The Gold Piercing Ghost was a peak-level Class II ghost, equivalent to a human cultivator at the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. It was stronger than any opponent Shen Mo had ever encountered!

Consequently, Shen Mo deployed other Soul Generals to deal with the vicious ghosts under the Gold Piercing Ghost's command. In addition to using the Soul Refining Flag to refine selected Soul Ghosts, Shen Mo also set up the Big Dipper Sword Array. Together with formidable Soul Generals like Master Hong Jue, the Ghost Bride, and the Green-skinned Ghost, Tieshan, they surrounded and attacked the Gold Piercing Ghost.

This ghost, aside from being draped in gold and silver, also constantly spewed gold and silver ingots from its mouth. These were not ordinary mortal gold and silver but its Innate Divine Ability. Even the meat shield Tieshan couldn't withstand being hit by these ingots. After enduring a dozen or so hits, a large indentation appeared on his green skin; eventually, he was pounded to death and returned to the Soul Refining Flag.

Although Master Hong Jue and the Ghost Bride, two Soul Generals, were no weaker than Tieshan in terms of power, their defense capabilities were no match for his. The gold and silver ingots rained down, and just a few hits were enough to make them collapse. They hurriedly retreated to the Soul Refining Flag to reform.

Besides its ability to spew gold and silver ingots, the Gold Piercing Ghost's body possessed a toughness only slightly inferior to Tieshan's. The dazzling sword Qi unleashed by Shen Mo only managed to slice through one layer of its ghost skin. It quickly healed under the surging ghostly Qi!

Now, the Nether Ghost Qi within Tianshun Country has even surpassed that in the Ghost Nation Ruins! As a result, the strength of all kinds of ghosts has skyrocketed. They're indeed troublesome! However, for a mere Class II ghost, even a peak Class II, to think it can devour my flesh and blood... that's a bit too naive!

As soon as he finished this thought, the Big Dipper Sword Array activated. The positions of Yaoguang, the Tianji Sword, and the remaining five sword embryos suddenly shifted!

BUZZ!

BUZZ!

BUZZ!

Terrifying, majestic sword light engulfed the Gold Piercing Ghost. Amidst the resounding clangor of metal, the gold and silver ingots spewed by the Gold Piercing Ghost were all shattered by the sword light. Shimmering gold and silver fragments filled the air between the sword lights, creating a dazzlingly beautiful, yet deadly, spectacle.

BOOM!

Countless streams of sword light struck the Gold Piercing Ghost simultaneously. The mundane gold and silver adorning its body shattered into pieces, enraging it. Soon after, the sword light covered it in wounds. As the dark ghostly Qi churned, the sword wounds on the Gold Piercing Ghost began to heal at a visible rate.

At the same time, the Ghost Bride's "Glare" skill took effect. On the Gold Piercing Ghost's body, its ghostly Qi—which was akin to a cultivator's blood and Qi and even more vital—began to roil and surge uncontrollably. Moreover, a large amount of dense ghostly Qi rapidly escaped from its distorted orifices, dissipating into the void.

Nearby, Master Hong Jue activated the 'Poison into Water' technique, converting his mana into a murky, poisonous torrent that directly ensnared the Gold Piercing Ghost. Even without the might of a water-elemental magic artifact, the poison's potency was not to be underestimated. The poison made the ghostly Qi sizzle as it corroded it, continuously invading and spreading deeper into the Gold Piercing Ghost's body.

With multiple restraining measures in place, Shen Mo began to activate the Soul Refining Flag, attempting to refine the Gold Piercing Ghost.

…

[You attempt to refine the Gold Piercing Ghost with the Soul Refining Flag. The Gold Piercing Ghost forcefully resists, and you are unable to refine it into a Soul General.]

[You attempt to refine the Gold Piercing Ghost with the Soul Refining Flag. Under heavy suppression, the Gold Piercing Ghost is too weak to resist, and you have successfully refined a Soul General.]

[During the process of refining the Gold Piercing Ghost, you have unexpectedly gained an opportunity, Destiny Point +1.]

Success!

