Thousand-Face Evil Lord.
A protector of the Ghost King Sect.
Despite being at the Golden Core stage of cultivation, he had mastered a bizarre and ancient secret art—the Thousand-Face Devil Art.
This art allowed him to conceal his cultivation and demonic energy, making him indistinguishable from a mortal.
Furthermore, by cultivating this devil art to its perfection, he could peel the skin from others and wear it as his own, allowing him to change his appearance and form at will.
Unless it was an Nascent Soul elder whose cultivation was a major realm higher than his own, it would be nearly impossible to see through his disguise.
Even for a Nascent Soul elder, if they didn't observe him up close, it would be difficult to notice anything amiss, giving him a high probability of escaping amidst the chaos.
Thanks to this unique skill, the Thousand-Face Evil Lord had risked it more than once, committing crimes within the jurisdictions of major immortal sects before swaggering away, and he had never been exposed.
As his crimes became more frequent, he sometimes began to seek thrills, deliberately infiltrating the territories of these immortal sects to hunt their disciples.
A hit-and-run tactic, truly the height of madness.
Just like this time, the Zhao family massacre.
On the surface, it appeared to be a simple case of a vengeful ghost killing people. However, the truth was entirely different.
Two months prior.
While lurking in Maple City, the Thousand-Face Evil Lord learned by chance that the young lady of the Nie family possessed a "pure Yin" fate, and that she was born in Maple City, making her an extremely rare Nine Yin woman.
Instantly, he devised a sinister plot to use Nie Linglan's fate to pull off a classic case of substituting one thing for another.
He spent half a month lurking in the Nie residence, thoroughly learning about Nie Linglan's daily habits and preferences from the maids, servants, and others until he knew them like the back of his hand.
Next, he skinned the talented young man of Maple City, Ning Haoran, and took over his identity. During the Lantern Festival, he orchestrated a romantic encounter with Nie Linglan, playing the part of a talented scholar and a beautiful maiden.
A two-hundred-year-old old devil, plus half a month of preparation, made it child's play to deceive an ignorant teenage girl.
Before long, Nie Linglan fell head over heels for Ning Haoran and wished to grow old with him.
However, the Ning Haoran who was actually the Thousand-Face Evil Lord always kept his feelings in check and maintained proper decorum with Nie Linglan; he never even held her hand.
This wasn't out of any sense of chivalry. It was because a Nine Yin woman needed to remain a pure virgin to unleash her full power.
Once the vengeful ghost was fully formed, he could play with it however he wanted. There was no need to rush.
Therefore.
For the 'upright gentleman,' the thousand-faced evil lord Ning Haoran, Nie Linglan fell even more in love. She was prepared to marry no one else and even considered eloping with him.
But then.
Just when her love was at its peak, she was cruelly betrayed by Ning Haoran and trapped within the Manor of Zhao.
Even worse.
On the night of the Third Mistress's inauspicious day, the eldest son of the Zhao family attempted to violate Nie Linglan. Heartbroken and her spirit broken, she hanged herself at the midnight hour.
All of these coincidences were orchestrated by the thousand-faced evil lord.
His goal: to cultivate Nie Linglan into a top-grade Nine Yin Vengeful Ghost and then take her for his own use.
The 'Myriad Souls Banner' he was refining had already taken preliminary shape with the accumulation of over ten thousand resentful souls. All it lacked was a core spirit powerful enough to command it.
As long as it was the Third Mistress's inauspicious day.
After Nie Linglan devoured all the yin-fiendish energy of the Manor of Zhao, and then consumed the blood essence and souls of the three true disciples from the Three Pure Heavens Sect.
At that time.
She would become a top-grade ghost general, approaching the Golden Core Stage, and the most suitable spirit for the Myriad Souls Banner in the hands of the thousand-faced evil lord. She might even use the power of the magic artifact to break through and become a Ghost Commander.
Thus.
The power of the Myriad Souls Banner would undergo a metamorphic evolution, and the combat strength of the thousand-faced evil lord would multiply several times over!
As for the bounty from the Three Pure Heavens Sect?
Those three true disciples died in battle while attempting to subdue the Nine Yin Vengeful Ghost. What does that have to do with him, the thousand-faced evil lord?
He was never part of the game; he was the one moving the pieces from outside it.
The spell was cast into a communication token.
Soon.
