Chapter 836: The Clash of Ghosts and Gods

You ignorant brat! You know nothing of the vastness of heaven and earth!

Since you seek death with all your heart, I will grant your wish!

The Yinming Sect Leader, the Yin Ghost King, and Ghost Bat True Lord – along with the others – now wore faces ashen with fury.

How dare a mere Core Formation cultivator run wild at the gate of our Yin Ghost Sect! Do you think you’re as mighty as Yangming Zhenren? Our sect is far stronger than before; even if Yangming Zhenren himself appeared, you’d be doomed! Kid, even if your father, Yangming Zhenren, were present, you wouldn’t dare act so arrogantly. Let me show you what happens!

Ghost Shadow True Lord roared, and dense, ghostly silhouettes swirled around him. They then merged into a vile, murky dark cloud that surged toward Lu Quanzhen.

During the assault, the dark cloud let out a series of sharp, piercing shrieks that fluctuated in intensity.

Men and women, young and old alike, were enveloped by a deathly chant – a sound so soul‐striking that it stirred deep pain and despair in everyone.

This Ghost Shadow True Lord’s abilities were truly extraordinary – he had attained sixth-layer Core Formation sixty years ago.

Although he had yet to break through the late Core Formation bottleneck, his cultivation of the “Yinming Ten Thousand Ghosts Manual” enabled him to transform into countless ghosts – a feat few of his peers could counter.

Yet Lu Quanzhen watched the relentless ghostly shadows and murky cloud advancing toward him with a calm, unflinching composure.

Just as the dark cloud was about to engulf him, his body suddenly blazed with golden light, with streaks of black swirling across his form, rendering him like a humanoid Kunpeng.

Around him, turbulent black waters churned, vast and unfathomable.

Primordial black voids appeared one after another, swallowing the very cosmos.

It was as if the elusive phantom shapes of the dark cloud were devoured by these bottomless voids, leaving not even a shriek in their wake.

“How can this be?!”

Ghost Shadow True Lord looked on in terrified disbelief, realizing that his spectral energies were fading away.

Over sixty years ago, during his clash with Yangming Zhenren, his “Yinming Ten Thousand Ghosts Manual” was almost entirely shattered by the golden roc, leaving him gravely wounded.

Now, even more shockingly, Lu Quanzhen directly devoured his ghostly form – and that wasn’t all.

Nearby, the Yinming Sect Leader, the Yin Ghost King, and Ghost Bat True Lord all looked on in astonishment and disbelief.

The “Yinming Ten Thousand Ghosts Manual” is one of the premier techniques of the Yin Ghost Sect.

Cultivators practicing it are virtually unbeatable at their level.

But now, in an instant, it had been broken by Qu Changtian.

This is utterly unbelievable!

And that’s not even the most astonishing part.

They remembered that sixty years ago, the current Qu Changtian was merely a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator.

In just sixty years, he not only broke through to Core Formation, but advanced to its mid-stage! How… how is this possible?!

The Yin Ghost King, Ghost Bat True Lord, and the others were utterly shocked and disbelieving.

Beyond sheer disbelief, an overwhelming sense of dread surged within them.

Sixty years ago, Yangming Zhenren displayed a fearsome strength that far exceeded that of his contemporaries.

Now, after sixty years, his son displays awe-inspiring cultivation and combat power. One has to wonder how far Yangming Zhenren – who had been silent all these years – has grown! After all, word from our Yin Ghost Sect is that Yangming Zhenren did not die from exhaustion in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands.

Now, after sixty years, he might even have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. “No—I’m no match for him!”

After a brief clash, Ghost Shadow True Lord realized he was outmatched by Lu Quanzhen and quickly retreated.

Had he been facing another cultivator of the same Core Formation level, he could have easily escaped.

Yet Lu Quanzhen had the Kunpeng Body and practiced the “Tianpeng Transformation” – a speed unmatched in the world.

Suddenly, a rapid tremor resonated in the void around him, and he instantly materialized next to Ghost Shadow True Lord.

Lu Quanzhen’s fist erupted with brilliant golden radiance, swirling with tiny, fish-like black specks, reminiscent of the elusive image of a Kunpeng.

Kunpeng Fist!

The Yinming Sect Leader, the Yin Ghost King, and the others all recognized the frightening force of that punch, understanding that Ghost Shadow True Lord was in serious peril.

Yet that punch came with lightning speed.

In an instant, as divine light exploded, Ghost Shadow True Lord’s fleeting body was shattered by the blow, with streams of dark blood splattering everywhere.

Then, the dark clouds and multiple layers of ghostly figures around him were utterly consumed by the primordial black voids radiating from Lu Quanzhen.

