The assembled cultivators reached a consensus, their expressions finally easing, relieved that there would be no more discord over whether to press deeper into Ghost Island.

Cultivator Pang retrieved the map scroll and jade slip. "Since everyone is eager to seek the Wuying Dan from that ancient treasury, let us be on our way. The Boneyard Mountains are not a place to linger, lest we draw more Ghost Cultivators, making escape difficult.

"Moving forward, we enter the island's central region. The Ghost Fog there forms a vast formation known as the Soul-Bewitching Ghost Fog Array, which is even more perilous than the Boneyard Mountains."

Mentioning the Soul-Bewitching Ghost Fog Array, Cultivator Pang could not help but adopt a serious demeanor.

"Within the Soul-Bewitching Ghost Fog Array, not only must we maintain our protective shields at full capacity, draining significant magical power, but it also negatively impacts our cultivation methods. Our strength will be diminished by nearly ten percent. Simultaneously, Ghost Cultivators inside the array are in their element, their strength actually increasing by ten percent. With this shift in power, those Golden Core Ghost Cultivators of the same rank become even more astonishingly formidable!

"In that section of the Ghost Fog Array, there are no Corrupted Beasts or Skeletons, but there are equally terrifying Vengeful Souls and Fierce Spirits. These Vengeful Souls and Fierce Spirits are elusive, capable of confusing and assaulting the cultivator's mind. A cultivator with weak willpower, once lost within the Ghost Fog Array, alone and without aid, faces a dire fate—either mental collapse or having their Nascent Soul devoured by an Yin Spirit, resulting in possession of the physical body! Therefore, once we enter the Ghost Fog Array, follow me closely. Do not act independently, lest misfortune befall you."

Cultivator Pang's words caused the Wang uncle and nephew to exchange glances, their faces turning pale, a chill running down their spines.

However, they quickly reasoned that they were, after all, mid-stage Golden Core cultivators. Though not exceptionally powerful, they believed they wouldn't be undone by mere Vengeful Souls and Fierce Spirits. Moreover, as long as they stuck close to Cultivator Pang, Ye Qin, and the others, they wouldn't encounter too much danger.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Pang, we will not act recklessly!"

The Wang uncle and nephew readily agreed, nodding repeatedly without further hesitation.

Having stated what needed to be said and administered a stern warning to the Wang pair, Cultivator Pang turned to Ye Qin, eager to hear his opinion.

But Ye Qin remained expressionless, his demeanor calm, presenting an inscrutable front.

Cultivator Pang was aware that Ye Qin's strength far surpassed his own, and he had no desire to offend him, so he naturally didn't press the matter further, taking the lead and proceeding with caution.

Fearing another encounter with the Ghost Cultivators from the Boneyard Mountains, the group—Cultivator Pang, Ye Qin, and the others—while extremely careful, dared not slow their pace, transforming into seven swift silhouettes streaking through the Boneyard Mountains.

Fortunately, apart from a few wandering Skeletons, they encountered no other Ghost Cultivators along the way.

Half an hour later, the cultivators finally passed beyond the confines of the Boneyard Mountains, entering a plain shrouded in dense Ghost Fog.

"This is where the Soul-Bewitching Ghost Fog Array begins?!"

Ye Qin thought to himself, noticing that the consumption of his protective light shield had increased severalfold. The chilling Yin energy threatened to penetrate the shield and invade his lungs and heart, even causing his internal circulation of magical power within his dantian and meridians to become slightly sluggish.

A slight impedance in the flow of magical power would likely reduce combat effectiveness by about ten percent—a point Cultivator Pang had already mentioned, so Ye Qin was not surprised. However, the reality within the Ghost Fog Array was somewhat astonishing to Ye Qin. The Ghost Fog seemed to be churning. Pale blue and sickly green ghost fires flickered deep within the mist, making the scene even more eerie. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing ghostly shriek erupted from all around, shaking their minds.

