A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 268 Encountering Old Demon Han

The sound waves were silent, yet they seemed to carry an irresistible call. The lurking or wandering ghosts and spirits in the distance, upon hearing these sound waves, were involuntarily drawn to them, converging from all directions like moths to a flame.

These spirits formed small tides of spirits, actively "sending" themselves to the Thousand Demon Banner, which the Fat Sun Bird and Luo Ming had deliberately released and which was frantically absorbing pure spirits with its "big mouth".

In this way, although the number of ghosts that need to be faced at the same time increases several times, the hunting efficiency increases exponentially and saves a lot of search time.

Inside the Thousand Demon Banner, the newly captured Ghost King was being refined by the banner, while the other ghosts were constantly devouring and growing stronger in this unprecedented "feast." Luo Ming estimated that once they left this land of ghostly resentment, the number and quality of the ghosts within the banner would truly be worthy of the title "Ten Thousand Souls Banner"!

After sweeping through the area for just two days, a jagged and bizarre stone forest composed of countless enormous gray-white stone pillars appeared at the edge of Luo Ming's vision. A cold wind swept through it, emitting strange, wailing sounds.

However, before he could get close to the core of the stone forest, a violent surge of magical energy and the shrieks of ghosts came from afar. Luo Ming had excellent eyesight and could see from a distance that three figures were back to back in a defensive formation on an open space in the stone forest, doing their best to resist the attacks of more than a dozen elusive, shifting gray-white shadows in the air.

Those shadows were clearly powerful "yin spirits," not only moving like the wind and possessing sharp claws and teeth, but also emitting chilling ghostly howls that disturbed the mind, forming invisible sonic attacks.

Of the three, the most conspicuous was a young cultivator in a green robe with an ordinary appearance. His expression was solemn as he manipulated more than a dozen green flying swords, crisscrossing and fighting against the evil spirits in the air. He was none other than his junior brother, Han.

However, Han Li was somewhat wary of the two people beside him and did not use the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder in his flying sword, so he was having a little trouble dealing with the siege of the Yin spirits in the air.

The other two were Yuan Yao, who had a cold expression and wore a black robe, and Zi Ling, who had a beautiful face but concealed her features.

"They've only just arrived here. Looks like I'm not slow either!" Luo Ming thought to himself, looking at the three people in the distance.

He thought he had fallen behind because he had been delayed for too long because of the Ghost King.

Luo Ming intently observed the battle situation ahead. The next moment, the rosy complexion on his face rapidly faded at a visible speed, turning into a pale look of excessive exhaustion.

The originally solid and harmonious aura around him began to fluctuate, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, and a sense of weakness that was hard to hide was revealed, making him look like he had suffered a great loss of magic power and a serious injury to his vital energy.

He felt the deliberately regulated, disordered fluctuations within his body, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"With my current spiritual strength, this disguise is impossible for anyone to see through at a glance unless a Nascent Soul cultivator skilled in detection techniques comes in person."

This was naturally intentional on his part. He first appeared before Han Li and the others as if he were severely injured. Once they left the Ghostly Land, with his junior brother Han's endorsement, Xuan Gu would not doubt his condition, which would also make it easier to launch a surprise attack later.

After all, Luo Ming was dragged into the Yin Qi Abyss by that powerful Ghost King, and then a seemingly even stronger being appeared. If he wanted to hide the Wind Fox Beast, he could only pretend to have escaped with a narrow escape.

After doing all this, Luo Ming put the Wind Fox Beast into the Five Spirit Bracelet, leaving only the Fat Sun Bird outside. Then, he rode his escape light and flew towards Han Li and the others who were fighting a group of ghosts.

Han Li and his two companions, who were fighting the Yin Spirit in the distance, suddenly sensed an aura approaching, accompanied by a voice:

"Brother Han, I'm here to help you."

