jiàn xìng ér děng rén yǐ dù guò wēi jī ， lín xuān zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， jiāng qiáng dà yǐ jí de shén shí ， cháo zhe qián fāng yī fàng ér qù 。
见杏儿等人已度过危机，林轩转过头颅，将强大以极的神识，朝着前方一放而去。
Seeing Xing'er and the others had passed their crisis, Lin Xuan turned his head and projected his immensely powerful divine consciousness forward.
qū qū shù wàn lǐ ， duì yú fán rén lái shuō ， yáo bù kě jí ， dàn yǐ lín xuān shén shí zhī qiáng ， què shì néng gòu qīng yì gǎn shòu qīng chǔ dì 。
区区数万里，对于凡人来说，遥不可及，但以林轩神识之强，却是能够轻易感受清楚地。
A mere few ten thousand miles—unimaginably distant for ordinary people—but to Lin Xuan's divine consciousness, it was easily perceptible.
yú shì yī fú qīng xī de huà miàn ， hào zhěng yǐ xiá de yìng rù le yǎn lián 。
于是一幅清晰的画面，好整以暇的映入了眼帘。
Thus, a clear picture unfolded before his eyes.
fēi shā zǒu shí ， tiān dì wèi zhī sè biàn 。
飞沙走石，天地为之色变。
Sand and stones were flying everywhere, changing the very colors of heaven and earth.
fàng yǎn wàng qù ， gěi rén de gǎn jué jiù rú tóng shì cāng hǎi sāng tián 。
放眼望去，给人的感觉就如同是沧海桑田。
Looking around, one could feel as if they were witnessing the transformation from sea to land.
mù guāng suǒ jí ， yǐ yǒu shù shí zuò gāo ǎi bù yī de shān fēng bèi yí wèi le píng dì 。
目光所及，已有数十座高矮不一的山峰被夷为了平地。
In the area he could see, dozens of mountains had already been flattened into plains.
yī dào dào gōu hè ， zòng héng jiāo cuò ， xū kōng dōu yǐ jīng zhī lí pò suì le 。
一道道沟壑，纵横交错，虚空都已经支离破碎了。
Gullies crisscrossed the landscape, and even the void seemed fragmented.
lín xuān tóng kǒng wēi suō ， zhè jiāo zhàn de shuāng fāng ， hái zhēn shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， jiù shí lì lái shuō ， bǐ tiān féi zūn zhě ， hái yǒu gāng gāng nà bèi miè shā diào de guǐ wù ， qiáng dà le xǔ duō 。
林轩瞳孔微缩，这交战的双方，还真是非同小可，就实力来说，比天肥尊者，还有刚刚那被灭杀掉的鬼物，强大了许多。
Lin Xuan's pupils constricted. The two combatants were indeed formidable; their strength far surpassed that of Tianfei Venerable or the ghostly creature just killed.
yīn fēng rú mò ， màn tiān de hēi qì zòng héng bǎi hé ， rán ér zhè céng céng dié dié de zhàng ài dōu méi yǒu yòng chǔ ， lín xuān yī jiù qiāng qiāng yǎn qián de yí mù kàn le gè qīng qīng chǔ chǔ 。
阴风如墨，漫天的黑气纵横捭阖，然而这层层叠叠的障碍都没有用处，林轩依旧将将眼前的一幕看了个清清楚楚。
Dark winds like ink spread across the sky, with black mists swirling everywhere. However, these layers of obstacles did not obscure Lin Xuan’s vision as he clearly saw what was happening.
liǎng zhǐ xíng mào zhēng níng de guǐ wù ， shēn cái jiē bǐ cháng rén gāo dà xǔ duō ， rán ér cóng xíng mào shàng kàn ， jū rán yǒu jǐ fēn xiāng sì zhī chù ， hún shēn shàng xià ， jiē bèi gǔn gǔn de liè yàn bāo guǒ 。
两只形貌狰狞的鬼物，身材皆比常人高大许多，然而从形貌上看，居然有几分相似之处，浑身上下，皆被滚滚的烈焰包裹。
Two grotesque-looking ghosts stood before him; both were much taller than ordinary humans. Despite their terrifying appearances, they shared some similarities. Their entire bodies were enveloped in raging flames.
