Battling Ghost Cultivators Alone

He was already at Qi Refining Second Layer.

Putting aside other matters, focusing solely on cultivation, Wen Jiu needed to become an apprentice disciple to obtain the later stages of the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art. He had also made up his mind; since he had decided to make a show of himself, he might as well go all out.

This opportunity.

Was rare.

The Dead Corpse Land spanned ten miles, and the Yin energy was extremely potent after nightfall, making it impossible for Spiritual Sense to fully extend within. Beyond that lay a hundred miles of dense forest, and once the target disappeared into it, finding them would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

If the three of them hadn't been greedy for the Black Zombie, they would never have encountered such an opportunity, and even if they had, they wouldn't have been able to resolve it.

"Brother Wang, they've split up."

Having made up his mind, Wen Jiu spoke.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Before Wang Nian could stop, Steward Liu impatiently asked, "Can you still sense the location of the three of them?"

As he asked, he had already taken out several Yin Dispelling Talismans.

These were far more advanced than the Yin Dispelling Talismans Wang Nian had used earlier to disperse Yin energy.

"They split up at that mountain stream three breaths ago," Wen Jiu quickly pointed to the mountain stream shrouded in dense Yin energy.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Steward Liu immediately flew away on his sword, throwing Yin Dispelling Talismans towards where the three had separated.

Boom—

Boom—

One by one, the Yin Dispelling Talismans were activated.

Instantly, the Yin energy within a radius of several hundred feet was scattered.

"Killing over a dozen disciples of my Night Patrol Division and you think you can escape?" Steward Liu continued to throw Yin Dispelling Talismans as if they were free, his eyes filled with increasing killing intent, which even made Wang Nian, standing beside him, tremble.

After throwing more than a dozen Yin Dispelling Talismans, the figures of two of them were finally exposed to everyone.

Seeing that the two were wearing Night Patrol Division uniforms, Steward Liu's rage intensified, and he flew towards them on his sword.

The other Night Patrol Division disciples quickly followed.

Wang Nian was about to move when Wen Jiu stopped him, "Brother Wang, let's go after the other one. I can sense her location."

"Let's go!"

Wang Nian was overjoyed.

Glancing back at the Night Patrol Division members, Wang Nian said again, "Young Wen, are you sure it's only her?"

"Mhm, mhm."

Wen Jiu nodded.

He pointed to the other side of the Dead Corpse Land.

Wang Nian immediately flew after her on his sword, already pulling out Yin Dispelling Talismans. The quality was similar to the ones Steward Liu had just used, and he took out four or five at once, a stark contrast to his usual frugality.

Before Wen Jiu could say anything, Wang Nian hurriedly said, "Young Wen, this is an opportunity for you, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Originally, with you reaching Qi Refining Second Layer, becoming an apprentice or a disciple would have been more than enough... but the trouble is that you practice an Unorthodox Path. There aren't many stewards who dislike those who practice unorthodox paths, but there are still some, so you need proof. Proof that your realm wasn't forcibly raised by damaging your lifespan, your foundation, or by overdrawing your potential."

Wang Nian added, "This lone spy is the best proof! However, the opponent is a disciple of the Night Patrol Division, so she probably has many skills and other means, and you can only fight her alone. If I help you, it won't count... so how you choose is up to you."

Wang Nian's expression was solemn. He really wanted to help Wen Jiu become an apprentice and a disciple of Corpse Peak.

But the rules were the rules.

He couldn't do anything about it and could only rely on Wen Jiu himself.

Wen Jiu looked at Wang Nian, whose expression was serious but who was considering his well-being, and felt a warmth in his heart. He immediately replied, "Brother Wang, leave her to me."

Wang Nian nodded, patted Wen Jiu's shoulder heavily, and said solemnly, "Good! Then I'll use a Recording Talisman to record it for you from the side... Don't worry, if the opponent has any trump cards that you can't handle, I will immediately step in to help."

"Thank you, Brother Wang."

