Buzzing!
At that moment, a bronze mirror in the room suddenly trembled without wind and emitted a long ringing sound.
“Hmm?”
Jiang Guan’s expression shifted slightly. He stepped forward and cast a talismanic formula into the mirror. Black energy flickered, and immediately a figure appeared within it.
This figure had a sinister face, greenish glowing eyes, and half of his face was covered with black magical markings, appearing both mysterious and terrifying.
“Greetings, honorable superior!”
Upon seeing this figure, Jiang Guan’s expression changed, and he, along with his son and Bai Cui, immediately knelt down.
“Hmph, remember this: the Black Mountain Envoy is coming to this area to hunt a certain Taoist priest. If you discover any trace of him, report immediately. There will be great rewards for success, and disaster will strike if you fail!”
As the figure spoke, waves of authoritative magical energy caused Bai Cui to tremble.
“As you command!”
Jiang Guan immediately bowed his head without hesitation.
“Good! Also… the two women you offered last time were quite pleasing, exactly to my taste. Send four more!”
The “envoy” nodded with satisfaction, cast a glance at Bai Cui, and then vanished.
“Father, what shall we do?”
The middle-aged man became greatly anxious: “Why should we protect that Taoist?”
“Who said I intend to protect him?”
Jiang Guan smiled mysteriously: “This is a blessing from heaven! We can use the Black Mountain Envoy’s power to obtain that item. When the envoy captures the Taoist, we get the item. Isn’t that a perfect arrangement? For now, our delay is merely to ensure our plan is foolproof!”
“Father, your wisdom is unmatched!”
The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, then quickly became convinced.
“Bai Cui!”
Jiang Guan turned his gaze toward Bai Cui.
“Grand Elder, I am here!”
As a distant descendant, Bai Cui was merely a servant, receiving little care. She immediately trembled and answered respectfully.
“You may go now. Serve that Taoist well and report every one of his actions to me!”
Jiang Guan’s expression softened: “Once this matter is resolved, you will serve the honored envoy, and your parents will be able to enjoy blessings as well!”
“Yes, sir!”
Bai Cui trembled but could only agree.
…
“Indeed, this family resides within the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom. To say they have no connection with the Black Mountain Lord is simply impossible.”
In a side room, Wu Ming, who had been sitting in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of coldness passed through his gaze, as if he had witnessed everything that had just occurred.
“Preserving the family, something of great significance…”
At this moment, his expression became somewhat peculiar: “Could it be the Land Deity Edict? They do have good eyesight. With that, one can indeed establish a spiritual territory and receive offerings from all directions, no longer limited to the worship of a single family…”
In fact, Wu Ming had noticed that the structure of this underworld realm was quite different from the mortal world. It bore a striking resemblance to the feudal system of Western nobility from his previous life.
The Emperor, Kings, Dukes, Marquises, Counts, Viscounts, Barons, and even malevolent spirits and minor deities each had their own territories, their own private armies, and wielded real power.
The Western nobility was so powerful that they could even band together to execute a king who attempted to confiscate their lands.
Though a powerful Duke could suppress a Viscount through various means over a long period of time until his power faded, it was practically impossible to openly seize his lands or attack his castle and hang the lord.
Therefore, in this fragmented underworld of feudal lords, a Land Deity’s position was akin to a small fiefdom.
With proper cultivation, it would be no difficulty at all to protect one’s family, and even in times of chaos, one might have the opportunity to rise further.
“A decent plan, but they shouldn’t have targeted me…”
“Also… why is the Black Mountain Envoy after me? Is it related to that Black Wind General incident?”
Through a small trick beforehand, Wu Ming had already seen through Jiang family’s schemes. In the underworld, power was everything, and they were merely insects attempting to stop a chariot.
What concerned Wu Ming more was this matter.
“Never thought that I was mistaken for a Black Mountain Envoy before, and now I am being pursued by the real one. Truly, every action has its consequence, as fate decrees. It seems I must confront this envoy after all…”
Wu Ming lowered his eyelids, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light.
…
The next day.
“Though I wish to accompany you further, this parting is inevitable. Please, old sir, do not see me off any longer!”
Two groups, each harboring their own secret intentions, politely insisted on taking turns to see each other off. Finally, Jiang Guan led the way and accompanied Wu Ming for several miles.
“Master Taoist, your elegance and grace are truly admirable. I wish I could keep you here longer so that my descendants might benefit from your wisdom…”
Jiang Guan smiled warmly, showing no trace of his previous cruelty. A number of ghost soldiers followed him, maintaining a certain order. Suddenly, he slapped his head: “Oh, how forgetful of me! Not far from here lies a Yin Spring, at its center a rare thread of Yang energy, possibly even connected to the mortal world!”
“If that’s the case, I must certainly go and see it!”
Wu Ming feigned interest, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Haha… Let us go together!”
Jiang Guan exchanged a glance with his son, both showing a hint of joy in their eyes. They took the lead and guided Wu Ming to a valley.
“Ah… there really is a Yin Spring here?”
Wu Ming stood at the valley entrance, smiling without stepping in, clicking his tongue in admiration: “You’ve really gone all out, haven’t you?”
“My lord, what are you saying?”
Jiang Guan’s son forced a laugh, his voice dry.
Wu Ming, however, was in no mood for further games. He narrowed his eyes directly: “Jiang Guan, you intend to rob and kill me, yet you did offer some genuine advice. For that, if you can survive my palm strike, I shall let this matter rest!”
