Jian Shenghua sensed dark energy and a murderous aura approaching this place.

Chen Changsheng sensed it too.

“This is more than just the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons…”

It exceeded his expectations.

Half an hour later, armored wraiths drawn by the Black Pagoda gathered at the mountain’s base.

The wraiths absorbed the wisps of Yin Energy seeping from the Black Pagoda.

Chen Changsheng slowed the release of Yin Energy.

The number of wraiths near the mountain kept growing.

These wraiths were likely soldiers who had died in battle here.

Though they seemed to wander aimlessly, they were actually searching for Yin Energy.

“Could the mastermind be a Ghost Cultivator too?”

Chen Changsheng wondered this as he glanced at Jian Shenghua.

Jian Shenghua shook his head. “Among the Demon Sovereign’s External Incarnations, I alone chose the ghost path. This may be some other Evil Spirit.”

“Hmm…”

Chen Changsheng decided to wait.

Gradually, more wraiths gathered below the mountain.

Starting as hundreds, they multiplied into thousands… ten thousands…

Tens of thousands surrounded the mountain completely.

Even Chen Changsheng felt startled by this sight.

He couldn’t understand why these fallen soldiers hadn’t entered reincarnation. How could so many remain trapped here?

As the ghostly army grew, a tangible Baleful Aura began coalescing, thick enough to touch.

The Phoenix Flower in Chen Changsheng’s sleeve sensed this aura and started greedily feeding.

Chen Changsheng ignored it—the flower could absorb as it wished. He’d deal with it when the time came.

The entire mountain was encircled by wraiths saturated with Baleful Aura.

Every strand of Yin Energy released from the Black Pagoda was devoured by them.

Ding-ling…

Sudden bell chimes pierced the air.

Chen Changsheng looked toward the source. Under moonlight, a blood-red sedan chair drifted closer, carried by four Paper Dolls.

Phoenixes and auspicious birds adorned the chair with ancient elegance. Wind chimes dangled from its roof, ringing crisply.

A cold breeze stirred.

The bell chimes dazed the surrounding wraiths, silencing them instantly.

Whoosh…

The scarlet sedan landed steadily on the mountaintop.

Chen Changsheng watched as a fair hand lifted the curtain, revealing a stunning woman in red bridal robes. She wore a phoenix coronet, a vermilion mark graced her forehead, and faint rouge colored her lips.

Emerging in embroidered slippers, she bowed slightly to the Green-Robed Gentleman. “This humble bride greets you, Gentleman.”

Chen Changsheng’s brow twitched. The woman’s aura unsettled him—she seemed simultaneously living and dead!

Jian Shenghua scowled. “A Wind Water Immortal?”

The bridal woman smiled coyly. “The Ghost Sword Immortal recognizes me. How knowledgeable.”

Jian Shenghua hadn’t expected recognition. “Hmph!” His dislike for her was palpable. Wind Water Immortals pretended to be righteous but acted like Demonic Cultivators—no, worse—shadows always hid their cruelty.

Chen Changsheng spoke coldly, “Ten thousand soldiers died here, deserving the Netherworld Tribunal’s peace. Your actions mock heavenly order.”

“Don’t be angry, Gentleman,” she laughed. “They shall rest when I’m done. I’ve only borrowed them.”

Chen Changsheng retorted, “After seven sunsets, their souls disintegrate forever.”

“Gentleman~” Her voice flowed like honey as her eyes sparkled. “Soul disintegration ends earthly suffering. Isn’t that true peace?”

Then her gaze fell hungrily upon the Black Pagoda in his palm. Appetite flashed in her eyes but dissolved swiftly into charm. “Tell me, Gentleman… am I beautiful?”

With those words, the surroundings shifted.

The local geomantic seal inverted—sucking Yin Energy from miles around toward her. Something sinister glinted behind her charm; this grasp of wind and water sought to overpower his thoughts.

“Do you believe you’re beautiful?” Chen Changsheng countered.

“You tease me,” she giggled, stepping nearer. But her hand slid stealthily toward the pagoda he held.

Slap.

Chen Changsheng seized her wrist mid-reach.

She froze, finding his grip unbreakable.

He met her eyes steadily. “Among ruined towers and piled bones, a skeleton in red cannot cloud my mind.”

Her face contorted. A shriek tore from her lips as the disguise shed like scales:

Flawless skin dissolved into naked bone. Her graceful arm became a skeletal limb.

She reassembled into nothing but a skeleton draped in bridal red.

Bones rattled as she wrenched free, retreating. Behind her, the sedan and Paper Dolls erupted into flames and ash.

“Feast denied? Then swallow nightmare!” hissed the skeleton.

“Come! Taste the Shadow-slaying Maze!”

The wind-water art flared, sealing the mountaintop. Tapping the Power of Heaven and Earth itself, the spell wove primordial forces into its net.

Stones groaned as the mountain rearranged itself. Forest became chessboard.

Marveling, Chen Changsheng mumbled, “To bend Heaven and Earth’s might with such perversion—this is craft indeed.”

Jian Shenghua watched his calm. “Brother Chen still finds interest? Confidence must run deep.”

“Perhaps,” Chen Changsheng shrugged. “But such methods… they’re newly strange.” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Sixteen Talismans streamed from the skeleton like pennants, quicksilver roads solidifying out of mist. The Baleful Aura, nourished further, spread its soldiers out—ten thousand wraiths lined the mountain in neat, murderous ranks.

Drums of silence boomed deep as the Wraith Legions advanced:

Banners cut the air. Sword-points reflected the moon.

Soundless ghost-soldiers marched forward as one. Their Baleful Aura alone was a hammer.

BOOM. Its strike knocked Jian Shenghua’s soul swaying.

“Retreat,” said Chen Changsheng calmly. “This arrangement? I shall solve it alone.”

Jian Shenghua nodded gratefully, vanishing into the Phoenix Flower.

When Chen Changsheng’s focus returned, the trap was set.

Before him: ten thousand phantoms—and their killing aura thick as rot.

Behind him: Heavens poised to descend—and calamity’s whipping wind.