That’s why the Celestial Ghost Elder didn’t attack Lin Chang’sheng right away.

All he wanted was the Soul Banner in Lin Chang’sheng’s hand.

That banner surely contained plenty of Divine Souls, enough to greatly increase his cultivation.

If he could seize Lin Chang’sheng’s Soul Banner without a fight, that would be ideal.

"If you’re confident you can kill me, why not just do it and take the Soul Banner? Why bother bargaining? Maybe you’re hesitating after all?"

Lin Chang’sheng sneered coldly.

This Celestial Ghost Elder really was something—coveting what he didn’t dare take boldly—definitely playing it safe!

A dignified Tribulation Crossing Stage expert, being this cautious?

If I reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage, no one beneath the Immortal Realm could possibly touch me.

"So, you’re refusing to hand over the Soul Banner?"

The Celestial Ghost Elder’s voice grew darker.

Was it that Lin Chang’sheng truly believed I couldn’t harm him, or was he just trying to bluff?

"The Soul Banner’s in my hand. If you want it, come and get it!"

Lin Chang’sheng retorted without the slightest fear.

As soon as the other made a move, Lin Chang’sheng would trap him in the Nine Heavens Soul-Devouring Immortal Array.

By then, he’d be dead for sure.

"Kid, so you’re tired of living. You refuse a path to heaven! Well, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

The Celestial Ghost Daoist’s words fell as his body turned instantly to mist, splitting into nine identical figures in an instant.

For a moment, even Lin Chang’sheng could hardly tell which was real.

The nine figures closed in, surrounding Lin Chang’sheng at the center, each summoning their own Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure.

Some hefted long swords, others long sabers or long spears, and one even held a Soul-Catching Bell shaped like a bell.

"Illusion technique?"

Lin Chang’sheng scoffed, then swiftly swept two fingers before his eyes, as an eerie violet gleam flashed in his pupils.

This was the Soul-Devouring Illusion Technique—a secret art of the Fox Race.

A technique able to inflict hallucinations and simultaneously pierce all illusions.

With a quick glance, Lin Chang’sheng immediately identified the figure holding the bell as the true body of the Celestial Ghost Elder.

Without hesitation, Lin Chang’sheng brandished the Holy Soul Banner, instantly absorbing the Celestial Ghost Elder into the Nine Heavens God-Devouring Array.

The Elder hadn’t even struck at Lin Chang’sheng before the remaining figures all collapsed.

"How, how is this possible? How could you break through my illusion so easily?"

Once inside the Nine Heavens Soul-Devouring Immortal Array, the Celestial Ghost Elder was thoroughly shocked.

He’d deployed the Eight Ghosts Soul Stealing Technique, which was terrifyingly potent; even experts of the same level would struggle to tell truth from falsehood. Yet Lin Chang’sheng had uncloaked his true form in a split second and sucked him into the formation.

Just what kind of grand array was this, how could it be so overwhelming?

"What’s impossible? I broke your illusion—question is, can you break my immortal array?"

Lin Chang’sheng grinned.

This Ghost Elder had heaps of cultivation but dragged his feet with indecision, never acting decisively.

Either fight or flee—what’s the point of trying to negotiate?

Ridiculous.

I bet most of his cultivation was gained by devouring the power of Divine Soul.

This Cultivation Technique doesn’t look like it’s to be underestimated.

Once I take him out, let’s see if he’s got the method tucked away somewhere.

If he does, Lin Chang’sheng’s hit the jackpot.

"What did you say? This—this is an Immortal Array?"

On hearing Lin Chang’sheng, the Celestial Ghost Elder was struck with terror.

The might of an Immortal Array is enough to slaughter even Tribulation Crossing Stage experts.

"With your cultivation at Tribulation Crossing Stage, you should last a while. Make the most of your final moments!"

Lin Chang’sheng shot out his last reply and ignored the Celestial Ghost Elder.

This formation wiped out even Gao Yao—there’s no way the Ghost Elder survives.

BOOM—

Just as Lin Chang’sheng sealed the Elder into the Nine Heavens Soul-Devouring Immortal Array, a thunderous boom erupted from a distant battlefield.

"Someone else is fighting now?"

Lin Chang’sheng was startled, then swiftly sped toward the source of the clash.

Unleashing his Divine Sense, he recognized the two factions before his body even arrived.

It was the Heaven-Suppressing Sect and the Piaomiao Sect, locked in fierce battle—probably over the Holy Pill.

During the auction, Elder Yu Lanfeng of the Piaomiao Sect had shown no regard for Elder Liao Xinghu of the Heaven-Suppressing Sect, snatching up the Primordial Golden Pill at a premium.

