Chapter 240: The Enigmatic Treasure

Ghost Li remained silent, a heavy silence filling the room.

After a moment, Grandmaster Pu Hong spoke slowly: “Brother, you know the cause and effect of this matter, and I need not elaborate. Today, this Ghost Li has come to our Temple of Celestial Sound to borrow a treasure to save someone.”

Grandmaster Pu De still gazed at Ghost Li, his eyes gradually softening from initial shock and astonishment, clearly feeling something extraordinary about Ghost Li, just like the others. Upon hearing Grandmaster Pu Hong’s words, his expression remained unchanged as he rasped, “What treasure?”

At this point, Grandmaster Pu De’s speech, though slightly hesitant, was more or less coherent.

Grandmaster Pu Hong glanced at Ghost Li and sighed, “He seeks to borrow the Qiankun Recycle Disc.”

Grandmaster Pu De stiffened, a faint change of color crossing his usually impassive face, revealing his surprise.

Ghost Li stepped forward earnestly, “Master, my friend’s soul has been trapped in an unnatural state for ten years, no different from a living corpse. Each day, my heart is torn with grief. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope, I dare not abandon it. I beseech the masters to show mercy. If by some miracle she can be saved, I will serve the masters as an ox or a horse for the rest of my days to repay their kindness.”

Both Grandmaster Pu Hong and Grandmaster Pu De clasped their hands and chanted, and Grandmaster Pu Hong said, “Do not say such things, it shames us.” But after the initial shock, Grandmaster Pu De had regained his composure, frowning slightly as he asked, “Pray tell, where did you hear that the Qiankun Recycle Disc is in our temple?” Ghost Li’s face showed difficulty, turning to Grandmaster Pu Hong.

Grandmaster Pu Hong let out a bitter laugh, “Brother, I have already questioned Ghost Li on this matter, but according to him, the esteemed elder who informed him of this secret insisted on anonymity. I was indecisive and, knowing that the Qiankun Recycle Disc has always been in your care, I came to seek your counsel. What do you think?”

Ghost Li now understood why Grandmaster Pu Hong and Fah Xiang had brought him to see Grandmaster Pu De. It seemed this enigmatic treasure was no trifling matter, having been personally guarded by one of the Four Sacred Monks for decades. Whether it truly held the power to save Bi Yao, Ghost Li could not know, but the thought made his whole body warm with hope, his fists clenching tightly. The room fell silent once more, all eyes fixed on Grandmaster Pu Hong, whose head was bowed in deep thought. Seeing his expressionless face, Ghost Li’s palms grew damp with sweat.

It felt like an eternity before Grandmaster Pu Hong raised his gaze, looking at Ghost Li and gently pressing his palms together, “Donor…”

Ghost Li hastily returned the gesture, “Please, Master, show compassion.”

Grandmaster Pu De’s voice remained hoarse and slow, “Decades ago, Third Junior Brother Puzhi committed a grave wrong against you, and our entire Temple of Celestial Sound owes you a great debt…”

Grandmaster Pu Hong and Fah Xiang both pressed their palms together and murmured, “Amitabha.”

Grandmaster Pu De continued, “And this Qiankun Recycle Disc was originally brought back to the temple by Junior Brother Puzhi himself during his travels in the Northwest Wastelands. You are, in a sense, a disciple of Puzhi, and thus, it is only right to entrust you with it. But…”

As Ghost Li felt a flicker of hope from Grandmaster Pu De’s words, the master’s face suddenly clouded with hesitation. A vivid image of Bi Yao lying motionless in her icy stone chamber on Fox Ridge flashed through his mind, and a surge of determination coursed through him. With a clenched jaw, he took two large steps forward, standing before Grandmaster Pu De.

Both Grandmaster Pu Hong and Fah Xiang were taken aback, and even Grandmaster Pu De was surprised, raising his eyes to meet Ghost Li’s, who, instead of any disrespect, knelt before him.

Thud!

A dull thump reverberated from the stone floor as Ghost Li’s forehead touched the ground. His fists, tightly clenched, turned white at the knuckles, and his body trembled slightly. His voice, choked with emotion, pleaded, “Master, I am a sinner, a burden to many. If I cannot save her, I… I… I beg you, please, show compassion… show compassion…” His words became increasingly frantic, a desperate plea escaping his lips.

Fah Xiang, watching from the side, was visibly moved, his face showing a tinge of pity.

Grandmaster Pu De, momentarily stunned, turned to Grandmaster Pu Hong, who stood with his palms pressed together, saying nothing. After a long pause, he nodded slightly.

Grandmaster Pu De slowly turned back to the young man still prostrate before him and, after a moment, softly said, “Rise.”

Ghost Li remained motionless, still kneeling.

The corners of Grandmaster Pu De’s mouth twitched, a faint smile appearing. Seemingly lost in thought, he said in a low, resonant voice, “Your temperament is completely different from that of Puzhi in the old days…” For a fleeting moment, a hint of melancholy passed over his face before he added quietly, “Rise, I will grant your request.”

Ghost Li’s body shook, joy surging within him, and he looked up abruptly.

Grandmaster Pu De reached into his robes, his movements slow and deliberate. As Ghost Li watched, Grandmaster Pu De withdrew a square, half-foot object wrapped in black cloth. Its true form remained obscured, but it was clear that it was kept close to his person, a treasure not to be underestimated.

