Duan Xiaoshan and the two other young girls stood beside Ji Changkong, their faces guarded as they watched Ghost Elder Qi. Despite the fact that Ghost Elder Qi had already driven away the malevolent spirits, the three girls were even more terrified of this man who could manipulate them, unsure what he might do next.

The moment Ji Changkong unleashed his Heavenly Thunder Force, Ghost Elder Qi instantly guessed his identity. His hostile posture immediately vanished, replaced by a look of profound complexity.

“My Ji family—what dealings do we have with your Ghost Sect?” Seeing that he didn't intend to press the attack, Ji Changkong frowned and asked.

“The Ji family has little connection with our Ghost Sect,” Ghost Elder Qi replied, deeply scrutinizing him before continuing, “The one connected to our Ghost Sect is Xuanyuan!”

“Xuanyuan?” A strange smile flickered across Ji Changkong’s face; he was intensely curious. “Xuanyuan has a relationship with your Ghost Sect? What kind of relationship?”

“Are you Xuanyuan?” Ghost Elder Qi didn't answer his question, his somewhat sinister eyes fixed on him. “If you are not the Xuanyuan of the Ji family, you are not qualified to know. Our Ghost Sect only deals with the Xuanyuan of the Ji family!”

“I am,” Ji Changkong grinned, his smile growing even stranger.

His pupils contracted sharply. Ghost Elder Qi’s expression twitched unnaturally, and his voice grew urgent, rising suddenly. “What? You—you are the Ji family’s Xuanyuan? Young man, this is not something to be spoken of lightly!”

Not only Ghost Elder Qi’s face turned ashen with shock, but the faces of Duan Xiaoshan, Duan Xiaoqi, and Duan Lingyue also changed, looking at him in astonishment.

“I am the new generation’s Xuanshu of the Ji family... This news shouldn't take long to spread across the major sects of the Central Lands. There’s truly no reason to impersonate it,” Ji Changkong explained with a smile, his expression turning serious. “Ghost Elder Qi, now can you tell me about the relationship between our Ji family and your Ghost Sect?”

“It might be true about you being the Ji family’s Xuanyuan. Our Ghost Sect possesses its own methods of verification. Until we confirm you are the new generation’s Xuanyuan, I cannot tell you anything,” Ghost Elder Qi stated, though clearly excited, he didn't immediately divulge the connection. “If you have no urgent matters, would you mind accompanying me? Once we reach Ghost Valley and my Sect Master confirms your identity, the connection between the Ji family and the Ghost Sect will be personally explained by our Sect Master. What do you think?” Ghost Elder Qi proposed.

“Alright. I have nothing else to do, and the Shadowless Sect is still lurking outside. Taking a trip to the Ghost Sect to see the situation won't hurt…” Ji Changkong paused, frowning as he looked at Duan Xiaoshan, seemingly considering how to arrange for the three young girls.

“We’ll go with you!” The three girls spoke in unison, sounding quite eager. “Ghost Elder Qi, is it a problem to bring these three girls to your Ghost Sect?” Ji Changkong was momentarily stunned before smiling and asking Ghost Elder Qi.

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” Ghost Elder Qi considered before replying, though there seemed to be some hesitation or reservation in his tone.

“That’s wonderful!” Duan Xiaoshan exclaimed happily, giggling. “I never knew the Ashen Mountain Range had a Ghost Sect. Heh heh, this is a great chance to see it.” Duan Xiaoqi and Duan Lingyue quickly nodded in agreement, looking very interested.

“The Shadowless Sect is still searching for you. You must leave tonight. If you follow me and come tonight, the Shadowless Sect will never find you again,” Ghost Elder Qi said with a stiff face, hesitating slightly before asking, “Why does the Shadowless Sect want to capture you? How did you offend this sect?”

“Are you three from the Ghost Sect afraid of the Shadowless Sect?” Ji Changkong curled his lip, shaking his head. Ghost Elder Qi looked rather dismissive. “In the Ashen Mountain Range, our Ghost Sect fears no one. What we fear isn't human.”

“Not human?” Duan Xiaoqi looked bewildered and quickly asked, “Then what are you afraid of?”

