On the night the Black Cloud Guard entered Black Mountain…

  "This matter has also been reported to the Ghost and Spirit Division. It was Zuo Tianzheng who discovered the lead. Besides the Black Cloud Guard, he borrowed manpower from both the Ghost and Spirit Division and the Dingwu Division to search the Black Mountain for demons."

  Lu Qingmo said, "According to Zuo Tianzheng, those demons are injured and not too difficult to handle."

  "You need not worry. To have entered Black Mountain, they must be at least in the Bone Refining stage," she continued.

  "Did Zuo Tianzheng borrow manpower from the other divisions as well?" Han asked, quite surprised.

  "Then doesn't that leave Black Cloud Town understaffed?"

  "Zuo Tianzheng has been working hard these past few days. Black Cloud Town has been much quieter, and there aren’t as many issues as before. Even with fewer people, there should be no problem in the next few days."

  The combined forces of the Black Cloud Guard, made up of members from various factions, along with the recruited rogue cultivators, and Zuo Tianzheng, a peak Bone Refining cultivator, have proven quite effective.

  But the very next evening, someone rushed to report to the Ghost and Spirit Division.

  A hundred miles southwest of Black Cloud Town, a desolate mountain range had turned into a ghostly haunt.

  The man was a newcomer to Black Cloud Town, just passing by when he spotted the eerie scene from afar and immediately ran back to report.

  Based on his description, the situation was deemed urgent, and it was quickly escalated to Lu Qingmo.

  Soon, Lu Qingmo’s soul emerged from the Peach Grove, with Han accompanying her.

  In no time, the so-called desolate mountain range was in sight.

  Han’s expression shifted.

  The area was engulfed in a thick, malevolent aura. The trees and earth had changed in nature, and ghostly flames burned in the air, casting a sinister atmosphere.

  Dark clouds hung in the sky, spewing fire.

  Graves had been overturned, and bones littered the ground—both from the dead and the living, carelessly scattered.

  Faint, ghostly figures wandered through the haunted grounds, their shadows endless, as if stepping into the underworld itself.

  In some corners of the wild, small flags with carved faces of impermanence and grim spirits fluttered in the wind.

  At the highest point of the mountain stood a massive flag, waving in the wind.

  Beneath it sat three figures, cloaked in black robes, their identities obscured.

  Thin, ethereal mist seeped out from the flag, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

  Atop the highest peak, the space itself seemed to tear open, a crack slowly widening.

  It was as if this forsaken land was isolated from the world, a mere step away from the realm of the dead.

  Lu Qingmo’s expression darkened as she recognized the area and muttered a few words.

  "The Realm of Impermanence and Yama."

  "It’s the people of the Hall of Impermanence," she added.

  Their arrival had not gone unnoticed. The three figures in the ghostly realm seemed aware of their presence.

  A raspy voice echoed from beneath the largest flag, and the figure in the center spoke.

  "Xuandu Sect, Lu Qingmo?"

  "To think you’ve found the Yin-Ming Rift," Lu Qingmo said, observing the ghostly realm carefully, trying to gather more information.

  "Ha ha ha." The person laughed loudly.

  "Fate has smiled upon us. Just as we were preparing to leave, we encountered this Yin-Ming Rift. We have already stabilized it. The Realm of Impermanence and Yama is nearly complete. You’ve arrived just a little too late."

  Lu Qingmo did not respond, but she remained calm and cautious.

  This Realm of Impermanence was no ordinary place. It couldn’t be recklessly approached; the key was to find certain nodes before taking action.

  Han, who didn’t fully understand the workings of the Realm of Impermanence, stayed silent but remained on high alert.

  "Leave, Lu Qingmo," the figure in black robes said, his voice uncertain.

  "With your strength alone, you cannot stop us."

  "Fifteen years ago, when you barely escaped from our hall’s Ghost Elder, you were lucky to survive. If you meddle again, once the Realm of Impermanence is complete, you won’t be able to leave."

