White hair sprouts at the temples, as time flows like water!
The Ghost King turned his gaze away from the mirror-like surface of the lake, let out a faint sigh, and then turned his head, smiling. “I haven’t looked in a mirror for a long while. Today, I see that my white hair has grown even more.”
Behind him, Ghost Li’s face remained expressionless, and he said flatly, “You’re being too sensitive.”
At this moment, by a small lake on Fox岐Mountain, a stone pavilion was built in the middle of the lake, connected to the shore by an ancient wooden bridge. The Ghost King and Ghost Li stood in this lakeside pavilion.
With his hands clasped behind his back, the Ghost King appeared calm and composed. “I heard that during your recent expedition to Kuang Sang Mountain, though you managed to subdue the Blood Refining Sect, there was one person, the wild dog Taoist, who refused to submit, yet you chose to spare him. Is this true?”
Ghost Li glanced at the Ghost King, seeing the tranquil expression on his face, and slowly nodded. “Yes, it is.”
The Ghost King smiled, turned around to look at the jade-green surface of the lake, and said, “In the past, you led your troops to annihilate everyone. Why did you show mercy to this man today?”
After a moment of silence, Ghost Li replied, “Though the Blood Refining Sect is now weak, it was once a powerful and influential sect, not to be compared with ordinary small factions.”
The Ghost King stood there, showing no reaction, and it was unclear whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied with this explanation. After a while, he suddenly said, “Speaking of which, the Bloodthirsty Pearl, which is a part of your treasure, was once the legacy of the Blackhearted Elder. This means you must have some connection to the Blood Refining Sect.”
Ghost Li slowly raised his eyes and looked at the Ghost King, who also turned to look at him.
Their gazes collided in mid-air. Ghost Li’s gaze was cold and sinister, while the Ghost King’s was deep and serene.
The Ghost King suddenly smiled and asked, “Have you heard the rumors about a great treasure appearing in the Western Death Swamp?”
Ghost Li nodded. “Yes, I have heard.”
The Ghost King continued, “Not only are the righteous sects rushing to it, but even the Venomous Cult and the Bliss Sect are planning to get involved. And the Longevity Hall, whose headquarters is near the Death Swamp, is naturally eager to take part.” He paused and asked, “What do you think?”
Ghost Li didn’t speak immediately, remaining silent for a long time. The Ghost King seemed unusually patient, showing no signs of impatience. Finally, Ghost Li said, “This time, we subdued the Blood Refining Sect. In our sect, apart from the Four Great Factions, the last faction with significant power has been divided.”
A smile appeared on the Ghost King’s lips, and he nodded. “Indeed.”
Ghost Li continued, “In our sect, the factions are like mountains, and the Four Great Factions all want to swallow each other. In the past, we united against the righteous forces, but now it’s different. The current situation within the sect is gradually stabilizing, and the next step will be a fierce battle among the Four Great Factions. It’s just a matter of who strikes first.”
The Ghost King clapped his hands and smiled. “Excellent, well said!”
Ghost Li glanced at him and said, “For the past ten years, you’ve taught me the two volumes of the Heavenly Book, as well as all your knowledge and strategies. If I couldn’t see through this, I would have failed your expectations.”
The Ghost King smiled, looking at the young man before him as if admiring a perfect, precious item he had crafted. There was joy and a hint of pride in his voice. “It’s not entirely due to my teachings. You must also understand and internalize them. Your progress in these years has far exceeded my expectations. I thought it would take you at least thirty years to achieve this, but you’ve done it in just ten. Truly remarkable, truly remarkable!”
Despite the praise, Ghost Li’s face showed no sign of happiness, as if this wasn’t something to be celebrated.
But the Ghost King didn’t mind. Over the years, the person before him had transformed from the young Zhang Xiaofan into the formidable Ghost Li. His personality had changed dramatically, with only his appearance remaining the same. After a pause, the Ghost King said, “Since the four factions of our Holy Sect are bound for a conflict, do you think we should strike first or wait?”
This time, Ghost Li didn’t hesitate and immediately replied, “Strike first!”
The Ghost King stared at him and said, “Good! Then, which faction should we target first?”
