The Four Great Ghost Domains, Mount Beifeng.
The [Mingluo Sea of Trees] was neither small nor massive within Mount Beifeng. However, its sudden disappearance instantly sparked discussions across the region.
The unrest peaked when Great Perfected Lord Xin Ye relayed his investigation results. Almost all the Perfected Lords of the Grotto-Heaven method stationed at Mount Beifeng poured out, setting up formations everywhere. This threw everyone into a panic. Numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators and even Qi Refining death spirits were gossiping privately, and rumors flew everywhere like snow in a blizzard.
Meanwhile, inside a large city built against a mountain.
Because the environment in the Four Great Ghost Domains was harsh and devoid of mortals, it lacked the countless small villages and counties seen in mortal world. Instead, it was centered around settlements.
Every settlement was a "ghost city." Most of the city lords were Death Spirit Perfected Lords, and the majority operated under the governance of the Netherworld Dao Court.
At this moment, inside a cave abode within one of these ghost cities.
A man with an ordinary appearance and deeply concealed aura—who looked no more than a Foundation Establishment cultivator at first glance—suddenly opened his eyes. A look of confusion flashed in his gaze.
The [Mingluo Sea of Trees] is gone.
Not only that, but the three Perfected Lordssent by the Grotto-Heaven Method are dead, and Perfected LordTai Hao is missing. They're even saying a Great Perfected Lord of the Dao Arts Dao did it?
The man was dumbfounded.
Are you kidding me? I wasn't even planning to visit the Tai Hao Sect! This is a shameless frame-up! And taking ten thousand steps back, I'm not even a Great Perfected Lord!
Could the mountain have sent someone else? Impossible. How could they deploy such a crucial combat force like a Great Perfected Lord to a place like Mount Beifeng, which has practically already fallen? Even if they did send someone, since they're unfamiliar with the area, they should have contacted me beforehand to act as their guide...
As he thought deeper, the man's expression grew serious.
Is this a trap?
Did they deliberately leak the news about the [Mingluo Sea of Trees] to bait me, an undercover agent of the Dao of Dao Arts? Those traitors are certainly capable of such underhanded tactics.
The man felt his paranoia was justified.
After all, times had changed.
The honest and simple ancient cultivators were becoming exceedingly rare. Most had grown cunning and shameless; one misstep could easily lead to being schemed to death.
No, I have to evacuate.
The man abruptly stood up. He discreetly activated his streak of light and sneaked toward the border of the ghost domain, attempting to slip out of Mount Beifeng before the encirclement was complete.
Ever since Great Perfected Lord Mingluo died, the Three Foundations faction in Mount Beifeng has been in a total decline. I'm not like those foolish ancient death spirits. I only died and came here from the Mysterious Wall to achieve greatness and advance my cultivation. I absolutely cannot waste my life here. I have to find a way out...
However, he soon brought his streak of light to a halt.
Oh no!
With a dark expression, the man took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. A clear, visible crack had appeared on the cold jade.
My life jade is cracking. If I go any further, I'll face certain death... Have the traces of my infiltration already been discovered?
The man took a deep breath, his eyes growing gloomier.
This is bad. Thanks to this mess, even though I had absolutely nothing to do with it, my connection with [Mount Longhu] has been severed.
Those demons will find me sooner or later.
At this moment, the man wished he could chop the bastard who ambushed the [Mingluo Sea of Trees] and ruthlessly pinned the blame on him into a million pieces.
But the thought that the other party was a Great Perfected Lord immediately deflated him.
Forget it, forget it...
After agonizing over it for a long time, he finally pulled himself together. "As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest."
"If I can't leave, then I won't."
"I'll go back to Mount Beifeng!"
"With so many people defending the border, Mount Beifeng itself must be completely empty. If I sneak in now, I might just find a way to survive..."
With this plan in mind, the man immediately turned around and sped away.
…
Meanwhile, within Mount Beifeng.
As the center of the entire ghost domain, the main body of Mount Beifeng resembled a pillar holding up the sky. Its peak pierced the clouds, shrouded in a dark sea of clouds almost year-round.
