Lord of Yellow Springs, Ghost Gate Lineage

After seeing Xu Xingzhi off, Fang Heng returned to his study and drank a bowl of hangover soup.

He took out a finger bone from his storage pouch. This finger bone was the only thing the horse-faced man left behind after the Five Thunders Striking the Top. The fact that this single finger bone could withstand the power of the Five Thunders Striking the Top showed that it was clearly no ordinary item.

He dripped a drop of his essence blood onto it, and the pure white, jade-like finger bone instantly absorbed it. Feeling a subtle, almost imperceptible connection, Fang Heng began to refine the finger bone.

A quarter of an hour later, Fang Heng finally understood the origin of this finger bone. It belonged to an ancient Ghost Dao grandmaster. The finger bone contained this grandmaster's legacy: the Five Ghosts Spirit Communication Scripture.

The Five Ghosts Spirit Communication Scripture uses five ghosts as its foundation to perform various secret arts. The secret art the horse-faced man used at the end, "Five Ghosts Unite, Reach Heaven and Sever Earth," was recorded in the Five Ghosts Spirit Communication Scripture. Other sinister secret arts included the Five Ghosts Transportation Art, the Five Ghosts Soul Devouring Great Law, and the Five Ghosts Body Protection Charm.

Besides secret arts, it also contained formations like the Five Ghosts Yin Fiend Array, and cultivation methods for artifacts such as the Five Ghosts Soul Capturing Bell. In short, it was an incredibly complete Ghost Dao legacy. If it fell into the hands of an evil cultivator, it would be priceless.

However, what Fang Heng valued most was not the dazzling array of secret arts within the legacy. Rather, it was the fact that this cultivation method also allowed ghostly entities to cultivate. The foundation of the Five Ghosts Spirit Communication Scripture lay in five ghostly entities. The stronger the ghostly entities, the more powerful the secret arts unleashed would naturally be.

Besides the realm of the ghostly entities, their type also influenced their power. The horse-faced man commanded the most common type of yin soul ghosts. If the five ghosts possessed the five elements, then when they united, the five elements would combine, unleashing limitless power. If the five ghosts were refined from the souls of people born in a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour, then they could even unleash a world-shattering, ghost-wailing ultimate divine ability: the Light of Severing Hatred and Utmost Yin.

Of course, this Ghost Dao legacy shared all the common drawbacks of other Ghost Dao legacies. The more powerful the ghostly entities commanded, the greater the risk of backlash. The Ghost Controller lineage had existed for tens of thousands of years, yet they couldn't avoid this drawback.

Fang Heng, however, was completely unconcerned about backlash. His Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Attribute allowed him to perfectly control ghostly entities without worrying about backlash. The only problem was that he could command too few ghostly entities. Three ghostly entities were not enough to cultivate the Five Ghosts Spirit Communication Scripture.

"If I upgrade my Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Attribute, I should be able to command five ghostly entities at once," Fang Heng murmured, stroking his chin.

Destiny/Luck!

Alas—

He never had enough Destiny/Luck!

Fang Heng grew even more excited about his transaction with Rabbit Face. The Destiny/Luck contained in the chessboard and 150 chess pieces Rabbit Face possessed would be enough for him to upgrade several purple Fate Attributes.

In the following days, Fang Heng simultaneously wrote military treatises and set up the framework for the Ministry of Agriculture. After five days, the Ministry of Agriculture was officially established. The disciples of Evergreen Temple, led by his second senior sister, also arrived at the prince's manor.

Seeing his second senior sister still in her disheveled state, with her signature messy bun, she stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd. Fang Heng couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.

"Second Senior Sister, are you really planning to go to the yamen like that for your new job?"

"Is there a problem?" Xiao Luoyu asked with a blank, innocent look, seemingly unaware of anything amiss with her attire.

Fang Heng gave Yun Menglan a meaningful glance and said calmly, "Menglan, please help Second Senior Sister change into some new clothes."

"Junior brother, no need, I think it's quite good..."

Before Xiao Luoyu could finish her protest, Fang Heng snorted coldly.

