The thousand-year-old female ghost was extremely powerful, so much so that even the minor ghosts at the gates of hell recognized her, and none dared to question her.
She stormed straight into the underworld and rushed toward the Blood Sea.
However, when she arrived at the shores of the Blood Sea, the divine power the thousand-year-old ghost had recently acquired was already exhausted.
At the seaside dock of the underworld, the ancient female ghost and Shui Miao stood upon a giant rock, gazing at the endless, blood-red Blood Sea that seemed to swallow everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they couldn’t leave quickly, more powerful experts from the Celestial Realm would soon pursue them here. Yet she herself was gravely wounded and utterly incapable of crossing the Blood Sea.
The thousand-year-old female ghost possessed profound mystical powers, and even the minor spirits at the Gate of the Underworld recognized her, not daring to question or inspect her.
She barged directly into the Netherworld and hurried toward the Sea of Rakshasa.
However, by the time she reached the shores of the Sea of Rakshasa, the immortal power she had recently obtained was already depleted.
Standing atop a giant rock at the Netherworld’s Wanghai Dock, the thousand-year-old female ghost, accompanied by Shui Miao, gazed upon the boundless, blood-red Sea of Rakshasa that seemed capable of devouring everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they didn’t leave promptly, more powerful immortals would pursue them here. Yet, she was severely injured and utterly incapable of flying across the sea.
“Elder, why was the Foolish Buddha willing to sacrifice himself to save us?”
The Foolish Buddha had vanished, and the cavern was filled with violent, malevolent energy. The Golden Immortals had been severely wounded or even killed. Shui Miao naturally assumed the Foolish Buddha had self-destructed. He was deeply shaken—the Foolish Buddha was so powerful and so loyal, while the thousand-year-old female ghost appeared cold and heartless. What exactly was their relationship?
In truth, Shui Miao still didn’t fully trust the thousand-year-old female ghost.
Her indifference and lack of grief toward the Foolish Buddha made Shui Miao suspect she had merely been using him.
The Foolish Buddha, as his name implied, was a rather simple-minded Buddha.
The thousand-year-old female ghost was heartless and had treated him as nothing more than a puppet.
Shui Miao reconsidered: if she could use the Foolish Buddha as a puppet, couldn’t she do the same to him?
“What kind of time is this for you to be pondering such things?” The thousand-year-old female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning her gaze toward the massive ghost ship at the dock. “Let’s go. We’ll take the ship. Even if we drift to an island in the Sea of Rakshasa, it’s better than waiting here.”
Her cold demeanor sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine, and he promptly fell silent.
Yet, the mystery surrounding the thousand-year-old female ghost once again complicated Shui Miao’s thoughts.
The ghost ship resembled a gigantic sea monster, as large as three buildings, its surface dull and shrouded in Yin energy. Numerous ghost laborers were carrying black sacks, queuing up to load supplies onto the ship. Meanwhile, other ghosts dressed in various attire were undergoing inspections before boarding.
Indeed, this was the Sea of Rakshasa, where gravity differed from the rest of the Netherworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like the living, unable to float.
Of course, there were also wealthy and powerful figures here, traveling in palanquins carried by eight bearers, driving cars, or even riding strange creatures.
Following the thousand-year-old female ghost, Shui Miao approached the inspection checkpoint, where a dozen ghost guards in purple constable uniforms were stationed.
The thousand-year-old female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for boarding the ship, while Shui Miao observed the surroundings with curiosity.
He had visited ghost markets and Lingbao Pavilion before but had never carefully explored the Netherworld.
Upon closer inspection, Shui Miao found it refreshingly novel.
First, the attire: whether ghosts or demons, those with any status wore strikingly unique and peculiar clothing. Garments from every dynasty in ancient history could be seen here, alongside bizarre costumes and modern outfits. It felt like a massive masquerade party.
Naturally, their appearances were equally diverse—local, foreign, normal, strange, peculiar, terrifying, and grotesque—almost every type of character was present.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in Netherworld currency for a boarding pass.
Overhearing the conversation between the thousand-year-old female ghost and the ghost guards, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for Evil Dragon Island. It transported supplies to the island and ferried Netherworld dignitaries there for leisure and enjoyment. But to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the Netherworld.
A ghost certificate was equivalent to an ID card.
The thousand-year-old female ghost slipped the ghost guard a bribe in Netherworld currency, and the guard promptly led her and Shui Miao to a small booth where an old man was fiddling with an abacus, tallying accounts. The guard whispered to the old man, claiming that his two relatives had forgotten their ghost certificates and asking for leniency to issue two boarding passes.
Seizing the opportunity, the thousand-year-old female ghost handed over a substantial amount of Netherworld currency. Grasping the underlying message, the old man narrowed his triangular eyes, smiled, nodded in acknowledgment, accepted the money, and retrieved two slender white tokens from a drawer. Picking up a brush, he inquired of the thousand-year-old female ghost, “What is your name, and what is your ghostly birth chart?”
Hearing this, Shui Miao perked up, finally seeing a chance to learn the thousand-year-old female ghost’s name.
To his surprise, she produced another stack of Netherworld currency and placed it before the old man. “Elder, please help us. We’re fleeing from disaster. Just make up any names for us.”
“Fleeing from disaster?”
The old man and the ghost guard glanced at Shui Miao and exchanged sly smirks.
It seemed they thought they had encountered an adulterous couple.
Shui Miao felt incredibly awkward and quickly furrowed his brows in protest.
The thousand-year-old female ghost, however, remained composed, showing no expression, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Money smooths the way, whether in the mortal world or the Netherworld.
In no time, the old man handed two tokens to the thousand-year-old female ghost and Shui Miao.
Shui Miao glanced at the name on her token: “Bai Susu.” His own token, however, read: “Hei Dan” (Black Egg)!
What the heck! This is downright insulting!
Furious, Shui Miao shot a glare at the old man as they left, only to be met with a look of disdain. The expression clearly conveyed, “Shameless pretty boy, penniless yet managing to woo such a wealthy beauty…”—3,000 words omitted here, but it was brimming with envy and resentment!
After boarding the ghost ship, the thousand-year-old female ghost rented two adjacent rooms.
She sat in meditation inside her room, absorbing Yin energy to heal her injuries.
Shui Miao discovered that the room was surprisingly similar to a modern hotel room. It seemed ghosts also appreciated the luxuries of the living world!
Penniless and with nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, and the ghost ship set sail.
To Shui Miao’s surprise, the ship didn’t sail on the surface of the Sea of Rakshasa. Instead, enveloped in Yin energy, it submerged and traveled underwater, much like a submarine. No wonder he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the sea earlier.
Shui Miao had planned to meditate quietly until they reached Evil Dragon Island.
However, soon enough, the sound of women’s laughter and beautiful music drifted from outside his door.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sound to a corridor. Peering down, he saw a massive hall below. On a central circular stage, dozens of scantily clad young women were swaying their hips, exuding sensuality and allure. Around the stage, beautiful female musicians played instruments. Beyond them, tables laden with delicacies were surrounded by ghosts and demons.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao’s heart leaped as he noticed a distinctive group.
In one corner of the hall, a large crowd of dwarves was drinking and singing, creating a lively atmosphere.
