Killing Another Guardian Ghost God

From Ren Tianhe's words, Gu Zhao learned of another concept.

Cultivation Level!

The cultivation systems in this world were numerous and varied. There were Yaos, Mos, ghostly creatures, those who cultivated gods, those who trained their bodies, and Soul-Bonding practitioners, each following their own path. It was difficult to unify their realms, so they only distinguished by Cultivation Level.

After all, if one's realm wasn't high, their Cultivation Level would also be difficult to advance. But if one's Cultivation Level was high, their realm would absolutely not be too low.

For example, the Golden Wind Divine King had been established in Changping Prefecture for decades, absorbing countless incense and belief powers. He was a ferocious ghostly creature with several hundred years of Cultivation Level and unfathomably deep Mana.

This "several hundred years of Cultivation Level" didn't mean the Golden Wind Divine King had cultivated for several hundred years. It meant his Mana was equivalent to what an ordinary person would achieve after hundreds of years of cultivation.

He, Ren Tianhe, was known as the Golden Wind Sect's foremost Guardian Ghost God. His Cultivation Level was stuck around one hundred and twenty to thirty years, unable to advance further. As for the other Guardian Ghost Gods, they only had barely a hundred years of Cultivation Level. Calling them "hundred-year-old ghosts" would even be considered respectful.

As for the Golden Wind Divine Maiden and the Sub-altar Divine Generals, despite their grand titles, their Cultivation Level ranged from only ten to several decades. Without the Golden Wind Sect's protection, to absorb incense and consolidate their souls, they might not even be a match for other Yaos, Mos, or ghostly creatures.

"So that's how it is," Gu Zhao nodded in understanding.

He himself had cultivated for ten years. Not to say he was inconsistent, but he certainly hadn't neglected eating, drinking, playing, or studying for university. Even with his exceptional talent, compared to others, he was only around thirty years of Cultivation Level. It was only later, when his cultivation efficiency here became extremely high, and he annihilated four Golden Wind Sect Guardian Ghost Gods, and accelerated his cultivation after absorbing the malevolent energy with the Five Thunder Token, that his Cultivation Level increased significantly in a short period.

However, he cultivated the orthodox Daoist methods. His Innate Qi was pure Yang, and his Mana was refined and pure. He inherently suppressed demonic and heretical paths. Coupled with the immense power of his talismans and spells, he could fight beyond his level. Even these hundred-year-old ghosts couldn't withstand two authentic Upper Clarity Heavenly Heart True Method's Dragon Binding Talismans.

And in this world, the most numerous beings were actually these Yaos, Mos, and ghostly creatures with less than a hundred years of cultivation. As long as their Cultivation Level exceeded a hundred years, they could basically dominate a county.

"So I'm this powerful!" Gu Zhao rubbed his chin. Did this make him a local big shot in the county?

Although according to Ren Tianhe, he definitely couldn't defeat the Golden Wind Divine King. After all, even his ability to fight beyond his level had limits.

For instance, no matter how powerful Yan Chixia and Chan Master Baiyun were in A Chinese Ghost Story, they could fight the thousand-year-old Tree Demon Granny to a draw, but they were absolutely no match for the Black Mountain Old Demon.

However...

Although he had stolen his incense statue, killed his Golden Wind Divine Maiden and four Guardian Ghost Gods, and was about to eliminate another Guardian Ghost God and a Sub-altar Divine General, and steal another incense statue...

He still didn't know about him!

So, time was on his side. As long as he eliminated more Yaos, Mos, and ghostly creatures and absorbed their malevolent energy to aid his cultivation, then by the time he first arrived in Changping Prefecture, it would be the day the opponent met his end!

Gu Zhao: ( )

"But I still need to seize the time and accelerate my cultivation. It would be best to have help from companions too. Speaking of which... some matters need to be put on the agenda."

With that thought, Gu Zhao looked at Ren Tianhe and Hong Xin, who were lying incapacitated on the ground.

Both experienced old ghosts, they knew from Gu Zhao's gaze that he intended to silence them.

"If you dare kill me, the Divine King will not let you go!" Ren Tianhe roared sternly.

"Mage, spare me! This humble one is willing to surrender and serve as your slave!" Hong Xin shouted loudly.

Unfortunately, they were bound by the iron chains of the Dragon Binding Talismans, their voices like mosquitoes and flies, too faint to be heard.

