With Cui Guang, a Qi Refining seventh-layer cultivator, holding the line, Wen Yue was the one who should be worried, not them.

Even if the fiendish ghosts of the Soul Banner were powerful, they could not contend with Qi Refining cultivators of the same rank.

They were inherently a step below Qi Refining cultivators.

Cultivators cultivated both life and essence, while fiendish ghosts cultivated only one aspect.

If they encountered cultivators with limited experience, they might still be able to counterattack. However, Senior Brother Cui had entered the sect long ago and had slain countless evil spirits and fiendish ghosts. In terms of combat experience, the two of them combined were no match for Senior Brother Cui.

Now that the late-stage Qi Refining fiendish ghost had left Wen Yue's side, they naturally couldn't stand idly by. This was the perfect opening to strike.

"Senior Brother Lin."

"Let's go together."

The compass cultivator and the other Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivator exchanged glances. While communicating, both rode their swords directly towards Wen Yue.

Lin Hui and the compass cultivator showed no intention of adhering to chivalry.

Their immediate priority was to quickly kill off Wen Yue.

Without Wen Yue to wield the Revered Soul Banner, the magical tool was nothing more than a dead object.

Wen Yue's heart pounded with nervousness. He had very little experience in combat with others. Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he had only fought against one cultivator.

On normal days, he could only enter the Dream Cultivation Cliff and fight against the fiendish ghosts within the banner.

He was the banner master of the Soul Banner; he knew exactly how many fiendish ghosts were within it. Moreover, he had seen Old Xiang in the Soul Banner, but all the fiendish ghosts within the Soul Banner, except for teacher, were dazed and bewildered.

However, their combat experience was by no means weak; in fact, it far surpassed his own.

Now, without teacher protecting him, facing two Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivators alone, Wen Yue felt a strange panic rise within him.

Clearly, this was not the time to sit idly and await death.

Wen Yue shook the Soul Banner, and hundreds of ghostly figures suddenly surged out from within it.

Zhu Lin's evil spirit also crawled out from the Soul Banner.

Although his gaze was dull, his body was exceptionally nimble, not even requiring Wen Yue to direct his combat.

Zhu Lin's ghostly hand formed a sword-finger. With a single gesture, the crimson longsword in Wen Yue's hand slipped away, falling directly into the evil spirit of Zhu Lin's hand.

"Senior Brother Zhu?" Lin Hui exclaimed in shock.

Hadn't Zhu Lin already died? Yet, now, aside from his dull gaze, he seemed no different from when he was alive.

It was a pity that his Senior Brother Zhu's response to him was a crimson rainbow slash.

"Clang."

Weapons clashed, emitting a crisp sound. Zhu Lin spun his sword light and slashed horizontally.

With a tearing sound.

The crimson longsword sliced across Lin Hui's magic robe, shattering the protective spiritual light that covered it.

Lin Hui's eyes widened. He had already realized that Senior Brother Zhu must have been cultivated into the Soul Banner by this demonic cultivator. He just hadn't expected the demonic cultivator's control over the evil spirits to be so precise, capable of manifesting even such minute movements through the evil spirit.

The compass cultivator was in a similar predicament. He had not even approached Wen Yue before being surrounded by countless evil spirits.

Although the highest among them was only at Qi Refining fifth layer, they were aided by many Qi Refining second and third-layer helpers, and those ranked ghost soldiers were also extremely annoying.

A moment of carelessness would result in a claw mark.

The compass cultivator was greatly alarmed. He hadn't expected Wen Yue to have such reserve power while controlling so many evil spirits.

Doubt surged in his heart.

The opponent was merely a Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivator, newly entered the mid-stage. How could his spiritual sense be so powerful?

Wen Yue, of course, was unaware of their thoughts.

He was astonished that his longsword had been borrowed by the evil spirit. What bewildered him even more was that these hundreds of evil spirits advanced and retreated in an orderly fashion, fully utilizing their combat experience from life, and even forming an array to trap people.

In truth, this was not only due to the power of the Soul Banner; apart from the evil spirits' consciousness, everything else was identical to how they were in life.

It also owed credit to Tu Shanjun, who would drill these ghost soldiers in their free time, having them battle each other in formation to refine their skills.

This was how such a powerful ability to advance and retreat in an orderly fashion could be cultivated.

However, releasing so many fiendish ghosts again increased his spiritual power consumption, and one spirit stone was insufficient to sustain it.

Wen Yue hastily took an Yin Soul Pill from his storage talisman and popped it into his mouth.

The Yin Soul Pill immediately transformed into pure spiritual power, replenishing Wen Yue's dantian.

