The Ghost Lord stood with his hands behind his back atop a colossal, two-headed vulture skeleton demon, eyes closed, sending a wisp of his divine soul to control the movements of the Fan Cultivator within the treasury.

"A single seed from the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus! To use such an item as the treasury’s guardian treasure... this truly exceeds my expectations!"

From the Ghost Lord’s face, shrouded in pitch-black spectral fog, two eerie, piercing beams of light suddenly shot out, revealing a rare flicker of agitation in a tone that was usually as still as an ancient well.

"Master, the item in this ancient vault is the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus?"

The eleventh-tier, two-headed vulture skeleton demon serving beneath the Ghost Lord sounded surprised.

"Your subordinate once heard amongst the demon races that over a hundred thousand years ago, an ancient, mighty cultivator obtained a thirteenth-tier Northern Abyss Ice Lotus from an iceberg drifting from the Northern Sea. Using it, he forged an entire set of Ice Lotus series great divine artifacts. These artifacts once ranked as the foremost great divine artifacts in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World. This set of great divine artifacts appeared multiple times in the Immortal-Demon Wars and was widely famous even among the demon cultivators."

"Indeed, only a seed from the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus could possess such a strong Ice Spirit aura. However, after such an immensely long period, many more potent great divine artifacts have appeared in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World. The Northern Abyss Ice Lotus’s status as the foremost ancient great divine artifact of the East Sea is long gone. One can only say that among ancient great divine artifacts of the Ice element, it remains the strongest. But among all the great divine ancient artifacts in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus still holds a place within the top ten; it is not unparalleled."

The Ghost Lord spoke lightly.

"However, there was once a rumor that the ancient cultivator who possessed the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus great divine artifact took it to the Southern Demon Continent, and the artifact disappeared from the Eastern Sea Cultivation World. I never expected that a single ice seed would be left behind in this ancient treasury. This seed is an extremely crucial component of the entire set of Northern Abyss Ice Lotus great divine ancient artifacts."

As the Ghost Lord spoke, he closed his eyes and fell silent.

Seeing the Ghost Lord deep in thought, the two-headed vulture dared not make a sound to disturb him.

"If this ice seed could be refined using ghost-element artifact forging techniques and transformed into a Nether Lotus, there would be a great chance of converting it into a great divine ghost artifact. Using this ghost artifact as the core to operate the Myriad Mile Ghost Mist Array would undoubtedly significantly increase the probability of successfully weathering the Nascent Soul Tribulation."

The Ghost Lord murmured to himself as he pondered, clearly deeply interested in the idea.

To pass the great heavenly tribulation of the Spirit Transformation stage, it had made extensive and meticulous preparations over these hundreds of years, setting up this immensely powerful Myriad Mile Ghost Mist Array. However, it lacked a great divine ghost artifact capable of guarding the formation. If it could retrieve and refine the ice seed, the power of the Ghost Mist Array would certainly increase substantially, giving it much greater confidence in facing the Spirit Transformation tribulation.

Once successful in crossing the tribulation, it would become the most powerful Ghost Cultivator in the Sea of Blood.

Of course, it could no longer remain in the Eastern Sea.

It could travel to the Western Solitude Continent. With the Nether Flame and a great divine Nether Lotus artifact in hand, its strength would be enough to secure a foothold in the Western Solitude Continent. In that land, its cultivation speed would see tremendous improvement.

However, there were still a few troublesome factors that caused it concern.

The ice seed, being an Ice-element great divine ancient artifact, possessed a natural, profound restraint upon the Nether Flame within its body. The sealing power of the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus was terrifyingly potent; it could freeze even high-tier ghost fires.

Furthermore, the Five Element Thunder Pearls housed in the treasury posed a significant threat to ghost cultivators as well.

Should these thunder pearls encounter a ghost cultivator, they would strike directly, even without triggering the restrictive mechanisms.

For the Ghost Lord, the threat wasn't overwhelmingly severe, but it could still result in injury. To suffer damage to its strength at this critical juncture before preparing for the Spirit Transformation Tribulation would be extremely unwise.

It was precisely because of these concerns that it had always been hesitant to enter this ancient treasury personally.

Allowing the Golden Core cultivators from the Sea of Blood to enter the ancient treasury actually made things more convenient than if it acted itself.

This group of treasure-hunting cultivators truly had not disappointed it.

They had managed, with such relatively weak strength, to clear the path through the ice cave passage within the treasury, entering the central ice vault and surveying everything inside with perfect clarity. And the seed of the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus within the vault was now practically before its eyes.

"Only that Ice Toad poses a slight complication."

"Judging by the current situation, these few Golden Core cultivators seem unable to deal with the Ice Toad and successfully retrieve the lotus seed."

The Aura Spirit Ghost Lord was currently using its divine soul to manipulate the Fan Cultivator, causing him to spew forth vital energy, reinforcing the power of the Savage Rhinoceros Ancient Seal. If these treasure hunters proved truly incapable of handling the Ice Toad, the Ghost Lord would personally enter the treasury and seize the Northern Abyss Ice Lotus seed!

"Rumble...!"

Just then, it suddenly heard several massive sounds emanating from the periphery of the massive island, shaking the region for thousands of miles.

The Ghost Lord could not help but open its eyes again, its gaze projecting a profound, deep light.

"Master, it seems cultivators are attacking the Ghost Mist Array! Such a massive disturbance suggests a force of considerable size!"

The two-headed vulture skeleton demon beneath the Ghost Lord flapped its massive bone wings rapidly, appearing utterly enraged.

"Mm, most likely those Sea of Blood cultivators scouting for treasures!"

The Ghost Lord looked toward the distance, fixing its gaze on a streak of black light rapidly approaching Aura Spirit City, its demeanor as grim as still water, letting out a low snort.