Han Li, who was fighting the Yin Spirit in the distance and thinking about how not to expose his Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Sword, looked at Luo Ming flying towards him and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

In a secluded valley filled with spiritual energy and picturesque scenery, more than twenty cultivators have gathered.

The valley was filled with gurgling springs and fragrant flowers, a scene that should have been breathtaking. However, none of the cultivators present had time to appreciate it. Most of them were focused on closing their eyes and regulating their breathing, making the most of this hard-won safe environment to restore their magical power and heal their injuries. The air was filled with a faint medicinal smell and a tense atmosphere.

In a secluded corner, Xuan Gu sat cross-legged alone, surrounded by a faint protective aura. He appeared to be meditating, but his gaze occasionally drifted towards the ancient teleportation array that stood silently in the center of the valley. His brows were slightly furrowed, and a hint of anxiety was evident in his eyes.

"That cultivator surnamed Luo is skilled in both physical and magical cultivation, possesses unpredictable supernatural abilities, and wields that demon banner specifically designed to subdue ghosts... Could he really have fallen to those two ghost kings?"

He pondered to himself. In his view, the oppressive roar of the unknown beast that later echoed from the abyss most likely meant the birth of another Ghost King, one whose strength was probably even more bizarre and troublesome than the original. Thinking of this, his heart sank even further.

Just then, a slightly shrill voice, carrying a distinctly mocking tone, rang out directly in his mind:

"Brother Xiao, your judgment of character... seems a bit off. Those two 'strong ally' you personally invited are nowhere to be found. Could it be that they both perished in the Land of Ghosts and became nourishment for those wandering ghosts?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Gu's expression darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He sneered inwardly, knowing that this person had calculated that he would have to rely on the other party to deal with Ji Yin, which was why he dared to be so presumptuous.

He replied in a cold, hard voice, "Hmph, what do you know? Those two both possess extraordinary treasures specifically designed to counter our magical abilities and supernatural powers; they are cunning and unpredictable. I refuse to believe they would perish so easily until I see their corpses with my own eyes."

Especially that kid surnamed Luo, his physical strength is astonishing, and his blood and qi are far more vigorous than others of the same level. It's practically a perfect body tailor-made for your 'Blood Burning Secret Technique'! If we could seize his body and then wield his uniquely powerful Thousand Demon Banner... Hmph, wouldn't our chances of dealing with the Extreme Yin Old Monster increase by several times?"

Upon hearing this, the voice in his mind remained silent for a moment. When it sounded again, the teasing tone had turned into an uncontrollable greed and excitement: "Hehe... Brother Xiao's words have made me a little impatient."

If I could truly obtain that powerful physique of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, and then use my secret technique to unleash its potential, it wouldn't be impossible to reach the strength of a perfect Core Formation cultivator in a short time! Then, wielding that demon banner again… tsk tsk, that old bastard Ji Yin, I'll really teach him a lesson!

The two were secretly communicating with each other using their spiritual senses, each harboring their own ulterior motives—

At the edge of this place, in that misty area, a violent commotion suddenly began, with dazzling light that instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators in the valley.

After the gray mist churned for a few breaths, four figures slowly emerged from it. Judging from their appearance, they were Luo Ming, Han Li, and the other three who had come from the Land of Ghostly Grievances.

As soon as Luo Ming stepped out of the gray fog, he immediately felt gazes coming from all directions, some scrutinizing, some probing, and some indifferent. The most oppressive gazes, of course, came from the undisguised scrutiny of those Nascent Soul stage elders.

When the Extreme Yin Ancestor saw Han Li appear, a hint of barely perceptible joy flashed in his eyes, but when his gaze fell on Luo Ming beside Han Li, his face instantly darkened.

However, when he carefully sensed with his divine sense and discovered that Luo Ming's magical power was fluctuating erratically and his qi and blood were weak, which was clearly a sign of severe damage to his vital energy, his sinister eyes narrowed involuntarily, flashing with cold light, as if he were thinking about something.