Ghost Elder Qi didn't even look at Duan Xiaoqi. His face darkened, and he turned to walk out, saying with his back to the four of them, “Follow me. I will take you to the Ghost Sect. The three young girls had better not run around; there are things in the Ashen Mountain Range that can easily kill you! I won't concern myself with you three…”

“Hmph! Who needs you to care! Brother Changkong will help us,” Duan Xiaoshan made a face, then looked at Ji Changkong with a sweet smile. “Brother Changkong, isn't that right?”

“He’s right. In the Ashen Mountain Range, they are the masters here,” Ji Changkong smiled, not lingering to talk with the three girls, and followed Ghost Elder Qi towards the unknown Ghost Valley.

Ghost Elder Qi’s familiarity with the Ashen Mountain Range far surpassed that of Ji Changkong and the three Duan girls. The Ghost Sect had always lived within the range; they were adept at commanding malevolent spirits and knew the habits of those spirits and fierce beasts intimately. He knew precisely which areas in the Ashen Mountain Range were safe and which were perilous.

Even under the deep night, which significantly hampered visibility, Ghost Elder Qi seemed largely unaffected. He led the way swiftly throughout the night. They encountered no swarms of malevolent spirits or fierce beasts along the path. By dawn the next day, Ji Changkong realized they had traveled several hundred miles, moving progressively farther from the location of the Shadowless Sect's main camp.

While guiding them, Ghost Elder Qi spoke only to Ji Changkong, completely ignoring the chattering questions from the three young girls. He never mentioned anything about the Ghost Sect or Ghost Valley, limiting his conversation with Ji Changkong to matters concerning the Ashen Mountain Range.

From Ghost Elder Qi’s words, Ji Changkong learned that he hadn't left the Ashen Mountain Range for many years. Not just him, but perhaps all members of the Ghost Sect living there rarely ventured out; the outside world was strange to them.

In his conversation, Ghost Elder Qi revealed a longing for the outside world, constantly prying for information about it. He seemed intensely curious about even the most ordinary events happening outside, and glimpses of yearning would occasionally flash in his eyes.

“If you are so curious about the outside world, why don’t you go out more often? It’s extremely dangerous for outsiders to travel in the Ashen Mountain Range, but since you Ghost Sect is so familiar with it, leaving shouldn’t pose any problem, right?” Ji Changkong was very curious about this question—if Ghost Elder Qi yearned for the outside world, why didn't he explore it?

Regarding this question, Ghost Elder Qi remained silent, merely shaking his head and sighing softly, as if burdened by an unspeakable secret.

His reaction made Ji Changkong even more curious about the Ghost Sect and Ghost Valley—what connection did this sect, which had always lived in the Ashen Mountain Range, truly have with the Xuanyuan of the Ji family?

According to Mo Yunyi's notes, every Ji Clan Xuanyuan who ventured deep into the Ashen Mountain Range experienced an explosive surge in power upon leaving. Besides the unique terrain of the Ashen Mountain Range, was there some connection to the Ghost Sect as well?

His curiosity deepened. After walking continuously for nearly ten days, day and night, under Ghost Elder Qi’s guidance, the four of them passed through a narrow crevice, barely wide enough for two people, late one pitch-black night, and arrived at a magically dazzling, resplendent valley.

To the surprise of the four, this so-called Ghost Valley was exceedingly beautiful. Its four surrounding cliff faces glittered as if made of multi-colored, luminous ore, bathing the entire valley in a mesmerizing, colorful light. The plants and trees growing within the valley were all intensely vibrant in color.

Upon entering, Duan Xiaoshan and the other two girls stood with their mouths agape, their faces full of surprise. The three girls were captivated by the valley's marvels, exclaiming in wonder.

“This is an ethereal realm that only appears in dreams. Why would it be named Ghost Valley?” Duan Xiaoqi blinked, completely puzzled.

“Please follow me!” Ghost Elder Qi bowed respectfully to Ji Changkong, ignoring the three Duan girls, and led Ji Changkong deeper into the valley.

“Uncle Qi is back! Uncle Qi is back!” A little girl, about ten years old, with her hair in two buns, shouted loudly, waving her arms about energetically.

The usually grim expression on Ghost Elder Qi’s face suddenly melted into a warm smile. He hurried forward and picked up the little girl, asking cheerfully, “Xiao Yan’er, have you been well-behaved at home?”

