"Hiss..." Fang Zheng’s eyes twitched:

"This is actually a Dharma Gate that reaches the Scattered Immortal Realm!"

It’s important to know that even if he cultivates the Elemental Thunder Skill, reaching its pinnacle would only prove him a Rogue Immortal.

In terms of grade,

it seems to be inferior to the Yama Heart Sutra.

Many major factions of the Immortal Sect do not possess such Dharma Gates.

Yet here, this mysterious Dharma Gate is carved onto the stele, freely available for passersby to study and cultivate.

Of course.

The Dharma Gate carved on this stele can only allow one to cultivate to the Mage realm, but it is already unbelievable.

Another side is specifically engraved with magic.

Nineteen kinds in total.

Including the Soul Hook Chain, Exorcism and Divine Control, Cursed Bewitching Soul, etc...

Yet another side is engraved with numerous Martial Arts.

Seven kinds in total.

Soul-Stealing Three Techniques, Five Paths of Evil Essence...

Seeing from the orthodox cultivation method, the Martial Arts and magic engraved here are extremely sinister and cruel.

But undeniably, they are of formidable power.

"Come out!"

Only after finishing the examination, did Fang Zheng retract his gaze and spoke slowly:

"Having watched for so long, shouldn’t you show yourselves?"

"Gah gah..."

A strange cry sounded:

"Unexpectedly, apart from the team heading to Fengdu City, someone else dares to walk through the Valley of Evil Fate; truly surprising."

"Little ones, come out!"

"Clatter..."

A flock of crows flew out first.

Upon closer inspection,

these crows were already stripped of flesh, leaving only the white bone frame, black feathers, and scarlet eyes.

They were obviously Ghost Crows!

"Caw!"

"Caw!"

The Ghost Crows obscured the sun, letting out shrill cries, with sound waves visible to the naked eye, containing an abnormal power that stirred one’s mind.

Not just the Ghost Crows.

Ghostly shadows surrounded, and black chains floated into the air, weaving together into a large net above.

Soul Hook Chain?

The magic just seen on the stele now revealed before his eyes.

Moreover, the many chains intertwined to form an array, tightly trapping him within.

"To have walked out of the Valley of Evil Fate alone, your power is surely impressive." The strange voice echoed again:

"But now you’re trapped in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon Extermination Array; even with cultivation reaching the heavens, you won’t escape this calamity!"

"Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon Extermination Array?" Fang Zheng shook his head:

"The name is surely intimidating!"

"What a pity..."

"The power is lacking a bit!"

"Boom!"

Before his voice fell, True Qi erupted within him, a giant Kui Ox formed from thunder appearing out of thin air.

The Kui Ox opened its large mouth.

"Roar!"

Wind and Thunder Roar!

In an instant.

The massive body of the Kui Ox shriveled at a visible speed, and the power of thunder within extinguished.

Meanwhile.

A shock wave visible to the naked eye swept in all directions.

In the void, Invisible Powers collided.

As if thousands of bombs exploded, with substance yet intangible sound waves like billions of swords, bursting countless ripples in the void.

This force may not impact dead objects much, but is extremely terrifying for living beings with active internal energy.

Mana, Essence, even the fluctuation of Divine Thought, trembled violently under the sound waves, until exceeding the limit.

"Bang!"

"Bang bang!"

Above, the Ghost Crow cried continuously, one after another exploded.

The hidden figures around clutched their heads in agony, screaming to the sky, unable to suppress the agitation of Qi and Blood.

"Bang!"

Heads exploded one after another, blood splattering.

The so-called Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon Extermination Array instantly fell apart, unable to reform.

Moments later.

Fang Zheng’s figure flashed, pulling someone out from the ruins, eyes emitting a mystical Spiritual Light, staring at the person.

Soul Capturing Technique!

"What’s your name?"

"...Ghost Seven!"

The person showed signs of struggle, but ultimately couldn’t resist the Soul Capturing Technique, their gaze gradually turning vacant.

"I ask, you answer."

"Yes."

......

"It is truly so!"

Fang Zheng sat cross-legged among the ruins, chin in hand, seemingly thoughtful.

Through his Soul Searching, he now understood more about the Yama Secret Realm.

According to ’Ghost Seven,’ this place is named Ghost Head Town, one of the dozens of towns under Fengdu City.

And Ghost Seven,

belongs to the Black Mountain Monster.

Black Mountain,

is the rival force of Fengdu City.

His presence here was to ambush the team heading to Fengdu City, seeking blood food.

Of course.

He lacked the strength to breach Ghost Head Town.

Ghost Head Town became ruins due to the actions of Lady White Bone, a top expert under the Black Mountain Monster.

From Ghost Seven’s description.

Lady White Bone is surely an Evil Daoist Sage, the Black Mountain Monster is stronger, but likely not a Rogue Immortal.

"Indeed."

Fang Zheng murmured:

"This is just a secret realm, I’m afraid it cannot accommodate the likes of a Rogue Immortal, yet they seem to be unaffected by the secret realm’s constraints?"

