Chapter 274: Taking Advantage of the Situation to Profit

What Ji Ewo and Ancestor Chen Xu found impossible was that the mountain defense arrays of the major sects in the cultivation world, though strong in external defense, had relatively limited destructive power internally and could not harm cultivators at the Yuan Ying stage. Therefore, using the power of these arrays to drive Yuan Ying cultivators out was also considered impossible under normal circumstances.

Moreover, the control center for Tianxuan Sect’s mountain defense array was located in the sect leader’s palace, while the sect leader himself was currently on the Competition Peak, over two thousand li away from the palace—making remote control utterly impossible.

These were basic common senses in the cultivation world. Before taking action, Ji Ewo and his group had thoroughly investigated all aspects before daring to invade Tianxuan Sect’s territory.

However, they didn’t know that Su Che had obtained an Upper Ancient Town Mountain Talisman in the Little Mi Immortal Realm and contributed it to their sect. Back then, Zi Xiao had said that this talisman could increase the protective effect of the mountain defense array by at least 30%. In reality, the effect was even better than expected—not only was the protection enhanced by nearly 40%, but additional auxiliary functions were also added.

It’s hard to accurately describe what a 40% increase in protection means without actual combat testing. But theoretically, it’s an extremely terrifying figure. It’s not simply that if ten thousand people could break through the barrier before, fourteen thousand could do so now. Far from it! It’s possible that even twenty thousand people still wouldn’t be able to break through. Because as long as the attacking force of the invaders doesn’t exceed the array’s protective limit, that barrier will remain unshakable.

Ji Ewo and Ancestor Chen Xu simply couldn’t understand why Tianxuan Sect’s mountain defense array was so powerful. Though extremely surprised, they still failed to realize the severity of the situation. Because they were too confident in their own strength and still believed that the array could at most drive people away, not cause direct harm to those at the Yuan Ying stage.

“Even with the help of the array, it’s impossible for just the five of you to capture us two,” Ji Ewo said in a sinister tone. “Such actions will only drive us to desperation. We’ll cause massive destruction inside your sect. Then, you can’t blame us if we lose control.”

“Lose control?” Zi Xiao sneered. “Do you even have that chance?”

Ji Ewo glared fiercely, his gaze shifting to the many disciples in the stands. “If I slapped out with my palm, how many do you think I could kill?”

Fights between Yuan Ying ancestors can easily result in countless deaths among disciples at the Qi Cultivation stage, even with just minor impacts. Ji E’s meaning was that this was their sect; here, he had no need to fear anyone, and no matter how many died, they would still be disciples of Tian Xuan Sect.
“You may try,” Zi Xiao said nonchalantly, as if unbothered. “If you kill anyone from my sect today, I will commit suicide to atone, without you even having to lift a hand.”
Those words were too harsh and absolute! Even as a bystander, Su Che couldn’t help but worry—words spoken cannot be taken back. What if Ji E really killed a weaker disciple? How would Patriarch Zi Xiao explain that?
“Haha! Good!” Ji E laughed excitedly, looking up at the sky. “I don’t believe you’ll commit suicide, but I’m happy to see you become a man who breaks his promises.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he dived downward from the sky. Before he even reached the stands, he struck with a palm.
Although Wan Gui Sect was famous for its skills in controlling ghosts, its individual combat strength wasn’t very high. Yet, to kill those Qi Cultivation disciples in the stands, the palm force of any Yuan Ying ancestor could easily eliminate a large number of them.
Patriarchs Zi Xiao and Mu Ye soared into the air to confront him. But given the distance, it was clearly too late to stop Ji E.
“Ning!”
Unexpectedly, the sect leader simply uttered a word, once again activating the powerful defenses of the mountain protection array.
Ji E, mid-air, immediately felt an overwhelming force enveloping his body, as if trapped in thick mud. His diving speed and movement were slowed down by hundreds of times.
Ji E realized instantly that he was in great trouble today. He never expected Tian Xuan Sect’s mountain protection array to be so powerful, far beyond what was normal.
“Ah!”
With a roar, Ji E tried to unleash his strongest energy to break free from this restraint. But his movements were slowed drastically, while Zi Xiao and Mu Ye remained unaffected and had already closed in…
Boom!
A purple lightning bolt as thick as a bucket struck him head-on.
“My god, such a thick lightning bolt?”
All the disciples present were stunned, realizing now just how terrifying Patriarch Zi Xiao’s full-power strike could be.
Su Che was also amazed. If such a lightning bolt hit him, even with all his defensive measures, he would be reduced to ashes, with no chance of survival.