“Yes, Yan’er was the best! Uncle Qi, did you bring me anything fun?”

The little girl kissed Ghost Elder Qi’s cheek and raised her hands innocently and sweetly.

“Uncle Qi! Uncle Qi! Uncle Qi is back!” About a dozen boys and girls emerged from the valley, their small faces excited, rushing toward Ghost Elder Qi with their short strides, afraid of lagging behind anyone else. They all held out their hands, demanding gifts.

Ghost Elder Qi, holding nothing, miraculously pulled out small wooden carvings and toys beloved by children, like rattles, carefully distributing one item to each child.

“Uncle Qi, why is it always these things? I’ve played with all of them! Don't you have anything new?” A small boy with a round head pouted, seemingly displeased with the gift in his hand. He clung tightly to Ghost Elder Qi, refusing to let him enter the valley. More children crowded around, clinging to his legs and grabbing his hands, tightly surrounding Ghost Elder Qi.

Ghost Elder Qi looked helpless, his face creased in a frown, as he explained to the group of children that he hadn't left the Ashen Mountain Range and hadn't found any new fun things this time. The children didn't care; they wouldn't let go unless he produced something new, pouting and acting spoiled.

“Little brothers and sisters, come over here! Big sister has fun things!” Duan Xiaoqi suddenly waved her hand with a smile. In her hand were two exquisitely crafted cloth dolls. She loosened her grip, and the two dolls landed, bouncing up with a soft thump before swaying in mid-air and bouncing again upon landing.

The group of children surrounding Ghost Elder Qi’s eyes instantly widened, watching the jumping cloth dolls with curiosity, their attention completely captured.

“Big sister, the little person that can jump—are you giving it to us?” The little girl with the double buns asked timidly, looking at Duan Xiaoqi.

“Yes. Whoever grabs it first gets it,” Duan Xiaoqi nodded with a smile.

“Yay!” The group of children immediately rushed forward joyfully. They were all healthy, and faint fluctuations of Yuan Power could be detected within them, suggesting they had begun cultivating the Celestial Master Dao from a young age.

Duan Xiaoshan and Duan Lingyue exchanged a glance and also took out small items to please the children. These children, who had never left the Ashen Mountain Range, were delighted with the little toys the three young girls offered, and soon they surrounded the girls, calling them 'Big Sister' incessantly.

Ghost Elder Qi, finally freed, showed a touch more friendliness when looking at the three Duan girls.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see the Sect Master. Those three girls will be safe if they stay here; don't worry,” Ghost Elder Qi said hastily when Ji Changkong approached.

“Okay.” Without another word, Ji Changkong followed Ghost Elder Qi straight toward the depths of Ghost Valley. Along the way, they could see many tall structures built using colored rocks. Although these buildings were simple, because they were constructed from luminous stones, they appeared somewhat magnificent in Ji Changkong’s eyes.

The Ghost Sect members seemed to hear the sound of outsiders and emerged from their dwellings, looking at Ji Changkong with curiosity.

“Seventh Uncle,” “Seventh Brother,” “Lord Seventh.”

These men and women smiled and greeted Ghost Elder Qi, but their gazes lingered on Ji Changkong. Although the colors around them sparked great curiosity, they didn't inquire further about Ji Changkong's identity or origins.

A fifty-foot-tall red stone palace stood deep within Ghost Valley. The palace, radiating a fiery red glow all over, was magnificent, resembling a small mountain and exerting a considerable oppressive force.

A gaunt-faced elder sat cross-legged on a platform protruding from the red stone palace, frowning as he looked down at Ghost Elder Qi and Ji Changkong. When the two approached, he asked in a deep voice, “Seventh, why have you brought an outsider here?”

“Sect Master, he claims to be the new generation’s Xuanyuan of the Ji family,” Ghost Elder Qi bowed and presented Ji Changkong.

“Xuanyuan!” The Ghost Sect Master, Gui Hai, suddenly stood up, his gaze piercing as he stared at Ji Changkong. “Are you the new generation’s Xuanyuan of the Ji family?”

“I am,” Ji Changkong nodded with a smile.

“Follow me!” Gui Hai didn't say another word. He swiftly flew down from the red stone palace, gesturing for Ghost Elder Qi to bring Ji Changkong along.

