C9 Devil!

The following day, the golden light pierced through the sea of clouds, casting thousands of radiant beams across the landscape. Yang Xiu sat cross-legged at the summit, as a wisp of purple Qi emerged between heaven and earth, guided by an unseen force into the crown of his head and straight into his mind.

Boom!

It was like a thunderclap erupting from the clear sky. Yang Xiu slowly opened his eyes, now brimming with a vibrant purple essence. "No wonder the blood-robed youth valued it so highly. This magic technique is indeed extraordinary. I wonder if it can be combined with the other to unveil a new splendor. It shouldn't be too hard, given the commonalities between the two techniques."

Yang Xiu recalled another magic technique from his memory, the Five Ghosts Moving Technique, detailing the manipulation of five devils for one's own purposes. The Subduing Tiger Shocking Ghost Picture, on the other hand, was about commanding ghosts with the authority of a tiger.

Taking an innovative approach, Yang Xiu, with his exceptional talent and learning, fused these two techniques with shared elements to create a formidable new magic spell, capable of commanding both the five devils and a host of ghosts.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the magic spell was activated, swirls of black Qi rose from the earth, the indistinct faces of long-dead souls within it, and among them, the clearer visages of slaughtered bandits. While the souls of the deceased typically ascended for reincarnation, those filled with unresolved anger and resentment became malevolent spirits. Yang Xiu's new spell was their nemesis.

"Regrettably, the vengeful spirits here are too sparse and weak to form a Ghost Item, much less empower the Five Ghosts," he mused, surrounded by a swirling black mist that lent him an eerie appearance.

"Truly, only someone capable of effortlessly slaying Zhao Qing An and his brothers could possess such formidable power," Qin Loong and his companions remarked as they witnessed the scene. Over a month had passed since Yang Xiu's victory, and he had been immersed in rigorous cultivation ever since, while they had remained nearby. Indeed, Yang Xiu's strength had not yet reached the early stage of the Essence Creek Stage, but the Star Power he had amassed was already an impressive 1,200 strands.

Yang Xiu's current level of power had not yet reached the early stages of the Essence Creek Stage; however, his cultivation of Star Power had already achieved an impressive 1,200 strands. This was a significant improvement from before. In the context of this world, he would be considered a fifth-level Blood Refining Apprentice. Yet, the aura he exuded was comparable to that of a Blood Soldier, thanks to the overwhelmingly powerful techniques of the Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm, which far surpassed those of this world.

"Why haven't you left yet?" Yang Xiu asked, after ceasing his cultivation and standing up to face Qin Loong and the others.

"Senior, we humbly request that you accept us as your disciples," they pleaded. They had been waiting for this moment, and upon hearing Yang Xiu's words, they knelt down earnestly.

"I will certainly not take disciples, but don't be disheartened. I will grant you a Magic Spell. Whether you can master it and how far you can advance will be up to your own efforts," Yang Xiu declared, having already considered how to assist Qin Loong and his companions.

Yang Xiu felt a profound sense of solitude in this world, where everyone pursued the cultivation of Bloodline Power, while he alone followed the path of immortal cultivation. It was a lonely existence indeed. Therefore, he decided to share the cultivation method with Qin Loong and the others, planting a seed that might one day transform this place into a new Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm. With this, he would also gain the means to avenge his past grievances.

After parting ways with Qin Loong and the others, Yang Xiu set out alone. He saw no reason to return to the Three-essence Sect, as it no longer offered any benefits for his cultivation. Instead, he was determined to seek out more restless spirits to refine into Ghost Items.

Upon his return to Tang Family Castle, he found, as expected, that the spirits had vanished. Undeterred, Yang Xiu continued southward along the main road.

According to his memories, if he continued south, he would encounter Mao Mountain, home to a Taoist temple renowned for exorcising ghosts and subduing demons, akin to a certain sect within the Mountain Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm.

The Taoist temple owed its existence entirely to a city—a Death City. Legend had it that decades ago, two mighty nations clashed within its walls, battling for supremacy. The aftermath was grim: millions lay dead. Over time, the city became saturated with Yin Qi and resentment, giving rise to a natural Yin Meridian. This phenomenon provided sustenance for the city's vengeful spirits, allowing them to multiply and gain strength.

The temple atop the mountain was established with the sole purpose of quelling the malevolent forces of the Death City. "Given the concentration of Yin Qi in the Death City, it should suffice to nurture a Demonic Ghost," Yang Xiu mused. "Should I manage to siphon the Yin Meridian, the resulting Demonic Ghost would be unspeakably formidable."

A single Yin Meridian could sustain an entire city of specters. If Yang Xiu were to commandeer the Yin Meridian and harness it to forge a Demonic Ghost, it would undoubtedly become an instrument of mass destruction.

Yet, if Mao Mountain were to discover his plan, they would not stand idly by. They had come to suppress the Death City, but paradoxically, the city was also the foundation of their existence. Without the Death City, what purpose would they serve?

A chilling breeze wafted through, heavy with the stench of decay. The Death City loomed close.

Yang Xiu gazed into the distance, where a majestic mountain rose up, with a small black speck at its base—the unmistakable silhouette of the Death City.

With his goal within reach, Yang Xiu was impatient to proceed. Channeling his Star Power, he darted forward like a streak of lightning, heading straight for the dark mark on the horizon.

As he entered the city, the air grew thick with the scent of decay. The walls were stained pitch-black, a testament to the bloodshed that had seeped into the very stones over the years.

"The rumors appear to be true," Yang Xiu thought, his brow furrowing as he sensed the heavy concentration of Yin Qi. "Could it be that the casualties of that war were not merely in the millions?"

It seemed the rumors were true; the number of lives lost in this city could very well exceed a million. Sensing the concentration of Yin Qi in the air, Yang Xiu frowned in contemplation. He couldn't help but wonder why a conflict between two nations would necessitate the sacrifice of millions of lives. Clearly, there was something suspicious afoot!

Due to the overwhelming presence of Yin Qi, sunlight was unable to penetrate the Death City, leaving it shrouded in darkness. This environment did have its effects on Yang Xiu, as it made it exceedingly difficult for him to absorb Star Power.

"First, I need to condense the Demonic Ghost," he resolved.

Without wasting any time, Yang Xiu located an area where the Yin Qi was particularly dense and settled into a cross-legged position. He released the vengeful souls he had previously collected, allowing them to freely soak up the Yin Qi.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In moments, the wind roared and the vengeful souls, driven by instinct, began to absorb the Yin Qi, their forms growing increasingly distinct. Slowly, they took on human shapes. Among the vengeful souls Yang Xiu had collected, those with the recognizable faces of bandits were the first to stir. Shaking off their confusion, they turned their gaze to Yang Xiu, who remained seated in meditation. A crafty and ferocious look spread across their faces as they glided forward, intent on destroying Yang Xiu.

"Prison!"

The word, uttered with icy finality, hit the bandit souls like a bolt of lightning. Their forms scattered, then their eyes blazed with a bloody light as they frantically began to devour the Yin Qi.

Before long, the other awakening souls joined in, entering the frenzied fray. The howling wind and the dense Yin Qi drew the attention of the powerful evil spirits within the Death City. Their eyes gleamed with a savage light as they converged, eager to claim their share of the Yin Qi.