Chapter Sixty-Two: The Styx Chart ... Seeing the Myriad Ghosts Patriarch truly make a move, the Withered Bone Ancestor's face also changed in alarm, and he hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "Everyone retreat back into the cave dwelling."

As if granted a general amnesty, all the disciples present either unleashed their escape techniques or piloted their magic artifacts, a chaotic flurry of escaping lights fleeing back toward the cave dwelling. Of course, their escape was permitted because the Myriad Ghosts Patriarch had no real intention of making trouble for these junior cultivators. Otherwise, the vast majority would have met their end right there. The gap between the Qi Refining stage and the Golden Core stage was simply too vast.

The Withered Bone Ancestor, famous for many years, having slain countless people in his lifetime, was by no means someone easily dealt with. Seeing the sweeping army of fierce ghosts charging ferociously towards him, his expression darkened, yet instead of anger, a smile broke out: "Welcome, watch this Venerable Master unleash the Withered Bone Great Art."

As his voice fell, a sickly pale, chilling luminescence burst forth from around his body, enveloping him entirely within a hazy radius of several feet.

When the tide of ghosts collided with the cold light, it erupted into bursts of spray, much like a surging tide being blocked by a dam, some of the spirits being directly shredded to nothing by the white light. However, the Myriad Ghosts Banner was not something to be trifled with, which was why it was renowned throughout the cultivation world. Countless malevolent spirits rushed forward, surrounding both the white light and the Withered Bone Ancestor within their grasp. Black miasma and white light entangled and depleted one another.

At a speed almost visible to the naked eye, that several-foot-wide expanse of pallid white light was slowly diminishing. Everyone knew that once all the white light was consumed, the Withered Bone Ancestor would face the true horrors of the Myriad Ghosts Devouring the Soul. Yet, the Withered Bone Ancestor's methods were also formidable. Within the white light, he calmly manipulated esoteric gestures, causing countless streams of white light to erupt anew from his body, manifesting and condensing into terrifying, ferocious skull heads that looked utterly lifelike.

Those skulls targeted the various ghosts. Some snapped shut with a crunch, swallowing a spirit whole; others were torn to shreds by the attacking spirits. However, when facing the near-infinite stream of ghosts, the few thousand skulls seemed rather meager in comparison. The Withered Bone Ancestor roared out another technique, and the ghastly white light gradually began to distort.

With a muffled thump, it transformed into soaring pillars of blazing light, surging with immense power. Weaker ghosts, caught in the sweep of these flames, were incinerated to ash within moments. Even the stronger spirits were forced to scatter wildly across the battlefield.

This spectacle caused Lei Dong to feel a knot of anxiety in his stomach, fearing that his own ancestor might be gaining the upper hand.

"Jie jie~ I hadn't expected you, Withered Bone, to already be able to unleash the Demonic Flame Soaring to the Heavens. But let's see how long your cultivation can sustain that burning!" The Myriad Ghosts Patriarch laughed instead of showing surprise, continuing to urge the Myriad Ghosts forward against the Withered Bone Ancestor. Simultaneously, with several waves of his hand, several life-bound ghost servants appeared, flickering in and out of existence in the air. The one leading clutched dual halberds, clad in terrifying and domineering armor—it was none other than the top-grade Ninth-Rank Ghost General Lei Dong had encountered earlier. The four following, Lei Dong couldn't discern their true depth, but judging by their aura, they were clearly a tier below the Ghost General, perhaps merely powerful Ghost Guards.

The five ghost servants, under the Myriad Ghosts Patriarch's command, charged toward the Withered Bone Ancestor. The Ninth-Rank Ghost General, in particular, moved with swiftness, resembling a meteor streaking across the sky, crossing through the towering demonic flames in the blink of an eye. Bringing its dual halberds together, it slammed heavily against the great mass of white light.

Boom!

The great mass of white light shuddered violently, instantly dissipating by more than half.

The tyrannical impact jolted the Withered Bone Ancestor to near dizziness, and the soaring demonic flames momentarily shrank back. Such fierce and powerful offensive force caused the Withered Bone Ancestor's heart to constrict sharply. He quickly waved his hand, dividing a small portion of the skulls engaged in combat with the ghosts and using them to surround the Ghost General. At the same time, he lifted a hand, and a phantom coalesced into substance—it was another Ghost General, also clad in a set of ferocious and malevolent armor, its demeanor no less imposing than the top-grade Ghost General.

