As the crimson moonlight descended, the false grandeur of the magnificent hall was peeled away like a veil, revealing a twisted, horrifying reality.

Substantial ghostly energy suffocated every corner of the City Lord’s Manor. The once-bright courtyards were now choked with flickering shadows, and eerie, rustling whispers echoed from the void, sounding like the weeping of countless wandering souls.

In Qi Yuan’s perception, the surrounding Yin energy had become so dense it was nearly liquid. Aside from him and Bai Xirou, everyone else in the manor succumbed to the mist, their consciousness fading as they collapsed one by one.

Bolstered by the Ten Thousand Evil Yin Extinction Array, “An Lingxiu’s” aura skyrocketed. He quickly reached the peak of the Soul Formation stage, his power even eclipsing that of ordinary cultivators at the same level.

“Jie jie jie jie jie!”

Seeing Qi Yuan standing motionless, seemingly paralyzed by his overwhelming might, “An Lingxiu” threw his head back and cackled maniacally.

“Though my Nether Moon Ghost Body hasn’t fully recovered, it is more than enough to crush a mere Nascent Soul junior like you! Remember the name of the one who sends you to the grave: I am Lu Jiuyuan, Left Protector of the Nether River Cult!”

Before his laughter could even fade, an incredibly ill-timed voice cut through the tension.

“Old ghost, what was your name again? Lu Jiu-something?”

“An Lingxiu” paused, his rhythm broken. He instinctively replied, “Lu Jiuyuan.”

The voice piped up again. “Lu-what Yuan?”

“Lu Jiu…”

Halfway through, the ghost realized he was being played. He roared in fury.

“Who are you?! Show yourself if you have the guts!”

Whoosh!

A figure shot out from a pile of unconscious bodies like a jack-in-the-box.

“Holy Scion! Your subordinate is here to help!” the figure shouted. “Lu Jiuyuan, eat a basin of my Virgin Boy Urine!”

Before the ghost could react, a massive splash of pale yellow liquid drenched him from head to toe.

Lu Jiuyuan was hit by the acrid stench instantly. He trembled with sheer disgust, stomping his feet in a blind rage.

“You damnable bastard! I will tear you apart alive!”

The ghostly mist around him churned violently, instantly vaporizing the urine on his body.

Seeing his “ultimate weapon” fail completely, Lucky Li panicked. His hands fumbled as he pulled a second basin from his storage ring.

“You old ghost, you’re pretty tough! Take another basin of Black Dog’s Blood!”

Splash!

A wave of foul-smelling, dark red liquid went flying toward the ghost.

…

Witnessing Lucky Li’s “heroic” performance, Qi Yuan—who had been about to attack—felt his cheek twitch. He quietly grabbed Bai Xirou and took a few steps back to avoid the splash zone.

Bai Xirou’s mouth hung slightly open, her confusion palpable. “Junior Brother Qi, isn’t that a disciple from your Supreme Mystery Sanctuary? What… is he doing? Do virgin urine and black dog blood actually work?”

Qi Yuan’s face was dark, his expression deadpan.

“If you’re dealing with low-level hopping vampires, maybe. But against a peak Soul Formation stage ghost… the only effect is to humiliate the opponent right before you die. I suppose it lets you go out with a bit of dignity.”

“SEEKING DEATH!”

Lu Jiuyuan wasn’t going to fall for the same trick twice. He sidestepped effortlessly, dodging the wave of blood. He then thrust his palm forward, conjuring a massive, ghostly black claw that whistled through the air straight at Lucky Li.

To be drenched in urine was the humiliation of a lifetime for a Left Protector of the Nether River Cult. His hatred for Lucky Li now far eclipsed his desire to kill the Holy Scion.

“Stinking brat! If I don’t skin you, break every bone in your body, and grind your soul to dust, I will never know peace!”

The giant ghost claw, dripping with killing intent, arrived in front of Lucky Li in a heartbeat.

Feeling the terrifying pressure, Lucky Li’s legs turned to jelly.

Oh no! This old ghost Lu is too strong!

Is this it? Has my luck, Lucky Li’s luck, finally run out?

Just as death seemed inevitable, Qi Yuan finally moved.

His figure blurred, reappearing instantly in front of Lucky Li. He didn’t dodge. He simply raised his fist and punched the incoming claw.

BOOM!

A blast of violent, scorching Yang energy erupted, melting the giant ghost claw like snow in a furnace. The shockwave swept through the hall, incinerating the lingering ghostly mist.

“Innate Pure Yang Body?! How is that possible?!”

Lu Jiuyuan’s cruel smile froze on his face. He stared at Qi Yuan with shock and horror.

He never imagined the Holy Scion possessed an Innate Pure Yang Body—and the highest grade at that.

Compared to this terrifying radiance, the pure Yang aura Qi Yuan had displayed earlier when killing the moth was nothing. It wasn’t even one-thousandth of his true power.

He… he was playing the pig to eat the tiger!

He was baiting me!

An ominous premonition seized Lu Jiuyuan’s heart…

Qi Yuan didn’t give him time to think. After shattering the claw, he stomped the ground, shooting toward Lu Jiuyuan like a golden arrow.

He threw another punch.

The fist carried such intense Yang malice that Lu Jiuyuan’s face twisted. He immediately levitated backward, summoning a storm of yin wind. Powerful ghostly energy unfurled from his robes, condensing into dozens of pitch-black chains.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The chains, imbued with extreme curse energy, weaved a net of death, attempting to strangle Qi Yuan.

Facing the overwhelming onslaught, Qi Yuan’s expression remained flat. He didn’t dodge. He didn’t weave. He charged straight into the net.

Sizzle!

The moment the ghost chains touched his body, they disintegrated into smoke, annihilated by his blazing aura.

Under Lu Jiuyuan’s disbelieving gaze, Qi Yuan’s right fist punched through the blockade and landed solidly on his chest.

THUMP!

Lu Jiuyuan felt like he’d been hit by a falling mountain. He was launched backward dozens of meters, crashing heavily into the floor and creating a massive crater in the reinforced stone tiles.

Before the ghost could even try to crawl out, Qi Yuan was already there.

He straddled the ghost and rained down punches.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

Watching the terrifying peak Soul Formation ghost being beaten like a ragdoll, Lucky Li swallowed hard.

“My goodness… As expected of the Holy Scion. He’s outrageously awesome!”

He then minced over to Bai Xirou with small, quick steps and asked sincerely, “Junior Sister… the Yin energy here is so thick that even I, a late Golden Core cultivator, feel like I’m suffocating. You’re only at the Foundation Building stage—how are you completely fine?”

Bai Xirou let out a relieved sigh seeing Qi Yuan dominating the fight. Hearing the question, she blinked innocently.

“Your Holy Scion injected a large amount of Yang energy into my body beforehand, so I wasn’t affected.”

Injected… Yang energy?

Lucky Li’s eyes widened. He revealed a look of profound understanding and deep respect.

“Martial… ah, no, Sister-in-law.” He bowed deeply. “This little brother is named Lucky Li. In the future, I beg you to put in a good word for me in front of the Holy Scion. This little brother would be eternally grateful…”