These dwarves were dressed exactly like the Red Tribe and dwarf tribe Shui Miao had encountered before.
His heart stirred, and he scanned the crowd for Bru.
It didn’t take long for Shui Miao to spot him!
“Excellent! I need to find him!”
Overjoyed, Shui Miao hurried downstairs.
Earlier, Shui Miao had asked Bru to have his clansmen inquire about the thousand-year-old female ghost in the Immortal Realm. But later, Bru had mysteriously appeared only once, waved his hand, and vanished. Shui Miao felt there was definitely something amiss and now was the perfect chance to get answers from Bru.
※※※
Meanwhile, in her room, the thousand-year-old female ghost was extracting immortal power from the Illusion Demon Mirror, focusing entirely on healing her injuries, with no attention to spare for Shui Miao.
In the cavern of the dry well, she had used the mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were her best resources for recovery.
She was healing rapidly. In another hour, she would be fully recovered. Once she absorbed the two Golden Immortals, her powers would be completely restored.
“Bru! Bru!”
Shui Miao excitedly ran up to Bru.
Bru was momentarily stunned. Recognizing Shui Miao, he exclaimed in astonishment, “Shui Miao? How… how is it you? What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. I’m so lucky to run into you here.” At that moment, Shui Miao wasn’t worried about the thousand-year-old female ghost at all, convinced that her injuries were so severe she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days to half a month.
“Uh…”
Bru nervously glanced around, then grabbed Shui Miao’s hand and pulled him into a small room.
He also called over two dwarves in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately had the two dwarves set up a barrier to prevent powerful beings from detecting them with their spiritual senses.
After the barrier was in place, Bru said urgently, “Brother, I actually gathered experts from our tribe here for three purposes: first, to go to Evil Dragon Island and slay the evil dragon; second, to search for you in the Rakshasa Realm; and third, to explore the treasure vault I told you about. But now I’ve run into you here. What exactly happened? What did you experience in the Rakshasa Realm? Why are you alone here?”
“It’s really a long story, and there’s no time to explain everything now.” Shui Miao didn’t want to waste time on his own trivial matters. What Bru had discovered was what Shui Miao desperately wanted to know. “Bru, quickly tell me, why did you leave without speaking last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“Indeed, a very big secret!”
Bru’s expression turned grave. “Shui Miao, last time I was worried for your safety, so I didn’t dare tell you the truth about the thousand-year-old female ghost. Now I’ve heard that she narrowly escaped death and has been severely wounded by the Immortal Realm. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s one thing you need to prepare yourself for!”
“Wh-what…”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
Bru frowned and sighed. “I’ve received recent news that your father, he…”
“What about my father?”
A buzzing filled Shui Miao’s head. His emotions spiraled out of control, and he gripped Bru’s arm tightly, tears welling in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Bru.
The thousand-year-old female ghost possessed profound supernatural powers, and even the minor demons at the Gate of the Underworld recognized her, not daring to question or inspect her.
She barged directly into the Netherworld and hurried toward the Sea of Rakshasa.
However, by the time she reached the shores of the Sea of Rakshasa, the immortal power she had recently acquired was already depleted.
At the Netherworld’s Wanghai Dock, the thousand-year-old female ghost stood atop a massive rock with Shui Miao, gazing at the boundless, blood-red Sea of Rakshasa that seemed capable of devouring everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they didn’t leave promptly, more powerful immortals would pursue them here. Yet, she was severely injured and utterly incapable of flying across the Sea of Rakshasa.
“Elder, why was that Foolish Buddha willing to sacrifice himself to save us?”
The Foolish Buddha had vanished, and the cavern was filled with violent, malevolent energy. The Golden Immortals had been severely wounded or even killed, so Shui Miao naturally assumed the Foolish Buddha had self-destructed. Shui Miao was deeply shaken. The Foolish Buddha was so powerful and so loyal, while the thousand-year-old female ghost appeared cold and heartless. What exactly was their relationship?
In truth, Shui Miao still didn’t quite trust the thousand-year-old female ghost.
Her callous indifference toward the Foolish Buddha, showing not a hint of sorrow, made Shui Miao suspect that she had simply been using him.
The Foolish Buddha, as his name implied, was a rather foolish and simple-minded Buddha.
The thousand-year-old female ghost was heartless and unfeeling, treating him as nothing more than a puppet.
Shui Miao thought from another perspective: if she could use the Foolish Buddha as a puppet, couldn’t she do the same to him?
“What kind of time is this for you to be pondering such things?” The thousand-year-old female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning to look toward the massive ghost ship docked at the harbor. “Let’s go. We’ll take the ship and leave. Even if we drift to an island in the Sea of Rakshasa, it’s better than waiting here.”
Her cold demeanor sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine, and he promptly closed his mouth, choosing to remain silent.
Yet, the mystery surrounding the thousand-year-old female ghost once again complicated Shui Miao’s thoughts.
The massive ghost ship resembled a gigantic sea monster fish, its size equivalent to three buildings, with a gloomy, dark surface exuding a chilling aura. Numerous ghost laborers were carrying black sacks, lining up to load supplies onto the ship. Meanwhile, many other ghosts dressed in various attires were undergoing inspections before boarding the vessel.
Indeed, this was the Sea of Rakshasa, where the gravitational pull differed from other parts of the Netherworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like living humans, unable to float or fly.
Of course, there were also wealthy and powerful figures here. Some were carried in palanquins, others drove cars, and some even rode strange creatures.
Shui Miao followed behind the thousand-year-old female ghost as they approached the inspection checkpoint, where over a dozen ghost officials clad in purple constable uniforms stood guard.
The thousand-year-old female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for boarding the ship.
Meanwhile, Shui Miao observed the bustling scene around him.
He had visited ghost markets and even browsed the Lingbao Pavilion, but he had never taken the time to carefully observe the Netherworld.
Upon closer inspection, Shui Miao found everything refreshingly novel.
First were the outfits. Whether ghosts or monsters, those with any status wore incredibly unique and peculiar clothing. Garments from any dynasty in ancient history could be seen here, alongside bizarre costumes and modern attire. Overall, the scene resembled a massive masquerade party.
Naturally, their appearances were equally diverse—domestic, foreign, normal, strange, peculiar, terrifying, and grotesque—almost every type of character imaginable was present.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in Netherworld currency to obtain a boarding pass.
After overhearing the conversation between the thousand-year-old female ghost and the ghost officials, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for the Isle of Evil Dragons. The ship served two purposes: transporting supplies to the Isle of Evil Dragons and ferrying Netherworld dignitaries there for leisure and enjoyment. However, to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the Netherworld.
A ghost certificate was essentially equivalent to an ID card.
The thousand-year-old female ghost slipped the ghost official a stack of Netherworld currency, and the official, grinning broadly, immediately led her and Shui Miao to a small booth where an old man was fiddling with an abacus, tallying accounts. The ghost official whispered to the old man, claiming that his two relatives had forgotten their ghost certificates and asking for leniency to issue two boarding passes.
Seizing the opportunity, the thousand-year-old female ghost handed over a substantial amount of Netherworld currency. Grasping the underlying message, the old man narrowed his triangular eyes, smiled, nodded in acknowledgment, accepted the money, and retrieved two thin white tokens from a drawer. Picking up a brush, he glanced at the thousand-year-old female ghost and inquired, “What is your name, and what is your ghostly birth chart?”
