Before Huo Zhongguang could react, he brushed past the three-zhang-high black shadow, catching a whiff of blood and malevolence that deeply unsettled him. Could this thing be...?

Feng Zikang smoothly sidestepped the vicious shadow, watching as it flickered and burrowed into the earth, vanishing without a trace! "Damn it!

Xiao Gao, what are you doing?! If you let it escape, watch out for me peeling your skin!" The sharp voice that had shouted first rang out again, and amidst the chaotic sound of footsteps, a group of people, their clothes disheveled and bodies wounded, burst forth from the depths of the General's Tomb.

Leading them was a man with a purple robe and a broad face—none other than Liang Sian, the third-generation chief disciple of the Military School of Dragon-Tiger Mountain! Upon seeing Xiao Gao and the others scattered on the ground, his expression changed drastically.

He looked forward, and the black shadow he had tracked with such effort had completely disappeared! "Brother Liang...

Brother Liang! The Ghost General ran away!" "It was an Earth Evasion technique!

There's no catching him now! Xiao Gao, what in the heavens were you doing guarding the entrance?

Where is the Sky Spider Web! Why didn't you use it?

Are you an idiot!" The disciples behind him, not yet grasping the situation, immediately began to curse. Huo Zhongguang gasped!

The Ghost General! They were actually hunting down the Ghost General!

His face shifted from pale to ashen. Staring at the still-frowning Liang Sian, he knew he had just made a massive enemy today!

Feng Zikang feigned curiosity, looking around, but inwardly he rejoiced; the plan for today had turned out surprisingly perfectly! Liang Sian’s intent to kill the Ghost General demanded absolute certainty.

Not only had he borrowed the Fifth Prison Demon Subduing Array Diagram (Yellow Tier, Sixth Grade) from the Sutra Hall, but he had also led dozens of disciples from Sunset Peak to clear the General's Tomb, establishing guards at all four corners and deploying the Sky Spider Web to seal off the Ghost General's escape routes. Even if the Ghost General possessed earth-shattering divine abilities, he could never escape this inescapable net.

Liang Sian was supremely confident; once the Ghost General was slain and the Soul Fire Origin Heart secured, he could temper his Natal Magical Artifact. Combined with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, even with his Master gone, no other third-generation disciple could shake his position!

Originally, this plan was flawless, but fate intervened when the executor failed. Xiao Gao and his men were entirely defeated by Huo Zhongguang at the critical moment, preventing the deployment of the Sky Spider Web.

Once the Ghost General escaped the array’s range, he fled immediately using the Earth Evasion technique, his traces utterly lost. This spectral entity was already critically injured; hiding underground, it certainly wouldn't emerge again.

If this strike failed, there would be no further opportunity to kill the Ghost General! "Good!

Good!" Liang Sian’s face twisted with malice as he stared at Huo Zhongguang, repeating "Good" twice after hearing Xiao Gao's tearful explanation. The Soul Fire Origin Heart, almost within his grasp, had vanished because of this meddling fool.

All his painstaking efforts and favors expended had amounted to nothing. How could he not hate this?

"Junior Brother Huo, your cultivation has advanced considerably! Have your wings grown strong enough that you wish to test your mettle against your senior brother?" Liang Sian mimicked his Master in every way, striving for an imposing air of unspoken authority.

However, his own cultivation was insufficient, often resulting in an awkward, failed attempt at grandeur. He intended this sentence to carry significant pressure, expecting Huo Zhongguang's weak temperament to compel him to kneel and beg for mercy.

Even if Liang Sian couldn't completely crush him, he could at least establish dominance among the junior disciples. But as the words left his mouth, the tone was too frivolous, sounding more like a provocation.

Huo Zhongguang, for his part, was deeply regretting his actions. If he had known Liang Sian was here ambushing the Ghost General to seize the Soul Fire Origin Heart, he would never have intruded.

Xiao Gao was an idiot who couldn't articulate the situation clearly, only stirring up trouble, ultimately harming himself and others. People who ruin others' good deeds are universally loathed.

Though he resented Liang Sian, Huo Zhongguang hadn't intended to escalate matters to this degree. Hearing Liang Sian’s words chilled him further.

These disciples from Sunset Peak were no saints. Now that he had thoroughly offended them, clandestine revenge was certainly possible, especially given the immense stake Liang Sian had in this matter.

If Liang Sian couldn't let this go... The Ghost General only manifested once a year.

Ghost creatures are cunning; hiding underground, this one would surely not reappear. This meant Liang Sian would likely be unable to find a Soul Fire Origin Heart to forge his Natal Artifact for at least a year.

Though he had reached Foundation Establishment, his advantage over his other junior brothers would shrink significantly. The Sunset Peak Disciple Competition was scheduled for the end of the year.

Someone was bound to challenge Liang Sian’s status as chief disciple. Without his Natal Artifact, Liang Sian might not be able to suppress the competition.

To hell with him! Huo Zhongguang gritted his teeth.

Since things had reached this pass, backing down was impossible; he might as well commit fully to the recklessness! "Senior Brother Liang, Old Huo may not be your match right now, but three months from now, at the Sunset Peak Grand Competition at year's end, Old Huo would certainly welcome a taste of Senior Brother's renowned skill!" In three months, if Feng Zikang’s promise held true—a jar of Condensing Killing Dew each month—his strength might well rise to the peak of Qi Induction Great Perfection.

At that level, he might stand a chance against the newly established Foundation Establishment Liang Sian! Since they were now mortal enemies, rather than retreat and allow Liang Sian opportunities for clandestine maneuvering, it was better to state his position openly, scheduling the contest for three months hence.

This would make underhanded attacks difficult. Perhaps, with this do-or-die desperation, Huo Zhongguang could finally turn the tables!

His gambling nature surged. He hardened his resolve and spat out the harsh challenge through clenched teeth.

Liang Sian’s face grew increasingly grim, his cheek twitching involuntarily from rage. This useless junior brother dared to issue a challenge to his face!

Where did he find such audacity? Liang Sian didn't truly fear Huo Zhongguang's current strength, but the appearance of this 'early bird' might embolden those hiding behind the scenes, causing them to surface one by one, ruining his efforts to dominate the year-end competition!

"Good! Good!" Liang Sian’s throat seemed stiff; he could only utter the word "Good" coldly.

Feng Zikang stood some distance away, his eyes glinting with a faint cold light, a smile playing on his lips. This was precisely why he had brought Huo Zhongguang here.

He hadn't expected such a coincidence that they would end up publicly challenging each other without him even needing to fan the flames. In his initial calculations, Huo Zhongguang’s fiery temper and existing feud, stirred by Feng Zikang's deliberate agitation, would inevitably lead to conflict with the Sunset Peak disciples at the General's Tomb, disrupting Liang Sian’s ambush of the Ghost General.

Even if it didn't stop the hunt entirely, causing some minor trouble would ignite the inevitable clash. But by sheer coincidence, Huo Zhongguang had not only ruined Liang Sian's endeavor but had also proactively issued a challenge.

This outcome was perfectly ideal. Watching the newly energized Huo Zhongguang, Feng Zikang was greatly satisfied.

"This Senior Brother Huo is actually quite useful! It wasn't a waste of my nurturing.

It seems I need to work hard to add some extra ingredients for him before the year-end competition..." Feng Zikang's gaze slowly swept over the group of Sunset Peak disciples led by Xiao Gao.