"Run wild?" The Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts, wreathed in black mist, let out an angry snort, the grey-black robes rustling violently without a breeze. Simultaneously, the black mist dissolved into wisps of dark energy, which immediately burst outwards, doubling and redoubling. In mere moments, the heavens and earth changed color. The sky spanning several li became saturated with countless wisps of black energy, sometimes faint, sometimes distinct, spreading overhead to form a somber and eerie domain. Looking down from above, it resembled a massive, churning storm cloud, seemingly impenetrable even by the fiercest sunlight.

Anyone trapped within felt only a press of dark shadows and writhing black miasma; vision was obscured beyond a few dozen meters, and even spiritual sense struggled to pierce the layered obstructions, confining one to a narrow space. The temperature plummeted, and piercing shrieks of tortured ghosts and howling wolves assailed the ears, instantly chilling the bone and raising every hair. Those with lower cultivation bases found their legs trembling uncontrollably, nearly causing them to fall from their flying artifacts.

"Netherworld Grand Art!"

Ku Gu (Withered Bones) hadn't expected Wan Gui (Ten Thousand Ghosts) to unleash the Netherworld Grand Art without a word, instantly reshaping the surroundings into a true Netherworld domain. His expression shifting between shock and fury, he shouted, "I hadn't realized your mastery of the Netherworld Grand Art had reached such a level, Wan Gui. But there is no enmity between us; to attack unprovoked like this—do you take me, Ku Gu, for an easy target?"

"Stop feigning ignorance, Ku Gu," the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts retorted, raising another banner, the Myriad Ghost Banner, emanating a far more terrifying spectral aura than Lei Dong’s own. With a slight wave, the dense masses of ghosts surged forth from the banner, creating a suffocating black torrent within the Netherworld domain. Bathed in the surrounding nether energy, these spirits felt as though a dragon had returned to the sea—they cheered, invigorated, greedily devouring the nearly endless strands of black energy. With every wisp consumed, each ghost seemed to grow stronger in an instant, their spectral essence intensifying, becoming savagely vicious, and unleashing piercing, ear-splitting screeches.

If it were only one or two, it would be negligible, but the relentless, rising shrieks of countless ghosts made heads spin, unsettled the blood, and sparked a violent rage.

The most terrifying aspect was that the ghost army from the Myriad Ghost Banner seemed inexhaustible; the torrent had already circled the Netherworld domain several times, yet it showed no sign of depleting. This seemingly endless host of spirits brought a look of frantic helplessness to every member of Ku Gu Peak, leaving them trembling, deeply fearful that a mere thought from the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts would unleash the terrifying horde to devour them whole, soul and flesh alike.

Lei Dong was dumbfounded. This entire area spanning several li had become the undisputed dominion of ghosts. And these ghosts, having absorbed the black energy, were now even more powerful and vicious. Staring wide-eyed at the magnificent yet terrifying spectacle, he mused that this was the true art of commanding spirits. He had previously believed his own skills were somewhat proficient, but compared to the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts, the gap was leagues wide. Given this display of momentum and power, Lei Dong instantly believed the patriarch could wipe Ku Gu Peak off the map single-handedly.

The Patriarch Ku Gu’s expression was grave. Rumors had long suggested that Wan Gui was young yet formidable, his ghost-controlling abilities unmatched in the Yin Sha Sect, but he hadn't truly believed it until now. It seemed he was even more potent than the legends suggested. If it were merely a contest of the Netherworld Grand Art versus the exquisitely controlled Myriad Ghost Banner, Ku Gu might not have feared him as much. The real concern was the recent news that Gui Sha (Ghost Fiend) had suffered a humbling defeat at Wan Gui's hands because his top-tier spirit ghost had ascended to the rank of a Ninth-Rank Ghost General. A top-tier Ninth-Rank Ghost General, equipped with powerful gear, possessed an enviable might that enraged enemies. Ku Gu had weighed his own strength—at the sixth layer of the Golden Core stage, he felt confident in overwhelming either the old demon Wan Gui or that Ninth-Rank Ghost General in a single confrontation. However, the Ninth-Rank Ghost General was Wan Gui’s essential life-bound servant; there was no realistic scenario for a separate duel.

Consequently, Ku Gu lacked the conviction of absolute victory. Relying on his cultivation being two layers higher than Wan Gui’s and the strength accumulated over three centuries, the best outcome for either side was a stalemate. This realization—even with his explosive temper—was the reason he hadn't immediately attacked when the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts began causing trouble on his doorstep.

