Chapter 108: Changes

“It might be possible to find a dying soul and carefully observe the workings of the Dharma realm…”

Wu Ming’s heart stirred. Following a trail of grayish-black death energy, he unconsciously walked to the eastern district, stopping in front of a large, well-constructed brick house with dark glazed tiles.

On the signboard above the entrance, the words “Jiang Residence” were particularly noticeable, although they bore signs of decay and were covered in dust.

A dense scent of medicinal herbs could be detected even outside the walls. Many people came and went in a hurried manner. Though they tried to appear grief-stricken, their expressions revealed underlying anxiety, anger, and even hints of joy—an array of emotions that made Wu Ming silently marvel at the diversity of human nature, finding it quite intriguing.

Noticing a nearby food stall selling wonton noodles and dumplings, he naturally found a seat and listened to the chatter of nearby diners.

“Here’s your dumplings, sir!”

After ordering a few dishes, the elderly cook promptly brought a steaming bowl of dumplings with a smile, the soup sprinkled with scallions and lard, emitting a fragrant aroma. Wu Ming took a sip and found the flavor quite delicious.

Suddenly, his ears twitched as he caught fragments of conversation:

“The Master of the Jiang family probably won’t make it through!”

“Hehe… This Master is the only remarkable figure in this generation of the Jiang family. He reorganized the family estate and established a clan school, both of which were great deeds for strengthening the family’s foundation. Just when the family fortunes were beginning to recover, a serious illness struck, revealing the fickle nature of human relationships. Now, all his sons are eyeing the inheritance, and even former business partners have ill intentions…”

“I heard that a few days ago, something strange happened at the ancestral hall of the Jiang family. Could this be an unexpected disaster from heaven?”

“Don’t talk too much!”

One person cautioned, glancing at several servants standing before the mansion. Several others continued eating their noodles, but Wu Ming’s eyes flickered: “The Jiang family? An ancestral change? Could it be so coincidental that it’s connected to the one in the underworld?”

The yin and yang fortunes were inherently interconnected.

When Wu Ming saw Jiang Guan in the underworld, he had already sensed that the Jiang family’s fortune was waning. After Jiang Guan’s demise, the ancestral guardian of the family’s blessings was lost. Although other spirits hastily took over, they couldn’t possibly match the previous guardian’s effectiveness immediately. This was a loss of divine favor!

“With fortune already waning, now losing ancestral protection…”

Wu Ming shook his head in lament, knowing that the decline of the Jiang family was inevitable.

“Wu wu!”

Suddenly, cries of mourning echoed. Chaos erupted within the Jiang residence, with panicked shouts of “The master is gone!” and “The master has passed!” filling the air.

Wu Ming activated his spiritual eyes and immediately saw a white soul-form materializing above the Jiang residence. It hesitated, glancing back longingly before attempting to enter the underworld.

Boom!

At that moment, the previous mist surged forward like a tidal wave, engulfing the soul.

The old man’s face showed clear anger, even sparking flames of spirit energy, but he was still unable to resist, swept away in an instant without a trace.

Although only a brief moment had passed, Wu Ming’s forehead was already covered in cold sweat: “This Black Mountain Dharma realm can forcibly seize living souls? And even the City God couldn’t intervene in time? This is still within Heitai County…”

“Hurry up!”

At this point, chaos erupted outside the Jiang residence. Several servants had barely hung white cloth when eager creditors or other individuals rushed in, their expressions filled with the joy of wolves tearing into fresh flesh.

“Time to settle the bill!”

Wu Ming had no interest in witnessing what followed and immediately rose to leave.

…

The sky was dark and gloomy, a perpetual state in the underworld where sunlight never reached.

Clatter!

The sound of galloping horses echoed as a group of riders sped across the plains.

Since this was the realm of the dead, their mounts were all enormous, their eyes glowing with ghostly flames, and their hooves treading upon black clouds. Even the so-called divine horses capable of traveling a thousand miles by day and eight hundred by night in the mortal world held no special status here.

“Sir!”

At this moment, a rider galloped from the front, stopping before the main group. The rider dismounted with agility, revealing a fit physique and black magical markings on his face.

These markings marked him as a yin soldier.

“We have confirmed the details, sir. Ahead lies a spiritual site occupied by a ghost deity who calls himself ‘Wutong.’ Although nominally under the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom, he maintains a semi-independent status…”

“Excellent!”

The leading cavalry commander nodded, revealing a rugged face—none other than Qing Mangzi!

Only this yin general, appointed by Wu Ming, now exuded a more profound aura, with dense magical markings across his face, indicating significant progress in his cultivation.

Indeed, rescuing lost souls had brought him merit, which accumulated over time, further enhanced by the power of the “Treasured Scripture of the Land God.” His spiritual pressure had advanced by leaps and bounds.

“Men, follow me and slay this evil deity to save the people!”

With a wave of his hand, Qing Mangzi led the hundred riders into motion, forming a black dragon charging toward the spiritual site.

“Hmm? An enemy attack?”

Not far ahead, within a palace complex, a ghost deity surrounded by thick black qi stirred.

Roar!

Instantly, flames over a zhang tall flared around him, radiating immense power that rippled through the air.

“I wonder who dares to be so bold?”

The flames, reaching a zhang in height, marked him as a formidable ghost deity in the underworld, a local warlord of considerable strength.

