"The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings?" Ji Changkong sounded quite curious.

He had never heard of a creature called a Ghost Demon in the Gloomwood Range, but he believed what Gui Hai said must be true. The plump old man just now clearly had a different life form from humans or vengeful spirits; he possessed vital Yang energy yet lacked the essential emotions of a human, and his azure eyes were as cold and merciless as those of a vengeful spirit.

"Precisely! The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings!" Gui Hai took a deep breath and continued to explain, "The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings reside in the Netherworld Ghost Domain, the place within the Gloomwood Range with the densest Yin energy. In the Netherworld Ghost Domain, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings have been cultivating by constantly absorbing the Yin energy there. After so many years of practice, they have all attained corporeal forms and grown increasingly terrifying." "Just like that plump old man you sensed—decades ago, our Ghost Sect could feel their chilling aura from a great distance. But now, when he appeared above our Ghost Valley, we hadn't noticed him at all. Not only are the Ghost Demon Kings becoming more fearsome, but these newly formed Ghost Demons are also gradually developing high intelligence." Mentioning the Ghost Demons and Ghost Demon Kings brought a somber silence to everyone in the Ghost Sect, young and old. The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings of the Netherworld Ghost Domain weighed heavily on their hearts like three massive mountains, robbing them of peace and sleep, becoming a lingering burden.

"Your Ghost Sect has methods for commanding vengeful spirits; are these methods useless against Ghost Demons?" Ji Changkong frowned, glancing at Gui Lao Qi, and then asked, "When we first met, you mentioned refining my Fire Phoenix soul to forge vengeful spirits anew. Knowing that doing so could create Ghost Demons, how dare you proceed?" Hearing this, Gui Lao Qi’s face crumpled in distress, and he explained helplessly, "Ghost Demons have already become a unique life form; they possess wisdom. Our methods only work on vengeful spirits; we can do nothing about the Ghost Demons."

"Ghost Demons are only manipulated by the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings." "The last time I attempted to seize your Fire Phoenix soul, it was in the hope of merging it with a vengeful spirit, to see if we could forge another type of life form that could be used to check the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings." "Lao Qi, haven't I told you already? No one is allowed to act recklessly!" Gui Die’s expression shifted slightly, and she glared fiercely at Gui Lao Qi. "The formation of Ghost Demons already leaves us with no recourse. If you create yet another monster, the Gloomwood Range will descend into utter chaos. Once those Ghost Demons escape the Gloomwood Range, everyone under heaven will suffer, and our Ghost Sect will surely be spat upon by all!" Under Gui Mei's instruction, Gui Lao Qi hung his head, silent.

Gui Hai sighed and explained to Ji Changkong, "It is like this." "The formation of a Ghost Demon is the intermingling of Yin and Yang. However, vengeful spirits have far more Yin energy than Yang energy, so when Yin and Yang merge, a Ghost Demon is formed. After years of exploration, our Ghost Sect believes that when Yang energy merges with the Yin energy of a vengeful spirit, if the concentration of Yang energy vastly surpasses that of the vengeful spirit, it might create a completely different new life form from a Ghost Demon. If the Yang energy prevails, the new life form might be inclined toward righteousness, becoming a life form that can contend with the Ghost Demon Kings." "However, this is all speculation on our part. We have never dared to attempt it over the years. It’s only in the last few decades, as we discovered the Ghost Demons growing more terrifying and our Ghost Sect finding defense increasingly difficult, that we entertained such a thought." Gui Hai looked utterly helpless, conveying the grave outlook for the Ghost Sect and his inability to determine a course of action.

"Absolutely not! Do not do that under any circumstances! Our Ghost Sect can no longer afford any risks!" Gui Die stamped her foot abruptly, stating her decision unequivocally.

"Understood, Fourth Uncle. Now that the new generation Xuan Yuan has arrived, we won't need to resort to that extreme step." Gui Hai nodded, then looked toward Ji Changkong. "I need to tell you about the connection between the Ji family's Xuanyuan lineage and our Ghost Sect." After the prodigy of that generation in the Ghost Sect created a Ghost Demon, he inadvertently fell victim to it himself. Relying on the little remaining memory from his life, he absorbed Yang energy and also became a Ghost Demon. The two Ghost Demons formed a new life entity, born in the Gloomwood Range, a strange place where the sun never shone.

The formation of the Ghost Demons was immediately discovered by members of the Ghost Sect. At first, the Ghost Sect did not take action to eliminate them, partly because one of the Ghost Demons was their own prodigy, and partly because they believed they could completely control this mutated new life form.

