Chapter 837: The Fall of the Yin Ghost Sect

Silence!

Utter quiet!

Suddenly, an all-encompassing stillness fell over the heavens and earth – not a single sound could be heard!

Time itself seemed to freeze.

Every cultivator of the Yin Ghost Sect looked on in stunned horror, mouths agape, their eyes fixed on the stone stele at the sect gate where True Lord Mingsha had been impaled by a long, ebony spear.

Dead?

Our own Supreme Elder… dead?

Every cultivator in the sect stood rigid, their hearts chilled as if cast into an icy tomb; a deathlike silence prevailed.

They had believed that with our Ancestor and Supreme Elder having emerged, no foe could stand before them.

Never did they imagine they were so gravely mistaken.

A colossal miscalculation!

In just one brief encounter, our Supreme Elder was slain.

Clad in a flowing dark robe, Yangming True Lord – emanating a chaotic, almost demonic aura – had impaled him at the sect gate with one single thrust.

Even his Nascent Soul Spirit Body could not escape, as it was swallowed whole by a Golden-Winged Roc.

High-level cultivators such as the Yin Ghost Sect Leader, Yin Ghost King, and Ghost Bat could only gape in disbelief, their throats emitting involuntary gurgling sounds.

Clearly, their hearts were reeling from an overwhelming shock.

They were gripped by an unfathomable terror.

Their bodies went cold and rigid; an icy chill seeped into their marrow, leaving them trembling uncontrollably.

With eyes full of incredulity, they stared at Lu Changsheng.

They could scarcely believe what they were witnessing.

They could not fathom how their Supreme Elder – True Lord Mingsha – had been so effortlessly slain!

Keep in mind, their Supreme Elder was a Nascent Soul True Lord!

Exalted and revered by tens of thousands, a Nascent Soul True Lord capable of stirring upheaval in the cultivation world!

Yet, in one glance, he was dispatched by Yangming True Lord.

In an instant, a terrifying Demon Ape – summoned by the Golden-Winged Roc that had devoured countless Yin Ghost soldiers guarding the sect – was unleashed;

Yangming True Lord had killed the Supreme Elder with a single glance;

And there was also a brilliant, golden, Fourth-Rank Demon King in the form of a Golden-Winged Roc!

Confronted by these three fearsome entities, Ghost Bat, Yin Ghost King, and the others could only sink into despair.

A deep, overwhelming despair!

Their strength was so utterly outclassed that they lacked even the courage to resist or flee.

And it wasn’t just them.

Even Lu Quanzhen, our own son, was left dumbfounded by the unfolding battle.

He knew that his father’s daring venture into the Yin Ghost Sect must be backed by absolute confidence.

After all, back in his Core Formation stage, his father could hold his own against Nascent Soul cultivators.

Now, having broken through to Nascent Soul, and with assets like the Golden-Winged Roc – a True Spirit-level Fourth-Rank Demon King – along with myriad spirit treasures, his strength was far superior to that of a typical True Lord Mingsha.

Yet he never imagined that his newly advanced father would be so terrifying.

With merely a swing of the Yin-Yang Hand and a single strike of a dark spear, True Lord Mingsha was eradicated.

Granted, True Lord Mingsha had only recently breached the Nascent Soul stage – barely over forty years old.

But in his early years, he was among the elite of Core Formation cultivators.

Armed with the treasured Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool, he could rival any Nascent Soul True Lord.

And yet, this very Nascent Soul True Lord was so effortlessly struck down by his own father, impaled at the sect gate of the Yin Ghost Sect!

This was absolute power!

An overwhelming force that crushed all opposition!

Although he possessed the formidable Kunpeng Body, with combat prowess far exceeding his peers – enough to challenge foes beyond his rank and even kill them – when faced with divine techniques, dao-comprehending artifacts, and battle-consciousness, his potential was still limited; he needed time to cultivate and refine his skills.

But now, his father Lu Changsheng had taught him a lesson.

Before the might of absolute power, any divine technique, artifact, or battle intent is but an illusion.

His father had not even been a Nascent Soul cultivator for a year after breakthrough.

Nor had he trained any Nascent Soul techniques, and even his life’s magical treasure was somewhat damaged and unrepaired.

Yet under these conditions, he still managed to subdue True Lord Mingsha – who had trained in the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool for years – with ease!

However,

Lu Quanzhen watched as Lu Changsheng, emanating a domineering aura and wielding the Yin-Yang Diagram with his Yin-Yang Dao Form, and he was perplexed.

What kind of technique was that?

A manifestation of external divine power?