Indeed, the name of the Wutong deity was well known even within the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom, a figure who paid homage in name only.

With a thought, the deity appeared instantly atop the palace gates.

“Hmm? Black armor and steeds… Could this be the group of yin soldiers wanted by the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom?”

The deity furrowed his brows.

The fact that they commanded yin soldiers indicated an organized force, possibly backed by the Heitai City God.

He felt somewhat troubled. He had always maintained neutrality, so why had they come after him?

“Charge!”

At this moment, the cavalry had already approached within five hundred zhang. At Qing Mangzi’s roar, their speed suddenly tripled, streams of killing energy surging from the horses and merging with the riders. In an instant, the hundred riders exuded an overwhelming force, like a thousand troops, forming an arrowhead formation.

“Hmph! Courageous indeed!”

Wutong snorted coldly, seeing Qing Mangzi at the forefront with flames only a few cun tall, and dismissed him with contempt.

In the underworld, strength was paramount. A difference of even an inch in flame height signified two different ranks. He had already decided to annihilate this foolish cavalry unit, sending a message to whoever was behind them.

“Kill!”

Yet he failed to notice the faint smile on Qing Mangzi’s face beneath his armor.

“Great Lord of the Taiyi Black Water, Savior of the Suffering!”

In an instant, the hundred riders roared in unison, their lights merging into a single beam over a zhang tall.

The flames soared into the sky, carrying an aura of martial prowess and lethal energy. Amidst the blaze, a faint roar resonated, exuding an overwhelming dominance that suppressed the Five Elements and silenced all other techniques.

“This… is this dragon qi? And a trace of the power of reincarnation? No good!”

Wutong was shocked, but it was already too late. He could only watch in terror as black qi formed a massive dragon shadow, its claws smashing down.

Boom!

The palace gates were instantly reduced to dust. A white light spread, and the guards inside wept blood, their sins cleansed as they entered reincarnation.

“Those who believe in our Lord shall attain eternal reincarnation!”

Roaring, Qing Mangzi, drawing on the power of his hundred riders, drove his sword, radiant with brilliant light, into Wutong’s chest.

“This… how could I fall here? I don’t want to be destroyed, nor do I wish to enter reincarnation!”

Wutong looked down, unable to believe it.

But at this moment, there was no escape. Within the flames, his power was rapidly consumed. A white light emerged, carrying the force of reincarnation, mercilessly dragging him away.

“Clean up this place and rescue the souls!”

Qing Mangzi issued orders and watched with satisfaction as his subordinates cleared the battlefield, gathering the living souls captured and enslaved by Wutong within the palace.

“We are under the command of the Great Lord of the Taiyi Black Water, Savior of the Suffering, sent to redeem you. By the Lord’s decree, we bestow upon you the ‘Treasured Scripture of the Land God’ to liberate you from suffering!”

Moments later, as he looked down at the mass of timid souls, including many young women of beauty, Qing Mangzi sighed inwardly and spoke loudly: “This is the Lord’s compassion. Quickly, follow me in prayer!”

Although some hesitated, the yin soldiers were accustomed to the ritual. They quickly straightened their uniforms and joined Qing Mangzi in the chanting ceremony:

“Heaven and Earth are impartial; the gods observe and judge. Blessings are not granted merely for offerings, nor misfortunes sent merely for disrespect. Mortals must not exhaust their power, nor indulge in blessings, nor oppress the poor. These three principles reflect the cycle of heavenly fortune. Thus, a single day of good deeds may not bring blessings immediately, but calamity will retreat. A single day of evil deeds may not bring calamity immediately, but blessings will retreat…

With sincere devotion, we bow to the Green Splendor Eternal Realm, the East’s Sublime and Auspicious Palace. The Seven-Treasure Fragrant Forest, the Nine-Colored Lotus Throne. Myriads of Immortals surround within. Amidst Billions of Auspicious Lights, the Black Water Land God, Manifestation of the Primordial Beginning. Through endless aeons, He compassionately descends. The Great Thousand World’s Gate of Sweet Dew. The Sublime Body, the Purple Gold Auspicious Form. Responding to calls, His vows are boundless. The Great Holy One, the Great Compassionate One, the Great Merciful One. Manifesting in Ten Directions, He liberates countless beings. Through countless aeons, He rescues immeasurable souls. Responding to cries, He is the Great Lord of the Taiyi Black Water, Savior of the Suffering!”

The grand scripture resounded, transforming into golden rings of light descending with a merciful, redeeming fragrance.

Crack!

A white light fell upon a soul unconsciously chanting, opening the gates of reincarnation and drawing it in.

“Ahh… This is truly a method of salvation! Thank you, honorable sirs! Thank you, honorable sirs!”

With the first example, others followed—second, third—numerous lost souls sincerely prayed and moved on to reincarnation, some even shedding tears and bowing in gratitude.

In moments, nearly half the souls had entered reincarnation, generating immense merit. Golden light descended, instantly healing Qing Mangzi’s wounds, his flames burning even more fiercely. Among the riders, a few let out delighted roars as their flames instantly surged past a zhang in height.

“Praise the Great Lord of the Taiyi Black Water, Savior of the Suffering!”

The ceremony concluded, and all bowed deeply, their respect now genuine.