Hearing this, Shui Miao immediately perked up, finally seeing an opportunity to learn the thousand-year-old female ghost’s name.
To his surprise, the thousand-year-old female ghost produced another stack of Netherworld currency and placed it in front of the old man. “Elder, please help us out. We’re fleeing from disaster, so just make up any names for us.”
“Fleeing from disaster?”
The old man and the ghost official glanced at Shui Miao and then exchanged sly smirks.
It seemed they had encountered a pair of illicit lovers.
Shui Miao instantly felt embarrassed and frowned in protest.
The thousand-year-old female ghost, however, remained composed, showing no expression, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Money makes things easier—this holds true in both the mortal world and the Netherworld.
In no time, the old man handed two tokens to the thousand-year-old female ghost and Shui Miao.
Shui Miao glanced at the token in the thousand-year-old female ghost’s hand: her name was written as “Bai Susu.” Meanwhile, his own token read “Hei Dan” (Black Egg)!
What the heck! This was downright insulting!
Furious, Shui Miao shot a fierce glare at the old man before leaving. To his surprise, the old man responded with a look of utter disdain! His expression clearly said, “You shameless pretty boy, penniless yet managing to woo such a wealthy beauty…” (Three thousand words omitted here), but in short, it was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment!
After boarding the ghost ship, the thousand-year-old female ghost rented two adjacent rooms.
She sat in meditation inside her room, absorbing Yin energy to heal her injuries.
Shui Miao, on the other hand, discovered that the room was surprisingly similar to a modern hotel room. It seemed even ghosts appreciated the luxuries of the living!
Penniless and with nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, and the ghost ship set sail.
To Shui Miao’s surprise, the ghost ship didn’t sail on the surface of the Sea of Rakshasa. Instead, enveloped in Yin energy, it submerged and traveled underwater, much like a submarine. No wonder he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the Sea of Rakshasa earlier—this was the reason.
Shui Miao had initially planned to meditate quietly until they reached the so-called Isle of Evil Dragons.
However, soon enough, the sound of women’s laughter and beautiful music drifted from outside his door.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sound to a corridor. Looking down, he saw a massive hall below. On a central circular stage, dozens of scantily clad young women were swaying their hips, exuding sensuality and allure. Below the stage, many beautiful female musicians were playing instruments. Beyond them were tables surrounded by ghosts and monsters, laden with various delicacies.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao’s heart suddenly stirred as he noticed a particularly distinctive group.
In one corner of the hall, a large crowd of dwarves was drinking and singing, creating a lively atmosphere.
These dwarves were dressed exactly like the Red Tribe and dwarf tribes Shui Miao had seen before.
His interest piqued, Shui Miao scanned the group to see if Bru was among them.
To his surprise, he spotted Bru almost immediately!
“Excellent! I need to find him!”
Overjoyed, Shui Miao hurried downstairs.
Earlier, Shui Miao had entrusted Bru to ask his tribesmen to inquire about the thousand-year-old female ghost in the Immortal Realm. However, Bru had mysteriously appeared only once afterward, merely waving before disappearing. Shui Miao felt there was definitely something amiss and now was the perfect opportunity to get answers from Bru.
※※※
Meanwhile, inside her room, the thousand-year-old female ghost was extracting immortal power from the Illusion Demon Mirror, focusing entirely on healing her injuries, with no time to spare for Shui Miao.
Back in the cavern of the dry well, she had used the Illusion Demon Mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were her best resources for recovery.
Her healing progressed rapidly. In just another hour, she would fully recover from her injuries. Once she devoured the two Golden Immortals, her powers would be completely restored.
“Bru! Bru!”
Shui Miao excitedly ran up to Bru.
Bru was momentarily stunned. Upon recognizing Shui Miao, his expression turned to one of shock. “Shui Miao? How… how is it you? What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. I’m so lucky to run into you here.” At that moment, Shui Miao wasn’t the least bit worried about the thousand-year-old female ghost, as he believed her injuries were so severe that she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days to half a month.
“Uh…”
Bru nervously glanced around before grabbing Shui Miao’s hand and pulling him into a small room.
He also called over two dwarves clad in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately instructed the two dwarves to set up a barrier to prevent powerful beings from detecting them with their spiritual senses.
After the barrier was in place, Bru spoke urgently, “Brother, to be honest, I gathered experts from our tribe to come here for three reasons: first, to slay the evil dragon on the Isle of Evil Dragons; second, to find you in the Rakshasa Realm; and third, to explore the treasure vault I mentioned to you. But now I’ve run into you here. What exactly happened? What did you experience in the Rakshasa Realm? Why are you here alone?”
“It’s really a long story, and there’s no time to explain everything now.” Shui Miao didn’t want to spend much time recounting his own trivial matters. What Bru had discovered was what Shui Miao urgently wanted to know. “Bru, quickly tell me, why did you leave without saying a word last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“Indeed, a very significant secret!”
Bru’s expression turned grave. “Shui Miao, last time I was concerned for your safety, so I didn’t dare tell you the truth about the thousand-year-old female ghost. Now, I’ve heard that she narrowly escaped death and has been severely wounded by the Immortal Realm. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s one thing you need to prepare yourself for!”
“W-what is it…”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
Bru frowned and sighed. “I’ve received recent news that your father…”
“What about my father?”
A loud “buzz” echoed in Shui Miao’s mind as his emotions spiraled out of control. He gripped Bru’s arm tightly, tears welling in his eyes, and stared intently at Bru.
In truth, Shui Miao still found it hard to fully trust the thousand-year-old ghost.
The thousand-year-old female ghost possessed profound mystical powers, and even the minor spirits at the Gate of the Underworld recognized her, not daring to question or inspect her.
She barged directly into the Netherworld and hurried toward the Sea of Rakshasa.
However, by the time she reached the shores of the Sea of Rakshasa, the immortal power she had recently acquired was already depleted.
Standing atop a giant rock at the Netherworld’s Wanghai Dock, the thousand-year-old female ghost, accompanied by Shui Miao, gazed at the boundless, blood-red Sea of Rakshasa that seemed capable of devouring everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they didn’t leave promptly, more powerful immortals would pursue them here. Yet, she was severely injured and utterly incapable of flying across the Sea of Rakshasa.
“Elder, why was the Foolish Buddha willing to sacrifice himself to save us?”
The Foolish Buddha had vanished, and the cavern was filled with violent, malevolent energy. The Golden Immortals had been severely wounded or even killed, so Shui Miao naturally assumed the Foolish Buddha had self-destructed. Shui Miao was deeply shaken. The Foolish Buddha was so powerful and so loyal, while the thousand-year-old female ghost appeared cold and heartless. What exactly was their relationship?
In truth, Shui Miao still didn’t entirely trust the thousand-year-old female ghost.
Her callous indifference toward the Foolish Buddha, without a hint of sorrow, made Shui Miao suspect that she had simply been using him.
The Foolish Buddha, as his name implied, was a rather foolish and simple-minded Buddha.
The thousand-year-old female ghost was heartless and unfeeling, treating him as nothing more than a puppet.
