Upside-Down Myriad Books Mountain, Sage Silence Pool

Although he looked exactly like himself, Song Shuhang could tell upon closer inspection that the scholar was not him, but rather a part of him—his Spirit Ghost... Spirit Ghost that had been forcibly borrowed by that mysterious powerful being.

This is strange. Isn't this ancient well supposed to reveal one's hidden ambitions or desires? Why is it that I can see my own Spirit Ghost within it?

Could it be that the hidden ambition deep within my heart is to transform my Spirit Ghost into a powerful Confucian School cultivator? Then what about me? Where am I?

Am I just going to coast along, waiting to die, while Spirit Ghost takes my place as a champion of justice, ultimately bringing me fame and fortune? I just don't feel like... that's the kind of person I am.

Or perhaps this isn't some deep-seated ambition or desire, but rather something that actually happened?

If this really happened, and my connection with the Spirit Ghost had been severed, how could I have witnessed such a scene? Was it through the power of this 'ancient well' that I re-established my connection with the Spirit Ghost?

However, the visual angle of the picture is not from the 'Spirit Ghost's' perspective; it's entirely from the perspective of an observer.

As Shuhang pondered, the battle between the scholar-like Spirit Ghost and the demon in the ancient well scene had already begun.

It should be a very tough battle.

To be honest, Song Shuhang found it all very confusing.

All he could see was the scholar-like Spirit Ghost and the filthy demon standing opposite each other, staring intently at one another, with points of light constantly flashing between them.

Those spots of light seemed to be traces of a battle between the two.

But Song Shuhang couldn't see how the two fought at all.

However, in the vicinity between the two, a large number of demons were constantly dying.

These dead demons took on various forms, one of which resembled a human, with a full beard, wore peach-colored clothes, and was bound by a bright red belt...

Upon seeing this figure, Song Shuhang suddenly murmured, "Nine Nether Disciples?"

Although he had no memory of these Nine Nether Disciples, he felt like he had seen them somewhere before.

Is it lost memory?

If I had lost my memories—had I seen this demon on Mysterious Island before?

And so, the filthy demon and the scholar-disguised Spirit Ghost clashed in ways that Song Shuhang could not comprehend at all.

It's unclear how long the two sides remained locked in this stalemate, but suddenly, the filthy Demon Hair a sinister laugh.

Then, Song Shuhang saw the entire 'Nine Netherworld' turn into a viscous black liquid, which was poured into the filthy Demon Body, and the demon's aura continued to rise!

In contrast, the scrolls beside the Spirit Ghost dressed as a Confucian scholar, which were reciting the 'Sage's Voice,' began to burn. Before long, all the scrolls around him were completely burned away.

Song Shuhang's heart clenched, and a sense of foreboding welled up inside him.

The Spirit Ghost, dressed as a Confucian scholar, sighed softly, "It seems the time for it to end has come."

As they spoke, a figure emerged from the Spirit Ghost dressed as a Confucian scholar; it was none other than the 'Glazed Scholar' who had forcibly borrowed the Spirit Ghost's body.

At this moment, the killing intent and madness in his eyes had subsided considerably, and his face showed more resentment. If he had enough energy in his body, and if he had been given more time, he could at least have sealed and suppressed the demon before him.

Unfortunately, there aren't that many 'what ifs' in this world.

The Glazed Scholar stepped forward, and a huge scroll materialized around him. This scroll enveloped his body, and the Sage's Voice echoed, purifying the surrounding evil energy and striking the filthy demon.

Song Shuhang's Spirit Ghost was also enveloped by the scholar's power, and a Space Gate appeared beside the Spirit Ghost.

"Go back, go back to your master." The voice of the Glazed Scholar rang in the ears of the spirit of the Shuhang Spirit Ghost.

At the same time, Song Shuhang felt his body tremble slightly.

He reconnected with the Spirit Ghost —and sure enough, the scene he saw in the 'ancient well' wasn't some deep-seated ambition. Instead, it was a scene of the Glazed Scholar, who had taken over his body, entering the Nine Netherworld and battling against humans.

The great battle has reached its final stage, so the Glazed Scholar must send Song Shuhang's Spirit Ghost back.

The moment the connection with the Spirit Ghost was established, Shuhang sensed the Spirit Ghost's current state.

It hurts!

On the back of the Spirit Ghost were two extremely deep wounds, the pain of which was indescribable.

Song Shuhang's face turned deathly pale with pain.

Not only that, the Spirit Ghost was now as if it were trapped in filthy mud, feeling extremely uncomfortable. If it weren't for the last bit of power of the Glazed Scholar protecting it, the Spirit Ghost would have long been corrupted by the filthy mud and fallen into the ranks of demons!

Song Shuhang in so much pain that he was panting heavily.

At this moment, the spatial rift expanded, pulling the Spirit Ghost's body into it.

[I'm sorry, I originally intended to give you a satisfactory reward when I returned your Spirit Ghost after borrowing Spirit Ghost for so long. But now, everything I own has turned to ashes, and I really have nothing to give you as a reward. I may have to break my promise.] The voice of the Glazed Scholar was transmitted directly to Song Shuhang's ears through the Spirit Ghost.

