Chapter 3872: A Reminder
Fengdu Ghost City, Eastern Ghost Emperor Manor.
When Shentu Ghost Emperor was alive, the Eastern Ghost Emperor Manor was the foremost among the five directions. However, after the identity of the Quantity Venerable was exposed, the entire Ghost Emperor Manor was purged, and it has now become the weakest of the five manors.
Zhuque Huowu, who had stepped into the Infinite Realm, was temporarily managing the Eastern Ghost Emperor Manor.
The reason she had not become the new Eastern Ghost Emperor was that Fengdu Dadi had yet to return.
Only Fengdu Dadi could appoint a Ghost Emperor.
However, the Eastern Ghost Emperor Manor had now become Feng Tian’s temporary residence, housing a large number of cultivators from the Death God Palace.
Above the Ghost Emperor Manor, dark clouds perpetually gathered, accompanied by rumbling thunder.
Occasionally, bolts of lightning would streak across the sky and earth.
After the battle at Wuding Divine Sea, Feng Tian had seized the Ancestor Realm left by the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor, “Heavenly Duke.” Over the years, she had been absorbing the residual Ancestor power within the Ancestor Realm and comprehending the Ancestor’s Dao resonance.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree had taken root in the Thunder Sea of the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm, standing like a pillar connecting heaven and earth. Its trunk and leaves all flowed with electric light.
Yanshu Chanshi stood inside the hall, gazing at the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm within the chaos, and said, “That Zhang benefactor from White Clothes Valley means to use Gai Mie to eliminate the hidden danger of Wuchang Ghost City. If he can help Feng Tian eliminate Huangquan Dadi together, and stabilize the situation in the Santu River region, that would naturally be for the best.”
Within the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm, beneath the Blood Leaf Parasol Tree, Feng Tian’s form flickered in and out of visibility, her divine voice vast and distant: “We are using him, but isn’t he also using us to restore his cultivation? Once he reaches the Heavenly Venerable rank, he might become another Ba’er.”
Yanshu Chanshi said, “Currently, the Hell Realm’s army is under immense pressure in the Abyss of Darkness. Gai Mie’s restored cultivation can serve as a check on the Primordial Beings. Zhang benefactor holds something that Gai Mie desires. Even if Gai Mie recovers to the Heavenly Venerable rank, they can still engage in mutually beneficial exchanges.”
“Are you referring to that demonic object Yinshuetian seized from Jiusi Yitianhuang?” Feng Tian asked.
Yanshu Chanshi nodded.
After a long pause, Feng Tian said, “The Heavenly Venerable rank is not so easy to control! Gai Mie is a demonic cultivator. His restored cultivation will encroach on Heavenly Mother’s dominion over the demonic path. You should first seek Heavenly Mother’s opinion.”
“Have you considered that Gai Mie, with his cultivation fully restored, might join forces with Ba’er to deal with Heavenly Mother?”
Yanshu Chanshi nodded gently, saying, “That is indeed a great hidden danger! But if Qingtian does not act, how can the great danger within Wuchang Ghost City be resolved?”
Mu Lingxi sat in the divine hall, draped in a lake-green outer robe, a jade hairpin in her hair, and the vermilion phoenix mark on her brow vivid and lifelike. She held a bronze brush, writing and marking on a letter register.
On the table beside her were piled message light talismans and letters sent from all over.
At present, all major and minor matters of the Death God Palace were decided by her.
Only decisions involving the Infinite level were handed over to Feng Tian.
Suddenly, she stopped her brush and looked at Yanshu Chanshi, saying, “This junior has a suggestion! Since Gai Mie has already arrived at Wuchang Ghost City, not cooperating with him would only provoke him. Instead, why not first test his sincerity?”
“How do we test it?” Yanshu Chanshi asked.
Mu Lingxi narrowed her eyes like crescent moons and smiled, “First, help us deal with Huangquan Dadi. After that, if he wants to refine and absorb the strange blood spring in Wuchang Ghost City, we will not interfere.”
Yanshu Chanshi looked toward the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm in the chaotic space.