Hadn’t my father only just broken through to Nascent Soul? How had he mastered such a legendary divine skill?

Could it be that he had already cultivated the external divine manifestation technique during his Core Formation days?

Lu Changsheng remained calm and unperturbed, showing no visible emotion.

After all, he was confident in his ability to dispatch True Lord Mingsha.

After all, how could any of the likes of True Lord Pinghai or Nuhai True Lord compare to True Lord Mingsha?

To be safe, considering the treasured Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool, he even employed the divine technique of his Yin-Yang Dao Form.

Using the Yin-Yang Dao Form to restrain True Lord Mingsha, he then unleashed the Spear of the Demon God for a killing blow.

Yet, both True Lord Mingsha and his treasured Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool merely responded averagely.

Though this treasure is safeguarded by its spirit, it pales in comparison to the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror.

When the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool attempted to break free on its own, Lu Changsheng raised his hand; the primordial Yin-Yang Hand that had manifested in the heavens instantly closed around the treasure.

No matter how desperately it struggled, it could not escape.

“True Lord Ben, I see that your nascent spirit is hard-earned. If you do not obediently comply, even if I downgrade this treasure’s level, I will forcefully erase your nascent spirit!”

Lu Changsheng said coldly to the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool and executed his threat immediately.

A massive hand, its Yin-Yang patterns etched clearly, surged with churning divine energy as it activated the Divine Creation Refinement Art, tightly enveloping and submerging the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool as if intent on erasing its spirit forever.

This spirit treasure was indeed extraordinary, belonging to the top tier.

However, its original essence had been burned away and partially damaged, reducing it to at most a top-grade spirit treasure.

Under these circumstances, unless the treasure’s spirit dares to self-destruct with resolute defiance, without its master channeling divine energy, it stands no chance against Lu Changsheng.

In mere moments, the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool let out a mournful cry, ceasing its struggle, unwilling to be annihilated.

After all, it was merely the heritage treasure of the Yin Ghost Sect – it would not sacrifice itself for True Lord Mingsha.

“Hmph!” Lu Changsheng snorted as the treasure settled, imposing a sealing mark upon it, intending to further study it later.

Then he turned his gaze toward the Yin Ghost King, Ghost Bat, and the Ancient Blood Bat, who were being stared at intently by the Golden-Winged Roc not far away.

In an instant, the two men and the bat tensed up, shivering in terror.

It was as if one look from Lu Changsheng would obliterate them all!

But immediately, he shifted his gaze to the Yin Ghost Sect ahead and said coolly, “From this moment on, the Yin Ghost Sect ceases to exist!”

No sooner had the words left his lips than, in unison with his Yin-Yang Dao Form, he raised his hand and struck heavily upon the protective formation of the sect.

“Boom!!!”

A deafening explosion roared, shaking the very heavens and earth as if the world were collapsing.

The entire mountain range of the Yin Ghost Sect trembled violently; the protective formation flickered and dense cracks spread like a web.

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

Within the Yin Ghost Sect, countless cultivators, merged with the formation, were struck as if by lightning – spitting blood, bodies exploding, and falling unconscious.

“True Lord, spare us! Please, spare us!”

“Move, move, move! Hurry!”

“True Lord, we are not cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect. Please, show mercy!”

The cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect were either pallid, unconscious, or trembling uncontrollably on their knees, begging for mercy, as if facing a deity.

In that moment, all pride and honor were stripped away.

Only survival mattered now.

If this Yangming True Lord were to completely annihilate the Yin Ghost Sect, not even their combined might would stand a chance.

As for the Fourth-Rank protective formation,

they had all realized that it was no match for the man before them.

At the same time, the Blue-Faced Ghost King, imprisoned by the Soul-Taking Beast, was weakened as the beast devoured more than half of his body amidst the chaos of the collapsing formation.

“Ti Hun.”

Lu Changsheng immediately signaled to the Soul-Taking Beast, instructing it not to devour the Ghost King.

This Blue-Faced Ghost King was the spirit of the Yin Ghost Sect’s protective formation.

If he were consumed by the Soul-Taking Beast, the might of the Fourth-Rank formation would be drastically diminished.

The Yin Ghost Sect, as a Fourth-Rank spirit land, still held significant value.

If the protective formation were utterly destroyed, then once Lu Changsheng assumed control, he would have to rebuild it from scratch – an immensely time-consuming and energy-draining task.

It was better to preserve the formation for now, and reestablish it later when time permitted.

The Soul-Taking Beast, unwilling to relinquish the substantial nourishment from the Ghost King, showed its discontent.

