The laughter of the Blood Jade faded gradually in my ears. There was definitely something beneath me. I felt as if I were being drawn in, staring blankly at the strange, patternless symbol on the ground.
A surge of impulse rose within me, wanting to break through the ground beneath my feet. Something below was calling to me; my instincts sensed it clearly—a certain presence wanted to emerge, like a gemstone buried deep underground, yearning for the light. The desire was overwhelming.
I bent down slowly, squatting, placing one hand at the center of the formation. A wisp of black energy surfaced. Gradually, a smile spread across my face. The feeling was exhilarating—a surge of excitement welled up inside me, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“Amitabha, Benefactor Zhang.”
Suddenly, I heard Mingde’s voice and snapped back to reality. He stood right in front of me, while the Golden Howler watched me helplessly from the side.
“May I entrust this to the old monk for safekeeping?”
Mingde reached out, and before I could respond, the Blood Jade flew from my hand into his. He began chanting scriptures, raising one hand, as strands of Sanskrit crept over the Blood Jade. I heard a series of wretched wails.
“Ethan Zhang, hurry and save me! Have you forgotten? Back in the Ghostrealm, it was I who saved your life! When you went to Lord Wraith’s territory to rescue Rachel Lan, have you forgotten?”
The last whimper faded away. I was quite puzzled as to why Mingde was here, but after glancing at the Golden Howler beside him, I more or less understood.
“Please, Benefactor Zhang, it’s time to go. You’ve been inside for several hours already. It’s time I escorted you down the mountain.”
"Master Mingde, what about the Earthly Soul and Heavenly Soul?"
I asked, and he nodded.
"I've managed to trap them for now, but you don't need to worry. I won't do anything—truth is, there's nothing I can do at this point. Amitabha."
I saw the helplessness in Mingde's eyes. I glanced down at the ground again.
"Mr. Zhang, the things here are deeply entangled. I hope that once you leave..."
"Master Mingde, tell me—does the Immortality Society want what's down here?"
Mingde nodded silently.
"I won't tell anyone."
Back on the surface, I saw that the Universal Temple's Brahma Pavilion—which had been destroyed—had somehow been restored. If not for the ruined monk quarters nearby, I might have thought I was dreaming.
The Brahma Pavilion, which had clearly been wrecked, was now completely rebuilt.
"Please, Mr. Zhang."
I gave a small "oh" and followed Mingde, but then I heard a commotion—a monk came running over, clearly in a hurry.
"Grandmaster, they’re threatening to tear down Universal Temple! You have to hurry!"
As soon as I reached the main gate of Universal Temple, I saw a crowd of monks standing guard, tense and ready for battle. Mingde led me forward, and I could sense waves of overwhelming ghostly energy gathering at the temple's perimeter.
"Cousin!"
A voice called out from the crowd—it was my older cousin. I turned and nearly burst out laughing: he was trussed up like a roast, hanging from a tree.
With a creak, the gate swung open. My eyes widened.
"Everyone, please remain calm. Mr. Zhang has returned."
"You all came?"
Directly ahead, Uncle Zhuang had transformed—three faces, six arms. When he saw me, he seemed relieved and slowly descended. Hu Tianshuo and several members of the Ghost Burial Squad stood to one side, smiling at me. The Blackfang members waited on the opposite side. Behind Uncle Zhuang, Red Hair sat in a chair, with Wuming and Zifeng flanking him, and a crowd of Blue Wraiths gathered behind them.
"Qingyuan."
A clear voice called out. I looked up—it was Yuna Ji. She'd come too. Only now did I realize the Universal Temple was surrounded by skeletons, and the Nine Generals were present as well. Though they'd lost consciousness, their terrifying aura still lingered.
Yuna Ji rode a giant skeletal bird. She leapt off, her jade-green spear pointed straight at Mingde.
"Red Hair, why don't we team up? Let's wipe out Universal Temple first."
"Zhang Qingyuan, what the hell are you up to?"
Red Hair lounged with his legs crossed, acting like he owned the place, tapping away at a calculator. My heart tightened. Suddenly, he flashed a relaxed smile and, in a blink, was beside Yuna Ji, pressing a hand to her cheek.
"Get lost."
"What?"
I watched Red Hair—he wore a sly grin.
"You owe me big this time. Looks like you'll have to work for me for a few hundred years to pay it off."
Embarrassed, I bowed deeply to the crowd staring at me.
"Thank you all."
Master Mingde smiled kindly.
"Since everyone is here, please come inside."
