97: Chapter 97 Recruitment by the Reincarnation Cult, Breakthrough to the Fourth Tier

"The Reincarnation Cult? It's you people. Why are you here? Was this kidnapping orchestrated by your Reincarnation Cult as well?"

Lin Yuan looked up at the pale-faced Daoist, Ghost Remnant, and asked in a deep voice.

"Of course not. How could they have the face to invite our Reincarnation Cult? I am merely using this opportunity they created to meet you. It's not easy to meet you when you're at Qing University," Ghost Remnant said in a nasally, strange tone.

"Then what is your purpose?"

"Purpose? Naturally, it's to recruit you into the Reincarnation Cult. Your talent is so strong; join my Reincarnation Cult, and I guarantee you endless glory and wealth in the future. When our Reincarnation Cult controls Blue Star, you will rise with us," Ghost Remnant continued.

"Heh heh—recruit me? Is this how you recruit people? Knowing my family was captured, you not only refuse to help me rescue them but stand here threatening me to join your Reincarnation Cult with my family as leverage. You Old Bastard, what good thing are you dreaming of? Get lost right now, or I'll kill you too!"

Lin Yuan was so angered by this effeminate Daoist that he almost laughed. Do the people of the Reincarnation Cult all have water in their brains?

"Insolent! Daring to speak such nonsense in front of this Altar Master—you truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Since you cannot be used by my Reincarnation Cult, then you can just die!"

Ghost Remnant's expression turned ugly, and he sharply struck the furnace platform with the large banner in his hand.

"Daring to disrespect the Reincarnation Cult and disrespect this Altar Master—killing you directly would be too lenient. Before you die, I'll let you properly enjoy the pain of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring the Soul! Jiejiejiejie---"

Ghost Remnant's lips curled up, emitting strange laughter. He waved the large banner twice, shouting loudly:

"Soul Refining Banner, let him taste your might! All of you, come out!!!"

He waved the Soul Refining Banner toward Lin Yuan, and a sudden change occurred. From the black Soul Refining Banner, wisps of milky-white ghostly shadows floated out at a speed visible to the naked eye.

They all bared their fangs and brandished their claws, pouncing toward Lin Yuan in mid-air---

Outside the window, Qi Tianheng saw this and was about to rush in to save Lin Yuan, but Mu Qianqian grabbed his shoulder.

"Alliance Leader Qi, wait a moment longer. I won't let anything happen to him," Mu Qianqian said calmly. She believed that since Lin Yuan knew his parents were trapped here, he must also know the opponent's capabilities, perhaps even being aware of a Sixth Stage existence.

Lin Yuan was originally prepared to activate Heavenly God Descends, but upon seeing the ghostly things floating out of the Soul Refining Banner, he immediately stopped his action.

He stared blankly at the ghosts in the air, his mouth agape in shock.

"Jiejiejiejie---Scared silly, kid? Enjoy it well. They will gnaw at your soul inch by inch, making your life worse than death!" Ghost Remnant sneered triumphantly.

The reason Lin Yuan was stunned was not fear, but surprise.

He really needed to enjoy this properly. These were not some Ten Thousand Ghosts; these were pure ability points! Although these things had condensed into physical form and looked somewhat ferocious, they were solid soul bodies.

Wasn't this like receiving a huge gift? Such condensed soul bodies, and in such a large quantity—how many ability points would that be---

Lin Yuan wasted no time. He frantically activated the [Spirit Devouring] skill and inhaled with his mouth wide open---

The ghostly shadows, which had been baring their fangs and brandishing their claws while wailing, instantly turned into a white stream of air, rushing madly into Lin Yuan's mouth.

"What? How is this possible? My Ten Thousand Ghosts---Stop sucking! Stop it! Stop for me!"

Seeing this, Ghost Remnant immediately tried to retract the Soul Refining Banner, but the banner seemed completely out of his control. The soul bodies continued to pour out endlessly.

Lin Yuan looked at the continuously soaring ability points on his panel and thought to himself, "This Reincarnation Cult really is despicable. To think they killed so many people, they truly deserve death!"

Among these soul bodies, there were not only human ones but also those of fierce beasts later on. It seemed Ghost Remnant had put in considerable effort to collect them.

