Faced with the five players' incessant questions, the flames in Soul Ferrying Envoy's pupils gradually flared up. Finally, he waved a hand, and a cloud of Black Mist appeared, enveloping the five of them and lifting them into the air.
"Do you know how the Ghost Overseer Commander stationed here died?" Soul Ferrying Envoy asked, hoping to get lucky.
The lead berserker struggled twice, realized he could not break free, and glanced speechlessly at his companions.
"What? Does a Mysterious Merchant have to show off his strength before doing business?"
"Ahem... Boss, I've never run into this before either. I don't know the procedure."
"Then... should we praise him a little to make him happy? Maybe he'll give us a discount?"
Hearing the players' conversation, Soul Ferrying Envoy completely gave up hope. With another wave of his hand, the Black Mist immediately churned and shredded all five of them within it.
When he saw their souls and soul power vanish inexplicably once more, Soul Ferrying Envoy fell into thought. Then his figure flashed, transforming into a black shadow as he sped toward the underworld.
Naturally, Bei Li, who had been monitoring the situation around the clock, noticed what had happened and swiftly reported it to Lu Wu.
"Looks like Shana sent someone to investigate. But what exactly is this Soul Ferrying Envoy?"
Bei Li rested her little chin on one hand as she sat at the computer desk, still chewing on snacks.
"Soul Ferrying Envoys hold the highest rank beneath Ghost Kings and Ghost Generals. They oversee the collection and submission of Yin spirits. Every Ghost King and Ghost General has a Soul Ferrying Envoy assigned beneath them. Their strength varies, and they are skilled in blood-sacrifice spells."
"Yin spirits? What are those?" Lu Wu asked curiously.
"They're basically like money in the real world. Ordinary people can't collect soul power at all, after all. Bei Qi has many areas that produce Yin spirits. Yin spirits differ from Initial Souls; they're more like a material. They can be used for cultivation or for crafting weapons and equipment. Anyway, they have plenty of uses."
Lu Wu nodded. "So these Ghost Kings and Ghost Generals don't occupy the underworld because this place doesn't produce Yin spirits?"
Bei Li stuffed a handful of snacks into her mouth and answered indistinctly, "Mmm~ That's right. Although the underworld is Bei Qi's capital, its resources are the most scarce."
Though he now knew Soul Ferrying Envoy's origins and purpose, Lu Wu had no idea how to deal with him. He could not help looking once again at Bei Li, the little glutton.
"I don't know either. Soul Ferrying Envoys can blend into shadows. With the players' current strength, it'll be hard for them to kill him~"
Seeing that even Bei Li did not know how to resolve this hidden threat, Lu Wu sank into thought.
At that moment, Bei Li pointed at the computer screen. "Wu, look. They're discussing it on the forum."
Lu Wu stepped forward and immediately saw the post the players had just made.
MetalBull: Can someone tell me why NPCs can be unreasonable too? I thought I'd gotten lucky and found a Mysterious Merchant, but I got nothing and was even killed. Can someone tell me why? I'm questioning my entire life right now.
Several in-game screenshots were attached below the post, and Soul Ferrying Envoy was clearly visible in them.
Where_is_Mundo: (facepalm) Bro, are you an idiot? That guy may look like a Mysterious Merchant, but what makes you think he is one? Didn't you see that he's a skeleton?
Soda_Water: Holy shit, bro, you actually ran into this guy too? My two buddies and I encountered him while taming beasts in Liuli District. This isn't some Mysterious Merchant. He's a subordinate of General Shana. You're seriously amazing, walking right up to him to die. Here, 666 for you.
My_CutieKing: Where? Where's Shana's subordinate? This mage has already leveled his divine skill to level 2. The day I summon an army is just around the corner. Let me take my Yin Soldier minions and slaughter him!
ArrogantWolf replied to My_CutieKing: The little mage upstairs is pretty full of himself, huh? How about a wild SOLO? I'll teach you how to behave with my greatsword.
My_CutieKing replied to ArrogantWolf: We mages are invincible in duels, the strongest, the most badass. We'll crush every brainless berserker. Hoping to run into you out in the wild so I can show you what swarm tactics mean.
SwordSkill_Master replied to My_CutieKing: "Stop bragging. Mages are strong now, but don't you know every version has its own gods? Once we change classes, one of us will beat a whole squad of you mages!"
Reading the players' comments, Lu Wu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Since mage skills had recently been unlocked, many mages who had long languished in the gutter had become extremely cocky. After all, with the Yin Soldier Summoning skill, sneaky mages really had become formidable in one-on-one fights out in the wild.
Just as he was about to keep browsing the players' forum discussions, Bei Li's expression suddenly changed.
"He's here. He's already reached the underworld!"
Hearing that, Lu Wu also immersed his consciousness in the divine artifact and observed through its connection to the underworld.
A black shadow slowly emerged near the underworld, then slipped inside.
Looking at the restored underworld before him, Soul Ferrying Envoy's heart was filled with fear.
But he did not believe it. He did not believe that the dead king was still alive. After all, he had witnessed that king's death with his own eyes. He even clearly remembered the aura of King of Beiqi's dissipating soul power.
So after pacing and struggling at the entrance for a long time, Soul Ferrying Envoy still gritted his teeth and chose to enter, intending to investigate.
After walking around once, Soul Ferrying Envoy was plunged into shock again.
Seeing with his own eyes that the destroyed outer buildings of the underworld had truly been restored to their original state, with even the tiniest marks exactly unchanged, made him truly believe that King of Beiqi had returned.
But he could not understand why, aside from the Sutra depository, all the other buildings were missing.
Naturally, that was because Lu Wu only had enough Soul Coins to restore the Sutra depository. He did not yet have enough Soul Coins to repair buildings such as the materials warehouse and equipment warehouse. Soul Ferrying Envoy clearly could not have imagined that.
As he watched Soul Ferrying Envoy wander endlessly through the underworld, Lu Wu suddenly had an idea. He then controlled the divine artifact and slowly condensed a figure within the underworld.
"Who is it?!" Sensing Yin energy suddenly gathering, Soul Ferrying Envoy abruptly turned his gaze toward a spot in the underworld.
"Who do you think I am?" A majestic voice came from the figure.
Dark clouds suddenly filled the sky. Massive Yin energy formed a tornado that continuously roared through the underworld, while the figure gradually became clear.
"King of Beiqi! No, impossible!" Soul Ferrying Envoy's mind shook violently, and his body began trembling uncontrollably.
After looking up at the Yin energy spiraling and howling through the sky, Soul Ferrying Envoy suddenly lowered his head and fell to his knees.
"Du Yan welcomes my king's return!"
"Do you know the consequences of betrayal?" Lu Wu said in a deep voice.
The voice echoed through the underworld via the Yin energy, causing the already terrified Soul Ferrying Envoy to tremble without end.
"This subordinate knows his crime. I am willing to die to atone for it. I only beg my king to remember my years of loyal service and not extract and refine my soul!" Soul Ferrying Envoy answered, trembling.
Hearing that, Lu Wu was dumbfounded. He had only suddenly thought of putting on a show, but he had not expected Soul Ferrying Envoy to be so easily frightened that he was ready to kill himself to atone.
Before you continue