Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 688 Ruins Ghost
The thick, ink-like night seeped down through the holes in the dome.

Feng Wu curled up on the cold, broken stone in the corner, the shattered bones and burning internal wounds in her body like countless poisonous insects relentlessly gnawing at her soul.

Sweat mixed with blood trickled down her forehead, dripping onto her tattered, blood-soaked, colorful dress, spreading out in a sticky, dark smear.

She tried her best to suppress the panic spreading in her heart, her gaze fixed on the rubble and debris a few steps away.

The confrontation between Liang Jin and Wu Ling is determining the fate of everyone here.

Initially, when Liang Jin appeared like a divine warrior descending from the heavens and defeated the powerful witch spirit with thunderous force, a faint hope did indeed ignite in Feng Wu's heart.

This mysterious and unpredictable man, who calls himself the "Great Teacher of Wisdom," might actually be able to turn the tide and save her and Suiyan from their desperate situation.

However, the current situation almost extinguished her flame of hope.

Liang Jin and that witch spirit no longer showed any signs of fighting to the death.

The two stood facing each other, speaking in calm tones, as if they were discussing some profound subject.

Wu Ling even patiently explained the mysteries of "spirit" and "ghost," while Liang Jin listened attentively, occasionally asking questions.

This...this is clearly like they're about to become friends!
friend?

Those two words pierced her heart like cold, poisonous thorns!
This wicked witch spirit is cunning and ruthless.

If this unfathomable and wise teacher were to truly join forces with him...

She and Suiyan will... surely die today!
The witch wrapped herself tightly in her tattered feathered robe, resembling a raven's carcass. Her deep, dark eyes, piercing through the shattered bark mask, seemed to see right through Liang Jin:

"Although spirits and ghosts originate from the same source, being transformed from the remnants of divine sorcerers, they are now worlds apart!"

Her voice was hoarse, yet each word was clear, cutting through the deathly silence:

"'Spirit' is the luminous divine essence formed by the union of the living's will and the divine power of the sorcerer, like a candle flickering in the wind. When its master perishes, the light is extinguished, and the soul returns to heaven and earth! But..."

She extended a slender, pale finger and pointed eerily at the three pieces of the sorcerer's remains that Liang Jin clutched in his palm, still radiating an ominous and chilling aura:

"If the place where the remains of a shaman lie dormant is an extremely yin, extremely evil, or where the spiritual veins are blocked and twisted, his spirit will not only not dissipate, but will instead absorb the resentment and death energy accumulated in this place, causing abnormal changes and turning into a ghost of the ruins."

"Some of the evil spirits are malevolent and ferocious, and often difficult to control. If you encounter one, it is best to avoid it."

The pale jawbone, deep purple kidneys, and stiff, cold soles that Liang Jin clenched in his palm seemed to grow even more sinister and ominous with the words of the witch spirit.

"Are they... the lingering resentment from the death of the sorcerer?"

Liang Jin asked in a deep voice.

"Not at all!"

The witch chuckled and shook her head, her eyes beneath the crack in her mask carrying an arrogant air of control over secrets.

"The three fragments of 'Void Ghosts' in your hands have long been worn away by the passage of time! They are like broken pieces of debris abandoned at the bottom of the boundless void, leaving only endless nothingness, emptiness, and bewilderment... They have the shell of a Void Ghost, but they are as muddled as walking corpses!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying the mysterious rhythm unique to occult rituals:
"These almost lifeless things are the perfect ritual summoned by the secret Soul-Binding Technique of Mount Ling! With just a little summoning magic, I can drive these remaining ghosts to bring the piece of decaying remains attached to them across mountains and seas to your presence!"

The words echoed strangely, striking heavily into Liang Jin's consciousness!

That's it!

A glint of light flashed in Liang Jin's eyes, and many joints suddenly opened up!
The strange occurrences during the pursuit of Bei Yi's corpse, the combination of Gu magic and this bizarre summoning spell... the entire chain of control has finally been revealed.

The witch spirit is the hidden hand that weaves the needle and thread!
She served the Demon Lord of Wuxu, collecting the remains of divine witches. This summoning technique was the key to her finding the secret treasure!
In an instant, a thought surged forth like molten lava—he was determined to obtain this method!

