The towering divine statue in the City of Unjust Death was not merely for show.
This statue served as the foundation of the Nether Wishper Sect, constructed at the heart of a secret realm, aligning with the skeletal mountain's ley lines, making it the cornerstone of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.
Construction of the statue began during the lifetime of the Nether Wishper Ancestor, utilizing cultivators as laborers and mortals as materials.
It was only completed after the Nether Wishper Ancestor's three-hundred-year reign ended with his death, imbued with countless divine properties, and held as a trump card of the Nether Wishper Sect, to be used only in dire circumstances.
However, at this moment, everything changed.
Lü Yang sat atop the statue's head, making no visible movements, yet instantly altered the feng shui, replacing the statue and becoming the central hub of the secret realm's world!
This was not a deliberate act on his part but a natural consequence of the disparity in status.
Just as mortals focus only on the highest peak, often unaware of the second tallest, the world tends to pay attention only to those of higher status.
"I have come as invited. Where is the senior?"
In an instant, Lü Yang's voice echoed throughout the secret realm.
The countless mortals within the City of Unjust Death fared relatively well, merely covering their ears, feeling as if thunder had erupted from the mountains, bewildered and at a loss.
Only the eight elders of the Nether Wishper Sect felt as if Lü Yang's voice carried 'weight,' crashing down upon them, disrupting their escape light, nearly causing them to fall from the sky.
Looking up at Lü Yang's manifested saintly figure, they all showed expressions of terror.
"This scoundrel is arrogant. He is desecrating the ancestor!"
"Just one voice has overwhelmed us. Could he be an existence like the ancestor?"
For a moment, the eight elders all changed color, their faces flushed with anger.
Their earlier discussions on how to subdue Lü Yang instantly became a joke!
Yet, in the next second, they suddenly showed expressions of joy.
The towering divine statue trembled slightly under Lü Yang's voice, awakening a hidden soul within, which let out a long sigh:
"A disciple of the Primordial Saint Sect... has finally arrived."
As the words fell, the previously cold and hard statue suddenly relaxed its brows.
The eyes, originally forged from refined iron, instantly displayed a glimmer of intelligence.
A Foundation Establishment soul had awakened!
A true Foundation Establishment soul, similar to the Yun Clan ancestor from the previous life, perhaps even superior, as this individual's cultivation seemed higher than the Yun Clan ancestor!
Immediately after, Lü Yang saw a brilliant light fly out from the towering divine statue.
Borrowing the qi to manifest, it transformed into a handsome Daoist with white hair and a youthful face, exuding an immortal aura, landing before him.
The Daoist then chuckled: "Interesting. Where is your physical body, young friend? Only a soul remains?"
"Forgive me, senior."
Lü Yang smiled slightly, his gaze meeting the Nether Wishper Ancestor's: "Senior doesn't seem much better off. This should be your fifth life, correct?"
He was certain this person was a remnant of the Witch Ghost Path.
However, the Witch Ghost Path had been gone for a thousand years.
For a Foundation Establishment True Person to survive until today, at least four reincarnations were necessary.
No matter how profound his cultivation, he was no longer to be feared.
"How did senior know I am a disciple of the Primordial Saint Sect?"
The Nether Wishper Ancestor shook his head: "Young friend, you nearly killed all my followers with one move. Such conduct can only belong to a madman from the Primordial Saint Sect!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Yang frowned, then righteously declared: "Senior's lineage herds ghosts and harms living beings. My actions are to eliminate evil for the people!"
The Nether Wishper Ancestor laughed: "Indeed, a disciple of the Primordial Saint Sect!"
After a moment of silence, Lü Yang took the initiative to change the subject: "Senior invited me here. What is your intention?"
"To escape and reestablish my Witch Ghost lineage."
The Nether Wishper Ancestor chuckled: "Therefore, I need to borrow something from you, young friend. Please do not refuse."
Lü Yang's eyes sparkled: "What does senior wish to borrow?"
As he spoke, the Nether Wishper Ancestor's expression turned sinister, his gaze eerie, staring intently at Lü Yang as if observing prey.
Lü Yang remained unafraid, calmly meeting his gaze.
