Chapter 897: Chapter 897

The Spirit Sect disciples were firmly trapped by the Ghost Soldiers Formation at this moment.

To Gui Zhen, the members of the Spirit Sect were already like meat on his chopping board—ready to be slaughtered whenever he pleased.

Gui Zhen slowly raised the Soul Summoning Banner in his hand. "Today, I will obliterate the Spirit Sect from existence!"

Just as Gui Zhen began to lift the Soul Summoning Banner, a Wind Blade came slashing through the air without warning.

The Wind Blade directly targeted the Soul Summoning Banner.

It must be noted that the Soul Summoning Banner was the critical core of the Ghost Soldiers Formation; once it was damaged, the Ghost Soldiers Formation would inevitably collapse.

Gui Zhen, living up to his title as a Profound Level expert, abruptly raised his hand, causing the Wind Blade to miss its mark.

As the Wind Blade missed, a figure swiftly darted toward Gui Zhen, attacking directly.

Gui Zhen had already used his telekinesis to lock onto the figure. The moment his opponent got near, Gui Zhen unleashed a powerful burst of Inner Strength.

The force of this Inner Strength was formidable, overwhelming in its grandeur.

The figure was immediately sent flying by the impact. A Profound Level expert's Inner Strength was not something anyone could withstand.

Thump… The person crashed heavily onto the ground. At this moment, everyone finally saw who the figure was—it was none other than Ruan Yuan from the Immortal Sect.

Gui Zhen coldly snorted as he looked at Ruan Yuan. "I didn't go looking for you, yet you've come seeking your own death."

Though Ruan Yuan sat paralyzed on the ground, his face remained full of defiance.

Gui Zhen's gaze flickered with a ruthless light. He stretched out his hand across the air, instantly lifting Ruan Yuan's body through telekinesis.

"Everyone, we cannot let the Ghost Sect run amok. Otherwise, the world will plunge into chaos. We cannot simply watch as the Spirit Sect is annihilated!"

Ruan Yuan's words were directed at the people atop the Observation Platform—those who had come to attend the Spirit Sect's ceremony.

For a moment, the attendees exchanged uncertain glances among themselves.

Gui Zhen's gaze sharpened with malice. "Anyone who dares oppose my Ghost Sect faces only one end: death!"

After speaking, Gui Zhen's right hand suddenly exerted force, throwing out a Wind Blade with his left hand toward Ruan Yuan.

Ruan Yuan's body was completely under Gui Zhen's control. At this point, resistance was impossible—he couldn't even budge a finger. Seeing the Wind Blade slicing toward him, Ruan Yuan's fate seemed sealed.

Right at the brink of life and death for Ruan Yuan, a silhouette streaked through the air. In the next instant, Ruan Yuan, who had been restrained by Gui Zhen, vanished on the spot.

Just as the rescuer carried Ruan Yuan away, the Wind Blade Gui Zhen unleashed carved a deep pit into the ground where Ruan Yuan had been moments before.

Around them, the crowd was left stunned by the scene, the speed of the rescuer unbelievable. Moreover, just the fact that someone managed to snatch a person away from Gui Zhen's control spoke volumes about their power.

Even Gui Zhen's face turned serious.

Ruan Yuan had been certain he was doomed, but when he came to his senses, he found himself in a secure place.

Seeing the person who rescued him, Ruan Yuan's face was filled with disbelief.

The one who had saved Ruan Yuan was none other than Ding Fan—who else could it have been?

"It's over. Leave the rest to me," Ding Fan said calmly.

"The Spirit Sect members are trapped. Destroy the Soul Summoning Banner in his hand, and the Ghost Soldiers Formation will be broken," Ruan Yuan reminded Ding Fan.

At this moment, Mei Zhi reached Ruan Yuan's side and led him toward the other end of the Observation Platform where Ye Tianshi stood.

Among those present, no one cared more about Ruan Yuan's life than Ye Tianshi. The earlier events had unfolded so rapidly that Ye Tianshi had no time to intervene; now, without hesitation, he drew his Longsword and positioned himself protectively in front of Ruan Yuan.

Gui Zhen's gaze rested solemnly on Ding Fan. "I never imagined you'd survive after venturing into the Spirit Sect Forbidden Land."

Previously, Feng Shanxing had explicitly said that the Forbidden Land was a place of no return, yet Ding Fan had emerged from it alive.

Ding Fan had no intent to waste words. His right hand slowly extended outward, and something astonishing occurred before the eyes of everyone present.

The Soul Summoning Banner in Gui Zhen's grasp suddenly seemed to come alive, struggling desperately to escape from his grip.

Gui Zhen's face darkened immediately. "How… How is this possible?"

Gui Zhen could clearly feel the banner's resistance. After controlling it for hundreds of years, he had never encountered such a phenomenon.

As Gui Zhen tried to use his Inner Strength to suppress the struggling Soul Summoning Banner, it abruptly ignited into flames.

Startled, Gui Zhen quickly tossed the banner to the ground.

Not long after, the Soul Summoning Banner was reduced to ashes.

"What's going on… What did you do?" Gui Zhen's gaze locked onto Ding Fan. He was certain the banner wouldn't behave without reason; it had to be Ding Fan's doing.

"It's… It's Soul Manipulation Technique!" Gui Zhen couldn't comprehend it, but others certainly could.

Within the collapsing Ghost Soldiers Formation, Luv Shanqi stared blankly at Ding Fan.

"Soul Manipulation Technique… My god, it really is Soul Manipulation Technique," Zhao Shanhe exclaimed, mouth agape in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Feng Shanxing was eyeing Ding Fan, his own eyes widened in shock, yet unable to utter a single word.

The Soul Manipulation Technique was one of the Spirit Sect's Supreme Techniques. When the four had entered the sect in their youth, they had seen this particular technique demonstrated by the elders.

After the Spirit Sect passed through numerous upheavals, the Soul Manipulation Technique was lost by the time it reached their generation.

Still, the four immediately recognized the technique—a skill they hadn't seen since their initiation years, now wielded by Ding Fan.

Zhang Shanlian gazed intently at Ding Fan, his eyes glowing. "Heaven's will… It's truly heaven's will…"

Ding Fan had indeed employed the Soul Manipulation Technique. He had turned to this method because seizing the Soul Summoning Banner directly from Gui Zhen would have been unrealistic; using the technique had worked with far greater precision.

Boom… At this moment, the heavens reverberated with roaring bursts. Above the Spirit Sect, the Ghost Soldiers Formation shattered like fractured glass, falling apart piece by piece.

Rumble… Eventually, the entire formation collapsed completely. After its destruction, the skies turned blue once more, and the surroundings returned to their original tranquility.

As the Ghost Soldiers Formation crumbled, dozens of figures leapt to Gui Zhen's side—they were disciples of the Ghost Sect.

Prior to this, the Ghost Sect wielded overwhelming dominance over the Spirit Sect; in the blink of an eye, the tide had drastically shifted.

Mei Zhi returned to stand amidst the Spirit Sect members.

"Yesterday, you entered the Forbidden Land. How did you possibly survive?" Feng Shanxing couldn't resist asking.

He had witnessed Mei Zhi and Ding Fan entering the Forbidden Land, and not only had they avoided death, Ding Fan had even acquired the Spirit Sect's Supreme Technique, the Soul Manipulation Technique.

Mei Zhi snorted softly, clearly showing no intention to address Feng Shanxing's question.

"Mei Zhi, you entered the Forbidden Land with Ding Fan?" Zhang Shanlian, visibly shocked, questioned her.

The Spirit Sect disciples knew well that the Forbidden Land was a death trap. Not only Zhang Shanlian—the same disbelief was evident in the expressions of Zhao Shanhe and Luv Shanqi.

"Uncle Master Zhang, I mistakenly set foot into the Forbidden Land. It was truly out of desperation. Please, Uncle Master and Master, punish me," Mei Zhi replied respectfully.

The Spirit Sect's rules clearly forbade entering the Forbidden Land. Mei Zhi naturally stepped forward to plead guilty.

"That's irrelevant now. What's important is, how did you get out alive?" Zhang Shanlian pressed further.

Mei Zhi then recounted her and Ding Fan's experiences in the Forbidden Land—how Ding Fan led her through the maze-like caverns, eventually reaching the Stone Chamber, and witnessing Ouyang Shangfang's Soul Body.

"The Ancestor Master Ouyang, fearing for the Spirit Sect's safety, left behind six Steles. The Ancestor Master wanted to transmit the Spirit Sect Technique to Ding Fan, hoping he might activate the formations within the steles and escape the Forbidden Land."

"However, Ding Fan had already received Wen Yizhou's legacy. After some effort, he managed to activate the six steles. As the Ancestor Master sent us out, he passed the Soul Manipulation Technique to Ding Fan…"

Though Mei Zhi's account was terse, those present felt the weight of peril behind her words.

The labyrinthine caverns in the Forbidden Land alone were enough to astound; without guidance, reaching the Stone Chamber was an almost unimaginable feat. The passageways had been intricately designed by past sect elders, and only those equipped with their directives could access the chamber for their final resting place.

Beyond that, everyone marveled at Ding Fan's serendipitous fortune—first inheriting Wen Yizhou's legacy, then obtaining Ouyang Shangfang's Soul Manipulation Technique...

His opportunities were truly unparalleled in all heaven and earth…

"Ding Fan, you've thwarted my plans yet again." Gui Zhen's voice was chillingly cold as he addressed Ding Fan.

Ding Fan responded with silence, drawing his Longsword and fixing a stern gaze on Gui Zhen.

Whoosh… Gui Zhen's figure abruptly flickered, unleashing three consecutive Wind Blades directly at Ding Fan.

Boom, boom, boom… The ferocity of Gui Zhen's Wind Blades was staggering.

The nearby gravel was swept up by the force of the Wind Blades; those too close sustained cuts from the sheer intensity of the gale.

The crowd looked on with astonishment—Gui Zhen's cultivation was truly formidable. Based on his prowess, he appeared to be at least Fifth Grade of the Profound Level.

Ding Fan hesitated for a moment.

Previously, when he confronted Gui Zhen, he had only been at an Early Stage—First or Second Grade of the Profound Level—and yet, in no time, his abilities had grown markedly.

Still, Ding Fan had no intention of dodging. He raised the Nine Profound Iron in his hand, channeling an unmatched surge of True Yuan to collide head-on with Gui Zhen's Inner Strength.

Their energy clashed violently, generating massive shockwaves that radiated outward from their positions, knocking onlookers to the ground.

Several disciples even vomited blood from the impact.

In the Arena, dust and debris soared, obscuring the figures within. Check latest chapters at 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥

The spectators exchanged uneasy glances.

None of them could fathom how a young man, barely in his twenties, could match the might of a Ghost Sect veteran like Gui Zhen.

As the dust continued to settle, the sharp sounds of Wind Blades slicing through the air kept reverberating from the arena.

Though the crowd couldn't see what was transpiring inside, the relentless sound of Wind Blades indicated an intense battle between the two combatants.

Boom… Another thunderous roar erupted, and then two figures retreated from the dissipating dust clouds.

Ding Fan collapsed heavily onto the ground, his body riddled with injuries.

Meanwhile, Gui Zhen staggered backward, coughing blood.

The spectators gasped in disbelief—it was unimaginable that Ding Fan had pushed Gui Zhen to such a dire state…