That streak of black light traversed a thousand zhang in the span of a breath, and in a short while, it landed below Aura Spirit City.

"Master!"

The Corpse King, revealed from within the black light wearing black robes, bowed in reverence.

"Corpse King, what is happening outside the island?"

The Ghost Lord inquired coldly.

After paying respects, the Corpse King hastily reported, "Master, a group of several hundred treasure-hunting cultivators have gathered outside the island these past few days! They have been surrounding the formation for quite some time. Today, for some unknown reason, they suddenly began assaulting this island, attempting to break into Aura Spirit Ghost Island. General Skeleton has already led a contingent of his subordinate ghost cultivators to intercept them. But those treasure hunters are pressing their attack so fiercely; I fear they will be difficult to stop."

The Ghost Lord, whose expression was obscured by the black mist enveloping its face, spoke coldly, "You two Nascent Soul ghost cultivators, leading a hundred Golden Core ghost cultivators—relying on the Ghost Mist Array and the blood mist—surely you cannot repel or at least delay these treasure hunters?"

The Corpse King, sensing the Ghost Lord’s rising anger, trembled inwardly and lowered its head, saying, "Master, among the approaching group of treasure hunters, there are fully seven or eight Nascent Soul cultivators; their strength is too great. Besides two or three who are only in the early stage of Nascent Soul, the others are all mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Their power already far surpasses that of Your Subordinate and General Skeleton. Under their full assault, the Ghost Mist Array is likely to suffer damage. Your Subordinate feared that damage to the formation would interfere with Master's private affairs, so I rushed to report..."

"Oh, is that so!"

A sharp glint flashed in the Aura Spirit Ghost Lord’s eyes, and it spoke with a chilling tone, "Seven or eight Nascent Soul cultivators have arrived? Hmph! They must be that group of old fogeys from the nearest ancient ship outpost. I hadn't even found the inclination to bother them yet, and they dare to come knocking!"

The Ghost Lord held these Nascent Soul cultivators in high disdain. Had they attacked on an ordinary day, it would have had ample time to entertain them; even if they had double their numbers, they would only leave with a few lives spared, returning in defeat.

But today was different. The operation to retrieve the treasure from the ancient vault was at a critical juncture. The sudden appearance of these Nascent Soul cultivators attacking Aura Spirit Island had a high probability of jeopardizing its grand plans.

"Master, the Ghost Mist Array was established with immense effort on your part, and it is fundamental to surviving the Spirit Transformation Tribulation. If it lacks support and is forcefully broken by those Nascent Soul cultivators, the loss would be too great! General Skeleton might also perish at the hands of those Nascent Soul cultivators. It would be better to let Your Subordinate go and ease your burden. With myself, coupled with General Skeleton and the Corpse King, utilizing the Ghost Mist Array, we can deal with seven or eight Nascent Soul cultivators and at least stall them for some time."

The two-headed vulture skeleton demon spoke quickly.

"Very well. The three of you join forces to stall those Nascent Soul cultivators who have come to the island; that should be no problem. The situation in the vault is at a crucial point; any delay might introduce variables outside of my control! Once I secure that treasure, I will deal with those Nascent Soul cultivators."

The Ghost Lord deliberated briefly before speaking. Based on its estimation, the time required for it to enter the ancient treasury, seize the Ice Lotus ancient artifact, would take no more than half an hour, perhaps even less. And with the strength of its three Nascent Soul ghost subordinates, holding the line for several hours would be more than sufficient.

Having made up its mind, the Ghost Lord was just about to order the two-headed vulture skeleton demon and the Corpse King to act immediately, when a black ghost talisman, accompanied by a "whoo-whoo" whistling sound, tore through the spectral mist and shot through the air toward the Ghost Lord.

Upon seeing it, the Corpse King’s expression changed drastically.

This was the Myriad Mile Communication Ghost Talisman of Aura Spirit Ghost Island; only Nascent Soul ghost cultivators possessed them, and they were usually reserved for dire emergencies when General Skeleton could not report to the Ghost Lord in person.

The ghost talisman had already reached the area in front of the two-headed vulture.

The Ghost Lord reached out a hand, drawing the talisman in, crushing it. A burst of black ghost energy immediately erupted. "Master, the Nascent Soul cultivators have already led a large contingent of treasure hunters into the island! Your subordinate cannot hold them back; the ghost cultivators inside the island are suffering heavy casualties!"

"Insolent!"

Black mist swirled across the Ghost Lord’s face. With a flick of its left hand, it absorbed the remnants of the talisman into its mouth. Ghostly malevolence soared into the sky, causing the ghostly mist above Aura Spirit City to churn and surge violently.

"Move! Let’s go meet these Nascent Soul cultivators! If they are so eager to die, we shall grant their wish!"

With a fierce roar, the Ghost Lord transformed into a massive spectral fog several hundred zhang tall, enveloped by raging Nether Flames, rushing towards the edge of the great island, toward the location where General Skeleton and the Nascent Soul cultivators were fiercely battling.

As for the few treasure hunters inside the ancient treasury, with the Fan Cultivator mixed among them, they could not escape its grasp; there was no need to rush that matter. It absolutely could not allow these Nascent Soul cultivators to ruin the Ghost Mist Array that it had painstakingly established.

The two-headed vulture skeleton demon became greatly excited, beating its giant bone wings and whistling through the ghostly mist clouds in the sky. Its speed was immense, but it could not match the speed of the enraged Ghost Lord.

The Corpse King dared not delay, transforming into a black gleam that swept over the ground, covering a thousand zhang in an instant, rapidly chasing after the Ghost Lord and the two-headed vulture skeleton demon.