Song Shuhang sighed softly. He had already received the reward. The energy transmitted back from the Glazed Scholar had allowed him to break through from the Subordinate Second Rank Realm to the Third-Grade Realm in one go. This reward was enough to pay for borrowing the Spirit Ghost.

Seemingly sensing Song Shuhang's thoughts, the Glazed Scholar turned his head and smiled slightly, "Ah, in that case... I can rest assured."

Having said that, the Space Gate completely enveloped the Spirit Ghost, and spatial teleportation began...

At this time, it was past midnight in China, and the next day had begun.

August 10th, Saturday, Daoist name: Scholar Seeking the Dao.

The Spirit Ghost entered the teleportation space, but Shuhang could still see the scene of 'Glazed Scholar' fighting against the demon.

"Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!" Just then, the filthy Nine Nether Demons roared wildly.

In an instant, the viscous black liquid transmitted from the Nine Netherworld, like a boundless ocean, was frantically injected into the Demon Body.

The entire 'Nine Netherworld Realm' acted as a backing for this 'demon'. With the support of this immense power, the demon broke through the limitations of its original realm in an instant and reached a higher realm!

This power of reinforcement has a time limit; it can only be maintained for a few breaths.

But for demons, that's enough.

Thousands of demonic claws emerged from the filthy demon's body, frantically bombarding the 'scroll' that the Glazed Scholar had conjured.

With a single strike, the scroll was completely destroyed.

At the same time, the thousands of demonic claws intertwined, and within them, a spell resembling a giant black sun was formed.

The Glazed Scholar stood with his hands behind his back, offering no defense, facing the giant black sun directly.

In fact, he no longer had any strength to resist; his remaining power was only enough to keep his body from dissipating.

He was not afraid of death... because he had been dead for a very, very long time.

Boom~~

A gigantic black sun descended, instantly engulfing the figure of the Glazed Scholar. The scholar's body turned into particles and dissipated into the Nine Netherworld.

At the center of his body, a glass-colored pen was revealed. This was the magical artifact that the Glazed Scholar possessed, a magical artifact of the Ninth-Grade Tribulation Immortal-level.

But under the terrifying power of that giant black sun, the glass-like pen shattered into pieces within an instant. Fragments flew in all directions...

That gigantic black sun was terrifying beyond compare. After swallowing the Glazed Scholar, it exploded. The power of the explosion filled the entire scene that Song Shuhang could see!

Even... the explosion of that giant black sun disregarded the limitations of space, its energy piercing into the void.

The Spirit Ghost being teleported by Song Shuhang was actually affected by the power of the giant black sun.

"Oh no!" Song Shuhang exclaimed.

The next moment, the explosive force of the black giant sun engulfed Shuhang's Spirit Ghost.

The Spirit Ghost was as if it had been stuffed into a mixer, wildly churned and kneaded into dough. Then, it felt as if a powerful force was pulling at the Spirit Ghost, trying to stretch it into noodles!

The entire process was accompanied by excruciating pain.

This excruciating pain, shared through the senses, was synchronized to Song Shuhang's body, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

Having already advanced to a higher-tier quality, the Spirit Ghost possessed intelligence comparable to that of a human. In the next moment, it decisively severed the sensory connection between itself and its original body, sparing the original body from such excruciating pain.

The sensory connection was severed, Song Shuhang gasped in pain. His contract with the Spirit Ghost was still intact, and he could sense the Spirit Ghost's current state.

A powerful force is pulling the Spirit Ghost away, threatening to drag it into an abyss.

But at this moment, the Spirit Ghost was powerless to resist.

"What should I do?" Song Shuhang clenched his fists.

Boom boom boom boom~~

The power of the black giant sun continued to shake space. During the explosion, a glass-like fragment, attracted by the aura emanating from the Spirit Ghost, landed on it.

Buzz~

When the glass-like shard came into contact with the Spirit Ghost, the aura of the Glazed Scholar reappeared briefly.

The remaining strength of the Glazed Scholar gave him a bitter laugh.

A moment later, his voice rang in the Spirit Ghost's ear.

[I'm sorry, young friend, I may not be able to successfully return your Spirit Ghost to you.]

[I never imagined I'd have to break my promise again.]

[The Upside-Down Myriad Books Mountain, the Sage Silence Pool...]

The Glazed Scholar seemed to want to reveal some information to Shuhang, but before he could finish speaking, explosions began to rang out around the Spirit Ghost.

Boom!!

The power of the explosion ultimately twisted into a force that transcended 'space'. That force coiled around the Spirit Ghost, like rolling Spirit Ghost, stretching and twisting it into a ball, dragging it into the abyss...

"No," Song Shuhang cried out in his heart.

But that terrible power still seized his Spirit Ghost and vanished.

Boom~~

Song Shuhang felt like his whole body was about to explode, and he collapsed to the ground...