Gu Zhao formed the Heavenly Thunder Seal in his left hand and a hand seal with his right, chanting an incantation. After four true words, he raised his palm and struck Hong Xin. A purple light flashed, and the Palm Thunder instantly struck into his body.

"Ah!" Hong Xin screamed. The ghostly creature within him tried to escape, but it was bound by the Dragon Binding Talisman's iron chains and couldn't break free, so it could only endure the Palm Thunder.

With one thunder strike, the ghost body was annihilated, and its soul dissipated. Hong Xin, along with the ghostly creature within him, was directly killed by a Palm Thunder. Then, a wisp of malevolent energy was absorbed by the Five Thunder Token, feeding back to Gu Zhao.

"Hmph!" Ren Tianhe's eyes were split with rage. He let out a fierce roar, mobilizing the Mana within him to charge desperately. His Dantian shattered, his meridians tore, his ghost body became unstable, and his soul wavered.

He spat out a mouthful of black blood, smoke billowed from his seven orifices, and the ghostly energy within him became chaotic. But at the cost of his own severe injuries, he broke through the iron chain restrictions of the two Dragon Binding Talismans.

The next moment, Ren Tianhe lunged forward, enveloped in black energy, about to break through the door.

"Heavenly net spreads, densely covering the four directions. Capturing demons, no ghost can escape."

It was the same incantation as before. A spark of fire shot from Gu Zhao's fingertip, drawing a red line that instantly landed on Ren Tianhe, then transformed into a net of fire that enveloped him, knocking him to the ground.

The Fire Shield Technique was the only combat-type spell in the Upper Clarity Heavenly Heart True Method. It wasn't purely offensive, but rather a debuff and continuous damage spell. That's why Gu Zhao used it as an execution tool.

With the Fire Shield Technique restraining Ren Tianhe, Gu Zhao didn't hesitate and cast Palm Thunder again. "Lightning pursues lightning, heaven and earth are my eyes. True Qi of the eight directions, electric light flickers."

"Rumble!"

"Ah!" Ren Tianhe wailed in agony. But now that he had broken free from the Upper Clarity Great Restriction Dragon Binding Talisman, despite his severe injuries, he could finally mobilize his Mana.

Ren Tianhe grabbed forward with his right hand, and a great saber appeared in his hand. He turned and slashed fiercely at Gu Zhao. A black energy skull head split from the saber, carrying the blade's energy, and coiled around Gu Zhao.

At the same time, Ren Tianhe struck his chest with his left hand. A wave of mental power suddenly emanated from him, and he roared, "Golden Wind eternal, Divine King aid me!"

The next moment, the wooden carving in the main hall of the Golden Wind Hall "whooshed" and turned into an afterimage, flying into the small courtyard and smashing through the window.

However, the instant the wooden carving broke through the window, Gu Zhao had already waved his hand, dispelling the black energy that was about to hit him. He lunged forward, reached out, and intercepted the wooden carving between Ren Tianhe and the window, snatching it.

But Ren Tianhe's face showed no surprise. Instead, he grinned sinisterly, "Golden..."

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Ren Tianhe felt his vision blur. It seemed the young man before him flickered, but he subconsciously continued to cast his spell, "Golden Wind Divine King, divine powers eternal, I offer my loyalty, aid me in defeating the enemy!"

As Ren Tianhe finished chanting and casting his spell, nothing happened in the quiet room. He then realized that the wooden carving he had just grabbed in the youth's hand had disappeared, and the youth had already aimed his right palm at him.

"What's going on?"

"Rumble!"

A purple light flashed, and lightning pierced through his body. Ren Tianhe offered no resistance. His ghost body, which had almost formed a human shape, was directly split apart, turning into a mass of black ash that scattered, like scorched bones.

Gu Zhao felt the malevolent energy absorbed by the Five Thunder Token in his mind. "As expected of the foremost guardian, the one who killed the most and accumulated the heaviest malevolent energy."

Just then, he heard the commotion outside. Clearly, Ren Tianhe remotely seizing the wooden carving had already caused panic among the believers and attracted the attention of the sect members.

Moreover, he had just used Palm Thunder, a spell that created quite a stir.

A flurry of hurried footsteps approached. Gu Zhao leaped up and jumped out the window, his palm flipping over to reveal a Wind Thunder Talisman.

"Wood Virtue, Star of the East. Follow my Nine Energies, expel the evil spirits!"

In a certain palace, an enraged roar echoed once more, "What is Ren Tianhe good for?"