zhǐ bù guò zuǒ biān yí gè ， liè yán zuò huī bái zhī sè ， yòu biān yí gè ， shēn shàng de guǐ huǒ zé shì qī hēi de 。
只不过左边一个，烈炎做灰白之色，右边一个，身上的鬼火则是漆黑的。
The one on the left had a grayish-white hue from the intense heat, while the one on the right was cloaked in pitch-black ghost fire.
tā men jiē yī dòng bù dòng ， cǐ kè shèng fù yǐ jīng jué chū lái le 。
他们皆一动不动，此刻胜负已经决出来了。
They remained motionless, and the outcome of the battle was clear.
zuǒ biān de guǐ wù ， yuán zhēng shuāng mù ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì nán yǐ zhì xìn de biǎo qíng ， ér tā hún shēn shàng xià ， qiān chuāng bǎi kǒng ， jiù fǎng fú bèi wàn qiān jiàn shǐ dòng chuān ér guò 。
左边的鬼物，圆睁双目，脸上满是难以置信的表情，而他浑身上下，千疮百孔，就仿佛被万千箭矢洞穿而过。
The ghost on the left's eyes were wide open with disbelief, his body riddled with wounds as if pierced by countless arrows. Not only had his physical form been destroyed, but even his essence core had perished.
bù jǐn ròu shēn bào fèi diào le ， lián yuán yīng yì méi yǒu táo tuō 。
不仅肉身报废掉了，连元婴亦没有逃脱。
"Big Brother!"
“ dà gē ！”
“大哥！”
Mengxue’s expression was a mix of shock and anger, her sorrow evident. Clearly, the ghostly race that lost this battle was loyal to Asura.
míng xuě de biǎo qíng mǎn shì jīng nù ， bēi shāng de biǎo qíng gēn běn jiù méi yǒu yǎn shì shén me ， xiǎn rán zhè yī cì luò bài de guǐ zú ， zhōng yú ā xiū luó 。
冥雪的表情满是惊怒，悲伤的表情根本就没有掩饰什么，显然这一次落败的鬼族，忠于阿修罗。
The living ghost belonged to Jin Yue's underlings.
ér nà huó zhe de guǐ wù ， zé shì jīn yuè shī wáng de shǒu xià le 。
而那活着的鬼物，则是金玥尸王的手下了。
How despicable!
kě wù ！
可恶！
Mengxue's eyes glowed with fury, yearning to extract their souls. She shot forward, leaving a trail of gray light behind her.
míng xuě de yǎn jīng zài mào huǒ ， hèn bù dé jiāng duì fāng chōu hún liàn pò 。 hún shēn huī máng dà zuò ， xiàng zhe qián fāng fēi lüè ér qù le 。
冥雪的眼睛在冒火，恨不得将对方抽魂炼魄。浑身灰芒大做，向着前方飞掠而去了。
...
……
……
At the same time, more than ten thousand miles away, the siege continued at full intensity.
yǔ cǐ tóng shí ， jù cǐ shí yú wàn lǐ ， gōng chéng zhàn yī jiù shì rú huǒ rú tú 。
与此同时，距此十余万里，攻城战依旧是如火如荼。
Countless ghostly entities swarmed towards the city like ants, overwhelming it. The once majestic celestial city now resembled a tiny boat in a storm, teetering on the brink of destruction.
fàng yǎn wàng qù ， shù zhī bù jìn de yīn hún guǐ wù ， yǒu rú mǎ yǐ ， céng céng dié dié de xiàng zhe chéng chí fēng yōng ， yuán běn wēi é de xiān chéng ， cǐ kè jiù xiàng shì jīng tāo hài làng zhōng de yí yè piān zhōu 。 suí shí dōu yǒu kě néng qīng fù 。
放眼望去，数之不尽的阴魂鬼物，有如蚂蚁，层层叠叠的向着城池蜂拥，原本巍峨的仙城，此刻就像是惊涛骇浪中的一叶扁舟。随时都有可能倾覆。
More zombies were being summoned, mindless puppets that knew no fear. The sight was terrifying to behold.