For most death spirits, that sea of clouds was an insurmountable chasm. Only a Death Spirit Perfected Lord could pierce through the barrier and reach the summit. However, only upon reaching the top would one realize there was a mountain beyond the mountain. In the central area of the summit sat another towering, swollen peak.
At a glance, it looked like an alms bowl.
Contained within the mountain was a seething, pill-colored treasure pool. It roiled and surged like rising flames, yet not a single drop leaked out. Instead, it was extremely contained.
This was the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool].
If one looked down from the sky above Mount Beifeng, they would see that the mountains, earth veins, and all the ghost cities of this ghost domain were centered around this blood pool.
Inside the blood pool, a young man sat cross-legged.
He was quite handsome. His eyes were tightly shut, and his lower half was submerged in the blood pool. With every breath he took, fine threads of blood qi flowed into his nose and mouth.
Simultaneously, his aura shifted with his breathing. It started silent, but as he exhaled, his presence expanded wildly, swelling with the distinct characteristics of the orthodox Dharma Body Dao. Yet, when he inhaled, that imposing presence shattered, becoming as ethereal and unfathomable as an immortal ascending to the heavens.
Then, it returned to silence.
After repeating this cycle exactly thirty-three times, the young man finally seemed to complete a circulation of his cultivation. He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of emerald-green irises.
"...Hmm?"
Those emerald eyes scanned the surroundings, failing to find the figures that usually accompanied him. A hint of confusion flashed across his face, followed by a look of contemplation.
Then, realization dawned.
"I see. The [Mingluo Sea of Trees] vanished, suspected to be the work of a Dao Arts Great Perfected Lord. Did Xin Ye take You Hai and Tianlu to intercept him?"
The young man narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "Not bad. Xin Ye is always reliable. A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit. This is exactly how it should be done."
Although the others had left, leaving him as the sole Great Perfected Lord guarding the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool]—which usually had at least two—it wasn't a major issue.
Mount Beifeng is empty?
Don't joke around. With him standing guard, unless an enemy was at the Immortal Bridge realm, and an invincible one at that, what risk could there possibly be?
Absolutely foolproof!
Comforted by this thought, the young man resumed his cultivation in peace.
Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Beifeng.
Lu Yang walked forward with his hands behind his back, while Perfected Lord Tai Hao followed behind him, looking highly anxious. In this manner, they brazenly strolled past the formations set up by the Grotto-Heaven Method.
Nothing changed.
Even though there were many cultivators around, not a single person noticed them. It was as if the moment their eyes drifted away, they completely forgot their existence.
This was all thanks to a bright lamp currently suspended above their heads. The lamp continuously poured out brilliant firelight, illuminating the surroundings bright. The light deliberately skipping the space directly beneath it. The ground beneath their feet became a place untouched by the sun and moon, obscured from heaven and earth.
Then, Lu Yang raised a finger.
Another hexagram appeared out of thin air. It was a [Kun] hexagram.
"Previously, it was Metal entering the mountain forest, concealing one's strength. Now, with the addition of the Kun hexagram, it signifies Metal embracing the Earth, bringing much fortune and celebration. This place truly is my destined opportunity."
"Senior, please be careful."
Perfected Lord Tai Hao whispered a warning. "There are many more formations laid out further up. It won't be easy to break through. One misstep and we might be discovered..."
Hearing this, Lu Yang glanced at her and smiled.
"Don't worry, Daoist Friend. I don't plan on breaking into the mountain."
"Ah?" Perfected Lord Tai Hao blinked blankly. "But the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool] is at the top of Mount Beifeng. If we don't break in, how will we obtain the opportunities inside..."
"You seem to have misunderstood me, Daoist Friend."
Lu Yang turned his back to her and slowly extended his hand toward the looming Mount Beifeng, spreading his five fingers. "I said just now, this place is my destined opportunity."
"So, from now on, I am taking it over."
His five fingers clenched shut.
On this day, Mount Beifeng vanished from the [Four Great Ghost Domains].