Chapter 102 Female-Dominated Cultivation World (Twenty-Three)

The Seven Ghosts Soul-Devouring Banner was initially just an ordinary magic weapon that could be upgraded, but later it fell into the hands of the Blood Demon and became his life-bound magical artifact.

The Blood Demon was bloodthirsty and ambitious, aiming to make the demon race flourish.

He used ten thousand ghosts to refine the soul banner, and captured cultivators’ nascent souls into the banner, using the souls of the living dead as nourishment. As time passed, the fierce ghosts inside the banner, after millions of years of nourishment, were no longer what they used to be.

The human-faced ghosts that existed inside were actually formed by devouring countless living dead and high-level cultivators’ nascent souls. After so many years inside the banner, nourished by demonic energy and continuously supplied with souls, their cultivation had faintly reached the level of Ghost King.

Ghost cultivators were not common in the spirit realm, but those who could reach the Ghost King level could hold their ground even against Tribulation Crossing Realm elders.

Now there were five human-faced ghosts inside the banner. As the black mist grew thicker, these evil ghosts charged towards Liu Changning in an orderly manner.

Wave after wave, while the human-faced ghosts remained hidden in the thick mist, not revealing their true strength.

Cangming struck out, and the little ghosts in the banner let out a series of shrill screams. Where the cold light of the mystic ice passed, the black mist almost completely dissipated.

The ten great elders with the highest cultivation in the trial ground maintained their solemn expressions.

As the black mist within the protective light circle grew thinner, the five human-faced ghosts exposed their forms. Their faces, neither human nor ghost, constantly changed, laughing eerily. Wherever their gaze swept, it chilled people to the bone.

The protective light shield began to violently shake as soon as they revealed their true forms.

Tian Jing and the others who were maintaining the light shield felt a sweetness in their throats. They all experienced a surge of blood and qi, spitting out blood from the corners of their lips in a sorry state.

Above the trial ground, a cold and evil aura suddenly arose. While the disciples below couldn’t quite grasp the situation, the elders in mid-air had already turned ashen-faced.

They all summoned their flying swords to join the black mist. The blue-white lights collectively struck towards Qiu Runyu, but unexpectedly, the five human-faced ghosts flashed their black shadows. They had already lined up in front of Qiu Runyu, black light emanating from their bodies, effortlessly blocking the attacks from Tian Jing and the others. The life-bound magical weapons fell to the ground, scattered.

Qiu Runyu laughed coldly: “In my battle with this woman, are you elders so impatient to come forward and be fodder for my banner?”

After she spoke, her eyes flashed fiercely, and she waved the black banner in an orderly manner. The black light around the five human-faced ghosts surged.

“Not good, be careful!” Pei Ziyuan flapped his wings and cried out in alarm, “These ghost creatures want to devour the several Nascent Soul stage elders first. We can’t let them be devoured, otherwise, it will strengthen the ghosts’ power. No, I must come out…”

Before the little black bird could finish speaking, he was directly stuffed into Liu Changning’s bosom. His head was buried in her chest, nearly suffocating from the two plump cotton balls.

Just as he was about to poke his head out, intending to reveal his true form.

He found that Liu Changning had already exerted all her strength to move, holding Cangming to block in front of Tian Jing and the others.

In her hand, Cangming’s mystic ice light flared brilliantly, even more powerful than when attacking the little ghosts earlier. Where it passed, the headache-inducing cries of the hundred ghosts ceased.

Liu Changning’s expression remained unchanged as she coldly barked at those behind her: “Retreat quickly!”

“But your cultivation alone…”

The demonic energy from the banner lifted Liu Changning’s black hair. She didn’t turn back, her thin lips pressed into a straight line as she said coldly, “Shut up!”

With that, she summoned Cangming and charged towards the five human-faced ghosts.

In the black mist, Qiu Runyu, who had been silent all along, suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with contempt: “None of you will leave today! One by one.”

As she finished speaking, the black energy surged. The five human-faced ghosts seemed to have their own consciousness, dividing into two groups. One group blocked Liu Changning’s attack, while the other directly devoured this group of Nascent Soul stage elders.

Liu Changning’s almond eyes changed, her face turning dark.

Vast spiritual power poured into Cangming. The divine sword, comparable to a divine artifact, slashed towards the human-faced ghosts attacking from the front without any hindrance.

Fortunately, Qiu Runyu had underestimated her strength and didn’t know Cangming’s true power.

The divine sword, blazing with light, clashed head-on with two human-faced ghosts. The fierce ghosts let out two heart-rending wails before turning to ashes in an instant.

Just as Liu Changning resolved the crisis before her, Pei Ziyuan’s even more solemn warning came from her sea of consciousness: “Not good, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator on that side has been devoured.”

She turned her head, and sure enough, the great Nascent Soul stage elders were no match for the three human-faced ghosts. Qiu Runyu was using this group’s nascent souls as sacrifices to strengthen the soul power of the human-faced ghosts in the banner.

As the Cangyu Sect’s Nascent Soul stage elder was completely devoured by the human-faced ghost, the protective light circle that had been maintained earlier completely shattered.

In an instant, black mist filled the eyes, completely enveloping the entire trial ground.

Below, some low-level disciples with weaker cultivation already showed red in their eyes, displaying signs of qi deviation.

“We can’t wait any longer. If we delay more time and can’t deal with Old Daoist Qiu, everyone present today will be buried here.”

The little black bird half-closed his eyes, a fierce look flashing across them.

But Liu Changning pressed down on his head again. Her palm was dry and soft, the force falling on his head wasn’t heavy. But it felt like a thousand pounds, brooking no argument.

Qiu Runyu’s sinister laughter came from the front.

“Unexpectedly, I have underestimated you after all. Mere Core Formation stage cultivator, yet more difficult to deal with than these Nascent Soul stage elders. You had a backup plan, not bad, a promising pupil.”

Qiu Runyu had now torn off that immortal-like facade, flying to the forefront. Her fierce eyes swept towards Liu Changning, revealing a greedy look when her gaze fell on Cangming in her hand.