Hua Qingyun frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Heh, what do I mean..."

Wei Wudao sneered, looking around, "Everyone, as you have traveled here, you must be aware that this place is filled with many ghosts that devour living beings, extremely dangerous! However, these ghosts never attack each other. Some higher-level ghosts can even command the lower ones. Does anyone doubt this?"

"That's right, it's indeed the case," Li Changge nodded.

His words were not false. Over these days, they had encountered no less than a dozen different ghosts, yet they never attacked each other. Some even joined forces to assault humans.

This made Hua Qingyun's heart tremble.

"What are you trying to say?" Hua Qingyun asked.

"As the head of the Ancient Tomb Sect, Wei may boast a bit, but when it comes to understanding ghosts, no one here can surpass me," Wei Wudao said with a cold smile, staring at Hua Qingyun. "If you are wise, Friend Hua, you should stay away from this person, or you might bring disaster upon yourself and harm your fellow cultivators."

With these words, everyone turned to look at Xu Hei, their faces filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

Hua Qingyun gritted her teeth and said, "Don't slander people with your baseless accusations."

Wei Wudao took out a jade slip and tossed it to Hua Qingyun. "Whether it's slander or not, you can judge for yourself, Fellow Daoist!"

Though Hua Qingyun was disdainful, she still took the jade slip and probed it with her Divine Sense.

At that moment, Hua Qingyun's eyes widened, and she fell into a deathly silence.

Inside the jade slip was the scene of Xu Hei being entangled by the Demon Blood Vine and dragged underground.

It had been strange that she hadn't encountered a single ghost along the way. Although it could be attributed to the deterrence of the Demon Blood Vine, what about that Heaven Fiend Corpse? It was an ancient fierce creature not weaker than the Demon Blood Vine. Why did it flee at a mere glance?

And considering the blocked path ahead...

This indeed seemed like the arrangement of a Ghost King!

"However, there are some things that don't make sense. If Xu Hei is truly a Ghost King, why didn't he kill me and instead made a deal with me? A few days ago, he even inquired about Bai Luo. Although I haven't interacted with him much, I have basic discernment abilities. Besides, my Five Elemental Eyes can see through the essence."

"But Xu Hei is indeed a bit strange. If he really is an ancient Ghost King, it might not be impossible for him to deceive me."

Many thoughts flashed through Hua Qingyun's mind.

Wei Wudao revealed a sly smile, not expecting Hua Qingyun to fully believe him, but as long as he planted a seed of doubt, it was enough.

In fact, he also had some doubts about whether Xu Hei was truly a Ghost King, but he had just used the "Nether Ghost Eye" and found that Xu Hei had not been possessed.

Xu Hei must have some other fortuitous encounter, able to release the aura of a Ghost King, which scared away the fierce creatures.

In this case, it was even more necessary to eliminate him.

"So, are the three of you planning to fight to the death with me here?" Xu Hei looked directly at Wei Wudao and the others, his eyes showing no emotion.

In recent days, the Spirit-Eating Ants in the Spirit Beast Ring had awakened one after another, with over a thousand evolving into Black Needle Ants. The number of Black Needle Ants had reached three thousand!

Coupled with the newly comprehended Gate of Hell and various Divine Abilities.

Although Xu Hei had never fought against strong opponents like Wei Wudao and had no absolute confidence in winning, he should have no problem protecting himself.

Moreover, seeing Ji Qing still looking severely injured, if given the chance, he might be able to severely wound or even kill her with all his means. Xu Hei didn't mind showing them a lesson; otherwise, they might really think he was a pushover.

As for Hua Qingyun, their relationship was merely transactional. Now that the deal was done, he didn't care what she thought.

"Xu Hei, do you really think you can walk away unscathed?"

Ji Qing's eyes glinted with malice as she intercepted Xu Hei from one side, her lower body shrouded in ghostly mist, leaving only her upper body floating, thanks to the Demon Blood Vine.

"Hmph, if you willingly lift the curse on me, I might give you a quick death!"

The last black-robed elder, Gu Xiao, also stepped forward, holding a string of soul beads, each containing a fierce ghost's soul, his face filled with malice.

Ah Yin looked anxiously at Li Changge, transmitting a message, though it was unclear what was said.

"Don't worry, if his life is truly in danger, I will intervene," Li Changge replied.

Although he didn't want conflict among this group, seeing Hua Qingyun's hesitation suggested there might be more to the story, so he decided to observe further.

"Heh, the Ancient Tomb Sect is quite imposing, bullying my Divine Puppet Sect as if we have no one?"

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from afar, and shadows spread across the ground, expanding rapidly. A pair of pitch-black eyes appeared beside Xu Hei, filled with chilling killing intent, locking onto the three from the Ancient Tomb Sect.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

From the shadows, three black streaks shot out, targeting the three of them. Wei Wudao activated the Eight Ghost Formation Flags, forming a large mouth that swallowed the black streaks.

Ji Qing, wielding a scythe, met the black streak head-on, easily blocking it.

The last elder, Gu Xiao, looked disdainful, about to drive his souls to counterattack, when suddenly his expression changed, sensing a crisis.

"Not good!"

Wei Wudao sensed something amiss and immediately activated the Eight Ghost Formation. Countless ghostly mists rose, surrounding Gu Xiao, but it was too late. The cold light turned, striking with lightning speed, severing Gu Xiao's arm.

The fierce ghost he had just released couldn't withstand even a single blow, being directly obliterated.

"Ah!!"

Gu Xiao screamed in agony as his severed arm was swallowed by the darkness, a power of the dark laws.

It turned out that the attacks on Wei Wudao and Ji Qing were mere feints, with the real strike aimed at Gu Xiao. They had fallen into a trap.

Night Owl's arrival delivered a harsh blow to the three!

Wei Wudao and Ji Qing quickly moved near Gu Xiao, staring at his wound. His severed arm was pitch black, nothing visible, as if even space itself had been erased.

Gu Xiao took a Bone Regeneration Pill, but his wound refused to grow new bones, leaving the trio with grim expressions.

"Night Owl, I didn't expect you to be so despicable!"

Ji Qing glared fiercely at the humanoid shadow, her eyes brimming with killing intent.

"Hmph, is it not despicable for you to gang up on Elder Xu of my sect?"

Night Owl looked at Gu Xiao with a mocking expression. "This injured person seems to be the Grand Elder of the Ancient Tomb Sect, Gu Xiao, right? I am also the Grand Elder of the Divine Puppet Sect. How about a one-on-one death match? Do you dare accept?"

His words were a blatant slap in the face.

Both being Grand Elders of their respective sects, both at the mid-stage Divine Transformation, Gu Xiao was outmaneuvered and lost an arm in a one-on-three scenario.

Though a bit of trickery was used, everyone wasn't foolish—the disparity in their strength was evident.