Investigating the Ghost Emperor! The Yin Spring and Human World's Scheme

Inside a classically styled pavilion with double-eaved eaves.

Chen Dengming and Zuo Qiu Ling sat smiling in the center of the hall opposite each other, with several clever Foundation Establishment Realm disciples serving them as maids, bringing them brewed fragrant tea and fruits.

"This is a rare delicacy from the Xixiang Sect in the Southern Region, Xixiang Phoenix Dew Tea. Elder Zuo, please!" Chen Dengming gestured for him to enter.

Zuo Qiu Ling looked slightly surprised. He picked up the teacup, smelled the aroma, and nodded slightly. "After I came to the Four Regions, I also studied the customs and styles of the various sects in the Four Regions in detail. The Xixiang Sect in the Southern Region used to be famous throughout the Four Regions for its Xixiang Phoenix Dew Spirit Tea."

Legend has it that this gate once housed two phoenixes with the bloodline of the phoenix. Every year when the phoenixes flew west, they would land on the sacred parasol tree behind the gate and weep incessantly.

Its tears fell on the sacred Wutong Tree incredibly fragrant. When ground into tea, the leaves were imbued with Spiritual Qi energy, making them a rare and precious commodity.

He paused, looked at Chen Dengming with a smile, and said, "Sect Leader Chen, you're too kind. Please!"

Chen Dengming nodded, took a sip of tea, closed his eyes and savored it for a moment, without rushing to reveal his purpose.

Zuo Qiu Ling knew that he had designs on him, and at this moment he was also considering and thinking it over.

After a short while, the two talked again, and Chen Dengming sighed.

"This Xixiang Phoenix Dew Tea is now a rare find, because the Xixiang Sect was completely wiped out in the war, and it is unknown whether the phoenix survived."

I brought several ounces of Xixiang Fenglu Tea with me this time, because I didn't want this rare and precious tea to be enjoyed by myself alone. Sharing is worse than enjoying alone.

Zuo Qiu Ling smiled politely and said, "Sect Leader Chen, I have already been fortunate enough to taste this rare spiritual tea. You should keep the rest for yourself. If I were to accept it, wouldn't that be taking away someone else's treasure?"

Chen Dengming smiled faintly, "To be honest, besides enjoying tea, I also want to talk about the damage this war has caused to the four regions."

Especially in the Southeast Two Regions, the Buddha Venerable Putuo in the southern region doesn't even care about the lives of cultivators and mortals within his own sect. The deaths of cultivators in the southern region are actually more serious than those in the eastern region.

Zuo Qiu Ling frowned and said, "It seems you have a problem with that Buddha Venerable Putuo, Sect Leader Chen? What brings you here?"

"Of course, Chen wouldn't dare to have any objections to Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord like the Buddha Venerable Putuo."

Chen Dengming shook his head with a wry smile, then got straight to Open Door point, "Elder Zuo, as you know, the one who severely injured Senior Dongfang was a master of the Ghost Dao."

However, the reason that master of the Ghost Path stopped was because the Living Buddha Venerable of Sumeru Island intervened.

After communicating with the Senior Dongfang, I became very curious.

Since the Living Buddha Venerable was willing to intervene to stop that demonic Spirit Transformation, why did the Vajra Putuo Gate, including Sumeru Island, choose to stand idly by during the war?

I believe the only way to find out the connection is to investigate Below the Yin Spring."

Zuo Qiu Ling frowned even deeper, gazing intently at Chen Dengming with a profound look, and said, "Sect Leader Chen, is this your intention, or Senior Dongfang's intention? Or perhaps, is this the intention of your ancestor?"

Chen Dengming smiled calmly, "This is just my personal opinion."

Zuo Qiu Ling was skeptical.

Based on his understanding of Chen Dengming was extremely cautious and steady in his actions, and even when he was arrogant, he always had absolute confidence.

For someone who might be a highly accomplished Daoist to conduct an in-depth investigation is like an ant trying to investigate an elephant—it's completely unlike the other person's cautious and meticulous approach.

"Sect Leader Chen, you must understand that the war is basically over now. What kind of contact that Ghost Dao expert had with the Living Buddha Venerable is not something we can inquire about."

"I know, but Elder Zuo, you also know that not asking doesn't mean there's no threat."

To understand the identity of that master of the Ghostly Path and the many potential threats, we must delve deep into the Below the Yin Spring to uncover any clues.

