Wang Hui's thoughts spun rapidly. Since Lei Dong was as slippery as a loach and couldn't be caught, and his long-range bombardment was being nullified by Wang Hui utilizing the environment to his advantage one by one, it seemed this was the only tactic left. His eyes flickered towards Tantai Bingyun, who was still healing not far away. An idea struck him: if he couldn't capture Lei Dong, he would force him out into the open. A cold sneer crossed his lips. He rapidly tapped his folding fan several times, unleashing a series of cyan light beams that hissed as they shot directly towards Tantai Bingyun.

Lei Dong watched Wang Hui’s maneuver, not with alarm, but with delight. He urged the Three Ghost Guards and the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger forward, and they instantly surged toward Wang Hui. The three ghosts and one tiger took advantage of Wang Hui concentrating his attack on Tantai Bingyun, closing the distance at incredible speed, launching a coordinated assault. Furthermore, Lei Dong’s Annihilation Dharma Wheel erupted with a desolate, mournful cry, spinning violently toward Wang Hui at this opportune moment.

The combat power of the three ghosts and one tiger was considerable. One or two, Wang Hui could handle easily, but four or more, especially while diverting his attack spells toward Tantai, left him struggling to cope. He barely had time to summon a small flag inscribed with a Tai Chi symbol. The flag immediately swelled in the wind, enveloping him in an instant.

Boom, boom, boom—

The barrage of attacks struck the flag in succession. Lei Dong’s Annihilation Dharma Wheel burst forth with a cyan light, slamming into it, followed by a hissing sound as it began to carve into the Tai Chi diagram. The Tai Chi diagram was one of Wang Hui’s Natal Spirit Artifacts, refined with his Heart Refining technique, possessing formidable defense. However, facing such fierce, tide-like attacks all at once, even though the Tai Chi diagram was a High-Grade Spirit Artifact, it couldn't withstand the onslaught unscathed. The violent impact jolted Wang Hui’s spirit, causing ripples within his soul. Instantly, he spat out a mouthful of blood. In a fit of rage, white flames erupted fiercely around him, condensing into white flame ribbons as he waved his hands, scorching toward the three ghosts and one tiger that dared to attack him.

Lei Dong was equally cunning, knowing that once Wang Hui reacted, there was no chance for the three ghosts and one tiger to gain any further advantage.

Just as he was about to strike, he had subtly manipulated them back, causing Wang Hui’s scorching white flames to burn empty air, achieving nothing but incinerating a patch of Nether Ghost Qi.

The Crushing Ghost Guard continued its harassment tactics, advancing and retreating, as if searching for an opening, or perhaps deliberately preventing Wang Hui from concentrating fully on any single task. The remaining two ghosts and one tiger fixed their target on the last Red Luan. They bared their claws and roared ferociously, pouncing on it. The poor Red Luan, already unable to exert its full strength in this Nether environment, was now being ganged up on, letting out continuous, frightened clear cries. Alas, no one would pity it. The Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger’s sharp claws tore through its soul form, and with a vicious bite, it ripped off half of its tail feathers. It was clear that soon, the Red Luan wouldn't even have the chance to fade naturally, but would be devoured alive.

The cyan light beams Wang Hui had directed at Tantai Bingyun also had some effect. Several were blocked by Tantai Bingyun’s sheer veil, but the last one struck her shoulder. Despite her formidable protective spiritual energy and inner armor, this strike pierced her shoulder blade by several inches. Her already deathly pale face drained of even more color.

“Lei Dong, what are you playing at?” Tantai Bingyun remained silent, but Jie Chen shouted out in anger, “Why didn’t you save Senior Sister Tantai just now?”

Lei Dong couldn't even be bothered to glance at him. He raised his hand, recalling the Annihilation Dharma Wheel, and then summoned the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner again. He muttered incantations to himself, and hundreds of vicious, spectral ghosts surged out like bats from a cave. However, under Lei Dong's precise command, they did not recklessly charge directly at Wang Hui. The cultivation technique Wang Hui practiced was likely the renowned Tai Chi Carefree Art, whose inherent quality was cyan. Yet, the white flames surrounding him were incredibly potent, clearly indicating the famous primary combat technique of the Carefree Dao, the Blazing Heaven Incineration Art. The former was the foundation, while the latter was the main combat method—one of the most powerful among the various primary combat arts of the Carefree Dao, analogous to the Yin Sha Sect's Grand Yin Sha Art.

It was precisely the most fervent and explosive phase of Wang Hui running the Blazing Heaven Incineration Art. Lei Dong didn't want the painstakingly captured vicious ghosts to rush forward and die pointlessly. He chose instead to summon the ghost swarm first, establish a formation, and let them absorb more Nether Ghost Qi before proceeding.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Banner is one of the more classic exclusive Dharma Artifacts of the Yin Sha Sect, with various uses depending on individual tactical needs and preferences. Some prefer filling it exclusively with low-tier cannon fodder ghosts, achieving victory through sheer intimidating numbers. In terms of pure destructive power, this usage is arguably the strongest of all methods. Especially effective against powerful enemies lacking extensive area-of-effect capabilities, or when confronting numerous weaker foes. However, its drawback is also very obvious: if facing enemies skilled in wide-area destructive spells, the cannon fodder ghosts can suffer massive losses, severely diminishing the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner's power.

Others prefer a purely elite approach, stocking the banner only with formidable Soul Guards or similar entities that are less easily eliminated by sweeping area spells, thus ensuring stronger sustained combat ability. But due to strict mental power limitations, those favoring the elite route have pitifully few ghosts in their banner, failing to achieve scale effect. Yet, their advantage is equally clear: first, the spectral ghosts in the banner do not frequently suffer attrition, preventing fluctuations in power; second, the elite route holds an advantage against powerful cultivators skilled in area spells, being better suited for prolonged combat without replenishment.

But Lei Dong was currently employing a composite route, featuring a substantial number of elite Soul Guards and Soldiers, alongside an equally significant number of cannon fodder Soul Insects. If others attempted this route, it would be too mediocre, neither excelling at the high end nor the low, failing to unleash the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner’s full potential, appearing somewhat incongruous. But Lei Dong was different. He had always focused on tempering his mental power, further enhanced and magnified by the Emperor Demon Seed lodged in his forehead.

This made his mental power far exceed that of cultivators at the same level. Consequently, this catch-all formation, suitable for all kinds of battle scenarios, was his best choice. Moreover, thanks to his exceptionally strong mental power, this configuration actually proved stronger.

The hundreds of vicious ghosts, led by ten Soul Guard-level specters, arrayed themselves in a perfect square, exuding imposing majesty and vast momentum. This caused Wang Hui’s originally surging white flames to pause momentarily. He had heard rumors of the Yin Sha Sect's Ten Thousand Ghost Grand Array, initially holding some disdain. But seeing it firsthand today, he was abruptly struck by a feeling of powerlessness, as if facing an army of thousands alone.

Jie Chen was thoroughly angered when Lei Dong completely ignored him, shouting repeatedly, “Lei Dong, don't forget who rescued you! If Senior Sister Tantai hadn't persuaded me, I wouldn't have bothered saving you. How could you just watch her get…”

“Nonsense,” Lei Dong raised his hand and shot a Nether Fire Bomb toward Jie Chen with a whistling sound. Jie Chen, terrified, quickly rolled on the ground, tumbling several feet away. The Nether Fire Bomb struck the ground, blasting a shallow pit and splashing green fire everywhere. This action even stunned Wang Hui. Jie Chen’s face flushed crimson with anger, and just as he was about to hurl insults like "demon brat" or "white-eyed wolf,"

He heard Lei Dong state coldly, “If you utter one more word of nonsense, the next one will be aimed at Tantai Bingyun.”

Jie Chen immediately swallowed his curses, trying several times to speak ill of him but daring not. For a moment, he understood what it meant to be subject to the superior force of circumstances.

“Brother Wang, these people—if you wish to kill them, feel free,” Lei Dong’s eyes were utterly cold. “I welcome it, and in fact, I thank you for eliminating them for me.”

“Nonsense!” Wang Hui felt a surge of frustration remembering his poor strategic choice in trying to force Lei Dong out. He chuckled angrily, “Do you take me for a fool, letting you ambush me again?”

Suddenly, he realized he had expended too much energy during the fight so far. He took out a fragrant pill and tossed it into his mouth. Lei Dong watched clearly: the small Ethereal Spirit Replenishing Pill was a top-tier elixir used for rapidly restoring depleted true energy. Lei Dong himself had a few Ethereal Spirit Replenishing Pills gifted by Qi Feifei. Knowing their value, but also their excellent effect, he couldn't help but wonder how many such pills Wang Hui possessed, given that he had a Nascent Soul Ancestor in his family? His mouth twitched slightly. It seemed a purely attrition-based strategy was unlikely to succeed. His expression turned grim: “Since a sneak attack is impossible, then let us settle this with a decisive battle.”

Lei Dong raised his hand and sent forth a Nether Fire Bomb. It whistled away, trailing a long fiery tail. Do not underestimate the Nether Fire Bomb, one of the few direct attack spells in the Nether series. Although the cultivation threshold for this spell is low, allowing many low-level disciples to learn it, its power greatly increases as one achieves deeper mastery and raises their cultivation.

This spell is among the most venomous and brutal, possessing both explosive impact and the effect of Nether Fire scorching the soul. If no means is found to extinguish it, it can cause death by agony; even a slight touch is a nightmare. Of course, Lei Dong’s mastery of the Nether Fire Bomb was not extensive, perhaps only at a level where he could "make use of it."

But powered by the amplification of the Grand Nether Law, the Nether Fire Bomb grew larger and larger during its flight, roaring towards its target like a massive, sickly green fireball burning fiercely.

Wang Hui’s expression remained unchanged; instead, he felt a sense of relief, as if finally free. He drew a circle in the air with one hand, and a black and white Tai Chi pattern appeared before him. The Nether Fire Bomb struck, causing the Tai Chi pattern to ripple outwards, yet it remained completely intact. Simultaneously, he drew his Carefree Fan with his right hand and tapped it repeatedly, sending out swift cyan lights, like a rain of cyan light raining down upon Lei Dong.

Lei Dong’s figure shifted ghost-like, drifting behind Li Huntian. He allowed the rain of cyan light to continuously strike the protective barrier covering him, causing wave after wave of ripples.

“You said we would decide the winner…”

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