Chapter Thirty-Eight: Battle with the Ink Ghost

Lu Xingchen’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, "I am merely securing the greatest benefits for my fellow sect members. This medicinal garden belongs solely to the Lingxiao Sect. Whoever dares to approach shall be killed without mercy!"

"Guimo, you had better take your subordinates and leave now."

Guimo sneered, "Lu Xingchen, I am afraid you have failed to grasp the situation. It is you who should be calling for help right now!"

Lu sighed softly. "Alas, more blood must be shed."

Guimo spoke coldly, "Get him!"

The five disciples of the Nine Ghost Sect behind him charged at Lu Xingchen simultaneously. Lu Xingchen immediately activated the "Heaven-Swallowing Art," and his aura surged abruptly. Within a few breaths, his cultivation realm rose to that of a one-star Great Martial Master.

The five disciples were struck with terror and retreated, looking at Lu Xingchen with fearful eyes. Guimo was also somewhat astonished.

"A secret technique to temporarily boost your strength? So this is your trump card. But it is a pity—you are a fake Great Martial Master, while I am the real thing!"

With that, Guimo stopped holding back. He channeled his Battle Qi, revealing his true one-star Great Martial Master realm to everyone.

"Are you not afraid?" Guimo asked, finding it strange that Lu Xingchen showed no reaction at all.

Lu Xingchen chuckled lightly, "It was expected. Why should I be afraid?"

"Lu Xingchen is mine. You all go and finish off the other two."

As the Holy Son of the Nine Ghost Sect, Guimo possessed a degree of arrogance. He considered himself invincible among his peers and believed defeating a Martial Master who relied on a secret technique to force a breakthrough would be effortless.

Lu Xingchen frowned. Aside from Guimo, there were six other high-level Martial Masters. Ning Feng might not be able to hold them off alone. If they entered the garden and disturbed Lin Jing, a failed breakthrough would be a minor issue, but her life would be at stake.

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Xingchen tossed a Spirit Formation Orb at the garden entrance. A third-grade spirit formation materialized instantly, blocking the entire passage. This third-grade formation, known as the Spirit-Binding Array, could temporarily restrain a Great Martial Master, and ordinary Martial Masters stood almost no chance of breaking free.

Seeing the Spirit-Binding Array, Guimo was shocked. "A third-grade Spirit Formation Orb! The Lingxiao Sect truly spent a fortune for this secret realm!" Guimo naturally did not believe Lu Xingchen had acquired this orb himself, given its exorbitant value.

Lu Xingchen said indifferently, "Think what you will. But today, you shall not enter this garden!"

Guimo snorted, "Big talk. Yao’er, you lot just watch from the sidelines. Today, I will let you witness the true power of a Holy Son of the Nine Ghost Sect!"

He drew a long blade from his storage ring and slashed at Lu Xingchen. Lu Xingchen met him with his Shadow Sword in hand. When the blade and sword collided, Guimo was shaken back a dozen steps, while Lu Xingchen stood unmoved.

Lu Xingchen pouted. "Your strength is too weak!" Indeed, compared to the snake demon he had fought previously, Guimo’s power was negligible.

Guimo was stunned. Why was his strength so formidable when their realms were identical? Yet, Guimo’s pride prevented him from admitting defeat easily. "What good is mere brute force? You will never be able to block my next move!"

"Nine Ghost Calamity!"

Guimo held his blade with both hands, channeling his Battle Qi, and nine skulls appeared before his blade. Each skull was the size of a human head, eyes glowing with a sinister red light. As Guimo swung down, the nine skulls flew toward Lu Xingchen in unison.

Lu Xingchen remained unfazed, unleashing nine consecutive "Void-Breaking Slashes." With every swing of his sword, a skull was obliterated. Within a few breaths, Guimo’s ultimate attack was effortlessly dismantled.

"How... how can he be this strong?" Guimo stared at Lu Xingchen, his eyes filled with disbelief as he muttered to himself.

Lu Xingchen smiled dismissively. "Your Battle Qi is unstable and your hand seals are slow. The Holy Son of the Nine Ghost Sect is nothing more than this. Now, watch me!"

Lu Xingchen gripped his sword with both hands and released the "Azure Dragon Slash." A dark green Battle Qi dragon appeared on the edge of his blade. Though small, the dragon was perfectly formed, even the scales clearly visible. As Lu Xingchen slashed, the dragon surged toward Guimo.

Guimo did not sit idle and released the "Nine Ghost Calamity" once more, the nine skulls colliding with the Azure Dragon. The skulls were extinguished one by one, and the dragon grew increasingly faint. Finally, the nine skulls vanished entirely, and the remaining force of the Azure Dragon struck Guimo squarely in the chest.

Guimo was sent flying backward. He forced his body to stabilize in mid-air with a backflip but still coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Yao’er, help me!" Guimo was frightened. He feared he would be killed by Lu Xingchen before the secret technique wore off, so he called for backup. In the face of Lu Xingchen, he finally cast aside the pride of a Holy Son.

Gui Yao’er and the other five high-level Martial Masters immediately stood before Guimo.

Lu Xingchen scoffed, "Do you think I fear you because there are more of you?"

Ning Feng approached, brandishing his long blade. "Tell me, are you treating me like air? Want to gang up on my boss? Did you ask for my permission?"

Guimo frowned and said in a low voice, "Two of you, go deal with Ning Feng. The rest of you, attack Lu Xingchen with me."

Lu Xingchen chuckled, "Brother Ning Feng, do not hold back. Kill them all. Shall we have a race to see who is faster?"

Ning Feng laughed, "Hahaha! Although I am not as monstrous as you, dealing with two eight-star Martial Masters is no problem. In that case, let’s see who is faster!"

Facing a combined attack from five opponents, Lu Xingchen felt a hint of pressure. Fortunately, he possessed the Shadow Sword. Relying on its two-stage displacement, Guimo’s mob tactics became a joke. The five of them could not even touch the hem of Lu Xingchen’s garment, while every strike of his sword inevitably left a Martial Master severely wounded.

Yet, Guimo refused to order a retreat. He was gambling—betting that Lu Xingchen’s secret technique would reach its time limit. However, five minutes later, besides Guimo and Gui Yao’er, the other three Martial Masters had all been slain.

Ning Feng walked over, carrying his blade. "Boss, it’s done." Ning Feng was covered in cuts, but it did not hinder him from continuing the fight. Two against two, Guimo knew he had no chance of victory.

"Lu Xingchen, show mercy. I will immediately take Yao’er and leave the secret realm. Everything in our storage rings can be yours; it is a considerable fortune, even for you."

Lu Xingchen shook his head slightly. "If I kill you, your storage rings will be mine anyway."

In truth, Lu Xingchen was not greedy for the rings. It was simply that he had already killed so many disciples of the Nine Ghost Sect that they were now blood enemies. Letting Guimo go would be no different than releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Some things must either not be done at all, or be finished completely.