With a spirit stone clenched in his left hand and an Yin Soul Pill in his mouth, he barely managed to keep up with the rate of consumption of the evil spirits.

This time, Wen Yue released all the evil spirits capable of fighting.

All previous banner masters came out to assist in the battle.

Zhu Lin, Zhao Shixian, and a group of ghost soldiers surrounded Lin Hui. With Zhu Lin, a Qi Refining sixth-layer main force, coupled with Zhao Shixian and the ghost soldiers, they actually held a slight advantage.

The impenetrable Three Rainbow Sword Art further wore down Lin Hui's defenses.

However, the compass cultivator was not faring well. Although the Qi Refining fifth-layer Zhou Liang also had extensive combat experience, and his evil spirit even had a portion of ghostly power infused by the Nightmare Pattern Spirit-Affixing Technique.

Yet, a Qi Refining fifth-layer was merely a Qi Refining fifth-layer; he simply couldn't suppress this Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivator.

If it weren't for the collective assault of the previous banner masters, the compass cultivator would likely have already reached him.

Despite the containment, this person was gradually approaching him, and it might not be long before he broke through the encirclement of evil spirits.

If this continued, the opponent would surely reach him.

Wen Yue felt anxious. He turned to look at teacher's side.

But the situation there caused his expression to change drastically. Black blood already stained the ground around teacher, who had countless wounds, his fangs fully exposed.

Although Cui Guang held the upper hand, he hadn't gained much advantage either.

His expression was solemn, and he was on high alert.

This evil spirit fought without any regard for itself, completely in a frenzied, desperate state. In contrast, he was somewhat protective of his own body and psychologically, he inevitably fell into a disadvantage. His initial prominent advantage was constantly shrinking due to the involvement of his unconscious junior brother.

Once he left his junior brother's side, this ghost would madly charge at his junior brother, which further tied his hands.

Cui Guang felt regret. He knew that Junior Brother Tang Wen loved to show off, but he hadn't expected it to lay the groundwork for disaster on this trip. Now, even if he held the upper hand, he couldn't slay this ferocious evil spirit in a short time.

He could only hope that his two junior brothers would succeed and quickly eliminate that demonic cultivator wielding the banner.

Tu Shanjun knew his advantage was not his mad fighting style, nor his rich combat experience, but the heavily wounded cultivator lying behind Cui Guang.

Besiege the point, strike the reinforcements.

It wasn't a tactic only they could use.

As long as that cultivator lay there, Cui Guang would be continuously tied down.

If it were a Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivator, Tu Shanjun would even risk severe injury to kill one.

Spiritual power surged into the longsword. Cui Guang shifted his sword technique, giving up half a body length.

"Good opportunity!"

Tu Shanjun secretly cried out, his hard bridge meeting the attack. His fists passed over the longsword, aiming directly for Cui Guang's ears.

His footwork was also busy, a low kick added into the flurry of punches.

Cui Guang reacted quickly. While parrying with his sword, his legs formed a "two-character clamp" stance, directly clamping Tu Shanjun's rising low kick.

Tu Shanjun's face contorted into a grimace. He ignored the longsword crossing before his ghostly hand.

With a squelch.

His arm was directly pierced by the crimson longsword.

How could Cui Guang not understand Tu Shanjun's intention?

He spat out a single word: 'Swift.'

Spiritual light protected his body, and talismans shimmered with dazzling light.

This was precisely the result Tu Shanjun desired. He endured the pain, and with a furious roar, his heavy fist smashed fiercely into Cui Guang's ear.

Thump.

It was a very loud sound.

The protective spiritual light shattered, and even the protective light talismans on his body were smashed to pieces.

Blood spurted out violently, and his eyes became bloodshot.

Cui Guang hastily shoved two elixirs into his mouth, his complexion only then improving slightly. He kicked Tu Shanjun in the chest, the explosive force sending Tu Shanjun stumbling back two zhang.

"Primordial Spirit Body Protection."

"Swift!"

A magic seal was formed, and protective spiritual light reignited.

Tu Shanjun pressed down on his right hand, and with a snap, reattached his right hand, which had been twisted half a turn. The penetrating wound was sealed by a large gush of black mist, temporarily stopping the bleeding.

Tu Shanjun knew that Wen Yue had once again poured spiritual power into him; otherwise, his injuries wouldn't have healed so quickly.

But he dared not look back at Wen Yue. He feared Cui Guang's sword.

Cui Guang's sword was fast. Once Cui Guang reacted, he would deliver a sword strike to Wen Yue even at the cost of severe injury, and Tu Shanjun feared he wouldn't be able to block it.

Last time, he failed to save Li Qingfeng. Today, he would save Wen Yue.

(Chapter End)