After devouring the Bai Clan's Grand Elder, Wang Yu not only felt his spiritual roots evolve—he sensed a subtle rise in his life essence.
His lifespan had extended.
Yet this effect wasn't mentioned anywhere in the Profound Origin Demonic Fetus's secret incantations.
It left him unsettled.
"Why didn't I notice this last time? Or is it…"
Just as he pondered, a surge of Nether Ghost Mist erupted beside him. A dagger-wielding figure lunged from the fog, aiming straight for his vitals.
Wang Yu's expression shifted. His divine sense flared, condensing mid-air into a Soul-Shattering Finger that tore through the mist. His right hand snapped down, seizing the attacker's wrist.
With a twist and a palm strike, his Tier-Three Ice Wyvern Flame roared to life.
"AAARGHH—!"
The assassin was skilled—no ordinary rogue—but in the blink of an eye, he was overwhelmed.
The Ice Wyvern Flame wrapped around him, burning away the ghost mist and revealing his true form.
"Late Foundation… that's it?"
Wang Yu flicked his wrist. A beam of light shot from his waist, transforming into an eight-sided Glazed Soul Lantern that hovered behind his head.
Soulfire flared, combining with the Ice Wyvern Flame. Under the dual assault, the assassin was reduced to a charred corpse.
At best, he'd been an outer sect enforcer—stronger than a rogue, but far from elite.
Wang Yu activated his Soul-Seeking Vision, a gray-white overlay that revealed hidden presences.
"Come out. You've made your move—no point hiding now."
One by one, clusters of Nether Ghost Mist emerged—nineteen in total. With the dead one, that made twenty.
The leader stepped forward, revealing his cultivation.
"Late Core Formation…"
Wang Yu's gaze sharpened. Pressure mounted. He discreetly gripped a Void Escape Talisman and spoke calmly:
"Friends of Nether Spring Temple, you've crossed borders to seize tribute meant for the Blood Reversal Sect. What's your intent? War?"
"War? With you?"
The Core cultivator stepped from the mist, contempt radiating from his every word.
Wang Yu remained unfazed.
"You misunderstand the situation. The sacred tribute system has stood for millennia. No outsider has ever dared interfere. You've committed a grave offense. If I were you, I'd start preparing a tomb—Nether Spring won't protect you."
"Heh. Arrogant!"
"What if I told you this was an order from within the temple itself? Kneel now, become my servant, and I might spare your life."
Wang Yu's eyes narrowed. Just as he suspected.
His probing had revealed the hand behind the curtain.
But why would Nether Spring Temple do this? Spiritridge was a border city. Were they trying to claim the Eastern Capital Ruins?
That made no sense. The ruins had been within Yunling's borders for over a thousand years. If they hadn't contested it before, why now?
Then Wang Yu recalled a piece of intelligence.
"Are you speaking for Nether Spring Temple? Or… for Elder Dizang?"
"You know?!"
The Core cultivator's reaction gave away even more. Wang Yu instantly deduced the truth: this wasn't a temple-wide operation—it was Dizang's personal scheme.
Whatever his motives, they no longer mattered.
With that realization, the conflict had escalated from a local skirmish to a diplomatic crisis. Wang Yu wouldn't bear it alone. Thankfully, he'd already sent a messenger to Yunling's provincial capital.
All he had to do now was survive.
He lowered his head.
"Senior, I'm willing to join Nether Spring Temple. Whether Elder Dizang accepts me can be discussed later. What do you say?"
He spread his arms, appearing harmless, and slowly approached the Core cultivator. The man frowned, uncertain.
Wang Yu's knowledge of Dizang made him hesitate. If he killed Wang Yu now, he might ruin Dizang's plans—and that would be unforgivable.
When they were three steps apart, he said:
"Come with me."
"No problem."
In a flash, Wang Yu closed the distance, grabbed the man's wrist—
"What are you—"
"Just getting close."
Wang Yu grinned, revealing pristine white teeth. The Core cultivator felt a sudden shift—spatial power was activating.
"What's happ—"
The Void Escape Talisman triggered, teleporting him to a pre-set location: Spiritridge City Lord's Manor.
With most forces out on patrol, only a few guards remained. Wang Yu remotely activated the Soul-Sealing Execution Array.
