Chapter 1187: Chapter 1187

Zhao Yunlu was momentarily stunned. "Exterminated 800 years ago?"

The cultivator, seeing this, cupped his hands and turned to leave. It was clear from the question that these two had ties to the Songling Sect. For someone to have lived this long, they had to be a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator or above, an existence not to be trifled with. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't dare get involved.

"This is still within Prison Wind. Fellow Daoist Songling was suppressed and killed. You didn't hear about it?" Fang Chen asked.

"I've been in seclusion for years and haven't kept in touch with anyone. After the last division leader left, the Killing Spiritual Division here ceased operations, so I didn't receive word," Zhao Yunlu answered.

"There are still four left. Let's go."

Over the next few months, Fang Chen and Zhao Yunlu visited four more places, each one abandoned and crumbling. Of the six Loose Immortals listed by Huang Qingque, only Zhao Yunlu remained. The other five were either missing or likely dead.

"The Spirit Blood Sect must have found them," Zhao Yunlu said grimly, a flash of killing intent in his eyes as he looked toward Fang Chen. "Leader, we cannot let this go. Those fellow Daoists served the division diligently, yet died without explanation. The Spirit Blood Sect must pay! I know where some of their members go into deep retreat. Since they've killed five of our Loose Immortals, we should retaliate."

"Don't be hasty." Fang Chen waved. "Our division is already conducting a sweep across Creation Star. These past few months, nearly half the Spirit Blood Sect's cultivators here should be dead. In another year or so, we'll see results."

Zhao Yunlu blinked in surprise. "An entire operation? I hadn't heard. Where did you source your manpower?"

"Our division's cultivators on Creation Star haven't acted in too long. I feared they wouldn't be able to handle Spirit Blood Sect cultivators, so this time I mobilized people from other regions," Fang Chen said casually.

Zhao Yunlu's eyes grew more wary. Could it be from the True Martial Region?

"Also, I've got contacts in the Underworld. I had them investigate those five fellow Daoists. If they're dead and their souls went to the underworld, there should be some trace," Fang Chen added.

Zhao Yunlu's expression brightened. "You've got ties with the Yin Holy Sect too? If they're helping search in the Underworld, maybe we really could find those five."

"They've already been found."

"That's great!" exclaimed Zhao Yunlu.

However, he quickly froze. "Wait, already found?"

Before he could respond, a mist began to rise nearby. From within it stepped an old man with a gloomy expression. His ghostly aura was unstable, with parts of his soul appearing torn as though gnawed by rats. When he saw Zhao Yunlu, he let out a cold laugh. "Zhao Yunlu, who would've thought I'd live to see you again?"

"Fellow Daoist Songling..." Zhao Yunlu called out. "The leader and I went looking for you not long ago. The place was empty. I thought you'd already passed on...."

"Passed on? I died by your hand!" Songling sneered. "You had the audacity to strike down a fellow Killing Spiritual Division cultivator. I suspect you've long since joined the Spirit Blood Sect. I've spent years trapped in the Lesser Underworld, suffering endlessly in the Forgotten River. Meanwhile, you lived quite comfortably up here. Don't you think it's time to settle the debt?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖•𝗇𝗲𝘁

"Fellow Daoist Songling, how can you say that?" Zhao Yunlu's expression tightened. He denied, "We're both comrades of the Killing Spiritual Division. How could I ever raise a hand against you?"

He turned to Fang Chen and cupped his hands. "Leader, I think Fellow Daoist Songling has been dead for so long that his ghostly mind has become confused. His words shouldn't be trusted. I've spent these years diligently cultivating in Yunlu City, which is how I was able to reach the third transformation. His accusations are baseless. Please judge fairly."

Songling paused, fear rising in his eyes. The third transformation?

His accusations caught in his throat.

He looked to Fang Chen, forcing a strained smile. "Leader, you were only recently appointed, weren't you? Perhaps I really have been dead too long... My mind might be foggy. Yunlu truly has no reason to harm me..."

Zhao Yunlu smirked faintly, his eyes flicking between Fang Chen and Songling. As a third-transformation Loose Immortal, few things here could truly frighten him, even someone holding the leader's token.

If this new leader had any sense, he'd know whom to believe going forward.

"Fellow Daoist Songling, don't be afraid," Fang Chen said reassuringly. "You've already received a decree. You now walk the path of Ghost Gods. Even if Zhao Yunlu is a third-transformation Loose Immortal, he shouldn't scare you anymore."

Songling didn't know how to respond. Having been dragged out from the Forgotten River, everything felt surreal. He still hadn't wrapped his head around what had happened outside, let alone understood the strength of the new Killing Spiritual Division Leader standing before him.

If Zhao Yunlu were only a second transformation, he could've exposed him without fear. But he feared the retaliation of a third-transformation Loose Immortal.

Would the leader really dare oppose someone that strong?

"Leader, are you really going to believe the words of a ghost over mine?" Zhao Yunlu let out a sigh. "I've come a long way. Reaching the third transformation here wasn't easy; I've endured all kinds of trials. Even so, I've never had any dealings with the Spirit Blood Sect. I've never taken a single Blood Spirit Pill. If even I am not trusted, then what's the point of me staying in the division?"

He clasped his hands faintly, weariness in his voice. "I'll take my leave. You must have more important matters, Leader."

"You might not have taken a single Blood Spirit Pill," Fang Chen said with a chuckle, "but you swallowed all the salaries meant for Fellow Daoist Songling and the others, didn't you? That's how you reached the third transformation, through your embezzlement. Without those immortal crystals, how else could you have advanced?"

"So, what are you saying?" Zhao Yunlu narrowed his eyes. "Because of our old misunderstanding, you're trying to make a move on me now? If you want to, just do it. There is no need to come up with so many excuses."

"I can't just send you off for no reason." Fang Chen smiled. "The Killing Spiritual Division still has rules. You'll have to go in a way that's clean and clear. I'll need to report to my superiors."

Dense fog surged again, and four more figures emerged, men and women alike. They hurled curses at Zhao Yunlu as soon as they appeared.

"These five here are my witnesses. You won't die in vain," Fang Chen said.

Zhao Yunlu burst into laughter. "With just a few ghosts and a measly second transformation sword cultivator like you... you think you can stop me?"

He unleashed his immortal essence. The ground split beneath his feet, ancient trees were uprooted, boulders shattered, and floated into the air under the pressure of his aura.

He hovered off the ground, eyes fixed on Fang Chen with a confident smile.

A vast shadow suddenly blotted out the sky, prompting Zhao Yunlu to look up. He saw a fist the size of a hill descending upon him.

The shockwave of immortal energy quaked outward as Zhao Yunlu was slammed violently into the ground.

Before he could react, the Dangyin Mountain Lord landed another punch.

The five ghosts stared in disbelief as a giant squatted down, punching over and over until a bottomless crater formed at their feet.