This is also notable as the last episode in which Ye Zun is still stuck in the pillar!
Ooh, indeed! I'd love to see Ye Zun exit it as well.

Re: his body, since he goes out in the sunlight, he probably isn't a ghost like Wang Zheng and Sang Zan, but rather is ... more condensed out of energy? I don't think we see the pillar after this, either (save that one shot where Sha Ya is eaten, but that could be before Ye Zun's depillarment). Hmm.