In the ghostly halls of the Immortalbane Nexus, a cruel and terrifying occurrence had once again cast its shadow, shattering the fragile peace that had barely lasted for ten days. The frenzied and horrifying atmosphere, now tenfold in intensity, stretched the nerves of the disciples to their breaking point.
Shortly after the violent earthquake, the first person attempted to flee.
There were not many who tried to escape—just one, an ordinary disciple who had only joined the Immortalbane Nexus three years ago. The Immortalbane Nexus, a branch of the Dark Sect, now claimed itself as the supreme Holy Sect. The Dark Sect, with its myriad cruel punishments, would not tolerate such disobedience lightly.
The fleeing disciple was quickly apprehended and met with severe retribution, but the heavy, suffocating dread that hung over everyone’s hearts could not be dispelled so easily.
Without anyone realizing it, silence had crept upon them all. The once lively Immortalbane Nexus now lay in a deathly stillness. Those who did not need to speak, did not, and those who dared, found themselves unable to. The air was thick with an oppressive, suffocating silence, and no one knew what unseen currents were stirring beneath the surface.
In this dire situation, the Grand Ancestor, the enigmatic leader of the Immortalbane Nexus, maintained his inscrutable silence. After swiftly executing the fleeing disciple as a stern warning, he retreated back into his secluded and mysterious abode. No one knew what thoughts coursed through the mind of this once-great conqueror—had he too been driven mad by the terrifying force, or was he hatching some grand, hidden plan?
No one knew for certain.
Yet, Ghost Li keenly felt the strange, unsettling atmosphere. Anyone with even a shred of rationality could see that something was amiss within the Immortalbane Nexus. However, Ghost Li was not inclined to do anything about it just yet.
To him, Bi Yao was the top priority.
At the moment, the most pressing matter was the mysterious and malevolent force that had repeatedly manifested during critical moments, especially before he returned to the mountain. This force, previously unknown to him, exuded an evil and otherworldly aura, unlike anything from the mortal realm.
Despite his thorough search of the Immortalbane Nexus’s caverns, Ghost Li found nothing but cracked walls and fissured ground. There was, however, one place he had yet to explore—the residence of the Grand Ancestor.
Before he could devise a way to investigate the Grand Ancestor’s lair, someone came to find him.
The earthquake had been so severe that it caused rocks to fall from the ceilings of many corridors and chambers. For the past few days, apart from brief, covert searches, Ghost Li had remained in the Ice Stone Chamber, always returning as swiftly as possible. He feared another sudden, violent quake, which might injure Bi Yao if he were not by her side, an unforgivable loss.
The Immortalbane Nexus’s caverns were no longer safe. Ghost Li realized this danger the day after the earthquake and brought it to the Grand Ancestor’s attention.
On the matter of his daughter, the Grand Ancestor was not negligent. However, finding a suitable place to relocate Bi Yao proved difficult. Her body, having lain in a deep sleep for ten years, could not be moved from the Ice Stone Altar without extreme caution. Any new location needed to be both dry and cold, and finding such a place would take time.
Reluctantly, Ghost Li bore the anxiety, while the Grand Ancestor dispatched more hands to search for a suitable location. Meanwhile, Ghost Li vigilantly guarded Bi Yao.
The Ice Stone Chamber was different from other places. The cracks in the stone walls had been promptly repaired, and a new, large stone door had been installed. Compared to the outside, the chamber did not look as desolate.
Ghost Li sat on the floor, leaning against the Ice Stone Altar, his gaze wandering. The small monkey, Xiao Hui, crouched beside him, munching on some wild fruits he had found, looking rather well-behaved.
Under normal circumstances, Ghost Li would not bring Xiao Hui to the Ice Stone Chamber. But these were extraordinary times, and he needed to stay by Bi Yao’s side, unable to return to his own quarters. Moreover, the mysterious force in the depths of Fox岐 Mountain left him wary, and he preferred to keep Xiao Hui close.
A white mist gently rose from the Ice Stone Altar, floating like a thin veil in the air. Ghost Li stared at the ethereal vapor, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused.
Just then, the stone door of the Ice Stone Chamber creaked open, and a silent, black figure entered—it was the Ghost Master.
Ghost Li glanced at him but said nothing.
The stone door closed behind the Ghost Master, sealing the chamber from the outside world. The Ghost Master approached slowly but did not immediately speak. Instead, he gazed at Bi Yao for a moment before saying, “Miss Bi Yao has been in this state for ten years now…”
Ghost Li’s face tightened, and his sharp gaze fixed on the Ghost Master. Though the Ghost Master’s face was hidden by a black veil, his movements seemed unaffected. Slowly, Ghost Li’s gaze shifted back to Bi Yao, looking at her serene, slightly smiling face. A pang of sorrow struck him, and a hint of melancholy crossed his face.
