The ragged, battle-worn Golden Core team, having just survived the beast tide, stared in utter disbelief at the high-grade magical artifacts and Primordial Spirit artifacts suddenly presented by Ye Qin. Every single cultivator in the Golden Core realm received a magic tool from Ye Qin.

Clasping them in their hands, they could finally believe such good fortune had befallen them. It took them a while to snap back to reality, and then an overwhelming excitement erupted in a burst of cheering.

“Many thanks for the old ancestor’s bestowal!” “To receive such a benefit from the old ancestor, how can we possibly accept! May I ask your esteemed name, senior?

Even if I must serve as your ox or horse in the next life, I vow to repay this kindness! Ah, no, I am willing to serve you diligently right now, body and soul.

Might I humbly ask if the senior would take me in?” These Golden Core cultivators cried out in their excitement, and several quick-witted individuals immediately knelt, eager to pledge allegiance to Ye Qin. The batch of high-grade and Primordial Spirit artifacts Ye Qin gave them were, truth be told, not absolute top-tier treasures.

But they were being gifted freely! For these mid-stage Golden Core cultivators, whose finances were far from abundant—indeed, bordering on destitute—this was truly rain in the snow.

It would instantly boost their combat strength by at least twenty to thirty percent. If this ancestor was so generous and broad-minded, so fond of charity, what incredible benefits might follow if they could just follow him!

Most of the Golden Core cultivators in the group were visibly moved and deeply grateful. Although a few seasoned cultivators harbored suspicions about the purpose behind Ye Qin’s sudden, extravagant largesse, Ye Qin had shown them no ill will, and they dared not speak their doubts.

“I have urgent matters and cannot linger. Farewell, fellow Daoists, take care!” Ye Qin waved his hand, clearly having no intention of recruiting anyone, and prepared to depart on his sword.

But just then, remembering something crucial, he turned back toward the assembled Golden Core cultivators. “Ah, right, I almost forgot to tell you something important!

I came from the Blood Sea to the east. Halfway here, I encountered several Demon Cultivators.

I don’t know if they are heading this way. Your group of over twenty is quite large; if those Demon Cultivators find you, you will certainly be ambushed and face total annihilation.

I suggest you split into smaller teams of two or three and take detours toward Black Sand City. With fewer people, even if you are attacked, the entire team won't be wiped out.” Having spoken, Ye Qin did not wait.

He immediately transformed into a streak of golden light on his sword and sped away toward the southwest. Upon hearing this, the Golden Core cultivators couldn't help but display expressions of sheer panic; some went pale and bloodless, while others felt their limbs turn cold with fright.

“Demon... Demon Cultivators...

are coming?” “Is that true? Surely this senior isn't just trying to scare us?” “Look at how hastily the old ancestor left.

He’s rushing to escape the Demon Cultivators too. How could it be false?

What are we waiting for? Let’s flee for our lives!” “We can barely fight a group of high-level demonic beasts, let alone the more terrifying shapeshifting Demon Cultivators.

Encountering even one would be enough to annihilate our entire team!” “That ancestor wouldn't stoop to frightening us. Fellow Daoists, let’s form teams of two or three and scatter in different directions.

We’ll meet at Black Sand City in three days. Whether we live or die now is up to fate!” The leader, a stern-faced man with thick eyebrows clad in fine silk, frowned deeply, his expression ugly, but finally grit his teeth and made the decision.

The cultivators nodded in agreement, splitting into over a dozen small squads—some of just one or two people, others three—mounting their artifacts and scattering in all directions across the sea like startled birds, fleeing for their lives at full speed. They all knew that when facing terrifyingly powerful Demon Cultivators, being fewer in number was actually better for Golden Core cultivators.

Large numbers offered no advantage; small numbers meant a smaller target. Perhaps the Demon Cultivators would disdain such a small catch and refrain from the chase.

Ye Qin flew over the sea on his sword, drastically suppressing the aura and spiritual pressure he projected, making his outward presence seem similar to that of a mid-to-late stage Golden Core cultivator. He even slowed his flight speed considerably, not much faster than those mid-to-late Golden Core cultivators.

Ye Qin clenched his pale lower lip, feeling an icy, spectral demonic aura rapidly approaching from the extreme distance, so sharp it caused a stinging pain, raising the hairs violently on his spine. Because he had wasted a small moment gifting artifacts to that Golden Core team...

In just that brief interval, the Ghost Lord was almost upon him. Ye Qin felt a great headache coming on.

Originally, seeing that the Ghost Lord intended to remain in the Blood Sea to undergo the Great Heavenly Tribulation, Ye Qin had sensed deep trouble and hastily taken leave of the Sacred Emperor, speeding away. Clearly, the moment he left, the Ghost Lord wasted no time and pursued immediately, intending to snatch his Ice Lotus Seeds.

Those Golden Core cultivators were too weak; they likely couldn't even sense the Ghost Lord’s aura. But Ye Qin, a Nascent Soul cultivator, perceived that chilling, shadowy energy closing in with absolute clarity.

The Ghost Lord's speed was terrifyingly fast. The flight speed of a peak late-stage Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator truly couldn't be compared to his own early-stage Nascent Soul Level Two.

Fortunately, that team of Golden Core cultivators had received his warning. Carrying artifacts tainted with his aura, they had scattered in more than ten small teams in panicked flight.