Ghost Li replied, “The Longevity Hall!”
The Ghost King frowned, but there was a glint of approval in his eyes. “Why?”
Ghost Li explained, “Currently, the Ghost King Sect and the Venomous Cult are the strongest, followed by the Bliss Sect and the Longevity Hall. The Bliss Sect is usually low-key, but the head of the Longevity Hall, Jade Yangzi, is arrogant and always considers himself the most respected in the Demon Sect. Such a fool, who else would we choose?”
The Ghost King smiled. “Indeed, well said. How would you proceed if you were in charge?”
After a moment of thought, Ghost Li said, “This is a golden opportunity. There is a great treasure in the Death Swamp, and Jade Yangzi will surely claim it as his own, not allowing anyone else to touch it. But the righteous forces are flocking in. We can wait until the Longevity Hall clashes with the righteous, and when both are weakened, we can secretly join forces with the Venomous Cult and the Bliss Sect to strike. They will surely agree to such a move. This battle will surely succeed!”
The Ghost King looked at him, saying nothing.
Ghost Li slowly lifted his head and looked at the Ghost King. “What?”
The Ghost King seemed to have been lost in thought for a moment and then slowly pulled his gaze back, as if heaving a silent sigh. “Nothing. What you said is almost exactly what I was thinking.”
Ghost Li said nothing.
The Ghost King smiled and said, “Rest for two more days, then go to the Death Swamp.” He took an envelope from his chest and handed it to Ghost Li, saying, “I have written all the specific arrangements in this letter. Once you reach the swamp, all members of the Ghost King Sect will be under your command.”
Ghost Li slowly took the letter, put it in his chest, and after a moment of silence, nodded to the Ghost King and left. But after a few steps, he heard the Ghost King’s voice from behind, “There is one more thing…”
Ghost Li stopped.
The Ghost King’s voice came, “When you spoke to me, why did you still call us the ‘Demon Sect’?”
After a long silence, Ghost Li said coldly, “I’ve been in the sect for ten years, and here, there is constant bloodshed and deceit. How can it be called ‘holy’?”
The Ghost King laughed and said, “Oh, and what about the so-called righteous sect where you came from?”
Ghost Li’s body trembled slightly, and after a moment, he said, “The evil deeds of the righteous are no less than those of the demon sect!”
The Ghost King looked at him with interest and said, “Then, if neither side is right, what do you consider ‘righteous’?”
Ghost Li didn’t answer, remained silent for a long time, and then looked up at the sky.
Blue sky, white clouds.
“I don’t know!” he whispered, as if talking to himself.
※ ※ ※
As the solitary figure slowly disappeared, the smile on the Ghost King’s face also faded. His deep eyes seemed to flicker with a mysterious light, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
At that moment, a voice came from the side. “Sect Master, I…”
The Ghost King interrupted him and said, “Qinglong, come up.”
“Yes,” Qinglong walked over and, following the Ghost King’s gaze, said, “Was the Vice Sect Master here just now?”
The Ghost King nodded. “What is it?”
Qinglong replied, “That old monster from the Venomous Cult sent a secret message asking when the Sect Master will send people into the Death Swamp to work together on a big matter.”
The Ghost King sneered. “Tell them that in three days, the Ghost King Sect, the Venomous Cult, and the Bliss Sect will enter the swamp together.”
Qinglong nodded. “Yes.”
The Ghost King pondered for a moment and then turned to Qinglong. “Qinglong, what do you think of Ghost Li?”
Qinglong was taken aback and looked at the Ghost King, seeing his calm expression but unfathomable eyes, feeling a chill. He forgot to answer for a moment.
The Ghost King smiled. “What is it?”
Qinglong regained his composure and said, “If I were his age, my cultivation wouldn’t be as high, and my mind wouldn’t be as deep… and my methods wouldn’t be as ruthless!”
The Ghost King looked at him without saying anything and slowly turned to look at the calm, mirror-like surface of the lake. Qinglong, behind him, said, “In recent years, especially in the past two, Ghost Li’s methods have become increasingly brutal and merciless. He doesn’t hesitate to kill, and in power struggles, he is ruthless. Moreover, among the younger generation of the Ghost King Sect, outstanding talents like the Killing Monk and Yan Hui have all gathered under his command.”
