Path of the Dao and the Arts, the more boundless the magical power, the more profound and infinite the classic-grade Cultivation Technique, the more it demands talent, temperament, endowment, and even the compatibility of the five elements and destiny.

What makes it even more troubling is maintaining discipline.

For instance, the fundamental essence of the Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique actually requires the practitioner to roam far and wide, subdue ghosts and demons, accumulate external power to build and nourish Altar Deities, and offer daily tribute for them to respond to commands.

Life is so short, shutting oneself away for meditation and seclusion feels inadequate, yet one must also eat the wind and sleep in the dew, wander north and south, performing such utterly meaningless tasks.

Truly absurd!

"Guan the Second, if you give up struggling and swear allegiance with your blood to recognize me as your master, perhaps you might save your life tonight."

Helian Hu deliberately enticed.

Exterminating the legitimate lineage of the Thirteenth Branch, such matters cannot be seen in the light.

Although he shouts boldly, as if disregarding the higher families of Yihai Prefecture, he lacks Ninghai Zen's extraordinary skill, able to withstand multiple pursuits by Fourth-Practice Experts before achieving Grandmaster status.

Either do nothing, or go all the way!

This is Helian Hu's principle!

The reason he spoke thus was merely to make Guan Xingmiao completely give up hope, facilitating the quicker draining of the vitality essence of this Third-Training Martial Artist!

"Piguan Great Success, Gold Body Forged, accumulation is indeed profound! If it were ordinary stuff, I would have drained the soul and consumed the vitality long ago!"

Guan Xingmiao grinned and spat:

"Old scoundrel, if you now call me father... once I turn into a fierce ghost, I won't seek revenge against you!"

Helian Hu laughed heartily:

"Guan the Second, you're truly lost, speaking such nonsense! With my hand and the Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique, a force in Yihai Prefecture, why would I fear fierce ghosts? Dare to come if you wish!"

He no longer bothered with useless talk, fully unleashing the power of the Divine Soul, the envisioned mimicked Dharma Aspect vivid, creating a sinister vortex expanding as large as a millstone.

Every orifice of Guan Xingmiao trembled massively, oozing spots of blood, vitality essence completely loosened, turning into a flood rushing toward Helian Hu.

As the soul scattered, his eyes gradually hollowed and listless, like a walking corpse.

Boom!

At the critical moment when life was hanging by a thread, a muffled thunder suddenly echoed by his ear!

Sky-splitting thunder rolled across the land, crushing stones and blasting open solid rocks!

"Wh... what?"

Guan Xingmiao saw the ground crack, a large python with scales like armor and cold as iron bursting through the earth tide, appearing in the mountain forest!

"Where did this great demon come from!"

Helian Hu was inwardly shocked, suddenly recalling something, disregarding the nearly dead Guan Xingmiao, hurriedly retracting the Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique, and quickly soaring his Divine Soul to return to his mortal body.

But it was still a step late.

The Wuyan Python was nearly ten zhang long, straightening its demon body enough to span the mountain forest, usually sleeping along the earth vein mountain roots, consuming earth and chewing iron to live, so no one knew of its existence.

Tonight, drawn by treasure light, like a Flood Dragon emerging from its cave, it shocked a hundred li, creating movements large enough to be terrifying.

With just a flick of its tail, a large swath of trees fell and broke, billowing dust rising into the sky.

The earth churned like waves, pushing to the sides, like an adult walking without paying attention to crushing ants beneath their feet, the Wuyan Python's upright pupils contained only the radiant Tai Sui Chen Earth.

Splat!

Along the way.

A less sturdy flesh shell was crushed into pulp.

"I..."

The green, soaring Divine Soul suddenly paused, followed by a sharp scream, like rusted iron scraping rock, painful to the eardrums.

"How dare you, ignorant demon! Destroy my flesh body!"

Everyone in the arts desired to become a Ghost Immortal.

The reason being, no matter how refined the human Divine Soul Thoughts, they remained a rootless tree, water without a source.

Once leaving the vessel and abandoning vitality essence nourishment, it wouldn't be long before they dissipated.

While Ghost Immortals break the barrier of life and death, they have the ability to discard the mortal body and remain in the world indefinitely.

The former is like someone who can't swim falling into the vast ocean of the world, bound to drown; the latter is like a fish, able to swim freely and roam the eight extremes.

Helian Hu never expected that he was supposed to eliminate Guan Xingmiao, then finish off the other idle people, force the Tai Sui Chen Earth from that old man's mouth, finally obtaining the treasure to break through to the Fourth Realm.

The bright avenue was forcibly cut off by a great demon!

He was furious and nearly hysterical, immediately invoking the full power of the Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique, condensing the word 'crush' fiercely towards the still unaware situation of the Wuyan Python!

Whizzing!

The ghostly wind cut upon the demon body, not even a spark splashed up.

A millennium-caliber great demon, its body comparable to a Fourth-Training Martial Artist.

Helian Hu's Soul-Draining Skill was like a clay ox entering the sea, not stirring even the slightest ripple.

Roar!

This python, usually sleeping underground, devouring metal and earth, raised its head, its sonic wave exploded, creating ripples circles!

"Not good!"

Helian Hu's Divine Soul felt struck by thunder, nearly shattered, swiftly flew out several feet away, narrowly avoiding disaster.

"Damn it! This vicious beast is unstoppable… the priority is to find a flesh body!"

Not yet in the Ghost Immortal Realm, lacking possession ability.

But Helian Hu's flesh body was destroyed, now he had no choice but to forcibly attach and take over one, then consider other subsequent matters.

Otherwise, being exposed to wind and sun as a ghost, the soul would soon be annihilated.

"It's you!"

Helian Hu sinisterly locked onto another legitimate lineage of the Thirteenth Branch, Tao Yun.

The Divine Soul suddenly lunged, attempting to seize the flesh shell!

"Care for a little game?"

An extremely abrupt voice came from the side, followed by a surge of insubstantial scorching heat, like a giant blazing furnace steaming fiercely, forcing Helian Hu to scream in surprise, hastily spiraling back.