But Lu Changsheng’s orders were absolute – the beast had no choice but to regurgitate the Ghost King and keep him firmly sealed.

“Either submit as a slave or die.”

Lu Changsheng looked coldly at the Yin Ghost Sect Leader, Yin Ghost King, and Ghost Bat, his voice as commanding as heavenly decree.

He was not a mindless killer and did not intend to wipe out the entire Yin Ghost Sect.

But he was far from benevolent enough to let them go.

Thus, either they submit as slaves, bound by a sealing, and become his minions, or they perish!

The Yin Ghost Sect Leader trembled in terror; he never imagined that his sect, barely decades in existence, would be brought to such ruin.

Though he had deep ties to the sect, when faced with matters of life and death, he felt only

“I would sooner die than be enslaved by you!”

Not far off, the Yin Ghost King suddenly bared his fierce features and roared in anger, choosing to self-detonate his Golden Core in a last-ditch effort to buy time for Ghost Bat.

As the former sect leader, having witnessed the death of the Supreme Elder and the collapse of the sect, he could not bear to continue living in shame.

Moreover, he had once clashed with Lu Changsheng and had even injured Lu Quanzhen – a fate worse than enslavement!

“No good!” Lu Quanzhen quickly realized that the Yin Ghost King was targeting him and swiftly retreated.

“Hmph!”

Lu Changsheng snorted coldly, his five fingers clenching fiercely.

It was as if the very void of heaven and earth were being squeezed in his grip, warping and shattering under the pressure, forming layers upon layers of immense, crushing divine energy.

This power was enough to threaten even a Nascent Soul True Lord.

“Move!”

Ghost Bat instantly transformed into countless blood-red bats and scattered, attempting to escape and seek help from Beast God Mountain.

Even cultivators at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages were willing to submit under these circumstances.

They thought that if the sect changed hands, they might as well submit – any oppression was preferable to death.

Yet among the higher-ups of the Yin Ghost Sect, the Core Formation True Lords, who were few, were not inclined to surrender.

At that moment, witnessing the self-detonation of the Yin Ghost King and Lu Changsheng’s grip, many activated secret techniques or hastily used Transfer Talismans in a bid to flee.

“Too bad – this realm of heaven and earth has been sealed off by True Lord Ben. Do you really think you can escape?”

Lu Changsheng shook his head slightly as the Yin-Yang Diagram spread its black and white mystical light across the sky, blocking all transfer talismans.

If several Nascent Soul cultivators attempted to flee now, they surely could.

But a handful of Core Formation cultivators would never be able to break through Lu Ancestor’s void seal.

Even if he had not yet fully grasped the power of the void or condensed his Nascent Soul Domain to repair his life’s magical treasure, no Core Formation cultivator could shake him.

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

As the Yin-Yang Diagram sealed off the heavens and earth, the mighty Yin-Yang Hand descended, crushing any would-be escapees into dust, their bodies shattered into fragments.

Though Ghost Bat’s technique was formidable, there was nowhere to hide from the Golden-Winged Roc – a Fourth-Rank Demon King.

The swarm of blood bats was annihilated, and then the true form emerged, completely torn apart by the Golden-Winged Roc, blood splattering across the sky, further intimidating the cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect.

Lu Changsheng patted his Storage Pouch lightly.

A jet-black war chariot, cast like the Nine Nether’s mysterious iron, appeared with a terrifying, snarling White Tiger devouring the sun on its bow.

This was none other than the mid-grade spirit treasure, the Hunting God Chariot, which he had won in a lottery long ago.

Ever since winning it, he had not bothered to use it.

Now, with four Core Formation cultivators dead and their souls edible as fuel, Lu Changsheng naturally would not let such an opportunity go to waste – a means to contend with the Zhenhai Patriarch in the future.

“Roar!!!”

The white tiger on the chariot’s bow seemed to come alive, devouring the blood, flesh, and souls of the four Core Formation cultivators.

“True Lord, we surrender! We are yours to command!”

At this sight, the cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect were gripped with terror, groveling and kowtowing as if in the presence of a deity, trembling and pleading.

Even the Yin Ghost Sect Leader’s face was ashen.

For the Yangming True Lord was simply too dominating and overbearing.

He had impaled their Supreme Elder, True Lord Mingsha, with one spear thrust.

Casually subduing the self-detonating Yin Ghost King along the way.

The Great Elder and three Core Formation Elders who tried to escape using secret techniques and Transfer Talismans were effortlessly obliterated, their fates a clear warning.

