Chapter 769

Chapter 769: Striking in the Shadows

Far from Red City, a group of powerful cultivators journeyed together. Among them was Gui Xiaohan, who gripped a black battle blade with pride as he practiced basic moves.

"Ha!"

With both hands clenched around the blade, Gui Xiaohan swung downward, splitting the earth with a ten-meter-long crack. The ground sank beneath him, and as he pulled his feet free, he grinned. "This weapon is incredible! Though it’s no match for our human race’s supreme Immortal artifacts, its demonic energy offers a new path for cultivation. If I master it, I might reach my father’s level!"

"If the young master achieves this, this old servant can die in peace," croaked a hunched elder leaning on a cane. His cracked, bark-like skin hinted at his dwindling lifespan. Though his eyes were dim, they softened when they landed on Gui Xiaohan.

Childless, the elder had raised Gui Xiaohan from childhood. After centuries, the youth had reached the Earth Immortal of the Sixth Level. Though the elder could no longer protect him, Gui Xiaohan’s respect gave purpose to his final years.

"Elder Yan, with this treasure acquired for Father, he’ll surely rejoice. Whether he or I master this demonic energy, it’ll be a triumph," Gui Xiaohan said.

The cost of millions of top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones was trivial. In an era where the Devil Kingdom stirred, controlling this weapon first granted an edge—one even the Immortal Dao Sect and Moon Goddess Palace lacked.

As Gui Xiaohan mused, a cold snort echoed. He smirked. "He Xiaoan, here to steal what’s mine?"

Figures oozing murderous intent emerged. Among them was He Xiaoan, whom Ye Yun recognized from their earlier clash over the succubus girl. Ye Yun watched, curious how this duel would unfold.

Though he disliked scavenging, he wouldn’t refuse an opportunity. Both sides had Earth Immortals of the Seventh Level. Eliminating them would require bloodshed—too risky without careful planning.

"You wouldn’t dare act unless you had tricks," He Xiaoan spat, eyeing Gui Xiaohan’s preparations. His face darkened. "So you’ve laid the Seven-Level Ghost King Array. No wonder you’re bold enough to face me."

"Even without the array, my Ghost King Sect scorns your War Valley rabble. This just seals your fate," Gui Xiaohan retorted. Ghastly energy swirled, revealing seven spectral figures—each radiating the aura of an Earth Immortal of the Seventh Level. He Xiaoan’s confidence wavered.

The Ghost King Array would shackle even his strongest ally, Elder Mo, while the seven phantoms could devour Seventh Level cultivators. Victory now seemed impossible.

Surrender wasn’t an option, but neither was losing his forces. With Gui Xiaohan’s Elder Yan—a Seventh Level Earth Immortal—lurking, retreat might be his only choice.

"Don’t look so grim. You never stood a chance," Gui Xiaohan said, ghostly light flickering in his eyes. "And I’m not letting you leave. Kill them!"

"You fool! The Seven-Star Sect will obliterate your Ghost King Sect!" He Xiaoan roared, desperate to intimidate.

Gui Xiaohan laughed. "Our rivalry was always about which of us would dominate Lingyao Continent. Clearly, it’s me." He let his subordinates attack. The array halved his enemies’ strength—only an Eighth Level Earth Immortal could resist.

His forces matched He Xiaoan’s in number, but the array ensured their advantage. Let the Seven-Star Sect’s elders rage afterward—it mattered little now.

"Give Young Master He Xiaoan a proper welcome," Gui Xiaohan said as ghosts tore through cultivators. Blood speckled the ground, but he held back, wary of He Xiaoan’s hidden cards.

As He Xiaoan’s guards fell, the metallic stench of blood thickened. Gui Xiaohan relaxed—until he noticed He Xiaoan’s eerie calm.

"He’s given up? Impossible." Gui Xiaohan frowned. "Elder Yan! Restrain the rest. Kill He Xiaoan yourself!"

The elder nodded, weaving through the chaos. Each gesture felled foes. He lunged at He Xiaoan like a arrow loosed from a bow.

"Finally!" He Xiaoan looked up, smirking. Seven golden orbs glowed in his palm, their destructive aura making Elder Yan’s veins bulge. One orb shot toward him.

"Curse you! I’ll drag you to hell!" Elder Yan roared. Instead of fleeing, he channeled all his spiritual power. A colossal ghostly form materialized, straining to contain the orb’s blast.

Boom!

The ghost shattered. The explosion left a crater, its edges spiderwebbed with cracks. Elder Yan’s soul vanished.

"He Xiaoan!" Gui Xiaohan snarled, glaring at his rival. Six orbs remained. If unleashed, they’d destroy the Ghost King Array—and his victory.

“Without some external force, how could this happen? You shouldn’t blame me—it was you who sent this old servant to die. Now that he’s gone, don’t direct your hatred at me.” He Xiaoan waved his hand, recalling his men from their fight with Gui Xiaohan. He smirked. “Though if you want to thank me for removing this burden, I won’t refuse.”

