From martial arts sects to immortality sects

Chapter 235 Northern Ghosts and Monsters

Li Qingqiu waited for most of the day inside the Xuanji Sect. After his treatment, Yu Qilin's injuries gradually improved, and at least the wounds on its limbs no longer hurt.

Jinlang practiced his sword behind Li Qingqiu, not wanting to waste a single moment, even more obsessed than Xu Ning and Zhao Zhen.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Li Qingqiu suddenly raised an eyebrow.

He heard noises coming from down the mountain.

somebody is coming.

And it wasn't just one person.

A thought struck him, and Lin Chuan immediately dove underground to check the situation.

Not long after, Lin Chuan emerged from the darkness behind Li Qingqiu and began to report the situation.

A large army swept in from the foot of the mountain, completely surrounding it. Lin Chuan scanned the area and saw a vast, uncountable horde of soldiers.

He made a rough estimate and concluded that there were at least 100,000 troops, with more soldiers on their way from afar.

According to Lin Chuan's description, this army should belong to the Northern Barbarians, or more precisely, the Northern Court army.

Why would the Northern Army come here?

Could this be the reason why the Ghost King of the Netherworld left?
Li Qingqiu frowned. He decided to wait a little longer. If the Northern Army arrived and the Ghost King of the Netherworld had not returned, he would leave with the Prison Qilin.

Time passes quickly.

Li Qingqiu waited patiently.

Half an hour later, his brows furrowed again as he sensed a powerful ghostly aura rising up the mountain.

The King of the Netherworld!

This ghostly aura reminded Li Qingqiu of the Ghost King within the Soul Refining Flag, but it was still somewhat inferior to the Ghost King who was still asleep.

The ghost king within the Soul Refining Flag evoked an indescribable eeriness, while this ghostly aura felt bloody, cruel, and powerful.

Lin Chuan and Nangong E stood behind Li Qingqiu, already tense, as if they had encountered their natural enemy. Jin Lang also jumped onto Li Qingqiu's shoulder.

Li Qingqiu once again released his spiritual sense to peer into the buildings outside the iron cage.

Under his gaze, a hand appeared above the distant tower, followed by another hand, and its body rose up, gradually revealing itself.

This is a three-headed, six-armed vengeful ghost, bare-chested, wearing tattered black pants, with a dark blue face, two protruding fangs in his mouth, each four inches long, and long blood-red hair. His six arms are muscular like tree roots, and his three faces bear different expressions, with the middle face being the most ferocious, barely recognizable as a man.

Standing atop the tower, the Ghost King of the Netherworld surveyed the Xuanji Sect. Seeing that his prey had not escaped, he turned and looked down the mountain.

Li Qingqiu used his spiritual sense to probe the Netherworld Ghost King and mentally assessed the ghost's strength.

He is very strong, even stronger than the Star Ancestor.

How could someone with such strength let Li Sifeng escape?

Could it be that Li Sifeng didn't return to Qingxiao Mountain because he was captured?
Li Qingqiu pondered to himself, not wanting to act rashly, but rather to observe the relationship between the Northern Court army and the Ghost King of the Netherworld.

After waiting for about half an hour, soldiers finally appeared in front of the Xuanji Sect's mountain gate. Leading them was a great general wearing heavy black armor. He was burly, like a black bear, with a curved sword hanging at his waist and a large sword in his hand. He walked at the front, striding with the power of a dragon and the swagger of a tiger, exuding a murderous aura.

Li Qingqiu immediately recognized that the other party was a master of entry into the realm.

Even in today's era, masters of this level are rare in the martial arts world, let alone in the military.

No wonder the Northern Court dared to move south; this may be their heyday.

As soon as they entered the Xuanji Sect's mountain gate, the Northern Court soldiers dispersed. The general walked along the main road, coldly scanning the buildings on both sides of the street. Even when he stepped on broken bones along the way, he did not frown.

This general was named Fang Tianshu. He was one of the top three generals in Beiting and had fought countless battles. Even when facing hundreds of thousands of troops, he would not flinch. But this mission made him very unsure of himself, so he just pretended to be calm.

Because they were facing legendary ghosts and monsters.

In the North, tales of ghosts and monsters have always existed. Legend has it that the reason this land is so fraught with disaster is because it is a gathering place for demons and monsters, a living hell where demons always run rampant and ghosts always spread terror.

Several tribes were massacred a few months ago. At first, the Northern Court did not pay much attention and only sent soldiers to investigate. It was not until the Xuanji Sect was destroyed that they realized something was wrong.

A disciple of the Xuanji Sect who escaped met with the Emperor of Beiting and informed him of the existence of the ghosts, causing a stir in the court. After discussion, Fang Tianshu was ultimately ordered to lead an army to the capital.

Fang Tianshu brought 100,000 elite troops, which shows how seriously the Emperor of Beiting took this matter.

More and more soldiers poured into the Xuanji Sect. Even though they were numerous and powerful, the soldiers of Beiting felt uneasy. Corpses could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys, and even the eaves of some buildings were covered with blood and flesh, making it impossible to tell whether they were human or beast.

They even felt like they were being watched by something, and even though it was broad daylight, they felt a chill run down their spines.

Little did they know, they were indeed being watched by ghosts.

The Ghost King of the Netherworld lay atop the tower, looking down at the soldiers below. A greedy smile appeared on his left cheek, while his right cheek was filled with hatred. His four arms behind his back swung as if he couldn't wait to rush down.

