Exorcise Demons, Uphold the Dao, Slay Evil, Protect the Law, Kill!

Chang Qing looked toward Xuan Zhen. "Master!"

Xuan Zhen nodded slightly. "Go on. Let your master see whether you've neglected your cultivation over the years!"

The people of the Wuchang Ghost Sect liked fighting in groups, and so did the disciples of his Wuzhen Dao Palace.

Chang Ming, Chang Qing, and Chang Liang were all disciples he had personally nurtured, unlike the current disciples of the Wuzhen Dao Palace.

The current disciples of the Wuzhen Dao Palace were not truly his disciples at all. They could only be considered nominal disciples, whereas Chang Ming and the other two were his direct disciples.

Direct disciples who cultivated the Eight Divine Curses and possessed the Divine General Chessboard!

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison.

Afterward, the three of them whispered among themselves for a while before spreading out and surrounding the battlefield below.

"Profound Vault displays its image, azure depths bear the spirits. Drive the demons and charms from the borders, sweep away pestilence and purify the mountains and rivers. Let souls return to their places, let gods descend among mortals. Haste, haste, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances—descend!"

As the short incantation rang out, boundless golden light suddenly surged into existence in midair, and figures wrapped in golden radiance emerged one after another.

They wore golden armor and wielded weapons. Their physiques were imposing, and their auras were intimidating.

Three hundred sixty-one Golden Armored Divine Generals formed the Lesser Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation. Scattered across the sky like stars on a chessboard, they formed a semicircular barrier.

The Golden Armored Divine Generals of Chang Ming and the other two naturally could not compare to Xuan Zhen's. Although both sides had three hundred sixty-one Golden Armored Divine Generals, nearly all of Xuan Zhen's Divine Generals had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and quite a number had even reached the Foundation Establishment Peak Stage.

Most of Chang Ming and the others' Golden Armored Divine Generals, however, were still in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage or Middle Stage. A few had only barely stepped across the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

However, the combat power of the Golden Armored Divine Generals was not limited to their individual strength. They also had military formations. Three hundred sixty-one Divine Generals could form the Lesser Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation, three thousand six hundred ten could form the Middle Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation, and thirty-six thousand one hundred could form the Greater Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation.

The essence and principles of these Lesser, Middle, and Greater Zhou Tian Star Dou Formations were the same. They were divided into different sizes only because the number of Divine Generals differed.

Naturally, the more Divine Generals there were, the greater the formation's power. Yet because there were so many Divine Generals, coordination also became more difficult, and operating the formation became more complicated.

In fact, above the Greater Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation was the Super Star Dou Formation. Formed from three hundred sixty-one Lesser Zhou Tian Star Dou Formations, it required a total of one hundred thirty thousand Divine Generals.

However, these were still only theoretical concepts. At present, Xuan Zhen could only operate the Middle Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation. He could not even gather enough Divine Generals for the Greater Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation, much less the Super Star Dou Formation.

The three Lesser Zhou Tian Star Dou Formations connected into one expanse, covering dozens of li in every direction.

Seeing this, the four disciples of the Wuchang Ghost Sect below could no longer concern themselves with hiding. They instantly flew out of the forest, intending to break through before the formation took shape.

But since Chang Ming and the others had already made preparations, how could they let them escape?

"Heaven and Earth Nature, foul qi disperses. Within the cavern, mystery and emptiness shine upon the Great Origin. I traverse the Five Sacred Mountains, known throughout the Eight Seas. Let demon kings bow their heads and attendants guard my carriage. Let evil and filth dissipate, let Dao qi endure. Haste, haste, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances."

The resounding incantation echoed through the sky. Grand golden light fell like a gentle breeze and fine rain, dyeing the entire world golden.

The golden radiance fell upon the Yin Soldier Blood Puppets, and sizzling sounds rang out as trails of white smoke rose from them.

This was the Purify Heaven and Earth Divine Curse, the most effective curse for restraining yin, baleful, and evil energies.

