Zi Xuan did not refute Aunt Ma's words, but held Jing Tian's hand even tighter.
But out of her last remaining conscience, she asked, "Is that Fire Ghost King... beautiful?"
Since this is the first time in a thousand years that she has fallen in love and even held a grand wedding, he must be a good man.
If one's moral character is acceptable, then only physical appearance remains as a hard requirement.
"Although she wasn't as pretty as the three girls, and her appearance was unusual, she was still a striking figure, I saw it with my own eyes," Aunt Ma said.
"With my own eyes?" Xue Jian exclaimed in surprise. "Aunt Ma, you can attend the Ghost King's wedding banquet?"
"No, I didn't participate." Aunt Ma's eyes gleamed with reminiscence. "It was a dream, and it was the first time I ever saw Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."
It was a city that looked as if it had been thrown into a volcano. A river of lava replaced the moat, and floating on its surface were not lotus flowers, but vengeful flames supported by charred hand bones. The bronze mirrors used by the fire spirits for their grooming were made of cooled, black iron lava; the reflections in the mirrors were not of faces, but of the horrific burns in the viewer's Previous Life.
The lava river swelled, and three thousand skull lamps emerged from its surface. The fire spirits tore off charred hides for drumheads and shinbones for mallets, playing the melody of "The Magpie's Nest" from the Book of Songs.
[A platform of black iron was erected at the eruption site of three volcanoes. A hanged ghost, performing "Mulian Saves His Mother," had his throat and tongue burned through by karmic fire. The soul of white bones, dressed as Du Liniang, sang "Whose courtyard is filled with delightful pleasures?" when suddenly a mouthful of sharp teeth grew out and pierced through his face. Amidst cheers, the winner removed his costume, revealing a golden body of the God of Drama cast in lava, and stepped into the wedding banquet.]
The guests' appearances all reflect their sins in life—the corrupt official's abdomen has become a wine cellar, and the unscrupulous merchant's tongue is covered with copper coin-like spots.
The "nectar" served at the banquet was actually magma; after drinking it, sulfurous fumes would spew from all the body's pores.
The Fire Ghost King leaned against a lava throne formed by nine intertwined Earth Fire Dragon Veins, the skulls on the armrests constantly spewing sulfurous mist, staining the sky of the demon realm with the blood-red patterns of eternal night.
The fiery veil draped over her left shoulder was woven from the vows of three thousand unfaithful lovers, igniting with a bluish-purple flame of resentment when the wind blew. The hem of her wedding dress flowed with a painting of a hundred demons parading at night, rendered in lava.
Ninety-nine charred corpses carried a ghost sedan chair, its curtains strung together with tattered pages of the "Scripture of Salvation." The groom, with a fiery red jewel around his neck, stepped out of the chair; with each step he took, a crimson lotus of karmic fire bloomed on the ground.
[Seeing the groom arriving, all the ghost slaves cut their throats at the same time, and the splashing phosphorus fire condensed into the character [] in mid-air. The ghost king stepped down from the throne, stepped barefoot on the steps made of phosphorus fire, and with each step, a red lotus of the same karma fire bloomed]
"That happened seven days ago." Aunt Ma said as if waking from a dream. "Not only me, but everyone else in Fengdu also dreamed of this grand wedding banquet."
"But... didn't Master Changqing just die? Seven days ago?" Long Kui asked, puzzled.
"Time in the Ghost Realm is different from that in the outside world," Aunt Ma said. "Zhao Wuyan was fifty-eight years old and still looked so dignified because he had been in the Ghost Realm for too long. Although the time spent in the Ghost Realm does not reduce his lifespan, his body will age according to the actual time he experiences."
"I was wondering why he looked like he was in his seventies or eighties," Xue Jian said.
"Are you all still not planning to leave?" Aunt Ma noticed their attitude.
"Our friend didn't really die. He still has a lifespan and his body is still alive," Jing Tian said. "He probably thought he was really dead, which is why he married the Ghost King."
"If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day and night?"