Zuo Qiu Ling took a deep breath, put down his teacup, and his mind was filled with turbulent thoughts.

That mysterious master of the Ghost Path is indeed a great threat and a destabilizing factor.

The Counterattack Cultivator Alliance had not been without records of this matter and had prepared measures to implement.

However, all these measures seemed so pale and powerless when faced with a powerful enemy capable of Dongfang Huayuan.

Therefore, the investigation can only rely on the many Spirit Transformation cultivators on our side to discover things on their own. So far, many amazing secrets have been discovered, but there has been no leap forward.

Chen Dengming's suggestion is also reasonable.

If one were to venture into the Below the Yin Spring to search for clues about that master of the Ghostly Path, one might make many discoveries.

This is precisely what one's own Nascent Spirit Transformation are not comfortable doing.

Because the world Below the Yin Spring is the realm of the dead, Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord enters below becomes Non-My Dao Cultivator.

It's like the Yin Spring Ghost Lord coming to the Human World; without the advantage of terrain, the danger is too great.

Aside from the Yin Spring Ghost Lord, no normal Nascent Soul True Lord would be willing to go down to such a hellish place to seek death, so no one thought of going down to the Below the Yin Spring to investigate anything.

What are your plans?

"I have a friend who is currently Below the Yin Spring, and Elder Zuo, you should know that the Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord is still maintaining an unofficial business relationship with me."

Half an incense stick later.

Chen Dengming and Zuo Qiu Ling, having thoroughly enjoyed themselves, emerged from the pavilion and, accompanied by a group of Golden Foundation Establishment cultivators, toured the City of All Immortals.

This attracted many cultivators from the city to come and admire the prowess of the Fighting Longevity Lord.

Nascent Soul True Lord are always elusive, appearing only briefly and rarely seen. They travel at altitudes close to the Spiritual Qi Wind Layer, making them extremely difficult for ordinary Qi Refining or even Foundation Establishment cultivators to encounter.

Not to mention figures like Chen Dengming and Zuo Qiu Ling, who are extremely renowned and considered formidable even among Nascent Soul True Lord.

In an instant, the streets of the City of All Immortals were bustling with people, and the skies above had been completely sealed off by patrolling cultivators to maintain order, prohibiting anyone from taking to the air.

Groups of cultivators gathered in various areas of the city below, looking up at the sky, eagerly anticipating what was to come.

"Why haven't they arrived yet? Could it be that Fighting Longevity Lord isn't coming over? I've admired this senior for a long time. I've heard that he killed ten enemy Nascent Soul True Lord, and his battle achievements are outstanding."

An ordinary-looking Foundation Establishment cultivator said anxiously.

"He might not really be coming. I heard he's only here to talk to Elder Zuo about something. He's a very low-key person. I didn't even see him at the last celebration party, even though I was quite far away."

Another cultivator murmured.

"Being too low-key isn't good either, even if..."

Before the other person could finish speaking, someone suddenly shouted excitedly.

"Quick, look, they're here!"

Everyone immediately looked up at the sky, their hearts pounding.

Several figures shrouded in subtle arcs of light flew in from afar, their faint spiritual power sending shivers down one's spine.

Many cultivators looked up, their eyelids twitching and their legs going weak.

All I could see was a blurry figure in that faint glimmer of light; I couldn't make out any features, or rather, I was too afraid to look directly at it, which blurred my vision and made my mind tremble.

Even though Chen Dengming and Zuo Qiu Ling deliberately restrained their spiritual power.

However, the combined pressure from the two Nascent Soul and the several Golden Core Cultivator surrounding them instantly silenced the air, creating a tense atmosphere.

Many people could only faintly hear the laughter and conversation coming from the air, sounding so clear yet so blurry and distant.

Some people mustered up their courage and looked up, only to see the confident profile of a handsome man with white hair at his temples and a radiant aura.

The other person seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned their head to look, their bright gaze shining like a lamp that instantly illuminated the heart.

The group of secretly watching cultivators were instantly struck dumb, their breathing becoming labored, as if all their thoughts and secrets had been seen through in an instant.

This feeling is clearly the kind of feeling that cultivators have when they look at mortals.

It wasn't until Chen Dengming and the others left that many cultivators recovered.

"Phew—terrible, so terrifying! Just one glance from him and my mind went completely blank."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator standing at the entrance of the Marketplace was still shaken, his hand unconsciously gripping the signboard beside him.