"Second senior sister, if you don't follow my instructions, then the promise to invest in the Dan Furnace project will be null and void."

The moment Xiao Luoyu heard Fang Heng was going to retract the money, it was as if her throat was choked and her vital point was seized.

She didn't say a word, obediently following Yun Menglan to change her clothes.

Fang Heng was somewhat looking forward to it. How stunning would second senior sister be when she was properly dressed up?

After all, second senior sister was a beauty who could still be breathtaking even with a messy bird's nest hairstyle.

Half an hour later.

Xiao Luoyu emerged, dressed in a white gown with a cloud-patterned sash that accentuated her graceful curves.

While not as delicate and slender as Shen Qiushui, she possessed an astonishing waist-to-hip ratio, like a magnet that drew men's eyes.

Her hairstyle had also changed; it was no longer the messy bird's nest from before.

Her hair was neatly and smoothly coiled into a bun, from which a string of tassels hung, swaying gently with Xiao Luoyu's steps.

At this moment, Fang Heng had only one thought.

As expected of a great beauty!

Xiao Luoyu seemed a little embarrassed.

She felt that the gown she was wearing was too alluring.

She was still more accustomed to wearing a Daoist robe.

"Second senior sister, let's go to the yamen."

Fang Heng led the group from Evergreen Temple to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Eunuch Su, along with a middle-aged scholar, had been waiting for a long time.

"Your Highness, this is the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, personally appointed by His Majesty."

"Jian Bingyang, Sir Jian."

"Your humble servant greets Your Highness."

Jian Bingyang was very polite, showing no arrogance, and respectfully bowed to Fang Heng.

After listening to Jian Bingyang's introduction, Fang Heng immediately understood.

This Jian Bingyang was an informant placed by Emperor Yuanchu by his side.

Indeed, the art of imperial manipulation!

Even for a son who posed no threat, there had to be an informant watching them.

Fang Heng didn't mind; he had long prepared for this.

"Sir Jian, I'll have to trouble you for much guidance in the future. Let us work together to fulfill His Majesty's decree and not betray his imperial favor."

"Your Highness is right. Your humble servant will certainly assist Your Highness well and cultivate the Sacred Emperor Rice."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two got down to business.

"Eunuch Su, has His Majesty given any instructions on where to plant the Sacred Emperor Rice?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty has already arranged a location."

"Where?"

"The Daishan Secret Realm."

Hmm?

It's actually in the same secret realm as my fiefdom?

Is Father Emperor doing this intentionally or unintentionally?

Fang Heng remained calm and collected, his expression serene, showing no emotional changes.

"Your Highness, everyone, please follow this servant to the Daishan Secret Realm."

With that, Eunuch Su led Fang Heng and the others to the depths of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Over the years, the Great Qian imperial family had destroyed countless mountains and temples, obtaining hundreds of secret realms.

The exits of these secret realms had all been moved by imperial experts to the depths of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for unified management.

Within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a forbidden array was set up.

Without a special token, it was difficult to move an inch.

Soon, Fang Heng and his group arrived before a temple.

Eunuch Su smiled and introduced it to everyone.

"This temple was originally the Lord of Yellow Springs' temple."

"The previous dynasty destroyed temples and eradicated the remnants in the secret realm."

"After two dynasties' management, the population exceeds thirty million, not inferior to the lower commanderies among the Seventy-Two Commandery."

Fang Heng's eyebrows raised after hearing this.

"The Lord of Yellow Springs? Which lineage of Outer Realm Evil God is that?"

"The evil god worshipped by the Ghost Gate Lineage!"

"However, the Ghost Gate Lineage was already wiped out in the previous dynasty."

"The current City of Life and Death is the last trace left by the Ghost Gate Lineage."

So the City of Life and Death had such an origin.

This was the first time Fang Heng had heard of it.

Eunuch Su activated the Ancient Eerie Temple, and a path of silver light appeared before everyone.

Stepping onto the silver path, the scenery before them shifted.

Everyone then found themselves within the secret realm.