“You once were defeated by my father, yet you still dare to boast.”

Lu Quanzhen lightly raised his hand, snatching up Ghost Shadow True Lord’s Storage Pouch, and remarked nonchalantly:

It was as if eliminating Ghost Shadow True Lord was nothing more significant than a trivial inconvenience.

“What’s happening here?”

“Where did Ghost Shadow True Lord vanish to?”

“Ghost Shadow True Lord… is he dead?”

“How can this be? Ghost Shadow True Lord’s ‘Yinming Ghost Shadow Manual’ promises countless ghosts, immortality, and an indestructible true form. How could he die so swiftly?”

The disciples of the Yin Ghost Sect gazed at the scene outside the mountain gate, their expressions a mix of shock, bewilderment, and amazement.

Most of them were Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

They simply couldn’t grasp the nature of Core Formation–level combat.

However, some late Foundation cultivators and False Core cultivators discerned that Ghost Shadow True Lord was dead.

Right before the eyes of their Sect Leader and Supreme Elders, he was killed by Qu Changtian.

“Wasn’t he just a Foundation Establishment cultivator sixty years ago? How can he have such strength—could he be an impostor?”

“Exactly, he must be someone posing as Qu Changtian!”

“I remember, Qu Changtian practices the Kunpeng Technique – just now, as he made a move, a Kunpeng manifested.”

Many Yin Ghost Sect cultivators, who were familiar with the feud between Lu Quanzhen and True Lord Guima, speculated in this manner.

They felt their perceptions were being drastically challenged.

To advance from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation in a mere sixty years is a testament to unparalleled talent and defiance of fate.

Yet, for someone to evolve from a Foundation Establishment cultivator to a Core Formation warrior capable of dispatching Ghost Shadow True Lord in just a few breaths over sixty years is utterly impossible!

Even when the evidence was right before their eyes, they could hardly believe it.

“This brat is asking for death!”

The Yinming Sect Leader and Yin Ghost King, witnessing Ghost Shadow True Lord being killed in front of them, were instantly enraged and launched an assault on Lu Quanzhen.

Then, the Yin Ghost Sect’s ultimate artifact, the [Yin Ghost Boat], unleashed a fearsome demonic aura – like the roar of ten thousand ghosts – as it barreled toward Lu Quanzhen.

In contrast, the Yin Ghost King wielded a ghostly banner, and with an aura of spectral fury, he aggressively advanced toward Lu Quanzhen.

Ghost Bat True Lord, as a Supreme Elder, didn’t care about his dignity as he silently appeared behind Lu Quanzhen, sealing off his escape route and summoning his spirit pet, the [Ancient Blood Bat].

The Yin Ghost Sect’s disciples, witnessing the scene, were struck with shock.

They hadn’t expected that the foe would incite their Supreme Elder, Second Elder, and Sect Leader to all launch an attack simultaneously.

Yet, considering that Lu Quanzhen had taken out Ghost Shadow True Lord in a flash, they felt a measure of relief.

They recognized that the enemy was truly deserving of this onslaught.

Even if one could defeat him, capturing or killing him would be another matter! Not far away, concealed by the Inverted Yin-Yang Glass Wall, Lu Changsheng observed the scene, poised to strike at any moment.

Should his son be overpowered, he would immediately step in.

Though Lu Quanzhen had the Kunpeng Body and late third-rank bodily refinement, he was ultimately only a sixth-layer Core Formation cultivator.

Against two Core Formation Grand Cultivators and one late Core Formation cultivator, he dared not be overconfident.

With a gentle tap on his Storage Pouch, a piece of armor that looked as if forged from silver-blue jade emerged, draping over him with mysterious, ancient motifs.

Soon after, a bluish-purple short blade darted out from his sleeve, landing securely in his grasp.

Both the armor and the short blade were spirit treasures.

Even though his current cultivation level couldn’t fully unlock their power,

yet, for him, even a modest boost from these treasures was more than enough.

“Clang!”

Clad in his new armor and brandishing his short blade, Lu Quanzhen met the charging Yin Ghost Boat head-on. His aura was awe-inspiring, causing the void to tremble with an eerie, enigmatic glow.

“Puchi!” The vicious assault launched by the Yin Ghost Boat was largely ripped apart by Lu Quanzhen – even its protective barrier was torn to shreds.

The Yinming Sect Leader’s face faltered briefly; his robes fluttering, he suddenly smacked his palm, conjuring a massive ghostly claw bristling with sinister bone spikes to counter the residual assault.

