Yang He let out a muffled groan as the skin pouch began to seize the Pupil Ghost's Yin energy.
The two ghosts were unable to suppress the skin pouch's transformation into a ghost.
His three Yang Fires rapidly dwindled.
His breathing grew weak. If he did not take action, his temple attendant identity would likely be another short-lived disguise.
Yang He's attempts at the Inner Elixir Art all ended in failure. On a whim, he activated the Blood Refining Three Hearts Method and refined the skin pouch as a Yin artifact.
"Eh? This might work?!"
The Blood Refining Three Hearts Method was a rudimentary artifact-refining technique, yet it proved exceptionally effective against the skin pouch.
The skin pouch's transformation into a ghost was interrupted, and it began evolving into a sinister Yin artifact instead. However, his blood was being depleted at a visible rate, making his heart pound like a drum.
This also allowed Yang He to figure out the skin pouch ghost's information.
Skin Painting Ghost A ghost born when resentment clings to the skin pouch of someone who suffered the torture of being flayed alive. It constantly seeks living people and strips away their skin.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Yang He could not stop coughing. Excessive blood loss had left his mouth and throat parched.
Unlike the Dao child with the Corpse Liberation Immortal Body, the temple attendant was ultimately just an ordinary mortal, completely unable to withstand three ghosts wreaking havoc inside him.
When Miaoyin saw Yang He escape the burning, she was not particularly surprised, only somewhat regretful.
"Yang He, what a pity."
"I don't know whether your luck is good or bad. You survived the fire punishment by chance, but failed to become a Living Immortal. From now on, serve the Living Immortals with me."
Yang He asked hoarsely, "What is a Living Immortal?"
"Yang He, you have only just entered the temple, so you do not understand. Immortality is what makes one a Living Immortal. They are the immortal entities worshipped by Five Lights Temple throughout the generations. Many outsiders covet them, yet none have ever touched even a fraction of them."
Miaoyin fed Yang He a pill, and the medicinal power it produced suppressed his injuries.
"Every temple attendant only gets one chance at the fire punishment. Sigh."
He no longer paid attention to Yang He and instead turned his attention to the other temple attendants. After all, seven or eight of them were still struggling desperately.
Yang He glanced at Elder Xuanzhao outside the door and tentatively drew external Yin energy into his body.
Since Xuanzhao showed no reaction, Yang He did not hesitate further. Before long, the Pupil Ghost used the remnants of the fire punishment to generate its first Yin Meridian.
The skin pouch Yin artifact was successfully refined.
Skin Pouch Dharma Robe A Low-grade Yin Artifact refined by Yang He. It was originally a Skin Painting Ghost on the verge of being born, leaving its resentment unspent. When worn, it conceals Yin energy, but the wearer must constantly endure the corrosion of resentment.
Yang He noticed that the Skin Pouch Dharma Robe was only a thin layer over his body's surface. Even if he took it off, he would not become a flayed man with exposed flesh. His skin would merely be dark and covered in scars.
He sat half-reclined against the wall. With the Pupil Ghost there, the drawback of the Skin Pouch Dharma Robe was not obvious. Only a faint chill wandered through his internal organs.
Yang He remained impassive as he watched the temple attendants turn into charred corpses one after another, burned alive.
Miaoyin's expression grew solemn. No Living Immortal had appeared after so long.
"That is impossible. There should be at least one or two Living Immortals. If there is no Living Immortal suppressing the East Hall, something will happen sooner or later."
"I fear Five Lights Temple will suffer disaster before the Stone Crone delivers it."
With Spiritual Vision enhancing his five senses, Yang He could hear Miaoyin's muttering and immediately felt that Five Lights Temple was utterly doomed.
Who knew how much time passed.
Daylight was about to break over the horizon.
Something unusual suddenly arose within the hall. Miaoyin's chest heaved violently as two charred corpses, sitting cross-legged in meditation, ceased moving.
Firelight flickered between the charred corpses' brows. To others, it was practically an auspicious sign sent from heaven.
Yet Yang He found it indescribably eerie.
