Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts

This dual-cultivation technique focused on harvesting and replenishment. Through an exceedingly vicious method, it forcibly extracted the vital essence and life force from the dual-cultivation partner, poured them into the cultivator's body, and used them to increase cultivation.

The women who were harvested would have their vital essence depleted within ten days, rapidly age, and ultimately turn into dried skeletons, dying in the most miserable manner.

Lin Yu slowly raised his head. His gaze swept over the more than one hundred female skeletons scattered across the secret chamber, then fell upon the corpse of the Five-Revolution Battle Venerable in his hand. He understood everything.

Every white bone in this secret chamber had belonged to an innocent life harvested alive until death.

This Battle Venerable expert had reached the Five-Revolution realm not through talent and arduous cultivation, but by stepping over the bones of countless women.

At that moment, a burst of hurried, chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded outside the secret chamber.

The powerful auras he had sensed earlier had finally arrived, and there were even more of them than before.

Several figures surged into the secret chamber one after another. Some radiated surging battle qi, while others gripped weapons and watched warily. They were clearly treasure seekers drawn here by the earlier blast of energy.

The three people at the very front were the first to enter Lin Yu's sight.

Upon seeing their appearances, then lowering his head to look at the jade slip in his hand that recorded the evil harvesting technique, Lin Yu's brow immediately furrowed tightly.

"Haha, I never expected to encounter such a peerless beauty. This is the greatest harvest of this trip!"

A sharp, lecherous laugh broke the brief silence in the secret chamber.

Human Scorpion stared fixedly at Han Shanshan, his gaze roaming wantonly over her body. A revolting trace of drool even hung from the corner of his mouth.

In all his years of life, this was the first time he had seen a beauty with such unparalleled looks and bearing.

"Boy, hand over the opportunity you obtained, and I may leave you an intact corpse." Sky Scorpion, standing beside Human Scorpion, spoke in a chilling tone.

He was the eldest of the Three Ghosts and had the highest cultivation, though he was only an early-stage Dou Zong. As he spoke, battle qi surged around him like a tide, and a frigid pressure, almost tangible, bore down upon Lin Yu.

His gaze fell upon the tiny jade slip in Lin Yu's hand, and a concealed greed flashed through his eyes.

"Hehehe, there is actually a Battle Venerable's dwelling here. It seems Soul Hall should gain another Venerable Elder."

Just then, an eerie, hair-raising cackle suddenly came from outside the entrance.

The laughter was dry and shrill, like two rusted sheets of iron scraping against each other. The instant it entered their ears, it made every hair on their bodies stand on end.

Amid the laughter, a figure entirely shrouded in a broad black robe drifted inside like a ghost.

The black robe concealed the newcomer's face and figure, revealing only a pair of withered, skeletal hands at the sleeves. Those hands held a pitch-black chain that slowly writhed in the darkness. Every sway gave off a chilling aura that made souls tremble.

Hearing that distinctive laugh and seeing that distinctive black robe, everyone present frowned in unison.

"Someone from Soul Hall." Han Shanshan shifted slightly and whispered into Lin Yu's ear.

Her voice was very low, carrying a trace of gravity but not the slightest fear.

Lin Yu said nothing and merely nodded faintly.

His gaze swept unhurriedly across the people present. His Spirit-Realm Soul power silently spread out, like an invisible spiderweb, accurately capturing each person's cultivation aura in his mind.

One Soul Hall Protector, with cultivation around the Three-Star Dou Zong level.

The Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts—all three were Dou Zongs. Sky Scorpion had the highest cultivation, around the Three-Star Dou Zong level, while the other two were both Two-Star Dou Zongs.

The Dou Zong from Falling Cloud City stood alone to one side, with cultivation at roughly the Five-Star Dou Zong level.

The remaining seven were all Dou Emperors, ranging from Three Stars to Nine Stars. They stood in their own groups, and though shock filled their eyes when they looked upon the bones scattered throughout the chamber, there was even more undisguised greed for the Battle Venerable's inheritance.

The corners of Lin Yu's lips lifted slightly. Five Dou Zongs and seven Dou Emperors—if they clashed head-on, he and Han Shanshan would indeed find it somewhat troublesome.

Lin Yu took out the corpse of the Five-Revolution Battle Venerable from his Storage Ring, held it high in his palm, and casually tossed it toward the center of the secret chamber.

In that instant, time seemed to slow countless times over, and everyone's gaze was firmly drawn to the intact Battle Venerable skeleton.

A Battle Venerable skeleton might not be as precious as the legendary skeleton of a Dou Saint, but the remains of a Five-Revolution Battle Venerable were still far beyond anything ordinary.

"Take it!"

No one knew who shouted, but the atmosphere within the secret chamber instantly exploded.

The five Dou Zongs shot forward almost simultaneously, with the seven Dou Emperors close behind. More than ten figures swarmed toward the skeleton like starving wolves pouncing on prey.

The fastest among them was Human Scorpion. Though small in stature, he was exceptionally nimble. With a strange twist in midair, he lunged ahead of everyone else and reached for the skeleton's skull.

However, before his hand could touch the target, a fierce palm wind struck from the side, forcing him to withdraw his hand and block.

"Get lost!" Sky Scorpion drove back another Dou Emperor attempting to seize the skeleton with a palm strike. His other hand had already grasped half of the skeleton's arm, and with a sudden pull, he tore the entire arm bone free.

At the same time, the Soul Hall Protector appeared silently behind the skeleton like a ghost. With a flick of the Soul-Locking Chain in his hand, he swept away most of the skeleton's spine, dragging several ribs along with it.

The Dou Zong from Falling Cloud City seized one leg bone and half a pelvis bone. Though their quality was inferior to the first two gains, he had still obtained something.

The remaining people rushed forward and snatched up every last fragment of bone.

In just a few breaths, the complete skeleton of a Five-Revolution Battle Venerable had been divided into pieces. Every person held a bone fragment, large or small.

Yet when everyone lowered their heads to inspect their share, none of their expressions looked particularly good.

No one had obtained a complete skeleton. What each had seized was only a pile of scattered fragments, their value greatly diminished.

Sky Scorpion's expression was especially grim. He had only managed to seize one arm and several ribs, far less than he had expected.

Human Scorpion ground his teeth in anger. He had been too busy fighting the others, and in the end, he had only gotten several finger bones and a shattered shoulder blade.

He resentfully stuffed the bones into his Storage Ring, then seemed to recall something and abruptly looked toward where Lin Yu had been standing.

However, that spot was already completely empty.

Not only had Lin Yu vanished, but the beauty beside him whom Human Scorpion had lusted after had disappeared without a trace as well.

At the place where the two had stood, only a silvery-white spatial ripple remained. It gently trembled in the air a few times before vanishing completely.