The Yin Ghost King brandished his ghostly banner vigorously, while a dense, inky mist, like a raging tide, swept toward Lu Quanzhen.

It seemed as if the mist was forged from innumerable vengeful souls, corrupting both body and spirit.

Additionally, he lifted his left hand, and a wisp of eerie green flames ignited, exuding a terrifying ghostly aura as it roared towards Lu Quanzhen.

Confronted by the supernatural weapon of this Core Formation Grand Cultivator, Lu Quanzhen dared not engage head-on. Radiating brilliant golden light, he exuded a cool, ethereal wind and sent ripples through the void.

In an instant, he flashed behind the Yin Ghost King; his bluish-purple short blade burst with brilliant light as he delivered a savage strike.

That strike rent the layers of the void, slicing open a gap in the protective barrier of the Core Formation Grand Cultivator.

The Yin Ghost King’s expression shifted abruptly as a spectral figure emerged to intercept the fearsome blow, causing him to stagger backward.

Seizing the momentum, Lu Quanzhen pressed his attack, unleashing his Kunpeng Fist.

Behind him, the apparition of a colossal Kunpeng – feasting upon the sky and earth – loomed as if poised to rend the very fabric of creation.

But Ghost Bat True Lord’s robes rippled as he extended his hand, unleashing a torrent of blood-red light that swept toward Lu Quanzhen like a violent storm.

Simultaneously, he conjured a blood pool radiating a scarlet glow, from which countless streams and shadows of blood surged at Lu Quanzhen.

Lu Quanzhen’s face flickered as he quickly fell back, mustering all his strength to counter Ghost Bat True Lord’s terrifying onslaught.

The blood-red energies were so fearsome they could corrode magical artifacts – if not for his short blade and armor being spirit treasures, he would have suffered even more.

Furthermore, rippling waves of power emanated from him, as primordial black voids materialized to absorb and nullify the assault.

“What’s up with this fellow—does he have wind and space-type spirit bodies!”

Seeing Lu Quanzhen forced to retreat by his own Supreme Elder, the Yin Ghost King wore a look of apprehension and lingering fear.

Lu Quanzhen’s speed was nothing short of astonishing.

He moved so fast that even the Grand Cultivator struggled to keep up.

This was a speed far beyond what ordinary wind-based abilities could muster.

Chances are he had a wind-type spirit body.

And he probably also had a space-type spirit body, which allowed him to harness some measure of spatial power at this level!

A Core Formation cultivator who has not only tapped into void power but also mastered dual cultivation of body and magic is simply terrifying! Even our Grand Cultivator is struggling against him. The Yin Ghost King couldn’t understand how, in merely sixty years, he could have grown so much – especially when his own father, Yangming Zhenren, was once only a Core Formation cultivator.

Not even a Nascent Soul True Lord could grow this fast – isn’t that unthinkable? “Ensure this fellow is kept at bay! He already wields void power, and his short blade is a spirit treasure!”

Without further delay, the Yin Ghost King sent a telepathic warning to the Yinming Sect Leader and Ghost Bat True Lord.

The two were well aware that the man before them, Qu Changtian, was an extraordinary prodigy – just like his father, Yangming Zhenren.

“Th-this…”

The cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect, witnessing the battle outside the mountain gate, were visibly stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

This Qu Changtian didn’t merely kill Ghost Shadow True Lord.

He is now taking on our Sect Leader, Supreme Elder, and Second Elder all by himself! Such prowess is simply staggering! “Truly, I still have so many deficiencies when pitted against a Core Formation Grand Cultivator like him.”

Utilizing his Kunpeng Body and its blistering speed, Lu Quanzhen maneuvered around, countering the attacks of the Yin Ghost King and the other two.

He realized that in a one-on-one scenario, he wasn’t afraid of any of them, and might even be able to kill one.

But facing all three left him at a significant disadvantage.

Nonetheless, he did not show fear; like a humanoid Kunpeng, he used this battle to hone and refine his combat skills.

“Kunpeng Sky Struggle! Kunpeng Wings! Illusory Peng!”

Lu Quanzhen unleashed a flurry of divine techniques. A pair of wings, interwoven in gold and black, materialized behind him, and brandishing his bluish-purple short blade, he executed Kunpeng Fist strikes that spawned multiple illusions.

However, the three opponents before him were no ordinary Core Formation cultivators.

Those who have ascended to become the sect leader or a Core Formation Grand Cultivator in the Yin Ghost Sect have survived countless battles and possess extensive combat experience.

Lu Quanzhen, with merely a sixth-layer Core Formation cultivation, holding his ground against these three was nothing short of defying fate.