In a grove behind the red stone palace, there was an old tree with withered yellow branches and bare leaves, looking as if it would die soon. Upon arriving, Gui Hai took out a bronze basin, which flew out and returned moments later, filled with clear water.

“Drip a drop of fresh blood into the bronze basin.” Gui Hai walked up to Ji Changkong and handed him the basin.

Although he didn't know the method Gui Hai intended to use to verify his Xuanyuan identity, he didn't hesitate. He extended a finger, nicked his skin, and let a drop of crimson blood fall into the clear water in the basin. After the drop of red blood entered the water, its color gradually began to change.

“Red blood…” Gui Hai frowned, sensing that something seemed slightly off, yet he said no more. He walked to the roots of the nearly dead old tree and poured the water, now mixed with Ji Changkong’s blood, onto the roots.

Gui Hai stood silently, staring intently at the nearly dead old tree. Ji Changkong, unsure of the situation, could only watch with him.

Half an hour later, the withered yellow roots gradually turned vibrant green, and the old tree’s bare branches miraculously sprouted touches of tenderness.

Gui Hai nodded repeatedly in pleasant surprise. “Excellent. This power to bring life—the power to make an old tree sprout new leaves! Only the blood of the Ji family’s Xuanyuan can achieve this!”

Even Ji Changkong himself was unaware his blood possessed such a strange effect. Seeing the old tree rapidly regaining vitality, he was momentarily dumbfounded.

After a while, Ji Changkong regained his composure and looked at Gui Hai. “Now that my Xuanyuan identity is confirmed, can you tell me what the connection is between the Xuanyuan of the Ji family and your Ghost Sect? And why is the Heavenly Thunder Force possessed by my Ji family a secret technique of your Ghost Sect?”

“You cultivated the Heavenly Thunder Force?” Gui Hai suddenly smiled, appearing quite pleased.

“Sect Master, I confirmed his identity through his Heavenly Thunder Force,” Ghost Elder Qi explained from the side.

“Very good,” Gui Hai nodded with a smile. “To what level have you cultivated the Heavenly Thunder Force? There are three stages to the Heavenly Thunder Force: Heavenly Thunder Roar, Heavenly Thunder Burst, and Heavenly Thunder Transformation. Which realm have you reached?”

“Heavenly Thunder Transformation,” Ji Changkong frowned, retorting, “What difference does the cultivation level make?”

“It certainly makes a difference. Heh heh, you’ve reached Heavenly Thunder Transformation, not bad, not bad…” Gui Hai nodded, then suddenly took a thin booklet from his waist and handed it to Ji Changkong with a smile, explaining, “Since you are the Ji family’s Xuanyuan, you can cultivate the final profound meaning of Heavenly Thunder Transformation: Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens! You can condense your Divine Soul, essence blood, and Yuan Power to form Heavenly Thunder. Once you master this final profound meaning, I will explain the entanglement between the Xuanyuan and our Ghost Sect to you, piece by piece.”

“You can’t tell me now?” Frowning, Ji Changkong accepted the thin booklet, feeling slightly impatient. “What’s all this fuss about?”

“Oh, right. At the Five Elements Heaven realm, can you cultivate Five Elements Wood Power?” Gui Hai asked again.

“Not yet.”

Gui Hai’s expression instantly turned serious. “You must cultivate the Five Elements Wood Power. Only when the Five Elements Wood Power is perfected and you have merged with the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon can you truly unleash the full power of the Heavenly Thunder Force. Only a Xuanyuan like that will be helpful to our Ghost Sect!”

“Rest assured and cultivate in Ghost Valley. If you need anything, just ask. Once you finish cultivating the profound meaning of Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens—being able to summon Heavenly Thunder using a wisp of Divine Soul, a drop of essence blood, and a mass of Yuan Power—the Sect Master will certainly explain everything you wish to know,” Ghost Elder Qi stated solemnly.

“You people are so troublesome, why such convoluted steps?” Ji Changkong muttered helplessly.

When one is under another's roof, one must yield. Moreover, although the Ghost Sect’s proposal seemed complicated, upon reflection, it was ultimately for his benefit. Strong power was the foundation for survival in this world. Ji Changkong was quickly captivated by the profound meaning of Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens and settled down to cultivate in seclusion in a spacious chamber arranged by the Ghost Sect.

Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens was the final transformation of Heavenly Thunder Transformation. The contents of the small booklet were things the Ji family did not possess. According to the text, if Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens was successfully cultivated, when his realm reached a high enough level, he could use the power of his Divine Soul to summon the Divine Thunder from the Nine Heavens, forming another type of Heavenly Thunder field over a large surrounding area.

The external Heavenly Thunder field’s coverage area would vary depending on his cultivation level. According to Gui Hai, if he reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm, he could form a Heavenly Thunder field spanning several dozen acres around his body. Once the Heavenly Thunder field was established, it would automatically gather the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to form Heavenly Thunder.

Within the range of several dozen acres of the Heavenly Thunder field, he could manipulate it at will, creating large-scale thunder explosions. Anyone within the coverage of the Heavenly Thunder field could not escape the invasion of the thunder explosions; both body and soul would be shattered into dust by the terrifying blasts.

Such terrifying power immediately captivated Ji Changkong. However, before he could begin practicing, he discovered that Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens had a prerequisite: at the Five Elements Heaven realm, one must temper the body and Divine Soul using Five Elements Wood Power, and one must merge with the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon.

Fortunately, his purpose for coming to the Ashen Mountain Range was to enhance his strength and realm. The Ashen Mountain Range was a place extremely rich in Five Elements Wood Power, and within Ghost Valley, the elemental energies of Earth, Water, and Wood were even denser!

Calming his heart, Ji Changkong began rigorously cultivating the Five Elements Wood Power, attempting to re-refine his body and Divine Soul in the shortest possible time to merge with the power of the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon, thus maximizing the power of the Heavenly Thunder Force.

Time passed in cultivation. Within Ghost Valley, he was completely immersed, ceaselessly striving for the further sublimation of the Five Elements Heaven realm.

Inside the red stone palace where Gui Hai of Ghost Valley resided.

Gui Hai, Ghost Elder Qi, and seven or eight other elders of the Ghost Sect were gathered together, their faces grave. Gui Hai sat prominently in the front, his expression fluctuating between joy and worry.

“Sect Master, why is this generation’s Xuanyuan’s blood red? Could there be a problem?” Ghost Elder Liu of the Ghost Sect looked deeply concerned. “If his blood has an issue, even if he cultivates Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens, it might not be effective!”

“I also don't know why this generation’s Xuanyuan’s blood is red. However, you all saw the old tree behind that sprouted anew. This power that revives an old tree is something only the blood of the Ji family’s Xuanyuan can achieve. Looking at it this way, there shouldn't be a problem…” Gui Hai frowned, his tone not entirely certain.

"We just need to watch his results after he masters Lei Dong Jiu Tian to confirm if he is the new generation Xuanyuan; there's no need for everyone to be anxious," said an old man, close to his grave. His face was sallow, etched with wrinkles that seemed hung upon his skin, yet his snow-white hair was extraordinarily lustrous. He sat beside Gui Hai, his eyes narrowly squinted; if he hadn't spoken, one might have thought he was already asleep. "Fourth Uncle is right; only by seeing if he can truly unleash the power of Lei Dong Jiu Tian will we know if he is of use to us," Gui Hai nodded.

"I wonder how long this will take. The Three Ghost Demon Kings of the Nether Ghost City are stirring restlessly, and these past few years, the new Ghost Demons have grown stronger and harder to deal with," Ghost Elder Six lamented, his face ashen. "Over the past few decades, more and more Sky Warriors from the outside world have entered the Gray Mist Mountain Range seeking treasures. Alas, most of them end up feeding the Ghost Demon Kings. Those new Ghost Demons evolved from the souls of cultivators who absorbed Yin Essence—their intelligence grows higher and higher. In this special place, the Gray Mist Mountain Range, Ghost Demons have become a unique form of life. Once they overcome the trial of the Scorching Sun Body, if they exit the Gray Mist Mountain Range, this world might very well become the domain of the Ghost Demons!"

"Ah... this is the karma our Ghost Sect brought upon ourselves. We are reaching the limit of what we can bear from this bitter fruit," the ancient Sect Elder of the Ghost Sect sighed, shaking his head. "We can only hope, hope that this young man named Ji Changkong can live up to our expectations. He is our new hope."

