Taohua Ying's charming and alluring form swelled to thirteen meters.
The Ghost King, which had been arrogant and dismissive moments before, now seemed like a child in comparison to Taohua Ying.
If it were merely a matter of being outmatched in strength, that would be one thing.
However, combined with the Ghost King's previous boastful words, the situation became much more interesting.
It was like an eighteen-year-old kid, fresh out of driving school, showing off in his father's Santana, casually mocking a passerby, only for the passerby to turn around and drive off in a Lamborghini.
Utterly humiliated!
The Ghost King stared at the colossal Taohua Ying, remaining silent.
Shang Xu Yi's face turned pale, his body trembling, unable to speak.
Lin Zhitong had a Ghost King protecting her?
And such a powerful one at that?
This was impossible! It shouldn't be like this!
Shang Xu Yi quickly realized that this female Ghost King must be the trump card Lu Jingsheng had left for Lin Zhitong!
Otherwise, how could she, given her age and strength, have subdued such a formidable Ghost King!
At this moment, Shang Xu Yi was consumed by regret. He had only focused on Lin Zhitong's youth and unstable foundation, failing to consider that Lin Zhitong had the backing of a century-old sect leader.
The elders of the Lu Yun Sect, who had initially placed their hopes on Shang Xu Yi, were struck with terror at the appearance of Taohua Ying.
The moment Taohua Ying appeared, the victor and vanquished were decided. The defeat of the Lu Yun Sect was a foregone conclusion!
"The Sect Master is misguided!"
One elder lamented, filled with remorse. They hadn't fully supported Shang Xu Yi's plan from the start, but they were all in the same boat, and none could escape unscathed.
Now that the plan had failed and the Lu Yun Sect was on the brink of annihilation, they dared to speak their true feelings!
Suddenly, the Ghost King, which had been so arrogant and overbearing, dropped to its knees before Lin Zhitong.
Its posture was extremely low, and it pleaded in a voice filled with alarm, "This one has no connection to the Lu Yun Sect. It was merely an agreement made with their founding ancestor to render aid in a time of crisis. This is a matter of loyalty. I beg you, esteemed one, to show mercy in consideration of my loyalty!"
Zhao Yiyao's eyes twitched. To switch sides so readily now, and to call it loyalty?
Taohua Ying looked at Lin Zhitong, awaiting her decision.
This detail further startled Shang Xu Yi and the Ghost King. Such a powerful Ghost King, yet its relationship with Lin Zhitong was not one of equals, but of master and subordinate.
This indicated that Lin Zhitong possessed absolute control over Taohua Ying.
If any other inexperienced young girl were present, she might have softened her heart and spared the Ghost King.
But unfortunately, Lin Zhitong was present. Before following Yan Shouyi, she had been a formidable businesswoman. In the cutthroat world of business, hesitation would have meant becoming prey to others.
Therefore, Lin Zhitong was now "stone-hearted," completely unaffected by the Ghost King's pleas.
She spoke softly, her eyes cold, "Kill the Ghost King, capture Shang Xu Yi alive, and anyone else who dares to defy us will be killed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Xu Yi's heart turned to ashes.
The Ghost King, at its last gasp, abandoned all pretense and roared, launching a surprise attack on Lin Zhitong!
Its massive scimitar slashed directly towards Lin Zhitong's head!
Hei Chuan Lu let out a cold snort and drew his blade to meet it.
Clang!
The two blades collided, with the Ghost King gaining a slight advantage and pushing Hei Chuan Lu back.
The Ghost King then launched another attack at Lin Zhitong, confident that Hei Chuan Lu would not intervene again.
But why was Taohua Ying making no move?
Lin Zhitong watched the incoming scimitar without fear.
She slowly drew the Red God Umbrella from behind her, opened its canopy, gripped the handle with both hands, and raised it overhead.
Clang!
Once again, the Ghost King's scimitar was blocked!
The Ghost King was utterly shocked. Hei Chuan Lu was a half-step Ghost King, so it was understandable that he could block its attack.
But how could this young girl possess such ability?!
Lin Zhitong retracted the Red God Umbrella and thrust her spear forward, piercing the Ghost King's throat!
Terrified, the Ghost King retreated repeatedly. Before it could recover, Taohua Ying grabbed its head from behind!
A threat of complete soul dispersion instantly enveloped the Ghost King.
If the Ghost King were still alive, its hair would have stood on end, its spine chilled, as if plunged into an ice cellar.
"Die!"
Taohua Ying shouted, and with a sudden exertion of force, crushed the Ghost King's head!
With its head obliterated, the Ghost King's body instantly disintegrated, scattering into a myriad of essence souls, like countless fireflies.
In just a few exchanges, the Ghost King, which had been so arrogant moments before, was reduced to a mass of essence souls.
Witnessing this, Shang Xu Yi completely collapsed onto the ground.
His greatest trump card was insignificant in the face of Lin Zhitong.
Was there any point in resisting further?
The other elders and disciples also ceased their attacks.
To demonstrate their goodwill, they even discarded their weapons, placed their hands on their heads, and knelt on the ground.
They had not forgotten Lin Zhitong's earlier words: defiance meant death.
The Lu Yun Sect, which had developed over centuries, never imagined it would be destroyed by the hands of merely three women.
Zhao Yiyao called out to Huang Si Pi, and Luo Ning snapped her fingers, ordering the Vajra Corpse to cease its slaughter.
However, the Lu Yun Sect's courtyard was still in disarray, littered with corpses.
The people of the Lu Yun Sect, having regained their senses, cried out in despair.
Of course, the one at fault was not Lin Zhitong, but the self-destructive Shang Xu Yi.
If they had known Lin Zhitong possessed such power, actively supporting her succession as Sect Master would have been the wise course of action.
But the Sect Master, for the sake of petty gain, had sided with Lu Xin's faction, leading the Lu Yun Sect down the path of ruin.
"Taohua Ying, Hei Chuan Lu, Huang Si Pi, you can divide the essence souls amongst yourselves," Lin Zhitong instructed.
Taohua Ying pouted. The Ghost King had been killed by her alone, yet she had to share the essence souls with Hei Chuan Lu and Huang Si Pi.
However, for the sake of harmony, Taohua Ying merely pouted. Finally, she generously divided the essence souls into three portions, giving them to Hei Chuan Lu and Huang Si Pi. She didn't even take a larger share.
In reality, if the essence souls were divided according to strength or contribution, neither of the other two parties would have had any objections.
But Taohua Ying's actions earned her considerable favor. Huang Si Pi even cackled, "Little sister, when I cultivate human form in the future, you'll be the first I marry!"
Hearing this, Taohua Ying roared, "Get lost!"
Huang Si Pi, clutching the essence souls, retreated into Zhao Yiyao's body. Zhao Yiyao apologetically apologized for Huang Si Pi, her practiced demeanor one of heartfelt weariness.
Hei Chuan Lu, with his samurai spirit, knelt on both knees, placed his katana aside, and performed a deep bow to Taohua Ying.
This again left Taohua Ying flustered. In her experience, kneeling and kowtowing were extremely solemn rituals, and using them in this context felt excessive.
But to Hei Chuan Lu, this was a sincere way of expressing his gratitude.
"You may all leave now."
After reabsorbing Taohua Ying and Hei Chuan Lu into the bone chain soul-summoning bell, Lin Zhitong's gaze fell upon Shang Xu Yi.