The severely restricted Extreme Evil Old Ghost couldn’t dodge at all and could only endure this divine thunder with his own defensive power.
Crack!
As the divine thunder struck him, the Extreme Evil Old Ghost trembled violently, but thanks to his Yuan Ying cultivation level, he managed to withstand it unharmed despite the difficulty.
However, this divine thunder also created a gap in his defenses. Seizing this opportunity, Master Mu Ye raised his hand, and in a flash, a dark green wooden thorn pierced through that gap and entered the robe over the Extreme Evil Old Ghost’s chest.
The Extreme Evil Old Ghost let out a strange scream, as if bitten by a poisonous insect. Under the intense pain, he was poisoned and began to tremble violently, his exposed skin instantly turning dark green.
“He’s done!” Su Che thought to himself.
Normally, it would take Master Zi Xiao and Master Mu Ye hundreds of battles just to defeat an Extreme Evil, and most of the time, he would manage to escape. But with the power of the Mountain Protection Formation, the Supreme Patriarch first trapped the Extreme Evil Old Ghost like a fish in a jar, making it easy to capture him.
Now, poisoned by Master Mu Ye’s wood-based divine power, the Extreme Evil Old Ghost had lost his ability to resist. Yet, as a master of the art of controlling ghosts, he could summon a large shadow with just a thought.
“So many Ghost Kings!”
Su Che had predicted he would do this. He unleashed his long-suppressed Soul Capturing power in rapid succession, and the blue light of soul capture instantly enveloped all the advanced spirits summoned by the Extreme Evil Old Ghost.
Soul capture—just these two words showed that this was the number one enemy of all spirits!
Against spirits, the power of Soul Capturing could multiply several times, even over ten times, its effectiveness. It could be said that even if a Ghost Emperor with Yuan Ying strength appeared before him, Su Che would have the courage to fight him.
Buzz…
In the air, the dozen or so Ghost Kings who had just appeared were all at the late Golden Dan stage. Now, more than half of them were experiencing mental chaos and losing their consciousness, falling downward like floating leaves.
Soul capture! Soul capture! Soul capture…
Su Che took full advantage of his opponent’s weakness, continuously using Soul Capturing power on these falling Ghost Kings, never giving them a chance to regain their senses.

As for the remaining few strongest Ghost Kings, as well as the Ghost Emperor guarding Jiēè at this moment, Su Che didn’t need to deal with them at all. After all, this was a sacred area of Tiān Xuán Zōng—there were not only the two Yuan Ying ancestors, Zǐ Xiāo and Mù Yè, but also many peak masters at the late Golden Core stage, along with countless Golden Core elders… Su Che didn’t need to rush in and fight desperately; he just needed to seize the opportunity to gain an advantage. The nine Ghost Kings that fell from the sky had to be captured by Su Che and sent to the Netherworld Ghost Realm to become his ghost servants. Even if they couldn’t become servants, they still needed to be kept as backups. In the future, when the capacity of the Ghost Emperor was sufficient, their powers could be drawn upon to achieve true Ghost Emperor-level strength. Swish swish swish… The Soul-Seizing Art was unleashed freely, leaving those nine Ghost Kings on the stands with no chance to regain their senses. “Senior Brother Tiān Yǔ is so amazing!” “He’s only at the early Golden Core stage, yet he can suppress nine Ghost Kings at the late Golden Core stage without them being able to resist—how incredible!” “I wish I could possess such a powerful art as his!” Only disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage or above could express such admiration; otherwise, they wouldn’t have the insight to recognize just how formidable Su Che’s art really was. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh… The nine direct disciples at the Golden Core stage, being the most perceptive, immediately flew over to help Su Che completely subdue those nine Ghost Kings. Although Su Che had suppressed them with the Soul-Seizing Art, it didn’t mean they were completely defeated—other powerful methods were still needed to fully restrain them. In fact, Su Che didn’t even need the help of those nine direct disciples at the Golden Core stage. He could simply release the Ghost Emperor, who would have his own ways to capture those mentally confused Ghost Kings one by one. But since his junior brothers and sisters were willing to help, there was no reason to refuse their kindness. Besides, none of Tiān Xuán Zōng’s direct disciples at the Golden Core stage were useless; dealing with those mentally confused Ghost Kings should be a piece of cake for them. With the perfect number—each direct disciple taking care of one Ghost King—they only took a dozen breaths before sealing those Ghost Kings inside Soul-Sealing Tokens and handing them over to Su Che. Duan Tiān Yá from Xuánjī Peak chuckled and said, “I never thought subduing a Ghost King at the late Golden Core stage could be so easy. My tolerance for Senior Brother’s Soul-Seizing Art is already reaching its limit.”

Su Che smiled silently, then recalling that he had made a promise with her to fight again after he reached the Dan stage. But now, his overall strength was more than ten times greater than it was during the Hundred Battles Arena competition—Duan Tianya was no longer a rival he could compete with.
Duan Tianya also knew this, which was why she took the initiative to say those words.
Snap!
The last Soul Suppressing Token was handed over by Jin Chong from Tianjian Peak. She said in a low voice, “One day, I will surpass you.”
Su Che nodded with a smile and replied softly, “Right now, there’s already a skill where you can surpass me. I’m sure of it.”
Jin Chong’s expression stiffened as she was speechless. Rhetoric was not her strength.
In the Immortal Prison, Lao He received nine Soul Suppressing Tokens and laughed heartily, “Well, she’s still a woman. But when it comes to giving birth, master, you can’t beat her!”
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Su Che thought to himself with a smile.