The Confucian and Taoist Sages of Mortal Cultivation

Yang Qingyuan turned around, activated his Heavenly Eye Technique, and looked at the shadow on the coffin.

The magical energy emanating from this shadowy figure was around the thirteenth level of Qi Refining, but it was extremely cold and clearly not a living thing.

"Were you trying to possess someone just now?" Yang Qingyuan coldly questioned, holding the Thunderclap Sword. "Judging from your appearance, are you perhaps a ghost?"

"Heh, a ghost, you could say that," an aged voice replied from the shadows. "It's all thanks to those vile women of the Hidden Moon Sect that I, Wu, have become this ghostly creature!"

"Your surname is Wu? You're Wu Sangchong!" Yang Qingyuan's eyes widened in astonishment. "That's impossible. Foundation Establishment cultivators only live for about two hundred years. Four or five hundred years have passed. How are you still alive?"

Upon hearing this, the shadow began to writhe, and then slowly revealed the figure of an old man.

The old man's upper body was that of a white-haired old man wearing a tattered gray robe, but his face was blue and fanged, while his lower body was a cloud of black mist, resembling a demon.

"It has been a long time since I have heard anyone refer to Wu Sangchong by his name."

"Do you think I'm even alive, looking like this?"

"It is only thanks to the fragments of the spirit-giving grass inside this tomb guardian beast that my lifespan is reduced."

"He even had to switch to ghost cultivation, and his cultivation level dropped to the Qi Refining stage."

"I was already completely despondent, just waiting for the medicinal effects of the Spirit-Giving Herb to wear off before passing away peacefully."

"I didn't even stop you from taking the Azure Dragon Banner and the Mountain-Splitting Axe."

"But then, at the very last moment, that kid surnamed Wu mentioned that you actually had a spot to participate in the Crimson Trial!"

"So you must be a disciple of one of the seven major sects!"

"As long as I borrow your body once more and enter the Crimson Forbidden Land to find that token, I can complete the final step of the plan."

"At that time, I will be able to freely enter and leave the Crimson Forbidden Land, and take the spiritual herbs within. Before long, I will be able to attain the Dao and form the Core Formation with my ghost cultivator body! And extend my lifespan once again!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan's pupils constricted sharply, and he retorted, "Such arrogance! Even Nascent Soul cultivators from the seven major sects cannot freely enter and leave the Crimson Forbidden Land, let alone a mere remnant soul like you?"

Wu Sangchong, however, didn't take it seriously and said coldly, "These things are not something a cultivator with a lightning spiritual root like you could understand."

"You'd better open your mind and let me devour your soul, or I'll make you wish you were dead."

Yang Qingyuan pointed his sword at Wu Sangchong and said coldly, "It's best if you refrain from making threats, fellow Daoist."

"Let's try out Yang's Thunderclap Sword first!"

After saying that, the Thunderclap Sword flew out of his hand, emitting streaks of silver-white lightning that made the tomb chamber flicker with light, and went straight for Wu Sangchong's face, bringing with it a "rumbling" thunderous sound.

Thunder magic is most effective at suppressing vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts.

Wu Sangchong dared not approach the Thunderclap Sword even slightly. With a sway of his body, he actually split into six and fled in six different directions.

The Thunderclap Sword pierced through one of the ghostly bodies, but it was just an illusion.

Just as Yang Qingyuan was about to unleash the remaining four flying swords from the sword box, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the passageway behind him.

Immediately afterwards, Wu Feng, Lu Yunfeng, and Chen Qiaoqian rushed out of the passageway one after another and immediately saw Yang Qingyuan and the ghost figure fighting.

The three of them hadn't gone far when they heard the thunderous sound of the Thunderclap Sword, and they knew something was wrong, so they hurriedly turned back.

"What kind of ghost is this?!" Chen Qiaoqian was also startled when she saw Wu Sangchong with his blue face and fangs. She turned pale and was obviously seeing a ghost cultivator for the first time.

Wu Feng was also startled and hastily summoned the magic weapon he had just obtained, the Mountain-Splitting Axe.

Lu Yunfeng also channeled his wind-attribute magic power and summoned the Wind Dragon Banner.

"Huh? You can control the Wind Dragon Banner, you have the Wind Spirit Root!" The ghostly figure floating in the corner was also greatly surprised when it saw Lu Yunfeng controlling the Wind Dragon Banner. It muttered, "No wonder the young lady beside you insisted on buying that flying sword for you."

But before he could finish speaking, the Thunderclap Sword descended from the sky, piercing through the head of the remnant soul.

It turned out that Yang Qingyuan, upon seeing the ghostly figure speak, guessed that it might be the real person, and thus unleashed the Thunderclap Sword to kill it.

Unfortunately, the other four ghostly figures remained floating in the air, and the spell was not dispelled. Clearly, the ghostly figure in the corner was not the real one.

The next moment, the four ghostly figures split again, increasing to six ghostly figures.

Seeing this, Yang Qingyuan quickly withdrew his Thunderclap Sword and dared not make another move.

"Haha, you, a Qi Refining stage cultivator, think you can see through my Ghost Shadow Technique? You're dreaming." Wu Sangchong looked completely smug.

Upon hearing this, Wu Feng was filled with doubt and suspicion. He tentatively asked, "Are you Wu Sangchong, the ancestor of our Wu family?"

"Heh." One of the ghostly figures sneered repeatedly upon hearing this, replying, "You must be a descendant of Wu Erzhu's branch of the Wu family, right?"

"Back then, I sent him to build a mausoleum. I intended to eliminate him and the craftsmen after the mausoleum was completed. However, before I could even make a move, I was severely injured by several lowly maids from the Hidden Moon Sect, which allowed Wu Erzhu to escape."

Upon hearing this, Wu Feng had no intention of acknowledging his ancestry; he simply said to the crowd, "Let's join forces."

"This person might have a storage bag on them."

Upon hearing this, a glint of greed flashed in Lu Yunfeng's eyes.

Wu Sangchong's six ghostly figures all frowned. His magical power was greatly reduced, and he could not face four Qi Refining stage cultivators at the same time, not to mention that one of them was a lightning spirit root cultivator who was particularly effective against ghosts.

But he remained completely calm, a plan forming in his mind. He fixed his gaze on Lu Yunfeng and asked, "You brat, would you like to become my disciple?"

"Heh." Lu Yunfeng scoffed, "You, a creature that's neither human nor ghost, dare to call yourself my master?"

Wu Sangchong's ghostly figure wasn't annoyed, but simply replied, "If I told you that I received the true teachings of the master of the Crimson Forbidden Land, and that I have a way to freely enter and leave the Crimson Forbidden Land, and that if you were willing, you would be the young master of that secret realm!"

"What?!" Lu Yunfeng's eyes widened in shock as he replied, "That's impossible. Based on past experience, cultivators who enter the Crimson Forbidden Land have only ever found some spiritual herbs and materials from demonic beasts. No one has ever brought out any inheritances or magical artifacts."

Yang Qingyuan, however, sensed the greed in Lu Yunfeng's tone, so he secretly moved his feet to increase the distance between himself and Lu Yunfeng.

"Why do you think I'm being hunted down?" one of Wu Sangchong's six ghostly figures replied, "The Crimson Forbidden Land isn't just full of spiritual herbs and demonic beasts; only cultivators with wind spirit roots can find those inheritances."

"The Azure Dragon Banner in your hand, along with other wind-attribute magical artifacts, were all brought out by me from the Crimson Forbidden Land."

"Back then, I only revealed these things, and they noticed me. Later, they plotted to frame me, but I managed to escape."

"Boy with the wind spirit root, as long as you do two things for me, I will share the treasures of the Crimson Forbidden Land with you."

"Which two things?" Lu Yunfeng suddenly asked, startling Wu Feng who was standing next to him.

Wu Feng, with a stern face, reminded him, "Junior Brother Lu, can't you see through such a simple divisive tactic?"

"Haha." Wu Sangchong laughed loudly and said to Senior Brother Lu, "First, you help me capture this brat who is participating in the Blood Trial, so that I can possess his body."

"Secondly, after I recover my physical body, I will offer this young lady beside you to me."

"I will now impart my true skills to you!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qiaoqian's pretty face turned frosty, and she said to Lu Yunfeng, "Lu Lang, you won't lay a hand on me, will you?"

"Of course." Senior Brother Lu's eyes flickered, a strange light flashing in them, as he looked at the ghostly figure and said, "Senior, don't you know she's my junior sister?"

"Heh," the ghostly figure chuckled dismissively. "You still care about these things?"

Senior Brother Lu replied, "She is the love of my life, my confidante!"

Hearing this, Chen Qiaoqian was secretly delighted, and her cheeks flushed.

"We need to pay more!" Senior Brother Lu's next words were surprising.

Chen Qiaoqian was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, Lu Shixiong grabbed her shoulder with his hand.

Fine strands of wind ropes spread from Senior Brother Lu's palm to Chen Qiaoqian's delicate body, imprisoning both her physical body and magical power.

Chen Qiaoqian stared wide-eyed at Senior Brother Lu, clearly still reeling from the shock. Then she stumbled and fell backward to the ground.

"Wind Binding Technique!" Wu Feng exclaimed in shock, "You surnamed Lu, have you gone mad?"

Senior Brother Lu shook the Wind Dragon Banner, which transformed into two azure dragons several meters long.

The two dragons, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, were incredibly lifelike as they charged straight at Yang Qingyuan and Wu Feng.

Wu Feng held the black axe in front of him, but was knocked away by the wind dragon along with the axe, crashing into a stone wall.

Despite both being cultivators at the twelfth level of Qi Refining, Wu Feng was unable to withstand a single attack from Lu Yunfeng.

Yang Qingyuan had already distanced himself, and with a flick of his sleeve, he flung out five beads of different colors.

The Aoki True Shield reappeared, condensing into a verdant protective shield that enveloped Yang Qingyuan.

The wind dragon pounced on the protective barrier, tearing and biting, causing the barrier to flicker, but it was unable to break through the defense for the time being.

Seeing this, Yang Qingyuan took off his sword case, stood in front of him, and said coldly, "Very well, today I will let Yang test the methods of you wind spirit roots."

"Let me show you how sharp my sword is!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword box opened to both sides, revealing the four swords: Rainbow, Azure Light, Whirlwind, and Purple Cloud.

Yang Qingyuan opened his mouth and spat out a ball of silvery light.

The rosy light spun around and condensed into the character "sword," then split into five, which disappeared into five top-grade flying swords: Rainbow, Azure Light, Whirlwind, Purple Cloud, and Thunderclap.

The five swords emitted a crisp sword hum as they soared into the sky, crisscrossing in the air, circling briefly before piercing towards the ghostly figure and Senior Brother Lu within the tomb chamber…