A wave of exhilaration washed over Lei Dong; he had managed to decisively take down one of the opponent’s Grade Nine Ghost Guards right at the start. The only slight disappointment was that he hadn't destroyed the Guard outright. But while Lei Dong was thrilled, Number One’s mood soured considerably. The duel had barely begun, and he had already lost a capable lieutenant. How was he supposed to fight on now? Especially since that leading critical-strike Ghost Guard clearly possessed dual spells, suggesting it was very likely a High-Grade Spirit Ghost, and the crimson-flame flying sword it wielded possessed formidable power, almost certainly a Supreme-Grade Spirit Tool—it fueled a deep envy and hatred within him.

“Damn it.” Commander Ouyang’s face was equally grim. Number One was already one of his most formidable combatants. But at this moment, he had underestimated Lei Dong because of his cultivation level. Didn't he bother to inquire who this Lei Dong truly was?

Number One stabilized his Grade Eight Ghost Guard, his expression terribly displeased, but having fought this far, surrender was not an easy option. With another wave of his hand, he summoned another Grade Eight Ghost Guard. The two Guards converged before him, this time refraining from rash aggression. However, Lei Dong seemed determined to give him no quarter. He continued, summoning a third spectral Ghost Guard.

The three Grade Eight Ghost Guards, under Lei Dong’s command, adopted a formation and slowly began to press the attack towards Number One. Simultaneously, Lei Dong whipped out the Myriad Ghost Banner, unleashing three to four hundred elite fierce ghosts. They ravenously absorbed the Nether Ghost Qi churning around Lei Dong, becoming increasingly frenzied and vicious.

Number One’s face turned ashen. He hurriedly produced his own Myriad Ghost Banner, summoning a massive horde of his own fierce ghosts. It appeared his strategy relied on sheer numbers as cannon fodder. His fierce ghosts filled the sky. Lei Dong swept them with his divine sense; their number was surely no less than three thousand, interspersed occasionally with a few elite fierce ghosts. He too was clearly a master of the Netherworld Great Art, and in this aspect, his Nether Ghost Qi seemed even purer than Lei Dong’s.

The two armies of fierce ghosts collided violently in mid-air, tearing and devouring one another. Lei Dong’s ghost army, though smaller in number, was exceptionally elite. But his opponent was no ordinary fellow; in terms of the strength derived from the Myriad Ghost Banner, this man’s ghost army was one or two levels stronger than Lei Dong’s. After all, Lei Dong’s current divine sense strength, at its peak, was equivalent only to a normal Foundation Establishment Tenth Layer. This opponent’s own cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Twelfth Layer. In terms of his own inherent Ghost Servants, Lei Dong might have the edge, but concerning the Myriad Ghost Banner, the opponent was far superior.

However, Lei Dong’s three Ghost Guards plunged into the melee of fierce ghosts. Their might far surpassed any single fierce ghost; often, with a single strike or stance, they could slay one or two. If the fierce ghosts attempted to surround a Ghost Guard, it would nimbly retreat behind its own spectral forces. Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Number One immediately drove his two Grade Eight Ghost Guards into the throng as well.

Based on the overall power comparison of their summoned ghost servants and fierce ghosts, even with Lei Dong possessing one more Grade Eight Ghost Guard, Number One still held the advantage. Nevertheless, Lei Dong also discerned that his few core Ghost Servants were all Mid-Grade Spirit Ghosts. It must have taken considerable effort to cultivate these three Mid-Grade Spirit Ghosts to this level. If he had three High-Grade Spirit Ghosts, this battle would have been much harder to fight.

“Awooo~”

The roar of the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger erupted. Now equaling Lei Dong in cultivation, the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger looked majestic and immensely imposing. Seeing the mass of restless ghosts before it, none of which belonged to its master, the Shadow Tiger communicated with its master’s divine sense. With another excited roar, it transformed into a streak of shadow and charged fiercely into the chaotic battle. With a single ah-woo, it first swallowed one of the opponent’s elite fierce ghosts, then, with continuous tiger roars, began to move toward a Grade Eight Ghost Guard. Although the Shadow Tiger’s cultivation was lower [Text provided by Da Mo Tou Ba], it was a primordial spirit beast innately suited to suppressing all forms of ghosts. With ceaseless roars, it managed to fight the Ghost Guard to a standstill.

As a result, in the battle among their subordinates, the overall combat strength of both sides was nearly balanced. If this continued, the outcome would be mutually destructive. But Lei Dong tossed out another banner, summoning the black flood dragon from the Black Dragon Banner. Although it could not exist for long, its strength, around the Foundation Establishment Tenth Layer, was entirely sufficient to turn the tide of the engagement. With continuous dragon roars, it tore into the fray, rapidly annihilating the opponent's fierce ghosts.

The two legions engaged in brutal slaughter within this short span. A chill ran down Number One’s spine as he watched. What kind of monster was this Lei Dong? He was truly this formidable? He had, in fact, heard Lei Dong’s name mentioned before and knew he had killed Huangfu Ce. However, given his own cultivation level and prideful nature, why would he bother looking deeply into someone so far beneath him as Lei Dong? He’d heard the rumors and figured Lei Dong had merely won through luck? He would never have bothered to truly understand Lei Dong’s specific strengths or special methods. But Number One, living up to his designation, was indeed skilled in the War Hall and had accumulated considerable contribution points over the years. Aside from the High-Grade Spirit Ghosts he could never acquire due to low stock, in his decade-plus career, he had managed to save up for one Supreme-Grade Spirit Tool and one Foundation Establishment Twelfth Layer War Puppet. The remaining contribution points were mostly spent on acquiring top-tier elixirs and preparing for his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage. A Supreme-Grade Spirit Tool—he felt one was enough; a Supreme-Grade Spirit Shield for defense. Offense could be managed by his subordinates. Even with surplus contribution, he wouldn't waste it all on Supreme-Grade Spirit Tools, because once he reached the Golden Core stage, he could acquire magic treasures whose power was not inferior to Supreme-Grade Spirit Tools for a lower price. Why waste them?

