On the night of the full moon, the primordial light blossomed.
Around them, the land was filled with sinister Yin energy, a perilous proving ground... The outside of the Wild Ghost Cave Tomb seemed especially restless.
The Hundred Ghosts Sect, well-known for its Yin energy and ghost controlling techniques, would have a large number of outer disciples hunting in the tomb on every full moon night. On this day, not only could they easily catch a variety of active ghosts, but the speed of their cultivation could also be several times more effective than usual.
Xiao Wu, like all the other Hundred Ghosts Sect outer disciples, came early to the outside of the sect's defensive array. He checked the various talismans, weapons, and pills in his hands, and quietly waited for the moment of moonlight blossoming and the Yin energy sweeping the land.
The area where Xiao Wu stood, a three-meter radius, was devoid of people.
"Why is he here, too? I remember he didn't participate in the previous few full moon nights."
People avoided him like avoiding a viper!
In the crowd, there were those with sharp minds that smirked in response.
"Heh... of course he had to come. It's a rule of the Sect that anyone who's been an initiate for three years should have refined at least three ghost servants to the Ghost Soldier realm, or have a ghost servant refined to the Ghost Officer level. Otherwise, they will be expelled from the Sect! Xiao Wu joined the Sect three years ago on the seventh day of the seventh month. In another seven days, if he can't capture a ghost servant and can't show his progress, he'll inevitably become the captive ghost of the leading Brother Shangguan and be tortured forever. This full moon night, with ghosts rampant, is his last chance."
"I see."
"Unbelievably, three years have already passed. The top three of his class have fallen to this extent, hmph..."
Several meters away from the crowd, the outer disciples talked in groups of threes and fives, killing time, completely unafraid of Xiao Wu nearby.
Some inner disciples who were once acquainted with Xiao Wu also held a cold attitude, gossiping enthusiastically:
"It's a bit late to think about leveling up now... To refine a low-level Ghost Soldier to a high-level Ghost Officer, it takes at least seven days. Unless he can catch a ghost as soon as he leaves the Sect, otherwise... Xiao Wu's downfall seems unavoidable. Remember back when Brother Shangguan publicly declared that he would make Xiao Wu his captive ghost. I didn't expect that it would be about to come true."
"Survival of the fittest, it's quite natural. He just had a quick start, nothing impressive."
Upon the surrounding glances of mockery, ridicule, or pity, Xiao Wu remained unmoved, firmly holding his dull iron sword and looking steadfastly at the Guardian Array before him.
The ethos of the Hundred Ghosts Gate...
Was just like this.
Ever since he was drafted into the Hundred Ghosts Gate and became a peripheral disciple, all Xiao Wu wanted was to practice and eventually leave the mountain. However, due to his naive understanding of the world, he offended the competitive and narrow-minded son of an elder, Shangguan Yunfei. Two years ago, his ghost servants were destroyed one after another, and he has been suppressed for two whole years.
Even up to now, there was no sign of Shangguan Yunfei letting go.
The Head and Elders do not care about the fierce competition or the oppression among disciples, allowing it as long as it doesn't escalate to fratricidal homicide. They believe that only in the most desperate situations can the deepest potential of ghost cultivation be unearthed.
Yet, after two years, Xiao Wu can no longer wait, and he refuses to wait any further.
Seven days later, his three-year term will conclude.
It's either you die, or I perish!
As this thought crossed his mind, an intangible chilling momentum centered around Xiao Wu, spreading through the crowd.
The surrounding secondary disciples' countenances changed drastically.
They finally realized that a disciple who had practiced for three years, even without ghost servants, would be incredibly dangerous if driven to absolute desperation.
From the foremost circle of the core disciples, a lofty and shadowy-eyed youth retracted his gaze. A cruel and ruthless smile crept onto his lips:
"Merely mid-stage of the Insight Realm, I'd like to see how you escape my grasps, Shangguan Yunfei."
As the chief disciple in the Hundred Ghosts Gate core circle, he had already broken through to the apex of the Insight Realm a month ago, officially stepping into the Spiritual Movement Realm.
As his words fell, the shadow on the compass moved towards the highest position, gradually merging. The moon burst forth in brilliant light.
Shangguan Yunfei took a step forward, looking disdainfully over everyone present:
"By the command of the Elder, I am on duty to lead this task of tackling the Wild Ghost Cave. All students, heed my command!"