The Divine Generals still could not cast the Purify Heaven and Earth Divine Curse, but they had all cultivated the Golden Light Divine Curse. They could imbue Chang Ming and the others with golden light, greatly increasing the power of their Purify Heaven and Earth Divine Curse.

The Yin Soldier Blood Puppets sensed the threat posed by the golden light and attempted to counterattack. One after another, they abandoned their opponents and charged into the sky, intending to break through the Lesser Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation formed by the Divine Generals.

"Exorcise demons, uphold the Dao, slay evil, protect the law—kill!"

The Divine Generals advanced in formation, weapons in hand, and collided with the Yin Soldier Blood Puppets in an instant.

There were only twelve Yin Soldiers here and just over three hundred Blood Puppets. How could they stand against more than a thousand Divine Generals? Chang Liang's Divine Generals alone suppressed the Yin Soldier Blood Puppets in an instant, without even needing Chang Ming and Chang Qing to act together.

The four disciples of the Wuchang Ghost Sect still tried to flee, but the Divine General formations of Chang Ming and Chang Qing closed in and surrounded them.

They summoned the Myriad Ghost Banner and released a large number of Yin Soul Generals, but they still could not break through the Divine General formations.

After several rounds of entanglement, the four fell one after another. The Yin Soldier Blood Puppets were completely reduced to corpses, while the Yin Soul Generals in their Myriad Ghost Banners became the spoils of war of Chang Ming and the other two.

"Master, there are thirty-eight Ghost Generals and over one thousand three hundred Yin Souls!" Chang Qing came before Xuan Zhen and handed the three Myriad Ghost Banners to him like a child presenting a treasure.

Xuan Zhen glanced at them. "Keep them. After we return, put them in the Divine Soul Hall."

There were four people but only thirty-eight Ghost Generals. Clearly, these four were nothing more than minions and were utterly insignificant.

Of course, any enemy capable of contributing Yin Soul Generals was a good enemy.

Not every disciple of the Wuchang Ghost Sect possessed a Myriad Ghost Banner. Some disciples of the Wuchang Ghost Sect were simply not skilled in controlling ghosts.

Chang Ming and the others quickly cleaned up the battlefield. They purified the corpses of the Yin Soldier Blood Puppets, turning them completely into dry bones.

The Purify Heaven and Earth Divine Curse could purify yin, baleful, and evil energies. During the purification process, it could also provide the caster with pure spiritual energy, thereby improving the caster's cultivation.

Back then, Xuan Zhen had relied on the Purify Heaven and Earth Divine Curse to rapidly increase his cultivation. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to form his core so quickly.

Just as Chang Ming and the others finished tidying up the battlefield and were preparing to leave, a burly Howling Moon Wolf with a face covered in silver-white fur came before Chang Ming.

"Thank you, True Person, for saving our lives. My Howling Moon Wolf Tribe is boundlessly grateful!" the Howling Moon Wolf said with a bow.

Chang Ming looked at him, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes, but he still nodded and said, "It was only a small effort. There's no need for such courtesy!"

What surprised him was the Howling Moon Wolf's etiquette. Most Demonic Beasts were extremely rash and knew nothing of the etiquette of the Human Race.

Things were better in the Spirit Source Land, where the Monster Beast Hall specifically trained Demonic Beasts and Strange Beasts in etiquette. But among the Demon Races in the Wanhua Mountain Range, let alone these small tribes—even the great tribes did not care about the etiquette of the Human Race.

Although this Howling Moon Wolf had merely offered a bow, it revealed his familiarity with proper rules and manners.

The Howling Moon Wolf looked somewhat agitated. "A life-saving favor cannot be repaid. I am willing to serve the True Person and submit to your commands!"

Chang Ming was stunned when he heard this, but he quickly understood what the fellow meant.

How is this serving? He clearly wants protection!