Luo Ming's nominal "master," the bearded man, swept his rough gaze over Luo Ming. Seeing his pale face and unsteady breathing, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and he let out a disgruntled snort: "Hmph! A mere place of ghostly resentment, and you've managed to get yourself into this state?" His disappointment and disdain were undisguised.

Luo Ming heard it clearly, but didn't care at all. He simply bowed slightly in the direction of the bearded man, deliberately making his voice sound weak and fearful, and respectfully replied, "Senior is right. This junior... this junior was really unlucky. In that abyss, I was attacked by two ghost kings at the same time. I used all my means and exhausted many of my life-saving items and most of my magic power before I managed to escape and be teleported out."

Upon hearing this, many Core Formation cultivators who had initially looked down on Luo Ming's "severely injured" appearance immediately changed their expressions, their eyes flashing with surprise and solemnity.

Two-headed ghost kings? Those present asked themselves, if they were in that position, how many could say they would escape unscathed? This "luck" was itself proof of their strength. Their previous disdain had quietly transformed into apprehension.

Upon hearing this, the bearded man's copper-bell-like eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, and he said in a gruff voice, "Two Ghost Kings? When did so many troublesome things appear in this godforsaken place? I, your ancestor, was hoping to capture a Ghost King along the way to refine for fun, but I haven't even seen a decent one. You, brat, have run into two in one go!"

He muttered a couple of things, seemingly also feeling that Luo Ming's situation was too unlucky. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Alright, hurry up and go over there to meditate! Recover as soon as possible, the next level won't be easy."

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, senior." Luo Ming felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly responded, walking to a relatively quiet corner away from the center of the crowd to sit down cross-legged. The feeling of being surrounded by the gazes of several Nascent Soul cultivators was not pleasant.

He had barely sat down, and before he could catch his breath, Xuan Gu's perfectly timed voice transmission, carrying a hint of "concern" and "apology," rang in his mind:

"Fellow Daoist Luo! You are indeed blessed with good fortune and have returned safely! When I saw you being dragged into the abyss by that Ghost King, I was extremely anxious and wanted to go down to help you immediately. However, a terrifying roar suddenly came from the abyss, attracting a large number of ferocious ghosts that blocked the entrance! I tried to break through several times but was forced back each time, and I myself was in grave danger. If it weren't for some meager tricks to save my life and escape, I'm afraid... Alas, I feel truly guilty for not being able to help you in time!"

He pondered to himself. In his view, the oppressive roar of the unknown beast that later echoed from the abyss...

This most likely means that another ghost king has been born, and its strength is probably even more bizarre and troublesome than the original one. Thinking of this, his heart sank even further.

Just then, a slightly shrill voice, carrying a distinctly mocking tone, rang out directly in his mind:

"Brother Xiao, your judgment of character... seems a bit off. Those two 'strong ally' you personally invited are nowhere to be found. Could it be that they both perished in the Land of Ghosts and became nourishment for those wandering ghosts?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Gu's expression darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He sneered inwardly, knowing that this person had calculated that he would have to rely on the other party to deal with Ji Yin, which was why he dared to be so presumptuous.

He replied in a cold, hard voice, "Hmph, what do you know? Those two both possess extraordinary treasures specifically designed to counter our magical abilities and supernatural powers; they are cunning and unpredictable. I refuse to believe they would perish so easily until I see their corpses with my own eyes."

Especially that kid surnamed Luo, his physical strength is astonishing, and his blood and qi are far more vigorous than others of the same level. It's practically a perfect body tailor-made for your 'Blood Burning Secret Technique'! If we could seize his body and then wield his uniquely powerful Thousand Demon Banner... Hmph, wouldn't our chances of dealing with the Extreme Yin Old Monster increase by several times?"

Upon hearing this, the voice in his mind remained silent for a moment. When it sounded again, the teasing tone had turned into an uncontrollable greed and excitement: "Hehe... Brother Xiao's words have made me a little impatient."