"Such an opportunity is rare. Nascent Soul True Lord are rarely this close to us in real life. After this close contact, our minds will be more focused, and we won't be too shocked when facing the spiritual power of powerful cultivators in the future."

"Indeed, this is because the war has just ended and we are still in the City of All Immortals, which is why we are fortunate enough to see the figures of Nascent Soul True Lord coming and going."

"Under normal circumstances, how could one possibly have such an Immortal Destiny encounter with a master?"

"Am I now considered Immortal Destiny by many cultivators?"

Outside the city, Chen Dengming smiled wryly, reflecting on his past cultivation journey, and indeed it was true.

Back when he was Candidate Dao Son, he had never even seen a Nascent Soul cultivator, only a Spirit Transformation cultivator. How could an ordinary cultivator have such Immortal Destiny?

He smiled and asked Zuo Qiu Ling to stay, then made a hand seal to summon his spirit boat, flew aboard, and quickly fled away.

The purpose of this trip to meet with Zuo Qiu Ling has been achieved.

The other party has agreed to allow him to use some resources to conduct a resource exchange transaction with the Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord, in exchange for the Yin Spring Ghost Lord to move freely in the world Below the Yin Spring.

However, all these supplies must be provided by the Counterattack Cultivator Alliance and cannot be selected by him privately.

That's enough.

He only needs to offer Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord a little something to appease the old ghost, which will buy Zhu Xun more time to develop.

Otherwise, if this old ghost were to turn on him, it wouldn't matter to him, Zhu Xun's plan to develop his dominance Below the Yin Spring would be unable to proceed smoothly.

As for investigating that mysterious, seemingly Dao-merging Ghost Dao expert, Chen Dengming wasn't that suicidal; it was merely a verbal promise to Zuo Qiu Ling.

However, while he wouldn't investigate the mysterious Ghost Dao expert, he would instruct Zhu Xun to collect information and legends about the Ghost Emperor Yuan from Below the Yin Spring.

The Unseen told him that the powerful ghost cultivator might have some connection with Ghost Emperor Yuan.

Collecting stories and rumors about the Ghost Emperor Yuan is not considered a sensitive or attention-grabbing matter.

Because there are so many ghosts in the Below the Yin Spring who worship the Ghost Emperor, it is commonplace to inquire about the legends of the Ghost Emperor.

Even if they ultimately fail to achieve their goal—for example, discovering that Ghost Emperor Yuan is not the mysterious Ghost Dao expert and that their investigation went in the wrong direction—at least they still obtained this result.

"Zuo Qiu Ling agrees. It seems that the Counterattack Cultivator Alliance is indeed unaware of the identity of that mysterious ghost path expert."

"The reason I was able to persuade Zuo Qiu Ling this time was probably because my mention of the Vajra Putuo Gate and Sumeru Island successfully stirred up his emotions."

Chen Dengming stood at the bow of the boat, deep in thought, letting the spirit boat beneath him head towards Huarong Road, which was closer to Nanxun.

He did a lot of research in order to persuade Zuo Qiu Ling to lift the ban.

Knowing that when Zuo Qiu Ling sought help from Sumeru Island in the past, the Venerable One sent by Sumeru Island had refused on the grounds that "saving them would only incite more killing," the relationship between the two sides was very strained at the time.

Therefore, he started by targeting the Vajra Putuo Gate.

If Zuo Qiu Ling were even slightly curious about the relationship between the Living Buddha Venerable and the mysterious ghost cultivator, she would definitely hesitate in investigating this matter and would not refuse outright.

Now it turns out he was right.

Soon, half a day later.

Chen Dengming then arrived at the Yin Ghost Mountain Range.

This place is still sealed off by the great sealing formation he set up in the past, which has also caused the once eerie and ghostly Yin Ghost Mountains to disappear, leaving the remaining peaks outside the Formation Life Force.

At noon, golden sunlight shone on the verdant mountains, and beautiful little flowers grew on the cliffs, swaying like butterfly wings, which was very charming.

There were even traces of monks who had built huts and lived here.

Chen Dengming looked surprised. After scanning the area with his Divine Sense and finding no one there, he stopped trying to expel the person.

No one is allowed to live outside of this Yin Ghost Mountain.

It may seem like the feng shui has improved now, but it's just an illusion created by Formation.

As the head of the Formation, he still holds the Formation command to control it.

Chen Dengming flew over, made a hand seal, and issued a formation command, instantly drawing Spiritual Qi from all directions.