liàn shī de shù liàng gèng duō ， ér qiě zhè xiē dōu shì méi yǒu yì shí de kuǐ lěi zhī wù ， gēn běn bù zhī dào wèi jù hài pà wèi hé wù 。
炼尸的数量更多，而且这些都是没有意识的傀儡之物，根本不知道畏惧害怕为何物。
Fortunately, this place served as Moon's hiding spot, meticulously prepared by Asura King in his previous life. Its defenses were formidable, and the city’s cultivators fought back with all their might, barely holding off the zombie hordes.
nà chǎng miàn ， guāng shì kàn kàn jiù lìng rén hún shēn fā dǒu 。
那场面，光是看看就令人浑身发抖。
A stalemate emerged; neither side had a clear advantage.
hǎo zài zhè lǐ zuò wèi yuè ér de cáng shēn zhī suǒ ， nǎi shì qián shì ā xiū luó wáng wèi yǔ chóu móu 。 qīn shǒu bù xià lái de ， fáng yù lì nà jiào yí gè fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， chéng zhōng de xiū shì yě méi yǒu zuò yǐ dài bì yī shuō ， pīn mìng fǎn pū ， zhè cái kān kān jiāng shī wáng dà jūn de gōng shì dǎng zhù 。
好在这里做为月儿的藏身之所，乃是前世阿修罗王未雨绸缪。亲手布下来的，防御力那叫一个非同小可，城中的修士也没有坐以待毙一说，拼命反扑，这才堪堪将尸王大军的攻势挡住。
"Mother of Ghosts, your vision is truly admirable. That boy's strength is beyond measure. Two out of the Five Ghouls of Yutian have already fallen. If this continues, it could end in mutual destruction."
yī shí jiān ， dào chéng xiàn chū yī zhǒng xiāng chí de jú miàn lái le 。
一时间，倒呈现出一种相持的局面来了。
The sinister laughter echoed through the chaos, barely noticeable amidst the battlefield. A spatial fluctuation occurred, and two figures appeared within Lin Xuan’s line of sight.
bù fēn shèng fù ， rú jīn jiù kàn shuí néng zhī chēng dé gèng jiǔ le 。
不分胜负，如今就看谁能支撑得更久了。
One was tall with a green face and sharp teeth, while the other was surrounded by dark mists, making their appearance indistinct but unmistakably that of an elegant woman in imperial attire.
“ guǐ mǔ dà rén de yǎn guāng hái zhēn shì lìng rén pèi fú 。 nà xiǎo zi de shí lì dàng zhēn shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， yōu tán wǔ guǐ jū rán yǐ jīng yǔn luò le liǎng gè ， zhè yàng xià qù ， shuō bù dìng hái zhēn shì liǎng bài jù shāng de jié jú le 。”
“鬼母大人的眼光还真是令人佩服。那小子的实力当真是非同小可，幽谭五鬼居然已经陨落了两个，这样下去，说不定还真是两败俱伤的结局了。”
Both were at the stage oftranscending-calamity period (Transcending Tribulation), and the woman exuded powerful abilities indicative of late-stage Transcending Tribulation cultivators.
dé yì de guài xiào shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ 。 zài zhè fēn luàn de zhàn chǎng shàng sī háo yě bù yǐn rén zhǔ mù ， kōng jiān bō dòng zhòu qǐ ， liǎng gè rén yǐng chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn lǐ 。
得意的怪笑声传入耳朵。在这纷乱的战场上丝毫也不引人瞩目，空间波动骤起，两个人影出现在了视线里。
"Ha ha. Ghost Messenger, you must have misjudged this time."
qí zhōng yí gè shēn cái gāo dà ， qīng miàn liáo yá 。 lìng wài yí gè ， shēn xíng què bèi yīn wù huán rào zhe 。 yàng mào kàn bù qīng chǔ ， dàn sì hū shì yī fēng yùn yóu cún de gōng zhuāng měi fù 。
其中一个身材高大，青面獠牙。另外一个，身形却被阴雾环绕着。样貌看不清楚，但似乎是一风韵犹存的宫装美妇。
The cold voice of Mother of Hells entered Lin Xuan’s ears, with a hint of apprehension in her eyes.
liǎng rén de xiū wèi dōu zài dù jié qī ， nà měi fù suǒ sàn fà chū lái de yīn lì ， gèng shì zhǎn shì chū le dù jié hòu qī de qiáng dà shí lì 。
两人的修为都在渡劫期，那美妇所散发出来的阴力，更是展示出了渡劫后期的强大实力。
"Oh? Mother of Ghosts, where do you get such an idea? Do you think the Five Ghouls of Yutian can't defeat that boy and will ultimately fall?" The so-called Ghost Messenger revealed disbelief on his face.
