As soon as he finished speaking, the golden pellet of the rattle drum struck the drumhead.
Strangely, although the strike was powerful, no sound was heard.
However, Dugu Yunshan's figure paused.
Not good! It's a Soul attack!
"Quick!"
Deng Feihong activated the Formation, and the protective light shield suddenly extended towards Dugu Yunshan.
Shikong Lin's left fist had already slammed into Dugu Yunshan's chest, and the stunned Dugu Yunshan immediately flew backward.
Fortunately, after being struck by the doll's fist, Dugu Yunshan regained his senses and control of his limbs.
When Shikong Lin used the rattle drum to strike his head, Dugu Yunshan blocked the fatal blow with his Sword Shield Gold.
At this moment, the protective light shield extended to his feet, and Dugu Yunshan leaped backward, returning to the mountaintop with the retracting Formation.
"Cough!"
Dugu Yunshan coughed up a large mouthful of blood and waved his fist at Shikong Lin below the mountain.
"You little brat are too vicious, using a Magic Treasure to injure me."
Returning to Turtle Pit, Dugu Yunshan sat down cross-legged and said to Qian Duoduo, "Be careful of the rattle drum."
Qian Duoduo nodded, "It might be a Spiritual Artifact."
Logically, Shikong Lin's cultivation was similar to theirs, also at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, so he shouldn't be able to activate a Spiritual Artifact.
But if he could borrow the doll's power, that would be another matter.
However, for some unknown reason, deep in Qian Duoduo's heart, there was always a desire to possess this rattle drum.
This made Qian Duoduo very curious.
Nangong Nizi, beside Qian Duoduo, stood up, and a giant Soul Bow appeared behind her. She drew the bowstring and shot a Soul Arrow towards Shikong Lin.
Shikong Lin shook the rattle drum in his hand, and an invisible sound wave easily shattered the Soul Arrow.
"The rattle drum is a soul weapon."
Nangong Nizi put away her Soul Bow.
"Yunxiao, take my place."
Zeng Ruohai suddenly stepped forward, "I'll face this doll."
Pang Yunxiao jumped into the Turtle Pit as instructed, taking Zeng Ruohai's place in directing the six Disciples.
Zeng Ruohai had opened his Lower Spirit Sea and Middle Spirit Sea.
As for Shikong Lin, he was a Body Cultivator, so he must have opened his Middle Spirit Sea. And now, holding a soul weapon, his strength was even greater than Dugu Yunshan's. Zeng Ruohai felt Battle Intent and wanted to fight him.
However, Qian Duoduo felt that Zeng Ruohai and Dugu Yunshan's initiative to fight might have another reason.
They might also have a strange feeling about the rattle drum, just like Qian Duoduo.
Charging in front of the doll with his Blood Sword, Zeng Ruohai immediately let out a low roar.
"Scarlet Star!"
Seven Scarlet Stars, as large as dippers, appeared out of thin air, shooting out dazzling blood-red light and smashing towards Shikong Lin's face.
Shikong Lin took a deep breath, and the doll actually grew a size larger.
Shikong Lin continuously shook the rattle drum with his right hand, emitting waves of sound.
As the Scarlet Stars approached, they immediately slowed down.
Shikong Lin continuously swung his left hand, shattering the Scarlet Stars one by one.
"Demon Moon!"
Zeng Ruohai touched his left shoulder, and his cultivation soared to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
Under the shroud of blood-colored moonlight, the doll's movements began to slow down.
Seeing the mountain-like Blood Moon smashing down, Shikong Lin's face showed a ruthless expression. He bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the rattle drum's surface.
The fresh blood was immediately absorbed by the rattle drum, and the rattle drum grew many times larger, no different from a giant hammer.
Shikong Lin swung the rattle drum and smashed it towards the Blood Moon.
"Boom!"
The Blood Moon shattered into countless fragments, and the rattle drum immediately shrank, returning to Shikong Lin's hand.
"Blood Sun!"
Zeng Ruohai took a step forward and shouted loudly, his Blood Sword chopping down directly.
A blood-red sun appeared on the summit of Turtle Mountain, seemingly wanting to engulf everything in the mountain.