"Fellow Daoist, I have obtained the Soul Mussel Pearl. I am now able to recover one of my soul fragments. Thank you for your efforts over the years."

Soul House, the Little Array Spirit spoke with some emotion and gratitude.

"Ling'er, you and I have been through thick and thin together, relying on each other for survival. Why are you being so polite with me?"

Chen Dengming smiled.

Seeing the ripples of the Formation opening Open Door, he immediately entered the array with flowing sleeves, quickly flew over the steep and rugged mountain range, and arrived outside the Yin Qi Yin Cave, sending a Divine Sense into the Yin Cave.

Before long, the Yin Spring within the Yin Cave rippled outwards, releasing wisps of cold air and a chilling, oppressive wave of Divine Sense.

"Longevity Sect Leader, you actually know to come see me. It seems you haven't forgotten your promise to me."

Chen Dengming smiled faintly, bowed, and said, "I am not one to break my word. It seems that Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord does not yet understand me."

"Hmph! Don't spout any hypocritical platitudes."

The Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord was not buying it. His voice was hoarse and cold as he said, "I have already learned that the war in your Human World is over, and those Outer Domain Evil Cultivators have been defeated."

And you, Master Chen, have made an even greater name for yourself, but now that the war is over, why are you still delaying in fulfilling your promise to me?"

Chen Dengming spread his hands. "Isn't this me already here? I've come here precisely to discuss cooperation with you. Otherwise, why do you think I'd come?"

"Hehehe, don't you know why you came here?"

The Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord said calmly, "Your fellow Daoist and his two Ghost Bride are currently in my residence."

They were indeed capable, managing to destroy the Undercurrent Old Ghost and even obtain the Soul Mussel Pearl from him.

"You came here not to trade with me, but to take them away, right?"

"Old fox." Chen Dengming's eyes turned slightly cold.

He could only learn about Zhu Xun's condition by entering the Human Heart Hall.

I wonder how Zhu Xun and the two Ghost Bride are doing now.

However, it was also he who instructed Old Zhu to cover the two Ghost Bride' return to Starfall Ghost City and then back to the Human World.

It is indeed possible that Zhu Xun and the two Ghost Bride are currently in Starfall Ghost City.

But this possibility is very small. Not only did he warn him before, but Old Zhu himself is not stupid and would not let people completely wipe him out.

Even if the worst-case scenario did occur, he had anticipated and prepared for it. The trading authority he had secured with Zuo Qiu Ling was precisely to deal with the Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord's potential betrayal.

"Starfall."

Chen Dengming's tone turned cold, "I have come here today to conduct the first transaction with you regarding the exchange of the first batch of supplies, so that we can reach a complete cooperation agreement."

But what you're showing now isn't sincerity, it's hostility."

"Oh?"

Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord was skeptical, then sneered, "We ghost cultivators value interests and reality most. You want me to show sincerity, but you've already delayed me for too long."

You say you want to reach an initial deal? Fine, then bring out the resources of your Human World that will satisfy me.

"If you can't produce it, I'll gladly accept the Soul Mussel Pearl, your brother, and his wife as interest for all these years."

"Damn it, that Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord is too treacherous!" Soul House, the Little Array Spirit was furious and very angry.

Chen Dengming remained calm and said indifferently, "The supplies are en route and will arrive in just a few days. Ghost Lord has waited all these years, surely he can wait a few more days?"

"Very well, I'll wait for you a few more days."

Chen Dengming snorted, no longer bothering with pretense, and flew back into the mountains.

He needed to enter the Human Heart Hall to ascertain Zhu Xun's current situation.

The reaction of the Starfall Yin Spring Ghost Lord was exactly what he expected.

Fortunately, he had come prepared.

"Fellow Daoist, if you really make a deal with this old ghost, wouldn't you be aiding and abetting evil? This could cause a lot of trouble in the future."

Soul House, the Little Array Spirit couldn't help but offer a reminder.

Chen Dengming chuckled, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and sent a telepathic message: "It's alright. My current deal with him is simply exchanging time for space."

What we gained in return was space for Zhu Xun and me to develop; what we lacked was time to develop.

This old devil has plenty of time, but he doesn't have much room to grow.

As for the supplies in the trade, the supplies that Zuo Qiu Ling allocated from the Counterattack Cultivator Alliance wouldn't be given to this old ghost for free; they would only keep him in suspense.