on land, or even more.
At the same time, Zishu's voice echoed in my ear:
"Young Master Qin, do you require our assistance!"
I could not speak underwater.
But I gently tapped the violet bone vine with my hand.
Indicating that they need not emerge.
I could handle this situation.
Moreover, I was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Only in fierce combat could I achieve better comprehension.
I had no intention of letting the twelve demon souls out unless it was a life-or-death situation.
Sword light flashed, and corpse fish were continuously cleaved, while specters dissolved into bubbles.
Above the water's surface, the calm river now churned as if boiling.
It bubbled incessantly with "gurgling" sounds, and waves surged.
More and more foul-smelling corpse fish emerged from the water.
The middle-aged woman standing by the bank watched, her face filled with fear and helplessness.
The specters and corpse fish appearing around me grew more numerous.
Previously, there were only dozens or a hundred.
But in this short time, hundreds of specters and two to three hundred corpse fish had appeared.
Furthermore, these corpse fish could spit corrosive black water.
They held the upper hand in this watery domain.
I constantly adjusted my movements, battling these specters and corpse fish.
Simultaneously, I took out the Yang Gathering Orb and released it.
The Yang Gathering Orb emitted a red glow in the water.
The surrounding river water began to boil.
The specters dared not approach, and the schools of corpse fish could only retreat.
Seizing this moment, I formed a hand seal and pointed at the fish-headed monster.
The peach wood sword shot out with a "swoosh," directly piercing towards the fish-headed monster.
Upon seeing this, the fish-headed monster raised a hand, grabbing an iron chain from its side.
It let out a muffled roar in the water:
"Insolent creature, how dare you intrude upon my territory!"
With that, it swung the iron chain at me.
With a "hum," turbulent currents appeared around, and a powerful wave surged towards me.
The peach wood sword I had thrown was instantly knocked aside.
But I did not dodge.
I unleashed a palm strike, releasing immense vital energy.
With a "bang," an explosion occurred underwater, sending a five-meter-high water column bursting upwards.
I swam forward, drawing another sword.
I dived towards the fish-headed monster.
"Hmph!"
With a muffled roar, I swung my long sword down.
The fish-headed demon also blocked with its iron chain.
With several more "bang bang" sounds, the powerful turbulence prevented the corpse fish from getting close.
The specters suffered heavy casualties.
With my left hand, I formed another seal, directing the Yang Gathering Orb revolving around me towards the fish-headed monster.
The fish-headed monster was merely a water spirit.
It could not withstand the Yang Gathering Orb.
It could only retreat rapidly.
I seized this opportunity, quickly descending to the riverbed.
I grabbed the unconscious middle-aged man, whose soul fire was about to extinguish.
Then I began to swim upwards.
The fish-headed monster would not let me leave so easily.
It spoke again:
"You will not escape! Leave my blood tribute!"
As it spoke, the iron chain in its hand swung at me again.
The gathered corpse fish and specters had reached three hundred in number.
I dodged the iron chain with a sideways movement.
The iron chain directly shattered the rocks at the riverbed.
Seeing this, I could only let out a muffled roar:
"Heaven and Earth are boundless, Qiankun unbound! Annihilate!"
In an instant, sword light flashed.
With a "hum," an explosion erupted underwater, unleashing five meters of sword energy, and terrifying energy erupted.
Above the water, a seven-meter-high water column was stirred up.
The river water surged and roared, and the fish-headed demon was forced to retreat repeatedly by this sword strike, almost sustaining injury.
Dragging the middle-aged man, I ascended rapidly towards the surface...