The so-called Ghost Domain is a gathering place for countless Specters... When the chilling aura of ghostly bodies blankets the surroundings, it forms a Specter Domain, manifesting unpredictable illusions and phenomena.
"Inspiration search."
Andrew Han, dressed in a green robe, stood with his hands behind his back at the side of the temple.
Silent and invisible, formless and intangible, Inspiration suddenly permeated the air, circling throughout every corner of the temple, sensing an incomparably clear and terrifying sea of chilling cold.
Vast! Vast!
Terrifying! Terrifying!
"Sigh."
Andrew understood, unable to help but shake his head.
Before him stretched a continuous temple complex, its main hall supported by more than thirty giant pillars. Gold and white dominated the color scheme, accented by subtle hues, making the temple gleam with dazzling brilliance—a majestic, sacred grandeur that seemed utterly inviolable.
But in reality—
Directly beneath the grand temple lies the Ghost Domain, hiding countless chilling Specters.
It resembles a bottomless pit of darkness and despair, like a sinister, dangerous nether abyss. Even though Andrew's Inspiration has crystallized into diamond, he still feels a shock at its depth.
"Pitiful, lamentable, and sad."
Andrew's gaze was complicated as he looked ahead: "What you think you worship as the true Buddha is merely an illusion conjured by the Ghost Domain... Specters can create illusions; their nature is cruel and violent, but their outward appearance is disguised as lofty and sacred."
Beneath the extreme of light lies darkness!
He couldn't help but sigh at these people's ignorance... Praying to gods is less reliable than relying on oneself; only by becoming strong can one truly control their fate. It doesn't have to be martial power—it could be knowledge or talent.
At this moment, the sun shone high overhead.
In Indira, a tropical country, the blazing sunlight was like a furnace in the sky, roasting the grand temple with its majestic style. The air churned with waves of heat, heavy and stifling.
"Sinoveran? What are you sighing about?" Nearby, a middle-aged man, cigarette in mouth, glanced sideways at Andrew, thinking he was disrespecting the temple: "This is Guangluo Temple, enshrining Indira's most exalted true Buddha."
Indeed.
The temple was suffused with a sacred, pure aura, as if truly illuminated by Buddha's light.
But Andrew knew the truth and replied calmly, "This is only Indira's Buddha. Whether it's real is still uncertain."
"Hey, kid, do you know what you're saying?" The middle-aged man was startled. Though he harbored some prejudice against Sinoverans, it was far from hatred. His earlier glance was only because he felt Andrew was disrespecting the temple.
Andrew smiled and nodded, "Of course."
"You really dare to say that!" The man took two puffs of his cigarette, stepped closer, and warned in a low voice, "Speaking ill of the true Buddha here will easily provoke anger. Do you have a death wish?"
Speaking ill?
Andrew paused and looked the man over... Mandarin is a global language, and even this scruffy middle-aged man spoke it fluently. His use of the phrase 'speaking ill' showed considerable mastery.
"Thanks for the reminder."
Andrew smiled and nodded, watching the devout believers enter the temple, sincerely kneeling before the pure gold Buddha statue.
It makes sense, after all.
With constant warfare here, people always seek spiritual solace... After a moment's reflection, Andrew couldn't help but think of Sinovera's stable situation. Even with its flaws, overall it is harmonious, prosperous, and people live in peace.
"Almost time."
"The appointed time is near."
Andrew glanced at the blazing sun overhead, walked toward the temple's southern white wall, and stood in its shadow, quietly waiting for the Law-Realm guardians' signal.
He leaned against the wall, his mind turning over thoughts.
Under the scorching sun, the shadow cast by the temple wall brought a rare quiet. Only the distant chanting of believers could be faintly heard. He slowly squatted down, extending his left palm.
Buzz.
His palm pressed to the ground, sensing the Ghost Domain below... The number of Specters was terrifying. Even a rough estimate counted dozens of Great-Class Specters, more than three hundred Sect-Class Specters, and countless General-class and ordinary Specters.
"So many Specters."
"It's truly too dangerous—even a peak titled Martial Lord would likely fall here, doomed to failure and unable to handle so many Specters." Andrew mused inwardly, but felt no fear.
His Inspiration had fully crystallized into diamond, possessing unimaginable power.
Moreover, Inspiration restrains Specters. As long as he spreads its luminous force, flooding the surroundings, no Specter can approach—no matter how many peak Great-Class Specters there are, he has nothing to fear.
Wait.