“ hēi hēi ， yōu guǐ shǐ zhě ， zhè yī cì nǐ kǒng pà yòu kàn zǒu yǎn le 。”
“嘿嘿，幽鬼使者，这一次你恐怕又看走眼了。”
"Indeed."
huáng quán guǐ mǔ lěng liè de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， méi shāo yǎn jiǎo yǐn yǐn jìng yǒu jǐ fēn jì dàn zhī sè 。
黄泉鬼母冷冽的声音传入耳朵，眉梢眼角隐隐竟有几分忌惮之色。
Mother of Hells’ expression was more affirmative: "Not just you; even I have underestimated him. He is far more terrifying than anticipated, not yet at the peak of his abilities. Not to mention those Five Ghouls of Yutian; even if we were to confront him, we would need to be cautious."
“ ó ， guǐ mǔ dà rén hé chù cǐ yán ， mò fēi nǐ yǐ wéi yōu tán wǔ guǐ huì dǎ nà xiǎo zi bù guò ， zuì zhōng luò bài shēn wáng me ？” nà bèi chēng wéi yōu guǐ de jiā huo ， liǎn shàng lù chū bù néng zhì xìn zhī sè 。
“哦，鬼母大人何处此言，莫非你以为幽谭五鬼会打那小子不过，最终落败身亡么？”那被称为幽鬼的家伙，脸上露出不能置信之色。
"Oh? What should we do then?"
“ bù cuò 。”
“不错。”
The so-called Ghost Messenger’s face showed signs of panic.
huáng quán guǐ mǔ de biǎo qíng ， zé yào kěn dìng xǔ duō ：“ hé zhǐ shì nǐ ， biàn shì lǎo shēn ， yě tóng yàng zǒu yǎn le ， zhè xiǎo zi bǐ yù jì de ， hái yào kě pà xǔ duō ， xiàn zài gēn běn méi dào shén tōng jǐn chū de dì bù ， bié shuō qū qū yōu tán wǔ guǐ le ， biàn shì běn guǐ mǔ yǔ tā duì shàng ， yě bù dé bù xiǎo xīn zài yì 。”
黄泉鬼母的表情，则要肯定许多：“何止是你，便是老身，也同样走眼了，这小子比预计的，还要可怕许多，现在根本没到神通尽出的地步，别说区区幽谭五鬼了，便是本鬼母与他对上，也不得不小心在意。”
Originally, they had planned for both sides to weaken each other until they could exploit the situation. However, it seemed their expectations were overly optimistic. With the Five Ghouls' strength, they couldn't inflict significant damage on the boy.
“ ó ， nà zěn me bàn ne ？”
“哦，那怎么办呢？”
This didn’t align with their original plans; did this mean they would have to face such a formidable enemy themselves?
bèi chēng wéi yōu guǐ shǐ zhě de jiā huo ， liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī jīng huāng zhī sè 。
被称为幽鬼使者的家伙，脸上露出一丝惊慌之色。
The Ghost Messenger was uncertain.
yuán běn tā men xiǎng yào hé bàng xiāng zhēng ， yú rén dé lì ， děng shuāng fāng liǎng bài jù shāng yǐ hòu ， zài lái shōu shí cán jú 。
原本他们想要河蚌相争，渔人得利，等双方两败俱伤以后，再来收拾残局。
"Useless things, there’s no need to panic. The Five Ghouls of Yutian can't defeat that Lin Xuan, but they are not easily manipulated either. With two down and the remaining three capable of delaying him for some time, we have enough buffer to return with our spoils…" Mother of Hells’ cold laughter echoed in his ears. She was a shrewd late-stage Transcending Tribulation cultivator.
rú jīn kàn lái ， jiāng qíng kuàng xiǎng xiàng dé tài měi hǎo le yī xiē ， píng yōu tán wǔ guǐ de shí lì ， bìng bù néng gěi duì fāng yǐ zhòng chuāng dì 。
如今看来，将情况想象得太美好了一些，凭幽谭五鬼的实力，并不能给对方以重创地。
"Are you saying…?" The Ghost Messenger’s eyes lit up as he heard this.