It wouldn't kill a late Core cultivator from a hegemonic sect—but it could trap him for months.
By then, reinforcements from Yunling would arrive.
This was no longer a personal feud—it involved rival hegemonies. Wang Yu had backing from three Nascent Soul clans. They'd already been notified. Their response would be swift.
With the enemy leader removed, Wang Yu shouted:
"Qingyang!"
Battle erupted instantly.
Ink-painted scrolls unfurled across dozens of li, freezing the battlefield in tandem with Snowjade's frost domain.
Inkbeasts surged forth, attacking the remaining eighteen ghost mist figures.
Wang Yu quickly assessed their strength:
Two early Core cultivators Four late Foundation Eight mid Foundation Two early Foundation
Formidable—but manageable.
Qingyang descended from the clouds, unleashing his Tier-Three Iron Puppet.
Wang Yu summoned his Lunar Yin Ghoul Corpse—a damaged puppet still under repair, usable for three strikes only.
Qingyang took one Core cultivator. The ghoul and iron puppet took the other.
Wang Yu himself dove into the fray, unleashing Ice Wyvern Flame across the battlefield.
Snowjade's frost domain turned blue with icefire. The ghost mist boiled away, forcing enemies to reveal themselves.
Inkbeasts clashed with the exposed foes.
The battle escalated instantly—life and death in every exchange.
The terrain favored Wang Yu's side.
Within seconds, two early Foundation cultivators were bisected by spinning ice wheels. Wang Yu always targeted the weakest first.
Moments later, four late Foundation cultivators broke free from the inkbeasts and charged Wang Yu.
"Nether Ghost Claw!"
"Earth Nether Finger!"
"Invisible Sword Art – Formless Blade!"
"Ghost Eye – Illusion!"
Massive ghost claws and earth fingers surged forward. The Formless Blade was invisible—but Wang Yu felt its sting behind him.
Three attacks, one illusion—perfect coordination. A normal Foundation cultivator would've died instantly.
But Wang Yu wasn't normal.
The illusion was the weak link. His eyes flared with crescent moon sigils.
One glance—and the illusionist dropped like a bird with clipped wings.
Snowjade struck, slamming the ground.
A thirty-meter ice spike erupted, impaling the stunned cultivator.
"—Soul-Devouring Demon Armor!"
Wang Yu roared, activating his long-nurtured demonic technique. He charged into the ghost claw, dodging the earth finger and sword slash.
His Frostmoon Wings unfolded, boosting his speed. He dove into the eight mid Foundation cultivators.
The three attackers hesitated, fearing friendly fire, and gave chase.
Wang Yu grabbed an inkbeast's claw, flipped atop it, and kicked.
A Nether Demon Drake formed from his blood essence, slamming into a struggling cultivator and reducing him to mist.
Ice wheels flew again, targeting the weakest mid Foundation foes. In ten breaths, three more fell.
Wang Yu popped a Supreme Spirit Recovery Pill.
His Glazed Soul Lantern spat out eight soul flames, striking nearby enemies.
Then he summoned his upgraded treasure: the Ghostcry Flute—now a tier-three lower-grade artifact.
Its obsidian body bore crow-like engravings. The flute's core, made from Ghost Wail Bamboo, could devour souls and summon wraiths—akin to soul banners.
It paired perfectly with his Soul-Eating Crow Sound.
"Woooo—"
He blew.
Driven by tier-three divine sense and perfected technique, the flute unleashed a hundred-meter ghost domain.
Soul-Eating Crows spawned and attacked indiscriminately.
Combined with Qingyang's inkbeasts, the assault was devastating. Corpses fell like rain.
Wang Yu absorbed their souls, feeding the flute—instantly gaining eight tier-two Soul-Eating Crows.
The three remaining attackers turned and fled toward the Core battlefield.
"Master! He's not normal! His techniques are all perfected! He has artifact support!"
"Heh—
"Now you want to run?"
Wang Yu flicked his finger. The Ghostcry Flute shifted into a haunting melody.
The leftmost runner suddenly stabbed his ally.
"Splurt—"
"Zhou Zhen… you… urgh!"
The third was impaled by the second.
Two betrayals. One death.
(End of Chapter)
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