If I could truly obtain that powerful physique of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, and then use my secret technique to unleash its potential, it wouldn't be impossible to reach the strength of a perfect Core Formation cultivator in a short time! Then, wielding that demon banner again… tsk tsk, that old bastard Ji Yin, I'll really teach him a lesson!

The two were secretly communicating with each other using their spiritual senses, each harboring their own ulterior motives—

At the edge of this place, in that misty area, a violent commotion suddenly began, with dazzling light that instantly attracted the attention of all the cultivators in the valley.

After the gray mist churned for a few breaths, four figures slowly emerged from it. Judging from their appearance, they were Luo Ming, Han Li, and the other three who had come from the Land of Ghostly Grievances.

As soon as Luo Ming stepped out of the gray fog, he immediately felt gazes coming from all directions, some scrutinizing, some probing, and some indifferent. The most oppressive gazes, of course, came from the undisguised scrutiny of those Nascent Soul stage elders.

When the Extreme Yin Ancestor saw Han Li appear, a hint of barely perceptible joy flashed in his eyes, but when his gaze fell on Luo Ming beside Han Li, his face instantly darkened.

However, when he carefully sensed with his divine sense and discovered that Luo Ming's magical power was fluctuating erratically and his qi and blood were weak, which was clearly a sign of severe damage to his vital energy, his sinister eyes narrowed involuntarily, flashing with cold light, as if he were thinking about something.

Luo Ming's nominal "master," the bearded man, swept his rough gaze over Luo Ming. Seeing his pale face and unsteady breathing, his thick eyebrows furrowed, and he let out a disgruntled snort: "Hmph! A mere place of ghostly resentment, and you've managed to get yourself into this state?" His disappointment and disdain were undisguised.

Luo Ming heard it clearly, but didn't care at all. He simply bowed slightly in the direction of the bearded man, deliberately making his voice sound weak and fearful, and respectfully replied, "Senior is right. This junior... this junior was really unlucky. In that abyss, I was attacked by two ghost kings at the same time. I used all my means and exhausted many of my life-saving items and most of my magic power before I managed to escape and be teleported out."

Upon hearing this, many Core Formation cultivators who had initially looked down on Luo Ming's "severely injured" appearance immediately changed their expressions, their eyes flashing with surprise and solemnity.

Two-headed ghost kings? Those present asked themselves, if they were in that position, how many could say they would escape unscathed? This "luck" was itself proof of their strength. Their previous disdain had quietly transformed into apprehension.

Upon hearing this, the bearded man's copper-bell-like eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, and he said in a gruff voice, "Two Ghost Kings? When did so many troublesome things appear in this godforsaken place? I, your ancestor, was hoping to capture a Ghost King along the way to refine for fun, but I haven't even seen a decent one. You, brat, have run into two in one go!"

He muttered a couple of things, seemingly also feeling that Luo Ming's situation was too unlucky. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Alright, hurry up and go over there to meditate! Recover as soon as possible, the next level won't be easy."

"Yes, thank you for your understanding, senior." Luo Ming felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly responded, walking to a relatively quiet corner away from the center of the crowd to sit down cross-legged. The feeling of being surrounded by the gazes of several Nascent Soul cultivators was not pleasant.

He had barely sat down, and before he could catch his breath, Xuan Gu's perfectly timed voice transmission, carrying a hint of "concern" and "apology," rang in his mind:

"Fellow Daoist Luo! You are indeed blessed with good fortune and have returned safely! When I saw you being dragged into the abyss by that Ghost King, I was extremely anxious and wanted to go down to help you immediately. However, a terrifying roar suddenly came from the abyss, attracting a large number of ferocious ghosts that blocked the entrance! I tried to break through several times but was forced back each time, and I myself was in grave danger. If it weren't for some meager tricks to save my life and escape, I'm afraid... Alas, I feel truly guilty for not being able to help you in time!"