zhè yàng ， kě jiù yǔ tā men yuán xiān de xiǎng xiàng bù fú ， nán dào shuō ， yào zì jǐ qù miàn duì zhè kě pà de qiáng dí 。
这样，可就与他们原先的想象不符，难道说，要自己去面对这可怕的强敌。
"Hmph, isn’t it clear? We should target the horse before the rider, and capture the king before the thief."
yōu guǐ de xīn zhōng ， kě shì yì diǎn yě méi yǒu dǐ 。
幽鬼的心中，可是一点也没有底。
"Asura King is indeed an extraordinary talent. The restrictions she left behind are formidable, but she's not here. Can a few mere restrictions really stop Mother of Hells? With that Lin Xuan occupied, Moon’s subordinates have all gone out, leaving the city vulnerable. We can take her head…"
“ méi yòng de dōng xī ， hé bì jīng huāng shī cuò ， yōu tán wǔ guǐ shì dǎ nà lín xiǎo zi bù guò ， dàn yě jué fēi rèn rén ná niē de ， tā men yǔn luò le liǎng gè ， dàn shèng xià de sān rén yě zú yǐ tuō yán bù shǎo gōng fu ， yǒu le zhè me duō shí jiān zuò wèi huǎn chōng zhī wù ， wǒ men hái pà kōng shǒu ér guī me ……” huáng quán guǐ mǔ lěng xiào de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， tā bù jǐn shì dù jié hòu qī de xiū xiān zhě ， tóu nǎo yì hěn líng huó 。
“没用的东西，何必惊慌失措，幽谭五鬼是打那林小子不过，但也绝非任人拿捏的，他们陨落了两个，但剩下的三人也足以拖延不少功夫，有了这么多时间做为缓冲之物，我们还怕空手而归么……”黄泉鬼母冷笑的声音传入耳朵，她不仅是渡劫后期的修仙者，头脑亦很灵活。
"Mother of Ghosts is truly remarkable; using the Five Ghouls to hold back the formidable enemy while we seize Asura King's head?" The Ghost Messenger's face lit up with excitement.
“ dà rén shì shuō ……” yōu guǐ shǐ zhě tīng dào cǐ chù ， yě bù yóu de yǎn jīng yī liàng le 。
“大人是说……”幽鬼使者听到此处，也不由得眼睛一亮了。
"Hmph, what Asura? She’s just a young girl now."
“ hēng ， nán dào běn guǐ mǔ shuō dé hái bù gòu qīng chǔ ， dāng rán shì shè rén xiān shè mǎ ， qín zéi xiān qín wáng le 。”
“哼，难道本鬼母说得还不够清楚，当然是射人先射马，擒贼先擒王了。”
Mother of Hells’ expression was filled with disdain. "But regardless, if this plan succeeds, it will be an unprecedented achievement. Not only Jin Yue's zombie king, but the other old monsters would reward us generously. Ha ha, if my cultivation advances further, I might even become one of the Six Kings of the Underworld."
“ ā xiū luó wáng què shí shì jīng cái jué yàn de rén wù ， suǒ liú xià lái de jìn zhì yě fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， rán ér tā běn rén bù zài cǐ chù ， qū qū yī xiē jìn zhì fǎ zhèn nán dào hái zhēn néng dǎng zhù běn guǐ mǔ ， chèn zhe nà lín xiǎo zi bèi tuō zhù ， yuè ér nà yā tou shǒu xià de jǐ míng gāo shǒu yě dōu wài chū ， chéng zhōng kōng xū ， wǒ men dà kě yǐ qǔ qí shǒu jí ……”
“阿修罗王确实是惊才绝艳的人物，所留下来的禁制也非同小可，然而她本人不在此处，区区一些禁制法阵难道还真能挡住本鬼母，趁着那林小子被拖住，月儿那丫头手下的几名高手也都外出，城中空虚，我们大可以取其首级……”
"I congratulate you, Mother of Ghosts, on achieving your long-held wish," the Ghost Messenger said with flattery.
