After Qing Li's cultivation reached the fifth level of [Tongue-Pulling Hell], the rate at which her yin energy grew had clearly slowed. The howling yin winds beneath the hall gradually died down.
Before long, the yin energy surrounding the Female Hanging Ghost slowly dispersed. The commotion inside the great hall began to subside, and the black smoke drew back, revealing her figure. Her cultivation ultimately settled at the fifth level of [Tongue-Pulling Hell].
Watching this scene, Zheng Que immediately understood. Of the seven ghosts Qing Li had slain this time, she had killed four quickly, but had taken a long time to deal with the other three. Qing Li herself had also clearly been injured.
Those three ghosts must all have been at the fourth level of [Tongue-Pulling Hell]!
At this thought, he nodded slightly and was about to confer a title on Qing Li, but after thinking it over carefully, he suddenly felt something was off.
In the Underworld, a Yin Messenger was merely the lowest Yin Profession, a petty official at the very bottom.
Did appointing such a low-ranking official really require the dignified ruler of the Underworld to do it personally?
Wouldn't that make it obvious that his Underworld was some rinky-dink operation with nothing in it??
He couldn't confer the title on Qing Li under his identity as ruler of the Underworld!
With that thought, Zheng Que didn't hesitate any longer. While Qing Li was bowing to thank him, he immediately used [Ghost Controlling Technique] to draw her into his palm.
Then he gazed at the streams of black energy bubbling from his brow and waited quietly.
As the last wisp of black energy was absorbed by the [Life and Death Book], the scenery around him shifted, and Zheng Que returned to reality.
Darkness surrounded him, and the night outside the window was deep.
Zheng Que opened his palm and released Qing Li.
Realizing she was back in the real world, Qing Li showed no intention of wasting any time. She said outright, "Human brat, this granny's going out for a while!"
"Wait a moment," Zheng Que said immediately.
At this, Qing Li looked at Zheng Que in displeasure, seeming furious that this human brat was wasting her time.
Zheng Que looked at Qing Li, then extended two fingers and pointed at his brow.
As the Spirit Power within him circulated, a pattern resembling both a fish and an insect gradually appeared on his previously bare brow. It seemed like a talisman, filled with an ancient, timeworn air, and radiated dense yin energy and profound mystery.
At the sight of this pattern, Qing Li, who had been thoroughly impatient, immediately perked up.
She could sense with perfect clarity that this ancient, intricate symbol contained vast yin energy and mysteries. A deep instinct told her that this symbol would bring her tremendous benefits!
At that moment, Zheng Que said solemnly, "This is an Imperial Edict."
"It can confer a title on a ghost, making it a Yin Messenger of the Underworld."
Before Qing Li could say anything, he continued, "When I was unconscious just now, I had a dream. In it, a voice told me that I am the Person of Destiny, shouldering a mission. I must endure trial after trial before I can achieve enlightenment and become an immortal or deity."
"That Imperial Edict was given to me by that voice."
Hearing this, Qing Li came back to her senses. That nonsense about being the Person of Destiny, shouldering a mission, and achieving enlightenment as an immortal or deity... She didn't believe a word of it!
After all, she was the Ghost of Destiny, born to be a ghost, destined to become a ghost deity...
Those flattering words had to be something this shameless human brat had tacked on himself to make himself look good!
But that Imperial Edict looked like the real deal!
At this thought, Qing Li immediately said, "Then what are you waiting for, human brat? Hurry up and confer the title on this granny!"
Seeing that Qing Li clearly needed his help, yet still kept calling him "human brat," Zheng Que's face darkened. But he quickly composed himself.
He was alone right now. Letting Qing Li get the better of him with a few words was no big deal.
As long as Qing Li worked even harder to slay ghosts from here on out, everything would be fine!
So Zheng Que said no more. He pointed two fingers at his brow and circulated his spiritual energy. In an instant, a wisp of pure, pitch-black yin energy was drawn out from his brow.
The wisp of yin energy condensed into a solid form, like a dormant seed hovering between Zheng Que's fingers. It wriggled once, then instantly transformed into an ancient, timeworn symbol.
Qing Li stared intently at the symbol, an intense longing welling up in her crimson eyes.
At that moment, Zheng Que followed the information that had appeared in his mind earlier and gently pointed at Qing Li.
The symbol turned into a streak of dim light and shot into Qing Li's brow.
Qing Li stood perfectly still, her gaze vacant. In the blink of an eye, a pattern resembling both an insect and a bird appeared on her brow. The yin energy throughout her body rapidly expanded, contracted, expanded, and contracted. After doing so several times, it finally stabilized. Her yin energy was now more condensed and pure, as though it had undergone some kind of transformation.
The plain, thin, soft white robe she had worn also quietly changed. The fabric grew heavier and stiffer, and symmetrical floral patterns emerged on its unadorned surface. Two-inch-wide black trim appeared along the edges of the collar and sleeves. Her entire white dress seemed to have gone from everyday clothing to an official uniform, lending her a far more dignified air.
In addition, a green cord now hung at her waist, holding a small token. The token was pure black and radiated a cold, sinister chill. An ancient character, "Service," was carved into it.
It took a good while for Qing Li to gradually regain her senses. The pattern resembling both an insect and a bird on her brow slowly faded away.
The Female Hanging Ghost was no longer a translucent specter. Even from close up, she looked fully solid, with ample flesh and bone and long black hair cascading like a waterfall. A white ribbon neatly bound her hair atop her head, with a wooden hairpin stuck crosswise through it. She wore a white dress that looked like satin, standing with her sleeves gathered, tall and serene. The sinister chill that came from a ghost of many years had vanished without a trace. Aside from her somewhat pale complexion and still-crimson eyes, she was indistinguishable from a living person.
Feeling the earth-shaking change in her strength, Qing Li immediately laughed smugly. She spread her arms, admiring her current outfit and accessories, and praised him, "Human brat, you did well."
"This granny is very satisfied this time!"
Seeing Qing Li acting like a master praising her Ghost Servant, Zheng Que smiled faintly. He planned to make this Ghost Servant kowtow a few hundred more times after he entered the Underworld tomorrow.
Then he asked, "What's different about being a Yin Messenger compared to before?"
"Have you gained any new abilities?"
Qing Li was in high spirits. Without the slightest hesitation, she replied with a smile, "The Yin Profession of a Yin Messenger lets this granny sense all the other ghosts in [Tongue-Pulling Hell], no matter what methods they use to hide their auras."
"Besides, this granny can see what abilities those ghosts have and seal one of them."
"On top of that, from now on, the souls of all living beings this granny kills will go straight to the Un... to another world. It's the same with the yin energy of the ghosts she kills."
Before you continue