Wen Jiu clasped his fists in gratitude.

When he turned back, his gaze was already locked onto the Ghost Cultivator speeding through the Yin energy mist, and he leaped down.

Wang Nian didn't waste any more words and directly threw out five top-tier, first-grade low-quality Yin Dispelling Talismans, worth a total of thirty low-grade spirit stones.

But if it could help Wen Jiu.

These spirit stones would be well spent!

Boom—

With a sound, the five Yin Dispelling Talismans instantly scattered hundreds of feet of Yin energy.

The female cultivator's expression changed drastically. She quickly held up her ghost head to block, and when she realized it was just Yin Dispelling Talismans, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she saw only Wen Jiu, dressed in plain clothes, jumping down.

When the Qi Refining Third Layer steward was merely observing from his sword in the air, the female cultivator instantly understood what was happening.

"To think they'd use me as a stepping stone!" she exclaimed, throwing the ghost head in her hand towards Wen Jiu. The ghost head instantly transformed into an eight-foot-tall ghostly figure that surged forward, its aura rising steadily.

He firmly suppressed Wen Jiu.

Seeing this, Wang Nian's expression changed.

A Yin Soul comparable to the peak of Qi Refining Second Layer!

Just as Wang Nian hesitated whether to intervene, he heard a loud explosion. The Black Zombie behind the female cultivator suddenly erupted with surging blood energy. The Corpse Qi shattered the Corpse Suppressing Talisman. Before the female cultivator could react, the Black Zombie's sharp ten fingers thrust forward.

The female cultivator was horrified. "How is this possible? That Corpse Suppressing Talisman is enough to suppress a higher-level Black Zombie. How could it not suppress it..."

The female cultivator's voice abruptly stopped.

Because the Black Zombie had already lunged at her. The female cultivator quickly summoned a black mirror Magic Tool, then sprayed a mouthful of rich vital blood onto it. After it was stained scarlet, she shone it at the Black Zombie.

In an instant.

Bloody ghost energy surged forth.

It swept over the Black Zombie.

The Yin Soul and ghost creature that had been charging at Wen Jiu also attacked the Black Zombie. The Black Zombie's corpse body did not retreat and also began to glow red.

"As expected of a Night Patrol Division disciple, you even have a Ghost Tool!" Upon seeing the Ghost Tool, Wen Jiu did not make the Black Zombie evade. Instead, he had it continue to press forward.

At the same time.

Wen Jiu also raised his hand and shot out a stream of Yin Mana, which entered the Black Zombie's body, helping its Corpse Qi reach its peak.

Watching this scene, Wang Nian's heart pounded.

Was this still a battle at the Qi Refining Second Layer?

He felt that even if he were to step in, he wouldn't gain any advantage.

And that Black Zombie...

He remembered that Wen Jiu had only cultivated it not long ago.

Now it was so powerful that it could directly confront a Ghost Tool and Yin Soul ghost creature—this kid's talent for unorthodox paths was truly monstrous!

As expected of the person he had taken a liking to!

However, now was not the time to be happy.

Wang Nian also took out his Magic Tool, preparing to support at any moment. After all, Wen Jiu had only just reached Qi Refining Second Layer tonight.

He might be strong.

But there must be limits.

The next moment.

The Black Zombie lunged towards the Yin Soul ghost creature. It bit down on its body in one go and began to devour it bit by bit. No matter how the Yin Soul ghost creature roared or attacked the Black Zombie, the Black Zombie remained unmoved.

Like a mountain.

As for the surging bloody ghost energy, the Black Zombie swallowed it all, accepting everything. This caused the female cultivator's expression to change drastically.

She intended to disengage.

But she found that after being bitten by the Black Zombie, she couldn't pull away.

She couldn't even retrieve her Ghost Tool.

"Just how strong was this Black Zombie when it was alive!"

In the female cultivator's understanding, the stronger the corpse was in life, the stronger it would be when refined into a zombie after death.