  Han couldn’t help but glance at Lu Qingmo, who wore a frosty expression.

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  "Had that old dog not run so fast back then, he would have died by my hand."

  "Ha ha ha, indeed formidable. But these fifteen years haven’t been kind to you, have they?"

  "Back then, you didn’t die, but now, after all these years, a once-promising disciple of Xuandu Sect hasn’t even broken through a single realm. Tsk, tsk."

  At that moment, Lu Qingmo’s voice echoed in Han’s mind.

  "This is the Realm of Impermanence and Yama, a technique from the Hall of Impermanence. By seeking Yin-Ming Rifts, they use the power of impermanence to expand them, eventually bringing the underworld into this world. Cultivators of the Hall of Impermanence can then use this opportunity to receive gifts from the underworld to enhance their cultivation."

  "Eventually, formidable evil spirits will descend. Within a hundred miles, the area will become a ghostly domain, and it will expand with the rift."

  Han was shocked. It was indeed a sinister technique.

  Whether or not the passage opened by the Realm of Impermanence was truly a gateway to the underworld, its terrifying consequences were undeniable.

  "Those three cultivators from the Hall of Impermanence, the one in the center is mine to deal with. The ones on either side should be at the Day Tour stage."

  Han quickly responded, "Leave them to me."

  Though their souls had left their bodies, their physical forms were still in the Peach Grove.

  Though no one was guarding the Peach Grove, Lu Qingmo had assured him that it was safe. Even a Bone Refining cultivator wouldn’t be able to break through quickly.

  Lu Qingmo often left her soul to travel when needed, so if the Peach Grove were unsafe, she wouldn’t take such risks.

  Lu Qingmo spoke again.

  "When the time comes, you must first pull the Impermanence Flags out from behind the three and plant them in three specific locations. I’ve already calculated the positions for you. They are..."

  "Then, destroy all the smaller flags in the proper order. First the main flag, then the sub-flags."

  "Only then can we reverse the Realm of Impermanence and make the Yin-Ming Rift disappear."

  "Be careful."

  "Aunt Mo, you too."

  With a wave of her hand, Lu Qingmo tore a hole through the barrier separating the ghostly realm from the mortal world.

  Before she could step through, the figure in the center of the largest flag stepped forward.

  "Stubborn fools." He sneered and immediately attacked Lu Qingmo.

  "Do you think you can stop the formation of the Realm of Impermanence with just yourself? A foolish dream!"

  Han, preparing to face the challenge, was soon thrust into the ghostly realm.

  "Ha," the figure laughed scornfully. "You actually expect an insignificant Night Tour cultivator to stop the Realm of Impermanence."

  He had never considered Han a threat. A mere Night Tour cultivator could do nothing against the power of the Realm of Impermanence.

  As soon as Han entered the ghostly domain, he was greeted by a terrifying sight.

  All around him were vicious ghosts, roaming the mountain range, and as soon as they spotted him, they rushed at him, eager to devour him.

  "Child’s play."

  With a powerful strike, a mighty handprint drove the ghosts back, preventing them from advancing any further.

  The overwhelming presence of righteousness restrained these evil spirits.

  Though Han hadn’t reached full cultivation, he had gathered enough power to repel these evil spirits.

  On the mountaintop, the two Unchanging Hall cultivators paused, their eyes narrowing.

  "The Daoist arts of the Sacred Academy."

  "Impressive, indeed."

  One of the figures, cloaked in black, stood up and levitated through the air.

  "A mere insect from the Night Roaming Realm, you..."

  Before he could finish, Han swiftly sent forth a massive palm strike.

  "Boom!"

  The demonic aura dissipated, and all evil forces retreated in fear.

  As the black robe was torn aside, Han's heart skipped a beat.

  He had initially thought this was a cultivator, but underneath the robe was a ghost!

  This ghost was clearly no one's summoned spirit, but rather a free-roaming soul.

  The Unchanging Hall employed ghosts as its servants.

