Chapter 96: Ghost Cultivator Jiuyou
Chapter 96: Ghost Cultivator Jiuyou
The flying boat from Two Realms Mountain drew the attention and caution of countless Evil Cultivators outside the Xuanxin Sect, immediately slowing their assault. Countless skeletons and wronged souls shrieked from the dark clouds, congealing mid-air into a massive, sinister ghost face. It halted before the boat, its hollow eyes fixing on Qin Huai, its voice shaking the heavens and earth:
“I am Jiuyou, the Ghost Cultivator. I do not know the purpose of your journey, Daoist Friend.”
On the deck, Qin Huai, Lu Hangzhi, and Tang Zhen stood in a triangular formation.
Lu Hangzhi straightened his back, answering on behalf of the Venerable One:
“Countless Monster Beasts have escaped Two Realms Mountain. By order of the Two Realms Mountain Reinforcement Department, the Venerable One is mobilizing cultivators from major sects along the route to hunt down the escaped Monster Beast horde. Fellow Daoist Jiuyou, what are you…”
“…Monster Beasts escaped Two Realms Mountain?”
Hearing this, Jiuyou felt a secret sigh of relief, but also a jolt of alarm.
“Two Realms Mountain hasn’t had an incident for hundreds of years. How could Monster Beasts escape suddenly?”
“This time it was a Mystic Light Stage Monster Beast. Before his fall, Inspector Envoy Lord Baimei specifically ordered that all escaped Monster Beasts must be hunted down. Fellow Daoist Jiuyou, this place is about to be overrun by Monster Beasts. We need the full cooperation of the Xuanxin Sect. Alternatively, our Venerable One can grant you two hours to conquer the Xuanxin Sect, and then you can cooperate with the Two Realms Mountain operation to exterminate the Monster Beasts.”
The sheer volume of information!
Even Jiuyou, widely traveled, was stunned by the explosive news: “Mystic Light Stage Monster Beast,” “escaped Monster Beasts from Two Realms Mountain,” and “the fall of the esteemed Inspector Envoy.”
Originally…
He thought the newcomers were old allies of the Xuanxin Sect coming to aid, but it turned out to be a mobilization order from Two Realms Mountain.
“Troublesome.”
The enormous ghost face’s expression shifted with his mind, revealing hesitation.
On the deck, Qin Huai never spoke. His expression was calm, standing tall and aloof, his gaze profound, emanating an aura of unfathomable mystery.
“Fellow Daoist Jiuyou, the situation is urgent. Decide quickly. After two hours, if you haven’t conquered the Xuanxin Sect and haven’t withdrawn, all cultivators present will be recorded by Two Realms Mountain and deemed traitors to the Human Race.” Lu Hangzhi’s aggressively youthful tone instantly provoked Jiuyou.
“Young yellow-haired boy! How dare you bluff me!”
Jiuyou, enraged, unleashed a surge of ghostly energy. Countless wailing wronged souls and Evil Spirits rushed out from the ghost face, emitting piercing demonic sounds.
Strands of invisible sound waves surged toward Lu Hangzhi!
The latter quickly became alert. Jiuyou’s Demonic Sound assaulted his Spiritual Power Pool directly, causing it to ripple slightly…
Jiuyou, unfortunately, seeing the youth as merely a novice in the Eighth Grade early stage, aimed to intimidate!
But mindful of Qin Huai’s Venerable status nearby, he dared not strike too hard, intending only a minor lesson. Yet…
The ear-infused Demonic Sound, powerful enough to embarrass a Ninth Grade cultivator and cause backlash by exploding one’s Spiritual Power, reached Lu Hangzhi. However, Lu Hangzhi’s Spiritual Power Pool had been reconstructed and tempered, becoming immensely thick and stable. It showed no reaction at all.
“An attack unanswered is discourteous! Take one of my moves!”
Lu Hangzhi snorted coldly, abruptly stepping forward with both hands thrusting forward forcefully.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amid a series of clear, sharp sword cries, flying swords left their sheaths. Seven swords flew out together, streaking away from the flying boat.
Jiuyou, aware he was in the wrong, did not intervene.
However…
Not attacking was one thing; once he did attack, it was earth-shattering!
Lu Hangzhi had gambled that Jiuyou’s pride would prevent him from striking back. The moment the seven swords flew out, the Sword Formations attached to the Artifact Flying Swords activated simultaneously.