The surrounding Ghost Fog churned, and more than a dozen wisps of black energy rushed out. These wisps, laced with intensely cold green flames, contorted into shapes resembling vengeful spirits, clawing and lunging toward them.

"They are Evil Spirits! Be careful! Use your talismans quickly! Do not let them invade your physical bodies, or it will cause direct harm—"

Cultivator Pang roared, having been prepared. He flipped his hand and slapped a mid-grade Great Brightness Spell Talisman onto himself.

Immediately, bright golden incantations appeared around his body. These spells spun, erupting with dazzling light and resonant Sanskrit sounds, enveloping an area spanning several dozen feet.

The Evil Spirits attempting to surround them screamed in agony when illuminated by the countless golden beams, burning with a sizzle. Before they could approach within ten feet, they turned into black smoke and dissipated.

The Golden Core cultivators felt a tightening in their chests. While they did not fear these Evil Spirits, they dared not be careless. One by one, they slapped various talismans purchased at the ancient ship stronghold onto themselves—Quiet-Mind Charms, Ghost-Dispelling Talismans, Ghost-Expelling Charms, Evil-Warding Talismans, Great Brightness Spell Talismans, and more.

Instantly, dazzling golden, red, and cyan lights flared forth, accompanied by celestial music and Sanskrit chants, preventing the Evil Spirits and Vengeful Souls from approaching an inch. Even the ghostly roars and shrieks within the Ghost Fog Array could no longer disturb their minds.

Cultivator Pang, Ye Qin, and the other five mid-to-late Golden Core cultivators gathered together, their combined strength already considerable. Moreover, being well-prepared and carrying a large supply of specialized talismans to counteract these spirits, the Evil Spirits of this array could do them no harm.

After many Vengeful Souls and Fierce Spirits were burned to ash, the remaining Yin Spirits recognized the danger and dared not approach, only lurking vaguely in the distant Ghost Fog, a shadowy, sinister presence.

The group encountered no high-level Fierce Spirits along the way. After crossing the Blood Mist Plain, their path was soon blocked by a still, dark lake of black water.

The lake was foul and permeated with Yin coldness, dotted with numerous skeletal remains. Many low-level specters, trailing faint ghost fires, drifted aimlessly across the water's surface.

"Why are there so many low-level creature specters gathered here?"

Ye Qin frowned as he gazed at the countless nearly transparent specters floating above the Dead Lake.

These low-level specters were mostly in the forms of sea beasts, demon fish, or demon sea snakes. Most were even weaker than the Nascent Souls of low-level cultivators. Upon being touched by the bright light of the talismans, they vanished completely, leaving behind no trace of black smoke.

"It is said that after living beings die, their specters enter the cycle of reincarnation and are reborn. Why are the Yin Spirits here congregated above this lake, refusing to enter the cycle?!"

Elder Wang couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle as he spoke.

"This lake is the Lake of Dead Souls! It is a method used by high-level Ghost Cultivators to preserve Yin Spirits over long periods. This lake condenses the spiritual consciousness of the specters, gradually solidifying the drifting spirits and preventing them from dissipating. Furthermore, possessing this lake ensures the specters do not disperse."

Cultivator Pang glanced coldly at Elder Wang, showing a hint of disdain for his ignorance.

"Ah! So, after we die, we too could use this Lake of Dead Souls to keep our specters from dispersing, never having to enter reincarnation?" Elder Wang exclaimed in surprise.

"Hmph, you dream! The Ghost Cultivators create the Lake of Dead Souls specifically to continuously draw power from the specters to refine all manner of venomous Ghost Arts. Do you think they are being benevolent by allowing you to use the Lake of Dead Souls to preserve your own Yin Spirits?"

After speaking, Cultivator Pang paused, seemingly recalling something. "Besides, the solidification of specter consciousness through this lake is only temporary. When the specter's natural lifespan ends, they will sooner or later dissipate completely, vanishing from the heavens and earth... In the cultivation world of the Eastern Sea, no power can resist this force of reincarnation... Unless one enters the Styx!"

