Compared to the others present, Luo Xiu could directly see the malevolent ghosts with his left eye, which made dealing with them much easier.

As he sprinted, black thunder suddenly burst forth! Wielding the Thunder Halberd, Luo Xiu fought like a mighty general on a bloody battlefield. Wherever the halberd's edge passed, malevolent ghosts were annihilated! Just as he had anticipated, the "Wild Thunder Destroying Divine Lance," when executed with the Aura of the Dead, could directly inflict fatal damage on them.

At this moment, Kuang Pi and the San Fei, following behind Luo Xiu, were utterly bewildered. In their line of sight, the space around Luo Xiu was completely empty, making it seem as if he was swinging the Thunder Halberd like a madman.

Stroking his chin, Pig Dragon watched Luo Xiu swing his halberd wildly and muttered, "Big Brother's moves are slick and his form is impressive, but what on earth is he fighting?" He then wondered, Has he finally snapped?

Hearing this, Kuang Pi glared at Pig Dragon. "Cut the damned nonsense! The only reason you're still standing here safe and sound is because of your Big Brother!"

Just then, Luo Xiu suddenly wheeled around. The Thunder Halberd in his hand burst with black light as he fiercely stabbed at the void behind Kuang Pi!

"BOOM!"

With a loud explosion, Luo Xiu was thrown backward, landing steadily only after several mid-air somersaults. At the same time, the Nightmare Ghost Jiao that had pounced from behind Kuang Pi and the San Fei was also repelled by Luo Xiu's halberd.

Compared to the countless humanoid malevolent ghosts, this Nightmare Ghost Jiao posed a real threat to Luo Xiu. After all, this creature, when alive, was considered a divine beast on the same level as the Vermilion Bird and the Fire Dragon. Now transformed into a malevolent ghost, its strength remained formidable. Without using his original cultivation and relying solely on the Reaper's Art, Luo Xiu found it difficult to contend with such a powerful being.

"Xiao Luo, what just happened?"

Luo Xiu said, "There's a Nightmare Ghost Jiao behind you. Be careful and keep up with me!"

Luo Xiu had no intention of clashing head-on with the Nightmare Ghost Jiao. His only goal was to break out of the encirclement and head to the Source of the Mysterious Realm to find Mu Xueyan. After repelling a dozen more malevolent ghosts with a single sweep of his halberd, he sprinted forward.

By now, most of the loose cultivators from the Upper Realm had also met a tragic end, their bodies torn to shreds. Luo Xiu naturally didn't care about their fate. On the contrary, as a Necromancer, he was not one to let such bodies go to waste. To him, the corpses of the Upper Realm's loose cultivators were far more useful than they had been when alive. As he cast a series of Necromantic Seals, the bodies soon rose again, throwing themselves at the malevolent ghosts in a chaotic battle.

"Pig Dragon!" Luo Xiu suddenly shouted.

Deeply moved, Pig Dragon replied, "Big Brother, don't worry, I'm fine!"

Luo Xiu cursed back, "Who the hell is worrying about you? Revert to your true form, now!"

"Oh, oh, yes, Big Brother!"

With a long howl, a surge of demonic energy erupted, and Pig Dragon transformed into a giant crocodile.

Luo Xiu leaped onto Pig Dragon's broad back. "Brother Xiong, I'll take you all to the Land of Lawlessness first."

"Pig Dragon, fly in that direction!"

***

「Five days passed in a flash.」

Riding Pig Dragon, Luo Xiu had hacked and slashed his way through the hordes, finally shaking off the persistent malevolent ghosts and drawing near the Source of the Mysterious Realm.

"BOOM!"

Pig Dragon crashed heavily onto a stone peak shaped like a skull. "Big Brother," he said, exhausted, "I can't go on. I really can't."

Luo Xiu's face was also pale. He jumped down from Pig Dragon's back, opened a spatial entrance to the Land of Lawlessness, and then collapsed to one knee, completely drained. Over the past five days, the powerful Nightmare Ghost Jiao had ceaselessly harassed them. Just a few moments ago, his patience had finally snapped, and in a fit of rage, Luo Xiu had struck it down and killed it. But because he had used his cultivation, his illness nearly relapsed, leaving him incredibly weak.

"Pig Dragon, you go in first and heal. I'll continue the rest of the way myself."

"Big Brother, why don't you come in and rest for a while too?" Pig Dragon asked worriedly.

"No need. I've been delayed for too long. I want to get inside and find her quickly."

"Then why not call Grandpa Kuang Pi or Sister-in-law out to help?"

Luo Xiu looked toward the eerie mountains ahead and shook his head gently. "No, I'll go by myself."

