"So, for now, we don’t need to worry about him," Wen Jiu thought to himself, continuing to control the East Spring Undying Bone to keep the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment hidden in the shadows, while Three Thousand Blood Inks kept channeling corpse energy in the cave.

Suddenly.

A black ghost banner appeared in Gu Qiao’s hand, and the wailing of a hundred ghosts surged from it, carrying with it a massive amount of ghostly energy.

Without saying much or mocking Feng Jue and Wen Jiu, Gu Qiao decisively wielded the ghost banner, unleashing a wave of tumultuous ghostly energy from above his head, which engulfed Feng Jue and Wen Jiu within an instant, covering several miles.

Feng Jue did not dodge, merely using the Yin Technique for protection to guard against the corrosive ghostly energy, for he knew that the ghost realm created by the Night Parade of Hundred Demons would move with people. To resolve Gu Qiao, he had to confront him within the ghost realm.

"As expected from the sound transmission, the ghost realm suppresses magical techniques, Yin Techniques, and talisman-based cultivator methods," Feng Jue thought, operating his blood-colored Yin Technique in the pitch-black ghost realm, his brows furrowed and divine sense constantly vigilant of his surroundings.

Then he spoke again, "There’s about a twenty percent suppression effect, and it becomes stronger over time, so we must destroy that ghost banner; otherwise, Gu Qiao’s One-Eyed Armless Ghost King will become even more formidable in the ghost realm."

Wen Jiu felt the depletion of his Yin Technique due to the surrounding ghostly energy and also sensed the suppression on himself.

But the Blood Demon Undying Bone did not.

Not even a bit.

Moreover, the ghostly energy was immediately devoured after entering the body.

"Fellow Daoist Han, I need you to help me fend off Gu Qiao; I’ll handle the Night Parade of Hundred Demons and the One-Eyed Armless Ghost King," Feng Jue transmitted, proactively taking on the toughest task.

Wen Jiu nodded.

This was exactly what he wanted.

Daoist Wei knew his spirit body and zombie corpse body’s strength, so it made sense to restrain a non-body cultivator like Gu Qiao.

"The ghost banner is here!"

Feng Jue’s eyes searched the dark ghost realm, then suddenly locked onto something behind him. In an instant, as he moved with his spear, his aura surged, reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment within three breaths, suppressing Gu Qiao.

"No wonder Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks insists on seeing him alive or seeing his corpse," Gu Qiao’s cold voice emerged with the wailing ghosts, following the ghostly energy and shadowy wind, seemingly everywhere yet nowhere.

The secret technique that could elevate a cultivator from the mid-stage to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, spanning a small realm, was unprecedented across the Divine Fall Mountain Range.

Neither in the Hundred Years of Wind and Cloud Immortal City.

Nor in the Thousand-Year Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

Thus, it was clear.

Feng Jue must possess a great opportunity.

As he spoke, Gu Qiao manipulated the ghost banner, and the hundred ghosts abruptly charged out, surging toward Feng Jue heading for the ghost banner. Knowing Feng Jue had a great opportunity, Gu Qiao discarded any remaining disdain, taking out a clay urn.

The urn emitted an eerie ghostly energy, with several secret text seals on it, and when the seals were lifted, a one-eyed armless giant ghost abruptly burst forth. The aura exuded was significantly stronger than Feng Jue’s, even after using a secret technique, and the raging ghostly energy instilled fear in the surrounding cultivators.

"Trying to destroy the banner, how laughable." Gu Qiao spoke coldly as the One-Eyed Armless Ghost King flew toward Feng Jue, advancing alongside the hundred ghosts.

Seeing this, Feng Jue did not retreat a single step, his Blood Slaughter Moonlight Spear bursting forth to scatter the first few ghosts that arrived and repelling the surrounding ghostly beings. However, the ghostly beings swiftly regrouped after dissipating, unharmed.

"Let’s see how many times you can regroup," Feng Jue’s spear momentum surged again, the spear thrusting like a dragon, tearing through the thousand-foot ghost realm and shredding dozens of ghostly beings. The One-Eyed Armless Ghost King had also launched its attack but could only fight Feng Jue to a stalemate.

Witnessing this scene, Chen Li and other gathered cultivators looked on with astonishment, as Feng Jue’s strength exceeded their expectations.

But they were merely astonished.

The secret technique to enhance strength was, after all, temporary.

When the secret technique faded.

The outcome remained the same.

However, this secret technique that instantly elevated one’s realm was indeed tempting. They finally understood why Vice City Lord Lin appointed Gu Qiao to act, seemingly with the same motives as the people of Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks, targeting Feng Jue’s opportunity.

At this moment, Vice City Lord Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of delight in them.

Just as expected.

This individual harbors secrets.

The bounty from Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks was not solely for killing Feng Jue.

"Vice City Lord Wei, since this is your man, have you had the chance to witness such a secret technique?" Vice City Lord Lin established a sound insulation barrier, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

Daoist Wei responded coldly, "Everyone has their own opportunities. As an elder reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, just a step away from Golden Core, I naturally won’t act like some elders who bully the weaker and covet the opportunities of the younger ones."

"You—"

Vice City Lord Lin’s eyes seemed to blaze with anger instantly.

He then spoke furiously, "Daoist Wei, you really think you can achieve Heterodox Golden Core, truly dreaming!"

"Whether it’s a dream will be revealed in time. But you, elder aunt, intent on using the Three Life Gates to achieve Heterodox Golden Core, are you not afraid of getting yourself burned? You should know that the Three Life Gates never coveted just Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks."

Daoist Wei responded coldly.

Vice City Lord Lin angrily replied, "I don’t need your chastisement, don’t think I don’t know, if not for helping you plot the Heterodox Golden Core path, securing that item, how would elder brother be severely injured and in seclusion?

For your Heterodox Golden Core, knowing the danger yet failing to prevent it, nearly cost your master his life and jeopardized the entire Wind and Cloud Immortal City. While I may be lacking, I won’t let Wind and Cloud Immortal City face destruction due to my selfish desires."

...

Within the ghost realm.

Feng Jue grew bolder the longer he fought, the momentum of his spear like thunder roaring within the ghost realm, shattering groups of ghosts with forceful strikes. The One-Eyed Armless Ghost King was repeatedly forced to retreat under the spear’s shadow.

Despite the ghosts’ continual regrouping, gathering ghostly energy in attempts to hinder Feng Jue’s pursuit of the ghost banner, they were repeatedly shattered, never able to halt Feng Jue’s advance. The Night Parade of Hundred Demons, feared by many mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, crumbled before Feng Jue like illusions, breaking with a touch.