“What?!”
Jiang Guan was greatly alarmed. Immediately, a brighter halo of light flared from Wu Ming’s body.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Winds howled and clouds gathered, lightning and thunder raging. In an instant, a brilliant bolt of lightning erupted from Wu Ming’s palm.
Five Thunder Palm Technique!
This technique had five levels. The first level, the Thunder Dueling Art, was still within the realm of mortal techniques. The second level, the Water Thunder Formula, combined wind and thunder, capable of injuring souls and spirits.
By the third level, the Cloud Thunder Realm, one could form cloud-scripted thunder talismans and true seeds within one’s consciousness, cultivating martial prowess into the Dao.
Although Wu Ming had not yet reached the third level of Cloud Thunder, his mastery of the Water Thunder Formula allowed him to summon wind and thunder with his palms, effortlessly harming souls and spirits.
“Thunder Technique!”
As the yang energy surged, Jiang Guan was filled with dread: “Master Taoist, have mercy!”
Thunder techniques manipulated the transformations of the five elements, commanding the pivot of yin and yang. Not only were they the most powerful among Daoist arts, but they were also the most effective against ghosts.
Wu Ming’s expression remained cold, like a divine judge wielding the laws of heaven. He struck out with one palm, the lightning forming a circle that rapidly expanded.
Zziiii!
A circle of Jiang family members and ghost soldiers surrounding them had no time to cry out before being reduced to dust.
Blue lightning, like serpents, spread outward in waves, even sweeping away the gray mist, clearing a large open space.
“Ahh!”
A short cry rang out. At the edge of the lightning, Jiang Guan’s body was surrounded by a layer of light. He grabbed his son and fled desperately, but was still grazed by the lightning, part of his form vanishing. He gritted his teeth and fled out of the circle.
After delivering the palm strike, Wu Ming, true to his word, did not pursue further.
Such petty men were no more than ants to him—whether to kill or spare them was of little consequence. The real enemy was the group of ghost deities emerging from the valley entrance.
“Father!”
In the distance, the middle-aged man cried out in alarm as he saw Jiang Guan’s form disintegrating.
“The righteous energy I had cultivated over the years has already been greatly depleted. Now it’s completely exhausted—I’m finished!”
Jiang Guan muttered, glancing around: “All the carefully nurtured heirs and ghost soldiers of our Jiang family were wiped out just like that. How regrettable! How foolish I was!”
“Regret?!”
The middle-aged man wept.
“I’ve lived too long among humans and forgotten that in the underworld, power is the only true foundation of everything…”
Jiang Guan gazed around with a bitter smile: “Now, in this moment of fading strength, I realize that in recent years, I have misplaced my priorities…”
He continued: “Actually, isn’t it the same in the mortal world? If I had realized this truth earlier…”
He sighed deeply: “Now, after I’m gone, you shall take over as clan head. Remember, whatever you do, do not seek revenge for me!”
As he spoke his final words, the light around him completely extinguished, his form becoming increasingly unstable, finally dissolving into wisps of grayish-white vapor that scattered into the air.
“Father!”
The middle-aged man knelt and kowtowed, then turned his gaze to the battlefield.
Regardless of whether he would seek revenge in the future, one thing was certain: the young figure, whose palms crackled with wind and thunder, resembling a celestial thunder god from the highest heavens, would never fade from his memory…
…
“Daring Taoist! How dare you violate the laws of Black Mountain and recklessly perform rites to liberate wandering souls? The Black Mountain Envoy is already on his way. Surrender now!”
Three ghost deities blocked Wu Ming’s path.
One wore the uniform of a constable, his face sinister, bearing the dignified aura of a seasoned law enforcer mixed with the cunning of a veteran. Half of his face was coiled with black magical markings, appearing both mysterious and terrifying.
Beside him were two ghostly creatures, with green faces and sharp fangs, their forms inhuman. Though their presence was fearsome, they were clearly inferior to the first.
In the underworld, the brightness of one’s spiritual aura was a direct indicator of power.
The constable’s head was surrounded by a thick halo of black and red energy, about three chi in height. The two fierce ghosts beside him had black auras rising about one or two chi.
Wu Ming himself had a clear, one chi tall protective light, and a three chi tall red aura of fortune, blazing like fire.
Their powers were quite similar, which explained why the old constable lacked confidence and had planned an ambush.
“Not allowing the liberation of souls?”
Wu Ming was momentarily stunned, not expecting the issue to stem from this. Then he sneered: “What bold words! Who are you? And who is this Black Mountain Envoy?”
“I am the Executioner Envoy, directly under the Five Dao General of King Black Mountain!”
The Executioner Envoy roared. Indeed, his body radiated a murderous aura. But immediately, a palm strike filled with thunderous force slammed into his face.
“Fool! I suppose you’ve been a ghost for too long, your mind rusted shut. You can’t even grasp the right moment…”
Seeing that only these three were lying in ambush, how could Wu Ming give them any chance? He immediately launched a surprise attack, striking the Executioner Envoy hard across the face. Amidst flashes of lightning, the figure was sent flying backward.
Seeing this, the two fierce ghosts beside him roared in fury and lunged forward.
“Kill!”
Unfortunately for them, Wu Ming, a martial artist by training, possessed a decisive and resolute mind. Unfazed by the two ghosts’ terrifying appearances, he struck out twice more. Thick bolts of lightning struck the chests of the two ghosts, reducing them to ashes.
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