At over 380 years old, Ku Gu had long given up on the hope of reaching the Undying Nascent Soul stage, losing the aggressive drive for advancement. In the century or so of life remaining, securing a peaceful old age was the primary imperative. Thus, upon hearing Wan Gui’s harsh demands, despite his anger, Ku Gu forced down the impulse to fight head-on: "Wan Gui, what is the meaning of this? If I, Ku Gu, have wronged you in some way, I ask that you state it plainly."

The moment Ku Gu uttered these words, the expressions of the assembled disciples on Ku Gu Peak shifted to one of disappointment and awkwardness. This was understandable; if an overbearing ancestor, usually inferior to their own sect master, charged in, and their own ancestor responded with appeasement, the morale of disciples like Lei Dong would inevitably plummet.

"Jie jie~" The Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts burst into a cold, booming laugh filled with contempt. "Since you, Ku Gu, are so sensible, this Seat will not make things too difficult. Hand over that scoundrel Baili who dared to ambush my Wan Gui Cave’s Ding Wanyan for my disposal, and today's affair shall be treated as if it never happened."

"You mean Baili Yun attacked Ding Wanyan?" Ku Gu’s face darkened, and a difficult choice immediately presented itself.

He had to admit that disciples with talent like Baili Yun’s appeared only about once every ten years. With minimal nurturing, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage was a certainty, and even the Golden Core path held a two or three-tenths chance. The top-ranked disciple of such talent every decade was almost invariably claimed by the Heavenly Demon Palace. This generation had been particularly lucky, producing the once-in-a-century prodigy Dongfang Fu, which is why Ku Gu had managed to secure Baili Yun. Just as Wan Gui held high hopes for Ding Wanyan, Ku Gu placed great expectations on Baili Yun. Handing Baili Yun over was something Ku Gu was absolutely unwilling to agree to.

"Where is Yun'er?" Patriarch Ku Gu roared downward, glaring. "Tell him to come out and speak with me! Did I not warn him against causing trouble outside?"

Soon, a disciple hesitantly stepped forward and reported, "Reporting to the Patriarch, Senior Brother Baili just returned not long ago, but… but…"

"Why the hesitation?" Patriarch Ku Gu angrily snapped in displeasure.

"But Senior Brother Baili returned gravely injured and has not woken up yet. Also, Senior Brother Baili self-detonated his left arm to escape using the Blood Escape Technique."

"What?" Ku Gu's eyebrows jumped; shaking with extraordinary rage, he waved his hand. "Go!" A surge of sinister and immense energy blasted the disciple away. He landed heavily, spitting blood, yet no one dared to approach him.

"Hmph, hmph, Ku Gu, what great might you wield," the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts sneered coldly. "To command a disciple to weave such a blatant lie to deceive this Seat—do you think I grew up eating dirt?"

"Wan Gui, you push too far!" Patriarch Ku Gu erupted in fury. "I tolerated your behavior out of respect for our shared sect, but do you truly believe this Patriarch is afraid of you?"

"Very well, let us test it then," the Patriarch of Ten Thousand Ghosts replied. His objective in coming today was precisely to stir up chaos. The moment Ku Gu’s tone hardened, Wan Gui seized the opportunity, his face sinister as he cackled, "Allow this Seat to experience your Withered Bones Grand Art, old demon!"

Those tens of thousands—no, more—of ghosts happily devouring the black energy in the sky seemed to receive an unspoken command. Instantly, they coalesced into a massive torrent, blotting out the sun and sky, sweeping toward Patriarch Ku Gu. Ghostly cries erupted in unison, so sharp that the Ku Gu Peak disciples, those only at the Qi Refining stage, tumbled from their flying artifacts with yelps.

Even Lei Dong suffered a splitting headache from the clamor of countless ghosts, feeling a surge of violent energy flood his chest, threatening him with explosive death.

Just as he struggled to maintain control, a massive, chilling aura enveloped him securely. All the spectral wails and howls vanished. Lei Dong felt drenched in sweat, realizing his ancestor was looking out for him, and he instinctively glanced toward the imposing figure. He saw the tall silhouette, straight and steadfast. An ancestor of a wicked sect, yet so meticulously thoughtful, able to spare a thought for his own inability to withstand the combined clamor of ten thousand ghosts in the face of such a formidable enemy.