Seeing Yuna Ji’s expression, the other Ghost Sovereigns quickly chimed in, as if trying to give Redmond a way out. After all, if they started fighting among themselves now, it would only hurt everyone. Even if Redmond’s power was weak, it still had its uses.
Of course, if you stopped spending all your time eating, drinking, and playing around starting next week, you might actually make a little progress.
John Chou continued, while Yuna Ji kept signaling him with her eyes. Redmond's face was flushed with anger, but he didn't turn around, looking extremely furious.
Even if I...
Before Redmond could finish, John Chou placed a hand on his shoulder and patted him.
Don't talk so big, Redmond. Think carefully—your brothers at Mount Dragon are still waiting for you to return. If you go back and still have nothing, as their leader, how will you explain it to them? If you're not strong enough, they'll...
Enough, Brother John, that's enough.
Basil Bertram hurried over to intervene. At this point, Redmond was completely furious.
I think I finally understand why Redmond tried so hard to embarrass John Chou when he first appeared. There must have been countless times he'd been humiliated in front of the other Ghost Sovereigns, and John Chou always won. If it were me, I wouldn't be as gentle as Redmond—I’d take the first chance to turn the tables and finish him off.
I know that without you telling me, John Chou. Do you really think I'm a three-year-old?
Redmond looked earnestly at John Chou, but at that moment, John Chou started to laugh.
If you don’t want to be treated like a child, then work hard, Redmond. The reason your power is so weak probably isn’t your fault. Maybe no matter how hard you try, in this era you’ll never catch up to us as a ghost.
Redmond's eyes widened.
How would you know if you don’t try?
John Chou smiled and waved his hand, as if he was about to leave. I was deeply shocked inside, because it seemed John Chou had already foreseen the future.
How does he know?
I asked, and The Wraithlord replied with a smile.
Think about it for a moment and you’ll understand.
Back in the glory days of the Ghost Sovereigns, Redmond had never held a Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts. It was only in modern times that he hosted one. Seeing how happy he was, especially when drinking with the other Ghost Sovereigns, he looked so content. Now I seem to understand—during the peak era of the Ghost Sovereigns, Redmond’s power was probably far too weak. Compared to the other six, he wasn’t even as strong as Mona Ouyang or Yvonne May. Naturally, he never hosted a banquet, and even the Underworld Court looked down on him. It was only because he was grouped with the other six Ghost Sovereigns that the Underworld Court paid him any attention at all.
But things are completely different now. I remember during Redmond’s Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts, more than ten minor judges from the Underworld Court came, and they directly delivered the Eleventh Judge's token to Redmond. At first, I thought this was just a stalling tactic from the Underworld Court, but only later, when Redmond single-handedly sealed off the Divine Law, did I realize his power was actually the most dangerous among the seven Ghost Sovereigns. Not only to the Underworld Court, but also to the living world. Calamity Power—this kind of power is simply too strong, and impossible to resist.
In ancient times, Earth Soul of the Wraithlord, how long do you think it took for news to spread? For example, from the king’s center to the whole country.
I swallowed, not sure why The Wraithlord was asking me this. After thinking for a moment, I answered.
Maybe at least ten days or half a month, possibly even a month depending on the size of the country.
The Wraithlord laughed, then asked another question.
What about now?
It probably takes less than a minute now.
The Wraithlord immediately burst out laughing.
Why do people become smarter, Earth Soul of the Wraithlord? Answer me this.
I looked at The Wraithlord in confusion, not knowing how to answer for a moment. Some people are born smart, of course, but intelligence doesn’t mean much—wisdom is what makes humans truly terrifying.
It must be because they know a lot more, so they become smarter.
The Wraithlord nodded and began to speak.
In ancient societies, communication between people relied almost entirely on word of mouth, and it could take a long time to learn anything. For example, in the tribal era, if a tribe was wiped out by disease, neighboring tribes might not even know. Even if they did, it might be a year or two later, only noticing when the hunting grounds of the dead tribe were deserted.
