The ambush had failed.

A shield of blood-red crescent moon suddenly materialized behind Bu Chang, blocking the Shadow Ghoul's sneak attack. He then snapped his hand back, unleashing a palm strike, surging with malevolent energy that blasted the shadow creature away.

Though Bu Chang had sensed the attack from behind at the last moment and successfully parried the blow, a cold sweat still broke out on him, and he cursed the cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining as a freak. To nurture two tenth-level Ghouls, even mid-grade Spirit Ghouls, required an astonishing amount of resources.

Instantly, he began treating the young man named Lei Dong as a formidable enemy.

The Viridian Claw swooped in at that moment, its five talons spread wide, descending from above to viciously rake down at Bu Chang. Bu Chang's figure flashed repeatedly, drifting erratically like smoke in a hurricane, making his next move impossible to predict.

Yin Sha Escape (). Lei Dong mused inwardly. This man's path was rather similar to that of his Senior Sister, but whether it was the Great Yin Sha Art (), the Ghostly Fiend Palm (), or the Yin Sha Escape, his mastery fell far short of his Senior Sister's.

Lei Dong could not track Ding Wanyan's Yin Sha Escape, but under his formidable divine sense, Bu Chang's movements could not escape his sharp eye. He swept his right arm backward, pulling the massive spectral claw into a bizarre arc toward the rear flank, directly intercepting the elusive figure. Simultaneously, his five fingers snapped shut. The giant hand seized Bu Chang, and as his semi-ethereal form manifested, a look of sheer horror and disbelief still lingered on his face.

Netherworld Ghost Claw () was a technique Lei Dong favored, and he had invested considerable effort in mastering it. The same applied to others, such as Ghost Shadow Escape () and Profound Yin Shield (). If one learned too many techniques, the fight might appear flashy and attractive, but ultimately be impractical. Every single spell, from learning its use to wielding it naturally and reaching perfection, required countless hours and dedication for relentless refinement. Trying to swallow more than one can chew was precisely the principle here.

Of course, Lei Dong's Netherworld Ghost Claw was still far from flawless; after all, only a mere ten years had passed since his initiation. During this decade, the majority of his effort had been spent on Qi Refining meditation. However, Bu Chang had clearly practiced the Great Yin Sha Art and Yin Sha Escape for too short a time; his technique was clumsy, allowing Lei Dong to seize his opening immediately.

The Bloodthirst and Shadow Ghouls straightened themselves, immediately emitting excited squeaks. They darted out, leaving fleeting afterimages, covering the short distance almost instantaneously. Their twin-pronged long blades slammed unceremoniously towards the exposed head of Bu Chang.

Clang, clang! Bu Chang was merely pinned by the Netherworld Ghost Claw and unable to move, but his divine sense remained unrestricted. He immediately commanded his crimson crescent shield to guard above his head. Two metallic impacts echoed, making his ears ring and stars swim before his eyes. Tenth-level Ghouls were significantly stronger than when he fought Baili Yun previously. Back then, attacking a mid-grade Spirit Shield had been extremely strenuous, but now, after just those two blows, several cracks spiderwebbed across the red defensive artifact.

At this moment, Lei Dong's Shriek Ghoul also materialized under the summoning of his Ghost Control Art. Hovering suspended beside Lei Dong, an arrow was loosed from its string, whistling as it struck Bu Chang squarely in the chest.

A cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining possessed a body far sturdier than imagined. After repeated purifications and the infusion of true energy for automatic bodily protection, even a vigorous stab from an ordinary sword would barely leave marks on the skin. Nevertheless, the arrow from a tenth-level Ghoul possessed considerable power. Although it could not pierce his chest, it embedded itself an inch deep, the energy shock causing his internal organs to churn violently, resulting in a spray of blood.

Clang. The crescent shield blocked another blow from the Bloodthirst Ghoul, but it could not ward off the Shadow Ghoul's renewed upward attack. Although a mid-grade Spirit Shield offered astonishing defense, it could not simultaneously cope with attacks coming from all directions. Even with the protective aura enveloping his body, the sharp spikes still dug fiercely into his waist. This strike was far more brutal than the arrow from the Shriek Ghoul.