The Ghost Sect missed the optimal window to destroy the Ghost Demons. When the two Ghost Demons had just formed, they were only concerned with how to utilize this new life form and how to harness the power of the Ghost Demons for the benefit of the Ghost Sect.

Several elders of the Ghost Sect, aiming to provide the Ghost Demons with ample space to grow, unanimously agreed not to take any action against them, wanting only to observe how the Ghost Demons would survive and what manifestations they would exhibit.

They soon realized how terrifyingly mistaken their decision was. The two Ghost Demons eventually retreated into the Netherworld Ghost Domain, the area of the Gloomwood Range saturated with the deepest Yin energy—a deadly zone that even the Ghost Sect elders dared not explore deeply. By the time they learned the two Ghost Demons had entered the Netherworld Ghost Domain, it was already too late.

Decades later, the two Ghost Demons emerged from the Netherworld Ghost Domain and began operating within the Gloomwood Range. Several cultivators who came to the range seeking treasures fell victim to the two Ghost Demons, and even some members of the Ghost Sect had their souls devoured while pursuing them.

Only then did the Ghost Sect Master and elders of that generation realize that the Ghost Demons were no longer within their control. Several attempts to surround and kill the two Ghost Demons all ended in failure. Each time they were cornered, the Ghost Demons would slip back into the Netherworld Ghost Domain, and upon emerging again, they were always slightly stronger than before.

When the people of the Ghost Sect discovered that the two Ghost Demons had mastered the method of nurturing new Ghost Demons, they suddenly realized that the two creatures had developed their own intelligence. In subsequent battles, they also found that the two Ghost Demons had indeed grown increasingly cunning, far surpassing the unthinking vengeful spirits.

The two Ghost Demons grew stronger and began purposefully creating new Ghost Demons, manipulating them. They were now capable of confronting the Ghost Sect and no longer needed to hide and scurry about.

The Ghost Sect gradually shifted from an offensive posture to a defensive one. After several large-scale battles, they realized their own losses far exceeded those of the Ghost Demons. Over the years, the Ghost Sect was forced back to defend only the area around Ghost Valley, while the depths of the Gloomwood Range, particularly the Netherworld Ghost Domain, became the territory ruled by the Ghost Demons.

Over 1,600 years ago, the fourth-generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family pursued a powerhouse at the Nine Palaces Heaven realm into the Gloomwood Range. In a particular area of the Netherworld Ghost Domain, he managed to kill the expert who had just reached the Nine Palaces Heaven realm, causing the expert’s soul to scatter completely! The fourth-generation Xuanyuan then left the Gloomwood Range. However, he did not anticipate that this specific region of the Gloomwood Range was quite peculiar, being immensely heavy with Yin energy, and the Netherworld Ghost Domain even more so. The soul shattered by the fourth-generation Xuanyuan did not entirely vanish; a wisp of divine soul chanced to enter the Netherworld Ghost Domain and did not dissipate there completely.

The two Ghost Demon Kings discovered this wisp of divine soul within the Netherworld Ghost Domain and used the same method to transform it into a Ghost Demon. This expert, who already possessed the Nine Palaces Heaven realm before becoming a Ghost Demon, experienced rapid growth within the Netherworld Ghost Domain and eventually became the third Ghost Demon King of the Gloomwood Range.

Five hundred years later, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family came to the Gloomwood Range to cultivate. He coincidentally met the Ghost Sect Master, who informed him of the process by which the third Ghost Demon King was formed. Upon learning that the Demon King was created from the one slain by the fourth-generation Xuanyuan, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan felt compelled to settle the karma sown by the previous generation. Moreover, he feared that this Ghost Demon King might eventually grow powerful enough to leave the Gloomwood Range and seek retribution from the Ji family, so he readily agreed to help the Ghost Sect eliminate the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings of the Netherworld Ghost Domain.

However, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan was only at the Five Elements Heaven realm at the time. Although the Xuanyuan bloodline was formidable, when he actually faced a Ghost Demon King, he discovered that at the Five Elements Heaven realm, he was incapable of destroying them. And the most potent secret technique against Ghost Demon Kings was precisely the Ghost Sect’s Heavenly Thunder Strength.

Since their goals aligned, and the Ghost Sect had heard of the power and rapid growth potential of the Ji family's Xuanyuan lineage, they reached an agreement with the fifth-generation Xuanyuan: the Ghost Sect would transmit the Heavenly Thunder Strength, specifically designed to combat Ghost Demons, to the fifth-generation Xuanyuan, who in turn had to guarantee the removal of the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings—the cancerous growth of the Gloomwood Range.

