Highlighting the subtle energy was not working out well. During his cultivation, his focus had been entirely on absorbing and transforming energy, while neglecting the training of his mental strength. It wasn't that he lacked the ability to control these yin energies—he simply hadn't kept up with the cultivation of his mental strength. Once mental strength training caught up, he would be able to freely command various yin energies from the external realms. What could he do? What could he do? Old Zai, recalling the thirty-six strategies, decided: retreat is the best course of action. With a quick flash of insight, Old Zai made up his mind to flee. He would preserve the mountain; the wood will never run out. "Catch him! Quickly! Catch him!" "Seal off all exits—don't let that boy escape!" "Catch him and reward him with ten taels of gold!"... The Ghost King issued continuous orders, and the numerous minor spirits immediately mobilized, rushing after Gao Liang. Gao Liiang passed through one of the exits—this was a cavern. Upon entering, he found several branching pathways and simply chose one at random to proceed down. The larger and smaller spirits hesitated afterward, wondering which of the two side passages High Bright would take. "You go this way!" The King of the Ghosts followed closely, personally directing the Horned Spirit, who immediately sent a group of minor spirits into the passage. "And you! Hurry! Go that way!" He then issued orders to the Pig-Head Spirit, who also dispatched a group of spirits into the other passage. The King of the Ghosts himself led his entourage into the central side passage. "Search! Search thoroughly!" As soon as he spoke, his spirits began rummaging through the cave, searching for High Bright's hiding place. High Bright had just hidden beneath a rock beside the King of the Ghosts. The King smelled a distinct human scent—someone must be nearby, surely High Bright. He immediately instructed his spirits, "Right here! Quickly! Search carefully!" High Bright held his breath, and only then did the King notice the human scent fade away. Strange—there had clearly been a human scent just a moment ago. How could it have disappeared so suddenly? Surely not! The Ghost King was utterly puzzled. The attendants searched every spot except the rocks near the Ghost King’s side, but still couldn’t find High Light’s trace. "Let’s go! Maybe it’s just an illusion!" hesitated the Ghost King, and then he stepped out. When High Light saw the Ghost King and his entourage leave, he emerged from behind the rocks. As he stepped out, the Ghost King’s hearty laughter reached him: "Haha! You’ve been tricked!" The Ghost King was truly cunning—something even High Light hadn’t anticipated. It seemed a fierce confrontation was now unavoidable. Of the Thirty-Six Strategies, "retreat" is the best, but in High Light’s view, at this very moment, it was actually the worst choice. Fight! Fight! Fight! We must fight! With a mighty, broad-shouldered fist raised high, High Light addressed the Ghost King and the attendants: "Come on! Come on! Taste my fists!" The Ghost King knew that none of his subordinates could match Gao Liang, so he looked at Gao Liang with utter disdain and said, "You're not my match!" As he spoke, a wave of阴气 flowed out from his mouth. Indeed, Gao Liang felt a massive, heavy mist approaching. By the time he summoned his spiritual energy, it was already too late. Gao Liang was in serious danger. Just as things looked grim, a cool voice came through: "Husband! I'm here!" It was Ying'er! Ying'er! Gao Liang felt both joy and concern. "Didn't I just ask you to stay away? How come you've come?" Of course, he was worried about Ying'er's safety. Ying'er's face was now flushed, indicating that both her body and spiritual energy had recovered to normal levels. Yet, how could her arrival now help him? The Ghost King, seeing Ying'er willingly step into his grasp, chuckled and said, "I am the King of the Underworld. You'd better stay obedient to me. Otherwise, I'll eliminate both of you!" Ying'er stood beside Gao Liang, forming a striking and elegant sight as a handsome man and a beautiful woman. The Ghost King, envious beyond measure, roared, "Attack them! Release your negative energies! Overpower them!" At once, the numerous minor spirits began to emit their ghostly energies. "Ying'er! Quickly! We'll combine our swords and practice dual cultivation to strengthen our spiritual power!" Upon Gao Liang's suggestion, Ying'er immediately responded. With 6,000 years of spiritual energy within her and an exceptionally strong spiritual force, Ying'er played a crucial role in Gao Liang's progression—particularly in awakening him to special physical training and spiritual cultivation. This time, as the guiding teacher, Ying'er released her spiritual energy and channeled it through her spiritual hands into Gaoliang's body. Gaoliang's spiritual energy index steadily rose—from 0% to 100%, then from 100% to 1000%, and finally from 1000% to 10,000%—becoming exceptionally abundant. Since Gaoliang had previously practiced dual cultivation with Ying'er, he was familiar with the spiritual energy flowing into him from her and thus could skillfully command and utilize it. At this moment, the shadows of the young ghosts grew increasingly dense, soon enveloping everything. Gaoliang performed a dramatic act: while the shadows were spreading, Ying'er had largely transferred her spiritual energy to Gaoliang, leaving her body suddenly weak. As the shadows settled upon her, she felt dizzy and disoriented, immediately collapsing to the ground, motionless. Gaoliang supported her and tenderly said, "My dear, hold on!" "I'll win!" Ying'er shook her head, speaking with no hope at all. "Husband, do you know? After I left you, I was so worried about you that I've come back again! Even if I die, I'd rather die with you!" Gao Liang was deeply moved. He held Ying'er tightly in his arms and said, "Wife! Don't worry—watch my show!" Then, he looked straight into the Ghost King's eyes and said, "Come on! All of you come and join me!" The Ghost King, confident of victory, became overconfident and said, "Young man! You're done!" Gao Liang replied, "We haven't even fought yet—so who wins and who loses remains to be seen!" "Let's have a one-on-one duel!" the Ghost King said. "Very well! But in this duel, either you die or I live. I can tolerate you hurting me, but I won't allow you to harm my woman!" Gao Liang spoke each word with firmness and intensity, full of power. The Ghost King laughed heartily and said, "Your woman! Hmph! Here, she's already mine!" "High-light's smile droops significantly—this King of the Underworld must be eliminated today. With just one move from the elder, the very heavens will tremble. The game has begun. The King of Ghosts signals all his subordinates, both high and low, to exhale a surge of negative energy, and himself too, releasing a stronger stream. The combined negative energy from thousands of ghosts converges, enveloping High-light as if he were submerged in a marsh of dark energy—deeply ensnared, unable to break free. 'Hahahaha! You're done!' The King of Ghosts, now resolute, employs a commanding telepathic technique to intimidate: 'I've drawn out your sinews, peeled off your skin, drunk your blood, and devoured your flesh! Now, give me your life!'