As soon as it appeared, this Ghost General also brandished its weapon, striking out at the four Ghost Guards following closely behind. The four Ghost Guards, refined from mid-grade spirit ghosts, had served the Myriad Ghosts Patriarch for many years; they were now all at the Tenth or Eleventh Rank, comparable to cultivators in the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage. However, compared to the Second-Rank Ghost General summoned by the Withered Bone Ancestor, they were significantly inferior.

The four Ghost Guards, yet to score a victory, could only barely hold their ground against the Withered Bone Ancestor's Ghost General, being pushed back repeatedly.

"Withered Bone, I didn't expect you to possess an upper-grade Ghost General too." The Myriad Ghosts Patriarch's expression shifted slightly, but then he sneered, "A pity, a pity it's only at the level of a mere Second-Rank Ghost General." With that, he flicked his finger again, and his last remaining Fourth-Rank upper-grade Ghost General materialized out of thin air. Its form surged forth, directly plunging into the midst of the four Ghost Guards. Raising its shield, it slammed down with a thunderous blow upon the Second-Rank Ghost General.

The unfortunate Second-Rank Ghost General was sent flying backward bodily. Coincidentally, the Ninth-Rank Ghost General, which was being assailed and gnawed upon by the surrounding skulls, erupted in fury, emitting a jarring, shrill whistle. Stamping its foot, arcs of semi-transparent ripples radiated outward in all directions from its body. Every skull that dared to surround it was instantly vibrated into mist and then vanished without a trace. A thousand skulls were annihilated by that single strike. Its rage seemed unspent; seeing the Withered Bone Ancestor's Second-Rank Ghost General flying toward it, it lunged out a massive claw mid-air, the grip rapidly enlarging, intercepting it and hauling it back forcefully.

Zizizi~ The once arrogant Second-Rank Ghost General, no matter how much it struggled, could not escape the mighty strength of the Ninth-Rank Ghost General. In an instant, it was dragged before its foe. The Ninth-Rank Ghost General, as if facing a delectable feast, shrieked strangely, opened its cavernous maw, and bit down with a loud ah-wu. Pitiable was the Second-Rank General, half its body gone yet still struggling. With another bite, the entire Second-Rank Ghost General was consumed.

Lei Dong watched, a surge of excitement washing over him. The top-grade Ghost General was truly incredibly powerful. Its innate techniques—such as Spectral Strike, Acceleration Spell, Netherworld Ghost Claw, and that Devour ability—combined, they were utterly terrifying.

Seeing his Second-Rank Ghost General directly eaten, the Withered Bone Ancestor's heart felt as though it was shattering. That was a Ghost General refined from an upper-grade spirit ghost, nurtured in secret for many years. He had originally assumed that even if it couldn't defeat the Ninth-Rank General, it wouldn't be easily killed. But he had never imagined it would be so utterly vulnerable before that top-grade Ninth-Rank Ghost General.

The Myriad Ghosts Patriarch also burst into wild laughter: "Withered Bone, oh Withered Bone, what can I say about you? Playing with ghosts in front of this Patriarch—have you lost your mind? An upper-grade spirit ghost following you is a complete waste of heavenly treasures. But that's for the best; after consuming your Second-Rank Ghost General, my top-grade Ghost General can advance to the Tenth Rank."

"Myriad Ghosts, you push too far! This Venerable Master will fight you to the death!" the Withered Bone Ancestor roared. A ferocious and savage expression appeared on his corpse-like face. He clapped his claws together, thrusting them forward, unleashing a colossal white hand that resembled a mountain, lunging toward the Fourth-Rank Ghost General. Simultaneously, the remaining skulls rushed toward that general in a desperate wave.

It was clear that after losing an upper-grade Ghost General, this fellow had been enraged beyond measure. He was determined to destroy one of the Myriad Ghosts' troops in return, to exact revenge and balance the score.

However, the Myriad Ghosts Patriarch had been playing with ghosts for so many years; if he allowed such a simple victory, it would be a joke. He immediately snorted coldly and threw out an object that seemed like a painting yet wasn't, like a chart yet wasn't. As the item flew, it grew larger and larger until it formed a meandering river, a full li in length, winding like a ribbon and wrapping around the upper-grade Ghost General.

Boom! As the massive white hand collided with the river, it emitted a tragic, chilling radiance. The army of skulls had just arrived when they were absorbed into the river, exploding into countless fragments. But the Ghost General remained unharmed.

"The Styx Chart? You—you—how do you possess such a spiritual treasure?"

At this point, the Withered Bone Ancestor was truly gripped by overwhelming terror. He stared at the slowly flowing river of churning black water with utter shock, his expression one of utter disbelief. ...