After mastering the Heavenly Thunder Strength, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan returned to the Gloomwood Range at the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm and began attacking the Ghost Demons alongside the Ghost Sect. With the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm strength, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan’s execution of the Heavenly Thunder Strength technique, Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens, far surpassed that of any member of the Ghost Sect.

In the area of the Netherworld Ghost Domain, the fifth-generation Xuanyuan and the Ghost Sect forces severely wounded the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings and slew many newly emerged Ghost Demons. But due to the unique life form of the Ghost Demon Kings and the extremely dense Yin energy of the region, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings fled deep into the Netherworld Ghost Domain after being heavily damaged and dared not come out again.

The fifth-generation Xuanyuan ventured deep into the Netherworld Ghost Domain, but unfortunately, he could not locate the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings in that strange territory. As he could not remain in the Gloomwood Range indefinitely, and seeing that the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings dared not venture out to cause trouble, he eventually left the Gloomwood Range. The fifth-generation Xuanyuan never returned afterward.

Four hundred years later, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings emerged again from the Netherworld Ghost Domain to wreak havoc. These returning Kings were even more formidable, and the Ghost Demons they had newly nurtured were far more terrifying than before. The Ghost Sect found dealing with them extremely difficult. When they used the Heavenly Thunder Strength, they could only destroy ordinary Ghost Demons; it was useless against the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings.

For the next century, the battles between the Ghost Sect and the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings were entirely disadvantageous for the sect, resulting in heavy casualties. Many masters were killed by the Ghost Demons, and some disciples who died in the Gloomwood Range were transformed into Ghost Demons themselves. Just as the Ghost Sect faced its gravest crisis, the sixth-generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family arrived at the Gloomwood Range, following the handwritten notes left by the previous generation. He mastered the final stage of the Heavenly Thunder Transformation, Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens, and launched devastating attacks against the Ghost Demons. The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings were still no match for the Xuanyuan, and after being severely wounded, they once again hid deep within the Netherworld Ghost Domain and refused to emerge.

History repeated itself: the sixth-generation Xuanyuan entered the Netherworld Ghost Domain, and like his predecessor, he returned empty-handed before ultimately having to leave the Gloomwood Range.

Several hundred years later, the recovered Three Great Ghost Demon Kings emerged once more to cause trouble. By this time, the Ghost Demon Kings and the Ghost Demons had undergone yet another change in life form, and even the Ghost Sect could no longer detect the aura of the Ghost Demons. Ultimately, the Ghost Sect could only remain confined to Ghost Valley, daring not even traverse the area around the Netherworld Ghost Domain.

Six hundred years later, the seventh-generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family, who was Ji Changkong, arrived at the Gloomwood Range.

He listened intently as Gui Hai and Gui Die recounted the long history. After they had fully narrated the past events one by one, Ji Changkong frowned in deep thought. After a while, he grasped the karmic relationship between the Ji family, the Ghost Demon Kings, and the Ghost Sect, and couldn't help but smile wryly with a headache, "So, the formation of this cancerous growth, the Ghost Demon Kings of the Gloomwood Range, also bears some responsibility from my Ji family, doesn't it?" "The Ghost Sect and the Ji family are birds of a feather, tied together," Gui Hai nodded by way of explanation.

"Currently, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings of the Netherworld Ghost Domain likely harbor even greater hatred for your Ji family than for our Ghost Sect. Over the years, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings seem to have stopped regarding our Ghost Sect with any concern. They appear to be searching for a method to withstand the scorching sun's light. Once the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings find a way to leave the Gloomwood Range, the first target they strike might very well be your Ji family. Therefore, we must join forces and completely eradicate the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings!" "Why are the Ghost Demon Kings so resilient? Even the immense power of the fifth and sixth-generation Xuanyuans couldn't eliminate them!" Ji Changkong was astonished; he truly had not expected the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings of the Gloomwood Range to be this terrifying.

"The Ghost Demon Kings are constantly improving, and the Netherworld Ghost Domain is a particularly unique place. Unless their entire soul is utterly pulverized, if even a single strand escapes, they can regenerate. You saw that plump old man—after self-detonating his body, his soul fragmented into dozens of streams. Even the Heavenly Thunder Strength would struggle to destroy them all," Gui Hai admitted with evident frustration.

