Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1299 - 843: Forcing Mo Xuanyu to Retreat

A Ghost General is a spectral entity that matches the power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

While an evil ghost once surfaced in Ancient County city, it was merely an artificial creation of an array that paled in comparison to a genuine Ghost General.

Mo Xuanyu possesses not only the Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner but also a powerful Divine Soul defensive magical treasure; otherwise, the Soul-breaking Cone would never have been deflected.

This highlights the disparity between Yang Zhenshan and Mo Xuanyu; when one compares their magical arsenals, it becomes clear there is no real contest.

Despite holding Spirit Origin Land, Yang Zhenshan still falls short of Mo Xuanyu, who draws upon the resources of a major power as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This explains why he previously dismissed Xuanzhen’s advice and why his earlier assault on Mo Xuanyu was merely a feint rather than a sincere attempt to capture him; if he had truly intended to strike, he would not have retreated with such haste.

The brief investigation concluded immediately, and Yang Zhenshan's form vanished entirely.

Mo Xuanyu swept the area with his Spiritual Sense, the Soul Suppressing Lamp and Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner hovering protectively beside him. Xuanzhen adopted a cautious stance while surveying the surroundings, and Bai Shangyuan, visibly trembling with lingering dread, drifted closer to Mo Xuanyu.

Watching from a distance, Shi Pingshan and Shi Shengyuan huddled together with grim expressions.

Tonight’s turn of events was entirely beyond their expectations.

The sudden appearance of these hostile cultivators left them both confounded and terrified, yet the presence of the mysterious figure added another layer of uncertainty.

What is happening here?

Who are these invaders, and why are they intent on destroying our clan?

And who is that stranger, and for what purpose does he offer his aid?

The duo was filled with unanswered questions and deep trepidation.

Meanwhile, stationed at Spirit Origin Land, Yang Zhenshan quietly observed the unfolding scene. His Soul-breaking Cone had been retrieved, but it was now tainted by Ghost Qi after contact with those entities, rendering it temporarily unusable.

After a brief moment of consideration, Yang Zhenshan moved and rematerialized directly before Shi Pingshan and Shi Shengyuan.

His sudden arrival shook them, yet they managed to maintain their composure, concealing the turmoil within their hearts behind calm faces.

Mo Xuanyu’s gaze narrowed as he challenged, "Who are you?"

Yang Zhenshan remained silent for a heartbeat before replying coldly, "My identity need not concern you. All you must understand is that as long as I remain here today, your treacherous plot will not come to pass!"

"You know who I am?" Mo Xuanyu muttered, his eyes clouded with suspicion.

"Mo Xuanyu, deacon of the Unpredictable Ghost Sect’s Yin Ghost Department! The very same individual who leads the Soul-breaking Blade!" Yang Zhenshan declared flatly.

Upon hearing this, Mo Xuanyu’s complexion shifted drastically. His greatest tactical safety net was his anonymity; neither the Three Sects of Peak Spirit nor the Nether Prison Sect suspected his true origins, believing him only to be the leader of the Soul-breaking Blade. Now, not only had his cover been blown, but his actual allegiance had been laid bare.

While his sect was formidable enough to ignore the squabbles of the Three Sects of Peak Spirit or the Nether Prison Sect, he was merely a deacon of the Yin Ghost Department, unable to claim authority over the sect's full might. His primary mission involved refining Ghost Soldiers, Corpse Ghosts, and the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Jade. He lacked the authority to mobilize significant reinforcement, meaning he was limited to the forces currently under his command. Having already lost five Martial God Corpse Ghosts to Yang Zhenshan, he had suffered a significant setback.

"I cannot allow you to remain!" Mo Xuanyu bellowed in frustration.

"Haha, I suggest you return home quickly. It would be wise to ensure the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool at Black Mountain Ridge has not already been dismantled!" Yang Zhenshan chuckled with amusement.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Pool was Mo Xuanyu’s most vital asset. Yang Zhenshan’s words were not a warning, but a ruse to force him into retreating. He knew the pool was protected by powerful arrays and would be impossible for him to destroy, yet he gambled on Mo Xuanyu's caution.

Mo Xuanyu’s expression faltered. He could not be certain if the threat was real, but it was a risk he dared not take. The pool housed the Ten Thousand Ghost Blood Jade, a precious treasure of his department; losing that would mean a fate far worse than death.

Furthermore, Yang Zhenshan’s techniques were eerily mysterious. He did not appear to be utilizing traditional movement or escape arts, but rather a spell reminiscent of a small Teleportation Skill. Though he had only heard of such techniques in whispers, the threat of being countered by a master of short-range blinking fueled his hesitation.

In truth, Yang Zhenshan’s movement was tied to Spirit Origin Land, allowing him to travel with nothing more than a thought—far more agile than a traditional spell, albeit limited to a range of a thousand feet. Still, Mo Xuanyu had no means to effectively counter him.

Deciding he could not secure a victory quickly, Mo Xuanyu chose to prioritize his assets over this conflict.

"Retreat!"

He spat the order out, his figure dissolving into a dark streak that vanished beneath the pale moonlight.

Yang Zhenshan watched them retreat, choosing not to give chase.

"Shi Pingshan of the Master Family offers his respects to the senior! Your intervention saved us from a dire catastrophe," Shi Pingshan said, stepping forward to offer a grateful bow.

Yang Zhenshan turned around, his face obscured by a dark cloth intended to mask his features while his Spiritual Sense suppressed his true energy signature.

"Understand this: this affair goes far beyond the survival of your family," Yang Zhenshan remarked, his voice raspy.

Shi Pingshan hesitated, "You refer to the Unpredictable Ghost Sect?" He had noted the name being dropped earlier.

"Indeed," Yang Zhenshan confirmed.

Shi Pingshan frowned. "What is this sect? And why target my family?"

"They are not focused on your family itself. Their goal is to frame the Nether Prison Sect, inciting a genocidal war between them and the Three Sects of Peak Spirit," Yang Zhenshan explained.

Shi Pingshan grew deathly pale. "I see."

The implications were clear. If his family perished by the hand of the Nether Prison Sect, would the Xuanqing Sect remain idle? Certainly not. Given that the Supreme Elder Lin Daoyuan was a former disciple of their ancestors, he would be forced to seek vengeance for the family's honor. With the Northern branch destroyed, the Southern branch would surely rise in retaliation, ensuring a wider, bloody conflict.