The black cloth was not tied in a knot, and when placed on the ground, a gentle tug freed it. Yet, when it came to lifting the cloth, Grandmaster Pu De hesitated, letting out a sigh and shaking his head before finally unveiling it.

A soft, white radiance emanated from beneath the black fabric, growing brighter yet without causing any discomfort. In the gentle light, specks of dust danced, and a distant, melodic song seemed to echo through the silent room, a haunting melody lingering in the air.

With the black cloth fully removed, Ghost Li finally saw the object of his last hope. Yet, the next moment, his face betrayed disbelief as he looked up at Grandmaster Pu De in astonishment. Grandmaster Pu De’s expression remained unchanged, and Ghost Li’s eyes flicked to Grandmaster Pu Hong, who merely sighed and murmured, “Amitabha.”

Fox Ridge, the headquarters of the Demon Sect.

At some indeterminate time, many disciples of the Demon Sect began to feel a subtle, unexplainable unease in their surroundings. Strange and inexplicable events, which had never occurred before, started happening repeatedly.

For instance, the stone chambers within the mountain, known for their impenetrable rock walls, had always been unbreakable. Yet, in recent days, numerous bizarre cracks had appeared in the stonewalls of the Demon Sect’s headquarters, and these cracks continued to expand.

Another example: the once-quiet life within the mountain chambers was now disturbed by eerie sounds from below. Whenever the disciples lay down to sleep, they heard terrifying noises as if a massive river of lava was flowing beneath them, threatening to engulf everyone. These sharp, needle-like sounds jolted them awake, but upon waking, everything was eerily silent.

These odd occurrences had never happened before, but what terrified the disciples most were the strange events among their ranks. A few of them, seemingly normal, would suddenly go berserk, attacking anyone in sight, including family and friends, with ruthless brutality until they themselves were subdued and killed.

Within a short span, such horrific incidents had occurred multiple times, creating a tense and paranoid atmosphere. Fear and mistrust pervaded the mountain, and no one knew the cause.

As the sun set like a bloodstained sky, several anxious disciples stood at the entrance of the Demon Sect, some gazing at the setting sun, others lost in thought.

Suddenly, one of them exclaimed, “Someone is coming!”

All turned to see a white figure approaching in the twilight. Tension rose, unsure if it was friend or foe. The figure, moving swiftly, soon reached the entryway, and the disciples recognized it with relief—it was Bai Xiao, a respected guest of the Demon King and Deputy Demon King, Ghost Li.

Bai Xiao paused, sensing something odd. The relieved faces of the disciples revealed an underlying strain. She, a thousand-year-old nine-tailed celestial fox, sensed a heavy, almost uncontrollable tension among them.

But she didn’t speak, noting their smiles and respectful behavior. Maybe, she thought, the Demon King was too strict.

Bai Xiao walked a few steps into the mountain, then stopped and called out, “Hey!”

This simple call caused a dramatic reaction. All the disciples jumped, some even brandishing their weapons as if facing a dire threat.

Bai Xiao, taken aback, asked, “What’s going on?”

They exchanged glances, eventually lowering their weapons. One, with a rueful smile, replied, “Yes, ma’am? What do you need?”

Bai Xiao scrutinized them, noting their dark, tired eyes and strained expressions. She inquired, “Why are you so tense? Where is Ghost Li?”

The disciple replied, “Deputy Leader has been away for days and is not here.”

Bai Xiao, frowning, asked, “Where did he go, and when will he return?”

“He is unpredictable, and we do not know,” the disciple replied.

Bai Xiao, pondering, turned and walked deeper into the mountain. As she moved, her keen ears picked up their hushed conversation: “Old Li, why did you draw your weapon? Good thing Lady Bai doesn’t hold grudges, or else…”

Another voice, Old Li, replied, “You jumped as high as I did. Life has been hell lately; every little sound scares the wits out of me.”

Their shared distress left Bai Xiao deeply puzzled. She decided to wait for Ghost Li, hoping he would return soon. In the meantime, she needed to think carefully about the strange discoveries in the Miao Holy Altar, and whether to share them with Ghost Li.

She headed towards Ghost Li’s residence, her footsteps echoing in the empty passageway. Suddenly, she stopped, noticing deep, jagged cracks on the walls, as if ripped by a monstrous force. A sinister, unsettling aura lingered, making her shudder.

Before she could process, a heart-wrenching scream echoed, followed by shouts and cries. People, enraged and fearful, charged toward the source of the commotion. A voice cried, “It’s happening again! Old Li has gone mad…”

Bai Xiao’s heart sank. She raced to the scene, confirming her fears that the mountain was indeed plagued by a terrifying anomaly.

Reaching the site, she found a crowd surrounding a bloody, knife-wielding man, roaring like a cornered beast. Bodies lay around him, each with deep, fatal wounds.

Bai Xiao stared, remembering Old Li’s earlier normality. Now, his eyes were a horrifying, blood-red, devoid of humanity, a despair that even her ancient powers found suffocating.

As the crowd closed in, Old Li was quickly overpowered and slain. His body trembled, and as his bloodshot eyes met Bai Xiao’s, a chilling realization hit her.

The space was filled with a madness, and the crowd dispersed in fear. Bai Xiao, walking to the lifeless body, felt a cold, menacing presence from the darkness, a ravenous, bloodthirsty force lurking in the shadows.