The wandering of a Yin spirit, especially one that has achieved success in its cultivation, surpasses even the swiftness of a fine horse.
Wu Ming’s steps stirred the wind, and in the blink of an eye, he had vanished into the distance, flashing several times before completely disappearing.
The previous goblin-like creatures and resentful spirits seemed like illusions. The gray mist surged, and this small hill once again returned to silence.
Moo! Moo!
Not knowing how much time had passed, a deep and piercing bull’s roar suddenly echoed from afar, approaching rapidly.
Boom!
The black mist churned like ten thousand waves, forming a whirlpool in its center.
The gray-black whirlpool was deep and unfathomable. Two lantern-sized glows abruptly appeared, and soon after, a massive bull’s head emerged. A black iron ring still pierced its nose.
The bull sniffed twice, and a highly human-like expression of anger appeared on its face: “Who dares defy Lord Heishan’s decree and recklessly perform deliverance rites for the resentful spirits?”
Bang! Bang!
Speaking thus, the ghostly deity finally pulled its entire body from the dark vortex. Two massive bull hooves struck the ground, beneath a torso resembling a human body covered in black fur. Wielding a huge iron trident, it radiated terrifying might. It bore a five out of ten resemblance to the legendary bull-headed jailer. Compared to it, the previously seen goblin-like creatures, although large, seemed insignificant.
“Hu! Hu!”
Thick streams of white vapor spewed from its nostrils, creating a roaring wind that struck the ground, raising a gale.
“Whoever you are, I will not let you go!”
Roaring furiously, its voice shook the wilds, causing nearby ghosts to cower. Sniffing the air once more, it transformed into a black whirlwind and sped away.
…
“This domain of the dead feels ominous!”
Wu Ming, unaware that a ghost deity was now hunting him, had just stopped after traveling a thousand miles using his spell technique and was now surveying the surroundings.
The Netherworld stretched boundless and vast. As his Yin spirit roamed, he traveled thousands of miles in an instant, yet the scenery remained unchanged. However, he had encountered many types of ghosts along the way—headless ghosts, tongue-hanging ghosts, drowning ghosts, and even rarer ones like hungry ghosts and snake ghosts, seeing them all.
Of course, what alarmed Wu Ming even more was the environment itself.
The entire Netherworld resembled a barren wasteland, offering no peaceful resting place for spirits.
Even the water was foul, causing greater thirst when consumed. The stones were sharp, causing pain upon contact. Even the ground constantly emitted a malevolent aura that tormented the spirits.
“Could I have been mistaken? Is this not the Netherworld, but some hellish realm?”
Wu Ming looked afar and noticed faint glimmers of light in the darkness. Approaching, he saw some low shrubs or dilapidated houses.
These places offered slight respite for spirits and were already claimed by powerful malevolent ghosts. As Wu Ming approached, they glared at him warily, occasionally letting out threatening growls.
“These places have traces of worship, making them slightly peaceful, which further proves this is the Netherworld!”
Wu Ming refrained from seizing these pitiful spirits’ dwellings, scratching his head in confusion.
The Netherworld was infinitely vast. Often, a small temple on Earth measuring just a few feet could form a palace in the Netherworld. Even a shrine could become a grand mansion, and a single incense stick could mark a place of peace.
These small pockets of peace were clearly formed by a few incense sticks lit in the living world.
And with such characteristics, this place must indeed be the Netherworld.
“It’s strange… This Netherworld, which resembles hell, could it mean that all the people in the living world are sinners who must suffer here upon death?”
“As for these resentful spirits and malevolent ghosts… they’re all in a daze and can’t tell me anything. I should seek out some ghost deities for answers…”
Musing, Wu Ming ignored the menacing glances from the spirits guarding the peaceful spots and turned to leave.
Ssississ…
The guardian of this place was a massive ghostly python, several zhang long, with a beautiful woman’s head and a forked tongue hissing. Seeing Wu Ming leave, her eyes betrayed an uncontrollable greed and desire.
However, Wu Ming’s radiant aura and terrifying spiritual pressure made her hesitate.
The laws of the underworld manifested clearly: fortune, abilities, and spiritual cultivation were all externalized as spiritual pressure and radiant aura, the most direct display of power.
With Wu Ming’s cultivation and fortune, he was comparable to some ghost deities, naturally deterring any would-be challengers.
And this was merely a magician.
If a true immortal descended here, their mere presence would transform the surroundings into a serene and blessed land.
“Hmm… I should find a benevolent deity. At least they might be more reasonable!”
Wu Ming activated his Celestial Eye.
This ability, when used by his Yin spirit, was even more effective. Moreover, the ghost deities of the Netherworld made no attempt to conceal their spiritual lights, making them completely visible.
Deliberately climbing to a high vantage point, he looked out and saw a vast expanse of dark and gloomy mist, countless gray-black auras trapped within, unable to escape for centuries or even millennia. Compared to the so-called hells of the mortal world, this place was infinitely more pitiful.
Yet nearby, several radiant spiritual flames rose into the sky, colorful and majestic, exuding great authority and suppressing the surroundings like beasts marking their territory.