The Ghost Master observed Ghost Li’s expression, his eyes flashing with a subtle light. After a pause, he turned to Ghost Li and asked, “Do you wish to save Miss Bi Yao?”
Ghost Li looked up at the Ghost Master, his expression calm. “Speak your mind.”
The Ghost Master paid no heed to Ghost Li’s cold demeanor. “When I used the astrolabe you brought back, there were unforeseen anomalies, but after careful consideration, it seems there is still hope to use it to save Miss Bi Yao.”
Ghost Li’s expression changed, and he stood up. Xiao Hui, seeing his master move, hopped onto Ghost Li’s shoulder, still munching on his fruit, and looked at the Ghost Master.
Under the combined scrutiny of Ghost Li and Xiao Hui, the Ghost Master paused before continuing, “According to my observations, this astrolabe is an ancient divine artifact, a rare treasure that has never been seen in the mortal world, despite its long history.”
Ghost Li was taken aback. “An ancient divine artifact?”
The Ghost Master nodded. “Ancient legends tell of several treasures bestowed by the gods, each with wondrous and unimaginable powers beyond human comprehension. This astrolabe is one of them.”
He paused, noting Ghost Li’s furrowed brow, and continued, “The legend says this astrolabe is a mysterious and powerful artifact, embodying the profound truths of the universe, capable of determining life and death, binding souls, and foretelling the future. Some even say it can alter fate and reverse causality.”
Ghost Li’s mind raced. At Heavenly Sound Temple, Masters Pu Hong and Pu De had spoken of similar things. Although there were slight differences, it was clear that this astrolabe was no ordinary item. Could the Ghost Master truly possess the power to save Bi Yao?
At this thought, Ghost Li’s body trembled slightly. He stepped forward, saying, “Please, Master, save her.”
The Ghost Master stepped aside, avoiding Ghost Li’s gesture, and said calmly, “Miss Bi Yao is the Grand Ancestor’s beloved daughter. If I can save her, I will do so without hesitation. However…”
He trailed off, and Ghost Li, feeling anxious, urged, “Please, Master, continue.”
The Ghost Master fell silent for a moment before saying, “I need time to study this ancient artifact. If you trust me and want to save Miss Bi Yao, please lend me the astrolabe. Once I uncover its secrets, I will immediately come to save her.”
Ghost Li’s mouth twitched, and a sardonic smile appeared. His gaze turned cold. “And if I don’t trust you?”
The Ghost Master was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.
Ghost Li spoke coldly, “That old man at the Ancestral Shrine of Green Cloud Mountain was clearly your close friend, yet you killed him without hesitation. We have also clashed several times, and we both know our intentions. If this astrolabe is as powerful as you say, it is not something I can simply hand over, especially since it is not my personal possession.”
The Ghost Master sneered, “So, it seems Miss Bi Yao is not as important to you as you claim. You are willing to give up the chance to save her?”
Ghost Li snorted, “Giving the astrolabe to you is out of the question.”
The Ghost Master spread his hands. “Then, there is no solution.”
Ghost Li was silent for a moment, then said, “I have a proposition. You must… work here in the Ice Stone Chamber to study the astrolabe, so I can ensure nothing goes amiss. Are you willing to do this?”
The Ghost Master raised an eyebrow. “You mean I must work here, under your watch?”
Ghost Li nodded. “Of course, I will be present. If you find this place unsuitable, I will allow you to choose another, but I must be there.”
The Ghost Master considered this, then said, “I will think about it. Let us discuss this later.”
With that, he glanced at Bi Yao lying on the Ice Stone Altar, then added, “Miss Bi Yao has suffered greatly these ten years. You must consider this carefully.”
Ghost Li’s face twisted with pain, but his eyes remained sharp. “You need not remind me. I know better than you.”
The Ghost Master nodded and left the chamber, closing the stone door behind him.
As the dark figure disappeared, the door rumbled shut. Ghost Li turned and sat down beside the Ice Stone Altar, staring at Bi Yao’s face. After a long moment, he whispered, “Bi Yao, please forgive me. I must do this…”
After leaving the Ice Stone Chamber, the Ghost Master stood for a moment in the empty corridor, which seemed to be filled with an eerie, oppressive presence.
He turned and walked down the corridor, his footsteps silent. As he moved deeper into the darkness, his black attire seemed to blend with the shadows. He suddenly stopped, noticing a figure standing in the dimness ahead.
