Ghost Creature Nemesis

Though the three old ghosts were fierce and immensely powerful, they were clearly lacking in intelligence. Before long, they were swallowed by the vast ocean of human-wave tactics.

The three Evil Ghosts had thought the ghost creatures within the Soul Devouring Banner would be as easy to deal with as before.

But times had changed. After Zheng Yi refined it into his Lifebound Artifact, the Soul Devouring Banner became linked to its cultivator's thoughts and bound to his vital essence. Even the ghost creatures inside seemed to possess undying bodies, their power greatly increased.

This provoked sharp howls from the three old ghosts, but the black mist of the Soul Devouring Banner blocked them, leaving them unable to break free for the moment.

Zheng Yi saw the situation clearly. The ranks of these three Evil Ghosts were simply too high.

Although they had fallen into the Ghost Array of the Soul Devouring Banner, their attacks were swift and fierce, and they moved with great speed, making it impossible for the many Malevolent Ghosts to encircle them.

"Blue-Faced Ghosts are said to be able to advance into Great Strength Ghost Kings. Their strengths are limitless power and lightning-fast movements, but their limbs are well-developed while their minds are simple."

"Now it seems that is indeed true. Even with a hundred years of cultivation, they are still turtles in a jar."

"Let's wear each other down, then. With the foundation of the Soul Devouring Banner, you three little ghosts may be troublesome, but this King Yama isn't someone to be trifled with either. Let's see who outlasts whom!"

Drawing upon the keen eye he had developed over many years as a Rogue Cultivator, Zheng Yi immediately grasped the heart of the problem.

His side held the advantages of timing, terrain, and unity.

With the Soul Devouring Banner as his foundation, as long as he could drag things out for a while, no matter how powerful these three old ghosts were or how deep their cultivation, they would be nothing more than turtles in a jar.

So he increased the force of his activation, driving the Soul Devouring Banner and continuously supplying it with spiritual power.

In the underground garage, led by the Red-Clothed Female Ghost, the main soul of the Soul Devouring Banner, dozens of Malevolent Ghosts surrounded and slaughtered the three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts.

Thick black mist shrouded the area, forming an enormous sealing barrier. So long as the formation of the forty-nine Malevolent Ghosts of the Soul Devouring Banner remained unbroken, this lockdown could not be undone.

The three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts let out piercing shrieks, yet had no way of getting close to Zheng Yi.

The three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts in this underground garage had likely regarded this place as their nest.

Most ghost creatures were muddle-headed, bloodthirsty, and cruel, so their territorial instincts were extremely strong, no different from those of many wild beasts.

The moment living beings entered this place, the aura of the living on them would immediately drive the Malevolent Ghosts into a frenzy. That was why it was known as the Forbidden Zone for the Living.

These three Azure Ghosts had a hundred years of cultivation. The dilapidated underground parking lot was littered with cold white bones. Who knew how many living people had escaped the pursuit of zombies, only to die here in the end and become food in the Azure Ghosts' mouths.

They drank blood and extracted souls, flayed skin and refined bones.

Malevolent Ghosts also needed yang energy. The Living Souls of living people were great tonics to them. Any prey that fell into their hands could not possibly meet a good end.

Originally, if Zheng Yi had been an ordinary Qi Refining Stage cultivator, then even if he had been somewhat stronger, he would not have met a good end if he fell into the hands of these three Azure Ghosts.

But Zheng Yi had chosen to join the Soul Devouring Sect. From the name of this Devil Dao Sect alone, one could tell that they dealt with souls and Malevolent Ghosts throughout their lives, and the Soul Devouring Banner was the natural nemesis of all ghost creatures.

Furthermore, Zheng Yi had refined the Soul Devouring Banner into his Lifebound Artifact. An army of seven times seven, forty-nine Malevolent Ghosts had been assembled within it, and the banner had already gained a main soul. It could be said that Zheng Yi had now truly come into his own.

Now the situation had reversed completely—the positions of hunter and prey had switched.

After all, when these three Azure Ghosts had ambushed Zheng Yi before, they had still failed to take him down.

