Lone Souls and Wild Ghosts Enter the Palace

Shasha~

The wind blows, and the grass and trees sway.

This wind, however, was cold and chilly, making the birds and beasts in the Lin Zhong feel cold all over and their hearts filled with fear.

Not only birds and beasts, but even spirits and monsters that had awakened their Spirit Aperture and gained some cultivation felt a chill run down their spines when this wind blew against them.

The mountains and forests were dense, and several figures moved slowly. These were hunters who had entered the mountains to hunt, but they encountered a mountain peak falling from the sky, causing the mountain to shake. They were already on edge and hurriedly fled, but before they left the jungle, they were hit by a cold wind. Suddenly, they felt that the whole forest was eerily cold, making their scalps tingle.

Flash!

One after another, emerald-green phosphorescent lights appeared everywhere. At first, there were very few, but as time went by, there were more and more, and slowly they filled a large area of the mountains and forests!

"Injustice!"

"Hate~"

"Regret~"

Sparks drifted, and strands of emotions and thoughts emanated from the phosphorescent flames, becoming increasingly solid and moving with the wind.

The wild animals and Flying Bird in the Lin Zhong, upon seeing the phosphorescent light, instinctively retreated. But upon sensing these emotions and thoughts, they were immediately filled with fear and scattered in panic.

Even a minor demon with some cultivation would be terrified at the sight of the fire, knowing that it was the lonely ghosts who had died tragically in the Lin Zhong revealing their forms. However, with so many of them, the wisps of their consciousness gathered together, making even flesh and blood bodies unable to withstand it!

"What's going on? How dare these wandering spirits show up in broad daylight? And in such large groups? Today isn't the Ghost Festival! Could it be because of that flying mountain peak?"

The Nine Spirits Mountain stretches far and wide, with many demon caves on its slopes. The series of strange occurrences today have made the old demons inside restless, prompting them to venture out to investigate. Upon witnessing this scene, they were secretly alarmed and eager to find out what was going on. However, remembering the Flying Peak, they formed a guess, and most of them stopped what they were doing and remained safely inside their caves.

"Go! Tell everyone who's out there to come back. We need to wait and see."

For a time, many old demons gathered their demon soldiers both on and off the mountain, but some also ventured out to capture a lone soul or two and get some answers.

However, just as these monsters were about to make their move, a powerful pressure descended from the sky, suppressing them and forcing them to withdraw. Only then did they realize the true power of the attack.

On the other side, the hunters traversing the mountains and forests were equally alarmed upon seeing the phosphorescent lights filling the entire landscape, quickening their pace. However, after only a few steps, some of them discovered that faces were emerging from the phosphorescent lights, among which were people they recognized.

"Old Li..."

"Head Liu..."

"Brother Zhang, you..."

As the faces flickered in the phosphorescent light, the hunters grew increasingly terrified, for these faces belonged to people who had perished in these Lin Zhong in the past.

These hunters, living off the mountains, mostly reside in villages outside Nine Spirits Mountain, their ancestors having relied on hunting for generations. Even those few who own a small plot of land by the river find it insufficient to support their livelihood.

However, in the last ten years or so, the mountains and forests have become increasingly dangerous, with monsters frequently attacking people, eating them and taking their lives. This has caused many hunters in the villages to live in fear. Even if they want to move away, they cannot move out of the prefecture due to household registration restrictions. If they move to the prefectural city or county town, they cannot afford to buy a house, and they will lose their farmland and source of livelihood, inevitably ending up begging on the streets.

Therefore, no matter how dangerous the mountains and forests are, the hunters still have to bite the bullet and go in, hunting with their hearts pounding.

Falling from the sky over the mountains, flames rising in the Lin Zhong, and the faces of the dead reappearing before one's eyes—these events occurred one after another, and even the bravest person couldn't keep up. Some of the hunters immediately collapsed to the ground.

Sensing the hunters' panic, the phosphorescent faces emitted a series of reassuring messages from within the flames.

"Hmm?" Just as the hunters were calming down a bit, the clusters of phosphorescent flames suddenly began to flicker, then shot into the sky, flying towards the rushing river below the mountain!

Instantly, scattered emerald phosphorescent lights danced across the mountainside, resembling Flying Bird soaring across the sky, their calls echoing across the land, and dripping into the river like raindrops.

At the same time, in the turbulent Great Snow River, specks of emerald green phosphorescent fire appeared on the surface, in the water, and at the bottom. Within the fire, drowning figures emerged, struggling but gradually calming down.

At this moment, the phosphorescent lights from the mountains also gathered, and the phosphorescent lights in the forest and water came together, instantly turning the entire river into a faint blue light.

The light and shadow spread, and the fish in the water were carefree and unaffected, but the water demons who had gained Spirit Aperture were different. Fearful of the unknown, they trembled with fear.

Water Palace, the Turtle Chancellor was startled to see phosphorescent lights everywhere. He hurriedly swam towards the main hall using his four short legs.

However, before it could swim to the palace gate, the water suddenly surged, and the old turtle turned its head to see a bright green light!

The phosphorescent flames gathered together, transforming into a torrent of emerald green that surged forward. The overwhelming force chilled the Turtle Chancellor the bone, and it hurriedly retracted its head, limbs, and tail into its shell.

The next moment, the tortoise shell was swept aside by the torrent of phosphorescent fire and landed on the edge of the white jade steps, spinning around.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The main hall shook violently, and the hall doors were shattered by the converging torrent of phosphorescent flames!

