"You've seen ghost cultivators before?" Qin Xi asked, turning his head as Jing Xingzhi called it out without hesitation.
Jing Xingzhi nodded. "I encountered them during my wanderings in Yunzhong."
Mo Tiange recalled that ghost cultivators did indeed exist in Yunzhong, but they were extremely few in number, secluded in remote corners and not entering human society, which was why she had never seen one despite traveling all over Yunzhong.
"Why would there be ghost cultivators here?" Qin Xi found it increasingly strange. A secret repository and a White Tiger Sacrificial Temple existing together was one thing, but ghost cultivators too? Was this a geomantic treasure land or a place of absolute, deadly malevolence?
"Huh?" Seeing the gazes of the other three simultaneously fall upon her, Nie Wushang looked bewildered. "I don't know!"
If she had known, she would have said so earlier and wouldn't have been so unprepared.
The yin-cold, sinister aura quickly spread over. Mo Tiange, quick of eye and deft of hand, summoned the Lotus Umbrella.
The Lotus Umbrella had a restraining effect on demonic energy; presumably, it would have some effect against similarly negative ghost energy?
The Lotus Umbrella floated in the air. Detecting the ghost energy, it released spiritual light. However, the ghost energy merely paused for a moment before continuing to spread, while the Lotus Umbrella's radiance abruptly dimmed.
Mo Tiange was startled. Around the Lotus Umbrella swirled a ring of black energy, yin-cold and profound, silently and rapidly devouring its spiritual light.
Seeing this, she hastily flicked out a storage pouch, specifically stowed the Lotus Umbrella away, and returned it to her storage ring to prevent the ghost energy from corroding her other magic treasures—the storage ring was a spatial artifact that could hold storage pouches employing spatial array techniques.
Seeing this, Qin Xi had his Three Yang True Fire Sword separate a sword beam. It circled once before transforming into a light barrier, blocking the ghost energy. After refining the Vermilion Bird's Bow, Qin Xi's True Fire had completely transformed into Vermilion Bird Flames. The Vermilion Bird was a symbol of light, possessing a natural restraining effect against ghosts, demons, and the like.
"I'll hold off the ghost energy. Hurry up," he said.
Jing Xingzhi nodded, summoned his flying sword again, transformed it into myriad sword beams, and attacked the rock wall.
Although they had descended from Wind-Sand City, they had traveled underground for a long time and were already far beyond its range. Judging by the surrounding rock layers, they should already be deep within the Xiling Mountain Range. The terrain of the Xiling Mountains was complex. They could only hope they hadn't gone the wrong direction; otherwise, it would take considerable effort to leave.
Ai! Mo Tiange sighed inwardly. She had come here to find Xiao Zilan's remains; treasure hunting was just a side endeavor. Now, the situation had developed unexpectedly, and she could only return another time.
It was strange. All the arrays and mechanisms here had been deactivated. Xiao Zilan's destination should have been here, so why couldn't they find any clues? Could it be that she didn't perish here but successfully retrieved the treasure and perished outside?
That wasn't impossible. If their party had found a spirit treasure here and only turned on each other after leaving, the trail would be broken.
Troublesome! Her brow furrowed tightly. Wanting to return here to investigate again wouldn't be easy either. For them, ghost cultivators were completely unfamiliar practitioners. If they truly confronted them, they had no confidence at all.
"Faster!" Qin Xi, who was holding back the ghost energy, shouted. "A ghost cultivator has emerged."
After the ghost energy spread, the ghost cultivator finally appeared—that powerful, sinister aura sent shivers down their spines.
Both auras felt chillingly cold, but ghost energy and demonic energy were entirely different. Demonic energy was dark, terrifying, yet still belonged to the mortal realm. Ghost energy, however, made one feel as if plunged into an ice cellar, bewildered and losing the will to live.
Mo Tiange's spiritual sense also detected the ghost cultivator. To be precise, it was a condensed mass of ghost energy. Ghost cultivators no longer possessed physical bodies; even after forming a ghost infant, they remained merely a mass of energy.
This ghost cultivator's aura was extremely powerful, likely not inferior to the Nascent Soul stage. As soon as it appeared, it headed towards where Venerable Songfeng and Demon Lord Yeshuang were.
The four of them breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was good that they weren't the target.
However, the next moment, the four of them were stunned!
After this ghost cultivator appeared, many more auras surged out—all of them Nascent Soul ghost cultivators!
One, two, three... up to several dozen!
Some of these ghost cultivators headed towards Venerable Songfeng, while others drifted towards them, following the scent of living beings.
Jing Xingzhi paused for a moment, then drove his flying sword, frantically attacking the rock wall.
They had no experience dealing with ghost cultivators. With so many Nascent Soul ghost cultivators, if a fight broke out, the odds of survival were slim!
However, the ghost cultivators' movement speed was beyond imagination. In the blink of an eye, ghost energy pressed down upon them.
"Hum!" The protective barrier Qin Xi had erected flickered and dimmed. He formed a hand seal; light flared from his dantian as the Vermilion Bird Flames stored within the Yang Spirit Pearl surged out, pouring into the barrier.
In her haste, Mo Tiange glanced back and saw that the ghost cultivators had arrived.
Before seeing ghost cultivators, she had imagined that beings with such evil auras would be some kind of green-faced, fanged monsters. Upon seeing them, she realized ghost cultivators looked quite similar to humans, just with transparent forms.
For ghost cultivators, although they were masses of energy, they retained human consciousness. Therefore, whether they were ghosts with slight awareness or great cultivators who had formed ghost infants, they would maintain a human appearance. Only those wandering souls whose consciousness had been erased would have no form at all.