"The Styx? What connection does this Lake of Dead Souls have with the legendary Styx?" Elder Wang asked, startled.

"Ancient Immortal Texts recorded that beneath the mysterious Nether Continent in the West Sea, there flows a massive, winding Styx River, countless trillions of miles long. Countless Yin Spirits drift upon the Styx, awaiting the long cycle of reincarnation! Only the Styx can preserve specters so they are immortal and indestructible."

Cultivator Pang shook his head with a wry smile.

"Of course, this is merely an ancient legend passed down for countless years in the cultivation world; no one knows if it is true. In the last few hundred thousand years, the Eastern Sea cultivation world has seen countless powerful figures, but how many have managed to reach the West Sea? The Lake of Dead Souls serves a similar function to the Styx, but it is infinitely smaller, and its effect is certainly less than one ten-millionth of the legendary Styx! Being able to temporarily preserve a large number of specters is already quite an achievement. The specters of the deceased sea beasts surrounding this island were likely drawn here by the Lake of Dead Souls, causing them to gather in this location."

These sea beast specters drifted aimlessly across the jet-black, mirror-like surface of the Lake of Dead Souls, carrying faint wisps of ghost fire.

A very small number of Evil Spirits pursued and devoured the specters in the distance, their forms constantly solidifying and swelling. Most specters, unlike the Evil Spirits and Vengeful Souls, did not attack proactively.

Ye Qin nodded slowly, no longer concerned about these specters. He looked at the intensely cold surface of the lake and remarked, "There is a No-Fly Array here; we cannot cross the lake by air. Fellow Daoist Pang, do you have preparations for crossing this lake?"

Normally, for lakes on such islands, he would simply fly across on his sword without a second thought. But the situation was different now; they had to use magic. Very few cultivators carried artifacts like magic ships to cross vast, boundless seas. Ye Qin did not possess any sea-faring artifact like a magic ship.

The water of the Lake of Dead Souls was intensely cold and incomparably foul; it could not be allowed to touch the body.

"No need to worry. We visited this place last time and devised a method: we will build a boat from bones to cross the Lake of Dead Souls!"

Cultivator Pang already had a plan and chuckled, glancing at Cultivator Zhu.

Cultivator Zhu, who had been silent, finally took action. He used his magical power to gather a large quantity of demon beast skeletons, then used the bone material to conjure an Yin Fire on the lake shore, refining these skeletons into a crude bone boat large enough to hold the seven Golden Core cultivators.

After spending a good half hour, the bone boat was slid into the lake. It sank slightly before settling firmly on the surface.

This temporarily assembled vessel was hardly of fine quality, but it was sufficient for crossing the water.

"Bone Refining Technique?"

Ye Qin was slightly taken aback and gave Cultivator Zhu a meaningful look.

This Cultivator Zhu also understood the art of Bone Refining. However, this fact alone didn't signify much. In the cultivation world of the Eastern Sea, cultivators proficient in refining various bone artifacts were not uncommon.

A method for crossing the tide had been established. But entering the Lake of Dead Souls, where aerial travel was impossible, was more perilous than traversing flat ground.

Cultivator Pang, Ye Qin, and the other Golden Core cultivators maintained peak vigilance, clutching their flying swords and talismans, carefully guarding against Fierce Spirits that might emerge from the surrounding Ghost Fog.

The Wang uncle and nephew, meanwhile, used the Wind Control Art to fully propel the bone boat forward.

In the gloom of the Ghost Fog, the boundless Dead Lake appeared especially cold and utterly desolate.

Driven by the Wind Control Art, the bone boat pushed aside layers of waves and the various skeletal remains floating on the surface, slowly navigating the lake.

The deeper they ventured toward the center of the lake, the more bone-chilling the Yin coldness became.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.