Shui Miao considered another angle: if she could use the Foolish Buddha as a puppet, couldn’t she do the same to him?
“What kind of time is this for you to be pondering such things?” The thousand-year-old female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning her gaze toward the massive ghost ship docked at the harbor. “Let’s go. We’ll take the ship and leave. Even if we drift to an island in the Sea of Rakshasa, it’s better than waiting here.”
Her icy demeanor sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine, and he promptly fell silent.
Yet, the enigmatic nature of the thousand-year-old female ghost once again stirred complex thoughts in Shui Miao’s mind.
The giant ghost ship resembled a massive sea monster, its size equivalent to three buildings, with a dull, gloomy surface shrouded in Yin energy. Numerous ghost laborers were carrying black sacks, queuing up to load supplies onto the ship. Meanwhile, ghosts dressed in various attire were undergoing inspections before boarding the vessel.
Indeed, this was the Sea of Rakshasa, where the gravitational pull differed from other parts of the Netherworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like living humans, unable to float or fly.
Of course, there were also wealthy and powerful figures here. Some were carried in palanquins, others drove cars, and some even rode strange creatures.
Shui Miao followed the thousand-year-old female ghost as they approached the inspection checkpoint, where a dozen ghost guards clad in purple constable uniforms stood.
The thousand-year-old female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for boarding the ship.
Meanwhile, Shui Miao observed the bustling scene around him.
He had visited ghost markets and Lingbao Pavilion before but had never taken the time to carefully observe the Netherworld.
Upon closer inspection, Shui Miao found it refreshingly novel.
First, the attire: whether ghosts or monsters, those with any status wore strikingly unique and peculiar clothing. Garments from every dynasty in ancient history could be seen here, alongside bizarre costumes and modern-day outfits. Overall, the place resembled a massive masquerade party.
Naturally, their appearances were equally diverse: domestic, foreign, normal, strange, peculiar, and terrifying—almost every type of character was present.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in Netherworld currency for an entry permit.
Overhearing the conversation between the thousand-year-old female ghost and the ghost guards, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for Evil Dragon Island. Its purposes were twofold: to transport supplies to the island and to ferry Netherworld dignitaries there for leisure and enjoyment. However, to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the Netherworld.
A ghost certificate was essentially equivalent to an ID card.
The thousand-year-old female ghost slipped a bribe of Netherworld currency to one of the ghost guards, who promptly smiled and led her and Shui Miao to a small hut where an old man was fiddling with an abacus, tallying accounts. The ghost guard whispered to the old man, claiming that his two relatives had forgotten their ghost certificates and asking for leniency to issue two boarding passes.
Seizing the opportunity, the thousand-year-old female ghost handed over a substantial amount of Netherworld currency. Grasping the underlying message, the old man narrowed his triangular eyes, smiled, nodded in acknowledgment, accepted the money, and retrieved two thin white tokens from a drawer. Picking up a brush pen, he glanced at the thousand-year-old female ghost and inquired, “What is your name, and what is your ghostly eight characters?”
Hearing this, Shui Miao perked up with interest, finally seeing an opportunity to learn the thousand-year-old female ghost’s name.
To his surprise, she produced another stack of Netherworld currency and placed it before the old man. “Elder, please help us. We’re fleeing from disaster. As for names, just make up whatever you like for us.”
“Fleeing from disaster?”
The old man and the ghost guard glanced at Shui Miao and then exchanged sly smirks.
It seemed they had encountered a pair of illicit lovers.
Shui Miao felt instantly embarrassed and furrowed his brows in protest!
The thousand-year-old female ghost, however, remained composed, showing no expression, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Money smooths the way, whether in the mortal world or the Netherworld.
In no time, the old man handed two tokens to the thousand-year-old female ghost and Shui Miao.
Shui Miao glanced at the token in her hand: her name was written as “Bai Susu.” His own token, however, read “Hei Dan” (Black Egg)!
What the heck! This was downright insulting!
Furious, Shui Miao shot a glare at the old man as they left, only to be met with a look of disdain. The expression clearly said, “Shameless pretty boy, penniless yet managing to woo such a wealthy beauty…” (Three thousand words omitted here), but in short, it was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment!
After boarding the ghost ship, the thousand-year-old female ghost rented two adjacent rooms.
She sat in meditation inside her room, absorbing Yin energy to heal her injuries.
Shui Miao, on the other hand, was surprised to find that the room resembled a modern hotel room. It seemed even ghosts appreciated the luxuries of the living world!
Penniless and with nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, and the ghost ship set sail.
To Shui Miao’s astonishment, the ship didn’t sail on the surface of the Sea of Rakshasa. Instead, enveloped in Yin energy, it submerged and traveled underwater, much like a submarine. No wonder he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the Sea of Rakshasa earlier—this was the reason.
Shui Miao had intended to meditate quietly until they reached Evil Dragon Island.
However, soon enough, the sound of women’s laughter and beautiful music drifted from outside his door.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sound to a corridor. Peering down, he saw a massive hall below. On a central circular stage, dozens of scantily clad young women were swaying their hips, exuding sensuality and allure. Below the stage, beautiful female musicians were playing instruments. Beyond them, tables laden with delicacies were surrounded by ghosts and monsters.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao’s heart leaped as he noticed a particularly distinctive group.
In one corner of the hall, a large crowd of dwarves was drinking and singing, creating a lively atmosphere.
These dwarves were dressed exactly like the Red Tribe and dwarf tribe Shui Miao had encountered before.
His interest piqued, Shui Miao scanned the group for Bru.
It didn’t take long before he spotted him!
“Excellent! I need to find him!”
Overjoyed, Shui Miao hurried downstairs.
Earlier, Shui Miao had entrusted Bru to ask his clansmen to inquire about the thousand-year-old female ghost in the immortal realm. However, Bru had mysteriously appeared once later, only to wave his hand and vanish. Shui Miao felt there was definitely more to the story and now was the perfect opportunity to get answers from Bru.
※※※
Meanwhile, in her room, the thousand-year-old female ghost was extracting immortal power from the Illusion Demon Mirror, focusing entirely on healing her injuries, with no attention to spare for Shui Miao.
Back in the cavern of the dry well, she had used the Illusion Demon Mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were her best resources for recovery.
Her healing progressed rapidly. In just another hour, she would fully recover from her injuries. Once she absorbed the two Golden Immortals, her powers would be completely restored.
“Bru! Bru!”
Shui Miao excitedly ran up to Bru.
Bru was momentarily stunned. Recognizing Shui Miao, he exclaimed in shock, “Shui Miao! How… how is it you? What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. I’m so fortunate to meet you here.” At that moment, Shui Miao wasn’t worried about the thousand-year-old female ghost at all, as he believed her injuries were so severe that she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days to half a month.
“Uh…”
Bru nervously glanced around before grabbing Shui Miao’s hand and pulling him into a small room.
He also called over two dwarves clad in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately instructed the two dwarves to set up a barrier to prevent powerful beings from detecting them with their spiritual senses.
After the barrier was in place, Bru spoke urgently, “Brother, I actually gathered experts from our tribe here for three purposes: first, to go to Evil Dragon Island and slay the evil dragon; second, to search for you in the Rakshasa Realm; and third, to explore the treasure vault I told you about. But now I’ve run into you here. What exactly happened? What did you experience in the Rakshasa Realm? Why are you alone here?”