“ guǐ mǔ dà rén zhēn shì tài liǎo bù qǐ le ， ràng yōu tán wǔ guǐ tì wǒ men jiāng qiáng dí tuō zhù ， wǒ men què chèn jī qù qǔ ā xiū luó wáng de shǒu jí me ？” yōu guǐ de liǎn shàng lù chū xīng fèn zhī sè 。
“鬼母大人真是太了不起了，让幽谭五鬼替我们将强敌拖住，我们却趁机去取阿修罗王的首级么？”幽鬼的脸上露出兴奋之色。
"You just need to assist me well; then you will have benefits too."
“ hēng ， shén me ā xiū luó ， xiàn zài bù guò shì yī huáng máo yā tou bà le 。”
“哼，什么阿修罗，现在不过是一黄毛丫头罢了。”
...
huáng quán guǐ mǔ mǎn liǎn bù xiè zhī sè ：“ dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， cǐ jì chéng gōng de huà ， wǒ men jiù lì xià le bù shì de dà gōng ， bù zhǐ jīn yuè shī wáng ， biàn shì qí yú jǐ míng lǎo guài wù ， yě huì gěi wǒ men bù shǎo jiǎng lì de ， hēi hēi ， běn guǐ mǔ de xiū wèi ruò néng gèng jìn yí bù ， yǒu zhāo yī rì ， shuō bù dìng yě huì chéng wéi yīn sī liù wáng zhè yī jí bié de cún zài 。”
黄泉鬼母满脸不屑之色：“但不管如何，此计成功的话，我们就立下了不世的大功，不止金玥尸王，便是其余几名老怪物，也会给我们不少奖励的，嘿嘿，本鬼母的修为若能更进一步，有朝一日，说不定也会成为阴司六王这一级别的存在。”
Lin Xuan was unaware of all this.
“ nà xiǎo rén jiù zài zhè lǐ gōng xǐ guǐ mǔ ， zǎo rì dá chéng sù yuàn le 。” yōu guǐ mǎn liǎn xiàn mèi de shuō 。
“那小人就在这里恭喜鬼母，早日达成夙愿了。”幽鬼满脸献媚的说。
Another battlefield had just determined its outcome.
“ nǐ zhǐ yào hǎo hǎo fǔ zuǒ yú wǒ ， dào shí hòu yě shào bù liǎo nǐ de hǎo chù 。”
“你只要好好辅佐于我，到时候也少不了你的好处。”
The loyalists to Asura King suffered another defeat, bringing the total number of battles to five, with only one unresolved. The remaining four were evenly matched.
……
……
Mengxue’s expression was grim. If not for a fortunate chance, Xing'er and the young master would have already lost this battle. Even now, the situation was dire.
ér zhè yī qiè ， lín xuān bìng bù xiǎo de 。
而这一切，林轩并不晓得。
...
Seeing Xing'er and the others had passed their crisis, Lin Xuan turned his head and projected his immensely powerful divine consciousness forward.
A mere few ten thousand miles—unimaginably distant for ordinary people—but to Lin Xuan's divine consciousness, it was easily perceptible.
Thus, a clear picture unfolded before his eyes.
Sand and stones were flying everywhere, changing the very colors of heaven and earth.
Looking around, one could feel as if they were witnessing the transformation from sea to land.
In the area he could see, dozens of mountains had already been flattened into plains.
Gullies crisscrossed the landscape, and even the void seemed fragmented.
Lin Xuan's pupils constricted. The two combatants were indeed formidable; their strength far surpassed that of Tianfei Venerable or the ghostly creature just killed.
Dark winds like ink spread across the sky, with black mists swirling everywhere. However, these layers of obstacles did not obscure Lin Xuan’s vision as he clearly saw what was happening.
Two grotesque-looking ghosts stood before him; both were much taller than ordinary humans. Despite their terrifying appearances, they shared some similarities. Their entire bodies were enveloped in raging flames.
The one on the left had a grayish-white hue from the intense heat, while the one on the right was cloaked in pitch-black ghost fire.
They remained motionless, and the outcome of the battle was clear.
The ghost on the left's eyes were wide open with disbelief, his body riddled with wounds as if pierced by countless arrows. Not only had his physical form been destroyed, but even his essence core had perished.
"Big Brother!"
Mengxue’s expression was a mix of shock and anger, her sorrow evident. Clearly, the ghostly race that lost this battle was loyal to Asura.
The living ghost belonged to Jin Yue's underlings.
