Chapter 175: The Enigma in Ebony

Amidst the relentless fury of the tempest, there was no sign of respite.

In the thick of the darkness, flickering lights swept through the forest—these were the magical artifacts wielded by the Azure Ethereal Conclave’s disciples. Guided by the faint glow of these treasures, they searched through the storm. They had reached the outskirts of the rear mountain of Azure Ethereal Vapors, where dense forests and ancient, towering trees made the search even more challenging. The weather was atrocious, with thunder and lightning raging in the sky, and bolts of crackling electricity tearing through the canopy, splitting trees and leaving an eerie, heart-stopping trail of destruction.

In the face of such elemental might, even the less experienced disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave could not help but feel a shiver of dread, trembling with every step. In the darkness, their flickering lights seemed like trembling fireflies, barely illuminating the small spaces around them.

**Boom…**

Another peal of thunder roared from the black clouds above, making the ground beneath tremble. The disciples, who had been searching for two hours now, still had not found any trace of Ghost Li. Many began to wonder if he had managed to escape after all.

Indeed, it was not unreasonable to think so. Ghost Li, as the deputy patriarch of the Ghost King Sect, was a master of dark arts. Although he appeared to have been injured by the Celestial Sword two hours ago, who knew the true extent of his wounds? If not mortally wounded, he would surely be capable of slipping away unnoticed.

This thought echoed in the minds of many disciples, but under the stern commands of their elders, they dared not give up. Little did they know that just ahead, in the deep darkness, Ghost Li lay gravely injured, too weak to flee, clutching at the slim hope of survival as he lay in the muck.

In the dim light, a voice suddenly boomed, “Halt! Everyone, halt!”

The voice carried far into the night, even drowning out the thunder. It was clearly a deeply revered elder. Ghost Li, lying motionless on the ground, recognized the voice as familiar, though he couldn’t place it.

However, the disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave immediately obeyed, stopping in their tracks and falling silent. The search, which had been noisy and chaotic, abruptly quieted, with only the faint sound of breathing breaking the silence.

The wind and rain intensified!

As if someone was listening intently for something.

A chill crept into Ghost Li’s chest, making him feel cold and uneasy. This eerie silence was more terrifying than the loud shouts of the search party.

After a moment, a voice softly asked, “Father, what is it? Do you hear something?”

Ghost Li’s heart skipped a beat. He recognized this voice—it belonged to Zeng Shu-shu, his former friend. Realizing that the elder in charge must be Zeng Shu-chang, Zeng Shu-shu’s father, he also deduced that most of the searching disciples were from the Wind Return Peak.

Zeng Shu-chang, renowned for his keen senses, had indeed detected something unusual. In the midst of the storm, he sensed a faint disturbance. However, in the pitch-black forest, he could see nothing but shadows. Even he began to doubt whether he had actually heard anything, or if it was merely the rustling of some startled animal.

After a moment’s contemplation, Zeng Shu-chang frowned and waved his hand, “Spread out, form a line, and maintain a distance of no more than three feet. Search slowly, leaving no gaps.”

Ghost Li’s heart sank. Such a meticulous search left him with almost no chance of escape. Just then, Zeng Shu-shu’s anxious voice piped up, “Father, this forest is vast. If we search so densely here, won’t we miss other areas?”

Zeng Shu-chang replied tersely, “I have my reasons. Do not question me. Go.”

Zeng Shu-shu, silenced, turned and walked forward. In the darkness, no one spoke, and the flickering lights moved slowly, forming a long, winding line.

For some reason, the atmosphere in the forest grew eerie. The earlier clamor had masked their fear, but now, the silence was unnerving.

Due to the limited range of their magical artifacts, the disciples’ lights illuminated only a small area. Slowly, they closed in on Ghost Li, now only twenty feet away.

“Wait!”

Zeng Shu-chang’s command halted the disciples. Zeng Shu-shu, startled, approached his father, whose face was grim with concern.

“Father, what is it?”

Zeng Shu-chang’s gaze was fixed on the deep darkness ahead, not on Ghost Li, but on a distant, foreboding presence.