Rumble! Rumble!

Suddenly, the Ghost Valley was rocked by the sound of earth-shaking tremors. Deafening, immense roars echoed from the area where Ji Changkong was cultivating. Fist-sized azure spheres emerged from the sealed chamber like bubbles, colliding with one another to erupt in tremendous noise.

The Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the Ghost Valley frantically converged toward these azure spheres. Thunder rolled within the bubble-like orbs, and a drop of crimson blood pulsed rapidly inside each one, causing the azure spheres to swell violently, much like a human heart.

The circle of elite experts from the Ghost Sect, deep in secret council, were all startled by the sounds and rushed to the protruding circular platform of the Red Stone Palace, their gazes intensely fixed on that direction.

"...Lei Dong Jiu Tian! Yes, the new generation Xuanyuan! Truly the new generation Xuanyuan!" Ghost Elder Seven shrieked, his face a mask of disbelief and horror. "Heavens! It's only been three months! Before he started cultivating, his body and soul hadn't even been tempered by the Five Elements Wood Force—how is this possible!?"

Gui Hai was equally astonished, muttering as he looked toward Ji Changkong's location, "It's too fast, truly frighteningly fast. This generation of Xuanyuan seems... seems even more formidable than the previous ones!"

Rumble! Rumble!

The earth-shattering explosions resonated from that direction. Ji Changkong's control over the Celestial Thunder seemed insufficient; the heavenly thunders swirling around the secret chamber suddenly became chaotic, a few colliding with others, leading to a sudden, violent upheaval in the Thunder Field. A nearby section of the valley seemed to descend into apocalypse, filled with fiercely erupting thunder blasts.

Several stone buildings, dozens of meters tall, shook violently under the impact of the thunder explosions. One particular stone tower, struck by more than a dozen bolts of Celestial Thunder, could not withstand the fierce barrage and collapsed with a deafening crash. Three young disciples of the Ghost Sect scrambled out from within, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled.

A circular field of heavenly thunder, haloed with a hazy azure light, formed in that area. At a glance, it resembled the radiant corona of a star, or perhaps an enormous azure halo. Fist-sized azure celestial thunders were originally rolling along specific, wondrous trajectories upon this azure halo.

But now, the path of the thunder upon the azure halo had gone awry. They were colliding with each other, causing widespread thunderous detonations that made the entire Ghost Valley tremble as if struck by a massive earthquake.

"...Oh dear, what's happening? Why is there a sudden earthquake!"

"Celestial Thunder! That’s the Celestial Thunder formed by Lei Dong Jiu Tian! What in the world is going on?"

"That person, did that person cause it! The Xuanyuan of the Ji family, can he really, truly manifest the profound mysteries of Lei Dong Jiu Tian to this extent? Heavens! He really is formidable. I thought the legends circulating in the Ghost Sect about Xuanyuan were just tall tales. This kid is only at the Five Elements Heaven Realm, yet he can create such a commotion with Lei Dong Jiu Tian. If he reaches the Eight Trigrams Heaven or Nine Palaces Heaven Realms, what then?"

"..."

The Ghost Sect members emerging from the stone buildings stared toward Ji Changkong, chattering in astonishment, showing extreme curiosity toward him.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Rumble!

The tremendous roaring continued as all the Celestial Thunders within the Thunder Field seemed to detonate simultaneously. The stone tower housing Ji Changkong collapsed completely, and the secret chamber where he cultivated was engulfed in flying rubble. That entire section of the compound was utterly ruined by him.

Amidst the debris, Ji Changkong sat cross-legged, eyes closed, in the center of the swirling stones. His hands unconsciously shifted through gestures to execute the secret technique's profound mysteries, while currents of Five Elements Wood Force drifted outwards, converging into the center of the Celestial Thunder Field beside him.

"Zong Gui, if this continues, all the nearby stone buildings will be destroyed by him. While this boy’s talent is superb, he is being far too reckless, using Lei Dong Jiu Tian before he has mastered it here! Sect Master, I will go stop him!" Ghost Elder Six proposed.

"...Silence!" Gui Hai's Fourth Uncle, Gui Rong, snorted coldly, his eyes glittering brightly, though the wrinkles on his aged face still quivered intensely. "He is at a critical juncture. No one is allowed to interfere now. Even if the Ghost Valley is destroyed, we must wait until he awakens on his own!"