Continue waiting.
Below, the Ghost Domain was saturated with chilling cold, but lacked the dread of Netherfiend-level Specters.
Andrew squinted, feeling a hint of regret: "It's just a pity that I won't get to test the true power of crystal-diamond Inspiration this time. If a Netherfiend were here, even if I couldn't kill it, at least I could try to contend and see if Inspiration could slay one."
"Never mind, I'll wait for the next opportunity."
Rescuing the scientists is imperative!
As for the Netherfiends—
Indira has three Netherfiends, presumably already held off by the Law-Realm guardians. As long as he rescues all the scientists before they return, the mission will be a complete success.
"The real difficulty—"
"Isn't killing Specters, but how to rescue all the scientists unharmed from this layered Ghost Domain... Not a single one can die. It's time!"
His communicator vibrated violently.
On the reinforced screen, only two black characters appeared: Action!
"I have only fifteen minutes."
"Even if I must expose my mystic martial power today, I must rescue these imprisoned scientists!"
Rumble!!!
Suddenly, the ground at the edge of the temple wall collapsed downward. Dust billowed, earth flew, forming a pitch-black tunnel—Andrew broke through by force, plunging straight into the underground netherworld!
......
Inside the Ghost Domain.
This place resembled a hive, the air damp and dim, hiding countless terrifying Specters. Ordinary people had no right to step inside.
Even if the occasional martial artist or strange visitor stumbled in, they rarely left with their lives.
Inside the Ghost Domain, a narrow, brightly lit room was packed with scientists—most of them elderly, faces gaunt, eyes lifeless, as if they had given up hope on the world.
They were imprisoned by Specters, with no hope of ever escaping.
They exchanged glances, silent and speechless.
"Sigh."
Someone let out a melancholy sigh, opened their mouth to speak but ended up shaking their head... The Specters imprisoned them precisely because they were scientists.
"Hmph."
"I do love scientific research, but first and foremost, I am human. I will never conduct research for you Specters..." The elderly scientist's hair was white, his face ashen, his skin pale from years without sunlight.
Yet—
Though his body was frail with age, his determined eyes still burned bright.
"Hiss!"
The Sect-Class Specter guarding the door was long used to this.
These human scientists were especially stubborn and unwavering, so they were regularly tormented to speed up research progress.
"Old human."
"Since you arrived early this year, you've resisted our hospitality... I know your name is Victor Zhou." The Sect-Class Specter took on a noodle-like form, its lower ghostly body splitting like legs as it approached Victor Zhou.
Its pitch-black ghostly body radiated terror, subduing the entire room.
The other captive scientists wanted to speak up in protest, but none could utter a word.
The Specter's ghost power was cruel, spreading throughout the room and suppressing their minds. Ordinary humans couldn't resist, especially since most were elderly.
"We've been far too tolerant, far too merciful."
"No one can stop me today." The pitch-black Sect-Class Specter, nearly human-shaped, with crimson eyes glaring at Victor Zhou, said, "Old man, today I'll show you the agony of the endless hell. Lowly fodder—you will submit whether you want to or not!"
Victor Zhou glared back, his head throbbing with pain, but he growled out each word: "You Specters will be wiped out!"
"Hahaha! Who could ever wipe us out? Ridiculous old fool—" The pitch-black Sect-Class Specter bared its bloody maw, trying to devour Victor Zhou's consciousness, inflicting cruel punishment and torment.
Just then—
Boom!!!
A massive hole burst open in the ceiling of the square room. Andrew Han, in his green robe, descended straight into the nether depths, his right hand reaching out to seize the abusive pitch-black Sect-Class Specter.
"Who? Who!?"
The Sect-Class Specter screamed in terror, barely able to open its eyes.
An incomparable radiance of Inspiration nearly blinded its ghostly eyes... Andrew had smashed through hundreds of meters of earth, arriving in full grandeur.
"I am Andrew Han."
His voice was cold, his expression emotionless.
Andrew clenched his right hand, crushing the Sect-Class Specter on the spot. Then he slowly straightened, his green robe billowing behind him.
"My Inspiration—"
"Radiate! Radiate! Radiate!"
Amidst the nether rumbling, the earth shook violently. Mystical radiance surged like a tidal wave, its blazing power obliterating Specter bodies, flooding in all directions. It was as if a majestic sun had descended to the deepest underground, illuminating the entire Ghost Domain!
...
(Author's note: Apologies, the third and fourth updates will be posted before midnight.)