For a moment.
The three Li brothers were stunned.
Looking at the red-robed vengeful ghost in the smoke and dust, they couldn't help but feel a surge of fear: Has this female ghost gotten some kind of cheat?
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord, dressed in a black robe, was also stunned, his palms even sweating: Are Nine Yin Vengeful Ghosts really this powerful? Can reaching the ninth level of Core Formation Stage cause such a phenomenon?
If she breaks through to the Golden Core Stage, won't she pierce the heavens?
At that time, whether my cultivation at the sixth level of the Golden Core Stage can suppress her is really uncertain!
Even.
The red-robed vengeful ghost, Nie Linglan herself, couldn't help but be stunned.
Feeling the terrifying pressure of demonic energy from the sky, Nie Linglan's eyes, which had been filled with resentment and anger, now filled with a thick sense of 'bewilderment' and 'doubt'.
Is this phenomenon caused by me?
Am I really that fearsome?
Am I very ugly right now?
Yes.
After being stunned by this apocalyptic demonic phenomenon, the momentum Nie Linglan had been preparing to unleash with a rampage faltered slightly, startling her back to her senses.
"No!"
"I can't let her get any stronger, or even I won't be able to suppress her."
A trace of wariness flashed in the Thousand-Face Evil Lord's eyes. Naturally, he wanted the spirit of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to be stronger, but he absolutely did not want it to become so powerful that it would turn on him.
With the current situation and this phenomenon, he was honestly a little panicked.
Ten Thousand Souls Banner!
Rise!!!
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord formed a hand seal, and a small banner, the size of a palm, shot out from his sleeve. A ghostly wind surged, and in an instant, it grew to over a zhang tall.
As the banner waved, countless ghostly figures swarmed out from within, emitting an extremely terrifying aura.
Ten Thousand Souls Banner!!!
One of the secret artifacts of the Ghost King Sect. It requires elite Yin-Cold Iron and Ghost Silkworm Thread from a ninth-level Golden Core ghost to be forged into a rough form.
After the rough form is complete.
It requires the secret methods of the Ghost King Sect to refine the essence blood and souls of at least ten thousand people into the banner. Only then is the Ten Thousand Souls Banner considered to have taken its initial form.
Finally.
An ultimate-grade vengeful ghost is chosen to be refined into the banner to serve as its spirit, allowing this magic treasure's power to be maximized.
If they wait for Nie Linglan's cultivation to break through to the Golden Core Stage and refine her into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner as a Demon Spirit.
Then.
The quality of this Ten Thousand Souls Banner would definitely reach its peak, enough for the Thousand-Face Evil Lord to dominate the Golden Core Stage, nearly invincible.
However, the current situation has encountered a variable, so he can only subdue Nie Linglan at the ninth level of the Core Formation Stage first.
"Miss Nie, let's join forces to deal with this guy first!"
Li Longyou's gaze was heavy. As the youngest brother, he made a decisive decision and immediately began to lead his two older brothers, controlling the Three Talents Sword Formation to shoot towards the Thousand-Face Evil Lord.
Join forces?
In your dreams!
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord sneered repeatedly and fiercely slapped the Soul-Calling Banner: "Tear them all to pieces for me!"
Boom~
Instantly.
Tens of thousands of resentful souls swarmed out like a tide, splitting into two groups. One group trapped the three Li brothers, while the other surrounded Nie Linglan.
Whoosh~
Endless resentful souls, under the control of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, merged into a giant black bell, completely enveloping Nie Linglan and constantly vibrating to emit demonic sounds.
"Don't struggle. Just be refined by the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and become this one's Demon Spirit."
A look of anticipation flashed in the Thousand-Face Evil Lord's eyes: "Once I subdue you, I can be invincible in the Golden Core Stage. I will surely make a huge splash at the Heavenly Demon Grand Sacrifice next month!"
At this moment.
Whether it was the three Li brothers or Nie Linglan, they had all fallen into an absolutely passive situation.
Defeat seemed to be a foregone conclusion!
Boom~!
Just then, the ground of the Zhao Manor suddenly shook violently.
The black barrier barrier in the sky reappeared, and cracks appeared on the barrier, incredibly clear.
Ang~
Roar~
Li~
Ying~
A majestic and dignified dragon's roar, a mighty and domineering tiger's howl, a phoenix cry that pierced the clouds and split stones, a deep and heavy turtle's bellow—all made one's heart and soul tremble violently.
The next second.
Four incomparably brilliant light pillars shot out, directly shattering the already crumbling black barrier. Endless Yin-Evil Qi scattered in all directions.
The concentration of Yin-Evil Qi in the Zhao Manor also decreased significantly, no longer as gloomy and terrifying as before.
The Four Symbols Guardian Array to Slay Evil!
A delighted expression appeared on Li Longyou's face: "It's the Four Symbols Guardian Extermination Array! It seems the sect received the news and has sent reinforcements to support us."