“Zhi zhi zhi!”

At that moment, waves of bloody radiance suffused the Yin Ghost Sect.

A colossal Blood Bat swept in, its rapid, sharp, and chaotic screeches interfering with Lu Quanzhen.

“Father, I want to give it a try!”

As the Ancient Blood Bat drew near, Lu Quanzhen instantly felt the pressure multiply – his movements grew heavy and his magical energy lagged.

Yet in the midst of danger, his blood seemed to blaze, stirring an exhilarating thrill within him.

He understood that when dueling in such life-and-death situations, it wasn’t merely about divine techniques and magical treasures – it also tested one’s experience, courage, willpower, resolve, decisiveness, and sheer grit.

Ordinary skirmishes no longer sufficed to hone his battle prowess.

Only by thrusting himself into the jaws of death and harnessing the terror of that edge could he grow further! Lu Quanzhen refused to miss this chance.

Eager to test his limits, he sent a telepathic message to his father lurking in the shadows, pleading for a moment to act decisively.

Not far off, Lu Changsheng, draped in a flowing robe and cloak, stood astride a Golden-Winged Roc, silently watching his son clash with the three foes.

As soon as the Ancient Blood Bat made its appearance, he contemplated striking, to quell all three opponents simultaneously.

Yet, since his son had actively called out, eager to seize this chance for growth, he was more than willing to let him have his opportunity.

After all, how can one reach the end without braving the storms?

Now that the opportunity had arisen, he was determined to help his offspring grow!

“Puchi!”

Lu Quanzhen recognized that in this predicament, if he hesitated, defeat was certain.

He decisively chose to exchange injuries, shattering the protective barrier of the Yin Ghost Boat and severely injuring the Yinming Sect Leader – leaving a deep, bloody gash across his chest that nearly cleaved him in two.

However, he was also engulfed by Ghost Bat True Lord’s spectral blood pool – its ghostly hands striking him, causing him to cough up blood.

If not for his spirit-treasure armor, his entire back might have been torn to shreds.

Thus, Lu Quanzhen unleashed everything he had, leveraging the might of his Kunpeng Body and spirit treasures, using the Yinming Sect Leader as his target to break through, launching relentless attacks.

Yet both Ghost Bat True Lord and the Yin Ghost King were Core Formation Grand Cultivators with overwhelming power.

Even with his late third-rank bodily refinement and spirit-treasure armor, Lu Quanzhen couldn’t easily break through, as he was repeatedly struck, spitting blood.

Yet aside from the robust vitality imparted by his Kunpeng Body, he had also gleaned a technique called the “Withering and Prosperity Life and Death Manual” from the Xuantian Spirit Vine.

After acquiring the Kunpeng legacy and body, this manual had been further perfected.

Within him, life and death continually transformed – turning injuries and dying energy into a steady flow of vitality that nourished both his body and magical power.

“Sssss!!!” The Ancient Blood Bat let out continual hisses, generating shockwaves toward Lu Quanzhen, as if his spilled blood had an irresistibly sweet aroma, pervaded by an alluring fragrance.

If he could consume this man, he might further boost his bloodline and break into Fourth-Rank!

Thankfully, Lu Quanzhen’s Kunpeng Body rendered him immune to much of the oppressive forces, blood corruption, and sonic disturbances – otherwise, the combined assaults of the spectral blood pool and the Ancient Blood Bat would have been unbearable.

Seeing the fierce, terrifying battle outside the mountain gate, the cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect were rendered speechless.

They never expected that Qu Changtian, single-handedly confronting three opponents, would force their sect leader into a retreat.

Even though Lu Quanzhen kept spitting blood.

Yet, in their eyes, this performance was nothing short of earth-shattering! “Sigh…”

Lu Changsheng watched his bloodied son with a pained heart.

Lu Quanzhen exhibited a ruthlessness that even many other Lu Family disciples, including his own, lacked.

He was as ruthless with himself as he was with his foes.

“Ah!” The Yinming Sect Leader was cleaved apart by Lu Quanzhen. With a bloodcurdling howl, he activated the Substitute Doom Technique, emerging like a ghost some dozens of meters away – his face ghostly pale and eyes brimming with terror.

Moments ago, he nearly perished at Lu Quanzhen’s hands.

Without further hesitation, seizing the opening, the Yinming Sect Leader produced a formation plate and began to power his sect’s grand array.

Though it was somewhat laughable for the illustrious Yin Ghost Sect to deploy their full grand array just to handle one Core Formation cultivator.

Yet when three of them couldn’t subdue him, their prestige was in tatters.