Radiant Sun Sword Formation!
Activated!!
Falling Sky Sword Formation!
Activated!!
Dread Vine Sword Formation!
Activated!!
Three Sword Formations erupted simultaneously near the ghost face.
Blazing Sun!
Skyfall Impact!
Countless Evil Spirits and wronged souls forming the ghost face vanished like spring snow beneath the scorching sun. Stronger Evil Spirits were blasted apart by exploding shockwaves mid-air. Before they could flee, Dread Vines grabbed and bound them. Under the glare of the Radiant Sun, they screamed in agony and despair. The horrifying ghost face lost a large portion, dispersing instantly.
“You…!”
Jiuyou was both shocked and furious, beside himself.
He had underestimated this youth again.
The temporary clone formed from thousands of Evil Spirits and wronged souls was directly annihilated by the Radiant Sun Sword Formation. The remaining ones were Evil Spirits above Ninth Grade of the Comprehension Stage. Though not instantly vaporized by the Radiant Sun, they were scorched and wounded, a ragged sight.
All of this fell into the eyes of the myriad Evil Cultivators following him below, causing him profound shame.
Yet…
Everything was not over.
Seven Motions with One Thought—One Sword, Seven Wounds!
The seven flying swords, having just unleashed astonishing damage, now exploded with crisscrossing Sword Qi, their momentum soaring violently. Under Jiuyou’s horrified gaze, they instantly wove a brilliant, sharp net of sword light near the dispersing ghost face.
Dozens of Evil Spirits perished instantly!
Jiuyou didn’t even have a chance to intervene. The ghost face before the flying boat vanished completely under the swords…
Finally, a figure appeared in the void.
Jiuyou’s true form!
He looked ordinary, his face gloomy. His eyes shot out a gaze of utter disbelief, fixed on Lu Hangzhi. He hadn’t recovered from the sudden burst of combat power Lu Hangzhi had displayed.
“Superior-Grade Spell Technique?!”
“Hmph, lurking villain. Finally showing your true face?” Lu Hangzhi didn’t answer. With a thought, the seven swords merged into one, and he sheathed it.
The ghost face vanished;
The sword net vanished.
Lu Hangzhi’s demeanor was as light as the breeze, his movements crisp and decisive, leaving the gathered Evil Cultivators silent in shock.
Jiuyou remained expressionless for a long while.
Lu Hangzhi ignored Jiuyou’s deep, complex stare. He turned and walked back to stand behind Qin Huai, showing an expression of disdain.
“They say Ghost Cultivators are exceptionally fierce, capable of killing opponents above their rank. After seeing it today, it is nothing special. With this level of strength, thrown to Two Realms Mountain, he wouldn’t last long.”
Jiuyou almost vomited blood in anger, yet he had no way to refute it.
To take this seriously would be admitting defeat!
Lu Hangzhi continued to provoke Jiuyou.
“Venerable One, among the escaped Monster Beasts from Two Realms Mountain are many at the Spirit Condensation Stage. With Jiuyou at this level, I doubt he can stop even a single Spirit-Concentrating Demon Beast… No wonder so many people haven’t conquered the Xuanxin Sect after a month of siege.”
“You scoundrel!”
Jiuyou trembled with fury.
But Lu Hangzhi’s strike had indeed cowed his lofty ambitions.
A mere Eighth Grade early stage, yet able to master a Superior-Grade Spell Technique and effortlessly destroy his Spirit-Concentrating Clone? That was terrifyingly powerful.
Would such a prodigal talent submit to an ordinary Spirit Coalescence Elder?
In an instant, the Late Grade-Nine Tang Zhen standing nearby, and the Venerable One Qin Huai, became shrouded in profound mystery in his eyes.
“Junior Brother Hangzhi was right. These Spirit Concentrating Ghost Cultivators are totally useless. The Monster Beasts could wipe them all out with one charge. They’d just become blood food and supplements for the Monster Beasts. It’s better to let me take care of them and finish them off.”
Jiuyou almost spat out a mouthful of cold air from the valley entrance.
That young-looking brat being arrogant was one thing—his strength was evident. But this girl was even more arrogant than her Junior Brother Hangzhi!
What the heck?!
Jiuyou did not dare act rashly.
In front of everyone, he had almost lost all face.
Hmph!
“Let’s go!”
In the end, Jiuyou did not dare to stay any longer.