Could this mid-level Black Zombie, which could suppress her Ghost Tool and ghost creature, have been refined by a late-stage Qi Refining ghost cultivator?

"No, I can't let this continue!" Seeing that she had completely lost control, the female cultivator decisively abandoned the Ghost Tool and ghost creature in her hand.

She took out several talismans and was about to throw them.

To buy herself one last chance to escape.

However.

Wen Jiu's continuous Yin Mana projectiles flew over.

The female cultivator quickly released her ghost energy and threw out talismans to block. But after blocking a few times, she felt something was increasingly wrong.

Where the Yin Mana landed.

The Yin Mana was spreading!

It was corroding her ghost energy!

The Yin Mana that landed on her arm had already penetrated her flesh and blood, spreading like a parasitic worm.

And it was getting faster and faster.

When she tried to use Ghost Law, she found that as soon as she tried to mobilize her ghost energy, it was directly corroded and devoured by the Yin Mana.

"You're not from Corpse Peak!" the female cultivator shrieked, throwing out all the talismans she had accumulated.

She fled in panic.

However.

He fell to the ground with a thud after running only a short distance.

No longer alive.

Seeing this, Wang Nian's heart was tossed by stormy waves, and at the same time, he was overjoyed, as if the female cultivator had been killed by him.

"Wen kid, well done!"

Just entering Qi Refining Second Layer.

To kill a Qi Refining Second Layer spy from the Night Patrol Division.

What kind of record is this?

How many formal disciples can achieve this?

However, when Wang Nian, who was exclaiming repeatedly, landed and looked closely at the female cultivator's corpse, he was startled by the horrific state of corrosion caused by Yin Mana.

He couldn't help but swallow hard as he looked at Wen Jiu.

Fortunately, this kid is from Corpse Peak.

And not an enemy.

Soon.

A large number of Night Patrol Division disciples arrived.

As for the other two spies from the Night Patrol Division, one was killed by Steward Liu's sword, and the other had his legs cut off and was thrown into the Night Patrol Division's dungeon.

When the Night Patrol Division arrived at Wen Jiu's location and saw the female cultivator's tragic death, their expressions all changed drastically.

This was even more horrific than having one's legs cut off.

When they learned from Wang Nian that Wen Jiu had killed her alone, every single Night Patrol Division disciple was greatly alarmed.

The way they looked at Wen Jiu was no longer the same as before.

Just as Wen Jiu was preparing to pack up and leave, the appearance of one person attracted everyone's attention.

"Steward Mu!"

"Steward Mu!"

It was the same Night Patrol Division steward they had seen that day.

In addition, there were Li Ye and other stewards.

When Li Ye saw that Wen Jiu had already stepped into Qi Refining Second Layer, and the Black Zombie behind him had a more powerful aura than Wen Jiu, he was shocked.

How is this possible?

It's only been this long?

Wen Jiu was actually able to reach Qi Refining Second Layer using the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art and cultivate a Black Zombie stronger than himself.

How is this possible?

Even with talent in the Unorthodox Path, he shouldn't be this strong, right?

His Spiritual Root is clearly only of inferior grade.

Just as he was wondering, Steward Mu of the Night Patrol Division, after carefully examining the female corpse and the Black Zombie a few more times, spoke.

"Not bad, very good. Reaching Qi Refining Second Layer in two months using the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art shows astonishing talent in the Unorthodox Path... Although your Spiritual Root is inferior, your talent in the Corpse Raising Method is good. Now you have also killed a spy of our Night Patrol Division alone. Are you willing to join Mu Canglong's command?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The expressions of many Night Patrol Division disciples tensed.

Wang Nian was the same.

But what was even more surprising was Li Ye of the Night Patrol Division, and the other stewards.

[Seeking follow-up reads, seeking follow-up reads! Fellow Daoists, please make sure to follow along. During the new book period, follow-up reads are extremely important. Thank you all! May you all have someone like Wang Nian by your side!]