“It’s really a long story, and there’s no time to explain everything now.” Shui Miao didn’t want to spend time recounting his own trivial matters. What Bru had discovered was what Shui Miao urgently wanted to know: “Bru, quickly tell me, why did you leave without saying anything last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“Indeed, a very significant secret!”
Bru’s expression turned grave. “Shui Miao, last time I was concerned for your safety, so I didn’t dare tell you the truth about the thousand-year-old female ghost. Now, I’ve heard that she narrowly escaped death and has been severely wounded by the immortals. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s one thing you need to prepare yourself for!”
“Wh-what is it…”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
Bru frowned and sighed. “I’ve received recent news that your father, he…”
“What about my father?”
A buzzing filled Shui Miao’s mind as his emotions spiraled out of control. He gripped Bru’s arm tightly, tears welling in his eyes as he stared intently at Bru.
The thousand-year-old female ghost possessed profound supernatural powers, and even the minor spirits at the Gate of the Underworld recognized her, not daring to question or inspect her.
She barged directly into the Netherworld and hurried toward the Sea of Rakshasa.
However, by the time she reached the shores of the Sea of Rakshasa, the immortal power she had recently acquired was already depleted.
At the Netherworld’s Harbor Overlooking the Sea, the thousand-year-old female ghost stood atop a massive rock with Shui Miao, gazing at the boundless, blood-red Sea of Rakshasa that seemed capable of devouring everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they didn’t leave in time, more powerful immortals would pursue them here. Yet, she was severely injured and utterly incapable of flying across the Sea of Rakshasa.
“Elder, why was the Foolish Buddha willing to sacrifice himself to save us?”
The Foolish Buddha had vanished, and the cavern was filled with violent, malevolent energy. The Golden Immortals had been severely wounded or even killed. Naturally, Shui Miao assumed the Foolish Buddha had self-destructed. Shui Miao was deeply shaken. The Foolish Buddha was so powerful and so loyal, while the thousand-year-old female ghost appeared cold and heartless. What exactly was their relationship?
In truth, Shui Miao still didn’t quite trust the thousand-year-old female ghost.
Her callous indifference toward the Foolish Buddha, showing not a hint of sorrow, made Shui Miao suspect she had simply been using him.
The Foolish Buddha, as his name implied, was a rather foolish and simple-minded Buddha.
The thousand-year-old female ghost was heartless and unfeeling, treating him as nothing more than a puppet.
Shui Miao reconsidered: if she could use the Foolish Buddha as a puppet, couldn’t she do the same to him?
“What kind of time is this for you to be pondering such things?” The thousand-year-old female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning to look toward the massive ghost ship docked at the harbor. “Let’s go. We’ll take the ship. Even if we drift to an island in the Sea of Rakshasa, it’s better than waiting here.”
Her cold demeanor sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine, and he promptly fell silent.
Yet, the mystery surrounding the thousand-year-old female ghost once again complicated Shui Miao’s thoughts.
The massive ghost ship resembled a gigantic sea monster fish, as large as three buildings, its surface dull and shrouded in a gloomy aura. Numerous ghost laborers were carrying black sacks, lining up to load supplies onto the ship. Many other ghosts, dressed in various attires, were undergoing inspections and boarding the ship on foot.
Indeed, this was the Sea of Rakshasa, where the gravitational pull differed from other parts of the Netherworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like living humans, unable to float or fly.
Of course, there were also wealthy and powerful figures here. Some were carried in palanquins, others drove cars, and some even rode strange creatures.
Shui Miao followed behind the thousand-year-old female ghost as they approached the inspection checkpoint, where a dozen ghost guards clad in purple constable uniforms stood.
The thousand-year-old female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for boarding the ship.
Meanwhile, Shui Miao observed the bustling scene.
He had been to ghost markets and visited Lingbao Pavilion, but he had never carefully examined the Netherworld in detail.
Upon closer inspection, Shui Miao found it refreshingly novel.
First, the clothing: whether ghosts or monsters, those with any status wore extraordinarily unique and peculiar outfits. Garments from any dynasty in ancient history could be seen here, alongside bizarre costumes and modern attire. Overall, it looked like a massive masquerade party.
Naturally, their appearances were equally diverse: domestic, foreign, normal, strange, peculiar, terrifying, and gruesome—almost every type of character was present.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in Netherworld currency for an entry permit.
Overhearing the conversation between the thousand-year-old female ghost and the ghost guards, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for Dragon’s Malevolence Island. The ship transported supplies to the island and also ferried Netherworld dignitaries there for leisure and enjoyment. However, to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the Netherworld.
A ghost certificate was equivalent to an identification card.
The thousand-year-old female ghost slipped the ghost guard a bribe in Netherworld currency. The guard promptly smiled and led her and Shui Miao to a small hut where an old man was fiddling with an abacus, tallying accounts. The guard whispered to the old man, claiming that his two relatives had forgotten their ghost certificates and asking for leniency to issue two boarding passes.
The thousand-year-old female ghost promptly handed over a substantial amount of Netherworld currency. Grasping the hint, the old man narrowed his triangular eyes, nodded with a smile, accepted the money, and retrieved two thin white tokens from a drawer. Picking up a brush, he inquired of the thousand-year-old female ghost, “What is your name, and what is your ghostly birth chart?”
Hearing this, Shui Miao immediately perked up, finally seeing a chance to learn the thousand-year-old female ghost’s name.
Unexpectedly, the thousand-year-old female ghost produced another stack of Netherworld currency and placed it before the old man. “Elder, please help us. We’re fleeing from disaster. As for names, feel free to make up whatever you like for us.”
“Fleeing from disaster?”
The old man and the ghost guard glanced at Shui Miao and then exchanged knowing smirks.
It seemed they thought they had encountered an adulterous couple.
Shui Miao felt extremely awkward and quickly furrowed his brows in protest!
The thousand-year-old female ghost, however, remained composed, showing no expression, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Money smooths the way, be it in the mortal world or the Netherworld.
In no time, the old man handed two tokens to the thousand-year-old female ghost and Shui Miao.
Shui Miao glanced at the token in the thousand-year-old female ghost’s hand: her name was written as Bai Susu. On his own token, however, was written Hei Dan (Black Egg)!
What the hell! This is downright insulting!
Furious, Shui Miao shot a fierce glare at the old man as they left. The old man, however, responded with a look of utter contempt! His expression clearly conveyed, “Shameless pretty boy, penniless yet managing to charm such a wealthy beauty…”—omitting three thousand words, in essence, it was brimming with envy, jealousy, and resentment!
After boarding the ghost ship, the thousand-year-old female ghost rented two adjacent rooms.
She sat in meditation inside her room, absorbing Yin energy to heal her injuries.
Shui Miao, on the other hand, discovered that the room was surprisingly similar to a real-world hotel room. It seemed ghosts also appreciated the luxuries of the living!
Penniless and with nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, and the ghost ship set sail.
To Shui Miao’s surprise, the ghost ship didn’t sail on the surface of the Sea of Rakshasa. Instead, enveloped in Yin energy, it submerged and traveled underwater, much like a submarine. No wonder he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the Sea of Rakshasa earlier—this was the reason.