“Something is amiss…” His wrinkles deepened in the dim light, and his eyes betrayed a hint of fear. But he was no ordinary man. After a moment, he made a decision.

With a flash, he unsheathed his divine sword, its silver light piercing the darkness, dazzling and distinct from the faint lights of the disciples.

“I will lead. You follow, but stay one yard behind me. Do not approach.”

The disciples, sensing the gravity of the situation, followed obediently. Zeng Shu-chang, with a somber expression, led the way, while the others kept their distance.

As they advanced, an eerie, pulsing presence seemed to breathe in the stormy night.

“Wo… wo…”

Was it the howling wind, or the roar of a beast? Suddenly, it felt like his own heart was pounding.

Zeng Shu-chang’s face, illuminated by the divine sword, grew even graver. A mysterious, hostile presence lurked in the depths of the forest, though it was unclear whether it was an enemy. The strange, unsettling sensation continued to build, reminding him of a time long past, when he and his companions had ventured into the wilderness to strike at the heart of the demonic sects.

Lost in thought, he wondered if the late Elder Wan Jian-yi had been reborn yet. Such a peculiar thought made him chuckle inwardly. Shaking off his reverie, he took a deep breath and focused.

**Boom!**

Another bolt of lightning tore through the sky, shaking the earth. The disciples, startled, froze. One, distracted, stumbled and nearly cursed. When he turned, he saw a figure, covered in mud, lying motionless on the ground.

“Aaah… Here…!”

Before he could shout, a muffled thud cut him off. In that instant, all the disciples turned, seeing the mud-covered figure. A dark shadow rose from the ground, stumbling, but before it could regain its balance, several magic artifacts, propelled by the storm, struck at it.

Ghost Li, chilled to the bone, refused to give up. He tried to run, but the pain in his chest overwhelmed him, and he fell to the ground.

The disciples cheered, rushing to grab him. Just then, a dark, oppressive force seemed to swell in the forest, and a flash of light appeared in the darkness.

Zeng Shu-chang’s eyes widened, and he shouted, “Retreat, quickly!”

The disciples, stunned, saw Zeng Shu-chang rush into the darkness, his sword’s light vanishing as he entered. Only his angry shouts and the clashing of weapons could be heard.

From the darkness, a dark figure emerged, flying towards Ghost Li. With the faint light, they could see the figure, cloaked in darkness, eyes gleaming.

The disciples charged, but the figure, with immense power, disarmed one of them and threw him aside, seizing the divine sword.

Seeing the figure’s formidable strength, Zeng Shu-chang, still battling in the darkness, could not come to their aid. This strange night seemed to be filled with hidden, powerful adversaries.

The disciples, despite their shock, did not flee. Instead, they readied their weapons and attacked. The dark figure, seemingly impatient, wielded the divine sword, its light intensifying. With a single slash, it forced the disciples back, and swiftly scooped up the unconscious Ghost Li, retreating into the darkness.

Enraged, the disciples pursued, but another brilliant flash of light and a loud whistling sound stopped them. Zeng Shu-shu, flying, deflected the attack, but the force of the blow sent him reeling. The divine sword, vibrating, landed in the mud.

The dark figure, with Ghost Li in tow, disappeared into the darkness. The disciples, furious, chased after, but Zeng Shu-chang, realizing the danger, shouted, “Stop! The enemies are powerful and numerous. Do not act rashly!”

The younger disciples, shocked, looked at each other. Zeng Shu-chang, panting, said, “These enemies are not from the demon sect. They seem to be highly skilled, and they move with great strategy. But why would they save this demon?”

He pondered, his brow furrowed. Zeng Shu-shu, silent, looked ahead, the forest looming dark and ominous.

As the disciples searched, their efforts becoming futile, Zeng Shu-chang called, “Enough. Return.”

The disciples, relieved, regrouped. Zeng Shu-chang, counting them, led them back to the Azure Ethereal Vapors, disappearing into the forest.

Meanwhile, a dark figure, Ghost Messenger, watched from afar, his eyes filled with uncertainty. He watched as the disciples gave up, and pondered, “Who else would be interested in him?”

In the stormy night, he gazed into the darkness, wondering about the fate of Ghost Li and the unseen forces that had saved him.