"When our friend returns to life, after his lifespan ends, won't he be able to continue his marriage with the Ghost King?"
"Since you all possess extraordinary abilities and are not afraid of the Ghost King, then so be it," Aunt Ma sighed. "Every day at midnight, a passage leading to the Ghost Realm will open at the entrance of Fengdu City. At that time, the entire city will become a city of ghosts."
"But living beings on earth can also travel through this passage to the Ghost Realm."
"Many spirits and Demons and Monsters that are not tolerated in the world will choose to enter the Ghost Realm."
At midnight, at the city gate.
In the pitch-black, cold air, a door invisible to mortals appeared.
It was a gate made of white bones.
The skeletons of thousands of humans and animals were pieced together to form a ten-zhang-long gate, with eerie blue runes protruding from each bone. A plaque carved from a dragon's spine was embedded in the lintel, and the three characters "Ghost Gate Pass" were pieced together from flowing souls.
The two skulls at the hinge rotated, and as the jaws opened and closed, blue mist spewed out, the scent of decaying lotus mixed with the fragrance of spider lilies spreading across the road to the underworld.
The bone gate burst open with a roar, and the ghostly soldiers emerged in formation.
The ox-headed and horse-faced demons swung their soul-snatching ropes, causing the copper bells on their mourning staffs to shatter and scatter phosphorescent flames across the ground.
Ghostly lanterns lit up one after another. Night wanderers led a hundred ghosts on a patrol of the streets, and white-boned sedan chair bearers carried the deceased through walls of mist. Paper money transformed into swarms of phosphorescent butterflies in the moonlight.
The long-tongued ghost's scarlet tongue curled up a human skin lantern, the hanged ghost's hemp rope tied to Porcelain Vase, and the water ghost dragged a cargo box entangled with algae and duckweed.
Ghosts gathered outside the gate, forming a market. Severed limbs and remains served as stalls, glass goblets hung from skeletons, and Meng Po soup bubbled in bowls made from skulls.
Two will-o'-the-wisps lit up above the door, transforming into eyes that scrutinized the visitors entering and leaving the gate of the underworld.
Before long, the entire city seemed to have fallen into the underworld.
The few living people, dressed in Protective Talisman, wander through the ghost town.
Jing Tian and the others were also among them, but they were still dressed in ordinary clothes, as if they were strolling through a regular market.
"It's finally my turn!" Xue Jian excitedly unfolded an amber-colored protective shield, enveloping the group.
The wandering spirits all kept their distance when they saw it.
"It's only been seven days since you obtained the [Earth Concealment]," Zi Xuan sighed. "Although it's partly due to the [Earth Spirit Pearl], with your [Nine Yi Profound Earth Barrier], you might not be far from learning [Carry Heaven and Earth]."
[Nine Yi Profound Earth Barrier] is a more common way of saying the [True Essence Protection] immortal technique.
Just like a regular jumping strike, which people in the martial arts world usually call "splitting Mount Hua with force".
"The ability to travel thousands of miles underground, and the near-infinite earth elemental power on the Dadi —the [Carry Heaven and Earth?" Xue Jian said proudly. "Sister Zi Xuan, how did you know I've already learned it!"
Xue Jian's smile didn't last long.
The closer you get to the Gate of Hell, the more ghosts there are, the more bustling the ghost market becomes, and the stronger the yin energy.
Xue Jian, who relied on her superior immortal techniques and did not use the Earth Spirit Pearl, but instead used her own spiritual power and the spiritual power of the Earth Vein to support the [Nine Yi Profound Earth Barrier], suffered a setback.
The murky Ghost Qi began to invade her body along the Earth Vein and spiritual power.
Gods cannot tolerate Turbid Qi, which is why they reside high in the divine realm.
Turbid Qi is a power that only demons and monsters can control.
"My hair." Xue Jian discovered that her hair was growing wildly.
"You're Demonization," Jing Tian said.
He was surprised and amused; he hadn't expected that the game version of Xue Jian would encounter the same situation as the TV Series Version after coming into contact with the Turbid Qi.
Hair is like the leaves of a tree, changing with the seasons.
There's a reason why Xue Jian in the TV Series Version often wears a hat: underneath the hat is a receding hairline resembling that of a balding middle-aged man.
"How could I?" Xue Jian removed the [Nine Yi Profound Earth Barrier], and her hair stopped growing wildly.
The pervasive yin energy in the surroundings was not a major problem for Jing Tian and the others.
Even without the [Nine Yi Profound Earth Barrier], no ghosts dared to approach the four people carrying demons and immortal beasts.
"You possess divine qualities, making you particularly susceptible to becoming a demon or monster when exposed to Turbid Qi," Jing Tian said.
"Just now, Sister Xue Jian, your aura was very similar to that of the Ancient Vine Demon," the little monkey interjected.
"A tree spirit?" Xue Jian realized.
"You should be glad it's not autumn or winter now."
Jing Tian's words confirmed Xue Jian's suspicions. She instantly pictured her own bald head and exclaimed, "No!"
"As long as you maintain more pure energy in your body, you won't encounter such trouble," Jing Tian said. "Besides, you're just not quite used to the spiritual power in your demon form yet. Once you adapt, you can easily maintain your youthful appearance and prevent hair loss throughout the four seasons."
The four of them had arrived at the gates of hell.
There is also a ghost market near the Ghost Gate, where the yin energy is the strongest. It seems to be the best place in the hearts of ghosts, and it is also the most lively.
The ghosts who set up stalls are also the strongest.
The enormous eyes formed by the ghostly flames of the Bone Gate did not react to Jing Tian and the others' approach.
But the owners of these stalls
"Hehehe, a living person!"
"Seems to be a cultivator, very nourishing!"
"Still a beauty!"
"It seems we're going to break in." Xue Jian was actually quite happy, as the image of her bald head that she couldn't shake off seemed to be fading away.
"Such dense Yin energy. The spiritual power within my body... again..." Long Kui had automatically transformed into her black-haired form, and the pitch-black Ghost Qi expanded like a dark cloud that blotted out the sky.
The ghosts approached, eager to fight.
"Oh no, it's an ancient Old Ghost!"
"My grandfather's eldest uncle's maternal grandmother's daughter, where did this ghost king come from!"
"Run!"
Before the goods on the stall could be packed up, the ghosts fled into the gates of hell.
The once bustling ghost market suddenly became eerily Qing Leng.
"Ten thousand years? That's all slander!" Long Kui's face darkened. "I'm not even five thousand years old!"
"It's not all bad," Xue Jian teased. "At least it's much quieter now. No more fighting. And..." Xue Jian walked up to a stall, "The quality of these luminous pearls is simply amazing!"
The benefits brought by the appearance of the black-haired Long Kui are not limited to these.
When a mortal enters the Ghost Realm, their physical body remains in the human world.
Although Jing Tian and the others were not quite able to enter with their physical bodies, things from the Yang Realm were particularly noticeable in the Ghost Realm, like lighting a lamp in the darkness.
Long Kui's Ghost Qi directly formed a small ghostly realm.
They are cut off from everything around them, as if they are in another world.
"Are we invisible?" Xue Jian waved her hand in front of a starving ghost.
The senses of the living are most sensitive, and the ghost is eating all the time. It is currently starving and eating dirt, and is completely unaware of Xue Jian's movements.
"Squeak, squeak," Hua Ying reminded her.
The group looked in the direction she was pointing.
A fully armed guard of charred corpses, riding flaming bone horses, surrounded a emaciated ghost that looked like a starving man.
"That's... Zhao Wuyan." Xue Jian realized.
"He is the ruler of the Molten Hell," Zi Xuan said. "That means the direction he came from is the direction we need to go."
[Molten Hell] is the real name of [Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss] under the Fire Ghost King.