"Aye, Sir!"
"Tonight is another full moon."
"The dozens of hundred-man-burial underground palaces in the Wild Ghost Cave will surely open."
"No matter if you are from the Inner or Outer Sect, if you have experienced the comprehension stage, you may go to the underground palace in the Wild Ghost Cave for cultivation and practice, catch ghost servants, obtain ghost soldiers, dig treasures... Lucky ones not only have the chance to obtain treasures from the underground palace of the Wild Ghost Cave, but also have the chance to get ghost soldiers and spirit stones from deceased fellow disciples, or even the spirits they've transformed into. Here, I wish all of you brothers and sisters good luck, enough talk, let's set off!"
As Shangguan Yunfei's order fell, the Sect Protection Formation roared into action, with some Outer Sect disciples rushing into the night impatiently.
Upon departure, Shangguan Yunfei intentionally and casually swept his gaze over two of the Outer Sect disciples. The chill in his eyes was filled with a commanding tone.
These two Outer Sect disciples nodded quietly with respectful expressions.
Over two hundred Inner and Outer Sect disciples took part in this full moon night activity, fanning out in groups towards the Wild Ghost Cave a few dozens of miles away.
The Wild Ghost Cave was once a huge battlefield for mortals. Over dozens of years, around a million soldiers were buried there. In the end, it was discovered that this place was a great ominous location where a demon lord had set up hidden formations, causing the birth of ghosts and the flourishing of wicked auras, which over time could seize one's sanity.
However, for the disciples of the Hundred Ghosts Sect dealing with ghost sorcery, it was the best hunting ground.
Of course!
Ordinary outer sect disciples could only venture into the peripheral Hundred Men Pits of the Wild Ghost Cave for experiences and cultivation. Even a Thousand Men Pit would at least be guarded by a ghost general of the thousand-soldier level— Ghost Generals were the counterparts of Spirit Realm cultivators. They had strong abilities during life and after death, they commanded numerous ghost soldiers, making them even more ferocious. Even the core disciples or inner disciples would face great danger when teaming up against them.
“This guy is nuts! He dares to venture into the Wild Ghost Cave alone, without any ghost minions!?"
Two outer sect disciples of Hundred-ghost sect followed Xiao Wu into the boundary of Wild Ghost Cave at the instruction of Shangguan Yunfei. They saw Xiao Wu picked up his pace, swiftly bypassing the extremely cautious teams of outer sect disciples and rushing in deeper. The color of horror on their faces kept deepening.
"Quick!"
"Catch up! He's trying to shake us off."
"No way! Even if he breaks into the tomb palace, we have to see him turned into a corpse. Otherwise, there is no way to report back to Elder Brother Shangguan."
From the outside, Hundred Men Pit Palace resembled a massive mausoleum with green smoke enveloping it, causing ghoulish cries and screams to echo intermittently.
This Hundred Men Pit Palace before their eyes was open. In the deep passage, rows of green candles were lit, revealing another world under glow.
Eight outer- sect disciples of Hundred-ghost sect stood clearly on the two sides of the palace, not daring to enter.
Xiao Wu, followed by his two tails, stepped into the tomb palace.
The eight outer disciples of the Hundred-ghost sect outside the tomb palace exchanged glances and entered decisively.
The underground passage of the Hundred Men Pit was very spacious, like a small tomb palace.
Entering a small pit room, Xiao Wu stopped and looked around.
"This place should be fine, right?"
"The Yin Sha power here is abundant, it’s secluded with no one around. It's indeed pretty good."
A deep voice echoed in Xiao Wu's mind.
The voice came from the petite, tri-legged cauldron that hung around Xiao Wu's neck. Upon closer inspection, one couldn't help but notice the patina and incomplete spots on its otherwise dark, lightless surface. An exquisite ghost face was extending from one of these broken spots, revealing a face full of eager anticipation as it urgently urged:
"The chosen one has sensed it; there are hundreds of ghostly creatures in this pit of a hundred people. Catch them all! Bring them all in, let them slaughter each other inside the cauldron, hehe... Though their numbers are rather few and cannot give birth to a Ghost King, conceiving a Ghost Guard-level servant is absolutely achievable."
"Allow me to deal with these two annoying followers first."
Xiao Wu came to a halt, turned around, ready to face the lackeys of Shangguan Yunfei.