A ghost face was sealed within each charred corpse. They were far less terrifying than the one inside Elder Xuanzhao, but the Living Immortals were already beginning to take shape.
Yang He suspected Five Lights Temple was a ghost-breeding ground for some immortal of the Jiejiao.
As he recalled, the Jiejiao accepted all without discrimination, and its disciples had done plenty of wicked deeds. Only several dozen deaths truly counted as merciful restraint.
"Yang He, give me a hand and wipe the filth off the Living Immortals' surfaces."
"Okay."
Yang He's injuries no longer affected his movements. He used his robe to wipe away the filth bit by bit, only to reveal skin with the texture of bronze.
His expression froze in astonishment. Living people had actually turned into statues overnight.
"Yang He, this is what Living Immortals are like. They only come alive at midnight. Look, Elder Xuanzhao has also turned into a statue and entered a fasting state."
Outside the door, Xuanzhao stood motionless beneath the rising sun, likewise taking on the texture of bronze.
Xuanzhao looked solemn and dignified, yet every gesture carried an irrepressible chill. With the morning sun rising behind him, the Living Immortal looked like a Buddha reborn.
Cold sweat soaked Yang He's clothes.
How terrifying would Empress Nuwa's statue become after it was consecrated?
Yang He's scalp went numb. Having faced the Ghost in the Stone firsthand, he now understood its terror. What festival was this, supposedly meant to pray for the people's blessings? It was more likely going to be a carnival of demons!
He secretly regretted not prying more information out of Li Feng earlier.
Perhaps he could have figured out the plot's direction in this bizarre version of Investiture of the Gods.
"Someone!"
Miaoyin summoned more than a dozen temple attendants and had them carry the Living Immortals to the various halls, repeatedly warning them to ensure the Living Immortals did not come into contact with filth.
Yang He discovered that most of the temple attendants had never undergone the fire punishment.
After seeing his appearance, the ordinary temple attendants all treated him respectfully. They obeyed Miaoyin's every word even more readily, as though he represented the Living Immortals.
"Yang He, come with me. From now on, you will live in a side room of the East Hall."
Miaoyin explained, "Ordinary temple attendants will only die if they come into contact with Living Immortals. Only attendants like you and me can communicate with them."
"But remember this: unless absolutely necessary, never leave your room at night."
Yang He swallowed. "Will the Living Immortals hurt people?"
"They do more than hurt people."
Miaoyin said no more on the matter and continued, "Five Lights Temple has seven attendants in total. As long as you do not leave the temple, there is no problem. Yang He, you may have the temple attendants bring you food whenever you wish."
As he spoke, the two had already arrived at the eastern halls.
The doors and windows of the halls were tightly shut.
Through the Pupil Ghost, Yang He saw two or three hundred grotesque Living Immortals inside the hall.
The Living Immortals sat cross-legged atop lotus platforms. More than a dozen of them were covered in rivets, seemingly nailed forcibly to their platforms with chisels.
"Nothing usually happens. Even when the Living Immortals awaken, they merely cultivate inside the temple."
Miaoyin stopped before a separate room. "You will stay here. We will talk again once Empress Nuwa's stone statue arrives."
Yang He nodded, naturally more than happy with the arrangement.
The Pupil Ghost was only three Yin Meridians away from completing its Weak Ghost stage. With the dense Yin energy of the Lore World, it should not take long to reach it.
Yang He pushed open the side room's door. The room contained only ordinary furnishings.
"Oh, right."
Miaoyin added, "Madam Yin of Chentang Pass will be resting at Five Lights Temple for several days soon. I heard that a Daoist from Qianyuan Mountain will be accompanying her."
"Yang He, be careful. Do not offend the children of immortals."
With that, he hurried away.
Yang He's expression shifted uncertainly. Sure enough, nothing could remain uneventful forever in the Lore World, and Nezha could not possibly stay quietly inside the womb.
He could already foresee how much trouble would soon come knocking.
"Cultivate."
"Either way, I have already made enough from this roleplay."
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