Shui Miao had intended to meditate quietly until they reached Dragon’s Malevolence Island.
However, soon enough, the sound of women’s laughter and beautiful music drifted from outside his door.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sound to a corridor. Looking down, he saw a massive hall below. On a central circular stage, dozens of scantily clad young women were swaying their hips, exuding sensuality and allure. Below the stage, beautiful female musicians were playing instruments. Farther out, tables laden with delicacies were surrounded by ghosts and monsters.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao’s heart leaped as he noticed a particularly distinctive group.
In one corner of the hall, a large crowd of dwarves was drinking and singing, creating a lively atmosphere.
These dwarves were dressed exactly like the Red Tribe and dwarf tribe Shui Miao had seen before.
His heart stirred, and he scanned the group for Bru.
To his surprise, he spotted Bru almost immediately!
“Excellent! I need to find him!”
Overjoyed, Shui Miao hurried downstairs.
Earlier, Shui Miao had entrusted Bru to ask his clansmen to inquire about the thousand-year-old female ghost in the Immortal Realm. However, Bru had mysteriously appeared only once afterward, merely waving before disappearing. Shui Miao felt there was definitely something amiss and now wanted to clarify things with Bru.
※※※
Meanwhile, in her room, the thousand-year-old female ghost was extracting immortal power from the Illusion Demon Mirror, focusing entirely on recovering from her injuries, with no time to spare for Shui Miao.
In the cavern of the dry well, she had used the Illusion Demon Mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were her best nourishment.
Her recovery was rapid. In another hour, she would be fully healed. After devouring the two Golden Immortals, she would regain her full strength.
“Bru! Bru!”
Shui Miao excitedly ran up to Bru.
Bru was slightly startled. Recognizing Shui Miao, he exclaimed in astonishment, “Shui Miao? How… how is it you? What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. I’m so fortunate to meet you here.” At that moment, Shui Miao wasn’t worried about the thousand-year-old female ghost at all, as he believed her injuries were so severe that she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days to half a month.
“Uh…”
Bru nervously glanced around, then grabbed Shui Miao’s hand and pulled him into a small room.
He also called over two dwarves clad in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately instructed the two dwarves to set up a barrier to prevent powerful beings from detecting them with their spiritual senses.
After the barrier was in place, Bru said urgently, “Brother, I actually gathered experts from our tribe here for three purposes: first, to go to Dragon’s Malevolence Island and slay the evil dragon; second, to search for you in the Rakshasa Realm; and third, to explore the treasure vault I told you about. But now I’ve run into you here. What exactly happened? What did you experience in the Rakshasa Realm? Why are you alone here?”
“It’s really a long story, and there’s no time to explain everything now.” Shui Miao didn’t want to spend much time on his own trivial matters. What Bru had discovered was what Shui Miao urgently wanted to know. “Bru, quickly tell me, why did you leave without saying anything last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“Indeed, a very significant secret!”
Bru’s expression turned grave. “Shui Miao, last time I was concerned for your safety, so I didn’t dare tell you the truth about the thousand-year-old female ghost. Now, I’ve heard that she narrowly escaped death and has been severely wounded by the Immortal Realm. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s one thing you must prepare yourself for!”
“Wh-what…”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
Bru frowned and sighed. “I’ve received recent news that your father, he…”
“What about my father?”
A buzzing filled Shui Miao’s mind as his emotions spiraled out of control. He gripped Bru’s arm tightly, tears welling in his eyes, and stared intently at Bru.
The ancient female ghost was heartless and treated him merely as a puppet.
The thousand-year-old female ghost possessed profound supernatural powers, and even the minor spirits at the Gate of the Underworld recognized her, not daring to question or inspect her.
She barged directly into the Netherworld and hurried toward the Sea of Rakshasa.
However, by the time she reached the shores of the Sea of Rakshasa, the immortal power she had recently acquired was completely depleted.
Standing atop a giant rock at the Netherworld’s Wanghai Dock, the thousand-year-old female ghost, accompanied by Shui Miao, gazed upon the boundless, blood-red Sea of Rakshasa that seemed capable of devouring everything. She couldn’t help but hesitate. If they didn’t leave promptly, more powerful immortals would soon catch up. Yet, she was severely injured and utterly incapable of flying across the sea.
“Elder, why was the Foolish Buddha willing to sacrifice himself to save us?”
The Foolish Buddha had vanished, and the cavern was filled with violent, malevolent energy. The Golden Immortals had been severely wounded or even killed, leading Shui Miao to conclude that the Foolish Buddha had self-destructed. Shui Miao was deeply shaken. The Foolish Buddha was incredibly powerful and loyal, while the thousand-year-old female ghost appeared cold and heartless. What was the relationship between them?
In truth, Shui Miao still didn’t fully trust the thousand-year-old female ghost.
Her callous indifference toward the Foolish Buddha’s sacrifice made Shui Miao suspect that she had merely been using him.
The Foolish Buddha, as his name implied, was a rather simple-minded Buddha.
The thousand-year-old female ghost was heartless and had treated him as nothing more than a puppet.
Shui Miao reconsidered: if she could use the Foolish Buddha as a puppet, couldn’t she do the same to him?
“What kind of time is this for you to be pondering such things?” The thousand-year-old female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning her attention to the massive ghost ship docked nearby. “Let’s go. We’ll take the ship. Even if we end up drifting to an island in the Sea of Rakshasa, it’s better than waiting here.”
Her icy demeanor sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine, and he promptly fell silent.
Yet, the enigmatic nature of the thousand-year-old female ghost once again stirred complex thoughts in Shui Miao’s mind.
The ghost ship resembled a gigantic sea monster, as large as three buildings, with a gloomy, dark surface exuding a sinister aura. Numerous ghost laborers were carrying black sacks, lining up to load supplies onto the ship. Meanwhile, other ghosts dressed in various attire were undergoing inspections before boarding.
Indeed, this was the Sea of Rakshasa, where the gravitational pull differed from the rest of the Netherworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like living humans, unable to float.
Of course, there were also wealthy and powerful figures here, traveling in palanquins carried by eight bearers, driving cars, or even riding strange creatures.
Following the thousand-year-old female ghost, Shui Miao approached the inspection checkpoint, where a dozen ghost guards clad in purple uniforms stood.
The thousand-year-old female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for boarding the ship, while Shui Miao observed the surroundings with curiosity.
Shui Miao had visited ghost markets and even the Lingbao Pavilion, but he had never taken the time to carefully observe the Netherworld.
Upon closer inspection, he found it refreshingly novel.
The clothing, in particular, stood out. Whether ghosts or monsters, those with any status wore uniquely stylish and distinctive outfits. Garments from various dynasties throughout history could be seen here, alongside modern attire and even bizarre costumes. The scene resembled a massive masquerade party.
Moreover, the appearances of the beings here were incredibly diverse—local and foreign, normal and strange, peculiar and terrifying—almost every type of character imaginable was present.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in Netherworld currency for an entry permit.
