Chapter 267 - 149: Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds, a Sword from Ten Thousand Li

Chapter 267: Chapter 149: Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds, a Sword from Ten Thousand Li

Deep within Mang Mountain stood a single, colossal tree, as tall as the surrounding peaks. Dozens of exquisite, all-wood cottages were nestled among its branches, appearing to have grown directly from the tree itself in perfect harmony.

This colossal tree was the Daoist sanctuary of the Mang Mountain hermit, Venerable Ju Mang.

As a Nascent Soul Venerable who also seemed to have ties to a major orthodox sect, he was known for his kind and amicable nature. This had earned Venerable Ju Mang a fine reputation throughout the vast and rather chaotic Cultivation Realm of Mang Mountain. Consequently, his sanctuary was a rare haven of peace and tranquility.

But today, uninvited guests shattered this tranquility. A mass of black clouds tightly enveloped half of the giant tree. From within, it sounded as if thousands of soldiers and horses were stampeding, as if hordes of wild beasts were roaring through the sky. A cacophony of chaos emanated from the cloud.

Anyone with a discerning eye would recognize it at a glance: this was the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds, an infamous and powerful Daoist art of the Demon Sect.

Its infamy stemmed not only from its immense power but also from the cruelty required to master it. Why was it called the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds?

Because to master this art, one had to resort to slaughter. Be they humans, beasts, birds, or sprites—any creature possessing sufficient intelligence would do. Only by slaying a full one thousand could a single Thousand Yin Ghost Soldier be refined using a Secret Technique. Ten thousand Ghost Soldiers were needed to form the initial cloud, and for every ten thousand more, its power would double.

At that moment, two figures sat cross-legged within the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds. One was a gaunt Daoist with a high-bridged nose and a long chin, his features uncomely. The other was a beautiful Daoist Nun. While her Daoist Robe was proper and modest, her expression was enchanting, and her every gesture exuded a peculiar charm.

The gaunt Daoist, however, remained unmoved. His face was grim as he stared toward the center of the area enveloped by the ghost cloud.

Beyond the mountain-sized tree, a barrier of azure light pulsed, thin yet brilliant. Drawing an endless supply of energy from the colossal tree, it steadfastly resisted the black cloud’s erosion and the assault of the Ghost Soldiers.

Half a day passed. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, its yang energy began to suppress the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds. The clouds showed signs of weakening, still unable to breach Venerable Ju Mang’s sanctuary.

Seeing this, the gaunt Daoist pondered for a moment before retrieving a sheet of black paper from his sleeve. He inscribed a few runes on it, formed a spell with his hands, and hurled it toward the heavens. The talisman paper shot straight into the sky. A short while later, dark clouds began to gather, spreading like a curtain to blot out the sun.

A moment later, a torrential downpour began. The rain was murky and foul. As it fell upon the mountains, the trees instantly began to wither, their life force draining away. Most of the mountain’s creatures had already been frightened off by the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds. Now, even the few less sensitive ones that remained vanished without a trace, having fled to unknown hiding places.

In an instant, not only was the sun obscured, but the yang energy was also driven away. The area for several miles around became unnaturally cold and gloomy, instantly transforming into a veritable ghost domain.

Seeing this, a seductive smile graced the beautiful Daoist Nun’s face. She said softly, "Senior Brother, your Daoist arts are truly extraordinary. It seems breaking Venerable Ju Mang’s Array will be a simple matter after all."

The gaunt Daoist shot her an indifferent glance and said coldly, "This alone is far from enough. That divine tree of Ju Mang’s is exceedingly strange. We’ve already cut it off from the earth’s energy, yet it continues to power the Array endlessly. Judging by its strength, it will take at least three or four more days of hard work to wear it down. I’m afraid that won’t be quick enough to report back."

The beautiful Daoist Nun covered her lips with her hand and chuckled. "Senior Brother, don’t use the mission to take a jab at me. Am I the type to just stand by and watch? I was simply on guard in case Ju Mang had another trick up his sleeve."

The gaunt Daoist sneered. "Ju Mang’s reinforcements were already wounded by the Chi Ming Saint Child. What other tricks could he possibly have?"

The Demon Sect had remained hidden from the world for ten thousand years. Despite its various methods of recruitment, it still couldn’t compare to the great orthodox sects that dominated the Divine Continent and held sway over the lands. As a result, their sect’s structure had gradually diverged. They especially treasured their True Disciples who showed the potential to reach the Primordial Spirit realm—even more so than the orthodox sects did. Naturally, the Demon Sect poured all its resources into cultivating them. This led to the custom of referring to True Disciples as Saint Children.

Hearing the gaunt Daoist’s words, the beautiful Daoist Nun didn’t respond. Instead, she took out a small purification vial, gave it a shake, and then upended it into the air.

A stream of pitch-black liquid poured into the ghost cloud, generating boundless yin energy that fed the cloud’s power. The Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds instantly surged with terrifying might. Countless Ghost Soldiers materialized within the churning mass and charged the azure light protecting the great tree, causing it to waver in an instant.

"Oh?" Seeing her actions, the gaunt Daoist knew she had paid a hefty price. His expression softened slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, "At this rate, Ju Mang’s Array won’t hold for much longer. Whatever he tries, he’s bound to make a move soon. I must focus on maintaining the Thousand Yin Ghost Clouds, so I’ll have to ask you to keep a close watch, Junior Sister."

The beautiful Daoist Nun understood the gravity of the situation. She gave a slight nod, and with a gentle sway, she flew into the ghost cloud and vanished from sight.

High up on the divine tree, a large branch flattened out into a wide platform. In days past, this was where Venerable Ju Mang would lecture on the Dao. Now, only a handful of people stood there. Some looked worried, others anxious, and some were lost in thought. The siege of their sanctuary had clearly weighed heavily on each of them.

Among them, one man was clearly the leader. His hair and beard were the color of dark wood, gnarled like the roots of a tree. His aura was formidable, revealing the cultivation of a second-stage Nascent Soul expert. This was none other than Venerable Ju Mang, the hermit of Mang Mountain.

Venerable Ju Mang looked up at the ominous clouds overhead, his eyes grave. "This cannot go on," he said. "Does anyone have a suggestion?"

The four people present were clearly split into two pairs—not due to any discord, but because of their distinct attire. Venerable Ju Mang and an ordinary-looking middle-aged cultivator at his side each wore their own unique style of dress.

The other two, however, were both clad in the Tai Su Daoist Robe, an attire that commanded respect wherever it was seen. They were the members of the Yue Family who had rushed to their aid.