Outside the Ghost Ridge Palace sect.

A convoy of carriages was on the move, however, the drivers looked deathly still, and upon close inspection, the horses appeared to be covered in human skin, with their limbs resembling human arms and legs, devoid of any blood.

All seven or eight carriages were the same, moving at an incredibly fast pace, as if they were phantom-like, covering dozens of miles in mere moments.

On a central carriage, Lu Jingshi, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Soul Sect, lifted the curtain and gazed ahead, saying indifferently, “We are approaching Ghost Ridge Palace. Everyone, brace yourselves. This discussion is crucial to the safety of our sect, don’t let anything go wrong.”

“Yes, Sect Master.”

Within the carriage, there were several responses, and one by one, ghostly figures emerged.

Some of them had their hair tied with the bones of the dead, donned mourning clothes, and were entirely in white.

Others had shadows behind them, twisting and raging, as if they had their own consciousness, transforming into layers of ferocious ghostly figures, terrifying beyond measure.

Some appeared normal in attire, yet their bodies were devoid of any flesh, like skin encasing a layer of bones, incredibly eerie.

Among the seven or eight people, only half of them looked somewhat like ordinary people, at most appearing a bit pale and unhealthy.

These belonged to the Secret Realm Elders of the Heavenly Soul Sect, who, due to raising and refining ghosts, often went astray and were deeply corrupted by fierce ghosts, turning themselves into neither humans nor ghosts.

These were those with insufficient cultivation; the truly powerful ones were those who controlled the fierce ghosts, instead of being influenced by them.

Like Lu Jingshi, a Taoist Platform Realm expert, he appeared very healthy and ruddy, more natural and proper than ordinary people, without the slightest oddity visible.

Observing the looming peaks ahead, Lu Jingshi knew that once past the plains, entering the majestic mountain ranges, they would reach Ghost Ridge Palace’s territory.

“Sect Master, do you think Ghost Ridge Palace will ally with us this time? What if they have no regard for past ties…”

Xue Xin, the Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Heavenly Soul Sect, spoke up. He wore a black robe, with a human-faced walnut in his left hand, possessing a cultivation of the Secret Realm Fifth Level, making him one of the most senior elders of the Heavenly Soul Sect today.

“They won’t. The principle of ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ is something Ghost Ridge Palace understands well. If we are eliminated by Guan Chao Pavilion, the next to be targeted would be the Heavenly Soul Sect. That’s why during the last sect war at Ghost Ridge Palace, we came to assist; they wouldn’t just watch us being wiped out.”

Lu Jingshi spoke correctly, but his tone lacked absolute certainty.

The Heavenly Soul Sect had been having hard times in recent years.

For some unknown reason, Guan Chao Pavilion had gone mad, accusing the Heavenly Soul Sect of plotting to murder their Taoist Platform Realm expert Zhuang Liangru, and had been constantly targeting the Heavenly Soul Sect.

Several times, the headquarters of the Heavenly Soul Sect, near Nanyang City, had been subjected to cleansing operations sent by Guan Chao Pavilion, and recently they had mobilized extensively, uniting with various major righteous sects in Qingzhou, seemingly intent on eradicating the Heavenly Soul Sect.

Lu Jingshi’s visit to Ghost Ridge Palace this time was to seek help from them.

On their own, the Heavenly Soul Sect could not withstand the encirclement led by Guan Chao Pavilion and the major righteous sects of Qingzhou, they needed Ghost Ridge Palace as reinforcements in battle for a chance at survival.

“Additionally, we also have acquaintances within Ghost Ridge Palace. Hopefully, this time they will speak well for us, fostering cooperation between both sides.”

Lu Jingshi suddenly mentioned something.

“Sect Master is referring to the Immortal Seed?”

Xue Xin immediately understood who Lu Jingshi was referring to. He had also witnessed Su Jie’s prowess, having slayed the righteous Immortal Seed Wei Ji, who had the True Dragon Body, solo battling five Secret Realm experts during the sect war, living up to the Devilish Immortal Seed name.

“Exactly that person.”

Lu Jingshi nodded, just as he was about to say more, he abruptly raised his head, his gaze solemn as he looked toward the clouds in the sky dome.

“Be careful, there’s a flying magic boat.”

The next moment, Lu Jingshi seemed to have discovered something, his expression turning extremely grim.

It’s well-known that in Qingzhou, only the wealthy Guan Chao Pavilion could afford such war fortresses as flying magic boats, and only they had the technology to manufacture them.

Now, in Lu Jingshi’s perception, a flying magic boat was rapidly approaching from the sky dome, its intent hostile.

“No good, could it be that our plan to ally with Ghost Ridge Palace has been leaked? Is the opposing party deploying this to prevent us from entering Ghost Ridge Palace’s territory?”

Xue Xin’s face turned ashen, his gloomy gaze sweeping across the seated elders, eyes cold as if trying to find the traitor within their ranks.

However, those selected to join this group were the most trusted elders of the Heavenly Soul Sect, and no matter how Xue Xin looked, he couldn’t find anyone who would betray the sect and act as a mole.

“Things are dire; disperse and retreat, fall back to the Ghost Ridge Palace station. The magic boat coming this time likely has the presence of Guan Chao Pavilion’s Taoist Platform Realm experts.”

Lu Jingshi warned, as his left hand’s flesh wriggled, splitting open a bloodstain, with billowing yin qi surging from within.

The next second, a gust of sinister wind blew, and a fierce ghost, suffused with murderous aura, appeared.

Its appearance was ghastly, with skin pale as paper, four eyes each with pupils of different sizes and colors, seeming to pierce into the deepest fears of the human heart.

This was an Eighth Grade Evil Spirit, an Earth Evil Ghost.

Facing the incoming flying magic boat, Lu Jingshi dared not hesitate, immediately revealing his trump card.

The other elders of the Heavenly Soul Sect were also tense, summoning fierce ghosts, with some elders’ mourning clothes transforming directly into fierce ghosts.

Some elders’ shadows transformed into ghostly figures, attaching themselves to the elders, turning them into ghost bodies.

Some elders’ flesh and bones inflated like blowing air, turning into statues ten feet tall, with green faces and fangs, muscles stiff, displaying faint golden silk patterns, having turned themselves into Golden Armored Zombies.