"Such wonderful methods..."

Liang Jin's voice was deep and clear, carrying an undeniable desire:
"Witch Spirit Grand Preceptor, could you please impart all your knowledge to me?"

He was very interested in collecting the uncorrupted corpses from the Ruins of Guixu.

However, if one were to spend heavily to acquire companies from various sources, it would be fraught with difficulties.

His avatar in Dongzhou, relying on the vast power of the World Society, has been searching everywhere for fragments of the Uncorrupted Corpse of Guixu. Although there has been some news so far, he has not yet been able to truly obtain them.

And this witch spirit was able to easily collect three fragments, which was undoubtedly far too efficient.

The value of this technique is immeasurable!

"snort--!"

The witch suddenly let out a sharp, cold laugh, like the friction of metal against stone, and the mockery almost materialized into icy spikes that pierced towards Liang Jin:
"Great and wise teacher, are you blaspheming against the supreme shamanistic path of my sacred mountain, which has been passed down for thousands of years?!"

Her body trembled slightly with excitement:
"Do you know that even the most basic technique of 'drawing snakes to open the orifices' requires years of dedicated study and constant prayer and connection, and you can't even attract the slightest sound of insects chirping!"

The withered claws of the witch spirit suddenly pointed at Liang Jin, and its aura surged dramatically:
"What's more, this ancient summoning mechanism that traces back to spirit seeds, guides remains, and manipulates ghosts?!"

Her eyes, hidden beneath the mask, were piercing and intense.

"Even among my personally taught disciples of Mount Ling, those who have diligently cultivated for decades and possess exceptional talent, eight or nine out of ten still struggle to even begin to grasp the basics! Do you think you can loosen the foundation of this lineage with just a few casual words?!"

"Don't say this is a secret kept by my Spirit Mountain! Even if I were to recite it to you, what foundation do you have to understand that ancient soul sound that transcends life and death, yin and yang? What ability do you have to wield that power that connects heaven and earth?!"

Liang Jin stood still like a stone sculpture.

The witch's words were extremely harsh, but they were not unfounded.

There are similarities between witchcraft and martial arts, but there are also great differences.

The art of witchcraft is vast and complex, requiring not only the cultivation of "internal strength" but also the use of external objects, with a wide variety of props needed for witchcraft.

Some forms of witchcraft, in particular, involve many disciplines such as psychology, probability, biology, chemistry, and meteorology.

In addition to rigorous self-cultivation, learning witchcraft requires a significant amount of time to study related knowledge, and even more challenging is the ability to integrate and master this knowledge.

Liang Jin wasn't lacking in the determination to learn, but rather in the necessity of learning.

Whether it's martial arts, witchcraft, Gu magic, poison magic, or any other kind of magic, as long as you can master one of them to the extreme, you can gain a place in this world.

Liang Jin now has a solid foundation in martial arts. All he needs to do is dedicate all his time to practicing martial arts and become more proficient in it.

Too much to chew.

The pinnacle of martial arts is equally capable of supporting the heavens and standing tall!

Liang Jin's gaze shifted slightly, and a thought flowed naturally like a stream:

"The Witch Spirit National Preceptor is so profound and knowledgeable that I admire him greatly. I wonder if he would be willing to join my Taiping Dao?"

Professional matters should be left to professionals.

Instead of wasting energy figuring it out on our own, wouldn't it be better to bring this powerful priestess under our command?

"Whee!"

The witch's laughter grew even more shrill, like the dying cry of a night owl:
"Great and wise teacher, the fox's tail has finally been revealed!"

Her tattered feathered robe fluttered slightly without any wind, and she took a step back warily.
"After all that talk, it turns out you still want me to be your slave!"

Beneath the bark mask, a torn corner of his mouth twisted into a chilling, cruel laugh, each word as sharp as iron:
"Then I'll reply to you one more time..."

"Stop having such delusions!"

Liang Jin's tone was calm, yet carried an air of certainty that he was in control of the situation:

“Nothing is absolute in this world.”