If they couldn’t swiftly apprehend him, the entire Yin Ghost Sect would be mocked as a circus! “Boom boom boom——”

In an instant, the entire Yin Ghost Sect erupted in a roaring clamor.

Boundless ghostly energies surged upward, coalescing into layer upon layer of demonic mists and ghostly clouds that seemed to seal off the entire sky.

Countless spectral generals and troops of Yin appeared faintly in the mists, as if summoned from the depths of Nine Nether Hell.

“What a pity.”

Lu Quanzhen, his face ashen, watched with a hint of regret as the Yinming Sect Leader used a secret technique to evade his fatal blow.

Realizing that the opponent had activated the Mountain Defense Array, he understood that the battle could not continue much longer.

Observing the Yinming Sect Leader fully operating the Mountain Defense Array, the formation masters of the Yin Ghost Sect rushed to coordinate the effort.

Within the endless mists, the spectral generals of Yin gradually took on a tangible form, as if ghostly warriors were manifesting in the mortal realm.

Meanwhile, a ghost king with a bluish visage and menacing fangs, as towering as a mountain, slowly emerged.

It roared at Lu Quanzhen with such overwhelming force that his entire body felt weighed down, his blood and energy roiled, and many Yin Ghost Sect disciples were left dazed, with some even coughing up blood.

“Go.”

Lu Changsheng, noticing that True Lord Mingsha had yet to emerge, tossed forth his awakened Macaque Beast, its eyes brimming with eager longing.

In its natural form, the Soul-Taking Beast was unlike other demon kings; its aura was utterly imposing.

To an ordinary viewer, it might even appear as a charming, endearing spirit beast.

Yet, as a demon beast with a touch of genuine spirit blood, the Ancient Blood Bat immediately sensed a potent, instinctual danger from the Soul-Taking Beast’s appearance!

This was no ordinary threat.

It was a hazard arising from their very bloodline quality!

“Zhi zhi zhi!!!”

The Ancient Blood Bat immediately let out a sharp, urgent screech, transmitting a warning to Ghost Bat True Lord, as it sought to escape.

“What is this?!”

Ghost Bat True Lord, startled by the sudden appearance of the Soul-Taking Beast, felt his heart tighten – realizing that Yangming Zhenren was likely nearby!

Although he immediately scouted the vicinity, he observed no one in sight.

Yet it was highly suspicious that Qu Changtian, the son of Yangming Zhenren, had brazenly come to the Yin Ghost Sect’s mountain gate.

Now, with the appearance of a Macaque Beast that even terrified his Blood Bat, he was almost certain…

Either Yangming Zhenren was silently observing,

or someone was exploiting the Yangming father-son name to trouble the Yin Ghost Sect!

Either way, the situation was perilous now!

“Supreme Elder!” cried Ghost Bat True Lord as he quickly crushed a jade talisman and sent a distress message to Supreme Elder Mingsha True Lord.

Then he motioned to the Yin Ghost King and the Yinming Sect Leader to swiftly apprehend Qu Changtian! In a flash, the two unleashed their secret methods and attacked with all their might.

Meanwhile, the Yinming Sect Leader, through the Mountain Defense Array that had manifested a Fourth-Rank Ghost King, and along with several ghostly soldiers, charged at Lu Quanzhen with lethal intent.

The terrifying, all-encompassing aura was enough to render the heavens and earth silent.

Even though Lu Quanzhen was a prodigy with a Kunpeng Body, when facing this Fourth-Rank Prohibited Array, his body stiffened and his magical energy faltered.

It goes to show that when confronted with overwhelming power, even unmatched talent becomes powerless.

“Zhi zhi zhi!”

Yet the Soul-Taking Beast, upon witnessing the ghost king and the Yin ghost soldiers, lit up with excitement, its eyes gleaming brilliantly.

It felt that this was its true battlefield!

Wasn’t it previously harried in the Starry Sea by the Wind-Splitting Beast, the Demon King, and True Lord Zhenhai, among others?

The Soul-Taking Beast’s fur gleamed with a radiant golden hue; then it clenched its fists and let out a powerful snort from its enormous nostrils.

In a flash, a mighty surge of pale yellow divine light burst forth.

This Soul-Seizing Divine Light, reminiscent of a soaring dragon and a rushing torrent, swept toward the Blue-Faced Ghost King and the assembled Yin ghost soldiers.

Under the onslaught of the divine light, all the Yin ghost soldiers faltered like candles in the wind, their forms unstable as they were drawn into the maw of the Soul-Taking Beast.

The leading Blue-Faced Ghost King found his ghostly aura completely subdued under the divine light.

“Th-this…”

“What in the world is this creature?”