How despicable!
Mengxue's eyes glowed with fury, yearning to extract their souls. She shot forward, leaving a trail of gray light behind her.
...
At the same time, more than ten thousand miles away, the siege continued at full intensity.
Countless ghostly entities swarmed towards the city like ants, overwhelming it. The once majestic celestial city now resembled a tiny boat in a storm, teetering on the brink of destruction.
More zombies were being summoned, mindless puppets that knew no fear. The sight was terrifying to behold.
Fortunately, this place served as Moon's hiding spot, meticulously prepared by Asura King in his previous life. Its defenses were formidable, and the city’s cultivators fought back with all their might, barely holding off the zombie hordes.
A stalemate emerged; neither side had a clear advantage.
"Mother of Ghosts, your vision is truly admirable. That boy's strength is beyond measure. Two out of the Five Ghouls of Yutian have already fallen. If this continues, it could end in mutual destruction."
The sinister laughter echoed through the chaos, barely noticeable amidst the battlefield. A spatial fluctuation occurred, and two figures appeared within Lin Xuan’s line of sight.
One was tall with a green face and sharp teeth, while the other was surrounded by dark mists, making their appearance indistinct but unmistakably that of an elegant woman in imperial attire.
Both were at the stage oftranscending-calamity period (Transcending Tribulation), and the woman exuded powerful abilities indicative of late-stage Transcending Tribulation cultivators.
"Ha ha. Ghost Messenger, you must have misjudged this time."
The cold voice of Mother of Hells entered Lin Xuan’s ears, with a hint of apprehension in her eyes.
"Oh? Mother of Ghosts, where do you get such an idea? Do you think the Five Ghouls of Yutian can't defeat that boy and will ultimately fall?" The so-called Ghost Messenger revealed disbelief on his face.
"Indeed."
Mother of Hells’ expression was more affirmative: "Not just you; even I have underestimated him. He is far more terrifying than anticipated, not yet at the peak of his abilities. Not to mention those Five Ghouls of Yutian; even if we were to confront him, we would need to be cautious."
"Oh? What should we do then?"
The so-called Ghost Messenger’s face showed signs of panic.
Originally, they had planned for both sides to weaken each other until they could exploit the situation. However, it seemed their expectations were overly optimistic. With the Five Ghouls' strength, they couldn't inflict significant damage on the boy.
This didn’t align with their original plans; did this mean they would have to face such a formidable enemy themselves?
The Ghost Messenger was uncertain.
"Useless things, there’s no need to panic. The Five Ghouls of Yutian can't defeat that Lin Xuan, but they are not easily manipulated either. With two down and the remaining three capable of delaying him for some time, we have enough buffer to return with our spoils…" Mother of Hells’ cold laughter echoed in his ears. She was a shrewd late-stage Transcending Tribulation cultivator.
"Are you saying…?" The Ghost Messenger’s eyes lit up as he heard this.
"Hmph, isn’t it clear? We should target the horse before the rider, and capture the king before the thief."
"Asura King is indeed an extraordinary talent. The restrictions she left behind are formidable, but she's not here. Can a few mere restrictions really stop Mother of Hells? With that Lin Xuan occupied, Moon’s subordinates have all gone out, leaving the city vulnerable. We can take her head…"
"Mother of Ghosts is truly remarkable; using the Five Ghouls to hold back the formidable enemy while we seize Asura King's head?" The Ghost Messenger's face lit up with excitement.
"Hmph, what Asura? She’s just a young girl now."
Mother of Hells’ expression was filled with disdain. "But regardless, if this plan succeeds, it will be an unprecedented achievement. Not only Jin Yue's zombie king, but the other old monsters would reward us generously. Ha ha, if my cultivation advances further, I might even become one of the Six Kings of the Underworld."
"I congratulate you, Mother of Ghosts, on achieving your long-held wish," the Ghost Messenger said with flattery.
"You just need to assist me well; then you will have benefits too."
...
Lin Xuan was unaware of all this.
Another battlefield had just determined its outcome.
The loyalists to Asura King suffered another defeat, bringing the total number of battles to five, with only one unresolved. The remaining four were evenly matched.
Mengxue’s expression was grim. If not for a fortunate chance, Xing'er and the young master would have already lost this battle. Even now, the situation was dire.
...