Li Qingqiu realized that the Ghost King of the Netherworld was waiting specifically for the Northern Court army to enter the mountain.

Could it be that the Ghost King of the Netherworld planted a fragment of his soul in the Northern Court, inciting the Northern Court Emperor to send troops to exterminate the ghost?

Thinking about it that way, he realized it was quite possible.

"Is this guy a demon or a ghost..." Li Qingqiu was even more confused. Ghosts at most harm people, after all, ghosts don't have physical bodies, so the so-called eating people is just swallowing them and torturing them.

The Ghost King of the Netherworld was different; he was truly gluttonous, attracting an army of 100,000. His appetite was far too great.

Could it be that this guy can become stronger by devouring flesh and blood?

He suddenly became interested in the Ghost King of the Netherworld, his intuition telling him that the Ghost King of the Netherworld was no ordinary ghost.

Fang Tianshu led his soldiers to the training ground. Looking at the terrifying mountain of bones, no one could remain calm. Even Fang Tianshu's forehead began to be covered in cold sweat.

Even the mounds of bones that appeared after the great battle were far less terrifying than this mountain of bones, because some of the skeletons still had flesh and faces attached.

The living people in the iron cages noticed their arrival and became excited, all crawling towards the edge of the cages.

Watching them crawl out of the darkness with their mutilated bodies, the soldiers felt a chill run down their spines. They dared not even approach them, let alone ask them anything.

Fang Tianshu glanced at them and knew that these people were already useless and there was no point in saving them.

"Everyone on alert! Set all houses on fire! Do not enter them without permission!"

Fang Tianshu shouted loudly, "In the common understanding, ghosts and monsters only hide in dark places, so they go up the mountain during the day."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers took out torches and dispersed to the nearby buildings.

Just then, a scream suddenly rang out, startling everyone into turning their heads. Fang Tianshu had just turned his head when his eyes widened. He saw a soldier lying on the ground, cut in half at the waist. The soldier didn't even have time to react before looking up in shock at his lower body. The scream came from the soldier next to him, who was horrified by the gruesome sight.

Just as Fang Tianshu was about to speak, he saw soldiers in front of him being cut in half at the waist, their upper bodies flying up, blood gushing from their waists. These scenes brought him an unprecedented shock, and his eyes were trembling.

The invincible general of Beiting was so frightened that he stood frozen in place, his hands and feet turning cold, completely at a loss.

The other soldiers fled in terror, keeping their distance from the group of soldiers who had been cut in half at the waist. They could not see the ghosts, and as a result, their fear was amplified to the extreme.

"There really is a ghost! There's a ghost!"

"How is that possible... It's broad daylight now..."

"Run away! Run away!"

"Raise the torch, perhaps... ah!"

"Where is he? Where is the evil spirit?"

The Xuanji Sect was engulfed in chaos. The screams, roars, and cries all blended together, turning the place into a living hell.

Order collapsed instantly!

Fang Tianshu tried to adjust his mindset. He leaped up and landed on the roof. He staggered and almost fell. His face was pale. Watching his proud elite troops flee in panic, anger welled up in his heart. The anger replaced the fear and made his expression return to its usual fierceness.

"Halt! Everyone, do not make any sudden movements. Observe the movement of that thing!"

Fang Tianshu channeled his inner energy and roared angrily, his voice like thunder.

His prestige was immediately apparent, and the soldiers stopped and turned to look.

Watching the soldiers being cut in half at the waist one after another, even without seeing the Ghost King of the Netherworld, they could roughly judge the Ghost King of the Netherworld's movement trajectory.

The soldiers who were nearby raised their weapons and waved them forward.

Fang Tianshu charged forward, wielding a large knife, like a tiger descending a mountain.

This general of Beiting completely overcame his fear and prepared to fight the Ghost King of the Netherworld to the death.

Li Qingqiu could see the Ghost King of the Netherworld, who was invisible to the living, clearly.

The Ghost King of the Netherworld had already set his sights on Fang Tianshu, and all three pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

Li Qingqiu felt that the Ghost King of the Netherworld was not angered by Fang Tianshu, but rather attracted by Fang Tianshu's life force.

Fang Tianshu landed and immediately unleashed his swordsmanship. His greatsword attacks were like a raging storm, unstoppable. Since he couldn't see the Netherworld Ghost King, he could only guess.

Bang!
Fang Tianshu heard the sound behind him and his heart clenched. Before he could think any further, a sword aura swept past his ear and stung his cheek.

The sword energy flew away and shattered a pavilion.

Fang Tianshu subconsciously turned around to look, and it wasn't just him; the soldiers of Beiting did the same.

A huge iron cage was burst open, revealing a Qilin that had lost all four limbs. They had been drawn to the Qilin when they first arrived, but the place was too dangerous for them to look at it closely.

Under their watchful eyes, a man stepped out from behind the Qilin.

The man was dressed as a wandering knight, wearing a straw hat and holding a long sword.

The moment the soldiers of Beiting saw him, they could feel the aura of a powerful figure emanating from him.

In an instant, the entire Xuanji Sect fell silent, and everyone looked at Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu stepped out of the iron cage, raised his head slightly, and the brim of his straw hat made his face look so gloomy. His gaze swept over the soldiers of the Northern Court and met the eyes of the Silent Ghost King who had fallen on a pile of ruins.

　Happy New Year!

　　First update of 2026!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)