The Ghost King said, “Do you think this is bad?”
Qinglong shook his head. “Not necessarily, but how could he have changed so much?”
The Ghost King was silent for a moment and then said, “Actually, I misjudged him at first.”
Qinglong was surprised. “Sect Master, what do you mean?”
The Ghost King said, “When I gave him the two volumes of the Heavenly Book, I thought it would take him at least thirty years to master them. But in the past ten years, especially the last five, his cultivation has advanced rapidly, almost like a day and night difference. Perhaps he has inner qualities that I didn’t see!”
He continued, and his eyes, which were always facing away from Qinglong, flashed with a hidden cold light, but his tone remained unchanged. “His nature is tenacious and persistent, which is very beneficial for cultivation. However, I suspect there may be other reasons.”
Qinglong frowned. “Do you think he has some secret?”
The Ghost King shook his head. “You know he possesses the Taoist True Arts of the Azure Ethereal Vapors and the Great Brahma Prajna of the Immortalbane Nexus, right?”
Qinglong nodded. “Yes.”
The Ghost King continued, “From my observation, not only has he mastered the True Arts of our Holy Sect, but he has also made rapid progress in the Taiji Xuanqing Dao of the Azure Ethereal Conclave and the Great Brahma Prajna of the Buddhist school. Could these three arts have a synergistic effect?”
He turned around and smiled at Qinglong. “With his current cultivation and the bizarre treasure ‘Soul Devourer,’ even if you have the Clear Light Ring, you would only have a fifty percent chance of winning.”
Qinglong smiled. “I’m getting old, can’t compete with the young anymore.”
The Ghost King laughed and patted his shoulder. “Nonsense!”
He smiled and said, “I knew this young man would not be an ordinary person, and now his achievements exceed my expectations. If the Ghost King Sect has someone like him to succeed, its future is bound to be limitless. But…”
He stood with his hands behind his back, falling silent, and walked to the edge of the pavilion, looking out.
Qinglong stood quietly, looking at the Ghost King, whose powerful figure suddenly showed a hint of desolation, silently conveying unspoken words.
Bìyáo…
※ ※ ※
Three days later, Ghost Li left Fox岐Mountain and headed west, accompanied by the monkey Xiao Hui. Additionally, the Wild Dog Taoist also followed, although he initially didn’t want to go to the dangerous Death Swamp. But Ghost Li simply said, “After I leave, I guarantee that Fox岐Mountain will be a hundred times more dangerous than the swamp. Do you believe me?”
At this, the Wild Dog Taoist paled and, despite his stubbornness, reluctantly followed.
The vast land of Zhongyuan is the richest, while to the north lies the bitterly cold ice fields, and to the east, the boundless sea. To the south, beyond the central plains, there are the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, full of wild and dangerous terrain, and home to countless toxic creatures and strange, primitive tribes.
To the west, there are two perilous places. In the northwest, there is a vast, barren wasteland known as the Desolate Land, where it never rains and is extremely dry. Any oasis is often occupied by ferocious beasts. Legend has it that deep within the Desolate Land lies a grand sanctuary, the birthplace of the Demon Sect.
In the southwest, there is the terrifying Death Swamp. The climate here is the opposite of the Desolate Land, with frequent rain. The swamp is filled with strange and lush plants, and it is a place where the most poisonous animals and insects reside. The swamp’s unique toxic gas rises from the rotting soil during rain, and if inhaled, it can be fatal without an antidote. Additionally, the decaying bodies of animals and plants make the swamp a dangerous place, and one misstep can lead to a miserable death.
Such a dangerous place is usually uninhabited. But recently, there were rumors of a massive golden pillar of light rising from the Death Swamp, lighting up the night sky. Three days later, the light faded, but since then, there have been strange, ominous sounds coming from the swamp, causing fear among those living nearby.
This news spread quickly, and cultivators from all over flocked to the Death Swamp, believing it to be a sign of a rare treasure. Underneath the surface, however, there are hidden currents and dark schemes at play.
