The Evil Ghost Screen, one of Yinsha Sect's signature flying artifacts, was notorious throughout the cultivation world. Its main component? The life-souls of cultivators—those fragments of consciousness that linger after death or are forcibly separated from their bodies before reaching the Metamorphosis stage. Ordinary mortals' souls dissipate instantly like smoke, unless bound by obsessive emotions or trapped in frigid realms. Even then, such spirits lose all memories and become feral wraiths with only primal instincts and a sliver of fixation.

Cultivator life-souls proved far more resilient. Through cultivation's forging process, their consciousness remained sharp even after separation from flesh. These ethereal fragments could actively navigate spaces or temporarily bind to spiritual objects, waiting for opportunities to possess hosts. With proper ghostly cultivation techniques and abundantqi (malevolent energy), they might even transform into ghost cultivators. Yet even these persistent souls would eventually fade—though stronger ones dissipated more slowly.

Most unfortunate were those who died with enemies nearby. Take Zhou Minghua—he was devoured instantly by Lei Dong's spectral soldiers, his life-soul consumed before it could escape. Yinsha Sect naturally favored such materials for their artifacts. The Evil Ghost Screen itself was forged using precisely these stolen souls.

More powerful souls created more formidable screens. This wasn't just a flying artifact—it projected soul-shaking malice that froze one's combat instincts with primal terror. But the screen wielder here, this grotesque young man at Cultivation Stage Six, obviously lacked mastery. His artifact would be weak—either too crude to control or likely causing ghostly backlash.

Still, only favored disciples like Ding Wanyan's protégés could obtain such artifacts. With his posture arrogant and nose tilted defiantly toward the heavens, he sneered at Lei Dong: "Who do you think you are? Don't you know this is GhostValley territory?"

Lei Dong's mind raced through possibilities—this youth must be personally favored by the sect patriarch himself. Yet as he spoke smoothly of capturing wandering spirits in Extreme Yin Caverns, his eyes couldn't help lingering on the two alluring young women nearby. Their revealing silks and flirtatious glances toward their grotesque companion hinted at more than mere companionship.

The youth puffed up with pride at their adoration, yet failed to notice how both women subtly assessed Lei Dong's unassuming but composed presence—far more appealing than his own revolting visage. Lei Dong fought back a smirk; he was far too accustomed to such situations from his past life.

"Extreme Yin Caverns, right?" the youth scoffed, mistaking Lei Dong's calculated deference for naivety. "Try your luck at your own territory, not here!" His arrogance was only heightened by the women's laughter and admiration—until he glimpsed their covert glances shifting toward Lei Dong.

Lei Dong inhaled calmly: "We're all Yinsha disciples. Why not cooperate?"

"Cooperate?!" The youth's face twisted with fury. "On my territory, you hand over that soul-cultivation tower now or—" He gestured to the ghost-infested screen above him, basking in the women's laughter at his display of dominance.

"Sorry," Lei Dong feigned trembling fear as he produced the upper-tier soul-cultivation tower from his belt. "I yield! Just please don't... don't let me become part of your artifact!"

The youth's eyes widened greedily at the sight: an exquisite black mist-wreathed relic. "Remove your cultivation marks first," he ordered.

Lei Dong wiped sweat from his brow, chanting frantically—only for a spectral soldier to materialize unbidden before them...