Chapter 8: Late-Stage Ghost Soldier, the Lust Ghost​​

Night fell. Darkness instantly shrouded the entire graveyard. An eerie, sinister aura permeated the air. A faint, cold wind whispered past, carrying waves of chilling air.

However, things were different now. Lin Ye was a mid-stage Ghost Soldier expert. Combined with the bonfire burning beside him, this level of cold posed no threat. Lin Ye felt a flicker of reassurance.

His comfort was short-lived. Just as Lin Ye began to relax, a gust of frigid wind tore through the air. The bonfire began to sway violently. Immediately afterward, a voice—deep, grim, and razor-sharp, like lightning splitting the silent, ink-black night—rang out!

“Who! Who stole my Power Pills! And my Dragon-Phoenix Candles!”

The voice tore through the night’s tranquility, laden with boundless fury and killing intent.

“He’s here!” Lin Ye’s brow furrowed tight. A sense of foreboding washed over him.

​​Name:​​ Lust Ghost!

​​Cultivation:​​ Ghost Soldier (Late Stage)

​​Category:​​ Ghost!

​​Current Form:​​ Lust Ghost (Next Stage: Libertine Ghost)!

​​Skill:​​ Passionate Union!

​​[Passionate Union]:​​ If the Lust Ghost dual cultivates with a female ghost of the opposite sex, their cultivation speed will be effectively doubled!

Good news. Lin Ye’s gamble had paid off! The Lust Ghost had indeed advanced to the late stage of Ghost Soldier!

Bad news. Lin Ye was only at the mid stage!

“This is troublesome!” Lin Ye couldn’t help but exclaim after reading the Lust Ghost’s status.

At that moment, Lin Ye finally understood why those items had been in the Lust Ghost’s coffin. If he wasn’t mistaken, the Lust Ghost intended to use the Dragon-Phoenix Candles to bind a female ghost. Then, after taking the Power Pills, he would leverage the Passionate Union passive ability for dual cultivation, hoping to break through to the early stage of Ghost General in one fell swoop!

Sadly, ambition was plump while reality was gaunt. The Lust Ghost had likely never dreamed his meticulously prepared tools would end up serving Lin Ye!

“You!” The Lust Ghost snarled, having spotted Lin Ye. “I smell their essence on you! You handled them!”

“Take them back!” Lin Ye stood and threw the net soaked in black dog blood towards the Lust Ghost.

Reflexively, the Lust Ghost reached out to catch it! Yet, seeing those items again, a sense of wrongness prickled at him.

“Trap! Black dog blood!” Realization struck, and the Lust Ghost’s face contorted in horror. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.

The next instant, the dog-blood-coated net seemed to come alive, wrapping itself around the Lust Ghost. Wisps of white vapor rose. Amidst the sizzling sound of burning flesh, the Lust Ghost let out shrill, agonized shrieks.

“Aaaaaaargh! You dare scheme against me, boy?! I’ll make you die a miserable death!”

The Lust Ghost ripped the bloodied net off his body and lunged at Lin Ye with bared teeth and clawed hands. Though Lin Ye’s move had yielded surprising results, the makeshift net’s power was ultimately limited. The Lust Ghost was upon him.

Suddenly—Thud! The sound of wood piercing flesh echoed!

A dull pain erupted in the Lust Ghost’s sole. Looking down, he saw a coffin nail piercing straight through his foot! “Damned! You planted coffin nails too?!”

Excruciating pain twisted the Lust Ghost’s face. He glared at Lin Ye, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. They seemed ready to bulge from their sockets; his teeth ground audibly. But the earlier trap made him wary, and he hesitated to act rashly.

Lin Ye seized the opportunity. He directly invoked his bronze coin sword. Under the cold moonlight, the sword gleamed with an eerie light. Guided by Lin Ye’s will, it shot towards the Lust Ghost like a sinuous silver snake.

Seeing this terrifying sight, the Lust Ghost paled. He gritted through the agony in his foot, twisting his body aside just barely avoiding the thrust. “Th-That’s… a bronze coin sword?!” His experience recognized Lin Ye’s magical tool instantly.

“Sharp eyes!” A faint, unsettling smile touched Lin Ye’s lips.

“Good! Now I change my mind! I won’t make you suffer! I’ll just kill you now!” roared the Lust Ghost. Late-stage Ghost Soldier versus mid-stage—he had expected an easy victory! But Lin Ye’s constant tricks had shredded his patience.

“Death isn’t certain yet!” Lin Ye shot back defiantly.

“So be it! Let me show you the true power of a late-stage Ghost Soldier!”

The Lust Ghost swept his sleeves outward. Yin energy surged violently around him. Dozens of dark, shadowy tendrils shot from his robes, streaking relentlessly toward Lin Ye.

Lin Ye’s heart lurched. He swiftly recalled the bronze coin sword to defend himself. It traced glowing arcs in the air, slicing through the shadows one after another. But before Lin Ye could catch his breath, the Lust Ghost exploited the opening, lunging at him like lightning.

Lin Ye couldn’t evade in time. The Lust Ghost’s hand clamped around his throat!

“Die!” the Lust Ghost spat venomously.

Just as despair gripped Lin Ye—Thump! The jar beside the grave mound, usually still, suddenly lurched! Xiaocui manipulated the ghost jar, slamming it hard into the Lust Ghost’s back!

Propelled by the impact, the Lust Ghost stumbled forward several steps, releasing his grip on Lin Ye.

Lin Ye landed, rolled backward, putting distance between them. Without hesitation, he bit his middle finger and smeared the blood along the bronze coin sword.

Instantly, the sword blazed with crimson light.

“Go!” Lin Ye commanded.

The word had barely left his lips when the sword shot forth like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Seeing this, the Lust Ghost panicked. He tried to dodge again, but this time, his body reacted too slowly. Guided by Lin Ye’s focus, the bronze coin sword struck true, piercing deep into the Lust Ghost’s torso.

Tendrils of inky black smoke curled from the wound. The Lust Ghost grimaced in pain, baring his teeth. But the power of a mid-stage Ghost Soldier had its limits. After this potent strike, Lin Ye realized with a shock that the Lust Ghost still lived!

Seeing the Lust Ghost try to flee, Lin Ye lunged forward. He tackled the ghost, pinning his limbs with his body weight. Forced down by the sudden force, the Lust Ghost involuntarily crashed to one knee.

Thunk! His knee landed squarely on another coffin nail, driving it deep into his flesh.

Pinned by the coffin nail, the Lust Ghost’s movements were severely restricted. Lin Ye pressed his advantage. He snatched more coffin nails from the ground, swiftly driving them into different joints of the ghost’s immobilized body.

Just like when he had slain the zombie leader, a thick cloud of white vapor erupted. Moments later, the Lust Ghost’s form dissolved into a puddle of vile, bubbling pus.

Time seemed to stretch before the vapor finally dissipated. Where the Lust Ghost had stood, only a simple, ancient-seeming booklet remained, lying on the ground.