Feng Tian’s voice came out: “This proposal is acceptable! As long as Huangquan Dadi is eliminated, even if Gai Mie harbors ulterior motives, I, this Heavenly God, will not be caught in the dangerous situation of having to deal with both Huangquan Dadi and him at the same time.”
From outside the hall came Xue Tu’s voice: “Xue Tu pays respects to Master.”
“Come in!”
Xue Tu entered the divine hall, passing by Yanshu Chanshi, and then knelt on one knee toward the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm: “Reporting to Master, after this disciple’s vigorous persuasion, Di Chen has arrived in the Santu River region. Worried about the situation in Wuchang Ghost City, he has already gone ahead to investigate.”
Yanshu Chanshi, who was walking toward the hall’s entrance, brightened at these words and quickened his pace to leave.
Mu Lingxi, sitting by the table, immediately showed a delighted expression, no longer maintaining her earlier seriousness and focus.
Within the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm, Feng Tian let out a cold snort: “He comes to the Santu River region but does not first come to see me. He is becoming increasingly arrogant!”
As she spoke, Feng Tian had already passed through the world’s boundary wall, flying out of the Thunder Clan’s Ancestor Realm as if gliding. Her long hair was like electric shuttles, her aura soaring to the nine heavens.
The entire sky above Fengdu Ghost City echoed with thunder.
Her emotions stirred the celestial phenomena.
Xue Tu immediately lowered his head, his whole body cold, not daring to say another word.
He secretly rejoiced that he had not spoken according to his senior brother’s instructions; otherwise, his master’s wrath would have fallen on him first.
Mu Lingxi immediately rose and bowed deeply, saying, “This disciple is willing to go to Wuchang Ghost City on Master’s behalf.”
“What would you do there?” Feng Tian asked.
Mu Lingxi said, “This disciple believes there may be some misunderstanding between Master and Di Chen…”
“There is no misunderstanding. Everything is handled according to official matters. Go ahead. Since he intends to help repair the formations of Wuchang Ghost City, you may express gratitude on behalf of the Hell Realm. Hmph, Heavenly Round Without Flaw…”
Feng Tian’s form flickered and finally disappeared.
Xue Tu let out a long breath, nearly collapsing to the ground, feeling that trouble was coming.
Upon learning that Qitian had been detained by Feng Tian, his senior brother had rushed to Fengdu Ghost City.
But upon arriving at the World Tree, he had avoided seeing Feng Tian, clearly intending to play a game of chess with her. How could he possibly take the initiative to repair the formations of Wuchang Ghost City?
Once his lie was exposed, the consequences would be dire.
Xue Tu knew well why Feng Tian, his master, was so angry. First, it was because of the private deal between Zhang Ruochen and Xu Tian thirty years ago.
That deal had later been leaked, dealing a heavy blow to Feng Tian’s authority and giving rise to many unfavorable rumors.
In the end, it was only after many cultivators had been subjected to the Death Heavenly Punishment that the matter was suppressed, and no one dared to discuss it anymore.
Second, it was because Qingtian was using the matter of Wuchang Ghost City to play a game of chess with Feng Tian, pressuring her to compromise and agree to release Er Daren from prison. If his senior brother also used Wuchang Ghost City to force Feng Tian to hand over Qitian, he would undoubtedly be walking right into the line of fire. Feng Tian would surely vent all her anger toward Qingtian onto him.
The more Xue Tu thought about it, the more afraid he became. He immediately caught up with Mu Lingxi and followed her toward Wuchang Ghost City.
On the black soil wilderness south of Wuchang Ghost City, a large number of Hell Realm cultivators had gathered, including many deities.
Many deities had their own divine halls, scattered across the plain, hung with ghost fire lanterns, with bone generals patrolling.
Looking from the Yin Mountain, the halls stretched to the horizon. Occasionally, formation light beams shot into the sky, indicating that formation masters were studying the formation inscription patterns.
On the other side, the wide Santu River had become even redder.
Zhang Ruochen and Gong Nanfeng walked one after the other along the mountain path toward the Black Wuchang Divine Hall at the top of Yin Mountain.