When people established city-states and began farming, news could only be learned when travelers returned. There weren’t many ways to get information, and major events required people to come and go before word spread.
In the Bronze Age, when nations competed for dominance, information could determine a country’s fate, but it still spread slowly. Skilled spies trying to deliver crucial intelligence had to overcome countless obstacles and rack their brains to succeed.
Later, in the era of unification, even the highest ruler’s orders required messengers to ride out to every county and province, which is why it took ten days or half a month to reach the whole country. Then the local government would inform the people.
A closed information environment leads to closed minds, and closed minds result in closed thinking. Once thoughts take root, they become hard to change, and wisdom stagnates. That’s why they say 'older ginger is spicier.'
Older people have seen more things and met more people, so when trouble arises, they can draw on what they’ve experienced to handle it. Naturally, they’re a bit wiser and more composed than the young.
But in modern society, everything has changed completely. Information is highly developed, and as long as people encounter new things and think about them, they naturally gain wisdom. With wisdom comes all kinds of thoughts.
In ancient times, what do you think happened when someone had a malicious thought?
I looked at The Wraithlord in surprise—I understood exactly what he meant.
Robbery, or cheating and swindling, I guess.
The Wraithlord nodded.
These malicious thoughts people are born with are called 'Calamity Power.' They not only bring misfortune to the individual, but also to those around them—from families to entire nations. That’s Calamity Power. But as I just said, in ancient times, when information was extremely limited, some people might go their whole lives without ever thinking such evil thoughts, as long as life was bearable. Modern times are different—there’s so much information, and much of it triggers these malicious thoughts. Some people just think about it and let it go, lacking the nerve to act, but there are always some who do. The final result is...
In modern society, there are far more people with Calamity Power.
I finally understood what the Ghost Ancestor was getting at. He was right, and just as Yin Choujian predicted, Red Hair’s power couldn’t grow much in ancient times because information was so limited and people didn’t have so much malice. And with Red Hair’s abilities, he couldn’t rely on natural disasters to boost his power—those were rare and unpredictable. So naturally, his strength didn’t increase.
Yin Choujian really is something, being able to predict all this.
The Wraithlord laughed.
It’s because he was born into a family that treats information as life itself.
I hummed in response. I knew a little about Yin Choujian, but not much. At that moment, the Ghost Sovereigns began to disperse again, agreeing to meet in a week.
Who do you want to observe this time?
The Wraithlord asked, and I thought carefully. I already had a general understanding of John Chou—he’s the type with an exceptionally clever mind, able to turn power into an extension of himself.
Basil Bertram, on the other hand, has always been quietly studying ghost formations. I couldn’t really figure him out, but I already know about his illusion-like power. That’s enough for now.
I’ve also learned all about Yuna Ji’s power—it extends from this Abyssal Hell. She later regretted it, since the billions of lost souls in Netherhell can never reincarnate or separate from their skeletons.
As for Yvonne May and Mona Ouyang, I can’t figure them out at all. One is silent, lost in thought or planning something, and the other just sleeps all day—who knows what she’s doing in her dreams?
Redmond’s power is useless in this era. His strength rises with the development of modern information, as people become smarter but also more malicious. This gives Redmond a constant source of power. I have no idea how many people he’s hurt using Calamity Power, but it’s clear that the people of modern society provide him with endless strength. He’s undoubtedly the strongest among the seven Ghost Sovereigns now—able to seal the Divine Law, something even the Ten Yama Kings couldn’t do.
So Redmond isn’t of any reference value to me. Thinking about how he’ll have to endure many more years of darkness, I can’t help but sigh.
That leaves only Lord Shenyan. I’ve figured out his karmic fire—it’s fueled by the sins he carries himself.
Let’s observe Lord Shenyan, then.
I said, and The Wraithlord nodded and smiled.
Looks like you’re starting to think for yourself.
Soon, our vision shifted, and we were back in the underground cave in the forest where Shen Yan Jun was. He was once again rubbing a stick against a stone.