89: The Yin soldiers passed through and opened the mountain gate

In just three days, the Ghost Domain swept through, and the entire Liang Province fell, transforming into a Ghost Domain.

Only then did the spread of Yin Qi slow down.

Such rapid speed immediately shocked all forces across the land.

"What? Liang Province has fallen... becoming a Ghost Domain? How is that possible!"

"The leading True Core Realm Sect in Liang Province, the Vast Qi Sect, cultivates vast righteous Qi specifically to counter Yin ghosts. Even they couldn't resist?"

"This is bad. The Ghost Domain devours the Qi and blood of Mortals, constantly expanding its ranks. The common people will suffer greatly."

Soon, another piece of bad news arrived.

Taizhou, Luzhou, and Luozhou, three prefectures adjacent to Chong Prefecture, saw their leading Sects' Grand Elders of the True Core Realm join forces, attempting to curb the spread of Yin Qi.

The result was two dead and one severely injured.

It was rumored that within the Ghost Domain army, there were traces of a Profound Cave Realm Ghost King.

Immediately, Cultivators from all prefectures across the land felt a chill down their spines, becoming as silent as cicadas in winter.

Without exception, they relocated their Sects, moving far away from Chong Prefecture.

Ding Province and Jing Province remained relatively calm.

Both were far from Chong Prefecture, and with half-step Profound Cave Realm Cultivators guarding them, at the current rate of Yin Qi expansion, they wouldn't be threatened for at least a hundred years.

Ding Province.

The Yellow Turban Army's main camp.

Yellow talismans were plastered everywhere, and incense smoke wafted around the pillars.

Inside the hall, a twelve-foot-tall statue of Yellow Heaven stood, holding a whisk, radiating solemn majesty.

This place didn't resemble a military camp; it looked more like a Daoist temple.

On a prayer mat, a middle-aged man sat, letting out a soft sigh.

His face was ordinary, like an old farmer in the fields.

If an outsider were present, they would undoubtedly recognize him as Duke Zhang Liang, renowned throughout the land.

"The Seal on the Yellow Springs Great Emperor's dao karma... has broken... In the future, Great Shang might be completely lost..."

Zhang Liang's face was filled with worry.

In his youth, he had received the Legacy of the The Way of Peace.

At its peak, this Sect had no shortage of Old Monsters of the Dongxuan Realm within its ranks.

Those of the True Core Realm could only serve as ordinary teaching Elders.

Even the Great Shang Imperial Court had to show them respect.

Yet, even such a powerful Sect, in order to Seal the dao karma left behind by the Yellow Springs Great Emperor, met with the fate of its Dao tradition declining and its Sect being utterly destroyed.

In fact, when the dao karma ran rampant, even the Demon Kings of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains at that time fell in great numbers.

Since then, although demons and monsters ran wild in Great Shang, no Profound Cave Realm Demon King dared to take a single step into it.

"Profound Cave Realm... I must Breakthrough as soon as possible..."

Zhang Liang sat cross-legged, and behind him, a dark, empty void appeared.

Various profound auras emanated from within.

It originated from the same source as the Yellow Heaven statue.

It was a fragmented Grotto-Heaven!

Great Shang Imperial Mausoleum.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Old Ancestors of the Great Shang Imperial Court frowned deeply, not uttering a word.

"A catastrophe... I never thought the Seal, reinforced by the The Way of Peace with the blood sacrifice of its entire Sect and a hundred thousand living beings, would break open again today.

Now, what should we do?"

Yin Taixu spoke, his brows etched with worry.

After a long pause, an Old Ancestor seated below slowly spoke: "Chong Prefecture's transformation into a Ghost Domain is a foregone conclusion... Currently, throughout the land, Cave Profound Ancestorss are few and far between.

I fear no one can reinforce the Seal again.

As things stand, we can only shorten our defense lines and relocate the Mortal populace..."

As soon as these words were uttered, many True Core Ancestors showed expressions of shame.

Jing Province had limited capacity for people; if they were to relocate Mortals, they would inevitably only be able to take in a portion, leaving at least tens of millions to be displaced and devoured by Yin ghosts.

After a moment of silence, Yin Taixu sighed: "At this point, that is all we can do..."

Soon, the Great Shang Imperial Court issued an imperial edict.

All regions were to consolidate their forces and relocate their populations.

Many Sects responded actively, exhausting their resource points within their Sects, harvesting all Spirit Medicine, and bringing everything to Jing Province.

During this period, the twists and turns and battles that occurred are not for outsiders to know.

Yuanlian Island.

Gu Changsheng's brows were tightly furrowed.

Who would have thought that beneath the barren Xiao Huai Village, a Fengdu Ghost City was Sealed?

Thinking back, being able to retreat in one piece back then was like walking through the gates of hell.

"This is bad. Chong Prefecture has become a Ghost Domain, and the Ghost Domain has swept through, even devouring Qiantang County... There are many True Core Realm Ghost Cultivators, and there's even a suspected Profound Cave Realm Ghost King..."

Gu Changsheng calculated the days; in less than ten years, it would be the day the Dragon in Qiantang County revived.