Some were happy, while others were worried.
Compared to the Li brothers, the Thousand-Face Evil Lord was now starting to panic.
Something's happening outside the manor!
Damn it!
It seems I can't drag this out with these kids any longer. I must end this quickly quickly.
Thinking this, the Thousand-Face Evil Lord began to gather his full spiritual power, preparing to unleash his ultimate killing move.
Just as he was gathering his energy for a powerful technique...
Suddenly, a scream of agony came from the east side of the Zhao Manor. Immediately after, a ghostly figure shot over from the east, its face filled with terror and panic. It was his ghost servant.
"Master!"
"Master!"
The ghost servant fled before the Thousand-Face Evil Lord, trembling as he said, "T... The Three Purities Immortal Sect's reinforcements have arrived! There are more than a dozen Golden Core Stage cultivators, and even Nascent Soul Stage elders!"
"We've been surrounded! They're telling us to give up pointless resistance and surrender with our hands up!"
Hisss~
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord inhaled sharply, his eyes filled with horror.
Over a dozen Golden Core Stage cultivators!
And a Nascent Soul Stage elder!
How the hell could he fight this? It was impossible to fight!
Should I just make a run for it?
Wait a minute!!!
If a Nascent Soul Stage elder had truly arrived, would they need me to surrender with my hands up? Wouldn't they just flick their finger and annihilate me?
A trap! It's a trap!
Just as the warning bell rang in the Thousand-Face Evil Lord's mind, he felt a chill on his waist, followed by a searing pain.
The next second.
The ghost servant's figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, retreating dozens of meters away. His body was wreathed in brilliant, dazzling thunder-light—how could he look like a vengeful ghost?
"Damn it! You don't fight fair! A sneak attack!"
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord looked down and saw a Soul-Breaking Dagger embedded in his waist. It was a magical weapon he had bestowed upon his most powerful ghost general.
Once it struck an enemy, not only would it cause unstoppable bleeding, but it could also injure the soul.
And now, this imposter had used it for a sneak attack, landing a critical hit of true damage.
"Flowing Shadow Lightning Steps!"
The Thousand-Face Evil Lord stared coldly at the 'ghost servant', his eyes flashing with dense killing intent: "You're a disciple of the Three Purities Immortal Sect's Thunder Vein?"
Although he had been ambushed, the Thousand-Face Evil Lord's heart was no longer panicking: "A mere Core Formation Stage cultivator dares to risk a sneak attack on me? It seems there are no reinforcements nearby!"
If there truly were reinforcements, there would be no need to send a Core Formation Stage cultivator for a sneak attack; they could have just crushed us directly.
Puff~
Pulling the Soul-Breaking Dagger from his waist, the wound on the Thousand-Face Evil Lord's waist gushed forth, making his face deathly pale: "Since you're here, you won't be leaving."
"You can all stay and be sacrificed for my supreme demonic artifact. Kek kek kek!"
With that!
A portion of the vengeful ghosts that had been surrounding the Li brothers and Nie Linglan suddenly split off, swarming towards Wang Xiu, intending to tear the young man to shreds.
"You want to kill me? Let's see if you have the ability!"
"Four Symbols Array, activate!"
A cold smile appeared on Wang Xiu's face. Azure, white, crimson, and black divine lights shot from the four directions of the Zhao Manor, flowing into his body, causing his aura to skyrocket.
"From the summit of ten thousand mountains, I summon the lightning! With my three-foot green blade, I slay demons and evil!"
"Sword, come forth!"
Wang Xiu formed a sword gesture with his hand, pointing directly at the eastern part of the city.
In an instant.
A clear, crisp sword rang out from the eastern sky, melodious and pleasing to the ear, like the roar of a dragon or the howl of a tiger.
The next second.
Half the sky was dyed red. The originally pitch-black, gloomy ghostly qi instantly transformed into a vast ocean of blood.
In the blood sea.
A blood-colored longsword shot forth, floating and sinking amidst the bloody waves.
Along with the blood-colored longsword, countless silhouettes of living beings continuously manifested, floating and sinking within the blood sea.
Those were...
Clearly, plump, fat, strong pigs, baring their teeth and showing their gums, floating and sinking in the blood sea, looking...
Super fierce~!
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Hey everyone, I hope you're doing well.
I'm writing this with a heavy heart because, for the first time in over two years of creating content for you all, I've been hit really hard financially.
I've always tried to keep things running smoothly—updating regularly, posting daily, and even putting out bonus chapters on Patreon. But right now, I'm in deep trouble trying to manage my education expenses on top of everything else.
This is the first time I've had to ask, but if you've ever enjoyed my work and have the means to help, please consider supporting me on Patreon.
Even a small contribution would mean the world to me right now and would help me keep creating the content you love while staying afloat personally.
Thank you for reading, and thank you even more if you choose to help.
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