As for what lies beyond Fengdu City and Black Mountain and how to leave the Yama Secret Realm, Ghost Seven knows nothing.

Indeed.

He didn’t even know that where he lived was a secret realm, with an even broader world outside.

As for the Yama Heart Sutra...

"This Dharma Gate is actually the universally transmitted Cultivation Method in this realm, with an Inheritance Stele in every town."

Fang Zheng looked at the stele:

"However, to learn the complete inheritance, one must enter places like Fengdu City and Black Mountain."

"Hmm..."

"Lady White Bone and others also cultivate the Yama Heart Sutra; could their freedom from the constraints of this realm be because of this Cultivation Technique?"

"Yama Heart Sutra and Yama Visualization Method seem to be somewhat related."

Upon seeing the Yama Heart Sutra for the first time, the Celestial Secret Compass gave a reminder, suggesting that this Cultivation Technique is extremely important to him.

"Why not give it a try?"

With this thought, Fang Zheng looked at the stele again, and simultaneously operated the Yama Heart Sutra as described on it.

Yama in the Sea of Consciousness leaped out, forming a Seal Technique while operating the Heart Sutra First Layer.

After an incense stick’s worth of time.

"Phew..."

Fang Zheng exhaled turbid Qi, opened his eyes, and looked at the stele again.

First Layer!

Accomplished!

Second Layer.

An hour later.

The Second Layer was also perfected.

He originally was from the Martial Sect, with a similarly high level in Magic, so it’s normal for him to progress rapidly in Low Tier Dharma Gates.

But such rapid progress is not normal.

"Indeed!"

Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up:

"The Yama Visualization Method and Yama Heart Sutra share a lineage and can be cultivated together in no time."

That being said...

One day later.

Fang Zheng formed a Seal Technique, his Divine Soul sensing the Yin Energy existing between heaven and earth, as a Soul Hook Chain slowly formed.

"Solidify!"

The chain formed.

Fang Zheng’s face erupted into a smile, not because he had mastered a Mage, but because the Soul Hook Chain had a convenient Dharma Gate.

"Come!"

He reached out, and the scattered Soul Hook Chains of Ghost Seven and others all flew over, numbering in the dozens.

"Refine!"

With a flick of his finger, the numerous Soul Hook Chains merged inward, combining with the Soul Hook Chain he had cultivated.

"With the fusion of dozens of Soul Hook Chains, its power can rival high-grade Magical Artifacts."

"With my current ’cultivation base,’ I have the strength to contend with a Great Mage."

"If I could cultivate the Yama Heart Sutra to the Tenth Layer and integrate it with my body, even against Iron Flute Immortal, there would be no need for fear."

"If I could cultivate it to the Eleventh Layer..."

Fang Zheng’s breath quickened:

"Rogue Immortal!"

"The many Magical Treasures in the Yama Secret Realm may not be of much use to me, but I must obtain the Yama Heart Sutra!"

"But how can an outsider like myself obtain the complete Yama Heart Sutra?"

Simultaneously.

He also understood why there were no corpses or bloodstains, although a bloody slaughter had indeed taken place here.

Because...

The Magic cultivated by the Yama Sect mostly requires bodies and blood as aids.

Like this Soul Hook Chain.

To refine it, a blood sacrifice is needed; presumably, when Fang Zheng is done refining it, the corpses here would all be consumed.

*

*

*

An eerie wind howled.

A team of over a hundred people moved slowly within the Valley of Evil Fate.

"Be careful!"

An elderly man with grizzled hair walked at the front of the team, holding a White Bone Staff and looking ahead:

"We are almost out of the valley; if the Black Mountain Monster has set an ambush, it’s most likely around here."

"Everyone, stay alert, don’t let your guard down!"

"Yes!"

"Understood, Elder Ren!"

"Everyone, stay alert!"

As they were urged with low voices, a dim aura of Spiritual Light shone in the eyes of many in the team, and one by one, Bone Swords, Soul Hook Chains, and Baleful Yin Needles silently appeared.

The team continued forward.

"Eh?"

Elder Ren stepped out of the canyon, his face showing surprise as he looked around.

Nothing happened?

What happened to the Black Mountain people?

In past years, the Black Mountain Evil Dao would always ambush midway!

Although he was puzzled, he knew this was an opportunity not to be missed, and immediately gestured urgently:

"Quickly!"

"Let’s head to Ghost Head Town; there’s a formation there that isolates Yin Energy, and once we’re there, we’ll be safe."

"Protect the children!"

"Yes."

The crowd responded affirmatively and quickened their pace forward.

Upon closer inspection.

In the middle of the crowd, there were actually dozens of young children being protected by several adults as they moved forward.

Before long.

A ruin appeared in front of everyone.

"How could this be?"

Elder Ren’s eyes widened, and he showed a look of terror:

"Ghost Head Town has been destroyed?"

"Could it be that the Black Mountain Monster acted personally?"

"Is that the team heading to Fengdu City?" Just as he was in doubt and confusion, a man walked slowly out of the ruins, cupping his fists as he spoke:

"I am Fang Yan, a resident of Ghost Head Town, wishing to travel together."