Across this expanse of sea, there were now more than ten groups, each leaving behind his magical aura in a different direction. Whether he could use their presence to lure the Ghost Lord away depended entirely on this gamble!

Ye Qin quickly calculated the possibilities in his mind. The Ghost Lord could easily catch up to any single team—it would take perhaps only ten breaths.

If it had to chase all ten teams, it would take several hours at least, as catching the later teams would become progressively more difficult and time-consuming. “The shortest time to escape is ten breaths; the longest could be several hours.

A gamble of life and death!” Ye Qin flew on his sword, a wry smile on his face. This held the chance of survival hidden within.

It all depended on which team the Ghost Lord chose to pursue, and when it chose to pursue him. If he were truly unlucky and the Ghost Lord chased him directly, he would likely have to use the Grand Technique of the Immortal Body to manifest his Dharmakaya for escape.

However, the Grand Technique of the Immortal Body consumed vast amounts of magical power, instantly draining two-thirds of his reserve. At this critical moment of escape, drastically depleting his energy was unwise; running out of power could mean death.

Even with spiritual wine, there might not be enough time to replenish his reserves. Unless absolutely forced, he would not give up the Ice Lotus Seeds.

He couldn't bear to part with them; this was a rare spiritual treasure that had drifted from the Northern Abyss. Perhaps not a second Ice Lotus Seed could be found in the entire Eastern Sea cultivation world!

Moreover, he lacked sufficient Ice Spirit Stones in his Purple Mansion to cultivate high-grade Spirit Objects for the Spirit Transformation stage, such as the Ice Lotus Seed, right now. Simply handing them over to the Ghost Lord made his heart ache.

On the sea surface in the far distance, a mass of black ghost mist flew rapidly. Previously, when acquiring the Purple Spirit Yang Grass, it had restrained itself from causing extra trouble to avoid provoking the Sacred Emperor, and also to prevent the Hateshan Old Freak from interfering and contesting the Spirit Transformation-level Ice Lotus Seed—it had endured until now without striking.

Now, there was no need to hold back any longer. It was determined to reclaim the Ice Lotus Seed taken by Ye Qin, refine it into the core Spirit Transformation-level ghost artifact for the Desolate Spirit Ghost Island’s array, which would aid in passing the Spirit Transformation Tribulation, and kill Ye Qin to vent years of pent-up hatred.

Within the mass of ghost mist, the Ghost Lord’s black robe, enveloping its skeletal body, flickered in and out of sight, surrounded by ethereal ghost flames. A sharp, ghostly light suddenly flashed in its skeletal eye, and it muttered gravely, “Why has his aura suddenly weakened so much, splitting into more than ten streams?

Could he possess a Clone Splitting Art?” The Ghost Lord hesitated for only a moment before pursuing the nearest aura stream. Whether it was a clone technique or not would be clear once it caught up.

Whoosh! The mass of ghost mist vanished, intercepting a streak of sword light over the sea.

“Senior, spare this humble one!” The mid-stage Golden Core cultivator standing on that streak of sword light had never expected a powerful late-stage Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator to suddenly appear and intercept him. He trembled uncontrollably, terrified to the point of nearly collapsing onto his flying sword, so horrified he almost lost control of the artifact and plunged into the sea.

The source of the Ye Qin magic aura scenting the air was, in fact, the high-grade flying sword beneath the cultivator’s feet. “Insolent!” The Ghost Lord saw it wasn't Ye Qin, and a sinister fire instantly flared in its eyes; it was almost vomiting black smoke from rage.

It swept its black robe toward the Golden Core cultivator, and from within the ghost mist, a spectral claw, hundreds of feet long and composed of stark white bones, shot out. It seized the Golden Core cultivator along with his flying sword, pulled them both into the dense ghost mist, and with a few sickening cracks, the sword shattered, the flesh and bone vanished, and the soul dissipated.

The Ghost Lord’s divine sense angrily swept across the sea in all directions over a wide area. There were still more than ten streams of Ye Qin’s magical aura fleeing in panic across the water.

As a Ghost Cultivator, it possessed a unique detection ability highly sensitive to the vital energy of living beings. It could easily distinguish between a living creature and a magic artifact.

However, this was only effective at close range. At long distances—tens or hundreds of miles—it could not detect vital energy.

It could only sense the magical aura. Distinguishing which aura stream belonged to Ye Qin himself and which was emitted by an artifact left by Ye Qin was extremely difficult.

At best, it could gauge the strength of the magical aura but couldn't differentiate between Ye Qin’s own essence and the aura left on his artifacts. “The nearest aura wasn't the brat; then I’ll chase the furthest aura!

Let’s see how far the brat can run.” The ghost mist transformed into a black streak and abruptly vanished over the sea, pursuing the fastest fleeing aura. A few dozen breaths later, it caught up to another small team of cultivators.

But the result was another disappointment: the furthest-fleeing group was also a panicked team of fleeing Golden Core cultivators. After two consecutive disappointments, its anger was hard to suppress.

“Damn you all, die!” The massive cloud of ghost mist instantly enveloped the few individuals. Not even a scream escaped.

Amidst its rage, the Ghost Lord swept its divine sense across a thousand-mile radius of the sea. It considered chasing the other auras but hesitated.

The boy wasn't the nearest or weakest aura, nor the furthest or strongest escaping stream—truly cunning and calculating. If it made a few more wrong chases, things would become troublesome.

Every mistaken pursuit would nearly double the time spent.