※ ※ ※
Half a day’s journey from the Death Swamp lies a desolate village called “Great King Village,” named after the mysterious deity worshipped by the villagers. However, this deity is notoriously unreliable, offering no blessings to the villagers.
Living near the Death Swamp, the villagers often fall victim to strange beasts and toxic insects, and many have already left for the safety of the central plains. Those who remain are mostly resigned to their fate.
Recently, however, Great King Village has become unusually busy, with many cultivators passing through. While it isn’t the only entrance to the Death Swamp, it is the closest inhabited place, and many buy supplies before entering the swamp. This has brought some prosperity to the village.
However, as the closest place to the Death Swamp, the villagers were the first to notice the golden pillar of light and the strange sounds, and thus many came to gather information. As a result, the village has seen many conflicts between the righteous and the demonic factions.
On this day, Ghost Li and the Wild Dog Taoist arrived at Great King Village, finding it bustling with activity, unlike its usual desolate state.
Walking through the village, the Wild Dog Taoist looked around, muttering to himself. Xiao Hui, excited by the crowd, chattered excitedly on Ghost Li’s shoulder. Ghost Li patted Xiao Hui and looked at the Wild Dog Taoist. “What are you doing?”
The Wild Dog Taoist grumbled, “I’m looking for an inn. Haven’t we walked enough? This is a godforsaken place, and finding an inn is hard!”
Ghost Li replied, “Did you really think there would be an inn here?”
The Wild Dog Taoist was surprised. “What do you mean?”
Ghost Li looked at the passersby, noting their fine clothes, and said, “Have you ever been here before?”
The Wild Dog Taoist spat, “Who would come to this wretched place on purpose?”
Ghost Li looked at him. “Exactly. There’s no need for an inn here, as no outsiders visit, and the locals are poor.”
The Wild Dog Taoist fell silent, his face growing even more sullen.
Suddenly, a loud voice came from the street ahead. “Predict the future for the next fifty years and read the fortune for three hundred! The iron-mouthed diviner, pen-judging yin and yang, wants to know the future, come and have your fortune read!”
Ghost Li and the Wild Dog Taoist were taken aback and looked in the direction of the voice. By the roadside, there was a rickety wooden table with a bamboo pole, displaying a tattered banner that read “Divine Guidance.” An imposing old man was shouting, and beside him, a sleepy but beautiful young woman looked bored.
It was Monday Immortal and Little Loop. Monday Immortal, along with Little Loop, traveled far and wide, and despite his mediocre skills, loved to go to bustling places. When he heard about the Death Swamp, he dragged Little Loop to the village.
Monday Immortal claimed they were running out of money and had no choice but to offer fortune-telling. However, his sales pitch gradually changed. “Gentlemen, I possess the skills passed down from my ancestors, able to ward off all poisons. With the sachet I am selling, you will be invincible to the toxic miasma in the Death Swamp…”
Little Loop sighed, having sat there for hours without selling a single sachet. The locals couldn’t afford them, and the outsiders, mostly experienced cultivators, saw through the scam. Thankfully, the righteous cultivators were too busy with the treasure hunt to bother with them.
As Monday Immortal kept calling out, Little Loop stood up, ready to stop him, but suddenly, a young man in a light blue robe, with a somewhat pale face, appeared in front of the table.
“Miss, I’d like to have my fortune read,” the young man said with a faint smile.
Little Loop frowned and studied him. Monday Immortal, noticing the situation, hurried back, grinning. “Sir, what would you like to know? Fortune or destiny? By face, hand, or by name?”
The young man paused and said, “I am going into the Death Swamp. Can you tell me about my fortune?”
Monday Immortal chuckled. “No problem, sit down. First, let me say, we are the true descendants of the art, and one reading costs ten taels of silver…”
The young man was taken aback. “So expensive?”
Monday Immortal smiled but didn’t answer.
The young man, considering, looked at Little Loop and smiled. “Alright, ten taels. Let’s start with a name prediction.”
Little Loop handed him a piece of paper and a brush. “Write your name, please…”
The young man took the brush and wrote three characters on the paper, handing it to Little Loop.
Little Loop was stunned and read the characters. The young man smiled and said, “My name is Qin Wu Yan!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage