The First Immortal of Destiny

Shen Mo had no intention of taking the moral high ground to criticize the predecessors responsible for such dramatic changes.

In a way, he had also benefited from their 'legacy.' Red Flame Country's cultivation world was still cruel and bloody, but it was hundreds, even thousands, of times better than the realm becoming an earthly Ghost Country.

That being said, Shen Mo was not about to meekly offer his neck to be slaughtered!

Tianshun Country had transformed into a Ghost Zone where thousands of its people had either perished horribly or become ghosts. Shen Mo himself had only been peripherally touched by this monstrous, bloody Cause and Effect.

If one were to truly scrutinize it, since arriving in Tianshun Country, he had done his utmost, slaying numerous vicious ghosts and saving many mortals. Even if a sliver of that Cause and Effect had touched him, it would have long since been repaid. The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King's hatred for him, its desire to kill him—from the standpoint of Cause and Effect, it was utterly baseless!

The truth was, after transforming into a vicious ghost, its heart was consumed by an unquenchable resentment. It merely sought a scapegoat upon whom to vent its fury.

Shen Mo didn't voice these thoughts directly to the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King. Ultimately, it was a Soul Ghost—a ghost capable of speech, different from ordinary specters. Expecting to dispel its malice through words was a pipe dream!

After its resentful tirade, the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King's malicious gaze fell upon Shen Mo once more. "This King grants you a high ministerial position!"

It was like a royal decree. Instantly, the 'all the civil and military officials' beside it surged towards Shen Mo, carrying a dark cloud with them.

Ghostly figures blotted out the sky, their wails chilling and grim.

Shen Mo was well-prepared. The Ghost Bride, Master Hong Jue, more than ten other powerful Soul Generals, and seventy Class II middle-stage Soul Generals all moved upon his command.

RUMBLE!

Like two armies colliding, the terrifying dark cloud and the sky-obscuring blood-light crashed together.

The ghosts and Soul Generals crashed into each other, a maelstrom of violence. Neither side feared death, making the scene exceptionally bloody and brutal.

Seeing his Soul Generals barely holding back the tide of vicious ghosts, Shen Mo's expression grew worried rather than pleased. His Mana was draining away like a bursting dam.

Initially, summoning only the Soul Generals, Mana consumption had been manageable. Once they engaged in battle, the Soul Refining Flag's Mana consumption became alarmingly high. Under such circumstances, his Mana would likely be completely depleted in just a few breaths. He could not delay.

While his Soul Generals kept the ghosts surrounding the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King occupied, Shen Mo swiftly deployed The Big Dipper Array, instantly enveloping the Ghost King.

The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King's voice was cold, laced with mockery. "Hmph! Overestimating your own abilities."

Without any apparent movement from the Ghost King, the ghostly energy around its body, tinged with a golden sheen, suddenly billowed outwards. This surge directly battered the Sword Array, causing it to CLANG and show signs of collapsing.

CLANG!

A dazzling Sword Light slashed out.

Shen Mo didn't use the Dragon Sparrow Sword, but instead used a profound level low-grade fire-attribute Flying Sword. Beyond the inherent fire properties of his sword Qi, he augmented it with Nether Fire, unleashing the attack with the most potent strike from his Shangqing Swordplay.

This was the most potent method Shen Mo could devise, targeting the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King's weakness. Unfortunately, he didn't possess a Fire Spirit Body, nor had he ever cultivated any fire-attribute Immortal Laws. Otherwise, this strike could have been even more powerful!

PFFT!

Just as 'Insight into All Beings' had speculated! The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King had no resistance to Flame Skills!

The incredibly potent ghostly energy was cleaved apart by this sword Qi as easily as tofu. Then, ninety percent of the strike's power slammed squarely into the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King, leaving a ghastly sword wound on it. But that was all it did!

The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King was enraged to the point of madness. "You cur! This King will exterminate your nine clans!"

A copious amount of ghostly energy, shimmering with a golden luster, poured from its body, rapidly mending the sword wound. To it, this injury was negligible. But for its weakness to be seen through, and to be injured by a mere Qi Gathering Realm cultivator—that was unacceptable!

Seeing that his carefully prepared measures had failed to severely injure the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King, Shen Mo was not surprised. The difference in their Cultivation Realm was just too vast! Even though he knew this Ghost Monarch was vulnerable to Flame Skills, unless his Cultivation Realm reached the late-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm and he cultivated several powerful fire-attribute magic techniques, only then might he have a slight chance of winning.

CRACK! CRACK!

BANG!

The Big Dipper Array was forcefully shattered. The seven miniature swords flew back with mournful cries.

Shen Mo swished his sleeve, recalling Yaoguang, Tianji, and the other sword embryos. Simultaneously, he leaped onto the Dragon Sparrow Sword and shot towards the sky. He was going to run!

While channeling Mana into the Flying Sword beneath his feet, he silently chanted seals and shook the Soul Refining Flag. Soul Generals that had fallen into the Ghost Tide but had not yet 'died' in battle were all recalled by him.

He resummoned only the Ghost Bride, Master Hong Jue, Green-skinned Ghost Tieshan, and Gold Piercing Ghost Jinshan from the flag to guard his side. He didn't summon the other Soul Generals. The sole reason was the astonishing Mana consumption! Merely buying him enough time to exchange one blow with the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King had cost him nearly seventy percent of his Mana, all spent on these Class II middle to late-stage Soul Generals. It seemed that until he advanced to the middle-stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, summoning so many Soul Generals could only serve as a trump card. For now, he still needed to summon the Ghost Bride and three other Soul Generals—these four in total—purely to defend against the Ghost King's Skills.

The 'Insight into All Beings' Destiny had made a clear deduction: 'All land under Heaven is the King's land.' Within the territory of the Abandoned Ghost Country, this Ghost Monarch could reach any location with a mere thought.

Shen Mo, relying on the speed of his sword flight, could only evade most of the ghosts. But he couldn't lose the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King at all! His only thought was to separate the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King from its 'all the civil and military officials.' Against the Ghost King alone, he could rely on his Nether Fire-enhanced sword techniques and the Firebird Talisman to hold out for some time.

SWOOSH!

An odd spatial fluctuation occurred. The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King appeared silently beside Shen Mo. Its ghost claw, as tough as a magic artifact, had just reached for Shen Mo when Gold Piercing Ghost Jinshan threw himself at it.

The result was self-evident. Jinshan was torn apart in an instant and returned to the Soul Refining Flag to begin reforming his Soul Body.

And Shen Mo, seizing the moment of the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King's failed attack, continued his Flying Escape. Before entering the Death Jaw Dungeon, he had once clashed with Ghost General Zhang Taian. He was highly alert to this type of Skill.

The Heaven Abandoned Ghost King was a Class III early-stage ghost. Its strength might not compare to the future Ghost General, but its ability to appear and vanish unpredictably was by no means inferior.

He had only fled for just over a hundred li when the Soul Generals around him had been destroyed and resummoned three or four times in succession.

He called upon the Shangqing Swordplay, infused it with Nether Fire, and struck. SLASH!

Sword Qi, wreathed in pale flames, slashed towards the Ghost King.

SWOOSH!

The figure of the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King disappeared silently again.

Seeing this, Shen Mo changed direction and continued his desperate flight.

"Where else can you run?" a majestic, indifferent voice reached Shen Mo's ears. "Stay and become a subject of this King."

Hearing the majestic and indifferent voice, Shen Mo activated his Flawless Dharma Eye. He discovered that all the ghosts within a hundred-li radius had formed an inescapable net, which was constantly tightening.

Shen Mo kept his mouth shut. His only response to the Heaven Abandoned Ghost King was a cold, ruthless Sword Light!