Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 674 - 672: I Am That Ghost

"Long Jiyu, is everything truly as you say?" Long Xian’er asked gravely.

"Sect Master."

Long Jiyu gritted his teeth and said, "I am already dead—do I still have any reason to lie?"

"Hmph!"

In the distance, a Golden Core Late Stage elder of the Long family sneered, "I knew it! Not a single one of those so-called True Disciples of the Zhang family is decent. Such vicious beasts—they actually plan to annihilate all of my Long family disciples’ Nascent Condensation Seeds!"

"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Ning’s intervention, we might finally uncover the truth that has been hidden from us all this time! Otherwise, we Long family disciples might have been kept entirely in the dark!"

A moment of indignation swept through the Long family disciples.

"You..."

Several Golden Core Late Stage Zhang family Inner Sect disciples clenched their teeth in anger, their resentment evident. Yet, they did not believe the Zhang family had done anything wrong.

"Fellow Daoist Ning."

Long Xian’er said, "What happened within the Fierce Sun Sky Pool this time is nothing short of a disgrace to our Divine Fire Sect. I hope it hasn’t brought you too much discomfort."

"Sect Master, you’re too kind."

Ning Daoran replied, "Were I in your position, I wouldn’t know what to do either. I shall return to Divine Deer Peak now. My cultivation after advancing to Nascent Soul Mid-stage remains unstable, so I plan to enter seclusion for a time."

"If that is your wish, so be it."

...

That night.

The Inner Sect’s Six Peaks were ablaze with light.

Ning Daoran, clad in azure robes, stood atop a mountain peak with one hand behind his back, gazing toward the Shenxiao Peak.

At this moment, Long Xian’er was hapless and profoundly disoriented; she had no idea how to proceed.

"Boom~~~"

Suddenly, a brilliant streak of sword qi exploded near Shenxiao Peak. Moments later, the protective array of the peak began to hum, rising steadily, but it was evidently too late—the array halted halfway, clearly because the cultivator controlling the formation had been slain.

"So they’ve finally made their move?"

Ning Daoran narrowed his eyes and murmured calmly.

Nearby, Little Bai and Little Blackie nodded in agreement.

Just then, streaks of tunneling light erupted from Shenxiao Peak, flying toward all directions. Among them, one blood-red streak trembled and wobbled as it headed straight for Divine Deer Peak—it was none other than the Nascent Soul Late Stage Long Xian’er.

"Hmm?"

Ning Daoran looked up, noticing the blood-soaked figure of Long Xian’er, her aura fractured and chaotic.

"What happened?"

With a light flick of his sleeve, he opened a corner of the Void Returning Array to allow Long Xian’er entry.

"Sect Master Long!"

Several Inner Sect Dragon-named Protectors from Divine Deer Peak exclaimed in shock from afar.

"How did you get injured?"

Ning Daoran asked, visibly surprised.

"I..."

Long Xian’er gritted her teeth, "I was ambushed by Zhang Qinghe..."

"You!"

Ning Daoran sighed in frustration.

He had already warned Long Xian’er of Zhang Qinghe’s deceitfulness, yet she still fell victim to his treachery.

At that moment, Ning Daoran’s heart was full of curses, but cursing wouldn’t solve anything—the future of the Divine Fire Sect now clearly rested on his shoulders.

"Peak Master Ning!"

Another blood-red streak flew toward them, revealed to be the Peak Master of Divine Cold Peak, a Long family member, at Nascent Soul Early Stage.

"Peak Master Long, you’re here too," Ning Daoran remarked indifferently.

"Hm!"

The Divine Cold Peak Master gritted his teeth, "Zhang Qinghe has gone mad! He has allied with disciples from Fire Cloud Peak, Fire Qilin Peak, and Fire Sun Peak to launch attacks on Shenxiao Peak and Divine Cold Peak. They’ll likely arrive at Divine Deer Peak shortly."

"As expected."

Ning Daoran replied, "Everyone calm yourselves; I have my means of handling this."

"Good. We’re counting on you, Peak Master Ning!"