At this sight, everyone was rendered dumbfounded and stunned.

Not only the cultivators and disciples of the Yin Ghost Sect –

even the top-tier cultivators—the Yinming Sect Leader, the Yin Ghost King, and Ghost Bat True Lord—were equally astounded.

An unprecedented chill of fear surged within them.

In the blink of an eye, that seemingly endearing Macaque Beast devoured all of their Mountain Defense Array’s ghost soldiers and generals.

This was simply beyond belief, utterly outrageous!

It completely defied all their understanding.

One must remember: that Blue-Faced Ghost King and those Yin ghost soldiers were the spirit entities of their Mountain Defense Array.

When fully activated, their combat prowess had reached Fourth-Rank.

Yet now, the entire assembly of Yin ghost soldiers within the array had been devoured by this tiny creature.

Even the Fourth-Rank Ghost King was rendered nearly immobile.

At that moment, a wave of terror and dread swept through the entire Yin Ghost Sect.

“Yin Ghost Sect disciples, obey! Augment the array with full force!”

The Yinming Sect Leader bellowed hoarsely, his voice resounding throughout the Yin Ghost Sect.

Without waiting for a response from his disciples, he advanced further, merging with the array to fully activate the Fourth-Rank Forbidden Array.

As the entire Yin Ghost Sect moved in unison, countless Yin ghost soldiers reformed, and the aura of the Blue-Faced Ghost King climbed ever higher.

His body took on a crimson hue as if scorched by hell, like a boundless sea of blood, and his fierce aura tore apart the Soul-Seizing Divine Light from him.

In response, the Soul-Taking Beast showed no sign of fear; instead, it roared in exhilaration.

A pale golden glow shimmered from its fur, as endless wisps of black mist coiled around it. Its small body propelled upward at a stunning speed, while the surrounding mists twisted like vague ghostly figures brandishing claws and fangs.

“Roar!!!”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the once endearingly clumsy Soul-Taking Beast transformed into a demonic ape with a black face and vicious fangs, radiating a sinister ghostly aura.

In comparison to the fearsome Blue-Faced Ghost King, the Soul-Taking Beast’s terror was equally potent, if not even greater.

As the Soul-Taking Beast burst into its battle stance, unleashing its Fourth-Rank terror and aura, the Blue-Faced Ghost King recoiled in instinctive fear!

Not only the Blue-Faced Ghost King, but countless cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect, along with their bound ghost slaves and soldiers, trembled in fear at that moment.

“What is this?”

The Yin Ghost Sect’s cultivators were utterly terrified.

Noticing that the Blue-Faced Ghost King was exceptionally unique and tightly bound to the Yin Ghost Sect, the Soul-Taking Beast’s blood-red, demonic eyes spun rapidly, and in an instant, a chain of blood-red energy materialized, binding and restraining the Blue-Faced Ghost King.

Then, shrouded in endless ghost mists, it strode towards the Blue-Faced Ghost King, its massive maw lined with fangs gaping wide, its eyes gleaming with a note of exhilaration.

“What kind of accursed creature dares to disrupt my Yin Ghost Sect!”

But just then, deep within the Yin Ghost Sect, an enraged roar thundered across the heavens and earth.

It echoed like the wrath of an ancient deity, awe-inspiring and formidable, forming an invisible tide that transformed the very hues of the skies and clouds.

Every cultivator within the Yin Ghost Sect, upon hearing this authoritative, thunderous roar, trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a suffocating pressure.

Nascent Soul True Lord!

This is the might of the Nascent Soul True Lord!

Yet, they felt no fear.

Instead, their hearts swelled with excitement and upliftment.

It was as if they had taken a pill of courage, leaving them utterly unafraid of the Soul-Taking Beast outside.

“I pay my respects, Supreme Elder!”

“I pay my respects, Patriarch!”

Every cultivator in the Yin Ghost Sect bowed respectfully toward the crimson radiance, some even prostrating in homage.

Even though True Lord Mingsha had only managed to break through to the Nascent Soul stage by harnessing the power of Beast God Mountain,

within the Yin Ghost Sect, his prestige had soared to unprecedented heights.

Facing a sectal Nascent Soul bottleneck and under the pressure of the Five Poisons Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect, True Lord Mingsha, through strategic alliances and his unmatched talent, broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

And over the decades, he had led the Yin Ghost Sect in conquering new lands and significantly boosting its power, earning the respect of all.

Even though Lu Quanzhen and the Soul-Taking Beast demonstrated incredible fighting abilities,

they still held firm belief that their Patriarch, the Supreme Elder, was more than capable of crushing any enemy.

