I sat quietly in the small pavilion, drinking wine, my mind consumed by everything that had happened at Universal Temple. I trusted Master Richard Ming, which is why I gave him the Blood Jade for safekeeping.
All these events are somehow connected. When I stood above that underground sealing array, I could clearly sense that the Blood Jade and whatever was sealed below were one and the same.
"Qingyuan, come over and take a look too."
Zhou Fulai walked over. I lifted my head and looked at him. The Blackfang members were all gathered around Elder Peach, studying that array. Their debate had gone on for a long time, but still, there was no answer.
I responded with a simple 'oh' and walked over. The Ghost Painting Book Immortal was glaring resentfully at Elder Peach.
"Old sir, you may have lived many more years than I have and know more about arrays, but you are still a ghost."
"Kid, this array is so powerful, and only those with an invitation to the Dark Banquet can possess it, whether human or ghost. So what I say should have its value."
Elder Peach shook his head.
"Old sir, I understand what you're saying, but the Mount Mason Order's array techniques aren't as simple as you think. Their structure is far more complex than you've described. The difficulty with this array lies in the required sacrifices—finding ninety-nine suitable people is hard, but not impossible."
Isabelle Frost sat quietly beneath a cherry blossom tree to the side. I glanced at her.
"Ms. Yi, do you have any thoughts?"
Isabelle Frost shook her head, lifting it as she did.
"Go and find the Ghost Syndicate people."
I responded with an 'oh' and slowly floated up. Speaking of the Ghost Syndicate, I immediately thought of Poison Dreadstar and Ghost Fiend Star.
After leaving the ghost domain, I dialed Hugh Thompson's number.
"Qingyuan, I think you should go directly to Ghost Fiend Star."
"Why?"
I was a bit confused; many of Ghost Fiend Star's skills were taught by Poison Dreadstar.
"You'll understand when you get there, Qingyuan. Lan Yin has already returned to Hades Village. He'll find a way to get the other Ten Guides to help you and locate the markers leading to the Four Sacred Realm. You just need to focus on completing the array."
After learning Ghost Fiend Star's address, I quickly floated toward the city center. He was now working at a large supermarket and seemed to have become a regional manager.
Arriving outside a large supermarket called Wancheng, I released the Specter Web to investigate and quickly understood the situation. Ghost Fiend Star was now the fresh foods counter's regional manager, and the staff all spoke highly of him.
I soon found Ghost Fiend Star's office, but he wasn't there. I blended into the crowd and entered the supermarket, searching everywhere for any sign of him.
Since Hugh Thompson told me to come straight to him, I was sure it was the right move. Suddenly, I spotted Ghost Fiend Star. Though he wore a work shirt, he'd clearly tidied himself up and looked a bit shy. I blinked and walked over. He noticed me and immediately made a shushing gesture.
"What are you doing?"
Just as I spoke, Ghost Fiend Star glared at me, then fixed his hair in the mirror. The sound of high heels clicking echoed, and I looked over—a woman was striding past, pointing at people at each counter. Ghost Fiend Star's eyes lit up; he grabbed the bouquet he'd prepared and hurried over.
Soon, Ghost Fiend Star was rejected by the beautiful woman. Though disappointed, he still smiled and watched her leave.
"In love?"
I asked, and Ghost Fiend Star smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"Ah, Zhang Qingyuan, everyone should fall in love a few times in their life, no matter what."
"Manager, what are you doing?"
A young man looked nervously at Ghost Fiend Star. Only then did Ghost Fiend Star notice I was a ghost—he hadn't let anyone else see me, and he'd been talking to himself in front of me for quite a while.
"Go ahead, what do you want with me?"
Ghost Fiend Star stood on the top floor, smoking. I looked at him in surprise—he'd changed a lot since I last saw him.
"Not playing games anymore?"
Ghost Fiend Star shook his head.
"It's boring now. If you have something to say, make it quick."
I briefly explained why I was looking for him, and he just sneered and shook his head.
"If it's not something serious, don't come looking for me anymore. I want to live like a human—find a woman I love, get married, have kids."
"That sounds pretty good."
Ghost Fiend Star had changed so much. Now, he seemed like someone who'd grown up overnight.
"Do you know why sacrifices are needed?"
I shook my head. Ghost Fiend Star held the paper with the array drawn on it and smiled.
"Simply put, what is a sacrifice? What do you think?"