“Boom!”
A low thunderclap came from the starry sky.
Zhang Ruochen stopped and looked toward Fengdu Ghost City, where the top of the World Tree flickered with lightning, and said, “If Feng Tian must guard Fengdu Ghost City to prevent Huangquan Dadi from taking advantage of the situation to seize the Ancestor Realm, then she cannot come here, can she?”
“That’s exactly it! So, I suggest we go to Fengdu Ghost City now,” Gong Nanfeng said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “If her true body cannot come, she can send a doppelganger.”
“…” Gong Nanfeng said.
Arriving outside the Black Wuchang Divine Hall, they saw Mingye Shenzun waiting there.
Seeing them, Mingye Shenzun immediately stepped forward to greet them, bowing respectfully, and asked, “Has Di Chen already entered the city?”
Gong Nanfeng’s expression was somewhat strange, and he said, “Shenzun’s foresight is remarkable.”
“If I couldn’t see through such a small matter, wouldn’t all my years of cultivation be in vain?”
Mingye Shenzun continued, “What is the situation inside the city now? Has anyone infiltrated it?”
“Why does Shenzun ask that?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Mingye Shenzun said, “I have examined the cracks on the city wall. They do not seem to have been caused by blood spring corrosion. Di Chen is more perceptive than I am and can surely see more flaws. The fact that Di Chen brought the Celestial Pivot Needle into the city to investigate has further confirmed my suspicions. Come, please enter!”
Walking into the hall, Mingye Shenzun said, “The one who most wants to destroy Wuchang Ghost City must be Huangquan Dadi.”
Zhang Ruochen, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, “Shenzun did not tell outsiders about my arrival, did you?”
Mingye Shenzun smiled, “Since Di Chen specifically instructed me, how would I dare to spread it?”
“Including Heqing Shenzun?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Mingye Shenzun was taken aback, “Why does Di Chen suddenly mention her?”
“Nothing much. I just thought you two are close and must be in constant communication,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Di Chen, rest assured. Without your permission, I will not reveal any information about you to anyone.”
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Zhang Ruochen headed toward the Ten Thousand Buddha Formation, thinking to himself, I can only remind you this far.
Mingye Shenzun fell into deep thought, looking at Gong Nanfeng, who was still in the divine hall.
Gong Nanfeng sat on a chair, eating the divine fruits and sacred brews that Mingye Shenzun had prepared for Zhang Ruochen, and said, “What are you looking at me for? If you want to curry favor with Di Chen and get his guidance, you need to know what he wants. Look at these fruits you offered—did Di Chen even glance at them? He doesn’t care about them at all.”
Mingye Shenzun’s cultivation had been stuck at the peak of Qiankun Infinite for many years. Finally encountering a legendary figure like Zhang Ruochen, how could he let the opportunity slip?
Legend had it that Zhang Ruochen’s First-Rank Divine Path could not only help cultivators refine their divine bodies but also aid in Dao comprehension.
Moreover, treasures like the Sundial and the Earth Cauldron, which helped with cultivation, were renowned across the universe.
Zhuque Huowu, also of the Ghost Clan, had broken through to the Infinite Realm under Zhang Ruochen’s help and had made rapid progress in her cultivation.
Having finally met Zhang Ruochen, how could Mingye Shenzun not try to seize this opportunity?
Mingye Shenzun sat down on the chair next to Gong Nanfeng, lowered his posture, and smiled, “Brother Gong has a close relationship with Di Chen and should know him well. Can you give me some pointers?”
“Do you even need my guidance? Everyone in the world knows this. Just think back to what Di Chen said earlier and try to comprehend it.”
Gong Nanfeng picked up a fruit, took a bite, and continued, “If you don’t break through to Great Unbound Infinite, do you think Mingye Shenzun can survive the next Eon Calamity? Be a bit more generous. You have to give to gain.”
Mingye Shenzun’s expression changed drastically, his eyelids narrowing. Then his gaze shifted uncertainly, and the fingers on the table clenched tightly together.
Gong Nanfeng nodded inwardly, thinking, I can only help you this far!