“So, you finally emerge?”

Lu Changsheng, with a flowing aura of inverted Yin-Yang Glass all around him, heard the voice and looked impassively towards the depths of the Yin Ghost Sect.

Then, a crimson radiance tore through the void, suddenly manifesting before the Yin Ghost Sect’s mountain gate.

Seeing the Soul-Taking Beast subdue their own Blue-Faced Ghost King, True Lord Mingsha’s eyes narrowed as he sensed an overwhelming, menacing aura emanating from it.

But since the foe had arrived at their doorstep, he naturally had no time for empty talk.

A dark red bone sword, woven with countless shadowy souls, materialized in his hand.

Then, his dark red robe fluttered ominously as a chilling ghostly aura enveloped him, forming a spectral, infernal phantasm that surged toward the Soul-Taking Beast.

The aura was overwhelmingly intimidating; Lu Quanzhen, from afar, could hardly move under its residual force.

And then, just at that moment, beneath a sky veiled by ghostly mists, a colossal hand shimmering with Yin-Yang luminescence – the Heaven-Shrouding Hand – appeared.

It was as if, at the dawn of creation, when chaos reigned supreme, a deity had reached out, intending to sculpt and command the very fabric of this world through Yin-Yang transformation.

True Lord Mingsha froze, a chill gripping his heart as he recognized the divine ability. “This is the power of Yangming Zhenren! No – now he is Yangming True Lord! He has already broken through to Nascent Soul!”

“Mingsha, your opponent is me!”

A calm, detached voice echoed in True Lord Mingsha’s ear.

He abruptly turned his head.

He saw a man clad in a profound robe and cloak, with a heroic visage and a hint of refined elegance in his features, radiating an incomparable Nascent Soul aura.

“Yangming Zhenren!?”

Upon spotting Lu Changsheng, True Lord Mingsha immediately let out a scream.

He would claim he wasn’t afraid of Lu Changsheng – impossible! In the days of yore outside the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons and in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, even opponents with only Core Formation cultivation could contend with him.

Granted, he had only recently broken through to Nascent Soul at the time.

None of his divine abilities, techniques, or artifact methods had improved yet.

In the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, without the [Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool], he wouldn’t even stand as an equal to a Core Formation Yangming Zhenren.

Thus, having known that Yangming Zhenren was still alive, he had long feared that once the latter broke through to Nascent Soul, he would come seeking vengeance.

Now, Yangming Zhenren had appeared! Just as he had feared, the enemy had broken through to Nascent Soul and come to seek retribution.

“Yangming Zhenren!?”

“Is he Yangming Zhenren? No—he’s already broken through to Nascent Soul!”

“Yangming True Lord!”

The Yin Ghost Sect cultivators, upon witnessing the Heaven-Shrouding Hand and Lu Changsheng’s sudden arrival, trembled, their bodies growing weak.

It was terrifying!

That overwhelming pressure utterly surpassed even their Supreme Elder, True Lord Mingsha! Even Ghost Bat True Lord and the Yin Ghost King, locked in combat with Lu Quanzhen, seemed weighed down, their energy stalled, gasping for breath.

“Is this really my father’s strength!?”

Even as his own son, Lu Quanzhen felt burdened in the presence of his father’s all-pervading energy and power.

“Yangming True Lord, regarding the past, True Lord Ben admits his faults and is willing to settle our grievances, friend!”

True Lord Mingsha, gazing at the sky-obscuring Yin-Yang Hand, immediately roared and summoned his most prized treasure, the [Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool].

A palm-sized inkstone swelled in the wind, transforming into a blood pool several zhang deep that coiled above him, creating a dense, foul, blood-red mist that corroded the very air.

However, Lu Changsheng ignored these words.

The slightly battered original spirit treasure, the [Yin-Yang Chart], surged upward from his head, intertwining with the distinctly patterned hand, as brilliant divine light rained down like a collapsing sky, imbued with an unspeakable oppressive force.

“Yangming True Lord, do you really think True Lord Ben is afraid of you? Remember, this is the domain of the Yin Ghost Sect!”

True Lord Mingsha, though deeply wary of Lu Changsheng,

but his opponent would soon break through to Nascent Soul, while he himself, over the years, had not only perfected his divine methods but also reached the second layer of Nascent Soul.

Under such conditions, bolstered by the [Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool], numerous Yin Ghost Sect cultivators, and the Fourth-Rank Forbidden Array, he feared no one.

As he spoke, the [Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool] above him erupted with endless bursts of bloody radiance, as ghostly soldiers roared, appearing like a legion and surging in a rolling torrent of crimson that blasted against the Yin-Yang Hand.

At the same time, his entire aura began to meld with the Mountain Defense Array of the Yin Ghost Sect.

“Boom boom boom!!!”

The Yin-Yang Hand, along with the Ten Thousand Ghost soldiers and the blood torrent, collided and merged, unleashing a dazzling and terrifying brilliance.

An endless surge of black and white mystical light intermingled with the crimson current, engulfing the cosmos and forming a devastating shockwave that annihilated everything in its path.

Not far off, Lu Quanzhen, Ghost Bat True Lord, and the Yin Ghost King were forced to retreat repeatedly, unwilling to continue the fight lest they suffer grave injuries from the Nascent Soul aftershocks.

“Yangming True Lord, do you really think you’ve outdone True Lord Ben? If you retreat now, I’ll let this matter drop today!”

After the brief skirmish, True Lord Mingsha realized that Lu Changsheng was indeed formidable – but not as terrifying as he had envisioned.

Yet the fact that his opponent, with his spirit treasures still damaged and unrepaired, dared to challenge him filled True Lord Mingsha with utter humiliation!

It was sheer insolence! Absolutely no regard for him.

“This whelp must not be spared!”

True Lord Mingsha resolved in silence that once the battle ended, he would head to Beast God Mountain to call in reinforcements.

For if Yangming True Lord were to further elevate his Nascent Soul techniques, even with the Fourth-Rank Array, he would be nearly unbeatable.

However, in response, Yangming True Lord just remained calm and shook his head lightly, saying, “Mingsha, after all these years, is that really all you’ve improved?”

“You’ve truly disappointed me,” he continued.

As the words echoed, True Lord Mingsha’s heart suddenly trembled with a deathly alarm – a crisis of mortal peril like none before.

Terrified, True Lord Mingsha instantly realized the dire situation and prepared to retreat back to the sect, hoping to leverage the Fourth-Rank Array to fend off the danger.

But at that moment, an immensely domineering pressure, as if the heavens were collapsing, bore down.

“Boom boom boom!!!”

Nearby, the void itself crumbled and shattered under that overwhelming force.

Then, in the Great Void, a tall figure, emanating a chaotic, incandescent glow from head to toe, stood resolute atop a Golden-Winged Roc with an imposing aura.

In his grasp, he wielded a spear of burning, dark demonic flame, seemingly capable of piercing through all of creation.

At that moment, True Lord Mingsha, who was of Nascent Soul rank, trembled in both body and spirit, recognizing the origin of his peril.

“Move, move, move!!!”

The deadly crisis in his heart surged like a mountain-roaring tsunami.

True Lord Mingsha, gripped by terror, only desired to escape immediately.

But Lu Changsheng, embodying a divine demon’s form, suddenly teleported right into his view.

The Demon God’s Spear lunged forth.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool—shattered! The Nascent Soul Domain—broken!

Protective Shield—shattered!

Fourth-Rank Robe—torn apart!

As all these defenses were shattered, an indescribable, searing pain overtook him.

A dark, blood-dripping spear, resembling a demonic weapon, pierced through True Lord Mingsha’s chest.

A demonic aura, reminiscent of infernal hell, surged forth as eerie dark flames burned – aiming to not only snuff out his life but also obliterate his Nascent Soul body!

True Lord Mingsha’s nascent soul body turned utterly pale. Desperately, he set his Nascent Soul essence ablaze to shatter the demonic flames and aura, striving to escape to Beast God Mountain.

But would Lu Changsheng let his Nascent Soul body get away?

“Ling ling ling——”

The pre-prepared [Danghun Bell] was fully activated, sending forth a spectral wave that instantly halted True Lord Mingsha’s nascent soul body as it attempted to depart.

Simultaneously, an invisible Yin-Yang Hand emerged, sealing off the space and bearing down upon the nascent soul body.

The Golden-Winged Roc, its golden vertical eyes gleaming with a cold and piercing intensity, shot forth with unprecedented speed, and then devoured the weakened nascent soul body whole.

“Whoosh!!!”

As his nascent soul body was consumed by the Golden-Winged Roc, True Lord Mingsha’s physical form, bereft of its spiritual support, was impaled by the Demon God’s Spear in Lu Changsheng’s hand, not far from the Yin Ghost Sect’s mountain gate stele.

Thus, the Yin Ghost Sect’s Supreme Elder, True Lord Mingsha, perished – impaled to death by Yangming True Lord’s spear at the mountain gate of the Yin Ghost Sect! Even his nascent soul could not escape, becoming the very nourishment for Yangming True Lord’s spiritual pet!