"Very well, I understand we should be allies against a common foe. But you have been in the Gloomwood Range for so long; have you not found a way to utterly destroy the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings?" Ji Changkong looked at Gui Hai and the others. "Even if I cultivate to a sufficiently high realm, even if I can heavily wound the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings, if they cannot be truly annihilated, they will simply cause trouble again in a few centuries. Are you expecting the next generation of Xuanyuans from our Ji family? What will you do if the Ji family no longer has a Xuanyuan?"

"There is a method, though..." Gui Die hesitated before speaking, "But it's..."

"But what?" Ji Changkong asked, surprised, then smiled, adding, "As long as it is a method to deal with the Ghost Demon Kings, I don't think there’s any need to hold back."

"It's just a bit too difficult," Gui Die frowned and sighed. "Ghost Demon Kings fear two things: Heavenly Thunder and extremely hot flames. Based on our Ghost Sect's trials over the years, we captured some smaller Ghost Demons and used Heavenly Thunder to blast them, then burned them with fire. We discovered that the Ghost Demon souls do not shatter. Fire is very hard to use to burn them initially, but once a Ghost Demon soul is fractured by Heavenly Thunder into small streams, using fire to burn them can completely incinerate their soul." "Theoretically, the same approach should work on the Ghost Demon Kings. You would first use Thunder Moves the Nine Heavens to shatter their souls, and then if you could use a special spiritual treasure to envelop their souls, followed by burning them with flames, it might be possible to completely destroy the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings! However, treasures that can imprison souls are exceedingly rare. Moreover, when a Ghost Demon soul is shattered, it instantly disperses into a vast, fine mist of soul power that drifts away rapidly. If even one wisp of soul escapes, the Ghost Demon King can regenerate in the Netherworld Ghost Domain. We do not possess a spiritual treasure capable of enveloping such a large area of dispersed soul power in an instant; we don't know where one might be found."

"You all never leave the Gloomwood Range; how can you be so sure such a spiritual treasure doesn't exist in the world?" Ji Changkong scoffed dismissively.

"Since the fifth-generation Xuanyuan left, our Ghost Sect has sent people out to search for such treasures. But the moment we display any secret techniques of the Ghost Sect, we are attacked as heretics. Once we step outside the Gloomwood Range, we find ourselves treated as public enemies by all cultivators in the world. After all these years, not only has the Ghost Sect found nothing, but many of those who went out were killed. Gradually, we gave up hope," Gui Die sighed, looking utterly resigned.

"After the soul is shattered by Heavenly Thunder Strength, it can divide into multiple streams and flee?" Ji Changkong's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed drastically. He asked urgently, "Is this method of soul fragmentation something only Ghost Demons know? Besides the Ghost Demons, does anyone else in the Gloomwood Range understand this technique?"

"I don't think so," Gui Die considered. "As far as I know, this method has always been unique to the Ghost Demons. There shouldn't be anyone else who understands it in the Gloomwood Range."

"I once fought a cultivator from the Shadowless Sect in the Gloomwood Range. After I shattered his divine soul with Heavenly Thunder Strength, he used the same method to split his soul into several streams. One stream was not destroyed by the Heavenly Thunder Strength and vanished without a trace!" Ji Changkong’s expression grew grim.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Ghost Sect turned pale with shock.

"Shadowless Sect! Has the Shadowless Sect reached some kind of agreement with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings? This method is known only to the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings, and only Ghost Demons can use it! That cultivator from the Shadowless Sect must have learned this method from the Ghost Demon Kings! What audacity! The Shadowless Sect dares to associate with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings!" Gui Die was furious. "The Ghost Demon Kings are the blight of the Gloomwood Range; the Shadowless Sect cannot possibly be unaware that Ghost Demon Kings possess absolutely no human emotion. Their dealings with the Ghost Demon Kings is playing with fire!"

"It seems we must pay a visit to the Shadowless Sect. Their reckless behavior must mean they have promised the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings something. This is a matter of grave importance; we must go to the Shadowless Sect immediately!" Gui Die also grew anxious. After saying this, she immediately began making arrangements with Gui Hai. In a short time, more than a dozen Ghost Sect masters had gathered.

Both Gui Hai and Gui Die possessed Eight Trigrams Heaven realm cultivation, and the Ghost Sect masters, including Gui Lao Qi and Gui Lao Liu, all held strength at the Seven Stars Heaven realm. Once the decision was made, they did not hesitate in the slightest; they immediately left Ghost Valley, intending to proceed to the headquarters of the Shadowless Sect to question their Sect Master.