Zheng Yi had merely used the Soul Devouring Banner, mobilizing the Malevolent Ghosts within to block the Azure Ghosts' attacks, and had then calmly escaped from this place.

Now that Zheng Yi had refined his Lifebound Artifact and advanced another layer in cultivation, such a situation was even less likely to occur.

After his strength increased greatly, Zheng Yi had immediately come looking for trouble with these three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts. The moment he made his move, he trapped all three of them.

Only by eliminating these three Azure Ghosts could he safely leave this underground garage. Otherwise, the next time he traveled through, he would encounter these three Malevolent Ghosts again. No one wanted to remain constantly on guard against sneak attacks from ghosts and monsters.

One could be a thief for a thousand days, but how could one guard against thieves for a thousand days?

Moreover, Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts would all nurture Blue Essence Souls within their bodies. Even in a sect like the Soul Devouring Sect, which dealt with souls and Malevolent Ghosts year-round, they were relatively rare treasures and worth a great deal.

He had stayed at an inn in Blood Mist Abyss City and spent a large sum of Spirit Stones bribing the City Resident Deacon Elder of the Soul Devouring Sect just to obtain the status of an Outer Sect Disciple of this Devil Cultivation Sect. Then there was his daily cultivation and the purchase of the Soul Guiding Array...

Though his strength was improving rapidly, every day brought enormous expenses.

Given enough time, even the 1,300 Low-Grade Spirit Stones from selling his Immortal City residency rights in Profound Sky City would not cover the costs. Sooner or later, he would spend everything he had.

Thus, Zheng Yi had to find other ways to increase his income. After all, many of his future plans would require Spirit Stones to pave the way.

Devil Cultivation Sects rarely cared much for rules. Especially in a small sect like the Soul Devouring Sect, if one could bribe those in power, arranging what came next would become much easier.

These three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts had essentially walked right into the line of fire.

Bang!

Azure Ghosts were a special type of ghost creature, known for their limitless strength and lightning-fast speed.

These three old ghosts had taken this underground parking lot as their nest, devouring living people and Specters until they cultivated a hundred years of power. They were indeed formidable.

The Malevolent Ghosts within Zheng Yi's Soul Devouring Banner had all been forged through the slaughter of a gu-refining battle, each one an elite among elites. After undergoing blood sacrifices, their strength had increased by several portions compared to before, yet they still could not withstand the Azure Ghosts' relentless attacks.

But the Soul Devouring Banner was no longer ordinary either. With a main soul, it was equivalent to having a central command.

With the Red-Clothed Female Ghost, the main soul, holding the fort, the other Malevolent Ghosts of the Soul Devouring Banner formed up into a battle formation and completely separated the three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts.

The three could neither communicate nor coordinate with each other. Invisibly, this greatly reduced their chances of joining forces to break out.

Yet a single Azure Ghost needed only two short minutes to tear apart one Malevolent Ghost from the Soul Devouring Banner. Its strength truly lived up to its "hundred years of cultivation."

Of course, this century of cultivation was actually a sham.

These three Hundred-Year Azure Ghosts had merely devoured too many Vengeful Spirits and too much living essence. They looked powerful, but they were strong on the outside and hollow within—not ancient ghosts tempered and honed by the passage of a hundred years, nor did they possess the foundation needed to fully wield their cultivation.

At most, they could be considered wild beasts with formidable strength.

That was also why Zheng Yi dared to yank the tiger's whiskers.

Relying on its strength, one Azure Ghost went berserk and forcibly tore apart the Malevolent Ghosts blocking its path, finally spotting a passage through which it could break out of the encirclement.

Just as it was about to move out, a flash of red streaked past. Blood-red ghostly qi condensed as though solid, transforming into a crimson silk ribbon that lashed out and collided with the old ghost's claws.

The Red-Clothed Female Ghost, the main soul of the Soul Devouring Banner, seemed to have suffered a heavy blow, her figure flying backward.

Yet the Hundred-Year Azure Ghost's charge was also halted. When it tried to advance again, another Malevolent Ghost blocked its way.