"If the Grand Preceptor has any needs or desires, please speak up, and our Taiping Dao may not be unable to fulfill them."

His posture was humble, but it seemed more like he was assessing the value of the goods.

The air suddenly solidified.

Wu Ling stared intently at Liang Jin's face, as if trying to pierce through it and see the true depths of this man's heart.

The cold standoff lasted as long as a century.

Finally, she suddenly released her taut killing intent, and her voice became unusually light and cold:

"Hehe! I've already said everything I needed to say."

She turned her body, her back to Liang Jin, and gazed at the even more intense moonlight outside the palace:

"If a great and virtuous teacher has even a shred of sincerity..."

The voice was cold and indifferent, as if it were soaked in frost.
"Let me leave now!"

Turning around suddenly, the cracks in the shattered bark mask resembled grinning mouths:

"If you want to force it..."

She pointed sharply at her heart:
"Then crush it here, cut open my chest, and pull out the secret you want!!"

The will to perish together with the enemy was like cold iron nailed to the spot!

Liang Jin remained silent for a moment.

"We are good friends, how can I refuse a friend's invitation?"

A deep voice sounded.

There wasn't even a wisp of air rising from beneath his feet; he simply shifted his stance slightly!
It was as if a passage had automatically opened up for the witch spirit!

"call--!"

A sudden gust of cold wind swept by!
Wu Ling's petite yet eerie figure, like a melting, viscous shadow, moved faster than the limits of human vision, instantly disappearing from the palace ruins!
Liang Jin did not give chase.

He simply gazed at the ancient, withered tree outside the palace, its canopy grotesquely exposed in the moonlight.

The dark figure of the witch spirit stood alone on the highest withered branch, like an ominous crow taking a temporary rest.

The face covered by that ugly bark mask seems to "look back" from afar:
"Great Master..."

The hoarse voice pierced the night wind and reached Liang Jin's ears clearly:

"If one day I avenge my blood feud... or if my king's great cause fails..."

The dark shadow on the tree branch tilted its head slightly, as if savoring some unattainable bitterness and madness:

"Then perhaps we'll have another chance to talk then."

Liang Jin nodded from afar, raised his arm and gently waved it, making a gesture of "please" that was the epitome of a humble gentleman.

The doubts in his mind were naturally not completely resolved.

But that wasn't an urgent need, so he wouldn't insist on it.

This witch spirit knows many ancient secrets and many strange tales of the world; she is a rare talent.

Liang Jin did not want to completely condemn this person, but hoped to recruit her to his own service.

Threatening people with death may be effective in the short term, but it is not beneficial in the long run.

Moreover, Wu Ling hadn't made any absolute statements, and there might be another opportunity to subdue her in the future, so Liang Jin naturally wouldn't be in a hurry.

With the [Thousand-Mile Tracking] ability, the witch spirit... has no chance of escaping.

Liang Jin's almost "relieved" demeanor caused the witch spirit at the treetop to fall into a momentary silence.

moment--

"whee……"

The chilling laughter rang out again, but this time, it carried a strange, almost self-deprecating tone:

“The great teacher just had a very frank conversation with me.”

The moonlight outlined her thin, eerie figure; she was clearly referring to the time not long ago when Liang Jin had faced her naked.
"Then I'll show you a little 'sincerity' too."

Crack!

A slight, piercing sound of tearing cloth!
She raised her blood-stained, withered claws and violently ripped off the twisted bark mask that was stuck tightly to her face!

The cold, clear moonlight poured down!

Illuminate that...face hidden beneath the hideous mask!

The air froze instantly.

That wasn't the face I expected, covered in scars or signs of aging!
It was like a magnolia blossom just beginning to bloom in a secluded valley under the moon! Exquisite, delicate, even... carrying the immaturity of an unopened flower!
A face that looks like that of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl!
Her skin was unusually pale, so thin that countless fine, bluish-purple veins could be seen beneath it, like countless twisted poisonous vines wrapped around her bones, giving her an eerie, fragile, and morbid beauty.

What should have been pure beauty was made breathtaking by the eerie vein patterns that covered her face and extended to her neck.

It suited her small, almost childlike figure.