"Indeed, we must wait until he emerges from this state himself!" Gui Hai nodded, suddenly making a gesture with his hand, signaling everyone in that area of the Ghost Sect to retreat, clearing a vast space for Ji Changkong to expend his energy.

"Huh? What is Brother Changkong doing?" Duan Xiaoshan approached from a distance, leading a group of small children. Behind her walked Duan Xiaoqi and Duan Lingyue, both smiling gently. These three young women were very fond of the group of innocent and adorable children, having spent time telling them stories of the outside world, earning the deep affection of the youngsters.

The elders of the Ghost Sect saw that the three young women posed no threat and noted that they had come with Ji Changkong. Coupled with their evident affection for the children, they were all very friendly toward them. Even Ghost Elder Seven, who usually ignored them, would now actively greet them.

"He is cultivating a secret technique, but he hasn't fully grasped it yet. This is the crucial moment; do not disturb him." Ghost Elder Seven rushed forward when he saw the three girls, fearing they didn't understand the situation and might interrupt Ji Changkong's cultivation.

"Ah, what kind of secret technique causes such a commotion!" Duan Xiaoqi exclaimed, the earth-shattering explosions incessant, making the entire Ghost Valley sound on the verge of collapse... such power was clearly beyond the capabilities of a mere Five Elements Sky Warrior.

Duan Xiaoshan and Duan Lingyue were equally curious, their eyes wide as they tried to see what was happening.

Had it not been for the close bond the three girls had recently formed with the children of the Ghost Sect, Ghost Elder Seven and the others would certainly not have allowed them to remain nearby. However, since even Gui Hai hadn't voiced an objection, Ghost Elder Seven certainly wouldn't play the villain, though he remained utterly silent about the details of Lei Dong Jiu Tian.

Outside the Ghost Valley, a group of fierce spirits drifted toward the deeper recesses of the Gray Mist Mountain Range. In the center of this group stood a stout old man, his green robe filthy. The old man’s body radiated a cold, azure hue, utterly devoid of warmth. His pair of dark azure eyes were ice-cold to the bone, lacking any human emotion.

Setting aside his physique, the utter lack of emotion in his dark azure eyes made them scarcely different from those of the fierce spirits beside him—only perhaps slightly more vicious. This stout old man was heading deeper into the Gray Mist Mountain Range when he suddenly sensed a power of celestial thunder explosion that sent a tremor through his heart. The power of Celestial Thunder was what they feared most; the fierce spirits beside him trembled, their spirits rattled even by the mere residual shockwaves of the thunder.

"Wuu... wu ah wuu ah..."

The stout old man suddenly opened his mouth, his face contorted into a fierce, savage grimace, yet what emerged was the sound of ghost wailing. The fierce spirits feared him greatly and immediately scattered away from him, all making mournful, whimpering sounds, seemingly communicating in this manner. The old man's obese body floated as lightly as a feather, drifting toward the direction of the Ghost Valley. Though the fierce spirits were reluctant to approach the area of thunder explosions, their fear of the stout old man compelled them to follow obediently.

In a short while, the stout old man and his retinue of fierce spirits appeared above the Ghost Valley. However, the old man dared not approach; he hovered beneath the low, gray clouds above the valley, looking down. His eyes instantly locked onto Ji Changkong, who was cultivating the profound mysteries of Lei Dong Jiu Tian. The stout old man’s eyes, entirely devoid of human emotion, suddenly lit up. After merely observing for a short while, he prepared to retreat immediately to report his findings.

Just then, Ji Changkong, who had been cultivating with his eyes closed deep in the valley, suddenly snapped them open and looked directly up at the stout old man and the fierce spirits hovering above the Ghost Valley.

The aura surrounding this old man was extremely peculiar; it was part fierce spirit, part human, mixed with the savage cruelty of a wild beast. Had Ji Changkong not cultivated the Tai Xu Mi Lu, an ordinary Sky Warrior's soul likely wouldn't even have detected such a strange life fluctuation.

Gui Hai and the others in the Ghost Valley stared at him in surprise. Even at such close proximity, they hadn't noticed the anomaly overhead, which spoke volumes about how bizarre the aura and life fluctuations of the stout old man above them were. "Who's lurking about!" Ji Changkong roared, looking up abruptly.