Inside the hall, the Water-Crossing General and the Mountain-Patrolling General huddled together in a corner, watching with trepidation as the torrent of phosphorescent fire filled the entire hall.

The surging torrent, like a roaring Primordial World beast, shook the two demons to their core!

Deep within the main hall, the deity's hand seals remained unchanged, and a dark vortex emerged behind him, exuding an aura of life and Samsara.

Perfusion!

The howling torrent of phosphorescent flames plunged headlong into the pitch-black vortex!

The torrents flowed endlessly, and the eddies swirled.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the surging torrent of phosphorescent flames completely disappeared into the vortex, leaving the entire hall empty.

Then, the vortex behind the deity disappeared.

Once the whirlpool subsided and the phosphorescent light disappeared, the atmosphere of the entire hall returned to normal. The eerie and cold feeling vanished completely, as did the chill in the river and forest outside the palace.

"What... what exactly is going on?"

Outside the hall, the Turtle Chancellor figure crept in, his black gauze hat askew, but he had no time to straighten it. Then, the old tortoise looked at the majestic deity himself, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

The same expression appeared on the faces of the generals Water-Crossing General and Mountain-Patrolling General.

Despite being stared at by the three old demons, the deity himself did not feel uncomfortable. Instead, he slowly turned his gaze and swept it over the three old demons.

"Perfect timing. The three of you belong to the Water Palace, the Waterside cave abode, and the Mountain Demon Cave, respectively. Wait here until I return; I have some questions for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and grabbed a short sword. Then his Divine Body dissipated. He merged with the Water Palace Domain of Law, and the River Earl's divine power spread out, flowing directly into the Yin-Yang Road through the connection.

Inside the main hall, the three old demons looked at each other, fear and doubt rising in their hearts.

Outside, the palaces radiated light, and a massive light shield enveloped the entire Water Palace. The Palace-Protecting Grand Formation had spontaneously activated, with the River Earl's divine power flowing within it, connecting various parts of the river and regulating the water vapor on the river.

The Netherworld Domain.

As the deity stepped out of the pavilion, the first thing that caught his eye was the upright figure standing in the courtyard.

This figure was formed from a remnant soul. Because the rules of the Netherworld are different from those of the mortal Mortal Realm, it was able to show its appearance before it was born.

This man stood straight as a sword, exuding an aura of sharp brilliance. It was Xi Yun, who had been standing here quietly waiting ever since he was sent to the Netherworld by the scholar's avatar.

Now, seeing someone emerge from the attic and sensing the divine power emanating from that person, Xi Yun immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Thank you for your help, Kitchen God."

Beside him, Bai Wenpan, Huang Jue, and two ghost servants also came forward and greeted each other.

The deity greeted each person individually, then his Divine Eye gaze fell upon Xi Yun, and he asked, "I've heard some things about you from Qiu Yan. Your willingness to sacrifice yourself to break free from your constraints is truly admirable. But what are your plans for coming to the Netherworld?"

Upon hearing the question, Xi Yun replied, "Death and entering the underworld is the end for others, but for me it is the beginning." When he said this, his gaze was firm, without the slightest hesitation, clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Then, changing the subject, he continued, "I am deeply grateful for the help of the Kitchen God and Young Master Qiu. If I do not perish in the Netherworld, I will surely achieve something great, and that will be the day I repay their kindness."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, the deity himself seemed to grasp the other party's thoughts and nodded slightly.

Across from him, Xi Yun bowed to the deity in person, then turned and walked towards the courtyard gate.

Seeing this, Bai Wenpan frowned and said, "Brother, since my master was willing to save you, it means he thinks highly of you. You might as well join his ranks; you'll definitely benefit from it in the future. Right now, you're just a remnant soul. Once you leave the Domain of Law and are blown by the yin winds of the Netherworld, you'll lose your mind and become a Wandering Soul, confused soul!"

His words were both an expression of loyalty and a way of reminding Xi Yun.

But Xi Yun, without turning her head, simply bowed slightly in response, and continued walking out of the courtyard until she disappeared into the distance.

His silhouette conveyed an air of unwavering determination, a resolute will, and a resolve to no longer be bound by anything.

"Ungrateful wretch." Bai Wenpan sighed and shook his head. He had actually seen Xi Yun's extraordinary talent and wanted to recruit him on behalf of the deity himself.

"Everyone has their own ambitions, there's no need to force them." The deity withdrew his gaze and swept it over Bai Wenpan. "However, since you are willing to submit to me, I will not be stingy. If soldiers don't reward their troops, I will give you what you need after I return from the Underworld."

Upon hearing this, Bai Wenpan was secretly delighted, but he showed no sign of it on his face, and simply asked, "Is Your Excellency about to head to the Underworld?"

"Indeed, there are only a few days left until the end of the month," the deity nodded. "Right now, there are quite a few Believers' Souls in the Underworld who are connected to me. The Essentials back. If I want to establish myself on the path of the Divine Path, I cannot escape the Samsara reincarnation in the Underworld."

After saying this, he took to the air and flew towards the great river that floated in the sky.

The river seemed so close, but once you took flight, you realized it was far away.

"So this is what it means to be ignorant of one's own limitations."

In the blink of an eye, the deity himself transformed into a single point on the horizon. (To be continued)