A face of stunning beauty, with an alluring charm that seeped into the bone, appeared in the vision. She was wearing a thin, red gauze dress, her graceful figure partially visible.
The red skirt split up to the thigh, creating a stark contrast with her skin, which was as white as snow.
With a twist of her body, she displayed curves that made one's blood boil.
Her entire being radiated a fatal allure, making one's mouth go dry and stirring impure thoughts.
Even a high-ranking Buddhist monk would be tempted to break his vows.
The Crimson Seductress Snake Queen.
One of the nine elders of the Ghost King Sect. Cultivation: Nascent Soul Stage.
Having cultivated her art of seduction to an extremely high level, a single glance or smile from her could steal the souls of countless men.
The other elders each had their own 'arrangements' with her to some extent.
However.
The Snake Queen's favorite lover was still the thousand-faced evil lord.
Because the Thousand-Faced Evil Lord had cultivated the "Thousand-Face Devilish Art" to its grand perfection, he could change his appearance at will.
Cough, cough.
Having a paramour like this was equivalent to having ten, or even a hundred, and he could even switch faces in the middle of their lovemaking, doubling the pleasure.
It was precisely for this reason that the Seductress Snake Ji, this nominal subordinate of the Thousand-Faced Evil Lord, took care of him immensely. Even the materials for refining the Ten Thousand Souls Banner were funded by her.
"My love, when will you be back!" the Seductress Snake Ji purred, throwing a seductive glance. Her voice was a mournful yet clear melody that made one's heart flutter. "I want to sit with you and 'moisten the Way'!"
Whoa~
This little vixen is really something!
The Thousand-Faced Evil Lord drew a sharp breath, a lewd grin spreading across his face. "Don't be impatient. Once I deal with those brats from the Three Pure Immortal Sect and finish refining the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, I'll come back."
"My dearest Mei."
"This time in Maple City, I've discovered a peerlessly handsome man. I hear he's a true successor of the Divination Vein from the Three Pure Immortal Sect, some fellow named Wang Xiu."
"I've never seen a youth like him. All my previous collections are like garbage compared to him."
"You just wait. I'll find a chance to kill him and flay him."
"Then I'll wear his skin, and it'll help you ascend to immortality!"
A peerlessly handsome man?
The Seductress Snake Ji stuck out her tongue and licked her lips. A look of longing appeared in her eyes, and she couldn't help but look forward to it.
You must know.
The Thousand-Faced Evil Lord, using his secret art of changing his appearance, had traveled all over Southern Domain and seen countless handsome men. His collection was not lacking in faces to rival Pan An or Song Yu.
Yet he said that his previous collections were garbage compared to this kid named Wang Xiu?
It was unimaginable just how handsome this Wang Xiu could be!
The Seductress Snake Ji's eyes were as charming as water. She chuckled and said, "Then I'll wait for you in the Ghost King Sect for your triumphant return. Remember to protect yourself and not get discovered."
"After all, that place is under the jurisdiction of the Three Pure Immortal Sect. If those Taoists discover a demonic cultivator, they will never rest until they are dead."
"If they get their hands on you, it'll be a problem if we miss the upcoming Great Devil Sacrifice."
Discovered?
The Thousand-Faced Evil Lord scoffed. "How could those stinky-nosed Taoists possibly discover me? Don't worry!"
"I'm not bragging!"
"With my perfected Thousand-Face Devilish Art, as long as I hide among the common folk."
"Even if the Three Pure Immortal Sect sends out experts in the Out-of-Body Realm or saints of the Manifestation Holy Realm to search for me, they'll only get a face full of dust!"
[Ding!]
[Detected someone shamelessly bragging. Triggered Brag Critical Hit. System's favorability is maxed out. Congratulations, Host gains Spiritual qi +233, Spiritual qi Quality +233.]
[Congratulations, Host obtains: 'Heavenly Devil Myriad Transformations Art' Perfect Experience Card!]
[
Dear Readers,
If you've been enjoying the story, please consider supporting me directly on Patreon. Your backing makes it possible for me to keep creating the content you love.
What you get:
$5 tier: 20 chapters per month
$10 tier: 40 chapters per month
$15 tier: 60 chapters per month for both novels
Join now and instantly unlock + 60 chapters for all novels for first month— that's 120 chapters immediately upon joining.
Your support means everything. Thank you for helping me continue this journey with you.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/JoyceCruize?vanity=user
]