Chapter 286: First Display of Divine Power (3)

The great battle had not yet begun, but infighting had already erupted.

Zhuge Suopan and Sima Zongheng had long harbored deep resentment toward each other, and today’s clash was destined to be fierce and irreconcilable.

The Red Viper was clearly not as fast as the White Eagle. In midair, it transformed into a hundred-foot-long giant serpent, flipped over, and opened its massive jaws, attempting to swallow the incoming eagle whole. But the White Eagle also suddenly grew larger. One giant claw latched onto the serpent’s lower jaw while the other failed to reach the upper jaw before the serpent snapped its mouth shut. The serpent’s body twisted rapidly, coiling tightly around the eagle’s body. The eagle, refusing to back down, pecked furiously at the serpent’s head with its beak—only for the serpent to suddenly shake its body, flipping its tail into a head and its head into a tail, and then sinking its fangs into the eagle’s neck!

The ghost generals quickly cleared the battlefield, watching the fierce battle between the giant serpent and the eagle unfold.

Seeing the eagle at a disadvantage, Zhuge Suopan hurriedly turned to Ye Xian, clasped his fists, and said, “Ancestor, Sima Zongheng is cheating—he intends to release the blood serpent to disrupt the bet. Please, Ancestor, see through this deception!”

“Absurd!” Sima Zongheng coldly flicked his sleeve and said, “I merely released a blood serpent. On what grounds do you accuse me of trying to interfere with the match? Hmph! Even if that were my intention, why shouldn’t I be allowed to? We only bet on who would win or lose—who said we couldn’t strike down enemies directly?”

“Indeed, Master Zhuge. Before ascertaining the facts, you rushed to judgment and acted rashly. That is quite hasty, don’t you think?” Ye Xian frowned coldly, then added ominously, “The reason our Yellow Spring Sect has been able to establish itself in this realm between life and death and remain undefeated for centuries is precisely because of our strategic planning and unity. Yet today, Master Zhuge, you’ve allowed personal grudges to provoke violence in the Grand Hall. How can someone with such a narrow heart possibly plan for the long-term future of our sect?”

These words from Ye Xian were clearly siding with Sima Zongheng.

But what Ye Xian said also made sense—Zhuge Suopan had indeed acted impulsively.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Suopan was momentarily stunned. Seeing Sima Zongheng’s smug grin, his eyes flickered with realization. In the next moment, he pointed at Ye Xian and shouted, “Ye Xian! You are defying the Ancestor’s decree, secretly colluding with Sima Zongheng, and deliberately framing me. I will go see the Ancestor and expose your treachery!”

“Outrageous! Bold Zhuge, how dare you act so disrespectfully before the Ancestor! I suspect you’ve lost your mind. Come forth! Seize Zhuge Suopan!” As Sima Zongheng spoke, he leapt to Ye Xian’s side and shouted for the protection of the Ancestor. Immediately, ten black-armored ghost generals materialized before Ye Xian.

Meanwhile, the ten thousand ghost generals inside the hall surrounded Zhuge Suopan.

Zhuge Suopan’s mind raced. After a few quick breaths, he suddenly burst into laughter, then turned coldly toward Ye Xian and said, “Ye Xian, your scheming is truly meticulous and painstakingly calculated—I didn’t even see it coming. But alas, you overlooked one crucial thing—you forgot your true identity and who your real master is.”

“Still spouting nonsense! Kill him!”

Sima Zongheng’s face darkened, and he immediately ordered Zhuge Suopan’s execution.

As the ghost generals were about to strike, Zhuge Suopan suddenly pulled out a golden jade tablet and raised it high above his head, shouting, “I have the Ancestor’s golden token—who dares lay a hand on me!”

“Despicable!” Ye Xian roared furiously, slamming his palm onto the armrest of his throne. With a loud “whoosh,” he stood up, his face dark as he strode toward Zhuge Suopan. “Master Zhuge, I respected you for your past contributions to the Yellow Spring Sect, so I only lightly punished you for discipline. But you not only failed to repent, you escalated the situation and disrupted the morale…”

“Hmph!”

Zhuge Suopan interrupted with a wave of his hand, coldly laughing, “Ye Xian, you think too highly of yourself! Having played the Ancestor’s role for a few days, have you already forgotten who you are? If you claim to be the Ancestor, then prove it by displaying the Ancestor’s ultimate technique!”

The ultimate technique of the Yellow Spring Ancestor was called “Yellow Spring Without Tears.”

“Yellow Spring Without Tears” was an extremely terrifying move. Once unleashed, it could draw in Yin energy from dozens of miles around, greatly boosting the user’s combat power. It could also instill fear and unease in soul-based beings, making the user stronger and the enemy weaker. However, after using this technique, the user had to consume massive amounts of medicinal pills to nourish their soul essence; otherwise, it could result in soul exhaustion and mutual destruction.

Zhuge Suopan’s words cast doubts on Ye Xian among the ghost generals.

Everyone knew that if Ye Xian could perform “Yellow Spring Without Tears,” he would indeed be the true Yellow Spring Ancestor.

“I want to see ‘Yellow Spring Without Tears’? Fine!”

Ye Xian halted, a sinister smile curling his lips. Suddenly, his body trembled, his eyes closed, and he began chanting. Instantly, the ground quaked, and countless Yin energies surged in from all directions. Wails of ghosts and howls of wolves echoed all around. Ye Xian’s body gradually turned blood-red!

“This… this can’t be!”

Zhuge Suopan was stunned. This was indeed “Yellow Spring Without Tears.” When first unleashed, the earth trembled, and all Yin energies paid homage. The user’s body turned crimson like blood, impervious like diamond, growing stronger and stronger. At its peak, the heavens and earth shook, and Yin-based immortal powers were drawn down. The user could even slay gods and Buddhas, sweep across the Three Realms, and even the Kings and Gods of the Underworld would fear it.

This was precisely why the Yellow Spring Sect remained undefeated.

The ghost generals, seized by fear and awe, knelt down in worship.

At this moment, Sima Zongheng suddenly vanished, and his serpent stealthily slithered behind Zhuge Suopan, launching a surprise attack.

Zhuge Suopan, entangled by the red serpent and unable to break free, had no choice but to self-destruct his Yin body, taking the serpent with him in mutual destruction.

Seeing Zhuge Suopan destroy his Yin body, Ye Xian quickly ceased his technique and flew back to his throne.

Internally, Ye Xian felt relieved. Fortunately, Sima Zongheng’s plans had been flawless, or else the half-learned technique he had stolen would have been exposed. Now that the biggest obstacle, Zhuge Suopan, was gone, the next step was to use Shui Miao and the others to deal with the real Yellow Spring Ancestor. Feeling a sense of relief, Ye Xian slowly rose and addressed the ten thousand ghost generals: “Issue the order—except for the Chaos Ghost Camp, all ghost soldiers and generals must retreat to the Yellow Spring Marshes. The Ancestor is about to set up a grand chessboard.”

Having just demonstrated his power, no one dared question his command.

The ghost generals roared in unison, dispersing to mobilize the Yellow Spring Sect’s forces toward the Yellow Spring Marshes.

Ye Xian, accompanied by the ten black-armored ghost generals, headed straight for the Jade Staircase Hall.

The Jade Staircase Hall was where jade pendants and life talismans were stored.

The life talismans were treasures that housed one’s soul essence. Even if one’s Yin body was destroyed, as long as the talisman remained, the soul could be reborn.

Sima Zongheng arrived at the Jade Staircase Hall first, shattered Zhuge Suopan’s life talisman, and handed his own talisman to a subordinate, instructing him to hide it in the Yellow Spring Marshes.

Then, following the plan he had agreed upon with Ye Xian, Sima Zongheng hurried toward the back hall.

No sooner had Sima Zongheng left than Ye Xian arrived at the Jade Staircase Hall.

The subordinate, having been bribed by Ye Xian, handed Sima Zongheng’s life talisman over to Ye Xian.

Looking at Sima Zongheng’s talisman, Ye Xian sneered coldly and crushed it.

Then, with a mental command, he ordered the black-armored ghost generals to kill Sima Zongheng’s subordinate.

Turning to the ten black-armored ghost generals, Ye Xian spoke gravely: “Take your life talismans and the ten hidden talismans I have stored in various locations, and immediately head through the secret passage to the Warring King of the Netherworld. Though outwardly my enemy, he is in truth my brother. You must deliver my life talisman into his hands, along with this letter. Be vigilant on your journey!”

Ye Xian handed each black-armored ghost general a letter.

The black-armored ghost generals were the guardian generals of the Yellow Spring Ancestor, each guarding a life talisman of the Ancestor, hidden in secret locations known only to themselves. Now Ye Xian intended to use them to cut off the Yellow Spring Ancestor’s escape route, sending them to the Netherworld’s Warring King with his talismans as bait. The letters were personal messages from Ye Xian, meant to curry favor with the Warring King.

Unaware of the deception, the black-armored ghost generals accepted their orders and departed.

As soon as the black-armored ghost generals left, Ye Xian transformed into a ghost officer and vanished into the Chaos Ghost Camp’s battlefield, where he began a ruthless massacre disguised as a ghost officer.

As he slaughtered, he was also searching for Shui Miao.

※※※

Shui Miao and Old Cai had just slipped into the Yellow Spring Sect’s back hall through a secret passage when a large force of ghost generals flooded into the Yellow Spring Marshes.

In a corner, seeing the countless ghost generals rushing into the marshes, Old Cai exchanged glances with Shui Miao and quietly slipped deeper into the back hall.

Inside the back hall, many ghost generals and officers were also retreating.

Disguised as ghost generals, Shui Miao and Old Cai stopped a passing ghost general and asked what was happening. The ghost general told them that the Ancestor had ordered everyone to retreat to the Yellow Spring Marshes to prepare for a major operation. Shui Miao and Old Cai blinked at each other, then found a hiding spot, waiting until all the ghost generals and soldiers had withdrawn before emerging.

“Brother, it seems just as you said—Ye Xian is working with us from within. Should we go to the front hall to help, or go straight to the back hall and deal with the severely injured Yellow Spring Ancestor?” Old Cai, sensing with his divine awareness, found the central hall empty, and except for one area in the back hall where his senses couldn’t penetrate, the rest were also deserted.

Shui Miao licked his lips and smiled slightly, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Good! That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Understanding immediately, Old Cai quickly followed Shui Miao deeper into the back hall.

Before a massive stone gate deep in the back hall, Sima Zongheng was musing over future plans, stroking his chin. Suddenly sensing two ghost generals approaching, he was puzzled, thinking they might be messengers sent by Ye Xian. He stepped forward and casually asked, “What’s the matter with you two?”

Shui Miao and Old Cai were startled—they hadn’t expected a master to suddenly appear.

Since neither Shui Miao nor Old Cai could sense Sima Zongheng’s presence, they concluded that this black-robed man must be an extremely powerful expert.

Old Cai reacted quickly, bowing respectfully and saying, “The orders are to retreat…”

“I already know that. You two may go.”

Uninterested in talking to two mere ghost generals, Sima Zongheng waved them off.

But just as they turned to leave, Sima Zongheng suddenly blocked their path with a flash. Narrowing his eyes at Shui Miao and Old Cai, he coldly asked, “You two look unfamiliar. Do you even know who I am?”