The Ghost Master approached the figure, who spoke in a low, gravelly voice. “How did it go?”
The Ghost Master shook his head. “He refuses to give me the astrolabe.”
The figure, the Grand Ancestor, glared. “Does he not care about Bi Yao’s life?”
The Ghost Master replied, “You know his nature. Bi Yao is the most important person to him. He simply does not trust me with the astrolabe.”
The Grand Ancestor’s face hardened. “Since he will not hand over the treasure, and our Blood Array is not yet complete, we cannot afford to confront him. What should we do?”
The Ghost Master sighed. “He offered a condition. He will lend the astrolabe to me, but I must work under his constant watch.”
The Grand Ancestor frowned. “If he stays with us, how can we perform the necessary rituals to unlock the Heavenly Lock?”
The Ghost Master smiled grimly. “That is the difficulty.”
The Grand Ancestor thought for a moment, then said, “We should bring the astrolabe here and study it. Perhaps we can find a way to unlock the Heavenly Lock from a distance. The astrolabe and the Heavenly Lock responded to each other even from afar.”
The Ghost Master nodded. “That is the best course of action.”
The Ghost Master turned to leave, saying, “I will prepare.”
“Wait,” the Grand Ancestor called, his voice stern.
The Ghost Master paused, turning to face him. “Is there something else, Grand Ancestor?”
The Grand Ancestor’s eyes narrowed. “Can the astrolabe truly save Bi Yao, or is it only to unlock the Heavenly Lock?”
The Ghost Master was silent for a moment, then said, “I do not know. I must study the astrolabe thoroughly to find out.”
The Grand Ancestor’s lips twitched, and he waved a hand. “I understand. Go, and prepare.”
The Ghost Master bowed and left, leaving the Grand Ancestor alone in the dark corridor, his figure merging into the shadows.
Back in the Ice Stone Chamber, Ghost Li sat silently, Xiao Hui sleeping on his lap. The chamber was eerily quiet, and Ghost Li’s face was pale, but his eyes gleamed with a restless light. A day and night had passed since the Ghost Master’s proposal, and the black figure had not returned. Ghost Li’s unease grew, especially when he glanced at Bi Yao’s motionless form.
His resolve hardened, and he decided to risk everything for Bi Yao.
Just then, the stone door rumbled open, and the Ghost Master entered. The noise woke Xiao Hui, who growled at the intruder before hopping onto Ghost Li’s shoulder.
Ghost Li, however, breathed a sigh of relief. “What is your decision?”
The Ghost Master replied, “We will proceed as you suggested.”
Ghost Li nodded. “Very well. Is there a suitable place for us to work?”
The Ghost Master smiled. “I have already chosen a place. Follow me.”
Ghost Li glanced at Bi Yao, whispering, “Rest well, Bi Yao. I will find a way to save you.”
He turned and followed the Ghost Master, who led him through the dark corridors. The cracks in the walls and the ominous atmosphere did not go unnoticed by Ghost Li.
“Why are there so many cracks?” Ghost Li asked, his eyes narrowing.
The Ghost Master paused, then said, “These are the result of the recent earthquakes. Do you doubt me?”
Ghost Li’s eyes gleamed. “I seek answers, not to doubt you.”
The Ghost Master studied him, then continued walking. “The cracks are due to the quakes, nothing more.”
Ghost Li’s eyes flashed, but he said nothing more.
Finally, they reached a secluded chamber, the Grand Ancestor’s private quarters. Ghost Li’s eyebrows furrowed. “This is the Grand Ancestor’s chamber?”
The Ghost Master nodded. “Yes, it is the perfect place.”
Ghost Li’s gaze hardened. “Why here?”
The Ghost Master met his gaze. “It is the most quiet place. Do you object?”
Ghost Li hesitated, then said, “We should inform the Grand Ancestor.”
The Ghost Master smiled. “I have already informed him. He agrees, knowing it is for Bi Yao’s sake. This place is ideal.”
Ghost Li nodded reluctantly and entered the chamber. The Ghost Master took the astrolabe, examining it closely. A soft, white light emanated from the artifact, casting a gentle glow in the room.
They began their work, and the chamber fell into a deep, tense silence. The only sounds were their steady breaths and the occasional rustle of cloth.
In the Ice Stone Chamber, the white mist swirled, and Bi Yao’s peaceful face remained unchanged. The only movement was the faint, ethereal light from the astrolabe, a symbol of hope and despair, a beacon in the darkness, a promise unfulfilled.
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