The Ghost Sect’s familiarity with the Gloomwood Range far surpassed that of the cultivators who came to investigate. Especially Gui Hai and Gui Die, who had lived in the Gloomwood Range for many years, knew every blade of grass and every tree like the back of their hands. Under their guidance, the Ghost Sect masters, plus Ji Changkong, took only six days to arrive at the headquarters of the Shadowless Sect.

It was the same strange forest, with the towering structures of the Shadowless Sect perched atop ancient, towering trees. As Gui Die and her entourage appeared, a Shadowless Sect disciple suddenly materialized from an ancient tree, staring coldly at the Ghost Sect group. "Fellow Daoists of the Ghost Sect, what business brings you to our Shadowless Sect?"

"Gui Hai has come to pay respects to your Sect Master, Luo Tiemu! Please announce our arrival!" Gui Hai called out, his face grim.

"Haha, rare guests, rare guests! What wind blew Brother Gui Hai my way?" A hearty laugh echoed from the depths of the dense forest. In a short while, dozens of Shadowless Sect experts emerged from the interior. The man in the lead had a full, thick beard and a broad, sturdy build. Beside him walked a small, skeletal old man resembling a withered Confucian scholar, his eyes icy and sharp. Other than these two, the Shadowless Sect experts all wore pale white masks, standing silently behind Luo Tiemu and the thin old man, facing off against Gui Hai, Gui Die, and the Ghost Sect contingent.

"Kid, you are Ji Changkong, aren't you? I’ve seen your portrait!" The thin old man's cold eyes swept over Ji Changkong, and then he chuckled ominously.

"Ji Changkong?" The smile vanished instantly from Luo Tiemu’s face as he looked at the thin old man. "Great Protector, you say this brat is Ji Changkong?" "No mistake," the Great Protector of the Shadowless Sect, Huang Mu, nodded.

"That's right, I am Ji Changkong. Greetings to all the heroes of the Shadowless Sect," Ji Changkong admitted his identity calmly, with a smile.

Luo Tie Zhan’s brow suddenly furrowed deeply. After a moment, he looked at Ghost Sea with a strained smile. “Brother Ghost Sea is truly reliable, actually delivering this kid to us. Haha, there’s nothing more to say. Give me a month, and I will deliver the promised virgin boys and girls to your Ghost Valley.” “We came here today not to discuss that matter, nor were we here to hand over Ji Chang Kong to your Shadowless Sect.” Ghost Sea’s face darkened, his eyes glaring fixedly at Luo Tie Zhan as he roared, “The Three Great Ghost Demon Kings of the Gloomy Mountain Range have always been a cancerous tumor; such evil things should not exist in this world. For your Shadowless Sect to collude with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings, what exactly are you plotting?” Luo Tie Zhan’s face instantly turned cold. “Brother Ghost Sea, did you come to my Shadowless Sect today just to smear me with baseless accusations?” “Whether you have colluded with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings, you know best in your own heart. I only ask one thing: what agreement did you reach with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings? What do the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings ultimately want to achieve through you?” Ghost Sea hissed.

“Baseless slander without any evidence, Ghost Sea! Although your Ghost Sect is the oldest sect in the Gloomy Mountain Range, our Shadowless Sect is not necessarily afraid of you!” Luo Tie Zhan’s expression grew increasingly grim.

“You sent people to capture me, intending to use me to find something in the Poison Dragon Abyss in the Great Cloud Marsh. Are the things you seek there what the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings require?” Ji Chang Kong’s mind stirred, and after reviewing a string of events in his head, he suddenly understood. He immediately questioned Luo Tie Zhan.

The Poison Dragon Abyss housed the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon, and within the abyss were the Black Jade Primordial Crystal and a Dragon Glory blade. According to Mo Yun Yi, only the Xuanyuan could ride the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon. Did that mean that something belonging to previous generations of the Xuanyuan lineage lay within the Poison Dragon Abyss? Was the key for the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings to leave the Gloomy Mountain Range somehow connected to the Ji family’s Xuanyuan?

The Ghost Demon Kings feared the Ji family’s Xuanyuan the most, yet they could not leave the Gloomy Mountain Range. Using the Shadowless Sect to handle matters outside made perfect sense. Thinking this through, Ji Chang Kong became even more certain of his guess.

“Insolent brat, you are not worthy of speaking to me!” Luo Tie Zhan suddenly glared at Ji Chang Kong, releasing a violent surge of soul power from his body. Luo Tie Zhan’s soul energy struck towards Ji Chang Kong’s soul like a giant hammer, blasting down forcefully.

