Chapter 45: Invincible Form — The Millennium Heroic Soul

The slender young man wore a devilish smile as he took a few leisurely steps forward.

Immediately, thick ghostly mist surged from his body, enveloping him completely.

“Heh heh…”

“Just you lot? And you think you can touch me?”

As he spoke, he casually waved a hand forward. In an instant, a billowing wave of mist surged out, freezing everything in its path.

All the teachers’ expressions turned grim.

They instantly formed a new formation, channeling all their energy to face the incoming threat.

But this casual strike from the young man was even more potent than the freezing breath of the SS-class wraith.

Everyone felt the fierce cold rushing toward them, rapidly draining their inner energy.

The youth grinned again and swung his fist.

Even though he was over ten meters away, the imprint of his fist appeared instantly before the teachers, slamming into the protective barriers they had formed.

With a crisp crack, the barriers shattered on contact.

Guan Wen, Si Wenle, and the others immediately turned pale, their blood surging violently within them as they staggered back several steps.

Only Instructor Yang Ningbing remained standing in place, though her own internal energy was roiling and unstable.

“Not bad…”

Seeing this, the young man let out a sinister laugh and looked at Yang Ningbing.

“You’re quite impressive—for a woman—to take one of my casual attacks.”

“I am the Ghost King of the Nether Realm!”

“I have descended into the mortal world to become invincible—and to conquer it all!”

“Submit, or die!”

His charming grin twisted, and his eyes suddenly emitted an eerie red glow.

Yang Ningbing’s face tensed.

Without hesitation, she led the other instructors back another dozen meters.

“We can’t take him head-on!”

“Take the students and retreat—get as far away as possible!”

“Teacher Yang!”

Si Wenle’s face was full of worry.

“You’re no match for the Ghost King alone!”

Yang Ningbing’s eyes turned sharp.

“I’m the commander of this operation. You only need to obey orders.”

“The students’ safety comes first.”

With that, she raised her three-foot sword and charged straight toward the Ghost King.

Guan Wen, Si Wenle, and the other instructors froze for a moment, but had no choice but to carry out her orders.

Among them, Yang Ningbing had the highest combat strength.

If anyone could even try to stall the Ghost King—it was her.

Though deep down, everyone knew: she didn’t stand a chance.

***

Back at the student rally point.

All the students craned their necks to look into the distance.

Only a few of them caught sight of the sudden, eerie figure of the Ghost King.

When they saw a few teachers return, the students rushed forward.

“Teacher!”

“What happened?!”

Si Wenle stood at the front of the group, his face grim.

“Everyone, retreat now! Get far away from the high school zone!”

He immediately took the lead, guiding the students away.

Behind him, Mu Qing, Tu Suya, and Luo Feixuan, not seeing Yang Ningbing among the returned teachers, asked anxiously:

“Where’s Teacher Yang?”

“Where is she?”

Guan Wen stepped in front of the three girls, frowning as he said:

“Teacher Yang has more important things to handle. You must fall back now.”

The girls, hearing this from both instructors, realized something had gone terribly wrong.

Though deeply anxious, there was nothing they could do.

Powerless, the three of them followed the main group, continuing to retreat.

***

On the front lines.

With all the instructors fallen back, Yang Ningbing stood alone before the Ghost King, her sword in hand.

Ghost mist surged from his body like a tide, pouring toward her.

The chilly breeze tousled her hair, but her expression remained calm and composed.

“Woman… heh…”

Seeing that only Yang Ningbing stood before him, the Ghost King let out a sinister chuckle.

“You think letting them escape will get them out of my grasp?”

“You’re dreaming.”

“Once I kill you, they’ll become my feast just the same!”

Red light blazed in the Ghost King’s eyes—but he didn’t move.

Instead, the massive SS-class wraith behind him suddenly regained its mobility and charged forward.

With each stomp of its feet, the ground trembled and rumbled like thunder.

But Yang Ningbing’s face didn’t change.

She exhaled lightly.

Her glowing sword shimmered with light as she flashed forward—

***

Elsewhere.

Su Nan had been tracking Senior Sister Mu Chuxian deep into the forest when he suddenly sensed a powerful surge of energy from behind.

His brows furrowed sharply.

‘Something’s wrong.’

Just as he was about to turn back, he heard Mu Chuxian’s voice behind him.

“Oh dear, little junior, why did you follow me?”

Su Nan turned around and saw her standing there, faintly glowing in the dim light, casting an ethereal, dreamlike beauty.

Were they not in a perilous secret realm, he might’ve teased her.

But right now, he had no mind for jokes.

“Senior Sister, something huge just happened!”

His tone was serious as he looked at her.

“I felt an incredibly strong presence—just behind us.”

He turned back toward the forest’s edge.

From beyond the trees, a heavy, sinister aura was seeping through—far more terrifying than the mist-filled forest around them.

“The Bronze Gate mutated. An SSS-class Ghost King has appeared.”

Mu Chuxian’s voice was cool and composed.

“I can clearly sense his presence.”

“SSS-class?”

Su Nan’s eyes narrowed.

“Then…”

“Don’t worry.”

Mu Chuxian replied casually.

“The academy’s instructors are all inside the secret realm. For now, their lives aren’t in immediate danger.”

“That Ghost King’s descent into the mortal realm consumed vast energy—he’s not at full power. By my estimate, he has only one or two layers of strength left.”

“But even so, defeating him will still be incredibly difficult.”

She spoke with eerie calm, as if discussing something entirely unrelated to her.

But Su Nan, perceptive as ever, pressed on:

“Then what should I do?”

“This secret realm isn’t just a double-layered ghost trap—it’s also a sacred site for suppressing evil.”

Mu Chuxian gave a rare smile as she looked at him.

“I came here alone just now to confirm that.”

“What do you mean?”

“This place isn’t just the resting place for countless ancient souls—it’s the burial ground of heroes.”

“Heroic souls?”

“Yes. This place has remained undisturbed for so long because it’s been guarded by ancient heroic souls.”

“If a millennium heroic soul manifests, we may still have a chance.”

Su Nan finally sensed something unusual.

Ever since entering the forest, he’d felt a different kind of energy—but he had never connected it to this possibility.

The descent of an SSS-class Ghost King… was something he had never even imagined.

“What should I do?”

Su Nan didn’t hesitate.

He asked directly.