Number One grit his teeth, casting a deeply envious glance at the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger. That creature seemed even rarer than a High-Grade Spirit Ghost. Anyone who obtained a Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger would never sell it. He had no choice but to make another summon. What emerged this time was a puppet glowing azure blue, emanating chilling coldness, seemingly imbued with an ice attribute. He rarely used this puppet, only unleashing it when facing exceptionally powerful foes. Now, pushed to the brink by Lei Dong, he was forced to bring out this puppet in hopes of reversing the battle.

However, what he absolutely did not anticipate was that just as he summoned the puppet, Lei Dong paused for a beat, then sneered. He summoned a puppet of his own—a War Puppet, completely golden, possessing the strength of the Foundation Establishment Peak. It held a long spear, thrusting it into the void. A sharp ray of golden light shot out, aiming directly for the blue puppet.

The blue puppet conjured an ice shield around itself, hard-blocking the strike. But to Number One’s horrified gaze, it dared not advance. How was this possible? A Foundation Establishment Peak Puppet? Slightly superior to his own? Could it be that this puppet had been suppressed by a Nascent Soul cultivator on Lei Dong’s behalf? Poor Number One was paying the full price for his arrogance today. Had he paid more attention to the increasingly famous and significant Lei Dong while they were in the War Hall, he absolutely would not have lost a Grade Nine Ghost Guard right at the opening. Otherwise, at this stage of the battle, the assets they could bring out for summoning would be relatively equal. He certainly wouldn't be in this completely disadvantaged position now. But he could never have guessed that Lei Dong still had a Foundation Establishment Tenth Layer puppet he hadn't yet summoned. That item, although he had offered it as a betrothal gift to his Ancestor, had been returned to Lei Dong by Elder Wan Yan, who was exceedingly considerate.

Number One, who usually relied on overwhelming numbers to crush smaller groups, found himself defeated in a contest of summoning arts. This feeling brought him close to a complete breakdown. He raised a hand, and a cold, shimmering blue flying sword shot out, aimed directly at the critical-strike Ghost Guard. He seemed intent on personally attacking to destroy one of Lei Dong’s Guards before anything else.

Lei Dong, having fully anticipated this, certainly wouldn't let him succeed. He similarly drove the Scarlet Refining Sword forward to meet the attack, engaging in a direct clash of flying swords, blade against blade. Both their souls suffered a strong recoil, stirring wildly within them. One relied on sheer personal power, while the other depended on a Supreme-Grade Spirit Tool plus his own adequate divine sense. In the end, the clash resulted in a draw. However, Lei Dong held a slight edge. After all, his Scarlet Refining Sword was a Supreme-Grade Spirit Tool of excellent quality. Though the exchange was even, Number One's sword, merely a High-Grade Spirit Tool, sustained a small nick. Another few exchanges like that, and Lei Dong’s sword might gradually damage and break it.

A mouthful of blood nearly erupted from Number One’s mouth. It wasn't that his soul was injured, but rather that his current mood was intensely frustrated. He, a dignified Foundation Establishment Twelfth Layer cultivator, and the foremost among the combat troops, was being pushed into such a desperate situation by a mere Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer boy. The Flood Dragon rampaged, and the Shadow Tiger, seizing opportunities during its fight, occasionally swallowed swaths of fierce ghosts, growing stronger as it fought. It was evident that his Grade Eight Ghost Guard was beginning to buckle under the pressure.

Number One, consumed by rage and humiliation, hurled a Nether Fire Bomb and simultaneously shot his blue sword directly toward Lei Dong. However, Lei Dong did something beyond his expectation: he did not recall the Scarlet Refining Sword to defend. Instead, he used the momentum to cleave his sword toward the Grade Eight Ghost Guard that was currently locked in a fierce struggle with the Shadow Tiger. With a resounding crash, he struck it squarely. The scorching flames, mixed with a sharp cleave, dealt a critical blow to that Ghost Guard. Taking advantage of its weakness, the Soul-Devouring Shadow Tiger, which had long been eyeing it, lunged forward with a roar, biting down on the Grade Eight Ghost Guard’s head. In the blink of an eye, more than half of it was devoured greedily. Even an immortal couldn't have saved that Ghost Guard now. Puff—with the destruction of his core Ghost Servant, Number One truly spat out a mouthful of blood. Forcing down the turbulence in his soul, Number One ferociously urged the blue sword toward Lei Dong. It happened in an instant: two attacks arrived simultaneously. It was only then that Lei Dong leisurely employed the Ghost Shadow Evasion technique, flashing away repeatedly. However, the Nether Fire Bomb and the blue sword clung to him like maggots to bone, preventing Lei Dong from evading entirely.

Lei Dong resolutely planted his feet. A magnificently ornate shield materialized before him, squarely blocking the Nether Fire Bomb. The green flames flared as brilliantly as fireworks. But Number One was sneering; he had anticipated Lei Dong having a decent Spirit Shield. He could block one, but he couldn't block two. The blue sword curved around, like a scythe of impending death, slicing straight for Lei Dong’s throat.