When a high-level Heavenly Scholar attacks a low-level Heavenly Scholar with soul power, it can instantly shatter the lower cultivator's soul. In severe cases, the victim’s soul is scattered on the spot; at best, they become an imbecile, never to fully recover. Luo Tie Zhan possessed the cultivation of the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. His sudden move was clearly intended to kill Ji Chang Kong outright!

Ghost Sea and Gui Rong were unprepared for Luo Tie Zhan’s sudden attack. Soul attacks were notoriously hard to defend against. With a moment of carelessness, it was already too late for the two of them to intervene.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A tumultuous, surging wave suddenly erupted in Ji Chang Kong’s mind, like a mountain collapsing. An extremely violent wave of soul energy raged within his consciousness, attempting to annihilate his spirit with a single strike!

Bang!

Five colors—cyan, red, gold, white, and yellow—suddenly shot out from Ji Chang Kong’s head. The piercingly cold white light in his eyes solidified into substance, and the extreme cold essence from the Ice Cave within his pupils was instantly released, freezing him solid into an ice sculpture in that instant.

Bloody essence began to ooze from his seven orifices—eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth—and was immediately frozen into crimson lines. The five-colored light erupting from his head suddenly retracted back into his mind. The Nebula Soul Refining Art, this marvelous secret technique for soul cultivation derived from the Aurelian Sect, began spinning at ten times its normal speed along the trajectory of the flowing nebula.

A wisp of faint, dark smoke was enveloped by the Nebula Soul Refining Art. After circling several times within his mind, it floated out through the pores on his scalp.

“Huh!” Luo Tie Zhan exclaimed, his face etched with disbelief. He discovered that his wave of soul attack had actually been neutralized by Ji Chang Kong using this unheard-of miraculous technique.

“Luo Tie Zhan, Ji Chang Kong is the new generation Xuanyuan of the Ji family. You are trying to eliminate this thorn in the side of the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings, aren’t you?” Gui Die could no longer hold back. Like a fluttering, malevolent ghost, she lunged fiercely toward Luo Tie Zhan.

Mid-flight, Gui Die let out a piercing shriek towards the sky. Luo Tie Zhan, who was preparing to unleash an even fiercer soul attack, felt his own soul tremble violently, and his body began to sway. Without hesitation, he reached out to meet her attack.

“Great Protector, move!” Luo Tie Zhan roared. His body twisted like a snake, and his burly frame instantly dissipated from where he stood. When Gui Rong rushed forward, she found herself striking empty air.

In an instant, the experts of the Ghost Sect and the Shadowless Sect all attacked simultaneously. The surrounding towering ancient trees were instantly pierced by streaks of light, causing branches to snap and roots to break.

Ghost Elder Seven did not attack but stood warily beside Ji Chang Kong, keeping a close watch on the members of the Shadowless Sect opposite them.

He knew that Ji Chang Kong was the new hope of the Ghost Sect and the key figure in dealing with the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings. Until Ji Chang Kong became a powerhouse in the Eight Trigrams or Nine Palace Heaven realm, he could not withstand the assaults of those ruthless individuals from the Shadowless Sect. He had to protect Ji Chang Kong firmly.

Gui Die and Luo Tie Zhan clashed violently, while Ghost Sea engaged the Great Protector of the Shadowless Sect. The four experts of the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm created earth-shattering explosions in the dense forest. Towering trees were uprooted, and level expanses of grassland were gouged with bottomless craters. Amidst the swirling dust, Luo Tie Zhan roared, “Those who are idle, kill that brat immediately and avenge our sect members!”

The Shadowless Sect had more people than the Ghost Sect. Those disciples of the Shadowless Sect at the Five Elements Heaven and Six Harmonies Heaven realms heard the command and immediately surrounded Ghost Elder Seven, drawing out their divine weapons and preparing to eliminate Ji Chang Kong, who was being protected by Ghost Elder Seven.

Seeing the numerous disciples of the Shadowless Sect closing in for the kill, Ghost Elder Seven immediately adopted a grave posture. A swarm of malevolent ghosts suddenly flew out from the sleeves of his robe. These ghosts tumbled in the eerie wind, baring fangs and claws as they gathered above Ji Chang Kong’s head like a thick black cloud.