Standing beneath the withered branches and the blood-red moon, it resembled a doll forcibly dressed in an adult feathered robe!
Liang Jin's brows, hidden beneath his mask, suddenly furrowed!

He was certain that the face was definitely real!
No disguise or human skin mask was used.

Because this is what the Witch Spirit's avatar looks like on the [Thousand Mile Tracking] panel!
However... this doesn't make sense!

At such a tender age, when they are just beginning to blossom, it is absolutely impossible for them to reach the second rank!
It's even less likely that they would possess the ruthless heart to manipulate countless lives!
"Please forgive my intrusion..."

Liang Jin's steady voice carried an undisguised hint of inquiry:

"May I ask how old the Imperial Preceptor is?" Liang Jin guessed that Wu Ling might have cultivated some kind of martial art or witchcraft that could reverse aging, which made her, who might already be decades old, look like a little girl.

"age?"

The witch spirit, using that girl's face, let out a sharp, cold laugh that was completely at odds with her pure appearance, filled with a mocking and indifferent tone born of experience:
"People are foolish and stubborn, indulging in this rotten facade!"

Without hesitation, she pressed the cold mask back onto her face, and a chilling voice squeezed out from beneath it:
Even if an eighty-year-old woman has the beautiful face of a sixteen-year-old, foolish men and women will still flock to her!

Even if a young woman has a face full of wrinkles, who would want to give her a second glance?!

"It's just a physical appearance! Why are you so fixated on it? Great teacher, you're nothing more than that!"

"Now that you have the goods, why aren't you getting out of here?!"

She abruptly fell silent, her figure transforming into a long, distorted shadow on the branch.

Liang Jin's voice seemed to unintentionally pierce through the night wind:
"Could it be that you're worried about your Demon Lord Wuxu running into us?"

The witch spirit suddenly burst into a long, shrill laugh, like shattered glass scraping against a stone slab:

"Hehehe! If our king were here..."

Her laughter stopped abruptly, and her tone became incredibly sinister:

"Do you think I have the time or inclination to waste my breath on you in this pile of dead bodies?!"

She suddenly turned her head.

Those inhuman eyes, hidden behind the mask, suddenly pierced Feng Wu, who was kneeling against the wall!
"That stupid, pig-like woman from Yaoshui! So indecisive! While she was still sending you all to spy on our situation!"

"Our king has already personally led the owl army in a surprise attack on Wuli!"

"By now, they would probably have already trampled Wuli to the ground!"

"Your so-called Xuanfeng Palace has long been reduced to ashes beneath my king's feet!"

The unrestrained laughter was like the howl of a demon from hell.

The witch's figure suddenly disappeared into the shadows under the moonlight, leaving no trace!
Feng Wu, standing in the corner, was struck as if by a thunderbolt from the heavens!
The severe injuries she had been forcibly suppressing within her body suddenly erupted!

"puff--!!!"

A mouthful of blood and essence containing fragments of shattered internal organs gushed out, sprinkling onto the cold, broken bones and bricks, hot and bloody!

Her pupils were dilated to the limit, almost bursting!

Fear, despair, and a sense of utter despair overwhelmed her in an instant!

"Uh... ah!"

She let out a broken howl like a dying beast, her hands digging desperately into the cold, hard ground covered with powdery bone fragments!
Wuli! That was the homeland she swore to defend with her life! Her people! The place of her faith!
The witch's words were like a poisoned dagger piercing her last vital vein!

She strained herself, inch by inch, to straighten her body, which was like a tattered rag doll! She tried... to stand! She ran!

Even if I have to crawl! I'll crawl back to Wuli!
Another mouthful of sweet, pungent blood surged into his throat!

She crashed heavily to the ground, and her vision suddenly went completely black!

It's over... Wuli... Mother Goddess... Endless despair completely engulfed her!

despair……

A pair of dusty boots, embroidered with ancient dark gold runes, stopped in front of Feng Wu's blurred vision.

"We met and traveled together, though each of us had our own agenda..."

Liang Jin's clear, cold voice pierced through the endless roar in Feng Wu's ears, casting an eerie stillness into her chaotic consciousness:

"In a way, it was all a matter of fate."