Indeed, the Howling Moon Wolf Tribe before them was not powerful. It had always been a small tribe, and now that the Wuchang Ghost Sect had occupied the Wanhua Mountain Range, countless Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets were hunting Demonic and Exotic Beasts everywhere. For them to remain here was no different from waiting for death. Even fleeing would mean facing nine deaths and one life.

They had just witnessed the strength of Chang Ming and the other two. Wanting their protection was only natural.

Chang Ming hesitated. Should he send these Howling Moon Wolves away?

He turned toward the top of the cliff, wanting to ask Xuan Zhen's opinion.

"Have them head south. Someone will receive them there," Xuan Zhen transmitted.

Who was to the south?

It was not the Forward Outpost Base. This place was far too distant from it.

It was Yue Yao!

Although Yue Yao had also entered the Wanhua Mountain Range to wage guerrilla warfare, her method differed from Xuan Zhen's.

What Xuan Zhen did could at most be called hunting: he struck once and changed locations, focusing on eliminating Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets.

Yue Yao, however, was establishing a base, gathering the Demon Race in the Wanhua Mountain Range and constantly strengthening her own forces.

Of course, they also took the initiative to attack, but they operated within a fixed area. Xuan Zhen and the others had no fixed location—they went wherever they wanted and did whatever they pleased.

The two forces moved through the mountains and forests, doing their best to eliminate the strength of the Wuchang Ghost Sect.

Chang Ming rejected the Howling Moon Wolf's offer of service, but he still pointed them toward a way forward, telling them to seek refuge with Yue Yao.

The Howling Moon Wolf persisted for a while, but ultimately decided to follow Chang Ming's advice and head south. They had no other choice.

After dealing with the matter here, Xuan Zhen continued leading Chang Ming and the other two through the mountains.

They did not seek out the larger Yin Soldier forces. Instead, they specifically looked for groups consisting of several dozen or several hundred Yin Soldiers.

Xuan Zhen did not act personally, either. He left it to Chang Ming and the others, helping them conceal their auras at most so that the people of the Wuchang Ghost Sect would not follow their traces and catch up.

Days passed one after another. At first, nothing seemed amiss, but as time went on, large numbers of Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets began disappearing in the mountains and forests, eventually drawing the attention of the Wuchang Ghost Sect.

On an unnamed mountain peak, a Giant Bone Pillar pierced straight into the Sky Vault. Beneath it stood several houses built from white bones.

Inside one of the houses, Xing Nan listened to his subordinate's report, his brows tightly furrowed.

He was the Vice Division Master of the Soul Suppressing Division of the Soul Refining Hall. His current task was to encircle and annihilate the remnants of the Demon Race in the Central Region of the Wanhua Mountain Range while also overseeing the construction of the Giant Bone Pillars.

At first, everything had gone smoothly. Although they had encountered some resistance from the Demon Race, it had quickly subsided. Those demons had either been captured and killed or driven away, and few remained in the mountains and forests to oppose them.

Yet over the past half month, he had received more than a dozen unfavorable reports in succession.

At first, he had not cared, but as the reports continued to increase, it became impossible for him to ignore them.

"So you're saying that over the past half month, we've already lost more than eight thousand Yin Soldiers and one hundred twenty thousand Blood Puppets?" After hearing the report, Xing Nan's face darkened as if it could drip water.

He commanded one hundred thousand Yin Soldiers and three million Blood Puppets. That number sounded enormous, but dispersed throughout the Central Region of the Wanhua Mountain Range, they appeared extremely sparse.

The Central Region of the Wanhua Mountain Range was vast. Its north-south length exceeded thirty thousand li, while its east-west width approached thirty thousand li at its broadest point and still exceeded ten thousand li at its narrowest.

In such a vast region, there were only a little over three million Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets. The extent of their dispersal could be imagined.

The Blood Puppets were secondary. The key was the Yin Soldiers.

Losing eight thousand Yin Soldiers was nearly equivalent to losing a tenth of his forces. It would have been strange if Xing Nan were not angry.

Yang Zhengshan's guess had been correct. After half a year of attritional warfare against the Wanhua Demon Emperor, the Wuchang Ghost Sect's casualties had reached the point of suffering heavy losses.

