Philo's Sword!

At the sound of that slightly gruff voice, tenderness filled the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable's breathtakingly beautiful face.

Her voice trembled. "Husband, you can finally speak again. Hearing your voice is what makes Yu'er happiest. Don't worry, husband. I'll definitely become a Ghost Immortal."

Her husband was mortal. His soul should have dispersed long ago.

But the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable had found a wondrous item capable of storing souls, preserving Butcher Zhang's soul to this day.

Every so often, Butcher Zhang's soul would awaken, speak a few words with the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable, then fall back into slumber.

The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable had also tried to turn her husband's soul into a vengeful ghost, but she had failed each time.

Though Butcher Zhang was a rough man, he had a simple heart and an unshakable sense of righteousness. Even when he was hacked to death, he had felt not the slightest trace of malice or resentment.

Without those energies, it was impossible to transform a soul into a ghost.

Just then, a subordinate's voice rang out from beyond the hall.

"Reporting to Your Reverence: Phantom General and Lin Xiao went out and haven't returned in half a night. The dozen or so vengeful ghosts in Zhangzhuang Village have all vanished without a trace."

Her subordinate had forcibly interrupted her, and the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable's tender expression instantly turned deeply sinister, sending chills down the spine.

But when she heard the report, she froze.

Phantom General and Lin Xiao had gone out and hadn't returned in half a night? The dozen or so vengeful ghosts in Zhangzhuang Village had all disappeared?

Could a powerful exorcist have passed by and destroyed them?

No, impossible.

Her fearsome reputation struck terror into both the living and the dead. Even the Underworld Envoys of the Netherworld gave her a wide berth. Who would dare provoke her?

As for the Taoist priests of Dragon Tiger Mountain, or the monks from that ancient temple? The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable dismissed them outright.

In this age of spiritual decline, most Taoist priests and monks were half-baked frauds.

They were all greedy, hunting petty ghosts to line their pockets. Who would truly stand guard over the righteous path?

"Go. Convey my decree and send the First and Second Generals to investigate—"

Just then, a thunderous shout rang out from the sky in the dead of night.

The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable furrowed her brows and looked up. Her gaze pierced the walls and the darkness, fixing on the one who had come.

"Azure Sky Ghost Venerable, come out and meet your death."

His voice boomed like a great bell, echoing across Great Green Mountain and through the Azure Sky Ghost Mansion, lingering without end.

"Who's there? You dare trespass into the Azure Sky Ghost Mansion? You must have a death wish!"

"Impudent! What human dares disturb Your Reverence's cultivation? I'll make you wish you were dead!"

"..."

Fei Luo stood aloft on the back of the Green Bird, gazing down at the Ghost Mansion, where ghostly energy surged toward the sky. A faint golden light gleamed in his eyes as he fixed them on a figure inside.

He paid no attention to the threats coming from within the Ghost Mansion.

They were mere lackeys, not worth mentioning. Among them, two powerful auras stood out. They were probably the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable's First and Second Generals.

But to Fei Luo, the two were no different from men who had stuck up a sign inviting someone to take their heads. He just wondered whether killing them would earn a reward from the system—whether they were worthy of its notice.

As his cultivation rose, the system's standards had grown higher and higher.

When he had killed those dozen or so vengeful ghosts earlier, the system had rewarded him with only a few pills.

It seemed the system issued rewards based on Fei Luo's strength and the enemies he faced.

At the center of the Ghost Mansion stood a woman dressed in red, with a graceful figure and alluring curves. She was nothing short of a rare beauty.

Compared to the influencers on some short-video app in later generations, she could make those filter monsters look like nothing.

But Fei Luo wasn't swayed by her beauty. He made no effort to conceal the killing intent in his heart, letting it spill out freely.

"Heh. Only the ignorant are fearless. You're merely a Solid Core Realm cultivator, and you dare come here to cause trouble?" The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable sneered. She saw through Fei Luo's strength at a glance.

"Beasts will be beasts. You really can't count on them." The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable looked at the Green Bird and snorted.

She appreciated talent and had taken a liking to the Green Bird's potential, hoping to bring her into her ranks.

She had ordered the Green Bird to help those vengeful ghosts slaughter Zhangzhuang Village. She wanted the Green Bird to taste blood, take a life, and prove her loyalty.

But not only had the vengeful ghosts been slain, the Green Bird had also thrown in her lot with this human.

By now, the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable could see that Phantom General and the rest had probably all been killed by this human.

"First and Second Generals, go!"

The Azure Sky Ghost Venerable moved her lips slightly. A faint strand of ghostly sound coalesced into a line and traveled beyond the hall.

In the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable's eyes, humans were still only human, with their shallow foundations of magical power.

Besides, her foremost general was at the peak of the Solid Core Realm. These two generals were seasoned veterans, their methods and supernatural abilities far surpassing Phantom General's.

This arrogant human was going to die today.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Two ghostly figures shot into the sky at the summons.

Fei Luo didn't even glance at them. The Flowing Cloud Sword appeared in his hand. "Green Bird, hold on tight."

Shing!

The Flowing Cloud Sword swept in an arc, unleashing a brilliant ribbon of magical power out of thin air.

Before the two dark figures could even reach him, they felt an overwhelming threat of death.

Riiip—

Fei Luo's sword was too fast. Once his Void-Breaking Sword Technique had reached the Solid Core Realm and allowed him to release magical power beyond his body, it had undergone a qualitative leap.

Before the two ghostly figures could react, a terrifying gash appeared from the tops of their heads, splitting them from head to toe and cleaving their bodies in two.

"Impossible!"

"How can he—"

The two dark figures cried out in shock at the same time. The next instant, their consciousness faded.

Wisps of ghostly energy turned into firefly-like sparks, and their bodies scattered on the wind.

The two formidable ghost generals hadn't even withstood a single move before being killed outright. The sight left everyone stunned.

Shing!

The sword energy hadn't stopped. It slashed toward the Ghost Mansion below.

Rumble!

A cloud of dust filled the air, mingled with countless shrill screams. Several halls inside the Ghost Mansion collapsed as though struck by a giant axe.

Silence.

Both the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable and the evil ghosts still alive in the Ghost Mansion were dumbfounded.

The Green Bird's eyes sparkled. Her heart raced several times faster.

She knew how powerful Fei Luo was, and her instincts told her his aura was no weaker than the Azure Sky Ghost Venerable's. But she hadn't expected him to be this powerful.

In the Green Bird's eyes, the Great Ghost King had mastered the art of defense and was known as a Mighty Ghost, with a body as tough as bronze and iron. Yet he, too, had been killed with one sword strike?

To have such a powerful master—even if he rode her every day, it would be an honor.

"Th-this..."

"Gulp..."

In the distance, two Underworld Envoys drifted over. They had witnessed that terrifying sword strike from far away, and both were dumbstruck.

"Brother Zhang, the young master's strength is truly terrifying! He must be on par with a Golden Core expert, right?"

"Exactly. The sword in the young master's hand is only a treasure. A treasure can withstand magical power below the Golden Core Realm, but I've never seen one unleash sword energy this powerful."

The two Underworld Envoys' voices drifted through the air, trembling with boundless shock.