Outside the entrance of the Ghost Territory, three great clans—Song, Yang, and Luo—had set up camp, their tents pitched like silent sentinels facing the dead land. The portal opened irregularly, and no cultivator could return unless they exited through the same entrance. Thus, the three clans waited, watching, worrying.
In the center of the Song clan's camp, Song Tu lounged on a reclining chair, eyes closed, body relaxed—until two figures burst into his abode.
"Song Tu! Song Tu, you old bastard! What are you doing lazing around at a time like this?!"
The sharp voice belonged to Elder Yang, her expression grim. Elder Luo stood quietly behind her, face tense.
Song Tu's eyes snapped open. "What now?" he grumbled, but as he saw their expressions, a chill ran down his spine.
"We've received word," Elder Yang said, voice tight. "A creation realm cultivator from the Ghost Sect has entered the Ghost Territory—and she's hunting down our disciples."
"W-What!?" Song Tu shot upright, nearly falling off his chair. "A creation realm ghost cultivator?! That's impossible!"
"The message came through Yang Bing's soul-link," Elder Yang confirmed. "Her Dao companion passed it to us as soon as he received it."
Song Tu's face paled. "What exactly did she say?"
"The Ghost Sect's elder has already killed two of our Yang disciples," Elder Yang said bitterly. "And she's chasing the third. It's the same with the Luo clan—our disciples are being slaughtered."
"She's traveling with two of your Song family's juniors—Song Yan and Ye Kaishan."
That name brought a flicker of relief to Song Tu's heart. "So Song Yan is still alive…" But the comfort faded quickly. "Hsss… But if she's being hunted by a creation realm cultivator…"
He stroked his beard anxiously. How did they offend the Ghost Sect enough to be hunted down like this?
"But… wait," he muttered aloud. "Even if they entered the territory, cultivators above the Forging Realm shouldn't be able to exert full power. Isn't that a natural restriction?"
"It is," Elder Yang confirmed. "But even at twenty percent strength, a creation realm cultivator can obliterate those juniors."
Elder Luo finally spoke, his voice low and grim. "We must find a way in. Elder Yang, Song Tu… can either of you open a passage?"
Song Tu shook his head. "Even if we could enter, how would we find them in such a vast, chaotic space? We'd only be throwing ourselves into the darkness without a torch."
He exhaled slowly. "Let us hope they survive… and that misfortune doesn't pile higher."
At the Foot of Black Mountain
Dark clouds swirled above the jagged peaks of Black Mountain. Ye Kaishan and the others stood at its base, gazes locked on the sky above.
Some wore expressions of terror.
Others—like Song Yan, Wang Li, and her maid—looked as if they could devour their enemies whole.
Yang Bing stood expressionless, utterly exhausted. Lee Xiao… the old witch… Ye Kaishan… and now this. How many more threats will we face? Yang Mon cowered behind her, peeking at the ghost cultivators through the gaps between rocks.
Ye Kaishan, by contrast, appeared entirely relaxed, as if watching an amusing play unfold.
High above, Lee Xiao and Lee Mo hovered, surrounded by ghost cultivators on flying treasures.
"You've surprised me," Lee Xiao said coldly, staring at Song Yan and Ye Kaishan. "Not only did you subdue the Yin Drop, but you also killed that witch. I suspect the collapsed space wall was your doing as well."
Song Yan's eyes glinted with killing intent. "So what if it was?"
Lee Xiao narrowed her eyes. These two… they've ruined all my plans. The Yin Drop was taken under my nose. The old witch was supposed to kill those Wang family brats—now she's dead. Even the treasure from the cave went to them…
"I don't care about your lives," she said at last. "Give me the Yin Drop, the treasure from that cave, and the body of the old witch. Do that, and I'll let the rest of you live."
Song Yan laughed mockingly. "The Yin Drop and treasure? Already digested. As for the old witch's corpse—sure, take the rotting thing if you like."
Lee Xiao's face turned to ice. Rage flared in her eyes.
Lee Mo quickly placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Don't let her provoke you. She wants you to lose control."
Lee Xiao clenched her jaw but nodded. "You're right."
"Tsk, tsk," Wang Li chuckled beside Song Yan. "They make a good pair—hot temper and cold reason."
"Indeed," Song Yan murmured. "If they'd attacked recklessly, we could've activated the Chaos Fortune Bell. Then Li Xu could have handled the Dao companion easily."
"Can you really not use the bell from here?" she asked Wang Li softly.
"Only within range," Wang Li replied. "I'm still too weak to unleash its full power."
Lee Xiao, watching them, realized just how close she'd come to falling into their trap. Her body still remembered the pain from Wang Li and Li Xu's earlier ambush.
With a sharp motion, she raised her hand—signaling the attack.
Twenty cultivators surged forward. Forging realm and Body Realm cultivators unleashed their elemental powers in a coordinated assault.
Li Xu stepped forward, sword flashing as she slashed through the incoming wave—but Lee Xiao countered with ease, a cunning smile playing on her lips.
"What do we do now?!" Yang Mon cried out. "Sister Bing!"
Before she could answer, Song Yan stepped forward, sword in hand.
"Don't worry," she said solemnly. "I'm still here."
Her slender hands gripped the hilt. The sword thrummed with space laws. She slashed—
A dark blue arc tore through the sky, colliding with the elemental powers mid-flight.
BOOOOM!
The sky shook as her space slash sliced through the combined assault, sending the enemy cultivators into panic.
"How is that possible?!"
The slash rushed toward them like a predator—but just as it was about to hit—
SWOONG!
An arrow struck it down in mid-air, deflecting the blast.
Lee Xiao's frown deepened. With a flick of her hand, she activated Thousand Ghost Command—a swirling wave of black energy emerged, unleashing thousands of ghostly apparitions. These were no ordinary spirits—each had once been a peak-level cultivator, many in the Soul Star Realm.
Simultaneously, Lee Mo launched Thousand Arrow Technique, covering the sky in an avalanche of death.
Even Li Xu couldn't hope to defend against two simultaneous attacks from creation realm experts.
Everyone tensed.
Song Yan inhaled. "Looks like I really have to use it—my Divine Soul of the Emperor."
She touched her chest.
It's just… humiliating to call upon something so profound against mere creation realm cultivators. Still, if anyone asks—I'll make something up.
But before she could act, a warm hand grasped hers tightly.
"I'm still here."
Ye Kaishan's simple words gave her pause. Her eyes trembled.
"It's okay, I can still—"
But Ye Kaishan had already stepped in front of her.
"You've done your part," he said gently. "Now it's my turn."
He drew the sword she'd given him. His stance was awkward—understandable, perhaps. After all, who wielded a sword in the modern world of Blue Star?
He chuckled quietly. A sword. How primitive… how perfect.
Looking up at the blackened sky, now filled with soul energy, arrows, and ghost wails, his eyes shifted.
They gleamed bluish green.
"Time Manipulation: Time Flow Release."