The second protector transformed into a giant python, spiraling towards Ye Guichen.

Meanwhile, Ghost Hidden controlled countless ghostly shadows, making the entire alley feel like Shura Hell.

Together, the two could even bring down a master at the Grandmaster Realm.

However, Ye Guichen merely smiled faintly, raised one hand as if holding a lotus flower, and seemed to toss something into the air: "Great Mercy, Great Compassion!"

Xuanming Prison Suppressing Technique, Second Level: Great Mercy, Great Compassion.

This Xuanming Prison Suppressing Technique seemed to have an innate power to counteract Ghostly Illusion Techniques.

As Ye Guichen's words fell, those ghostly shadows let out screeches and fled desperately, trying to find a place to hide.

Yet, in the instant they turned around, they all turned into ashes.

Ghost Hidden was also aghast, unable to believe Ye Guichen easily broke his Ghostly Illusion Technique, and it was too late to escape.

In front of Ghost Hidden, an enormous Buddha seemed to appear.

The Buddha squinted with a smile, and with one palm imprint, directly struck Ghost Hidden's chest.

All the evil energy in Ghost Hidden's body seemed to be drained instantly, sending him flying heavily.

The black mist scattered in an instant.

The second protector had also arrived nearby.

Ye Guichen cleaved through the void: "Break!"

Concentrated energy cleaved straight through the large saber in the second protector's hand.

The serpent form reverted back to the appearance of the second protector.

However, the second protector appeared extremely disheveled, and the hand holding the blade had been severed.

He looked frightened, unable to fathom how Ye Guichen could be so formidable.

"Tell me, where is the base camp of the Eternal Life Hall?" Ye Guichen smiled calmly.

The entire alley seemed untouched by the fierce battle that had just transpired, known only to the second protector.

Even if the Hall Master were here, dealing with Ye Guichen might have been challenging.

For the first time, fear surged in the second protector's heart.

He gazed at Ye Guichen, a hint of distraction creeping into his eyes.

Once, the second protector had the chance to meet the Hall Master, barely recalling his silhouette, but not his face.

Moreover, even if implored to look, the second protector dared not meet the Hall Master's gaze directly.

Yet, for some reason, upon seeing Ye Guichen now, the second protector sensed a resemblance between Ye Guichen and his Hall Master.

"Could it be my desire to make him a substitute?" The second protector's mind wavered.

However, Ghost Hidden's anguished cries snapped him back to reality.

"Second protector, save me, save me!"

Following the voice, the second protector noticed Ghost Hidden's body enveloped by a cloud of black mist, as if endless flying insects were devouring him.

Ghost Hidden's tendons were severed, unable to move, suffering immense pain.

The second protector shivered.

He knew Ghost Hidden's technique relied on nurturing countless ghost worms, which fed from him.

The black mist just now was composed of these ghost worms.

Unexpectedly, the ghost worms were now devouring Ghost Hidden.

The result of the devouring would be mutual destruction.

The ghost worms could not survive without Ghost Hidden.

"What, what did you do?" The second protector, struggling for his own survival, could not attend to Ghost Hidden, tremulously looked at Ye Guichen.

"Use his own methods against him," Ye Guichen calmly looked at him: "I'll give you one chance, where is the current base of the Eternal Life Hall?"

The second protector's pupils contracted, knowing that no matter how powerful his Escape Technique, he probably couldn't escape Ye Guichen's grasp, and blurted out when locking eyes with Ye Guichen, "Great, Great Cold Mountain..."

Bam!

However, before the second protector could finish speaking, something inside him seemed to explode.

The second protector fell to the ground in agony, his face contorted, reaching out to Ye Guichen: "Save me, save me, the Eternal Root is acting up, save me..."

The second protector ripped open his shirt.

The once-smooth skin sprouted black lines like spider webs.

The black lines quickly spread, covering his chest and even his back.

Poof!

Accompanied by a low popping sound, the second protector's skin burst open.

A thread-like black filament, akin to a tentacle, emerged from the skin.

And then, more and more.

The second protector's body sprouted black threads continuously, weaving a cocoon around his body within minutes.

The second protector lost all signs of life.

Ye Guichen approached but sensed the second protector hadn't died; a faint heartbeat remained.

"Is this the Eternal Root?" Ye Guichen had never seen such a thing but had a deep understanding of Gu worms.

Faintly, Ye Guichen felt this seemed to nurture the second protector into a super human Gu worm.

The cause seemed to be his attempt to divulge the location of the Eternal Life Hall, triggering a connection leading to this.

"The Eternal Life Hall's items indeed are intriguing, and that Hall Master seems to be quite a character," Ye Guichen muttered, reaching to touch the black threads.

Aside from color, the black threads were nearly identical to silkworm cocoons.

"Great Cold Mountain." Ye Guichen murmured, picking up the cocooned second protector and quickly disappearing into the alley.

As for the other corpses, the people of the Eternal Life Hall would soon discover them.

It served as a warning to them.

After leaving the alley, Ye Guichen didn't head to Qingcheng Mountain but went directly to the clinic of Fan Zhidong and his son.

From afar, Ye Guichen heard the clinic was much noisier than usual, with even some clamor and disputes.

Not wanting to draw attention to the second protector wrapped in a black cocoon form, which could cause unnecessary trouble, Ye Guichen went to the alley behind the clinic, leaped into the clinic's backyard.

Inside the backyard, Ye Guichen saw an abandoned well.

It seemed that as modern plumbing had been installed, the well was no longer in use.

Casually tossing the second protector into the well, Ye Guichen entered the clinic.

"Sect Leader Ye, you are here?" Fan Chang'an was flustered, seeing Ye Guichen step in from the backyard, initially surprised, but quickly came to greet him.

Upon hearing Fan Chang'an's voice, the originally noisy clinic quieted down abruptly, everyone turning their gaze to Ye Guichen.

Fan Zhidong was also stunned, then quickly gave Fan Chang'an a meaningful glance.

Fan Chang'an wiped the sweat from his forehead, realizing something, and hurriedly whispered to Ye Guichen: "Sect Leader Ye, please go to the backyard first, we'll handle it here."

Ye Guichen frowned: "What's happening? Is there a problem?"

"No, no, it's a small issue; no need to trouble you." Fan Chang'an tried to explain, but his eyes were evasive.