He crouched down and took out two unremarkable celadon bottles from his wide sleeves.

The bottleneck was tied with rough hemp rope, which faintly exuded a cool and aloof air, completely out of place in this bloody and filthy place.

"This is the healing talisman water from my Taiping Dao sect; it is also remarkably effective in healing injuries."

He placed the two small bottles on the cold, rough ground in front of Feng Wu:

"The injury is too severe. Take it immediately; it may give you a chance to survive."

Feng Wu's eyes were unfocused, yet she struggled to refuse with the last shred of clarity, her voice hoarse and broken like tearing silk:

"go!"

"Great and wise teacher... please... please don't worry about us..."

Blood and froth kept gushing from the corners of her mouth:
"Quick...hurry up...go back to Yaoshui..."

She tried to reach out and grab the hem of Liang Jin's robe, but her hand trembled weakly and futilely amidst the dust and broken bones, unable to lift at all.

"Reporting to...reporting to the Queen...Wuli..."

“Save…Wuli…”

Every word seemed to be burning away the last bit of life force remaining in her body!

Liang Jin looked down into her eyes, which were torn apart by despair and the will to survive, his voice flat and emotionless:

"Still don't understand?"

He picked up a bottle and easily uncorked it:

“I am not one of the Queen of Yaoshui’s people. I just happened to meet you.”

"The conflicts in your Southern State..."

He reached out his other hand and, with a less-than-gentle movement, pried open Feng Wu's tightly clenched teeth, which were clenched in despair.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with me."

The icy talisman water was suddenly poured down!
It carries a peculiar, icy, refreshing scent that seems to penetrate deep into the soul!

He then moved to Suiyan's side and, in the same manner, poured another bottle of talisman water into the burly man's throat, leaving him completely unaware.

After swallowing the talisman water, Suiyan even coughed unconsciously.

"you……"

Feng Wu coughed violently after being forced to take the medicine.

But the moment the icy talisman water entered his stomach, an indescribable cool and soothing sensation strangely spread from the depths of his almost completely shattered meridians!
An unprecedented, faint power is quietly emerging!
She stared in astonishment at her trembling hands.

The arm that had previously felt like it was filled with heavy lead and was breaking was now able to be lifted by her own!
She even grabbed the hem of Liang Jin's slightly worn yellow robe!

"me……"

Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and a sudden surge of deep terror:
"Your medicine...how..."

The medicine is effective!

The speed at which it works! The sense of restoration!

This is never normal!
Having grown up in Nanzhou, Fengwu is well aware of all the elixir-making methods that defy common sense and destroy the very foundation of evil!

There is a "Heart-Burning Life-Sustaining Powder" from the Burning Soul Department. Taking it can make a person, even if severely injured and on the verge of death, appear as lively as a dragon and tiger, fighting fiercely until the last potential of their life is burned away!

When the medicine's effects wear off, it will be the moment when flesh and blood are burned to ashes in an instant!
The seemingly clear talismanic water of the Taiping Dao may actually be far more terrifying than this!
The price... what must be burned? Lifespan? A curse of eternal damnation?!
"Your medicine..."

Feng Wu's voice was hoarse and shrill, filled with a deathly terror as she questioned:
"What will we use to repay this debt?"

She abruptly raised her head, her eyes filled with extreme terror and a sudden, explosive, resolute hatred:
"explain!!"

Her fingernails were almost digging into her palms, and her teeth were grinding together.
"Are you... coveting... mine...?"

"Bloodline...first time?!"

Wu Ling had just told Liang Jin about the unique effects of Feng Wu's special bloodline on her first night.

Such a unique effect is bound to fascinate people.

If it weren't for the fact that the Holy Maiden Wuli never married outside the family, the line of suitors would have worn down her door long ago.

Even the Demon Lord of Wuxu specified that he must capture Feng Wu alive, and even had Wuling lure Feng Wu all the way to this Demon Palace in order to take her virginity.

That was her only asset! And also her biggest source of trouble!

Liang Jin slowly straightened up.

