Yan Shouyi and over a hundred of his followers marched up the steps, surrounding Bai Shixi.
The scene bore a striking resemblance to the six major sects besieging the Bright Summit.
However, the difference was that Yan Shouyi and his group were in the right, while Bai Shixi was an absolute villain.
Facing the relentless advance of everyone, Bai Shixi showed no signs of panic.
On the contrary, he appeared to be in complete control of the situation.
This reaction caused everyone to raise their guard to the highest level.
Suddenly!
A figure burst forth from behind Bai Shixi's beaded curtain!
Lu Jing was the first to react, drawing his sword and flashing to Yan Shouyi's side!
Clang!
The two collided, emitting a sharp sound.
It was then that everyone realized the sudden attacker was Fang Qiu!
Fang Qiu hadn't left!
His appearance was both unexpected and yet entirely plausible.
Bai Shixi's composure clearly indicated he had a backup plan.
It seemed Fang Qiu was that backup.
Lu Jing narrowed his eyes, staring at Fang Qiu, and sneered, "Fang Qiu? Why do your techniques resemble those of our Lu Shan Sect so closely?"
Fang Qiu also narrowed his eyes.
As expected of the Grand Elder of the Lu Shan Sect, he had already discerned some clues in just one exchange.
But Fang Qiu offered no explanation, only sneering, "Elder Lu Jing, your reputation precedes you."
"You flatter me!"
"Please don't be modest. Of everyone here, only you reacted to my sword strike just now," Fang Qiu chuckled. "So, would you do me the honor of crossing swords tonight?"
With that, Fang Qiu suddenly lifted his leg and kicked.
Even though Lu Jing blocked with his hand, the immense force still sent him tumbling down the steps!
Huang Hai and the others' expressions changed. "Grand Elder!"
Lu Jing stabilized himself in mid-air and landed steadily on the ground. "I'm fine!"
Fang Qiu turned back, smiling at Yan Shouyi, and said:
"I'll kill Lu Jing first, then I'll come for you, kid. The traps you laid around the Refining Fiend Cauldron cost me many subordinates!"
Fang Qiu's objective was clear: to tie up Lu Jing.
And Lu Jing was already Yan Shouyi's top combatant.
With Lu Jing out of the picture, Yan Shouyi's chances of defeating Bai Shixi dropped significantly.
But this was not the end.
As Fang Qiu leaped down the steps to engage Lu Jing, four more figures appeared.
They were Fang Qiu's subordinates, the Chi Mei Wang Liang, varying in height, build, and appearance!
The Chi Mei Wang Liang wore masks, each inscribed with their respective titles.
They emerged slowly from behind the beaded curtain, emitting sinister and sharp laughter.
"Everyone be careful, these four are not to be trifled with," Yan Shouyi warned sternly.
Suddenly, the heads of the Chi Mei Wang Liang twisted a full 180 degrees!
If they were living beings, their necks would have snapped, sending them straight to the underworld.
But the Chi Mei Wang Liang showed no reaction.
They slowly lifted the hair at the back of their heads.
To everyone's shock, they saw that on the back of each Chi Mei Wang Liang's head, there was a twisted human face!
So, this was their true faces!
"Ahahahahahahaha!"
"Yihihihihihihi!"
The Chi Mei Wang Liang cackled and soared into the air, charging into the crowd!
"No good, these four are not living people at all! They are ghosts refined by Fang Qiu!" Huang Hai shouted.
The disciples of the Lu Shan Sect were already battle-hardened.
Yet, they had never faced opponents as formidable as these.
As the Chi Mei Wang Liang plunged into the crowd, blood spattered, and screams erupted.
Sensing the situation was dire, Yan Shouyi immediately declared, "Ah Gong, Luo Ning, Zhu Shanzao, the four of us will go and hold back the Chi Mei Wang Liang!"
"Alright!"
Without hesitation, the three chose their targets.
Yan Shouyi, meanwhile, positioned himself before "Chi".
Chi was a giant as large as a small mountain.
His body was incredibly tough, and as he moved through the crowd, he was unstoppable with just his limbs.
Yan Shouyi, worried that others might not be able to handle this behemoth, specifically chose the most difficult opponent.
What was supposed to be a coordinated attack on Bai Shixi had devolved into a chaotic free-for-all with the arrival of Fang Qiu and the Chi Mei Wang Liang.
With Yan Shouyi and his group tying up the Chi Mei Wang Liang, the others were no longer under immediate threat.
At this moment, a paper figure emerged.
The paper figure appeared ancient but possessed an imposing aura.
As it walked, the paper scraps adorning its body peeled away one by one.
Much like a snake shedding its skin.
When all the paper pieces had fallen, the paper figure's true form was revealed.
The Old Ancestor of the Liu family – Liu Jingkang!
Liu Jingkang stood five meters tall, two meters taller than the three-meter-tall Bai Shixi!
Everyone made way for Liu Jingkang.
Liu Jingkang stood straight, tore off his upper garment, revealing muscles that belied his age.
Strapped to his back were two greatswords.
Liu Jingkang opened his eyes, and a pair of ghostly blue flames ignited within them. Even more terrifying, ghostly flames also swirled around his body!
This was the true Ghost King!!!
Bai Shixi, hidden behind the beaded curtain, seemed to finally sense a threat.
He involuntarily stood up, observing Bai Shixi through the curtain.
"Is this the aura of a Ghost King? How interesting..." Bai Shixi chuckled. "Liu Jingkang, I didn't expect you to still be alive. But looking at you, even with a portion of your strength restored, you are still far from your peak, aren't you? If my elder brother were here, you wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Liu Jingkang drew his dual blades and said coldly:
"Indeed, I am no match for your elder brother, but dealing with you, who has yet to become a Ghost King, is more than enough!"
"Ridiculous! Without absorbing the souls of the living, you're all show and no substance. You're still not ready to face me!" Bai Shixi taunted.
Liu Jingkang stopped wasting words and swung his blades at Bai Shixi!
A flash of steel cut through the air. Bai Shixi dodged.
Although this strike missed Bai Shixi, the beaded curtain that had been protecting him was cleanly severed!
Crash!
Beads fell to the ground, rolling down the steps.
Bai Shixi's true face was finally revealed to everyone.
But just as everyone prepared to join Liu Jingkang in attacking Bai Shixi.
The falling beads transformed into numerous malevolent spirits!
These spirits, while not particularly powerful, were formidable in their sheer numbers!
There were hundreds of them!!
In an instant, all the disciples of the Lu Shan Sect and the paper figures of the Liu family were held at bay by the evil spirits.
They were unable to join Liu Jingkang in besieging Bai Shixi, forced instead to contend with the troublesome spirits before them.
At this point, Yan Shouyi finally understood.
The Bai family had long calculated their strength.
Now, Bai Shixi's subordinates had the upper hand against Yan Shouyi and his group.
If Bai Yusheng and the others were to return now, their situation tonight would be truly perilous.
The only course of action was to find a breakthrough point as quickly as possible.
As long as someone among them could decisively defeat their opponent, the current stalemate would shift.
It would be like a snowball effect, with the advantage growing exponentially.
Conversely, if Bai Shixi's subordinates defeated their opponents first, the same principle would apply.
This was a battle for everyone's lives...
A breakthrough had to be found soon!!
Yan Shouyi looked towards Chi, who stood before him.
He couldn't be entirely confident that others would find their advantage.
What he could do was defeat his current opponent as quickly as possible and then assist the others.
Thus, he gripped his Zanpakuto tightly.
"Meet your end!!!"
With a roar, Yan Shouyi charged at Chi with his blade!