Overhearing the conversation between the thousand-year-old female ghost and the ghost guards, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for the Isle of Evil Dragons. The ship served two purposes: transporting supplies to the island and ferrying Netherworld dignitaries there for leisure and enjoyment. However, to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the Netherworld.
A ghost certificate was essentially an identification card.
The thousand-year-old female ghost slipped a bribe of Netherworld currency to one of the guards, who promptly led her and Shui Miao to a small booth where an old man was busy tallying accounts with an abacus. The guard whispered to the old man, claiming that his two relatives had forgotten their ghost certificates and requesting special consideration for two boarding passes.
Seizing the opportunity, the thousand-year-old female ghost handed over a large sum of Netherworld currency. Understanding the hint, the old man narrowed his triangular eyes, nodded with a smile, accepted the money, and retrieved two thin white tokens from a drawer. Picking up a brush, he asked the thousand-year-old female ghost, “What is your name, and what is your ghost birthdate?”
Hearing this, Shui Miao perked up, eager to finally learn the thousand-year-old female ghost’s name.
To his surprise, she placed another stack of Netherworld currency in front of the old man. “Elder, please help us. We’re fleeing from disaster. You can just make up names for us.”
“Fleeing from disaster?”
The old man and the ghost guard exchanged knowing smirks upon hearing this, clearly assuming they were dealing with an illicit couple.
Shui Miao felt extremely awkward and immediately frowned in protest.
The thousand-year-old female ghost, however, remained composed, showing no emotion, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Money smooths the way, whether in the mortal world or the Netherworld.
In no time, the old man handed two tokens to the thousand-year-old female ghost and Shui Miao.
Glancing at the token in her hand, Shui Miao saw that the old man had written “Bai Susu” as her name, while his own token read “Hei Dan” (Black Egg)!
What the heck! This was downright insulting!
Furious, Shui Miao shot a glare at the old man as they left, only to be met with a look of disdain. The old man’s expression clearly conveyed, “You shameless pretty boy, penniless yet managing to woo such a wealthy beauty…” The rest was left unsaid, but it was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
After boarding the ghost ship, the thousand-year-old female ghost rented two adjacent rooms.
She settled into her room to meditate, absorbing Yin energy to heal her injuries.
Shui Miao, on the other hand, was surprised to find that the room resembled a modern hotel suite. It seemed even ghosts appreciated the luxuries of the living.
Broke and with nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, signaling the ship’s departure.
To Shui Miao’s astonishment, the ghost ship didn’t sail on the surface of the Sea of Rakshasa. Instead, enveloped in Yin energy, it submerged and traveled underwater like a submarine. No wonder he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the sea earlier.
Shui Miao had planned to meditate quietly until they reached the Isle of Evil Dragons.
However, soon after, the sound of women’s laughter and melodious music drifted from outside his door.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sounds to a corridor. Peering down, he saw a massive hall below. On a central circular stage, dozens of scantily clad young women were swaying their hips, exuding sensuality and charm. Around the stage, beautiful musicians played instruments, while tables laden with delicacies were surrounded by ghosts and monsters.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao’s attention was suddenly caught by a distinctive group.
In one corner of the hall, a large crowd of dwarves was drinking and singing, creating a lively atmosphere.
These dwarves were dressed exactly like the Red Tribe and dwarf tribes Shui Miao had encountered before.
His interest piqued, Shui Miao scanned the group for Bru.
It didn’t take long for him to spot Bru!
“Excellent! I need to find him!”
Overjoyed, Shui Miao hurried downstairs.
Earlier, Shui Miao had asked Bru to have his clansmen inquire about the thousand-year-old female ghost in the Immortal Realm. However, Bru had mysteriously appeared once, only to wave and vanish. Shui Miao felt there was more to the story and was eager to get answers from Bru today.
※※※
Meanwhile, in her room, the thousand-year-old female ghost was extracting immortal power from the Illusion Demon Mirror, focusing entirely on healing her injuries. She had no time to spare for Shui Miao.
In the cavern of the dry well, she had used the mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were her best resources for recovery.
Her healing progressed rapidly. In another two hours, she would fully recover. After absorbing the two Golden Immortals, she would regain her full strength.
“Bru! Bru!”
Shui Miao excitedly ran up to Bru.
Bru was momentarily stunned. Recognizing Shui Miao, he exclaimed in surprise, “Shui Miao! How… how is it you? What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. I’m so lucky to run into you here.” At that moment, Shui Miao wasn’t worried about the thousand-year-old female ghost at all, as he believed her injuries were so severe that she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days to half a month.
“Uh…”
Bru nervously glanced around before grabbing Shui Miao’s hand and pulling him into a small room.
He also called over two dwarves clad in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately instructed the two dwarves to set up a barrier to prevent any powerful beings from detecting them.
After the barrier was in place, Bru spoke urgently, “Brother, I gathered experts from our tribe here for three reasons: first, to slay the evil dragon on the Isle of Evil Dragons; second, to find you in the Rakshasa Realm; and third, to explore the treasure vault I told you about. But now I’ve run into you here. What’s going on? What happened to you in the Rakshasa Realm? Why are you alone here?”
“It’s really a long story, and there’s no time to explain everything now.” Shui Miao didn’t want to waste time on his own trivial matters. What Bru had discovered was what he urgently needed to know. “Bru, tell me quickly, why did you leave without saying anything last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“Indeed, a very big secret!”
Bru’s expression turned grave. “Shui Miao, last time I was worried for your safety, so I didn’t dare tell you the truth about the thousand-year-old female ghost. Now I’ve heard that she narrowly escaped death and was severely wounded by the Immortal Realm. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s one thing you need to prepare yourself for!”
“Wh-what is it…”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
Bru frowned and sighed. “I received recent news that your father…”
“What about my father?”
A loud buzz filled Shui Miao’s mind as his emotions spiraled out of control. He gripped Bru’s arm tightly, tears welling in his eyes, and stared intently at Bru.
“At a time like this, you still have the mind to think about this?” The ancient female ghost frowned, casting a cold glance at Shui Miao before turning her gaze toward the giant ghost ship within the dock: “Come, we’ll leave by ship. Even if we drift to one of the Blood Sea islands, we can’t stay here waiting.”
The ancient female ghost’s coldness chilled Shui Miao, who quickly and wisely shut his mouth.
However, the ancient female ghost’s mystery once again stirred complex emotions within Shui Miao.
The massive ghost ship resembled a giant sea monster fish, about the size of a three-story building, its surface dark and emitting a chilling aura. Many ghost laborers were carrying black sacks in long lines, loading supplies onto the ship. Many other ghosts dressed in various outfits were passing through inspections and gradually boarding the ship.
Indeed, this was the Blood Sea, where gravity differed from the rest of the underworld. Weaker ghosts could only walk like living beings, unable to float even if they tried.
Of course, there were also the wealthy and powerful here, either riding palanquins, driving small cars, or even mounted on monstrous beasts.
Following closely behind the ancient female ghost, Shui Miao approached the checkpoint, where more than a dozen ghost officers in purple uniforms stood guard.
The ancient female ghost stepped forward to inquire about the procedures for leaving by sea.
Meanwhile, Shui Miao watched idly from the side.
He had been to the ghost market and visited the Spirit Treasure Pavilion before, but had never carefully observed the underworld itself.