Even without officially entering the Source of the Mysterious Realm, Luo Xiu could already sense a dangerous aura. He didn't want Luo Ying and the others to take the risk with him.

A short while later, after Pig Dragon entered the Land of Lawlessness, Luo Xiu sat cross-legged and began to use the Soul Capturing Technique. He refined the Wandering Spirits within his Soul Imprisonment Mark, absorbing their Yin Essence Power to suppress his illness.

After a long time, Luo Xiu opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath. He stood, leaped down from the Stone Peak, and walked toward the eerie mountain range ahead. A natural stone bridge spanned a lava chasm, and on the other side lay the source of the Mysterious Realm.

***

「In a mysterious, ancient cave.」

"BOOM!"

Mu Xueyan was sent flying by a woman's kick, slamming heavily against the cave wall.

"What are you dawdling for? Get a move on and scout the path ahead!" the woman snapped. "As a War Slave, have you no sense of duty?"

The woman had an average appearance, but her eyes held a fierce arrogance, the unmistakable mark of a spoiled young lady accustomed to getting her way. Her gaze toward Mu Xueyan was filled not only with disgust but also deep jealousy, simply because Mu Xueyan was more beautiful than her.

Enduring the pain racking her body, Mu Xueyan struggled up from the ground and limped toward the altar in the distance. Her long hair was a greasy, tangled mess, her face was smeared with grime, and her clothes were so tattered that her fair skin was exposed in several places. With one shoe missing, she cut an extremely pathetic figure.

Not long ago, shortly after she and her senior sister, Yang Zhilu, had entered the Ancient God Ruins, they were targeted by a group of lecherous cultivators from the Upper Realm. She was separated from Yang Zhilu during their escape. In these unfamiliar and perilous ruins, the once dazzling Palace Master of the Stunning Beauty Palace, formerly ranked tenth on the Heavenly List, was as insignificant as an ant.

However, drawing on her years of combat experience and survival skills, she managed to avoid capture. Instead, she cleverly used the dangers within the Ancient God Ruins to turn the tables, killing her pursuers one by one. While collecting the Magical Treasures from their bodies, she discovered a map. Following it, she made her way to Burial God Hill, hoping to find her own fortune.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving, she caught the attention of the Swordfire Divine Sect and was forced to become their War Slave. From then on, she was treated as cannon fodder, sent to explore unknown, dangerous locations for them. During their downtime, the male disciples of the Swordfire Divine Sect would often try to grope her. The malicious woman known as Divine Fire Junior Sister Huo Qian treated her no better than a slave.

***

Despite her current plight, Mu Xueyan's gaze remained cold and tranquil. She showed no signs of grief or anger, as if she were not the one enduring such suffering. She had faced peril and the threat of death numerous times since arriving here, yet she had always managed to climb out of the abyss by her own power, surviving to this day.

All she wanted now was a chance, an opportunity to kill these thieves from the Upper Realm!

Therefore, even though the altar ahead was fraught with danger, she decided to investigate. Of course, she had no choice in the matter.

***

"Father, do you really think the legendary Ancient God Killing Jade is here?" Divine Fire Junior Sister Huo Qian asked, looking at the resolute middle-aged man beside her.

The man's name was Huo Hangku, the current Sect Master of the Swordfire Divine Sect, who possessed the strength of the Tao Jade Two realm. Watching Mu Xueyan's swaying figure in the distance, he said to Huo Qian, "It must be. Otherwise, we wouldn't have encountered so many malevolent ghosts on our way here and suffered such heavy losses."

Huo Qian asked, "But what's the point of sending this lowly woman from the Lower Realm to investigate the altar?"

Huo Hangku smiled faintly. "This is her purpose. To obtain the Ancient God Killing Jade, a living sacrifice is needed. And it must be a virgin."

Upon hearing this, a look of realization dawned on Huo Qian's face. "I see. No wonder you kept her alive until now."

Huo Hangku suddenly added, "Qian'er, this woman's disposition is extraordinary... she has the potential of a Great Emperor. It is a pity she was born in this Lower Realm, where the Dao is incomplete."

"Father, you must be joking!" Huo Qian scoffed, her face full of disdain. "A mere woman from the Lower Realm? Besides being pretty, she's utterly worthless. The potential of a Great Emperor? Pah!"

As she spoke, she thrust her palm forward. The afterimage of her palm strike tore through the air, hitting Mu Xueyan squarely in the back.

Mu Xueyan cried out in pain as the immense force sent her flying toward the altar ahead.

"You lowly woman from the Lower Realm, why are you dawdling? Hurry up!" Huo Qian shrieked. "It is your honor as a War Slave to sacrifice yourself for the Swordfire Divine Sect!"

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