I shook my head again. I really didn't understand this part.
"It's simple, Zhang Qingyuan. It's like needing money to buy something, right? A sacrifice is like money—you need it to buy what you want. And this array is like a trading stall; you need these sacrifices to obtain the corresponding ability."
Suddenly, I looked at Ghost Fiend Star with a sense of enlightenment.
"What about the stall owner?"
Ghost Fiend Star burst out laughing and turned away as if he was about to leave.
"That I don't know. But the more powerful arrays all have an Array Spirit. That's something our boss taught me a long time ago. As for how to meet the Array Spirit, I can't help you there. You'll have to figure it out yourself. I've got a dinner to attend tonight, so I'm heading out."
With a click, my ghost domain opened. I grabbed Ghost Fiend Star and dragged him in.
"What are you doing, Zhang Qingyuan? Didn’t I already tell you?"
Ghost Fiend Star quieted down, and everyone in the ghost domain stared at him.
"With so many people here, you probably don’t need me."
I shook my head and pulled him along. Ghost Fiend Star patiently explained everything he'd just told me in detail again.
"Nonsense."
Elder Peach immediately retorted, and Ghost Fiend Star shot him a glare.
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"Taoist, there’s a lot in this world you don’t know. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. I’ve seen it myself."
According to Ghost Fiend Star, Array Spirits do exist, and every array has one. Only powerful arrays reveal a visible Array Spirit, and the stronger the array, the harder it is to transform it—almost impossible. But he once saw Wraithshade complete the transformation of a powerful array, and it was only after communicating with the Array Spirit that Wraithshade succeeded.
The debate started again—everyone present had their own interpretation of arrays. Only Deathcurse said nothing; he just watched in silence.
"Any thoughts, Deathcurse?"
I looked at Deathcurse. He'd crossed paths with Wraithshade long ago, but I hadn't asked about the details.
"If Wraithshade really did it, then it must be true."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal sighed helplessly.
"We can argue here all day and get nowhere. Just give it a try, Qingyuan."
I agreed and started preparing. To construct the Soul Conversion Ritual, the first thing needed was blood. Using blood, I drew the array according to the diagram, right on the road outside the apartment building, while everyone else watched silently.
After a while, I finished drawing the array from the invitation. Elder Peach and Ghost Painting Book Immortal watched closely the whole time to make sure I didn't make a mistake.
The array was finished, drawn with my blood. Inside the circular formation were many symbols and structures I couldn't understand at all.
Next came the sacrifice—the hardest part. Elder Peach already had an idea: for now, we'd use a pig's heart and other parts as substitutes. Soon, Cao Wanzhi brought everything, and it was all arranged in the proper places according to the array's instructions.
I sat in the center of the array. To activate it, there was no need for a complicated ceremony—just releasing my dark power would be enough.
Sitting cross-legged in the center of the array, I closed my eyes. Wisps of black energy gradually seeped out, and I instinctively suppressed these dark powers. Even now, I still couldn't control them smoothly.
Gradually, I felt something—a strange sensation in my chest. The ground beneath me grew warm. When I opened my eyes, I sensed a faint vibration, and the sacrifices placed on the array actually began to float.
"Control your power, Zhang Qingyuan."
Elder Peach muttered. He'd spent many days coming up with this temporary solution. Transforming the array was just too difficult—he couldn't find another way, so he substituted the sacrifices.
Black Specter Webs unfurled one after another. I activated my instincts, sensing everything about the array.
Streams of black energy seeped from the ground. I watched as the sacrifices slowly disappeared, as if being devoured by something.
In a daze, I felt a surge of warmth flood into my body, and my vision blurred.
Just as I wondered what would happen, I opened my eyes wide, staring at everything before me. I was in a tiled house, dressed like a farmer, holding a sickle, with the wooden door half open.
"What is going on?"
"Daddy..."
A childish voice called out, and a little girl with pigtails came in. She grabbed my hand and started crying.
"You're finally back, Daddy. Mom's coughing up blood again. She wants you to come over."
I swallowed hard and let the child pull me out of the house.
I was stunned. It was a small village, and at noon the sun beat down fiercely, making the air stiflingly hot. I realized I couldn't use any powers here. The courtyard had two tiled houses and a shed. The room I'd just been in, with its table and chairs, was probably the main house.
The door to the smaller tiled house was open, and inside I could hear a woman coughing.