Meanwhile, as the Yin Ghost Sect’s formation ceased its operation, it yielded to Lu Changsheng, signaling their submission.

After all, continued activation of the formation was futile; it could not possibly stop this Yangming True Lord.

“One man obliterating a sect – nothing can surpass that.”

Lu Quanzhen exhaled slowly, gaining a clear understanding of his father’s power.

Yet deep in his heart, he knew that this was merely the tip of the iceberg of his father’s true might.

Besides the present Golden-Winged Roc and Demon Ape, they also had the Abyssal Sea Dragon Whale and the Nines-Leaf Elder.

He was unsure of Hong Lian’s true strength, but knew it was not to be measured by ordinary Core Formation cultivators.

In that moment, Lu Quanzhen suddenly felt that, before he knew it, his family had become a colossal force.

And that was only what he had seen so far.

Who knew how many hidden allies and secret strengths his father possessed?

For instance, there were the likes of Caiyun Zhenren of the Azure Cloud Sect and the Five Poisons Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect.

“Come here.”

Lu Changsheng called out coolly to the pale Yin Ghost Sect Leader not far off.

“Greetings, True Lord.”

The Yin Ghost Sect Leader immediately knelt in reverence, as if in the presence of a deity, presenting the sect’s formation token.

In that instant, Lu Changsheng’s Yin-Yang Creation Sutra transformed into the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex, and he pressed his palm against the crown of the Yin Ghost Sect Leader’s head.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz!!!”

The Yin Ghost Sect Leader instantly felt an invasive, disastrous energy permeate his entire body as myriad tadpole-like curse symbols appeared in his mind.

These inscriptions twisted and wound themselves around his soul like a malignant growth, inflicting a piercing agony.

He dared not cry out, knowing that the Yangming True Lord was placing a sealing curse upon him.

Yet inside, he was horrified – how could a righteous cultivator like him allow a master like Lu Changsheng, who commanded soul-devouring chariots and wields such vicious, evil sealing techniques, to target him?

Moments later, Lu Changsheng raised his palm.

This was an ability from the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex known as the “Doom Spirit Soul Locking Curse.”

Once he activated this curse that entwined his foe’s mind, their soul would be completely obliterated.

Moreover, if the Yin Ghost Sect Leader harbored hatred or ill intent, the curse would tighten its grip in response – a truly fearsome power.

Its only drawback was that he had not yet refined it into the form of a Doom Soul Insect.

Once away from this location, the curse would gradually fade, surviving at most for ten years.

Nonetheless, for temporary use, it was more than sufficient.

Furthermore, he could also forge a curse talisman that would grant another control over this Doom Spirit Soul Locking Curse.

Squeeze the talisman and the target’s soul would be annihilated!

“If you obey me, True Lord Ben will not only spare your life but also bestow upon you an opportunity.”

Lu Changsheng clearly understood the art of rewards and punishment – even if his words were little more than empty promises, when spoken by a Nascent Soul True Lord, they carried immense weight!

“Thank you, True Lord. I shall serve you faithfully, without a hint of treachery.”

The Yin Ghost Sect Leader, his ashen face barely managing a smile, murmured as he clung to the slim hope that as long as he lived, he might someday find a chance.

Besides, to submit to such a top Nascent Soul True Lord and be spared from death might even be considered a favorable turn of fate.

“Where is True Lord Guima?” Lu Changsheng inquired, remembering his long-standing grudge against his son.

“True Lord, True Lord Guima is currently stationed at the base in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range,” the Yin Ghost Sect Leader hastily explained, recounting how True Lord Guima had once forced the sect to pay a heavy price and had been repaying his debt ever since.

“Mm.”

Lu Changsheng, upon hearing this, understood that many cultivators throughout the sect were scattered outside.

He then transmitted mentally to Lu Quanzhen, “Quanzhen, you and him go and inspect the state of the Yin Ghost Sect.”

Once the affairs of the Yin Ghost Sect were settled, he would hurry back to the Jiang Kingdom.

For now, the Yin Ghost Sect would be temporarily entrusted to his son Lu Quanzhen.

After all, it was still considered a Fourth-Rank spirit land.

“Yes, Father.”

Though Lu Quanzhen had been injured in his fierce battles with Ghost Bat, Yin Ghost King, and the others, his Kunpeng Body was robust enough to withstand it.

“Do you wish to die or live?”

Immediately thereafter, Lu Changsheng’s gaze fell on the trembling Ancient Blood Bat, watched closely by the Golden-Winged Roc, and he said icily.

In theory, top-tier Third-Rank Demon Kings are notoriously difficult to tame.

