Zhao Yang waved his hand, summoning a golden shield to block the thunderbolt arrows fired by Lin Chang’sheng.

This artifact was named the Fiery Sun Shield, a Middle Grade Celestial Spiritual Treasure, fully capable of withstanding the assaults of ordinary Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures.

But at this moment, the Divine Thunder Bow wielded by Lin Chang’sheng was not a Spirit Treasure, but a genuine Heaven-Reaching Immortal Treasure.

For a Spirit Treasure to withstand a blow from an Immortal Treasure was anything but easy.

That was why Zhao Yang was so flustered—he wasn’t at all certain he’d survive.

But right now, he had no other way—he could only stake everything on this.

Bang! Bang! Bang!—

Three thunderbolt arrows struck the Fiery Sun Shield in succession, erupting in deafening thunderclaps.

With the explosive force, Zhao Yang was hurled backward, his arm veins bulged with strain, his throat grew sweet—he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He thought he’d barely managed to block Lin Chang’sheng’s arrow assault, but Lin Chang’sheng’s volley held not just three arrows, but nine in all.

As Zhao Yang flew backward, another six arrows closed in from all directions, leaving Zhao Yang nowhere to run and powerless to block them.

"No..."

Zhao Yang’s pupils shrank wide with utter shock and terror.

Was he, a dignified Late Stage Mahayana expert, truly about to fall at Lin Chang’sheng’s hand?

Yet no matter how much Zhao Yang raged against his fate, the thunderbolt arrows offered him not a single chance to respond.

Rumble—

Bolts of thunder arrows crashed into Zhao Yang, painting the air with a bloom of blood-red petals.

Lin Chang’sheng thought Zhao Yang would be blasted to pieces, nothing left.

Yet as Zhao Yang hit the ground, it turned out he was not yet dead.

So this was the resilient flesh of a Late Stage Mahayana cultivator?

But after withstanding the arrow barrage, Zhao Yang was spent—streams of blood flowed from him, his inner mansion shattered, unable to muster Primordial Power any longer.

"Celestial Ghost Elder, are you not going to act?"

Zhao Yang looked toward the Celestial Nether Sword Sect elder wearing a black bamboo hat in the distance, resentment seething inside him.

Did this Celestial Ghost Elder really intend to watch him die with his very own eyes?

The Celestial Ghost Elder, even after hearing these words, remained unmoved. Even Lin Chang’sheng found it puzzling why he’d come.

Was the elder not under orders to kill him?

Since the other party made no sign, Lin Chang’sheng didn’t bother with him either.

"The Celestial Orchid Sect’s end is coming soon. You should go on ahead!"

Lin Chang’sheng strode before Zhao Yang.

Since the Celestial Orchid Sect clearly wouldn’t let him go, he would wipe them out after seizing the treasures of the Immortal Cave Mansion and amplifying his cultivation.

"You wretched brat! You killed my sect’s disciples, slaughtered our elders—even as a ghost, I won’t let you go!"

Zhao Yang’s eyes burned with hatred and unwilling fury.

"You couldn’t defeat me as a man. Think you’ll stand a chance as a ghost?"

Lin Chang’sheng said coldly, then threw a punch, slamming it atop Zhao Yang’s head.

Splurt—

Zhao Yang spat a mouthful of blood, eyes wild as he fell flat on his back, dead in an instant.

Buzz—

In the very next moment, Zhao Yang’s divine soul detached from his flesh.

But before it could fly far, Lin Chang’sheng snared it within the Holy Soul Banner.

Even Zhao Yang’s body, Lin Chang’sheng didn’t squander—the storage bag and flesh of a Late Stage Mahayana expert were precious auguries indeed.

After tying up loose ends, Lin Chang’sheng finally looked toward the distant Celestial Nether Sword Sect elder.

"No wonder you slew so many Celestial Nether Sword Sect elders—even in the Mahayana Stage you’re already invincible in your own right."

The Celestial Ghost Elder’s sonorous voice rumbled from beneath the bamboo hat.

Judging by his voice, he seemed a man of forty or fifty years.

"Are you here to avenge them?"

Lin Chang’sheng regarded him calmly. The man’s cultivation was formidable, at the Early Stage of Tribulation Crossing.

Even if Lin Chang’sheng fought with all his might, he’d scarcely threaten him; if they truly fought, his only chance would be to trap and slay him with the Immortal Array.

To lure the foe into the Grand Array and kill him there.

"If I’d come to kill you, I’d have made my move long ago."

The Celestial Ghost Elder’s voice was unhurried.

This made Lin Chang’sheng even more curious—so he hadn’t come to kill him? Was he just here for the show?

After all, Lin Chang’sheng had already killed several elders of the Celestial Nether Sword Sect.

"What, you just happened to be passing by?"

Lin Chang’sheng grinned. Whatever the elder’s intent, it was hardly friendly; Lin Chang’sheng did not believe for a moment he was merely passing through.

"I wish to make a deal with you. What do you say?"

At these words, Lin Chang’sheng was truly taken aback.

So this man hadn’t come for vengeance—but to negotiate?

"Speak plainly."

Lin Chang’sheng responded.

If there was any gain to be had, Lin Chang’sheng was more than willing to turn swords into jade and silk.

"Do you know why I am honored as the Celestial Ghost Elder? It is because the Cultivation Technique I practice is unlike the Celestial Nether Sword Technique, but is called the Soul Devouring Technique—it devours the power of divine souls. If you will hand over the Soul Banner, I’ll let you go; but if you refuse, you can imagine your own fate!"

The Celestial Ghost Elder spoke slowly, as if crushing Lin Chang’sheng would be a trivial matter.

Though Lin Chang’sheng’s strength was undeniable—he had slain a Late Stage Mahayana cultivator—

between Mahayana and Tribulation Crossing lay an insurmountable chasm, not bridged by primordial power or even immortal arts alone.

Though the Celestial Nether Sword Sect’s Grand Elder Long Ju had perished near the Immortal Palace, that surely was not by Lin Chang’sheng’s hand.

So the Celestial Ghost Elder couldn’t believe Lin Chang’sheng had the power to challenge a Tribulation Crossing expert.

But just in case, the Celestial Ghost Elder was still wary of making a move on Lin Chang’sheng.

After all, rumor had it that He Jie of the Immortal Martial Hall had fallen at the hands of a mysterious master beside Lin Chang’sheng in the Immortal Realm.

This master was elusive as a ghost—impossible to predict or fathom.