The next moment, Ning Daoran ascended into the air, and behind him rose a Chaotic Nascent Soul Dharma Image, towering over a hundred feet tall. It loomed above Divine Deer Peak, and under the velvet night, his clear voice resonated across the Six Peaks of the Inner Sect—

"Disciples of Divine Fire Sect, hear my command! I am Ning Daoran, Peak Master of Divine Deer Peak! Zhang Qinghe has lost all humanity, leading Zhang family disciples in a bid to attack the Six Peaks of the Inner Sect. Now, Sect Master Long Xian’er has retreated to Divine Deer Peak after being ambushed by Zhang Qinghe, and the Peak Master of Divine Cold Peak is here as well. Long Xian’er has commanded me to issue the Sect Master’s orders: All Long-named disciples of the Inner Sect’s Six Peaks must converge on Divine Deer Peak immediately! I will open the arrays to let you in. From this moment onward, any disciples in Divine Fire Sect who dare to follow Zhang Qinghe will face instant annihilation! I, Ning Daoran, keep my word."

Instantly, innumerable rays of light streaked across the sky.

Ning Daoran embedded the marks of Long Xian’er, the Divine Cold Peak Master, and Huang Xianyu into the Void Returning Array, leaving it to them to verify and admit only Long-named disciples seeking refuge at Divine Deer Peak.

As for Zhang family disciples, regardless of their stance, none would be allowed entry to Divine Deer Peak.

...

Not long after, Shenxiao Peak and Divine Cold Peak were successively breached. By then, the Zhang family controlled five of the Inner Sect’s Six Peaks.

As dawn broke, streaks of tunneling light ascended into the air, followed by spirit boats and royal weapons hovering mid-air. Zhang family disciples, led by Zhang Qinghe, finally closed in on Divine Deer Peak!

Atop Divine Deer Peak, the mountain brimmed with members of Divine Fire Sect’s Long family lineage.

Though Long Xian’er had been ambushed and grievously wounded, the foundation of the Long-named faction within Divine Fire Sect remained largely intact.

At daybreak, sunlight pierced through drifting clouds, bathing Divine Deer Peak in a layer of golden brilliance.

"Ning Daoran!"

Zhang Qinghe stood tall against the wind, his gaze venomous, "You are not originally of Divine Fire Sect. Why involve yourself in this muddy waters? I am giving you a chance—leave Divine Deer Peak immediately, and I will overlook all past grievances. What do you say?"

"Zhang Qinghe!"

Long Xian’er, pressing her treasure sword tightly, shot daggers with her eyes, "You vile beast... After driving Fellow Daoist Ning away, your goal would be to slaughter every Long-named disciple on Divine Deer Peak and crown yourself Sect Master of Divine Fire Sect, wouldn’t it?"

"Xian’er, you are deluded!"

Zhang Qinghe said placidly, "We are husband and wife; why believe others and not me? Can you not see how deeply disappointed you make me?"

"Pah!"

Long Xian’er spat venomously in sheer frustration.

Ning Daoran glanced at the masses in the air and said, "Those who are attacking Divine Deer Peak—have you all decided to follow Zhang Qinghe in seizing the foundations of Divine Fire Sect? Is that truly the case? Your stance now determines life and death. I urge you to think carefully before choosing to sever your own path to survival."

Smoothly, he flicked his sleeve, summoning the Azure Dragon Spear to his hand with a smirk, "Killing Zhang Qinghe now will be no harder for me than snapping off a brittle twig. I shall give you one last chance—leave instantly, or all of you will perish alongside Zhang Qinghe."

"Heh, absurd!"

A Golden Core Late Stage Zhang family Inner Sect disciple mocked, "Should we abandon the Old Ancestor to follow you instead? Fellow Daoist Ning, you have grossly overestimated yourself. Advancing to Nascent Soul Mid-stage doesn’t make you capable of crossing realms—do you truly think you could defeat the Old Ancestor?"

"So be it."

Ning Daoran chuckled, "Futile words cannot save a soul destined for death."

With that, Ning Daoran turned to face those behind him.

The Great Elder and Huang Xianyu stood among them. As foreign elders, they had always been grateful for the Long family’s kindness and had aligned with Long Xian’er immediately during the turmoil of the Six Peaks Chaos.