However, several of these spiritual flames were mixed with black mist, exuding savagery and dominance, vaguely taking beast-like forms. These were either monsters or malevolent ghosts, making Wu Ming’s eyebrows twitch.
Only in the southeast corner did he notice a faint streak of white qi rising, forming a patch of dark radiance. Though weak, it was persistent, guarding a small corner.
“Though still somewhat tainted, among the dwarfs, this one is the tallest. It’ll have to do!”
Wu Ming fixed his direction and immediately headed southeast.
…
Crash!
The massive iron trident slammed down, instantly splitting everything in its path into two.
Black and grotesque, the barbed trident plunged deep into the ground, destroying the faint earth qi and transforming the peaceful spot back into a cursed place.
“Ssississ!”
Witnessing this, the woman-headed, snake-bodied ghost was furious. Though previously fearful, now driven by rage at the destruction of her home, she lunged forward.
“Hmph! A mere snake ghost dares challenge me? A fool’s errand!”
The bull snorted coldly, its two millstone-sized hands seizing the snake ghost’s head and tail, yanking them apart with a mighty pull.
Crack!
Amidst the snake ghost’s wails, its long serpentine body was torn in two. The beautiful head showed pain, but instead of blood, black mist dripped from the severed parts.
“Gnash!”
Seeing this, the bull’s eyes flashed with ferocity. Holding the snake’s tail, it opened its monstrous mouth, revealing a full set of fangs.
Crunching sounds followed, and in moments, the snake ghost had vanished without a trace.
“Not bad at all!”
The bull patted its belly contentedly, its iron-ringed nostrils flaring: “Pity! That Taoist only stayed briefly before leaving…”
“With just my own power, capturing this cunning Taoist will be difficult…”
Thinking thus, the bull immediately let out a thunderous roar.
Moo! Moo!
Wave after wave of sound rippled outward, tearing up the ground, exuding terrifying and fearsome might. It seemed as if it had also sent out a message.
Moments later, streams of black mist converged, forming into various ghostly beings kneeling down: “We pay homage to the Heishan Envoy!”
“You are to notify nearby ghost deities. I am currently hunting a Taoist. Any who spot him must capture and report him immediately. Those who refuse will be considered accomplices and destroyed utterly!”
The bull opened its monstrous mouth, licked its lips, and issued a terrifying threat.
“Understood! We will surely deliver the message!”
The lesser ghosts shuddered collectively, quickly scattering in fear that they might become the bull’s next meal, like the snake ghost before them.
…
“This must be the place!”
Meanwhile, Wu Ming had arrived at a region where gray mist churned.
It was a valley nestled between three small hills, enclosed by a canyon, with a layer of dark radiance swirling above. Combined with spiritual pressure, it not only repelled wandering spirits but also served as a protective barrier.
“Even has a formation?”
Wu Ming chuckled in amusement. Though in his eyes the formation was very rudimentary, for the Netherworld, it was quite impressive.
At this moment, he could easily extend his hand and break the formation, but that would mean coming as an enemy rather than a guest.
Wu Ming pondered for a moment, picked up a few handfuls of earth, and blew on them. A small paper crane slowly took shape, its eyes black and gleaming with life. It nodded at him and flew into the dark radiance.
Not long after, the dark radiance parted in the middle, and two young attendants, a boy and a girl, came out to greet him.
“We did not expect such an esteemed guest. Our master apologizes for the oversight and hopes you will forgive us!”
Though the two attendants wore elaborate hairstyles and colorful clothes, with rouge on their cheeks, and moved like living beings, Wu Ming immediately saw through their true nature: “Hmm? Just two paper servants. Seems the master is quite cautious indeed!”
He also understood that since his origins were unknown, if the master rashly left the formation and was captured, it would be a serious problem.
“One must always be cautious to survive for a thousand years,” was the old fox’s instinct.
“Still… thinking that a mere formation like this can ensure safety is wishful thinking!”
Wu Ming shook his head inwardly but maintained a calm and composed expression: “A wanderer from afar, passing through your territory, I hope I am not intruding!”
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
Inside the valley lay a courtyard mansion, five courtyards deep, with extensive buildings, quite grand.
“Old man Jiang Guan greets the Taoist master!”
Before the mansion stood an elderly man dressed in the robe of a wealthy landowner, sporting a three-tufted beard, his face kind and gentle, with a one-foot-high spiritual aura surrounding him. He led a large family in bowing respectfully to Wu Ming: “I live in seclusion here, far from the world, and never expected to meet a cultivated gentleman today. Please, come in for tea!”
“Thank you!”
Wu Ming glanced around and noticed that the valley was like spring all year round, with blooming flowers and lush greenery, resembling a small paradise that blocked out the howling winds of the outside world. He inwardly praised it and performed a respectful bow before stepping into the mansion.
“I was once a scholar who passed the imperial examination. After death, I retained my consciousness and received worship, allowing me to carve out this refuge to nurture my clan. I hope you won’t laugh at its simplicity!”
Welcomed into the main hall and seated as guest and host, the old man Jiang Guan smiled and spoke.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage