"This tomb owner is quite interesting. He probably knew he was no saint, so he simply venerated ghosts and ignored the gods and buddhas," Li Cheng remarked.

As the group examined the eerie hall, footsteps echoed from behind them once again.

Turning to look, they saw two more Qi Gathering third-layer cultivators emerge from the five branching corridors.

Yang Lingrui recognized one of them-it was Lin Yu from Liuye Town.

However, both men were in a wretched state. Their hair was disheveled, their robes torn to shreds, and their bodies bore multiple gashes so deep that white bone was exposed.

Upon inquiring, they learned that these two had also encountered a Qi Gathering fourth-layer Ghost General.

Originally, they had been traveling in a group of five, along with three Qi Gathering second-layer companions.

Under normal circumstances, they would have had a chance to hold their ground against the Ghost General.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the battle, a group of Qi Gathering first-layer cultivators suddenly blundered into the corridor.

This instantly turned the narrow passage into a chaotic bottleneck. The Ghost General seized the opportunity to go on a slaughter. After devouring the flesh and blood of those cultivators, not only did its injuries heal, but its strength also surged significantly.

In the end, all three Qi Gathering second-layer cultivators perished, including Lü Liang from Qinghe.

The two survivors had barely escaped with their lives after fighting with everything they had.

Fortunately, they finally stumbled into a safe corridor, allowing them to reach this place alive.

"Injured as you are, I fear it will be difficult for you to press on."

Seeing their miserable state, Li Cheng advised, "It would be best to turn back here. If you go any deeper, you'll lose your lives."

The two exchanged a look. Though unwilling, they could only nod helplessly.

However, they soon faced another dilemma. Since the Ghost General hadn't been eliminated, returning the way they came was impossible.

The tomb was filled with branching paths. If they took a wrong turn and ran into more evil creatures, they would be in grave danger.

"Brother Lin, do not worry," Yang Lingrui stepped forward and said. "Just keep following the leftmost corridor. It will take you safely back to the first layer, where Town Chief Duan is waiting."

When he first saw the branching paths on the second layer, he had realized the terrain was complex and constantly changing, meaning they needed to plan their retreat in advance.

Thus, instead of choosing paths at random, it was better to stick to the same corridor alignment.

That way, if danger arose, they could quickly identify the correct route and escape back to the first layer.

"Thank you for the guidance, Fellow Daoist!"

After expressing their gratitude, the two did not delay any further and headed back following Yang Lingrui's directions.

Watching their retreating figures, everyone present understood a grim truth. Just from this one ordeal, half of the thirty-seven cultivators who had entered the tomb were likely already dead.

"Alright, staring after them won't do us any good."

Li Cheng turned toward the main doors of the grand hall. "Everyone, stand back. I will open this door."

Whoosh-

Mobilizing his spiritual power, Li Cheng stirred up a fierce wave of air around himself.

The group stepped aside, watching as a massive palm manifestation instantly formed before him.

"The Young Master's technique has improved again!"

"With such form, he is not far from the seventh layer!"

The two Li family cultivators praised.

"So this is the manifestation technique."

Yang Lingrui observed it closely. Previously, whenever Li Cheng took action, it was over in a flash. Only now did he have the chance to properly examine the technique.

The giant hand manifestation was silver-gray, emitting a faint, ethereal glow.

Just by looking at it, it did not seem particularly threatening, but a quick sweep of spiritual sense revealed a profound and heavy power contained within.

The giant hand manifestation fully solidified, and Li Cheng raised his own hand, pressing the phantom palm against the hall doors.

"Open!"

Thud! Rrrmble-

Li Cheng let out a low shout. The massive manifestation palm abruptly surged with force, slowly pushing the heavy hall doors open.

The instant the doors parted, several black shadows darted out from within, shooting straight toward Li Cheng.

Yang Lingrui and the others immediately attacked, intercepting the shadowy figures before they could land.

Once the heavy doors were fully opened, the group finally saw what lay inside.

A massive Red-robed Corpse Ghost sat high in the center of the hall. Beneath it were layers upon layers of piled white bones, and the surrounding walls were carved with agonized, twisted human faces.

"To enshrine such a wicked entity... Everyone, be careful. This tomb hall is not simple."

Seeing the Red-robed Corpse Ghost, Li Cheng's expression turned serious.

He estimated this evil creature possessed the strength of the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Gathering. Even he could not afford to be careless.

The group cautiously stepped inside. As soon as they crossed the threshold, a chilling yin energy seeped up from beneath their feet.

The cold was so intense that they had to summon their spiritual power to form protective barriers just to resist it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The moment they all entered the hall, three heavy stone slabs slammed down over the main entrance, completely sealing off their escape.

"Haaah-"

The next moment, the Red-robed Corpse Ghost, which had been as still as a statue, suddenly threw its head back and let out a piercing shriek.

The mountain of white bones beneath it instantly erupted in eerie ghost fire. The skeletal remains rattled to life, howling as they charged at the intruders.

"I'll handle the big one."

Li Cheng swept his palm, shattering a wave of skeletal remains in front of him. With a leap, he launched himself at the Red-robed Corpse Ghost, immediately engaging it in a fierce clash.

The remaining five were left to fend off the swarm of blazing ghost-fire skeletons.

The power of this ghost fire was highly unusual. It did not scorch the flesh, but instead burned at the mind and spirit. If even a spark touched them, it would be extremely difficult to purge.

With a single thought, Yang Lingrui summoned a gale of astral wind around himself.

Any evil creature that dared to approach was deflected by the rotational force, its ghost fire extinguished by the fierce winds.

Yang Lingrui had grown highly Proficient in wielding his techniques. Although his raw talent in this area fell short of Yang Linghu's, it still far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator.

At this very moment, he was able to divide his focus, simultaneously controlling three wind blades that wove through the battlefield. Wherever they passed, the skeletal monsters were sliced and shattered into dust.

As for the two Li family retainers, one cast water techniques and the other fire. Logically, these elements should counter each other, but the pair practiced a cultivation method that merged water and fire in harmony. Fighting side by side, their combined might rivaled a Qi Gathering fourth-layer cultivator.

Huang Yan and Zheng Huaming naturally needed no assistance. As mid-stage Qi Gathering cultivators, tearing through these low-level undead was effortless.

Just as the group focused entirely on their enemies, the stone floor beneath their feet suddenly trembled.

"Fellow Daoists, watch out! There's something beneath us!" Yang Lingrui shouted.

His warning came just in time. The others quickly raised their guards as a swarm of Corpse-Born Insects burst from the ground, their jaws snapping at empty air as the cultivators evaded them.

"You two Fellow Daoists, go assist our Young Master! We can handle this side!" shouted the Li family cultivator wielding the fire technique.

Huang Yan and Zheng Huaming immediately disengaged and rushed to the center of the hall to support Li Cheng.

"Fellow Daoist Lingrui, there are too many of these monsters! Slaying them one by one will drain our spiritual power. Join forces with us!"

With that, the fire cultivator raised his palms, condensing a massive fireball between his hands. "Inject your wind technique into the center of the fire! My Junior Brother will trigger it from the outside with water. Once it builds enough pressure, we'll blow these ghostly freaks to ashes!"

"Alright!"

Yang Lingrui was decisive. Without another word, he flickered back to their side. Using one hand, he continued to direct his wind blades at the encroaching enemies, while with his free hand, he channeled fierce astral winds straight into the core of the fireball.

A moment later, the fireball reached its breaking point. The second Li retainer immediately drew forth a torrent of water, wrapping it tightly around the blazing sphere.

"Senior Brother! Now!"

"Go!"

The unstable sphere was hurled forward, crashing heavily into the densest cluster of undead. A thunderous explosion instantly rocked the hall.

Scorching flames mixed with shredding gales and bursting steam. In an instant, more than half of the surrounding monsters were annihilated.

The three cultivators moved in perfect synchronization, splitting up to clean up the survivors.

The ghost-fire skeletons that had survived the blast were the strongest of the lot, possessing the strength of the Qi Gathering third layer.

The two Li retainers were engaged in strict one-on-one combat, but when they glanced over, they were stunned to see Yang Lingrui taking on three at once.

To their amazement, they watched him fluidly dodge and weave, skillfully kiting the three ghost-fire skeletons until he struck them down one by one.

"This kid is truly remarkable!"

Seeing this, their opinion of Yang Lingrui changed completely.

This youth from the Yang family was far more formidable than either of them!

In that case, the Young Master really had an eye for talent.

With the remaining undead dealt with, the three quickly rushed to the center of the hall to assist the main battle.

By this time, the Red-robed Corpse Ghost had already lost an arm. Driven into a frenzy, it was swinging its fangs and sharp claws in wild, desperate attacks.

The trio did not get too close. Instead, they cast techniques from a distance to pin it down. After all, a single careless strike from this monster carried enough force to severely injure any of them.

Fortunately, Li Cheng was powerful enough to suppress the Red-robed Corpse Ghost on his own. With the three of them joining the fray, the tide completely turned. Under the combined assault of all six cultivators, the vile creature was beaten into submission, howling miserably and unable to even lift its head.

Finally, Li Cheng's massive manifestation stomped down, crushing the Red-robed Corpse Ghost into a pile of mangled debris.