Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 1147 Now that you're here, you can all stay!
Before the skeletal airship even reached the outpost, the ghostly blood puppets on board jumped off like dumplings and swarmed toward the outpost.

However, it was not the ghostly blood puppets that launched the first attack on the outpost, but the skeletal flying boats.

As the three skeletal airships flying at the forefront approached the outpost, they were suddenly shrouded in black mist, then transformed into a colossal beast that crashed into the outpost's protective array.

Boom~~
A violent roar resounded throughout the heavens and the earth, shaking the entire outpost, and even the earth and mountains trembled.

Fortunately, the defensive power of the Loess Thick Spirit Array is still commendable; such a violent impact was still blocked by the array.

However, this was just the beginning. The skeletal flying boat, transformed into a colossal beast of yin energy, continued to ram into the formation, while the yin soldiers and blood puppets behind it followed closely, launching an attack on the base's walls.

In an instant, a fierce battle broke out.

The puppets inside the city walls went berserk, relentlessly throwing various spells outwards. These spells weren't particularly powerful, but their sheer number repelled wave after wave of blood puppets.

The soldiers on the city wall were also frantically hurling arrows. The sharp arrows, carrying flashing spiritual light, pierced through layers of yin energy and black mist, creating considerable obstacles for the Yin soldiers and blood puppets.

Under the control of the cultivators, the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat in the sky burst forth with crimson flames, transforming into giant firebirds that clashed with the Yin Qi behemoths outside the formation.

Yang Jizhen stood on the Vermilion Bird statue at the bow of the ship, personally manipulating a firebird to crash head-on into the Yin Qi behemoth.

Based on the bone flying boat, and formed from the convergence of Yin energy into flesh and skin, this behemoth possesses terrifying strength, far surpassing that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In comparison, the Vermilion Bird phantom condensed by the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat is somewhat weaker, because the Vermilion Bird phantom is just a simple energy body.

If it weren't for the protective array, the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat would be no match for the Bone Flying Boat.

The battle became intense from the very beginning, with both sides employing every means at their disposal. However, due to the geographical limitations of the battlefield, the number of individuals actually participating in the battle was not large.

The real battlefield is not here, but in the void.

As the battle at the outpost began, powerful auras rose from within the void.

The Hall Master of the Soul Refining Hall is Li Shanghun, the Deputy Hall Masters are Gui Linglong and Qi Heiyun, the Hall Master of the Soul Casting Division is Mo Ling, the Deputy Hall Master is Xie Wushuang, the Hall Master of the Soul Suppressing Division is Ling Baishuang, and the Deputy Hall Master is Ye Zhongxing.

After Xing Nan was killed by Yue Yao, Li Shanghun immediately appointed a deputy director of the Soul Suppression Division, namely Ye Zhongxing.

Apart from two Golden Core cultivators who were still in seclusion, the people in front of them were almost all of the Soul Refining Hall's high-end forces, which could be considered as the Soul Refining Hall coming out in full force.

Similarly, Baiyujing also mobilized its entire force.

Yang Zhengshan, Su Mei, Yue Yao, Su Jiangxue, Su Qingfu, Qing Niu, Xuan Zhen, Lin Qihe, Yun Xiao, Kou Ta, Hong Fuxiu, and Yu Qingyi, a total of twelve people, were all present.

With twelve against seven, it might seem that Bai Yujing had the upper hand, but that wasn't actually the case.

While they have an advantage in numbers, they are at a disadvantage in strength. However, it cannot be said that they are completely at a disadvantage. Yang Zhengshan is Bai Yujing's biggest advantage.

Of the seven Golden Core cultivators in the Soul Refining Hall, apart from Ye Zhongxing, who was just promoted to the position of Deputy Director and was only at the early stage of Golden Core, the others all had cultivation levels of at least the middle stage of Golden Core.

In contrast, although Baiyujing has twelve Golden Core cultivators and demon kings, half of them are only at the early stage of Golden Core.

The two sides faced off in the void, with Li Shanghun watching the wisps of energy slowly emerging.

He merely glanced at Kota, Hong Fuxiu, and Yu Qingyi, showing no interest whatsoever.

He didn't even glance at Yunxiao, Lin Qihe, or Xuanzhen.

Qingniu, Su Jiangxue, and Su Qingfu, his turbid eyes flickered slightly.

When his spiritual sense locked onto Yueyao, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Finally, his spiritual sense landed on Su Mei, "I didn't expect you to be here too!"

He only became interested in speaking when Su Mei appeared.

Su Mei was also sizing up the people from the Soul Refining Hall, "I didn't expect the Soul Refining Hall to come out in full force!"

"Heh, luckily I was cautious, otherwise I would have really fallen into your trap!" Li Shanghun sneered.

At this point, he understood perfectly well that Bai Yujing was trying to lure them out.

In his view, his caution was justified; if he hadn't brought his own people over, but instead sent a few to investigate, it would have been tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

Su Mei giggled, "Li Shanghun, you don't actually think you've figured out this scheme, do you!"

At this moment, she was filled with joy, because she knew that Yang Zhengshan's plan had succeeded.

If Li Shanghun had only sent two or three people, that would have ruined Yang Zhengshan's plan. On the contrary, Yang Zhengshan wanted the Soul Refining Hall to send out its entire force.

The more people from the Soul Refining Hall come today, the greater the losses for the Impermanent Ghost Sect.

Conversely, if only two or three people from the Soul Refining Hall come, they will not be able to inflict significant losses on the Impermanent Ghost Sect.

Upon hearing this, Li Shanghun suddenly had a bad feeling.

He looked around. "Where's Yang Zhengshan?"

These people were all unexpected to him, but Yang Zhengshan, whom he had expected, had not appeared, which made him feel extremely uneasy.

Su Mei giggled incessantly.

In the vast emptiness, Yang Zhengshan calmly stepped out of the void. He wore a green pine robe, held a whisk in his hand, and walked slowly and steadily.

The dense aura did not conceal his figure; on the contrary, it bathed him in a bright glow.

Revealing one's form in the void is not an easy task, as it requires suppressing one's own energy.

Qi is not the same as breath. Breath can be controlled, but qi is difficult to suppress and can only be concealed.

However, concealing one's vital energy will also hide one's physical form, thus preventing one from revealing it.

The fact that Yang Zhengshan can manifest his form in the void means that his control over the flow of qi has reached a level of exquisite subtlety.

Yang Zhengshan flicked his whisk, and an invisible Daoist intent swept through the heavy, smoky void like a gentle breeze, its subtle ripples passing over everyone present.

"Are you looking for me?"

Yang Zhengshan looked at Li Shanghun in a calm tone.

Li Shanghun stared at Yang Zhengshan, his wrinkled face filled with solemnity.

"You are Yang Zhengshan!"

"That's right!"

"How is this possible?" Li Shanghun's eyes were filled with shock.

Who is Yang Zhengshan?
He was just an insignificant Golden Core cultivator.

Who is this person in front of me?

That unfathomable aura, that unfathomable cultivation level, and that every move seemed to be imbued with a special Daoist charm.

This is definitely not the state that an ordinary Golden Core cultivator should be in.

Yang Zhengshan walked forward slowly, and with each step, a pair of black and white yin-yang fish spread out from beneath his feet.

After he comprehended the Way of Life and Death, the Way of Withering and Flourishing merged into the Way of Life and Death. Of course, this does not mean that the Way of Withering and Flourishing disappeared, but rather that the Way of Life and Death includes the Way of Withering and Flourishing.

In the blink of an eye, the Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram enveloped everyone. Li Shanghun's expression grew increasingly grim, Mo Ling's eyes revealed horror, and Ling Baishuang appeared somewhat panicked.

"Tai Xu has been sealed!" Ling Baishuang said in fear.

She had just tried to leave the void and return to the real world, but she was blocked by the real world.

Li Shanghun's heart skipped a beat.

Yang Zhengshan arrived a little late because he was sealing off the Great Void.

In the real world, he sealed off the entire void within a hundred-mile radius of the outpost base.

People inside the Great Void cannot return to the real world, and people in the real world cannot enter the Great Void.

In the Yin-Yang Diagram of Life and Death, everyone's life and death are in Yang Zhengshan's hands with a single thought.

That's a bit of an exaggeration. At the very least, Yang Zhengshan couldn't kill Li Shanghun in an instant.

Li Shanghun was, after all, a peak Golden Core cultivator. Although he was far inferior to a half-step Dao cultivator, he was not someone Li Shanghun could easily manipulate.

"Since you're here, you may all stay!"

Yang Zhengshan said softly, and in an instant he flicked out the whisk in his hand, but his target was not Li Shanghun, but Mo Ling.

Because Mo Ling also possessed the cultivation level of the late Golden Core stage, and this guy's supernatural powers were somewhat strange, Yang Zhengshan planned to kill him first, and then slowly play with Li Shanghun.

As for the others, we'll leave them to Su Mei and the others.

With Mo Ling gone, Su Mei and her group held an almost absolute advantage.

With a flick of the whisk, the slender threads transformed into bamboo shoots, which pierced into Mo Ling's body before anyone could react.

Mo Ling only had time to let out a muffled groan before she transformed into a green bamboo.

A nearly ten-zhang-tall green bamboo stood alone in the void, its crisp bamboo leaves emitting a crystal-clear light, like jade.

The evergreen bamboo staff, now more accurately described as an evergreen whisk, was originally a tool embodying the power to control life.

But now, in Yang Zhengshan's hands, it has become something that is almost a spiritual treasure.

The only difference between it and a spirit treasure is that it has not yet developed a spirit.

Once Yang Zhengshan nurtures the spirit within the artifact, it will transform into a magical treasure.

That solitary green bamboo was formed from the life force of the Ink Spirit, turning a Golden Core cultivator into a spiritual object, and a rare third-tier spiritual object at that. This was definitely a great divine power, an extremely terrifying one.

This sudden change stunned everyone, but Li Shanghun reacted quickly. Before Yang Zhengshan could make another move, a skull suddenly flew out from Li Shanghun's chest.

The skull was the size of a fist, as pure as crystal, with two grayish-white soul flames in its eye sockets.

The soul fire flickered, and in an instant, the skull transformed into a streak of light that shot towards Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan stared at the crystal skull, his black and white eyes narrowing slightly.

Instruments of power!

The strength and resources of powerful forces should not be underestimated.

Sensing the Daoist intent contained within the skull, Yang Zhengshan suddenly stepped forward and placed his slender hand on the skull.

When Li Shanghun saw Yang Zhengshan suddenly approach the skull, he was overjoyed, for the skull was his only means of fighting against someone who had just stepped into the Dao realm.

The exact origin of the skull is unclear, but it is indeed an instrument of authority, likely passed down from ancient times.

Its supernatural power is to devour souls; any soul that it targets is almost certain to be devoured.

It's like a curse; no matter where you run, it will always follow you.

Even if you can temporarily block it, it will follow you like a leech.

As for destroying it, don't be ridiculous. This is an instrument of power, and even someone who has only half-stepped into the Dao wouldn't dare say they could destroy it.

The only way to stop it is for its owner to give the order.

Yang Zhengshan's reckless behavior was tantamount to courting death in Li Shanghun's eyes.

But the next moment he realized that Yang Zhengshan wasn't courting death, but that Yang Zhengshan really had a way to deal with the skull.

Yang Zhengshan placed his palm on the skull, and the skull, like a docile cat, allowed Yang Zhengshan to play with it at will, without making any movement.

The Crystal Skull is a cursed artifact. Its most troublesome aspect is that you can't shake it off. In reality, its power isn't that great. As long as you don't let it touch you, it can't do anything to you.

If it were anyone else facing this crystal skull, they would probably be chased around frantically, but in front of Yang Zhengshan, this troublesome weapon of authority was actually the easiest to deal with.

Because he possesses the supernatural power to seal the void, it appears that he is holding the crystal skull, but in reality, he has sealed the crystal skull. The fist-sized crystal hole only requires a fist-sized void space.

Yang Zhengshan picked up the crystal skull, examined it carefully, and chuckled softly, "An interesting little thing!"

This little thing is interesting, but that's all it is.

The artifact of authority is not a powerful existence that leads to despair. In the hands of its original owner, the artifact of authority is comparable to a spiritual treasure, but in the hands of others, the artifact of authority is just a special kind of spiritual artifact, and sometimes it is even inferior to a spiritual artifact.

Just like the Evergreen Whisk in Yang Zhengshan's hands, in Pei Lun's hands it could only threaten Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators, but in Yang Zhengshan's hands, after Yang Zhengshan comprehended the Dao of Life and Death, the power of the Evergreen Whisk was no less than that of a spiritual treasure.

Seeing that Yang Zhengshan had actually sealed the Crystal Skull, Li Shanghun turned and ran, but he did not forget to restrain Yang Zhengshan while running.

He then unleashed another magical artifact, a long black banner that billowed in the wind, summoning countless ghosts that surged forth in an attempt to intercept Yang Zhengshan.

"Whether you're an immortal or a ghost, in the face of life and death, you're nothing but a wisp of smoke!"

Yang Zhengshan murmured softly, his figure flying out unhurriedly. The ghosts and spirits tried to stop him, but as soon as they got close to Yang Zhengshan, they were sealed by an invisible force and then disappeared silently.

Of course, they didn't disappear; they were simply thrown into the Divine Soul Palace by Yang Zhengshan.

Only after Yang Zhengshan put away the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner did the ghosts finally quiet down.

The process may sound complicated, but in reality, Yang Zhengshan simply flew over, grabbed the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner, and threw it into the Divine Soul Palace.

The Divine Soul Hall has its own Red Soul Society to suppress the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner, extracting the Yin Souls and Ghost Generals from the banner and throwing them into the formation of the Divine Soul Hall.

Seeing that the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner was ineffective, Li Shanghun threw out a ball of grayish-white flame again.

This flame lacked the heat that a flame should have; instead, it exuded a chilling aura.

Yang Zhengshan recognized the origin of the flame with just one glance.

Netherworld Fire is a type of strange fire in the universe. Like the True Fire of the Sun and the Southern Bright Fire, it is a manifestation of the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Unfortunately, such a strange fire posed no threat to Yang Zhengshan.

Didn't you see that he doesn't even bring the Golden Crow Eight Trigrams Furnace when he fights now?

This is because the Golden Crow's true solar fire no longer provides any assistance to his battle.

(End of this chapter)