Only then did Gui Hai, Gui Rong, and the others of the Ghost Sect perceive the stout old man suspended above them. Gui Hai's expression shifted dramatically, and he, along with Ghost Elder Seven and others, flew up instantly. Gui Hai flicked his sleeve, and a giant net, laced with the light of thunder and lightning, shot toward the stout old man.

Gui Rong let out a fierce cry, and the fierce spirits surrounding the stout old man were instantly annihilated one by one, dissolving into billowing green smoke. Ji Changkong, still seated cross-legged in the valley, realized upon hearing Gui Rong's cry that the technique used in that shout was drastically different from the method of applying force in the Tian Lei Hou technique.

It seemed the Celestial Thunder Force he practiced was indeed a secret art of the Ghost Sect, which accounted for the many similarities, Ji Changkong mused inwardly.

Seeing Gui Hai emerge, the stout old man immediately tried to burrow into the dark clouds to escape. As the giant net descended upon him, his azure body suddenly exploded, and hundreds of streams of green smoke drifted out. Blown by the wind, they vanished instantly.

"More cunning now," Gui Hai said with a solemn face, retracting the net, feeling somewhat helpless as he and Gui Rong descended back into the Ghost Valley.

"Who was that stout old man? His aura was incredibly strange, completely different from any ordinary Sky Warrior. I have never sensed that kind of life fluctuation from anyone," Ji Changkong asked Gui Hai, frowning.

"He is not human..." Gui Hai’s expression was peculiar.

"A fierce spirit?" Ji Changkong’s face tightened slightly. After a moment of thought, he shook his head. "No, he had a physical body just now; I am certain of that. Fierce spirits are incorporeal; this was different."

"You are correct; fierce spirits are incorporeal, yet he possessed a physical form," Gui Hai nodded, explaining with a wry smile. "We call this type of life a Ghost Demon." He sighed deeply, his tone melancholic. "In truth, the formation of Ghost Demons is due to the reckless actions of our Ghost Sect. Now, the Ghost Demons are becoming ever stronger. He appeared above our Ghost Valley, and I didn't even sense him. If this continues, the future of our Ghost Sect is in jeopardy..."

"What exactly is going on?" Ji Changkong looked grave. He suddenly realized the situation in the Gray Mist Mountain Range was far more complicated than he had understood.

"Our Ghost Sect was originally a sect of Sky Warriors from the outside world. We stumbled upon the rampant existence of fierce spirits in the Gray Mist Mountain Range, and being already adept at commanding fierce spirits, we settled here, utilizing them to constantly search for methods to control and strengthen them."

"A long, long time ago, an eccentric genius in the Ghost Sect conceived an idea: to attempt fusing Yang energy into fierce spirits, which are born solely from Yin essence, to see what difference a merging of Yin and Yang would make in a new generation of fierce spirits. This eccentric spent hundreds of years researching and finally discovered a method to imbue fierce spirits with Yang energy."

"However, he never anticipated that the fierce spirit infused with Yang energy would become far stronger than he imagined. In the end, he was killed by that fierce spirit, and his own soul also transformed into a fierce spirit in a place of extreme Yin. After becoming a fierce spirit, he lost all emotion, remembering only that method of fusing Yang energy into a fierce spirit."

"Ultimately, just like that fierce spirit, he successfully fused with Yang energy and became an entirely new life form. The fierce spirit infused with Yin and Yang, we call a Ghost Demon. They possess a degree of intelligence but lack human emotion, retaining only negative instincts like slaughter, resentment, and cold malice. The Gray Mist Mountain Range seems uniquely conducive to the growth of Ghost Demons. Over the years, thanks to the manipulations of that eccentric ancestor who became a Ghost Demon, the numbers and power of the Ghost Demons in the Gray Mist Mountain Range have grown steadily."

"The first Ghost Demon formed... that eccentric ancestor of ours, and another Ghost Demon that formed later from a deceased Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm Sky Warrior, rose above the others, becoming increasingly terrifying. They are now the Three Ghost Demon Kings of the Gray Mist Mountain Range, and they have become the nightmare of our Ghost Sect and all the Sky Warriors who seek treasure here."