A new Gold Piercing Ghost imprint appeared on the Soul Refining Flag.

However, before Shen Mo could even sigh in relief, innumerable chilling auras of Nether Qi from within and outside the capital of Tianshun Country locked onto him. Through the interlinking sense of Qi, Shen Mo roughly gauged the strength of the incoming ghosts.

There were a staggering 135,000 peak-level Class I ghosts.

There were over 4,000 early-stage Class II ghosts.

Middle-stage Class II ghosts numbered over three hundred.

And there were seventy-eight ghosts ranging from late-stage Class II to peak Class II!

Shen Mo swept up the fallen soul core, casually refining it with the Dragon Elephant Blood Fiend Body technique, adding a few experience points to this external cultivation magic.

"Come on! Let me see what you're made of!" Shen Mo declared with a grand wave of his sleeve.

CLANG!

The Dragon Sparrow Sword transformed into a streak of light, hovering a foot in front of him. He stepped steadily onto the Dragon Sparrow Sword, holding the Soul Refining Flag in his left hand, with the seven Big Dipper Swords circling his right. He then sped towards the outskirts of the capital.

Although many ghosts targeted him, not every ghost possessed exceptional flying speed. Staying near the Treasure Hall of the Defense Division and waiting for wave after wave of ghosts to attack would undoubtedly be the most foolish and perilous choice!

Shen Mo could fly rapidly on his sword. Boosted by his Purple Knack Spiritual Qi and his Sword Control Spirit Technique [Junior (1755/6000)], his flying speed was extremely fast. Above him, the Flawless Dharma Eye could survey everything within a hundred-mile radius. Thus, he decided to continuously eliminate and refine ghosts while maneuvering.

His prior preparations now proved useful. The previously stored and newly refined Soul Returning Pills from the Treasure Hall were enough for him to fly continuously for over three months. Even accounting for the mana consumed by refining ghosts with the Soul Refining Flag, Shen Mo could sustain this for a month.

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

Including Yaoguang and Tianji, all the Big Dipper Swords had been recalled by Shen Mo. The Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand Energy that maintained the spherical Qi barrier was also completely withdrawn into his internal chakras. Aside from necessary mana expenditure, he needed to conserve every shred of his mana.

After all, he still didn't know how the Death Jaw would determine if he had successfully passed its trial. If this artifact-like Death Jaw judged his success based on him killing and refining every ghost pursuing him, then things would be troublesome.

However, for now, Shen Mo was only focused on refining more formidable ghosts, aiming to elevate the Soul Refining Flag's power to a terrifying level, making it one of his strongest trump cards once more.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The vast number of Soul Ghosts and their swirling ghostly Qi gathered like a ceaselessly churning black cloud. Under the cover of this ghostly cloud, the flying speed of many ghosts increased significantly.

Before long, Shen Mo was overtaken by a late-stage Class II Red Fiend—or rather, another 'Ghost Bride.' However, this one did not possess the original Ghost Bride's 'Glare' skill. She relied on tearing and biting with her ghostly form, as well as her spectral speed, to engage and kill her foes.

"Kill!" Shen Mo commanded.

The Gold Piercing Ghost 'Jinshan,' the Green-skinned Ghost 'Tieshan,' Master Hong Jue, the Ghost Bride, the Possession Ghost 'Horse Groom Lv,' and other formidable Soul Generals immediately lunged at the late-stage Class II Red Fiend.

Blood battle!

Struggle!

Refine the Red Fiend Ghost...

Immediately, other formidable vicious ghosts caught up.

Yet another blood battle!

A grueling struggle!

Use the Soul Refining Flag to refine them...

However, refining late-stage to peak Class II ghosts required their complete suppression. While fleeing and maneuvering, Shen Mo simply lacked the time to slowly suppress and refine such formidable ghosts. After all, if he were to get bogged down, he would be instantly devoured by the myriad ghosts!

Furthermore, when encountering peak Class II ghosts, Shen Mo sometimes wouldn't even engage; he would just turn and flee. He specifically targeted middle-stage and late-stage Class II ghosts for elimination.

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