He never expected it all to benefit him. Then today, he would act on behalf of heaven and eliminate this murderous evil ghost---

The ability points on the panel had already soared to 4.3 million. In just this short time, it was more than double the ability points he had gained from frantically grinding during the beast tide previously.

"Increase my Martial Arts Level!"

Lin Yuan willed it, immediately increasing his level. He knew that once Ghost Remnant realized he couldn't control the Soul Refining Banner, he would attack him. He didn't have time to completely devour all the soul bodies.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for advancing from Mid Third Stage (80%) to Peak Third Stage, consuming 280,000 ability points."

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for advancing to Early Fourth Stage Martial Artist, consuming 2.8 million ability points."

"Martial Arts: Early Fourth Stage Martial Artist (0%)"

"Combat Power: 11.77 Million"

"ability points: 1.22 Million"

"I finally broke through to the Fourth Stage. My current combat power already exceeds the standard for Peak Fourth Stage. With Heavenly God Descends activated, my combat power will surely surpass the standard for Mid Fifth Stage, plus the boost from soul attacks and advanced Martial Arts. This should be enough to deal with Ghost Remnant," Lin Yuan calculated inwardly. He hadn't expected this misfortune to bring an unexpected gain.

Next up was killing Ghost Remnant and rescuing his family.

"Damn it! You dog! You sucked up my Ten Thousand Ghosts! This was the result of decades of hard work collecting them, and you just absorbed them all! Waaah! Give me your life!!!"

Ghost Remnant suddenly shot out inch-long black fingernails from his fingertips, flashing with a faint, dim light. It was obvious they were coated with potent poison.

Ghost Remnant shrieked and slashed the air with his ten fingers, drawing streaks of faint light as he lunged toward Lin Yuan.

"Hmph! Old Bastard, come on! Carefree Break!"

Lin Yuan shouted, spiritual energy surging out of his body, revealing the aura of an Early Fourth Stage. A silver sphere of light began to condense in his hand.

His spiritual sense transformed into a sharp cone shape and violently speared toward Ghost Remnant's sea of consciousness.

...Outside the window, Qi Tianheng suddenly cried out, "Fourth Stage!!! Brother Lin is actually a Fourth Stage Martial Artist??"

Mu Qianqian was also shocked. Considering Lin Yuan's talent for fighting across major stages, she thought he must have reached the Third Stage Martial Artist level. But she never expected Lin Yuan to already be at the Fourth Stage. Such a cultivation speed was unheard of, even in the Liuyun Star Domain---

...Just then, Ghost Remnant in the air suddenly let out a miserable cry, his expression extremely pained. Clutching his head with both hands, he crashed directly down from the sky.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan immediately drew his sword and charged forward, directly flinging the silver sphere of light from his hand—it was the S-rank Martial Art, [Spatial Rend and Kill].

He swung the swimming dragon sword continuously, unleashing wave after wave of [Space Dimensional Slash] attacks.

Strike while the enemy is down! Take his life!

Ghost Remnant's expression twisted, but as expected of a Sixth Stage expert, he immediately stabilized his body, summoning a black horsetail whisk to block the various slashes surrounding him.

He looked around warily with his eyes. He felt there must be another expert nearby, otherwise, how could his sea of consciousness suffer such heavy damage?

Could it be a Martial God expert made a move? Could it be that Saint Su---This Lin Yuan was a genius from Qing University.

But he didn't consider that if a Martial God wanted to attack him, why would they bother with a spiritual sense attack?

"Young friend Lin, I was wrong. Let me leave, and I promise I won't bother you again in the future."

Ghost Remnant could only beg for mercy. He wasn't afraid of a Fourth Stage Lin Yuan, but he had to fear the potential super expert nearby. If that person wanted to kill him, he would have no chance of escape---

"Old Bastard, what good thing are you dreaming of? Today, I will personally slay you!" Lin Yuan sneered.

"Good, good, good! You think this seat is afraid of you? Even if I die today, I will drag you down as a cushion! Die!"

Ghost Remnant waved his black horsetail whisk, directly using it to forcibly tear open the spherical space created by Spatial Rend and Kill, and lunged toward Lin Yuan.

"The Sixth Stage is indeed formidable. Even though his soul is injured and his strength is greatly reduced, he is still powerful."

Thinking this, Lin Yuan unhesitatingly activated his ultimate move:

"Heavenly God Descends, activate for me---Open!"