At that time, after slaying the Dragon and re-entering the Yellow Springs Secret Realm, he could refine Yellow Springs Mountain and control the entire Secret Realm.

Especially the medicinal garden within the Secret Realm.

It contained Spirit Medicine that had grown for an unknown number of tens of thousands of years.

Gu Changsheng had long planned to refine the spirits of plants and trees into Incarnations, gathering one hundred and eight of them, aligning with the power of the Earthly Fiends and Heavenly Gangs, to cultivate with a grand Formation of the Heavens, increasing his chances of Breakthrough to the Profound Cave Realm.

Now, with Qiantang fallen, venturing there would be risky; who knew if it would attract the attention of a Profound Cave Realm Ghost King?

"As things stand, I can only place my hopes on Great Jin..."

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged and began to cultivate in silence.

Half a year later.

The outskirts of Yuanlian Island.

Two streaks of escape light shot away, pursued relentlessly by Foundation Building Realm fierce ghosts.

"Father, this is bad.

At this rate, in less than half an incense stick's time, we'll be caught by these fierce ghosts..."

A young girl with willow-leaf eyebrows and a pretty face cried out.

The middle-aged man in front of her showed a resolute expression between his brows. He immediately stopped, hovering in the Void Realm, and said to the girl: "Wan'er, Yin ghosts are troublesome.

Today, there's no escaping.

If I stay behind to cover our retreat, there might still be a glimmer of hope..."

"No, I'm not leaving..."

"Foolish!"

At this moment, the one-eyed fierce ghost had already arrived, its thick Yin Qi giant claw slashing down.

The middle-aged man's expression turned cold. The square Seal hanging at his waist flew into the Void Realm, expanding with the wind, transforming into a small mountain to meet the giant claw.

Bang—

The Yin Qi giant claw shattered, and the one-eyed fierce ghost cried out in pain.

But Yin Qi was inherently defiling.

Visibly, the square Seal had acquired many pitted spots.

The middle-aged man couldn't care less about the pain, desperately pouring dark Qi into the square Seal.

In just a few breaths, several more Foundation Building Realm fierce ghosts attacked.

Even though the middle-aged man shielded the girl by his side, their situation worsened.

"My foolish child... Must you die with your father..."

"If Father doesn't leave, Wan'er will never leave either..."

Three breaths later, Yin Qi blades and axes slashed, almost splitting the middle-aged man in half.

"Wan'er... Today, it seems our father and daughter... are destined to go to Yellow Springs together... You've suffered so much... I haven't even found a good husband for you yet..."

"Father..."

Both their faces were filled with despair.

Suddenly, a streak of emerald green sword light swept over, streaking across the sky.

A green line appeared between heaven and earth, followed by the wailing and dissipation of several fierce ghosts.

"This..."

The middle-aged man was utterly astonished.

He saw a white-robed young man with an ethereal posture standing proudly in the Void Realm before him.

The aura he exuded was like a deep abyss.

He was a True Core Realm Old Ancestor.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor, for saving us!

I am Gu Liuan, and this is my humble daughter, Gu Wan'er..."

Gu Liuan said respectfully.

Gu Changsheng glanced at the two and said indifferently: "This Old Ancestor is Yuan Lian. Saving you was merely a casual act, nothing worth mentioning.

Since you have come from the outside and stepped onto my Yuanlian Island, it is a form of destiny."

After speaking, he looked at the gradually dispersing Yin Qi and frowned: "Has the situation with the Ghost Domain from the outside worsened to this extent... that it's even near my Yuanlian Island..."

Gu Liuan recounted in detail, explaining the changes in the outside world.

Gu Changsheng's frown deepened.

"Yin ghosts are truly troublesome... You two might as well find an unoccupied island within the Yuanlian Island area and recuperate in peace."

The Nine Bending Lake was dotted with islands, and Yuanlian Island was merely the largest main island among them.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor!"

The two were overjoyed.

Suddenly, Gu Wan'er's expression was hesitant. She mustered her courage and spoke: "Old Ancestor, Wan'er has an impolite request..."

"Oh, what is it?"

"The Yin ghosts outside are poisoning the land, and the Gu Family's thousands of people are struggling to survive.

I hope Old Ancestor will be benevolent and allow them to enter Yuanlian Island for refuge as well."

As soon as these words were uttered, Gu Liuan's face immediately turned stern, and he shouted at Gu Wan'er: "Presumptuous!"

After speaking, he cupped his hands to Gu Changsheng in apology: "My daughter is ignorant of proper conduct. I hope Old Ancestor will be magnanimous."

Gu Changsheng did not speak, merely glancing at the two and saying indifferently: "This matter is simple.

However, you must agree to one condition of mine..."

Hearing the agreement, the two exchanged glances, a hint of joy appearing on their faces.

"Please speak, Old Ancestor. The entire Gu Family will spare no effort to accomplish it."

"There's no need for such extremes. You merely need to spread the word for me.

Just say that my Yuanlian Island is opening its doors wide, taking in Cultivators and Mortals from all over the land to escape the disaster."