Manipulating malevolent ghosts was the Ghost Sect’s most specialized skill. As the battle between the Ghost Sect and the Shadowless Sect erupted, malevolent ghosts flew out from the sleeves and lapels of Ghost Sea, Gui Die, and the others. These ghosts danced wildly throughout the forest, attacking the experts of the Shadowless Sect everywhere.

After releasing the malevolent ghosts, Ghost Elder Seven immediately stood in front of Ji Chang Kong, shaking a small bell. He used the legion of ghosts to ward off the attacks of the Shadowless Sect disciples.

He could see that although Ji Chang Kong was injured by Luo Tie Zhan’s soul strike, his soul had not been extinguished; he was merely encased in solid ice and had not yet broken free.

Gui Die charged ahead, unleashing ghosts, while the Shadowless Sect specialized in stealth. The Shadowless Sect members could vanish instantly amidst the shadows of the trees, their movements elusive. The Heavenly Scholars of the Shadowless Sect were agile, maneuvering to avoid the ghost attacks while searching for opportunities to strike at the Ghost Sect members.

“Gui Die, the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings were created by your Ghost Sect! It is only natural that the Heavenly Scholars who died in the Gloomy Mountain Range and turned into demons would seek retribution from you! Your Ghost Sect deserves this calamity!” Luo Tie Zhan retreated into the shadows and vanished, but his voice echoed from the sky.

The dozen or so fierce malevolent ghosts released by Gui Die flew towards the patch of shadows where Luo Tie Zhan had disappeared. It seemed they were restrained by some force within the shadows, unable to break free.

Gui Die appeared to know the secrets of the Shadowless Sect’s techniques. She snorted coldly and raised her hand, launching a long sword entirely black. The black sword burst forth with a faint, eerie cold light. As the light shot out, the great tree casting the shadow was chopped in half at the waist and crashed to the ground.

As the shadow disappeared, the dozen or so malevolent ghosts regained their freedom, and Luo Tie Zhan reappeared in that spot.

“We know the Ghost Sect bears an undeniable responsibility for the formation of the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings. You don't need to remind us!” After felling the tree, Gui Rong roared, “It is precisely because we know we made a mistake that we have been trying every means possible to eliminate the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings for so many years. Your Shadowless Sect daring to trade with the Ghost Demon Kings makes you the mortal enemy of my Ghost Sect!” “Baseless assertions, nonsense!” Luo Tie Zhan refused to admit any dealings with the Ghost Demon Kings. Seeing that Ji Chang Kong was still unharmed on the other side, he roared again, “Useless! Kill that kid quickly!” “Luo Tie Zhan, you know Ji Chang Kong is the new Xuanyuan of the Ji family, which is why you are trying to kill him at all costs, right? It seems the conflict between the Ghost Sect and your Shadowless Sect is truly irreconcilable!” Gui Die shrieked, charging at Luo Tie Zhan once more. Ji Chang Kong was the hope of the Ghost Sect, and before the massive threat of the Three Great Ghost Demon Kings was eliminated, she absolutely could not allow anything to happen to him.

On the other side, the Ghost Sect Master, Ghost Sea, was confronting the Great Protector of the Shadowless Sect, Huang Mu. Both were in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, but Ghost Sea was clearly stronger than Huang Mu. Waves of malevolent ghosts roared towards Huang Mu. Ghost Sea pressed his attack, forcing Huang Mu to constantly hide within the shadows, unwilling to engage Ghost Sea in a frontal confrontation.

Although the Ghost Sect had fewer members than the Shadowless Sect, all of theirs were masters, and each was aided by malevolent ghosts. In the ensuing fight, the Ghost Sect did not suffer any disadvantage; in fact, they held a slight upper hand. In a short time, some of the lower-ranked disciples of the Shadowless Sect were killed through the combined efforts of the Ghost Sect masters and the malevolent ghosts.

One expert of the Shadowless Sect at the Six Harmonies Heaven realm was struck by a burst of heavenly lightning from Ghost Elder Six. His soul suddenly fragmented into several wisps that drifted away. One primary soul, moving with incredible speed, flashed into the shadows and vanished without a trace.

“It is true!” Ghost Sea saw it clearly and snarled, “This method of splitting the soul into pieces to escape can only be known by the Ghost Demon Kings. The fact that your Shadowless Sect members use it is proof enough! The evidence is conclusive; I’d like to see you deny it now!” Shouting this, Ghost Sea attacked with even less restraint, focusing his killing intent on the Great Protector Huang Mu. The assembled malevolent ghosts, augmented by dense Yin energy, swarmed towards Huang Mu, making his situation increasingly perilous.