"Why bother looking at the direction he came from?" Long Kui, with her black hair, sneered. In this state, she equally rejected everyone except Jing Tian. "We just need to go to the place where the fire elemental energy is strongest. That city is in lava, and the ghosts inside are all fire-resistant, like charred corpses and fire spirits."
"You're probably so obsessed with Xu Changqing that you've lost your mind."
"I have no relation to Changqing anymore," Zi Xuan said.
"Xu Changqing has arrived." Jing Tian gestured for silence, then flicked his finger to part the ghost realm, recklessly spreading his aura throughout the Ghost Realm.
Not far away.
Amidst the charred corpse guards and fiery maidens surrounding the lava throne, a tall woman embracing a man in a red robe raised her exaggeratedly long, fiery red eyebrows.
"The breath of a living person."
The man in the red robe struggled to get up.
"Don't worry, my little sir, I will save them," the woman comforted him.
The next moment, the Dadi cracked.
A winding river of lava burst forth from the earth, its ever-rising bubbles engulfing the charred corpse guards and the fire-wielding maidens.
Then a giant wave surged up, and the throne landed on top of it, with the scenery on both sides flashing by.
"What a grand display!" Xue Jian couldn't help but exclaim.
Because Jing Tian had just broken through the Ghost Realm.
Suddenly the Dadi split open, and a bright red light spread toward them.
Upon closer inspection, they discovered that a giant wave, composed of lava, had risen from the Dadi, and the Fire Ghost King, embracing Xu Changqing and her throne, was at the top of the wave.
Even after the giant wave disappeared, the Lava Throne remained suspended in mid-air.
The dissipating waves transformed into well-equipped, ornately dressed guards of charred corpses and fiery maidens.
The Dadi healed once more.
"Young master, you've really put me in a difficult position. I'm afraid I'm the one who needs saving." The Fire Ghost King's pupils contracted as she sensed the power of the people before her.
She immediately stood up, landing somewhat flustered, "Have you all come here to exorcise demons?"
"I have one condition: can you all spare my young master?"
"He is from the Shu Mountain Immortal Sword Sect."
"I can offer you the [Fire Spirit Pearl]."
"Foolish me, even if I destroy you, the Spirit Pearl will still be mine," Jing Tian joked.
"Ah Tian, don't scare people," Xue Jian said. "Don't worry, Ah Tian was just joking. Master Xu is our friend."
She had just noticed that even when the Fire Ghost King was in a hurry to pull off the Fire Spirit Pearl hanging around Xu Changqing's neck, his movements were very gentle, and he didn't forget to tidy up his disheveled clothes.
Most importantly, the Fire Ghost King did not change his mind because of Jing Tian's appearance.
This shows that the Fire Ghost King was not just lustful, nor was he just playing around; he was sincere.
"Changqing's friend." The tall woman, nearly three meters tall, with exaggerated nails, eyelashes, and eyebrows, all fiery red like her hair, immediately relaxed.
The Dadi cracked open, and another stream of magma gushed out.
She took out a mirror from inside, and while looking at herself, she carefully touched up her makeup. "Changqing's friend is here. Did I not rudely do that? Oh no, my third eyelash on the right!"
"You're already perfect." Zi Xuan's voice revealed a hint of relief.
Although this woman was very tall, not very beautiful, and had unusual taste—Changqing's neck only reached her knees—her heart for Changqing was genuine.
"Zi Xuan, and all of you?" Xu Changqing exclaimed in surprise.
"What?" The Fire Ghost King seemed to have heard of Zi Xuan's name. She hurriedly ordered the maid behind her, "Quickly, quickly bring me my Flame Lipstick! I can't lose to her! Hurry!"
"Zi Tong." Xu Changqing stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and grasped the Fire Ghost King's fingertips. "Zi Xuan and I have no chance anymore. You are my only wife."
He turned to look at Zi Xuan, with a hint of apology, "I am already married to Zi Tong, and there is no possibility for us to be together in this lifetime."
"You saved my life. As long as you don't make me leave Zi Tong, I'll agree to any of your requests."