“It’s… it’s working!” The fear in their eyes turned to excitement. In the past, in order to deal with Yin Qi, they had to use countless talismans. Even then, they were only able to activate a bit of spirit Qi, and the effect did not last very long.

　　“If you have spirit Qi protecting your body, the ghosts and spirits would not go anywhere near you,” Lonemoon explained. “As long as you have spirit Qi around your body, those remnant souls would not be able to harm your body.”

　　The moment he finished speaking, the crowd got excited.

　　The next moment, the huge groups of remnant souls began to fly toward them. The big patch of black traveled, carrying with them the chilling and terrifying cries of ghosts. Faintly, they could see their frightening faces.

　　The sheer number of these remnant souls was much larger than what they encountered in the city earlier. Yi Qing frowned and stepped forward, ready to conjure a seal.

　　“Wait!” Lonemoon suddenly grabbed his arm. He turned and faced Yun Heng, saying, “Let him come.”

　　Yun Heng paused. Even the golden glow of his merit trembled. He widened his eyes in disbelief. “Me… Me?” Am I hearing you right?

　　“Yes.” Lonemoon nodded. Since he wanted publicity, he had to make sure it was done right. “Didn’t I teach you how to conjure the Reincarnation Array?”

　　Yun Heng pursed his lips. “But… But you only taught me that yesterday.” He had not even practised it – how was he going to set it up so quickly?

　　“Try your best!” Lonemoon patted his shoulder. “You are of the highest cultivation level among all your peers!” I have faith in you.

　　“…” Are you sure you’re not setting me up?

　　The remnant souls were about to charge at them. The glow around the group was about to be swallowed, like ink covering up water. The piercing screams coming from the ghosts were beginning to hurt their ears.

　　The disciples’ chests tightened, yet they could not find any physical injury on their bodies. Indeed, as Exalted Master Lonemoon said, as long as they had spirit Qi protecting their bodies, the ghosts and spirits would not be able to harm them.

　　Yun Heng gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to try his best.

　　He tried to recall the seal that Lonemoon had taught him in passing the day before. Regulating his spirit Qi, he conjured a seal and recited a complicated curse under his breath. A moment later, a golden light shot forth from his palms. Beneath his feet, a familiar array appeared.

　　The array flashed for a couple of seconds and then disappeared one more.

　　Yun Heng sucked in a deep breath and tried to conjure the seal again, muttering the same curse under his breath. Again and again and again he tried, yet each time, the array disappeared almost immediately. This went on for four or five times, yet Yun Heng still did not succeed. His entire head was drenched in perspiration.

　　“Keep the array’s spirit Qi steady,” Yi Qing reminded Yun Heng, unable to hold back any longer. If they wasted any more time, he would not be able to rush back in time to cook dinner for Master.

　　Yun Heng hesitated. His eyes brightened, as if he had finally figured out something. “Thank you for your guidance, Exalted Master.” Yun Heng took one more deep breath, closed his eyes and tried to imagine what the array would look like. He regulated the spirit Qi in his body and formed the array once again, inch by inch, muttering the curse under his breath.

　　The next thing he knew, the array had formed underneath his feet. What’s more, it was getting bigger and bigger. Within seconds, it had spread to cover the ground underneath the entire group’s feet. The Yin Qi around the array dissipated. The ghosts that had attempting to attack the group non-stop earlier also finally rested. They now looked like translucent human figures. Even their expressions appeared normal. Then, they turned into green smoke and disappeared.

　　Yun Heng was a Soul Formation cultivator afterall. His spirit power was not comparable to Yi Qing, the divine being. What’s more, there were many more remnant souls this time than there were before. He set up the array a total of six times before he managed to send all of the remnant souls into the River of Forgetfulness.

　　Since these were his first times setting up the array, and since he was not yet adept at controlling spirit Qi, Yun Heng’s body was more or less wiped out of spirit Qi after setting up such an elaborate array a couple of times. He bent over, placing each of his hands on each of his knees, panting. Yet, he looked extremely excited. He looked like he was pining to set the array up one more time.

　　This was the first time he understood that remnant souls could be dealt with in this manner. It was different from when he dealt with the deviant ghosts with the Mystic cultivators before. This time, he did not feel the same heavy suppression that he usually did before. It was obvious that this time, the remnant souls had really been sent back to where they should have gone. His body was drained of spirit Qi, yet he felt satisfaction and peace like he had never felt before.

　　It was as if he had not just seen remnant souls disappear, but new lives being formed.

　　This… was the real life of the future!

　　The other disciples looked on excitedly and in disbelief as well. They watched as the surroundings brightened up, and their own eyes began to fill with light. In the past, hundreds or even thousands of Mystic cultivators would be required to deal with deviant ghosts. Now, all it took was one. Moreover, he settled it in a few minutes and no one died.

　　So this was the power of immortal cultivators! If they carried on training, the deviant ghosts aside – they would be able to solve just about any problem in the world. Even… ascending to immortality, like their exalted masters said, seemed within reach now.

　　All the disciples present fell into an amazed silence.

　　Lonemoon, on the other hand, frowned. He turned to study the northern direction, from which he could still sense overwhelming Yin Qi. Over there…

　　“Let’s go back?” Yi Qing asked. Just for safety, he added, “It’s late!” I have to go back to cook dinner.

　　Lonemoon pursed his lips. You’re talking as if you had not prepared spare food for that foodie.

　　He retrieved the same wooden plank and threw it to the sky. He conjured a seal and the plank immediately turned into the spirit boat once again.

　　“Get on the boat, it’s time to go back!

　　“Yes, Exalted Master!” The group replied respectfully. They all loaded onto the boat excitedly.

　　Yi Qing was just about to board the boat when he felt a chill run down his spine and felt the wind rush past his face. His heart stilled. There was a rush of sword Qi and a loud crash.

　　The ground began to split apart, yet he could not locate anything that was responsible for it. A dark aura appeared all around him, rushing toward the boat, bringing with it an explosive Qi.

　　Grievous energy!

　　Lonemoon started. Their spirit Qi could protect them from Yin Qi, but not grievous energy! Everybody was going to be swallowed by the grievous energy before their very eyes. Lonemoon instinctively conjured a seal with one palm. A golden light covered the group of people in the spirit boat, keeping the grievous energy out.

　　“Heaven Master Yun Heng!” The disciples in the boat screamed.

　　Lonemoon’s heart sank. He turned to look and realized that Yun Heng had not boarded the boat! The grievous energy had consumed him. With a flick of his wrist, sword Qi shot toward him.

　　He meant to chase the grievous energy away, but as the sword Qi came close to Yun Heng, the grievous energy dissipated. Together with Yun Heng.

　　“…” What happened? Where’s he?

　　“Over there!” Yi Qing turned and pointed toward the north. He mounted his sword and gave chase.

　　Lonemoon frowned. Once again, he added several layers of arrays around the spirit boat. “We’re going to save him. All of you should return first!” After he finished speaking, he waved his hand and caused the spirit boat to be activated. The boat flew in the direction of the sect.

　　Lonemoon summoned his spirit sword and was just about to chase after Yi Qing when a red beam of light appeared in his peripheral vision. Something seemed to be trembling at his waist.

　　This was the transmission amulet he left Si Yu!

　　He quickly retrieved it and sent a sliver of spirit Qi over. Immediately, Si Yu’s holographic figure appeared on the talisman. “Elder Lonemoon, things are bad! Sect Master… Sect Master is missing!”

　　“What!”

　　w(゚Д゚)w