Observing closely now, Shui Miao felt a refreshing sense of novelty.
First, the clothing: whether ghosts or demons, as long as they had a certain status, their attire was uniquely and fantastically designed. You could see garments from any dynasty in ancient times, along with bizarre and modern outfits. Overall, it looked like a grand masquerade ball.
Of course, their appearances were also wildly varied—domestic and foreign, normal and strange, peculiar and terrifying—there seemed to be every kind of character imaginable.
However, to board the ship, one had to pay a hefty sum in ghost money to obtain a boarding pass.
Listening to the conversation between the ancient female ghost and the ghost officers, Shui Miao learned that this was a comprehensive ghost ship bound for Dragon’s Lair Island. The ship transported supplies to Dragon’s Lair Island and ferried noble underworld residents there for tourism and enjoyment. However, to obtain a boarding pass, one first had to present a ghost certificate issued by the underworld.
The ghost certificate functioned like an identification card.
The ancient female ghost slipped a large sum of ghost money to the officers, who immediately smiled and led both her and Shui Miao aside to a small booth where documents were processed. Inside the booth sat an old man, busily tallying accounts with an abacus. The officers whispered to him, claiming that these two were relatives who had forgotten to bring their ghost certificates and hoped for leniency in issuing two boarding passes.
Inappropriately, the ancient female ghost handed over a large stack of ghost money. The old man understood immediately, nodded with a sly smile, accepted the payment, and then retrieved two thin white tokens from a cabinet. Picking up a writing brush, he looked at the ancient female ghost and asked, “What is your name, and what is your ghostly birth date?”
Upon hearing this, Shui Miao immediately became interested—finally, there was a chance to learn the ancient female ghost’s name.
But to his surprise, the ancient female ghost placed another stack of ghost money in front of the old man: “Old sir, please help us out. We’re fleeing from hardship, so we can’t give our real names. Please just make up two names for us.”
“Fleeing hardship?”
The old man and the officers exchanged knowing smirks after glancing at Shui Miao.
It seemed they had encountered a pair of illicit lovers.
Shui Miao immediately felt embarrassed and furrowed his brows in protest.
But the ancient female ghost remained calm, showing no expression at all, making it impossible to read her thoughts.
Money talks—true in the mortal world, and equally true in the underworld.
In no time, the old man handed the two tokens to the ancient female ghost and Shui Miao.
Shui Miao glanced at the token in the ancient female ghost’s hand. Her name was written as Bai Susu, while his token bore the name Hei Dan!
“What the hell!”
This was such an obvious insult!
Shui Miao was furious and glared at the old man as he left. However, the old man merely gave him a look of disdain, clearly thinking: “Pretty boy, shameless! Not a penny to your name, yet you managed to land such a wealthy beauty…” Words were spared here, but the expression was filled with envy and resentment.
After boarding the ghost ship, the ancient female ghost paid to rent two adjacent rooms.
Inside her room, the ancient female ghost sat in meditation, absorbing yin energy to heal her wounds.
Shui Miao discovered that the room was surprisingly similar to a modern hotel room, which made him realize that even ghosts enjoyed the luxuries of the living.
With no money and nowhere else to go, Shui Miao lay on the bed, pondering his thoughts.
Before long, a strange horn sounded, and the ghost ship set sail.
To Shui Miao’s surprise, the ghost ship didn’t float on the surface of the Blood Sea but instead submerged beneath it, cloaked in yin energy, moving like a submarine. That explained why he hadn’t seen many ghost ships while flying over the Blood Sea before.
Shui Miao had intended to quietly meditate until they reached Dragon’s Lair Island.
But soon, laughter from women and the sound of musical instruments came from outside his room.
Curious, Shui Miao opened the door and followed the sound down a corridor. Looking down, he saw a massive hall. In the center, on a circular raised platform, dozens of scantily-clad young women were dancing sensually and seductively. Below the platform, many female musicians were playing. Further out, tables were filled with ghosts and demons enjoying delicacies.
“Huh?”
Shui Miao suddenly felt a stirring in his heart when he noticed a particularly interesting group.
In a corner of the hall, a large group of dwarves were drinking and singing joyfully.
Their attire was identical to the Red Tribe dwarves Shui Miao had seen before.
His heart stirred, and he began scanning for any sign of Bru.
Sure enough, after a short while, Shui Miao spotted Bru!
“Great! I must go find him!”
Shui Miao was extremely excited and immediately rushed downstairs.
Previously, Shui Miao had entrusted Bru to ask his clan to investigate the ancient female ghost in the Celestial Realm. Later, Bru had mysteriously appeared once, only to wave his hand and vanish. Shui Miao felt there must be something wrong, and today was the perfect opportunity to get some answers from Bru.
※※※
Meanwhile, inside her room, the ancient female ghost was extracting divine energy from the Phantom Demon Mirror, fully focused on healing her wounds, completely oblivious to Shui Miao’s movements.
Back at the dry well cave, the ancient female ghost had used the Phantom Demon Mirror to capture two Golden Immortals.
Now, these two Golden Immortals were the best nourishment for her.
She was recovering quickly, and within another hour, she would fully heal. After absorbing the two Golden Immortals, she would completely restore her powers.
“Bu Lu! Bu Lu!”
Shui Miao excitedly rushed to Bru’s side.
Bru was slightly startled. Seeing it was Shui Miao, he was greatly surprised: “Shui Miao, how… how could it be you? How did you end up here?”
“It’s a long story, Brother Bru. Meeting you here is such good fortune.” At this moment, Shui Miao felt no concern for the ancient female ghost, believing her injuries were extremely grave and that she wouldn’t recover for at least ten days or half a month.
“Uh…”
Looking nervously around, Bru immediately took Shui Miao’s hand and led him into a small room.
Bru also summoned two dwarves dressed in white robes.
Once inside, Bru immediately had the two dwarves set up a barrier to prevent powerful beings from eavesdropping with their spiritual senses.
After the barrier was set, Bru quickly said, “Young brother, actually, this time I gathered various experts from our clan here for three purposes: first, to kill the dragon on Dragon’s Lair Island; second, to find you in the Blood Sea Realm; third, to explore the treasure trove I told you about. But now I’ve encountered you here—what’s going on? What happened to you in the Blood Sea Realm? Why are you all alone here?”
“This is really a long story, hard to explain briefly,” Shui Miao didn’t want to waste time on his own trivial matters first. What Bru had discovered was what he urgently wanted to know: “Bru, quickly tell me, why did you run off without saying anything last time? Did you uncover some secret?”
“It was indeed a huge secret!”
Bru’s face was solemn. “Shui Miao, last time I was worried about your safety, so I didn’t dare to tell you the truth about the ancient female ghost. Now I’ve heard that the ancient female ghost barely survived and has been severely injured by the Celestial Realm. That’s why I decided to find you and reveal the truth. However, there’s something you must mentally prepare yourself for!”
“W-what…?”
Shui Miao immediately thought of his father, his heart tightening with anxiety.
Bru frowned, sighed, and said, “I’ve received the latest news about your father…”
“What happened to my father?”
Shui Miao felt a sudden buzzing in his head. His emotions instantly spiraled out of control. He tightly gripped Bru’s arm, tears welling in his eyes, staring intently at Bru.
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