However, this Ancient Blood Bat was not a wild demon king.

The fact that it did not self-detonate alongside Ghost Bat indicated it still clung to life.

Seeing an opportunity, Lu Changsheng decided to see if he could tame it and present it as a spirit pet mount for his son Lu Quanzhen.

Earlier, when his son had acted, it was clear that Lu Quanzhen’s methods were still lacking – he needed some assistance.

This Ancient Blood Bat boasted an excellent bloodline, with the potential to rise to Fourth-Rank if properly nurtured.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak.”

Hearing this, the Ancient Blood Bat quickly signaled its submission to Lu Changsheng.

It wasn’t that it feared death – rather, it believed that by submitting to such a powerful master, its future would be vast and unbounded.

Moreover, even the likes of the Golden-Winged Roc and the Soul-Taking Beast – both far more formidable than a lone demon king – had submitted to Lu Changsheng; what could a mere little bat do?

“You think you can submit to me? Are you worthy?”

Lu Changsheng sneered disdainfully at the Ancient Blood Bat. “Either submit to my son or perish!”

Nearby, the Golden-Winged Roc fixed its golden, sharp gaze upon the bat, as if ready to devour it at the slightest refusal.

Under such overwhelming pressure, the Ancient Blood Bat shuddered heavily and looked toward Lu Quanzhen.

After all, at this level, its wits were not far behind that of a human cultivator.

Especially as a top-tier spirit pet, it had long since transcended its beastly nature – an existence once akin to an Ancestor’s status in the sect.

“Hmm?”

Lu Quanzhen was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected his father to step in and tame the bat for him.

Having such a spirit pet as a mount would indeed be beneficial.

Yet, spirit pets acquired from others, even if sealed with a soul contract, rarely enjoy the loyalty of one nurtured from childhood.

They might even turn on their master in times of peril!

He recalled the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm his father had once raised.

Though violent and dimwitted, under careful cultivation it had gradually become obedient and quite useful.

Alas, in the incident at the Kunpeng Nest, his life was lost when he fell prey to the Kunpeng Egg, leaving nothing but regret.

“I will submit.”

The Ancient Blood Bat, after much contemplation, chose to submit.

On one hand, it did not want to die.

On the other, Lu Quanzhen had displayed potential far superior to Ghost Bat – an allegiance to him did not tarnish its dignity.

After all, as long as it lived there was hope.

Besides, Lu Quanzhen’s very presence exuded an enticing, almost intoxicating aura.

Should Lu Changsheng, the Nascent Soul True Lord, ever be absent, and the bat found a chance to devour Lu Quanzhen, it could break free of its shackles and further evolve into a Fourth-Rank Shapeshifting Demon King – a fate of boundless freedom!

Lu Changsheng, being a Fourth-Rank diviner with a Nascent Soul mid-stage divine sense and acute spiritual perception, knew that the Ancient Blood Bat’s submission was not sincere.

That was only natural.

A top-tier Third-Rank Demon King would seldom submit wholeheartedly.

Nonetheless, he was confident in the sealing measures prescribed by the Ten Thousand Calamities Toxic Spirit Codex.

Approaching the Ancient Blood Bat, he extended his palm and inscribed upon it the “Doom Spirit Soul Locking Curse.”

He planned to refine a couple of curse talismans later for Lu Quanzhen to control it.

After which, he ordered Lu Quanzhen to take the Soul-Taking Beast and venture into the Yin Ghost Sect to inspect the situation, while he waited for Ah Youduo and the Heaven Corpse Sect Master to arrive.

Should any news arrive from them or any change occur in the Heaven Corpse Sect, he would rush to their aid immediately.

“Whoosh!”

With the crisis seemingly averted, the Yin-Yang Dao Form, held in conjunction with the Yin-Yang Diagram, dissolved into a wisp of Yin-Yang Origin and returned to Lu Changsheng’s Qi Sea Dantian.

This divine technique could not endure for long.

But for Lu Changsheng, it was more than sufficient.

From annihilating True Lord Mingsha to completely quelling the Yin Ghost Sect, it all took but the time of a cup of tea.

Later, Lu Changsheng looked at the corpse of True Lord Mingsha still impaled on the stone stele of the Yin Ghost Sect’s gate; his hand rose.

Under the relentless assault of the Spear of the Demon God, the corpse had lost all vestiges of life, as if scorched completely.

Yet Lu Changsheng refrained from reducing it to mere ash.

Instead, he retrieved True Lord Mingsha’s Storage Ring, Storage Pouch, and life’s magical treasure, intent on examining his new spoils.