The eyes, shrouded in the shadow of the mask, suddenly turned as cold as ice!
That gaze was like a tangible sword, piercing through the air and striking straight into Feng Wu's eyes!
Cold! Indifferent!
It also carried a chilling disdain, like looking down on ants, as if it had been desecrated!
"Ha... Ridiculous!"

A soft laugh, so chilling it seemed to freeze the entire ruins.

"We regard your bloodline as worthless as dirt!"

Before he finished speaking——

Swish!
His wide yellow robe suddenly billowed, as if brushing away a tiny drop of blood that stained it!

Feng Wu's blood-stained fingers, gripping the hem of her clothes, were instantly shaken away by a gentle yet irresistible force!

Without even glancing at Feng Wu, who was lying on the ground with a frozen look in her eyes, he didn't utter a single unnecessary word.

Liang Jin's gaze simply swept calmly over the red-furred, jade-faced fire monkey peeking out from the shadows of the distant ruins.

As if receiving a command, the monkey let out a strange cry and transformed into a streak of crimson lightning, shooting forward!

Whoosh-!
It landed steadily on Liang Jin's dusty shoulder, which he had already lifted.

The next moment!
Liang Jin lightly touched the messy ground with his toes!
There was no burst of fierce wind, no surging energy!
He was like a bamboo leaf supported by an invisible force, his figure suddenly rising taller under the cold moonlight—

His robes fluttered in the wind, his yellow gown billowed in the breeze!
With a strange, snarling fire monkey on its shoulder!

Silently, it merged into the hole at the top of the palace, into that endless, deep abyss that buried the scene of the earth-shattering battle just now—

In the inky black sky!

A deathly silence once again reigned over the vast palace.

Feng Wu stared blankly at the pitch-black night sky outside the gaping hole.

She blankly raised her arm again, which had been too painful to lift just moments before but was now flexible and strong.

She instinctively took a deep breath, and the sharp pain in her lungs almost disappeared!
She tried to circulate the depleted and dim Xuanfeng divine power within her body, and surprisingly, it circulated weakly without any hindrance!
An incredible surge of vitality revived and flowed within her body, which had once resembled a broken pottery jar!
Suiyan let out a heavy groan beside her, and slowly sat up, supporting himself on his arm which was broken in several places!
"Phoenix... Dance?"

He touched the spot on his chest where the tear had been, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

"This...my bones...?"

Magic medicine!

An absolute miracle cure for wounds!
There are no side effects of burning your life force!

Only the tangible, visible, terrifying, and unbelievable power of creation...?!

A thousand pieces of gold?! Ten thousand pieces of gold?!
This kind of divine medicine, which can instantly save two lives from the clutches of Yama, is simply priceless!
The man she suspected with the deepest malice had so casually poured it into two dying burdens?!

Then... without a word, he turned and left?!
Her despicable slander just now...

She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, a feeling of guilt suddenly welling up inside her, making her heart feel as if it were being violently squeezed!
"I misunderstood him!"

"I...I actually...repaid kindness with enmity..."

Feng Wu gazed at the direction of Liang Jin's disappearance in the sky, the moonlight reflecting on her face full of shame.

Liang Jin did not harm her along the way. In fact, after being abandoned by them, he rescued her and even gave her a miraculous medicine.

Despite such a great favor, Feng Wu not only showed no gratitude, but even suspected that the other party had ulterior motives and wanted to take advantage of her vulnerability.

It's no wonder Liang Jin left in anger, given Feng Wu's ungrateful nature.

A burning sensation welled up in my eyes!
She suddenly punched her numb leg!

"Great Master..."

"It's my fault... I'm sorry!"

Her hoarse voice echoed through the deathly silence of the ruins, filled with a belated, almost overwhelming regret:

"If Heaven has eyes, may I be allowed to return alive this time."

"One day, I will sincerely apologize to the Great Teacher and repay him a hundredfold!"

Dark as ink.

Feng Wu dared not waste a single second of the life-saving power brought by the divine medicine!

She pulled up Suiyan, who was still struggling in a daze, but whose body was rapidly improving!

Two staggering yet resolute figures rushed out of the ruined palace and headed into the vast, unknown depths of the fierce forests of southern Xinjiang!

(End of this chapter)