"You actually understand, don't you? I intend to use the Primordial Saint Sect to break through that Golden Core sword qi, which naturally requires an identity from the Primordial Saint Sect."
The Nether Wishper Ancestor grinned, his white teeth gleaming with a chilling light: "My Witch Ghost Path specializes in souls, with some expertise in reincarnation and possession. I have reincarnated four times. Normally, the fifth life would be completely obscured, no longer transcendent, but there might be a shortcut."
"As long as you, young friend, are willing to lend me your body."
"I will replace you, and the fifth life can be revitalized. I see great potential in you, perhaps even aiding me in regaining Foundation Establishment status."
His tone was calm, but his words were chilling.
"Senior wishes to possess me?"
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow.
"This isn't the first time. Do you think, on the day the Golden Core sword qi descended, why did so many Foundation Establishment cultivators die, yet I survived?"
The Nether Wishper Ancestor was experienced; he had done this before.
Using possession, he seized a mortal's body as a temporary shelter, using its fate to conceal himself, thus avoiding the sweep of the Golden Core sword qi.
Such a method was unique to him in the Witch Ghost Path of that era.
"So, senior has now targeted me?"
"I should thank you."
The Nether Wishper Ancestor smiled: "My time is limited. If you hadn't appeared, I wouldn't have lasted much longer."
Lü Yang sneered: "Do you think you can possess me?"
"In life, one must take risks. The Witch Ghost Path cannot perish in my hands. For this, I am willing to pay any price. Life and death are insignificant."
Despite his words, the Nether Wishper Ancestor's demeanor was confident.
Perhaps he was certain Lü Yang couldn't match him, or perhaps, after barely surviving for a thousand years, he had become indifferent to many things.
Regardless, at this moment, he brought a strong sense of crisis to Lü Yang.
However, Lü Yang still had a question.
If it was merely possession, why did the Golden Core sword qi need to slaughter the entire secret realm?
There must be another, more important reason he was unaware of.
Of course, Lü Yang didn't expect the Nether Wishper Ancestor to tell him.
Even if he did, Lü Yang would only believe a fraction, as it could be a deliberate attempt to mislead.
"It seems I still need to capture senior and interrogate thoroughly!"
Lü Yang's eyes flashed, his figure suddenly disappearing.
Behind him, the saintly figure instantly became clear, with two golden hands clapping together from both sides.
In an instant, the brilliant golden light engulfed the Nether Wishper Ancestor's vision, as if he were caught in Lü Yang's saintly figure's hands, ready to be refined instantly.
However, the next second, an even stronger radiance erupted from the saintly figure's hands, directly exploding Lü Yang's palms.
Then, rolling black clouds intertwined with the light, finally revealing a towering mansion reaching the clouds, with jade steps and red terraces, solemn and majestic, bearing three large characters:
The mansion's doors opened wide, with jade steps and red terraces.
The Nether Wishper Ancestor sat at the head, also manifesting a dharma body behind him, holding a human-head banner in his left hand and a book in his right.
This was—the Underworld Lord Xuanming's Mansion!
"To achieve Foundation Establishment, status is merely an entry ticket, nothing to boast about."
Before the Nether Wishper Ancestor finished speaking, his aura also surged.
The next second, his status reached the same level as Lü Yang's.
The two stood on equal footing, neither yielding, and collided directly!
In an instant, the remaining eight elders of the Nether Wishper Sect hadn't had time to assist.
The collision between the two stirred up visible waves of air, surging like tsunamis, forcing them to retreat violently, coughing up blood incessantly.
Under such a clash, the light between the Nether Wishper Ancestor's brows grew even brighter.
"Since it can't be concealed, success or failure, let it be!"
The Nether Wishper Ancestor's tone was eerie, but his actions became more resolute, as if he had made up his mind.
This mysterious Foundation Establishment cultivator had once used possession to obscure the heavenly secrets, thus escaping the reckoning of the Golden Core sword qi.
However, at this moment, he abandoned concealment, no longer hiding from the heavenly secrets, causing his true identity and corresponding karma to become increasingly clear.
Within the secret realm, the Golden Core sword qi suspended in the sky seemed to sense something, emitting a series of light sounds, like a divine sword resonating within its sheath.