"Ah!" Bu Chang roared in tragic fury, shattering the Netherworld Ghost Claw with a thunderous burst. Less than two breaths had passed from being ensnared to breaking free. Yet, in those mere two breaths, he had suffered successive, grave injuries. Were it not for the superior physique of a cultivator compared to an ordinary mortal, such wounds would have been fatal.

The high-grade Netherworld Fire Sword arrived as expected. Appearing silently above Bu Chang's head, it descended with a flash of sickly green nether fire, cleaving down viciously. Bu Chang’s face turned deathly pale, utterly horrified, feeling as if impending doom had arrived. He hastily raised the crescent shield to block.

Boom! Green and red lights intermingled. The nether fire clinging to the Netherworld Fire Sword splattered everywhere, as brilliant as fireworks. The crescent shield, battered by repeated heavy blows, was now covered in fissures and likely could not withstand another heavy impact. Bu Chang was beaten into a purely defensive posture, having no time even to counterattack.

Frantically evading the relentless assault of the three Ghouls, he quickly cast a Profound Yin Shield around himself, then urgently cried out, "I surrender! I admit defeat!"

Hearing his declaration of surrender, Lei Dong dared not press the attack, lest he face the death penalty of ten thousand ghosts devouring his soul. He halted the Netherworld Fire Sword and the three Ghouls. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood proudly in mid-air. His robes fluttered gracefully, exuding an air of cool detachment.

The surrounding young onlookers directed gazes of either terror or profound admiration toward Lei Dong.

"Arena Platform D, First Match: Lei Dong of the Myriad Ghost Cave versus Bu Chang of the Extreme Yin Cave. Lei Dong wins," announced the Foundation Establishment realm referee, his voice tinged with surprise.

...

High up in the distant viewing stands, a middle-aged man in black robes with a pale complexion watched the scene. His face was as dark as stagnant water, and he bitterly spat out two words: "Waste." With a flick of his hand, a black leather pouch shot toward the person sitting next to him.

"Haha." The Myriad Ghost Ancestor, seated not far away, was particularly energetic. He reached out in the void and snatched the item. Opening it, he found it filled with ten brilliantly shimmering, spiritually vibrant, high-grade spirit stones. A look of satisfaction bloomed on his face. "Extreme Yin Old Ghost, you’ve been generous. Very generous."

"Wan Gui (Myriad Ghost), your disciple is quite good. His fundamentals are solid; he certainly has a bit of your bearing," commented an Elder seated one tier above them.

Hearing the praise, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor felt his reputation enhanced.

"Hee hee hee~" A cascade of pleasant yet deeply seductive laughter rang out. "Wan Gui Old Demon, although your disciple isn't particularly handsome, his features are resolute and sharply defined; a sturdy young man. How about this: I'll offer you a hundred high-grade spirit stones, and you hand this boy over for me to... groom? Hee hee!"

Even the powerful Myriad Ghost Ancestor's expression flickered slightly, turning somber. He turned toward the woman seated in the third position—a woman with peach-blossom eyes, fair skin, and dressed like a flirtatious young matron. He snorted, "Yan Mo (Bewitching Demon), I advise you not to play games, otherwise..."

"Or else what?" The woman named Yan Mo showed no anger at the Myriad Ghost's threat; instead, she let out a charming, coquettish giggle, casting a sultry glance. "Surely, you, Wan Gui, cannot eat me? If you truly possess that ability, I would welcome it. I await you with an open door. Haha~"

The Myriad Ghost Ancestor snorted coldly and turned his head away, unwilling to engage further with the troublesome woman. Meanwhile, several other ancestors known for their lustful natures leered at Yan Mo’s maturely alluring and seductively curvaceous body. Ku Gu (Withered Bone) couldn't resist teasing, "Yan Mo, Wan Gui Old Demon is a cultivation fanatic; he knows nothing of the joys of the marital bed. After this Grand Competition, why not visit my Ku Gu Peak?"

"Hee hee~" Yan Mo flicked a sultry glance at Ku Gu, covering her mouth with a giggle, causing Ku Gu's spirit to surge with delight. However, Yan Mo suddenly stopped smiling, revealing a look of utter disdain. She sneered vehemently, "Ku Gu, why don't you take a look at your own sorry state in a puddle? Even if I were to play with a pig, it would be far better than you. At least a pig has some meat to touch!"

Hahahaha! The group of ancestors burst into loud laughter at Yan Mo's amusing retort.

...M