"Who are you? Why have you invaded our Ghost City?" The leading ghost cultivator, after observing for a moment, actually spoke.
Seeing they didn't intend to attack immediately, Qin Xi said, "What Ghost City? We came seeking treasure. We know nothing of any Ghost City."
The leading ghost cultivator wore scholar's robes and a scholar's cap, holding a scroll in hand, appearing refined and elegant—likely a scholar in life. He looked at the four of them and said, "Nonsense! If you didn't know this place was a Ghost City, how could you coincidentally damage the Ghost City's foundation?"
Ghost City's foundation? The four of them were bewildered.
Qin Xi said, "We haven't damaged anything. Those two have nothing to do with us."
These ghost cultivators had appeared near the repository. Presumably, it was damaged during the fight between Venerable Songfeng and Demon Lord Yeshuang.
"Hmph!" The scholar flicked his sleeve. "If it's unrelated, then what are you doing now?"
The four were taken aback, then realized the ghost cultivator was referring to their act of tunneling through the rock wall.
Nie Wushang said, "Are you saying this Xiling Mountain Range is your Ghost City? There's a repository here, but it belongs to us human cultivators."
"That repository belongs to human cultivators, but not to you," the scholar ghost cultivator said indifferently. "When we arrived here, that repository was already abandoned. In the past, when you human cultivators came down, you took things and left. We didn't bother with it. But today, you actually damaged the Ghost City. This matter cannot be ignored!"
From the ghost cultivator's meaning, their Ghost City had always been here. In the past, when Venerable Songfeng came, they had known.
If so, these ghost cultivators weren't violent types. Perhaps they could negotiate.
"This... Fellow Daoist," Qin Xi hesitated for a moment but still chose to address him as such. "We didn't know this place was your dwelling. Now that we know, we'll cease any damage."
"Hmph!" The ghost cultivator stared at them expressionlessly. "You're only saying this because you want to leave, aren't you?"
Qin Xi said calmly, "We were leaving anyway. We don't wish to conflict with you."
After a pause, he added, "Since you, sir, were able to become a ghost cultivator, you must have been a cultivator in life. You should know that Nascent Soul cultivators aren't so easy to exterminate. If a fight breaks out, neither side will benefit. Why create unnecessary trouble?"
The ghost cultivator didn't refuse immediately, seemingly persuaded by Qin Xi's words. He turned his head as if consulting with his companions.
A moment later, the scholar ghost cultivator released a strand of ghost energy from his hand, which sped back along the path they had come.
Was he sending a message? Mo Tiange guessed.
After releasing this ghost energy, the dozen or so Nascent Soul ghost cultivators before them fell silent, merely standing quietly.
The scene was too eerie. Mo Tiange felt a sense of absurdity.
Leaving aside the strange appearance of these ghost cultivators, their origin alone was a problem.
For so many years, the Tianji Region had never heard of the existence of a Ghost City. Where had this Ghost City come from? Were they originally here, or had they migrated? According to ancient records, the Tianji Region had ghost cultivators in earlier times, but they later disappeared. Could it be that these ghost cultivators hadn't vanished but had hidden here and built a Ghost City?
Furthermore, were Nascent Soul cultivators so cheap among ghost cultivators? The entire Tianji Region only had about a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, and they were quite scattered. A major sect occupying a great spiritual vein typically only had single-digit numbers of Nascent Soul cultivators. Why did a single Ghost City of ghost cultivators have so many Nascent Soul ghost cultivators? Moreover, to deal with just a few of them, it was impossible that all the Nascent Soul ghost cultivators had been deployed. Could it be that this Ghost City had fifty or sixty Nascent Soul ghost cultivators?
Thinking of this, Mo Tiange felt a chill. If so, the power of this Ghost City was truly terrifying. If the ghost cultivators emerged into the world, wouldn't the Tianji Immortal Alliance, already fighting on two fronts, face even greater trouble?
While she was lost in these random thoughts, Qin Xi pondered for a moment and asked the ghost cultivator, "May I ask how you are addressed, Fellow Daoist?"
The scholar ghost cultivator's face was deathly pale, expressionless. "My name is Wensi."
"So it's Fellow Daoist Wensi," Qin Xi raised his hand in a salute. "My surname is Qin, my Daoist title is Shoujing. I am a cultivator of the Xuanqing Sect."
Hearing the words 'Xuanqing Sect,' the ghost cultivator's eyes moved slightly. He said stiffly, "So it's a Fellow Daoist from the Xuanqing Sect."
Hearing this, Qin Xi was curious. "Fellow Daoist knows of the Xuanqing Sect?"
"We were all human once," Wensi said woodenly. "The Xuanqing Sect has been established for over a hundred thousand years. Of course we know."
"...So, you were all originally cultivators from the Tianji Region?" Qin Xi probed.
A glint flashed in Wensi's ash-gray eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
Qin Xi said, "Fellow Daoist Wensi, rumors in the Tianji Region say that ghost cultivators disappeared from the Tianji Region long ago. So, you migrated here and established a Ghost City."
"There's no need for you to probe," Wensi said, his expression stiff but his mind sharp. "The origins of the Ghost City will not be casually revealed to you."
"..." Qin Xi paused, then continued, "Then, may I ask, Fellow Daoist Wensi, how does the Ghost City intend to deal with us? You spared the cultivators who came here before, so I presume you bear no hostility towards human cultivators?"
Wensi's dim gaze shifted. He reached out and caught the ghost energy that had flown over. "You'll know soon enough."
With that, the ghost energy dissipated in his hand. His eyes moved, and he raised his scroll. "The Ghost Venerable has ordered: kill them all!"