On one hand, he was intimidated by the strength of the mysterious Venerable One from Two Realms Mountain; on the other hand, it was because of the Beast Tide that Lu Hangzhi mentioned…
He knew his subordinates quite well.
They were okay at bullying ordinary Cultivators and True Disciples from small sects, but thrown into the huge furnace that was Two Realms Mountain, not one of them was worth much.
Landing on the ground, Jiuyou gave the order, and thousands of Evil Cultivators began to retreat.
Although they were not sect disciples, they had heard of Two Realms Mountain and knew clearly that taking down Xuanxin Sect within two hours was extremely difficult. Moreover, they would soon face forced conscription to fight at Two Realms Mountain and battle the Monster Beasts from there…
Most Evil Cultivators were selfish.
Even if Jiuyou had really stayed, they might have secretly left. Now that Jiuyou took the initiative to withdraw, they naturally had no objections and retreated like a tide, leaving the territory of Xuanxin Sect.
As the Evil Cultivators dispersed, various Formation setups were taken away. The ghostly dark clouds over Xuanxin Sect cleared completely, returning to the previous clear sky and revealing the Sect Protection Array.
“Land.”
Qin Huai controlled the Flying Boat to land on the Black-White Chessboard of Xuanxin Sect. Thousands of people from Xuanxin Sect had gathered here, creating a spectacular scene.
Mo Li personally led the Elders and True Disciples of Xuanxin Sect to welcome them!
“Revered Mo, long time no see.”
“I’m ashamed. Thank you, Revered Qin, for your righteous assistance in resolving the crisis. The entire Xuanxin Sect is deeply grateful and I must bow to you!”
Led by Mo Li, all the Elders bowed simultaneously.
Revered Qin accepted it calmly, then said:
“The situation at Two Realms Mountain has changed. Brother Mo, shall we find a place to talk properly?”
“Of course!”
“Chen Ji!”
“Your disciple is here.”
“On my behalf, entertain our guests who have come from afar. I need to have a private discussion with Revered Qin.”
Mo Li’s gaze swept over the group behind Qin Huai, including Lu Hangzhi, and he smiled faintly, entrusting the hospitality task to Vice Sect Leader Chen Ji.
Chen Ji accepted the command respectfully.
Behind Chen Ji, the True Disciples of Xuanxin Sect had clearly matured and grown quite a bit.
Among the crowd, Leng Wuya, Lü Liang, and Xiong Qi had a more steady and settled aura. Only after the Supreme Elder and Revered Qin left did they start searching among the group of Cultivators disembarking from the Flying Boat.
Two months ago, thirty True Disciples were sent to Two Realms Mountain from Xuanxin Sect, but only fourteen returned…
Many Elders of Xuanxin Sect showed expressions of regret and sorrow.
The remaining people were astonished:
“Junior Brother?!”
“Senior Sister!”
“The Ancestral Master didn’t lie to us! You’ve only been gone for just over two months, and your cultivation improved so fast! Hangzhi has reached the early Seventh Grade. I remember he was just at the Fifth Grade when he left. Oh my goodness.”
Leng Wuya was the most lost and confused.
He was still only at the late Sixth Rank.
But Lu Hangzhi had jumped from the Fifth Grade to the early Seventh Grade. If you included the Art of Breath Suppression, that would be…
Eighth-grade!
“I can’t call you Junior Brother Hangzhi anymore.”
Leng Wuya smiled bitterly.
Lü Liang and Xiong Qi nodded repeatedly, feeling full of regret: “If we had known Two Realms Mountain offered such great opportunities, we would have gone no matter what.”
“Early Eighth-grade cultivation… I really hope you haven’t started practicing ‘The Path to Divinity’ that Master gave you yet. Senior Sister, why are you laughing? Oh… Immortal Lord above! Hangzhi, you punk, don’t tell me you’ve already started practicing it?! So you’re actually equivalent to a Ninth Grade Cultivator?” Lü Liang, Xiong Qi, and Leng Wuya were deeply crushed by reality once again.
“Is Two Realms Mountain still recruiting?”
“Exactly. Why don’t we just go to Two Realms Mountain to train too? I’m so jealous I could die.”
Looking at the familiar faces and the unchanged cheerful banter, Lu Hangzhi let out a relieved sigh. The heart that had been hanging heavily finally settled down. He smiled and walked towards Chen Ji:
“Master, your disciple has returned.”