Chapter 19: Ye Qingzi, Suppressing the Ghost King

“Hahaha!” The Ghost King gazed at Ye Yijian and the others, watching their faces twisted in agony and struggle; she felt a surge of satisfaction and burst into laughter. “How does it feel? Not pleasant, I imagine?”

“Ghost King, you fiend, you will surely meet a terrible end!” Ye Yijian snarled, his face contorted with rage.

“Not enough, it seems?” The Ghost King’s brows knit, her jade-like hand forming a seal.

With her gesture, Ye Yijian and the others felt their bodies wracked with pain, as if pierced by thousands of blades—a torment beyond endurance.

“Ah!”

A Daoist with the weakest cultivation could no longer withstand the soul-devouring assault; he let out a wretched cry and perished on the spot, his soul scattered to the winds. Another elder followed him swiftly into oblivion.

“Junior Brother!”

The scene burned itself into Ye Yijian’s eyes, filling him with grief and anger. Helpless, he hated his own impotence—unable to protect his companions, unable to defeat the Ghost King, forced to watch as his brothers died one by one before his eyes.

“Ghost King, I’ll kill you!” Unable to contain his fury, Ye Yijian erupted, his magic surging as he struggled to break free from the soul-devouring infestation. Yet, his resistance only brought more excruciating torment; the parasitic power clung to him like a maggot to bone, relentless and unyielding.

Watching Ye Yijian’s futile struggle, the Ghost King sneered coldly, “Save your strength. You’ll never escape the soul-devouring curse. Wait quietly for death.”

Ye Yijian stared at her with bitter hatred. “Ghost King, with such cruelty—are you not afraid of incurring the wrath of gods and men?”

“Hahaha!” The Ghost King’s laughter grew wild and arrogant. “Don’t try to threaten me. I’ve already given you a chance, but you failed to cherish it. This outcome is your own doing.”

Suddenly, her laughter ceased. At that moment, she received a message from Yan Xuanfei, informing her that, with Fang Nan’s assistance, Mo Yi had been successfully rescued from the Demon-Suppressing Tower.

With her goal in attacking Maoshan achieved, she was delighted.

She glanced coldly at Ye Yijian and the others. “Ye Yijian, I won’t play with you any longer. Farewell—no, let us never meet again.”

“You’ve killed so many disciples of Maoshan and wounded my brothers. You think you can just leave? It’s not so easy. You’d best stay where you are!”

Just as the Ghost King finished speaking and prepared to withdraw from Maoshan, a man’s voice rang out, cold and furious, echoing from the mountain gate.

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Upon hearing the angry voice, not only did the Ghost King frown and look up, but everyone else instinctively searched for its source.

Above the Maoshan gate, an elder in an azure Daoist robe walked through the air. His bearing was lofty and serene, every movement imbued with the aura of the Dao. With each step, a surge of power shook the void, as if he were displaying his might to the Ghost King.

“It’s the former sect master, Ancestor Ye!” Upon seeing him, the disciples of Maoshan were invigorated, their spirits lifted. They bowed respectfully and shouted, “Welcome, Ancestor Ye!”

Ye Yijian and his companions, though still suffering from the soul-devouring curse, managed to pay their respects. “Senior Brother.”

The elder said nothing, but his hand moved. Vast magical power flowed from his palm into Ye Yijian and the others, purging the soul-devouring infestation from their bodies.

In moments, the curse was dispelled, and Ye Yijian and his companions were freed, though their faces remained pale and drained.

Ye Yijian said, “Senior Brother, the Ghost King attacked Maoshan, slaughtered hundreds of our disciples, and nearly killed me. You must seek justice for us—do not let the Ghost King escape!”

“I am already aware. Rest assured, Junior Brother.” The elder nodded, then turned his gaze toward the Ghost King. “Ghost King, you slaughtered wantonly in Maoshan. Have you forgotten the pact made a thousand years ago?”

The Ghost King replied coldly, “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But Ye Qingzi, it was Maoshan who erred first. Don’t blame me.”

Ye Qingzi’s brows furrowed. “And what fault has Maoshan committed?”

The Ghost King’s voice was icy. “You imprisoned my beloved disciple, challenged my authority. I had to retaliate.”

“So you murdered Maoshan disciples.” Ye Qingzi’s gaze grew lethal.

Sensing the killing intent, the Ghost King showed no fear. “You brought this upon yourselves. You deserve it.”

“Well, Ghost King, your temper is as fierce as ever. If you refuse to repent, I’ll end you today and restore peace to the world.” With that, Ye Qingzi’s hand flicked, and a delicate golden bell appeared in his palm.

Seeing Ye Qingzi ready to strike, the Ghost King grew angry. “A thousand years ago you could not defeat me. Do you think you can now? Don’t delude yourself. If you allow me to leave, I won’t pursue this further. Otherwise, more blood will spill.”

Ye Qingzi’s fury erupted. “Let you leave? Do you think Maoshan is a place you can come and go as you please? Today you will regret ever setting foot here.”

“Vajra Bell—subdue all ghosts!”

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Ye Qingzi’s voice rumbled, and the exquisite golden bell in his hand shot above the Ghost King, expanding into a colossal bell that radiated endless golden light, enveloping her within, as if to suppress her utterly.

The golden light contained boundless power, as though it could dispel all evil in the world. The Ghost King sensed danger—seeing the bell about to enclose her, she hurriedly formed seals, unleashing vast ghostly energy.

That ghostly energy manifested as countless ghastly faces, snarling as they surged upward, trying to erode the golden light and resist the Vajra Bell, defending their master. Yet, they were extinguished instantly, like moths to a flame.

“Ghost King, save your strength. You cannot withstand the power of the Vajra Bell,” Ye Qingzi declared coldly. He changed his hand seals, and the bell pressed down with sudden force.

The Ghost King felt an immense power weighing upon her, unable to escape. Under its pressure, her ghostly aura was annihilated, leaving her helpless.

The Vajra Bell fully enveloped her, crashing onto the plaza below. The earth trembled and cracked beneath its weight.

Ye Qingzi, seeing the Ghost King suppressed, remained cautious. He moved before the bell, used his blood as ink and his finger as brush, and drew three large characters upon its surface—a talisman to seal ghosts.

Afterward, Ye Qingzi’s face turned pale, as if aged several years; clearly, he had paid a steep price to subdue the Ghost King.

Seeing this, Ye Yijian quickly stepped forward to support him. “Senior Brother, are you all right?”

Ye Qingzi smiled faintly. “I’m fine. I’ve exhausted most of my power and lost much blood, but with some rest, I’ll recover.”

“That’s good!” Ye Yijian nodded, then asked, “Senior Brother, what about the Ghost King?”

“Do not worry. The Ghost King is sealed within the Vajra Bell by my curse. She cannot stir up any more trouble.”

Ye Yijian breathed a sigh of relief, and the disciples of Maoshan cheered.

Meanwhile, in the ghost realm, upon learning that the Ghost King had been sealed within the Vajra Bell, the crowds grew restless and uneasy. Yet, they did not panic, instead turning to Jiang Xiaofei for guidance. “Brother Fei, what should we do now?”

“Obviously, we need to run for our lives!”