Ancestor Yin Ghost saw the situation and was greatly alarmed, retreating explosively like a ghost.
Li Chen, seeing Ancestor Yin Ghost attempting to dodge, also changed his attack in mid-air. His fist, wreathed in azure light, blasted straight over like a mortar shell.
Ancestor Yin Ghost’s Protective Gang Qi was shattered by Li Chen’s punch as if crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, spitting out a mouthful of black blood in mid-air.
He was pushed back over a dozen steps until finally stopping with his back against the wall.
Li Chen brandished his fist and sneered fiercely, "Ancestor Yin Ghost, how does my punch taste?"
Ancestor Yin Ghost gave a chilling laugh, "Not bad at all, truly worthy of Jiangnan Immortal Master Li!"
Having said that, he suddenly shouted towards the doorway.
"The two of you, have you watched enough of the show? If not now, then when will you reveal yourselves?"
Before Ancestor Yin Ghost’s voice could fade, two figures gracefully descended.
The woman’s face was masked, her figure lithe, standing elegantly as if carved from jade, her skin surpassing frost and snow. Her delicate, lotus-like white wrists were adorned with pretty silver bells.
The man seemed like Pan An, majestic in bearing, as graceful as Jiao Long, a truly handsome man. He held a White Jade Bone Flute in his hand.
Ancestor Yin Ghost recognized the visitors’ identities and laughed chillingly, "Hehe, Lian Hongshang, Witch God Sect’s Divine Lady, and Mon Wushang, Heavenly Demon Sect’s son. It seems the Divine Mother and Demon Elder indeed care greatly for this old bone of mine!"
Seeing these two arrive, Li Chen’s eyes flashed with solemnness.
His gaze first swept over Mon Wushang, then landed on Lian Hongshang.
As Lian Hongshang and Li Chen’s gazes met in mid-air, for some reason she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, subconsciously distancing herself from Mon Wushang as if she feared he might misunderstand something.
In truth, the Witch God Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect traditionally didn’t get along. While there were no deep-seated grudges, they generally kept to their own affairs.
This time, the reason that brought them together was mainly the sudden rise of Immortal Master Li that made both sects feel a sense of crisis.
Li Chen smiled faintly at Lian Hongshang and said, "Lian Hongshang, long time no see!"
Lian Hongshang did not reply, but hummed a response.
Seeing Li Chen taking the initiative to greet Lian Hongshang, and from his tone, it seemed like they were old acquaintances, Mon Wushang couldn’t help but feel a heavy heart.
"Lian Hongshang, you know each other?"
"We’ve crossed fists before, but I wouldn’t say we know each other!"
Lian Hongshang’s reply was still cold as frost, but upon close listening, one could notice a hint of guilt.
Mon Wushang, seeing Lian Hongshang’s exaggerated reaction, understood that there must be a story he wasn’t aware of.
However, at this critical juncture, it clearly wasn’t the time to delve deeper.
"Since you have a feud with him, then today is perfect. Our Three Sects will join forces to capture and kill Immortal Master Li!"
He made a final decision, directly binding the Witch God Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect to the same chariot.
Lian Hongshang still didn’t speak, which counted as her acquiescing to his proposition.
Li Chen gave a resolute smile and exclaimed, "Today, I shall slay Ancestor Yin Ghost. Whoever dares to obstruct me, I shall send on their way together!"
Mon Wushang snorted angrily and, like a ghost, appeared in front of Li Chen with a swift motion.
His speed was so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye, only leaving a blurred shadow.
"Hmph, a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"
Li Chen let out a derisive sneer and met the attack with a palm swing.
The two clashed mid-air with a palm strike, sending Mon Wushang flying backward, retreating five or six steps before barely stabilizing his center of gravity.
Looking at Li Chen, he still stood in his original place, composed as ever.
Such was the comparison of strengths between the two sides, the superior and inferior were apparent!
Mon Wushang, as the scion of the Heavenly Demon Sect, was undoubtedly Heaven’s Chosen Son. Yet to his utter disbelief, he was repelled by Li Chen in a mere exchange of blows, leaving him utterly astounded.
He had long heard of Immortal Master Li’s might, but never expected his adversary to be so formidable, to far exceed his expectations.
"Together, attack! I refuse to believe that, united, the Three Sects of Miao Territory can’t handle him, Immortal Master Li!"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Mon Wushang and Ancestor Yin Ghost rushed towards Li Chen.
Lian Hongshang hesitated for a moment, then also brandished her sword and charged into the fray.
If the three of them joined forces and worked together, even a God Realm powerhouse would certainly face a fate of certain death.
However, each of the three harbored their own ulterior motives.
Ancestor Yin Ghost, already injured, dared not fight with full strength to avoid becoming a pawn for someone else’s gain.
Mon Wushang too was calculating to reap the benefits of a fisherman watching two others fight.
Compared to these two men, Lian Hongshang’s thoughts were even more complex.
Whether it was Ancestor Yin Ghost or Mon Wushang, their considerations were purely benefit-driven.
Yet without noticing, she had let emotions tangle within her motivations.
With the three of them harboring different dreams in the same bed, they naturally presented Li Chen with opportunities to defeat them individually.
Li Chen first feigned an attack with his sword to push back Mon Wushang, then with a palm strike, he repelled Ancestor Yin Ghost.
In a matter of moments, only Lian Hongshang remained within the circle of combat.
Li Chen glanced at the cold, gleaming long sword in Lian Hongshang’s hand, then locked eyes with her.
"Lian Hongshang, do you truly wish to kill me?"
Lian Hongshang could only utter an "I" before suddenly choking up as if something was stuck in her throat, unable to continue.
She did not understand why she was being so indecisive.
Noticing something was amiss, Mon Wushang urgently shouted: "Lian Hongshang, what are you waiting for? Kill her!"
Just as Lian Hongshang was about to raise her sword, Li Chen grabbed her wrist.
"Get lost. Come back when you’ve made up your mind!"
Before he finished speaking, he forcefully toss Lian Hongshang aside.
Just as Li Chen prepared to slay Ancestor Yin Ghost, a piercing flute melody suddenly rang out.
The sound was mournful and longing, weeping and pleading, with echoes lingering on ceaselessly. It danced through the hidden depths where Jiao Long lay, and wept for the solitary lady in the boat.1
Ancestor Yin Ghost’s muddled eyes suddenly brightened.
"Is this the Soul Summoning Song of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"
The Soul Summoning Song, as the name implies, was a melody that could summon lost souls and wandering ghosts.
In places like Jiangnan and the Central Plains, where law and order prevailed, Mon Wushang’s Soul Summoning Song would not even trouble an ordinary Grandmaster.
But this was the Yin Ghost Sect, a place already teeming with Yin Spirits and Dead Souls. Over the past few days, Li Chen had been rampant in the Miao Territory, with the Yin Ghost Sect alone suffering thousands of casualties. These new ghosts had not yet had the chance to reincarnate and were all lingering nearby.
Thus, the moment Mon Wushang’s Soul Summoning Song played, it immediately attracted countless Dead Souls. Thousands of Yin Spirit Evil Ghosts swarmed into the grand hall.
In no time, the grand hall of the Yin Ghost Sect had become King Yanluo’s Netherworld Hell.
Mon Wushang hovered among tens of thousands of ghosts, revealing a Death God’s gruesome smile.
"Immortal Master Li, you’ve been in Miao Territory for some time, but have you ever tasted the flavor of Ten Thousand Ghosts Devouring Heart?"
1: From Su Shi’s "Ode to the Red Cliff"