Liao Xinghu naturally couldn’t swallow that, so after the Piaomiao Sect departed, he attacked, hoping to seize the pill en route.

A stretch of over a thousand miles was nothing to Lin Chang’sheng—just a few breaths and he arrived.

Once he reached a hundred yards from the site, the aftermath of their fighting had already turned it into a wasteland.

The ground and rocks were shattered, countless craters scarred the earth.

Both sects’ disciples had perished in the bloodletting; only Liao Xinghu and Yu Lanfeng remained.

"Yu Lanfeng, be sensible and hand over the Holy Pill, otherwise don’t dream of leaving alive!"

Liao Xinghu threatened imperiously.

As the second biggest sect in the Immortal Realm, Liao Xinghu had never suffered such humiliation.

"That all depends on whether you’ve got the strength for it!"

Yu Lanfeng showed no fear toward Liao Xinghu.

Though she’d lost some ground in their battle, Liao Xinghu wasn’t about to kill her easily; without a full day and night, it’d be hard to call a winner.

After all, their powers were quite evenly matched.

By then, with other major sects arriving to witness the Heaven-Suppressing Sect’s ugliness, how would they ever hold their place in the Immortal Realm?

"Fine—you want to die, I’ll oblige!"

Liao Xinghu bellowed. He meant to seize the Holy Pill no matter what.

I haven’t even used my full power—she actually thinks I can’t handle her?

Let her see my true might.

With a shout, Liao Xinghu swept out the Myriad Mountains Hammer.

This hammer weighed a full thirty thousand pounds, its blows heavy as ten thousand mountain ranges pounding down.

Seeing Liao Xinghu summon his Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure, Yu Lanfeng knew he was fighting for real. Any slip, and she’d die on the spot.

ROAR—

Yu Lanfeng drew her Cyan Lotus Sword, steeling herself for a bloody battle.

With his Spirit Treasure out, Liao Xinghu swung with abandon—the very heavens darkened in response.

Where the sky had been clear, it now turned ominous; thunder echoed in the gloom.

"Celestial Thunder Hurricane Hammer?"

Lin Chang’sheng said to himself; he’d seen this Hammer Technique at the Celestial Pride List before, and its might was fierce.

Unleashed by a Late Mahayana expert like Liao Xinghu, its force was no less than terrifying.

"Die!"

Liao Xinghu roared, sending the massive hammer crashing toward Yu Lanfeng.

Lightning and gusts sprang up in the void as the hammer shot forth, carrying two overwhelming powers of heaven and earth to suppress Yu Lanfeng.

Yet Yu Lanfeng showed not a flicker of fear in the face of such a brutal attack.

She swept her sword blade in the stance of a drawn bow, pushing sword aura from her right hand, and the blade flashed radiantly, forming a Celestial Vault Giant Sword.

"Go!"

Yu Lanfeng shouted, thrusting her palm forward, sending the Celestial Vault Giant Sword hurtling to meet the oncoming hammer.

BOOM—

The next instant, the celestial dome thundered, as if a wrathful god was punishing the world.

Amid the cacophony, the Celestial Vault Sword Aura was smashed to pieces by the giant hammer, which pressed on unimpeded toward Yu Lanfeng.

Liao Xinghu’s attack bore down in an instant—Yu Lanfeng had no time to dodge.

She could only summon strength in her left hand and strike, hoping to withstand some of the blow.

BANG—

But the hammer’s force was simply overwhelming—even with two desperate blows, Yu Lanfeng couldn’t block it.

The huge hammer crashed squarely into Yu Lanfeng, flinging her violently aside.

SPLURT—

Midair, Yu Lanfeng coughed out a mouthful of blood.

Clearly, she’d suffered a severe injury.

Liao Xinghu saw his chance and pressed his attack, determined to kill her while she was wounded.

Yu Lanfeng, battered and bleeding, dodged frantically—she was on the edge of death.

Lin Chang’sheng remembered he’d taken her Nine Lotus Sacred Fire, and if he let her die now, he’d feel guilty.

He immediately flew forward.

"Stop!"

Lin Chang’sheng shouted, his voice thunderous, startling Liao Xinghu into hesitation.

"Elder Gao, once I acquire the Holy Pill, I’ll share some treasures!"

Upon seeing Lin Chang’ssheng disguised as Gao Yao, Liao Xinghu immediately tried to rope him in.

If it were the real Gao Yao, maybe he’d consider it—except this Gao Yao was actually Lin Chang’sheng in disguise, so no chance.

"Share treasures?"

Lin Chang’sheng laughed, "The hammer in your hand looks nice—how about you give it to me?"