  However, because of its ghostly nature, the mighty Great Hand Seal, a force of pure righteousness, restrained it significantly.

  Seizing the opportunity, Han launched another attack. The overwhelming power of his soul caused the nearby malevolent spirits to tremble in fear.

  "Such power!" The last remaining figure atop the mountain narrowed his eyes and quickly formed hand seals to assist his ghostly comrade.

  In the Unchanging Yama Realm, someone needed to oversee its operations. With the departure of the other two, he could not act recklessly.

  Endless malicious spirits, their numbers staggering, wailed and shrieked, shaking the very fabric of the soul.

  Then, the vast horde of evil spirits, unafraid of the pressure, surged towards Han, their fear long gone, fully controlled by the Unchanging Hall cultivators.

  Faint gray light emanated from the various flags, casting a shadow upon the spirits and enhancing them.

  Even the Unchanging Hall's ghostly servant was affected, its presence growing stronger.

  This was the Breath of the Underworld, a power suited perfectly for ghosts.

  The Unchanging Yama Realm itself was a ghost's domain.

  "You from the Night Roaming Realm possess such power; your soul must taste exquisite," the ghost screeched.

  "I can hardly wait to savor your soul!"

  It charged at Han, with thousands of ghostly mouths appearing on either side, devouring the heavens and earth.

  Together with the overwhelming horde of spirits, the scene was truly terrifying.

  But Han stood undeterred, chanting an incantation.

  "Boom!"

  A blinding golden light erupted, dazzling to the point where it was impossible to open one's eyes, filled with an aura of sanctity.

  Han's entire soul transformed into a brilliant golden beacon.

  Shining like the sun!

  No, it was the Golden Light Han!

  The underworld energy and dark forces dissipated, and the evil spirits near Han were extinguished with mournful wails.

  This was the Golden Light Spell, fueled by two Golden Light Fruits, bringing Han to a minor level of mastery!

  "What kind of Daoist art is this!"

  The Unchanging Hall ghost hesitated, sensing an overwhelming sense of danger as its ghostly techniques unraveled.

  "This is a technique that will take your life!" Han shouted, maintaining his golden shield while chanting another spell.

  "Heaven and Earth, disperse the foul qi... Evil forces vanish, and the Dao’s energy endures!"

  A clear, bright light expanded from Han’s soul, spreading throughout the entire Unchanging Yama Realm, touching every evil spirit within.

  The once ferocious spirits, void of intelligence, gradually lost their malevolent aura under the purifying light, their eyes regaining clarity.

  It wasn't just the malevolent spirits—the entire underworld's energy and corruption were gradually dissipating.

  This spell not only cleanses spirits but also purifies the world.

  It was the Cleansing of Heaven and Earth!

  At the same time, Han secretly activated the Three Lights of Fortune and Spirit Mirror.

  The light emitted from this artifact was nearly identical to that of the Cleansing of Heaven and Earth spell, making the two forces almost indistinguishable.

  Under the combined purifying powers, the evil spirits gradually became faint, their ominous presence replaced by spiritual clarity.

  They bowed to Han before vanishing from the realm, their pure soul essences flowing into Han’s body with the cleansing light.

  But Han couldn't afford to pay them much attention.

  With the two divine spells in effect and the Three Lights of Fortune and Spirit Mirror fully activated, an immense wave of purifying power surged towards the ghostly entity of the Unchanging Hall.

  Its face contorted in rage, the demonic energy surging uncontrollably.

  "Do you think you can redeem me? Impossible!"

  "My fate is in my own hands, not the heavens!"

  In the next moment.

  "Ah!"

  With a horrific scream, this evil spirit, on par with one from the Day Roaming Realm, was swiftly sent to the afterlife by Han.

  Looking around, Han saw that there were no more spirits left in the Unchanging Yama Realm, and the atmosphere itself had become much calmer.

  The divine spell had shattered the Unchanging Hall’s forces!