Netherworld, Yuanyuan Cave.
Night Bone True Lord was resting in the cave. Several attendant ghost concubines served him, fanning and massaging his legs.
“In a while, two friends of mine will come. All of you perk up and serve them well. Understood?”
The ghost concubines who had followed Night Bone True Lord for many years changed complexion, but their hands did not dare stop. They only nodded weakly, indicating they understood.
Only He Junyi, new here, saw her sisters’ faces turn pale. Though she wanted to ask, Night Bone True Lord’s interest in her had recently plummeted, making her uneasy. She dared not speak.
Night Bone True Lord felt the technique on his leg pause, then glanced at He Junyi, who continued massaging. His lips curled, but a gloom flashed in his eyes.
For this woman, in a fit of anger, he had lost a soul avatar. But after absorbing her primordial yin and a bit of divine soul light, what remained was pure enjoyment.
Yet this pure enjoyment diminished over time. Now, she was no different from the other ghost concubines.
“Mm, last time at Old Mo’s water mansion, there was a ghost concubine transformed from a mermaid. Quite pleasing. When the time comes, I can trade this woman for her.”
Night Bone True Lord’s pair of greenish ghost eyes turned, then his expression changed.
At the same time, a stern shout penetrated Yuanyuan Cave’s restrictions and entered. “Night Bone old ghost, come out and die!”
Then two little ghosts tumbled in. “Great King, Great King, bad news! Two Taoists outside are challenging. Several brothers went to question them. Before words were spoken, they were killed by a curse!”
“I heard it!” Night Bone True Lord shouted sternly. His face ferocious, but his heart skipped. The only Taoists he had recently offended were from Baiyun Temple. Could they have found him?
Impossible? He knew many great powers in the yang world, so he always went with a soul avatar, never leaving a name. How did they know of him?
But since they blocked the door, he had to go out regardless, or he would seem guilty and timid.
Night Bone True Lord stood tall, stretched his neck, composed his face, and strode out. The two little ghosts gained courage and hurriedly followed.
…
At the square before Yuanyuan Cave entrance, Lu Zheng stood foremost, hands empty. Yuan Jing followed slightly behind, left hand holding sword. Both wore cloud-patterned cyan-blue Taoist robes, faces calm, leisurely blocking the cave door.
Halfway in the air behind them, True Person Qing Song and Daoist Ming Zhang hovered, unseen.
The next moment, Yuanyuan Cave gates opened wide. Night Bone True Lord stepped out.
Lu Zheng looked up. His eyes brightened.
Night Bone True Lord also had fine features. Though named Night Bone, he was a handsome youth, one metre eighty tall, refined and elegant, with sharp brows, red lips, white teeth. Only his starry eyes held not black pupils but pairs of faintly burning green flames, revealing his ghost king status.
Night Bone True Lord wore white robes. Seeing Lu Zheng and Yuan Jing, green flames flashed in his eyes. He subconsciously scanned around, finding nothing else.
“Who are you two? Why block my cave mansion?” Night Bone True Lord stared at them, voice cold.
“Night Bone True Lord, stop pretending. Since you dared act against Senior Brother Yuan Ye, you should have anticipated today.” Lu Zheng stepped forward. “Today, I come to send you on your way.”
“Bold!” Night Bone True Lord’s eyes glared. “Even your Baiyun Temple seniors dare not speak to me thus!”
“Humph. For you, no need for my sect seniors. Lu alone is enough to deal with you.” Lu Zheng curled his lips, no more verbal sparring. His figure flashed, directly attacking.
Night Bone True Lord’s eyes sharpened. “Since you dare enter the Netherworld, stay here!”
He was a regional ghost king, thousand years cultivation, rampant. In real combat, he feared no one. Seeing Lu Zheng’s white cloud palm imprint grab, he lifted his palm. Three greenish rockets shot out.
“Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!”
The rockets blazed, piercing the white cloud palm. Clouds dispersed, but green flames persisted, shooting straight at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng pinched a seal. Three Flying Cloud Evil-Breaking Curses shot out, colliding one-to-one with the rockets. Mutually annihilating, flying clouds dispersed, green flames scattered.
The next moment, Lu Zheng’s brow raised. Beneath the rockets’ green flames hid three thin white bone arrows. Flames gone, bone arrows were already close.
But Lu Zheng remained unflustered. Wisps of leisurely white clouds spread around him. The seemingly sharp swift bone arrows plunged as if into mud, unable to advance.
“Good cloud arts!” Night Bone True Lord grinned ferociously, then grabbed. A white bone sword appeared in hand. The next moment, his figure flickered, closing in on Lu Zheng.
“Close combat?” Lu Zheng curled his lips, expression excited.
The next moment, flowing light flashed on Lu Zheng. Five-coloured radiance shot from the white clouds. Night Bone True Lord saw only a blur. Looking closely, Lu Zheng wore five-coloured armour, holding a five-chi long blade.
Night Bone True Lord: ???
…
After just two exchanges, Night Bone True Lord saw Lu Zheng’s profound cultivation, mysterious cloud arts. In continued spell fighting, the opponent was not much inferior. Winning would be too hard for him.
So Night Bone True Lord decided to play to strengths and avoid weaknesses.
He achieved dao through white bones, profound swordsmanship, skilled in close combat. Baiyun Temple had sword arts, but not supreme. Perfect for him to counter. As long as he closed in and broke the cloud arts, he could subdue him.
…
So Night Bone True Lord said nothing, directly sword in hand closing in. Result: the scene before him.
“You are not a Taoist?” Night Bone True Lord saw Lu Zheng’s lavish treasured blade and armour, utterly confused.
“Indeed! Take this blade!” Lu Zheng grinned fiercely, gripping the blade with both hands, pressing forward.
Since obtaining the True Dragon Hidden Head Blade and five-coloured dragon scale armour, Lu Zheng had not used them. Always itching. This Night Bone True Lord had profound cultivation, exquisite mana, skilled in close combat. Perfect sparring partner.
“Clang!”
Lu Zheng slashed overhead. Night Bone True Lord blocked horizontally with sword. The next moment, both unleashed techniques, clanging in fierce combat.
As the saying goes:
Dragon roars resound, blade winds chill the Netherworld.
Ghost howls shrill, white bone sword intent pierces the heavens.
Lu Zheng was formidable. Night Bone True Lord was no weakling. Seeing Lu Zheng’s blade and armour, red flashed in his greenish ghost eyes. Sword forward, determined to take Lu Zheng.
Yuan Jing glanced over, drew his long sword with reverse hand, directly charging into the ghost horde following Night Bone True Lord.
Night Bone True Lord’s subordinates had no particularly strong ghost generals. The strongest had only about a hundred years cultivation, no match for Yuan Jing. So Yuan Jing charged in. Though surrounded by several ghost generals, with one hand Baiyun swordsmanship, one hand Baiyun curses, he displayed great might, occasionally slaying a ghost.