The temple gates opened. Yuna Ji pouted, glaring at Mingde.
"You're just here for revenge, aren't you?"
I muttered, and Yuna Ji shot me a glare.
"Can you let my cousin down?"
I smiled and asked. Mingde gave a helpless smile, signaling to Jianyun. My cousin’s fellow disciples freed him from the tree, and he ran over, laughing.
"Hey, old monk, I mean no harm. It’s just that my cousin got caught by you guys, and you weren’t going to let him go, so I had to call in a few friends."
Inside a grand hall inscribed with the word 'Zen,' we sat in chairs on either side as young monks served us tea. I saw the Earthly Soul and Heavenly Soul tightly bound with golden ropes, their bodies covered in swastikas.
"You idiot, Zhang Qingyuan."
The Earthly Soul shouted. I glanced at him helplessly.
"Everyone, I've already explained the situation. Today, I hope to resolve this disaster, and I ask you all to bear witness."
(Irrelevant system prompt: This chapter is not finished. Please click next page to continue reading.)
From behind the Buddha statue, the reincarnated child monk—the Ghost Worm—walked out. I stared at him, wide-eyed.
With a snap, Red Hair crossed his legs, looking smugly at Mingde.
"Let's not talk about that right now. We're not here for this. As for Zhang Qingyuan and the Ghost Worm's grudge, it doesn't matter."
I let out an awkward sound and looked at Red Hair, who chuckled.
"So? Hand it over."
Mingde's face was clouded with uncertainty.
"Lord Ennia, you must know what that thing really is, right?"
Red Hair nodded.
"I knew back in the Infernal Hell, no need for you to explain. As for what it is, you and I both know—the rest don't need to. I'm only here to warn you about the dangers of what you possess. Better let me keep it safe."
"Both our master and grandmaster instructed me—if anyone tries to take it, I'll give my life to protect it. Lord Ennia, I hope you understand."
"Then let me ask you—how confident are you that you can hold off the Immortality Society?"
Mingde nodded and made a Buddhist gesture.
"Not confident at all."
Red Hair nodded.
Mingde wasn't lying—he answered honestly. Now that Xu Fu had returned to the Immortality Society, if they all gathered here, Universal Temple would be drowned in blood in an instant.
"Fine. Since you won't let me keep it, I won't force you. Not like I really want that thing anyway. Let's go, Zhang Qingyuan."
I made a sound of surprise as Red Hair stood up. Black Moon burst into laughter, but my gaze stayed on the Ghost Worm monk. He looked at me in astonishment. When he first came out, he was worried, but now that worry was gone.
"Let's go, Qingyuan."
Uncle Zhuang came over and grabbed me, but inside, I was still seething with anger.
"If a real fight breaks out, neither humans nor ghosts will ever know peace again."
Yixuehan muttered coldly. I nodded and glanced again at the Ghost Worm monk. At this point, the Earthly Soul and Heavenly Soul were unbound—the Heavenly Soul returned to my body, while the Earthly Soul flew off. As he passed me, he gave me a smile.
Watching the Earthly Soul, I realized Zhang Qingyuan had already left. I still couldn't tell if he'd come to help me, to claim the item, or maybe both.
"Uncle Zhuang, do you know what that thing is?"
I asked as we left Universal Temple. Uncle Zhuang shook his head.
"The young master never mentioned it to me."
Yuna Ji shot Mingde a sideways glare, clearly annoyed.
"Red Hair, if you teamed up with me, Universal Temple would be gone in half a day. We could use this chance to..."
"Don't even think about it, Yuna Ji. If you want revenge, do it yourself. Don't you have that undead army? Ha. I just want to run my company in peace."
Yuna Ji stamped her foot in frustration and looked at me.
"Qingyuan, how about we team up?"
I let out a sound, then shook my head.
"Not this time."
I glanced back at the now-closed gates of Universal Temple, feeling a wave of helplessness.
Suddenly, I sensed something strange. As soon as I descended the mountain, I saw a crowd of Taoist priests at the foot, staring down Red Hair's men.
"Come on, let's head back. We've got too much to do—no time to get caught up in their mess."
I hadn't expected it—the Buddhist and Taoist sects were so closely connected, able to support Universal Temple so quickly.
All sorts of factions were moving beneath the surface. I looked up, my mind racing with thoughts.
"You guys, come with me. We're going to find Taomuzi."
I muttered, and Deathcurse laughed. Yixuehan nodded.
Right now, we had to find the signpost—the one the Ghost Worm monk mentioned, the signpost to the Four Saint Realms.