Sun Xing, Cultivator Pang, Ye Qin, and a group of over twenty Core Formation cultivators had found a cluster of small reefs near the massive island shrouded in blood mist and ghost qi, settling down for a temporary rest.

After arranging the guard duties, Sun Xing flew off to other nearby reefs where other cultivators were stationed, attempting to unite with other Core Formation teams to venture into the ancient ruins in search of treasures. Cultivators gathered in small clusters, resting individually. On one of the reefs, Cultivator Pang watched with cold eyes, seemingly in discussion with Cultivator Zhu and Cultivator Yang.

On another reef, Huangfu Bing'er tried to meditate but found herself unable to settle her mind, her spirit restless. She looked towards Ye Qin beside her, anxiety coloring her voice. "I have a persistent feeling, as if something is about to happen. Husband, do you feel it too?"

Ye Qin heard this, observed Huangfu Bing'er's expression, then glanced at the massive island not far off. After a moment of thought, he shook his head. "We are close to the ancient site. The ruins are dense with blood mist and ghost qi, heavy with malign gloom, which will certainly affect one's mind. However, if we remain vigilant, there shouldn't be any trouble. There are already no fewer than fifty or sixty Core Formation cultivators gathered nearby; even if something untoward happens, we should be able to handle it."

Huangfu Bing'er could not pinpoint what felt amiss and realized she was overly worried. She nodded, calmed her heart, and took out the jade slip containing the Ice Fire Arts, immersing her divine sense into it to comprehend the mysteries of the Ice and Fire Dual Sword Formation.

Seeing this, Ye Qin also took out a jade slip, hoping to find any additional records regarding the Ghost Fog Soul-Bewitching Formation within the miscellaneous chapters of the Yin Xuan Great Method. Understanding one more point about formations would grant him greater assurance upon entering the ancient battlefield ruins. Even if the formations on this island were not identical to those in the jade slip, since both were grand arrays set up by Ghost Cultivators, there would likely be some similarities.

Several hours later, Ye Qin's expression suddenly changed. He looked up sharply towards the northwest sky with alarm. Huangfu Bing'er sensed something and abruptly ceased her cultivation, startled.

All the Core Formation cultivators present, including those resting on other reefs in the distance, displayed varied looks of shock.

In the northwest sky, dozens of streams of colored light were rapidly approaching. The foremost among these was a colossal green streak of light spanning several thousand zhang, its emerald-green magical artifact radiance piercingly bright, completely eclipsing the smaller streaks of light following behind. From this leading light emanated a vast, oppressive pressure that made the hearts of the Core Formation cultivators palpitate.

"Nascent Soul Cultivator!" The assembled Core Formation cultivators erupted into a noisy, chaotic discussion. A Nascent Soul cultivator was arriving, accompanied by dozens of Core Formation cultivators.

Ye Qin was alarmed and shot to his feet, immediately taking to his sword and flying above the reef. His expression was uncertain and surprised. Up until this moment, everyone who had appeared near the ancient battlefield ruins had been a Core Formation cultivator. He had not been overly concerned about his safety. But the arrival of a Nascent Soul cultivator meant something entirely different; the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator far surpassed that of a Core Formation cultivator, leaving them incomparable.

Huangfu Bing'er also arrived by his side, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Could there truly be some supreme, ancient treasure within these Desolate Spirit Ruins? To have attracted an Ancestor at the Nascent Soul stage!" Cultivators Jiang Ling and Zheng Chenghui, who were on the same reef, flashed over to Ye Qin, looking somewhat tense. "Brother Ye, I fear those arriving do not come with good intentions!"

"There are quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators treasure-hunting in the Sea of Blood, but with their Nascent Soul strength, few things in this Sea of Blood pose a real danger to them. They usually travel alone or perhaps in groups of two or three Nascent Soul cultivators."

"For one such Ancestor to lead dozens of Core Formation cultivators is extremely rare. I wonder if they are here because of these ancient ruins."

"Very likely," Ye Qin said gravely. "We will observe the situation and act accordingly."

While the few of them were speaking, the dozens of streaks of light reached a distance of twenty or thirty li from the massive island and suddenly halted together.

The figure leading them was a Nascent Soul Ancestor cloaked in green robes, with a horrifying patch of bird-blue discoloration on his face. Beside this Ancestor was a young cultivator, graceful and noble in bearing, though his gaze was intensely sharp, possessing a mid-stage Core Formation cultivation. Following them were thirty or forty cultivators dressed in green shirts—all late-stage Core Formation cultivators, possessing formidable strength.

This group halted in the sky tens of li from the island, becoming motionless. Only the Green-Robed Ancestor surveyed the massive island before him, his expression shifting. Many treasure-hunters were already gathered around the island. Upon seeing the arrival of the group of green-shirted cultivators, they warily positioned themselves in the air above their reefs, murmuring in astonishment and confusion.

"What's going on? Is this support hired by some Core Formation team, hoping to break through this bizarre formation of blood mist and ghost qi?"

"We don't even know what treasures lie in this ruin yet; how could a Nascent Soul Ancestor have been drawn here by rumor?"

"With so many cultivators arriving together, there must be some major development!"

"They might forcibly enter the ancient site—that could be our perfect opportunity to slip in behind them. Fellow Daoists, prepare yourselves!"

"Master, this is the place!" The young cultivator, seeing the leading Nascent Soul Ancestor stop suddenly, also paused, standing respectfully behind the Green-Robed Ancestor. The thirty to forty late-stage Core Formation cultivators following them also stopped silently, awaiting the Green-Robed Ancestor's decision.

"The ancient battlefield ruin you spoke of, teeming with treasures, is this place? Hmph! Not a trace of treasure radiance or divine light, but plenty of ghost qi! I fear there are many Ghost Cultivators inside." The Nascent Soul Ancestor coldly surveyed the situation on the massive island and snorted.

The young cultivator broke out in a cold sweat at his Master's snort, unsure whether the Ancestor was satisfied or displeased. This island was extremely far away; they had rushed here, even transferring through a large-scale teleportation array. If this ancient ruin failed to satisfy the Ancestor, the young disciple feared he would suffer severely.

A thought flashed through his mind, and the young cultivator quickly explained, "Master, please quell your anger! We occasionally encounter Ghost Cultivators in the Sea of Blood, but most are only Core Formation stage. Even if a group of Core Formation Ghost Cultivators is gathered here, it would be trivial for you, Ancestor."

The Green-Robed Ancestor did not believe him at all and showed caution regarding the massive island. "Ghost Cultivators have an exceptionally hard path to cultivation, but their combat power is many times greater than that of ordinary cultivators. If, by chance, we encounter a Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator here, they will be difficult to deal with!"

"It is incredibly difficult for Core Formation Ghost Cultivators to pass the Heavenly Tribulation and become Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators—it happens once in ten thousand tries. That is countless times harder than a Core Formation cultivator achieving Nascent Soul. How could we be so unlucky as to meet a Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator!" the young cultivator quickly added.

The Green-Robed Ancestor fell silent, seemingly contemplating something. Seeing that the Ancestor was showing some inclination, the young cultivator pressed on. "Master, consider this: if the Ghost Cultivators in this ruin were indeed Nascent Soul Ancestors, they would erect a boundary marker and forcefully claim this location, and who would dare easily offend them? But although the ghost qi here is dense, it is concealed, as if afraid of other cultivators discovering it. It must be a congregation of Core Formation Ghost Cultivators who have set up a grand array to block outside cultivators from seeking treasure."

"With your strength, Master, at the mid-stage Nascent Soul, supported by so many late-stage Core Formation cultivators, even if a group of Core Formation Ghost Cultivators is gathered here, they will only end up annihilated!" After speaking, the young cultivator glanced at the dozens of green-shirted late-stage Core Formation cultivators behind him, a look of considerable arrogance on his face. Although he was only mid-stage Core Formation, his spiritual root potential was exceedingly high, and he was ruthless. He had been taken as a personal disciple by the Green-Robed Ancestor of Barbarian Island. Even these late-stage Core Formation cultivators affiliated with Barbarian Island had to defer to him. In Barbarian Island, he wielded immense influence; aside from a few Apex Ancestors, his status was exceptionally high, granting him the right to be arrogant.

"Is that so?!" The Green-Robed Ancestor pondered for a while, then listened to more of the young cultivator's words and felt they held merit. In the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, Ghost Cultivators were extremely rare. A cultivator’s physical body would be destroyed, their primordial spirit ejected, failing to successfully possess a new body, and knowing ghost cultivation arts, they would be forced to inhabit skeletons or decaying corpses to survive as Ghost Cultivators. Ghost Cultivators carried the aura of death, which easily affected a cultivator’s state of mind and cultivation, leading to their rejection by the orthodox cultivation world.

However, on the other hand, once a cultivator became a Ghost Cultivator, their combat power surged, making them incredibly powerful. Their husks could be refined into formidable ghost artifacts, rendering them impervious to ordinary damage. If an ordinary cultivator had their limbs or body severed, it would be a severe injury, drastically reducing their combat strength and cultivation. But such damage was merely a minor wound for them, requiring little concern, needing only repair afterward.

Of course, Ghost Cultivators had weaknesses. They were not accepted by the orthodox cultivation world, nor by Heaven and Earth itself; they feared intense sunlight and heavenly lightning. Low-level Ghost Cultivators, once exposed to the harsh sun, would see their cultivation constantly diminish. High-level Ghost Cultivators were prone to attracting Heavenly Tribulation; if their husks were struck by lightning, they would often be smashed to dust, their primordial spirits unable to escape. Thus, Ghost Cultivators usually had to seek out deserted, shadowy places in desolate regions to avoid the sun and lightning for their cultivation. Consequently, Ghost Cultivators seen in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World were exceedingly rare.

Core Formation Ghost Cultivators were uncommon; Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivators were even rarer. The same lightning tribulation was more than ten times more terrifying for a Ghost Cultivator than for an ordinary cultivator. Moreover, if a Ghost Cultivator could not withstand the tribulation, they would be utterly annihilated, leaving no trace between Heaven and Earth. If not for the many fatal checks and balances in the world, countless unfortunate deceased cultivators would have long transformed into a vast legion of powerful Ghost Cultivators dominating the Cultivation World.

The Green-Robed Ancestor was not entirely convinced that a Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator would be present here. Seeing the Ancestor fall silent, the young cultivator sensed he was wavering and continued excitedly, "Disciple learned of this new ancient ruin from a cultivator selling information at the Ancient Ship Stronghold, spending a heavy price to purchase it. This ancient ruin is definitely new, never having been explored before. That informant has always had a good reputation; he shouldn't have sold me false intelligence."

The Green-Robed Ancestor's eyebrows twitched, showing displeasure. "Intelligence bought from an information broker? Where is that person now? Have you killed him?"

"Disciple did not dare take action while at the Ancient Ship Stronghold!"

"Hmph, good-for-nothing! Couldn't you have devised a way to lure him out of the Ancient Ship Stronghold before making a move! If he sold the news to others, drawing a large crowd of cultivators, what benefits would our Barbarian Island gain from this ancient ruin?" The Ancestor's displeasure caused the young cultivator's heart to tighten, and he quickly bowed, admitting fault. The Ancestor's unpredictable temper was something even he, his constant attendant, found difficult to get used to.