Yunyi stood at the peak of the Seven Stars Heaven realm. Though she hadn't cultivated Thunder Veins, the seven radiant star clusters orbiting her body could intercept most vengeful spirits, making her immune to the torment of *Thousand Ghosts' Lament*.

Ji Changkong was a different story. While lacking the terrifying power of the Seven Stars Heaven realm, his Five Elements Heaven cultivation had tempered his body with Fire Element energy. The sacred aura from the phoenix bone amplified its destructive potential against these negativity-infused entities. Combined with the Thunder Veins' explosive capabilities, Ji's threat level far exceeded Yunyi's despite his lower cultivation tier.

Wherever he moved, scorching flames raged and thunderclaps echoed. Vengeful spirits attempting to ensnare him were obliterated by Nine Heavens Thunderbolts, their forms disintegrating beyond recovery.

At the heart of *Thousand Ghosts' Lament*, monstrous ghost vines coiled around a colossal death tree. As Ji surged forward, the vengeful spirits clinging to its bark tore free in frenzied attacks. "Suicidal!" he sneered, slamming his palms outward. Thunderbolts erupted into massive lightning storms.

*BOOM! BOOM!* The deafening detonation shattered several larger spirits, though some retained enough cohesion to reassemble mid-air by absorbing weaker spectral energy from their shattered remains.

"Changkong, beware! Those powerful ghosts can regenerate by consuming lesser spirits even Thunderbolts won't instantly kill them!" Mo Yunyi's warning rang out from behind. "Then let's make it count," Ji growled, his chest flaring with tripled thunder energy as the flames in his arms intensified.

Since forging his body with Fire, Earth and Metal Elements, his meridians now conducted quintessence at accelerated speeds. *BOOM! BOOM!* The threefold Thunderbolt explosion detonated again, this time reducing even the regenerating spirits to true oblivion. "If you can be contained by thunder, it's manageable..." Ji grinned, charging toward the death tree where several Yin-core fruits hung precariously.

A spectral form suddenly materialized on the trunk - a monstrous spirit rapidly expanding into ten-meter size before descending like storm clouds over him. Other vengeful spirits swarmed to strengthen its essence, releasing waves of malignant energy.

"Endless?" Ji frowned, igniting his crimson phoenix bone. The miniature relic blazed with purifying flames that fused with the fiery soul within the Heavenly Yuan Pearl. A spectral phoenix forged entirely from infernal fire erupted forth, clashing violently against the composite spirit as they circled the death tree in a deadly duel.

While Thunder Veins could annihilate spirits directly, Ji focused instead on harvesting the fruits - thirteen tiny Yin-core fruits formed after centuries of absorbing *Thousand Ghosts' Lament* essence. As his storage ring neared the last fruit...

Suddenly ten shadow moths erupted from his ring! The minuscule creatures devoured the final fruit in moments, their satisfaction evident as they returned to their sanctuary. But an uncanny sensation now connected Ji directly with them - it was as if they'd become part of his very being without him noticing.

The vengeful spirit's green eyes burned with hatred as it circled helplessly. "Yin-core fruits secured," Ji announced, holding up the crystalline fruit to Mo Yunyi who immediately began retreating. "This death tree growing both ghost-infused fruit and attracting spirits is strange indeed."

"Let's go," Ji shrugged, only now noticing a spectral phoenix trailing behind him after his clash with the composite spirit. The exhausted phoenix bone dropped into his palm while its soul dissipated through his navel. "Where did you get that phoenix soul? How could it survive in your body?" Mo asked curiously.

"Long story," Ji replied as they exited *Thousand Ghosts' Lament*. Hours later, deep within the gray mountains...

"WAILING!" came a mournful cry from a swamp. "Human-like ghost cries mean dangerous spirits - that one there was once an expert's soul corrupted by swamp miasma," Mo warned grimly. The previous composite spirit proved this: while flames destroyed its subordinates, it remained intact with considerable intelligence and defensive strategy.

They continued through the night,...

By dawn, they settled on a cold stone to meditate. As dawn broke, Ji noticed his hands gleamed like jade - an entire water essence crystal had been absorbed painlessly overnight. "Mo," he asked suddenly, "what elements did previous Ji clan patriarchs cultivate?"

"Most practiced Wood, Water or Earth Elements," she replied. A realization struck him: the gray mountains' natural abundance of these elements must explain why every Ji patriarch emerged stronger after their retreats!

After sharing this epiphany with Mo and passing her the Yin-core fruits, he insisted on staying behind for deeper cultivation. "You need to lead the clan while I'm away," he urged. After a final parting, he settled near a secluded water pool...

The water's essence was so potent that five crystals could be used simultaneously! Unlike his earlier painful Earth and Fire infusions, this time the sensation was oddly pleasurable as quintessence flowed through his meridians. When the water began forming vortices around him, he realized his brain had finally been cleansed by the element...

By midnight three days later, he encountered an unexpected traveler - a masked figure with familiar energy patterns and a menacing mask similar to the one who'd once ambushed him in Tian Shui City. Following the man through the night led him to a hidden base of the Shadowless Sect where three girls were being held captive...

"Careful," the sect leader warned as his subordinate reported about the infiltrated information leak. "The Dan family's three junior members have been captured..." But when Ji discovered their identities, determination hardened - he would rescue them!

As the ten approached carrying the captives, Ji waited deep underground until the masked expert stepped onto his trap site... *BOOM!* His feet were grabbed as fire surged up through their soles. "Careful!" screamed the victim before golden metal force shattered his insides and the phoenix bone erupted from beneath the earth!

The vengeful spirit's leader tried to flee but Ji unleashed Thunderbolts, obliterating most of the escaping souls though one managed to escape detection... "Fool," he growled, fleeing with the three girls while suppressing their screams.

"Who are you!" cried the dying man before his brain exploded and his soul disintegrated in a final burst...