What Ghost Stands Beneath the Hall, Accusing This Official

Who is speaking!

Zheng Que was startled, hurriedly looking around.

In the gray Wide Hall, ghostly winds surged, seemingly whipping up bursts of black mist that obscured his vision and cast the surroundings into chaos.

The Female Hanging Ghost, who had originally been standing in the distance, was now kneeling on the open ground beneath the Imperial Dais, her entire body trembling violently.

"My Lord, I am wronged!"

"Wronged..."

A fearful, robotic voice kept issuing from the Female Hanging Ghost.

Watching this highly abnormal scene, Zheng Que gradually regained his senses. It was the Female Hanging Ghost crying out for justice!

But what was going on here?!

Didn't Resentful Souls lack intelligence?

A Female Hanging Ghost that should have been mindless was suddenly crying out for justice here?

Thinking of this, Zheng Que tentatively asked, "What grievance do you have?"

His voice sounded like a muffled thunderclap, rumbling through the spacious hall, cold, deathly, and devoid of any emotion.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zheng Que couldn't help but freeze. His voice had changed!

Since entering the Dao, he had entered this decaying Wide Hall space many times, but this was the first time he had spoken here, which was why he hadn't noticed this anomaly before...

At this moment, the Female Hanging Ghost immediately replied in great terror, "I, I, I..."

After stuttering for a long time, the Female Hanging Ghost seemed to suddenly recall something and hurriedly said, "Reporting to My Lord, this humble woman was captured by an evil cultivator and became that evil cultivator's ghost servant."

"The evil cultivator is ruthless and devoid of humanity. This humble woman was coerced by him; even if I had the heart to be good, I was helpless."

"The one hundred and twenty-four lives that this humble woman hung from the trees were all caused by that evil cultivator's instructions. It has nothing to do with me at all!"

"That evil cultivator also has a master with profound magic power who is also a heinous criminal!"

"Please, My Lord, grant me justice. I am innocent!"

"I have never voluntarily harmed a single life!"

"That master and disciple are the true villains. They should be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, thrown into the Deep Frying Hell, the Steaming Hell, the Copper Pillar Hell, the Mountain of Knives, the Ice Mountain Hell, the Stone Crushing Hell, the Mortar and Pestle Hell, and the Dismemberment Hell..."

Listening to this, Zheng Que's expression suddenly became very strange. The evil cultivator the other party was talking about—could it be himself?

He had indeed captured her using the Ghost Controlling Technique, and he did have a master with powerful strength...

But he had only captured the other party during the day; what the hell did those one hundred and twenty-four lives have to do with him?

And Deep Frying Hell? Steaming Hell? Copper Pillar Hell?

Hmm...

This Female Hanging Ghost had come to him seeking justice, tried to pin the blame on him, and then suggested he punish himself...

How was she so clever?

Thinking this, Zheng Que immediately understood two things.

First, in this dilapidated Wide Hall space, not only was his voice different from reality, but his appearance, aura, and clothing must also be completely different!

Otherwise, no matter how stupid this Female Hanging Ghost was, she would never have asked him to throw himself into the Deep Frying Hell.

Second, the rumor that the Underworld did not exist in this world must be false!

This dilapidated Wide Hall space was very likely the long-lost Underworld. However, judging by the Life and Death Book in front of him, which had been torn until only nine pages remained, and the ruinous state of this great hall, the current Underworld was indeed as good as non-existent.

Besides that, this Female Hanging Ghost seeking justice from him likely mistook him for a Judge in the Underworld.

Thinking rapidly, Zheng Que immediately stepped into character and shouted angrily, "Audacious!"

"A mere Lonely Ghost and Wild Spirit, yet you dare to deceive this official? Your crimes are compounded!"

"The cultivator you speak of is kind-hearted, magnanimous, and has always accumulated virtue and performed good deeds. He is a person of pure gold and white jade quality."

"My divine eyes are unerring and observe the finest details; how can I allow a lowly wild ghost like you to frame and slander him!"

"To invert black and white and confuse right and wrong like this is truly a heinous crime, a life full of evil! You deserve to be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell: Deep Frying Hell, Steaming Hell, Copper Pillar Hell, Mountain of Knives, Ice Mountain Hell, Stone Crushing Hell, Mortar and Pestle Hell, Dismemberment Hell..."

Hearing this, the Female Hanging Ghost shuddered and hurriedly kowtowed, begging for mercy, "My Lord! This common woman will never dare again!"

"I beg you, my Lord, do not cast me into the Eighteen Levels of Hell! Please show mercy and give me a chance!"

"I will sincerely repent and never harm anyone again!"

Seeing the Female Hanging Ghost confess so readily, Zheng Que's expression remained unchanged. Of course, he couldn't actually do anything to her.

After all, given the current state of the Underworld, he was incapable of any substantial punishment.

Moreover, he was currently practicing the Ghost Controlling Technique; if he lost this Female Hanging Ghost, he would have to go out and catch another Resentful Soul...

Thinking of this, Zheng Que spoke again, "I can give you a chance to redeem yourself."

"The cultivator who captured you is kind-hearted and of high moral character, a person of pure integrity. He carries great fortune and has a limitless future."

"However, in six days, he will face a tribulation..."

"Assist that cultivator well and help him overcome his trials. By mending your faults and turning over a new leaf in this way, your punishment may be reduced!"

"However, if that cultivator dies, not only will you be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell forever, but the Deep Frying Hell, Steaming Hell, Copper Pillar Hell, Mountain of Knives, Ice Mountain Hell, Stone Crushing Hell, Mortar and Pestle Hell, and Dismemberment Hell... you will suffer every single one of them without exception!"

"Are you willing to accept?"

The Female Hanging Ghost immediately kowtowed in fear and trepidation, hurriedly saying, "This humble woman will strictly obey your orders, my lord! This humble woman thanks you for your grace!"

As she spoke, Zheng Que noticed that the yin energy pouring from his brow had been almost entirely absorbed by the Life and Death Book. Without hesitation, while the Female Hanging Ghost was still kowtowing and dared not look up, he secretly cast the Ghost Controlling Technique, turning her into a streak of blood-red light and drawing her back into his palm.

The next moment, the surrounding scene rippled like water. In the blink of an eye, the dilapidated Wide Hall faded away, and the familiar room appeared before him.

The slanting afternoon sun shone in through the window, casting long shadows on the floor. It was already late in the day.

Zheng Que looked around, and after confirming there was nothing unusual, he opened his palm.

A ball of blood-red light immediately escaped from his hand and hovered before him.

In an instant, it transformed into a slender, graceful figure. She appeared semi-transparent under the daylight, her long hair disheveled, her white robes like frost, standing in the air with a sinister aura.

Looking at the Female Hanging Ghost before him, Zheng Que immediately noticed something unusual.

The yin energy on this Female Hanging Ghost was now much, much stronger than it had been before entering the Underworld!

Moreover, she did not seem to fear the sunlight at all!

At this moment, the Female Hanging Ghost looked around and realized they were no longer in the Underworld. Her crimson eyes immediately locked onto Zheng Que, and she said coldly and haughtily, "Six days from now, you will face a great calamity."

"Only this lady can save you."

"Ignorant human brat, why aren't you quickly preparing a hundred scrubbed-clean living people for your lady to wet her throat!"