"Xian’er, look behind you."

Ning Daoran said, "These are the true backbone of Divine Fire Sect, loyal and resolute. As for the Zhang family lineage... Hmph, nothing more than a pack of ungrateful dogs."

"Mm!"

Long Xian’er nodded emphatically.

"Fellow Daoist Ning!"

At this moment, Zhang Qinghe squinted and laughed coldly, "Fellow Daoist Ning, you truly wish to stand for the Long-named lineage and defy fate itself, do you?"

"Indeed."

"Do you dare accept an old man’s challenge, one-on-one?"

"Why wouldn’t I?"

Ning Daoran replied with a faint smile and stepped out of the Void Returning Array.

"Fellow Daoist Ning!"

Long Xian’er hurriedly sent a voice transmission, "Zhang Qinghe is powerful—you... you must be cautious!"

"Rest assured,"

Ning Daoran transmitted back, "Xian’er, once I have slain Zhang Qinghe, I will immediately open the Void Returning Array so that you can lead everyone to strike down the Zhang family disciples. Furthermore, command the activation of the Mountain Protection Array—none shall be permitted to enter or leave! Spare not a single disciple of the Zhang family involved in the Six Peaks Chaos; root them out entirely to prevent future troubles!"

"Understood!"

Long Xian’er nodded firmly.

...

"Zhang Qinghe, old dog!"

Ning Daoran raised his Azure Dragon Spear high and declared, "Come! Let me grant you death!"

"Youngster, so arrogant!"

Zhang Qinghe flicked his sleeve and descended gracefully, surrounded by spiraling spiritual treasures.

But Ning Daoran did not summon any treasure, holding only the Azure Dragon Spear in his hand.

This spear, weighing sixteen thousand jin, surpassed any spiritual treasure through sheer brute force!

"You killed my Qian’er—I will make sure you die without a grave!"

With a furious shout, Zhang Qinghe wielded his spiritual treasures, unleashing tens of thousands of bolts of lightning down from the heavens!

"Fellow Daoist Ning, beware!"

Huang Xianyu sent a concerned voice transmission from within the array, "Zhang Qinghe possesses a First-grade Thunder Spiritual Root and cultivates the highly formidable Ten Thousand Thunder Technique!"

Ning Daoran merely smiled faintly, "Fellow Daoist Huang, worry not. Killing Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators... is no trouble at all for me!"

"???"

Huang Xianyu was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend his assurance.

Yet, in the very next moment, Ning Daoran began proving himself.

As he took a single step forward, the space around him shifted violently, the Martial Arts Qi Mechanism surging ferociously. In an instant, Zhang Qinghe was dragged into a Dragon Demon Dojo!

The Dragon Demon Realm churned and boiled, a blood-red secret realm seemingly forming a cube around them. Though the spectators could see both figures clearly, no one could intervene in the isolated world of their battle.

"Old dog, taste my spear!"

Leaping into the sky, Ning Daoran thrust his spear downward!

Already at Mixed Element Middle Stage, he had the force required to wield the Azure Dragon Spear, though it was still physically taxing. As the spear descended, Zhang Qinghe immediately summoned a spiritual treasure-level shield.

"Boom~~~"

A deafening cacophony reverberated outward as the incomprehensible power of the Heavenly Path crashed down, instantly shattering the Low-grade Spiritual Treasure shield!

Simultaneously, there was a sickening "crack"—Zhang Qinghe’s entire left arm was pulverized!

"Impossible?!"

Zhang Qinghe was horrified.

To crush a spiritual treasure in a single blow would typically require wielding a treasure of an entire tier higher—could the opponent’s spear truly be a Transformed Treasure?!

Impossible, utterly impossible!

How could a mere Nascent Soul Stage cultivator possess a Transformed Treasure?!

...

"Fellow Daoist Ning, who... who are you really?!"

In Zhang Qinghe’s frenzied panic, Ning Daoran’s blood qi surged and rolled as he readied a second strike, smirking coldly, "Ever heard of the saying: those who tread long on dark roads will eventually encounter spirits?"

"I am the spirit you’ve met."

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