“Bastard! Bastard!” The elder Yan had watched Gui Xiaohan grow up, treating him as his own son. To see his murderer mock him so callously, ignoring the grief and shame—how could Gui Xiaohan endure it?

“Then I’ll stop holding back.” Gui Xiaohan’s lips curled as a black flag materialized in his hand, thick with ghostly energy drawn from the Seven-Level Ghost King Array. With a swing, the spectral shadows lunged at the last remaining elder battling the Seven Ghosts.

“What’s this?” The elder froze. The ghosts, previously evasive, now charged wildly, their hair disheveled. His earlier triumph at his master’s victory faded as he summoned his true qi, ready to strike—yet the phantoms ignored his attack, swallowing his energy without flinching.

“Screeeech!”

The ghosts pounced, biting into the elder’s flesh as terror filled his eyes. Blood spilled while they devoured his qi. Within moments, he shriveled into a dried husk.

“Seems I’m not the only one grieving.” Gui Xiaohan glared coldly at He Xiaoan.

“Hah! Just a dead servant. My Seven-Star Sect has countless talents. Even a Seventh Level Earth Immortal servant, though rare, isn’t worth mourning.” He Xiaoan chuckled, the six golden Seven-Star Celestial Orbs in his palm brightening.

“I thought my heart was stone, but yours is colder.” Gui Xiaohan eyed the orbs warily. “Use those orbs now, and I’ll withdraw the Ghost King Array. Let’s see whose losses pile higher.”

He Xiaoan sneered. “Since I want that Demon Realm Battle Blade, I’ll gladly spend more orbs. Acquiring a treasure infused with demonic energy would make it worthwhile. Besides, watching you bleed amuses me.”

“Ready to fight to the death? Let’s see who survives.” Gui Xiaohan swung his flag. The Seven Ghosts snarled toward He Xiaoan—but both froze as the sky darkened crimson. A sea of flames rained down, scorching the land to ash.

The Ghost King Array’s energy resisted the inferno. As the firestorm waned, the two adversaries tensed—the blaze’s core now revealed a figure that made their faces pale.

“Ye Yun!” He Xiaoan’s grin twisted. “Daring to steal from me? Do you think my Seven-Star Celestial Orbs are mere toys?”

Gui Xiaohan’s flag trembled, sensing the ominous aura. “Why intervene now? Had you waited until we weakened each other—”

“Surrender the blade, and I’ll spare you.” Ye Yun’s calm voice cut through the crackling flames. He had no patience for their feud—not with his pact to Mo Tianxiao. Letting He Xiaoan win this stalemate served no purpose.

The Seven-Star Celestial Orbs intrigued him. Once the Ancestor’s Soul Power erased their seals, they’d become his. A worthy prize.

“You overestimate yourself.” He Xiaoan gripped the orbs tighter. Unless Ye Yun wielded a supreme Immortal artifact, those orbs would obliterate him. Yet the man’s confidence unnerved him.

The Ancestor chuckled. “I told you to wait. Provoking them both risks—”

“Trivialities.” Ye Yun’s fiery dragon coiled around him as lava engulfed the Ghost King Array. The Seven Ghosts wailed, their forms crumbling under the assault of shattered top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones. “End this quickly. The Thunder Spirit awaits.”

“Act now, or I’ll withdraw the array!” Gui Xiaohan barked at He Xiaoan. “We’ll perish together!”

He Xiaoan gritted his teeth. Using two orbs jeopardized his courtship plans with the Immortal Dao Sect—but hesitation meant defeat. “Fine. Remove your array. My orbs will handle this.”

Golden light erupted as He Xiaoan hurled an orb. Gui Xiaohan dissolved the Ghost King Array, retreating as Ye Yun’s mental energy froze the projectile mid-air.

“Ancestor. Claim it.”

The Ancestor’s power surged, purging He Xiaoan’s mark from the orb. Ye Yun’s gaze shifted to Gui Xiaohan.

“Impossible!” He Xiaoan’s face drained of color. Each orb cost millions of top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones! How had Ye Yun stolen it so easily?

“Keep wasting your sect’s treasures.” Ye Yun shrugged. “I’ll gladly collect them.”

“What trick did you use?!” He Xiaoan demanded. If this method spread, the Seven-Star Sect’s dominance would crumble.

Gui Xiaohan’s eyes gleamed. “Brother Ye, name your price. Billions of spirit stones? The Ghost King Sect will pay anything to learn how to counter those orbs.”

Ye Yun arched a brow. The Ghost King Sect lacked Ninth Level Earth Immortals—else they’d have no need for his help. A vulnerability he could exploit. “First, hand over the blade.”

Gui Xiaohan hesitated, then grinned. “Once the Seven-Star Sect falls, you’ll have our gratitu—”

“You’ll die first.” He Xiaoan flung another orb, fleeing as it detonated. Gui Xiaohan’s scream choked off—without a supreme Immortal Garment, he could only watch the blast consume him.