"Sacrifice!"
Shikong Lin knew Zeng Ruohai's power, and his face became mournful again. He vigorously raked his ten fingers across his face, creating ten bloody finger marks from which fresh blood gushed out.
The fresh blood poured onto the rattle drum like a downpour, and the rattle drum grew larger and larger, meeting the Blood Sun.
In the sky, there seemed to be two suns, one blood-red and one white, constantly approaching, about to collide.
The Sha Beasts and Sha Birds below were already in a panic, fleeing in all directions.
Meanwhile, the doll continuously shrank, its original three to four zhang body now less than one zhang.
Zeng Ruohai's face showed a hint of ruthlessness, and he charged forward. He held the Blood Sword with both hands and slashed at the doll's right hand.
Shikong Lin, who was severely bleeding, had not expected Zeng Ruohai to rush forward risking his life. By the time he thought of blocking the Blood Sword with his fist, the Blood Sword had already cut into the doll's right arm.
At this moment, the Blood Sun and the rattle drum collided in the sky, producing an earth-shattering roar, and a shocking impact wave immediately appeared.
Centered on the collision point, the Sha Souls were completely cleared out.
Below the collision point, only Zeng Ruohai and Shikong Lin remained.
Zeng Ruohai's veins popped out on his forehead, and he propped himself up with one hand on the ground, struggling to support his body.
His robes were pressed tightly against his body by the impact wave.
Shikong Lin's right hand was almost severed, with only a strip of cloth still connecting it to his body.
The rattle drum returned to its original appearance and fell from the air.
Shikong Lin was about to use his left hand to catch the rattle drum, but Zeng Ruohai forced him away with a sword.
Zeng Ruohai snatched the rattle drum with his left hand, tried to put it into his Storage Pouch twice without success, then turned and ran up the mountain.
At this moment, the little girl, who was biting her left index finger, extended her right hand and beckoned towards the rattle drum.
The rattle drum immediately flew towards her.
Zeng Ruohai transferred the Blood Sword to his left hand and tightly gripped the rattle drum with his right hand.
But the rattle drum continued to drift downward. If he didn't let go, he would also be pulled down the mountain, so he reluctantly released his grip.
At the same time, he also felt a sense of danger; if he didn't let go, the little girl would attack him.
"Quick, bring him back to the mountain."
Qian Duoduo instructed Deng Feihong.
A white light flashed out, extending to Zeng Ruohai's feet and pulling him back to the mountaintop.
"Buzz!" Zhao Haonan shot a Soul-Seizing Blood Crossbow.
Shikong Lin was at his weakest at this moment. The giant crossbow bolt went straight for the doll's head. If it hit her, Shikong Lin would immediately turn into a pile of cloth scraps.
His eyes bulging as if they would pop out, Shikong Lin let out a desperate scream.
The little girl hummed softly, took out her left index finger, which she had been gnawing on, and pointed it at the doll.
The doll immediately shrank and flew towards her.
The Soul-Seizing Blood Crossbow missed, shooting a large hole through the mountain rock.
Without the command of the rattle drum's sound, the Sha Souls on the mountainside and slope lost their fighting spirit.
The stronger Sha Beasts and Sha Birds were continuously struck down by Qian Duoduo and the others.
Before long, the Sha Souls retreated like a receding tide.
"Soul Brother," the little girl looked at Qian Duoduo, slowly tidying up the doll, rattle drum, and windmill one by one, "You can't escape."
After speaking, she turned and floated towards the altar.
And those Sha Souls retreated down Turtle Mountain but dared not leave. They remained in place, continuing to surround Turtle Mountain.
The first wave of Sha Soul attacks was defended!
On the mountaintop, the Disciples of the Three Sects burst into cheers.
Qian Duoduo, however, did not feel much joy.
At this time, they could not contact the outside of the Secret Realm. Palace Lord Chu Wannian, Liang Family Old Ancestor, and Ancestor Zeng had no idea that a drastic change had occurred in the Secret Realm.
There were still about twenty days until the Secret Realm closed, and whether they could hold out for these twenty days was still unknown.