The loss of over one hundred million Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets had already left the Wuchang Ghost Sect's forces stretched thin.

The main issue was that the Wuchang Ghost Sect had occupied too much territory.

From the Wanhua Mountain Range to the Yunxiao Mountain Range, the Wuchang Ghost Sect had to station Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets throughout this enormous region. Without sufficient forces, they could not possibly hold such a vast territory.

Although everyone feared the Wuchang Ghost Sect's Yin Soldier Army now, countless people would emerge to seek revenge the moment the Wuchang Ghost Sect showed signs of weakness.

Ants could not possibly bite an elephant to death. The Human Race forces and Demonic Beasts that had been slaughtered and driven away could not threaten a Golden Core cultivator. But if the ants were numerous enough, they could wipe out all the Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets.

Nor was the Wuchang Ghost Sect's Corpse Sea inexhaustible. In fact, the Corpse Sea had already reached its bottom. If the losses continued, the Wuchang Ghost Sect would soon have to draw upon its final reserves—those Yin Soldiers that had lain submerged in the Corpse Sea for ten thousand years.

If those Yin Soldiers were truly summoned, it would mean that the Wuchang Ghost Sect had reached the end of its life.

"Not only that. This is merely the loss in the southeast. We've also lost another two thousand Yin Soldiers elsewhere," the subordinate replied.

At present, Xuan Zhen and Yue Yao were not the only ones in the Wanhua Mountain Range. There were also many other demons and numerous Human Race Cultivators. Although the Yin Soldier Army had been doing its utmost to encircle and annihilate these remnants, it could not clear them out completely in a short time.

Xing Nan rubbed his aching brow. "Which force does the enemy in the southeast belong to?"

"It's unclear. They act extremely covertly. Any Yin Soldiers or Blood Puppets that encounter them disappear without a sound. I suspect there is a Golden Core cultivator or Demon King among them!"

"A Golden Core cultivator!" Xing Nan drew a deep breath and said, "Make the arrangements. Draw them out. I'll personally go and meet them!"

"Yes!"

Xing Nan moved quickly. Within a few days, he arranged for an Yin Soldier force to head toward the southeast. This Yin Soldier force appeared entirely ordinary, consisting of only over thirty Yin Soldiers, more than three hundred Blood Puppets, and two disciples of the Wuchang Ghost Sect leading them.

Judging only by appearances, this was merely an ordinary patrol squad.

However, Xing Nan was following the squad from within the Great Void. The squad was only bait, and Xing Nan's goal was to fish out Xuan Zhen and Yue Yao.

Xing Nan simply did not know that Xuan Zhen and Yue Yao were both here. No—if only Xuan Zhen had been here, his fishing plan would have had no problems. But Yue Yao was here as well.

Moreover, they were heading directly toward the place where Yue Yao had established her base.

Yue Yao's base was located in a rather famous place: Taoyuan Mountain, which had originally been Zhongli Yue's Daoist temple. At the foot of the mountain was also a settlement that served as the headquarters of the Wanbao Trading Company.

When the Wanbao Sect sealed off the Hundred Realms Cave Heaven, Zhongli Yue had returned to the Wanbao Sect with the various managers of the Wanbao Trading Company. At the same time, seeing Zhongli Yue leave, the Immortal Cultivators in the settlement at the foot of Taoyuan Mountain had also fled to the Central Region.

Although Taoyuan Mountain was within the Wanhua Mountain Range, it was not far from the Central Region. Flying eastward for over two thousand li would bring one into the territory of the Wilderness of Ten Thousand Waters in the Central Region.

Thus, the Immortal Cultivators here had quickly fled from Taoyuan Mountain to the Wilderness of Ten Thousand Waters.

As one of the Eight Elders of the Wanhua Demon Court, Yue Yao naturally knew everything about Taoyuan Mountain. After learning of its circumstances, she immediately decided to make Taoyuan Mountain her base.