“Great Protector, kill Ji Chang Kong first!” Luo Tie Zhan roared. He suddenly materialized in front of Ghost Sea. His movement was bizarre; he vanished into one shadow and reappeared, intercepting Ghost Sea.

The Shadowless Sect’s secret had been exposed, so Luo Tie Zhan stopped talking nonsense and focused only on killing Ji Chang Kong first.

Huang Mu knew Ji Chang Kong was the key. Seeing Luo Tie Zhan intercepting Ghost Sea for him, he immediately flashed into a shadow with a chilling expression. When he reappeared, he was in front of Ghost Elder Seven, attacking both Ghost Elder Seven and Ji Chang Kong without hesitation.

“How dare you!” After losing sight of Luo Tie Zhan, Gui Die did not pursue him but rushed back from a distance, shouting fiercely, “Little Seven, protect that kid with your life!” When Luo Tie Zhan first clashed with Gui Die, he had instinctively drawn Gui Rong far away. Now, Gui Die was extremely far from Ji Chang Kong and Ghost Elder Seven. Even with Gui Die’s Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm cultivation, she could not possibly return in the blink of an eye.

Huang Mu possessed the cultivation of the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. Although he could not defeat Ghost Sea, dealing with Ghost Elder Seven at the Seven Stars Heaven Realm and Ji Chang Kong at the Five Elements Heaven Realm should take him only a single breath to eliminate both, in Luo Tie Zhan’s estimation.

Luo Tie Zhan believed this, Gui Die believed this, and even Huang Mu thought so.

In the gloomy forest, a light of moonlight suddenly manifested. This beam of milky white moonlight did not come from the heavens but from Huang Mu’s hand. A sphere of bright, pure moonlight suddenly magnified, resembling a massive disk, which swiftly enveloped the area of Ghost Elder Seven and Ji Chang Kong.

Ghost Elder Seven’s face was full of shock. He blocked in front of Ji Chang Kong and roared loudly. Streaks of malevolent ghosts gathered, forming a black cloud that obscured the patch of sky directly above the two of them.

Even ordinary Ghost Demons could not escape the attack of an Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm master; mere malevolent ghosts were certainly no match. The black cloud formed by the aggregated ghosts had barely taken shape when it was suppressed by the massive disk of moonlight. The black cloud was forcibly ripped open, and the moonlight pierced through the huge gap, descending straight down!

Ghost Elder Seven’s bones creaked loudly, and his expression became incredibly grave. He suddenly shot upwards into the sky, intending to use his own body to block the invasion of the moonlight.

Just then, Ji Chang Kong, who had been encased in ice, ignited a ball of fierce flame from within his body. As the flame passed, his body became shrouded in mist, and the solid ice instantly melted away.

Hah!

Ji Chang Kong, regaining his mobility, shot a beam of icy light from his eyes. With a great shout toward the heavens, he unleashed the Surging Waves Art.

Amidst the sound of rushing water, seven layers of waves instantly took form, charging directly toward the disk of moonlight in the sky. As the Surging Waves Art manifested, Ji Chang Kong shouted, “Ghost Elder Seven, move aside!” Ghost Elder Seven had been preparing to desperately block Huang Mu’s attack and had just flown into the sky, but he suddenly felt an extremely violent force surge from beneath him. Ghost Elder Seven was startled and, upon hearing Ji Chang Kong’s shout, instinctively moved aside.

Rumble!

A tremendous commotion erupted from above Ghost Elder Seven’s head. Streaks of moonlight scattered outwards, mixed with the sound of splashing water. Ghost Elder Seven saw a beam of moonlight shooting directly toward him and hastily dodged to the side. The moonlight struck the ground, instantly carving a bottomless cavern there.

The seven layers of surging waves grew stronger with each ripple. After the power of the seven waves subsided, the moonlight shot out by Huang Mu vanished. Ghost Elder Seven stared at the standing Ji Chang Kong with sheer horror, completely unable to comprehend how this boy could withstand a blow from Huang Mu of the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm.

It was only at this moment that Gui Die rushed over from the distance. After landing beside Ghost Elder Seven, Gui Die was also stunned. She glanced at Huang Mu over there, then at the heavily panting Ji Chang Kong, and muttered, “What—what is happening?” “I… I don’t know,” Ghost Elder Seven replied blankly, shaking his head gently.

“You want to kill me? It’s not that easy,” Ji Chang Kong sneered, suddenly turning his head to look at Gui Die. “If you and I join forces, we can kill this Great Protector. How about it?” Gui Die was startled.