Chapter 70: The Nine-Sail Ghost Banner
After getting off the bus, Mu Lichuan found himself in a hazy, indistinct place. Many "ghosts" drifted past him before vanishing into a swirling vortex of darkness.
These ghosts had no consciousness whatsoever, yet they carried a heavy aura of yin energy. Normally, when a person died, their soul would dissipate quickly if exposed to sunlight, with no chance of reaching a place like this. Could it be that the "bus" served this very purpose?
He was human. Even though he possessed the Yin-Yang Eyes and could traverse the boundary between the living and the dead, he had merely boarded a random bus—only to end up on one from the "Underworld."
He had heard of the Underworld before, but was this really the path leading there? Why were there no Black and White Impermanence Officers? Could the bus driver be one of them? Mu Lichuan was utterly baffled, but one thing was certain—he had no intention of following this path.
[Black and White Impermanence Officers (黑白无常, Hēi Bái Wúcháng): The Underworld's ghostly enforcers in Chinese folklore. Hei Wuchang (Black) captures evil souls, while Bai Wuchang (White) guides the good, embodying the duality of judgment in the afterlife.]
The ground beneath his feet was gray and spongy, yet firm enough that he wouldn’t sink. The ghosts around him were incomplete, clearly missing large portions of their souls.
When Mu Lichuan turned to look behind him, his eyes widened in shock. The passage was vanishing at a visible rate. He immediately tried to run back, only to find his feet rooted in place. If he still didn’t realize what was happening by now, he’d be a fool. Someone had set up this "trap," forcing him to move forward.
"Mu Lichuan! Do you have nothing better to do? How did you even end up in—wait, this isn’t quite the same as the path to the Ghost Realm." Before Mu Lichuan could decide his next move, a long-absent voice rang out in his mind, laced with frustration.
Xiao Mo had nearly succeeded in his own endeavor when he was abruptly pulled back. Upon closer inspection, he realized the young man was in trouble. Xiao Mo’s spirit was attached to Mu Lichuan’s spiritual sea, if it were destroyed, even if he reclaimed what was his, he’d be forced into slumber again. Who knew how many years would pass before he woke up next?
"I don’t know how this happened. Do you recognize this place?" Mu Lichuan had no intention of relying on Xiao Mo. After all, the latter was just a soul, he could offer advice, but Mu Lichuan had to handle everything himself.
"I’m not a god. Even gods don’t know everything. Just follow the ghosts." Xiao Mo’s tone was indifferent. Fortunately, he had left behind a trace of golden light. If they truly ended up in an unknown realm, he could use it to pull Mu Lichuan back. Otherwise, getting lost in the void would be fatal—especially for someone still at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Mu Lichuan was speechless, but he had a vague suspicion: Xiao Mo had likely lost most of his memories. Once they were unsealed, his knowledge would return. Still, Mu Lichuan couldn’t help but worry. To true powerhouses, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was nothing, they could be crushed with a flick of a finger.
The ghosts continued streaming forward, their yin energy thick, their resentment varying in intensity. Without exception, they were drawn by something—otherwise, they wouldn’t be so docile.
The path ahead was like a storm. Mu Lichuan cast a protective barrier around himself and gripped a handful of talismans.
Xiao Mo’s spatial treasure had one major advantage: it was filled with talismans, many of which Mu Lichuan had never seen before. Even with his low cultivation level, throwing one could kill effortlessly. Or rather, kill ghosts without a trace.
"Xiao Mo, besides the Underworld, is there also a Ghost Realm?" Mu Lichuan asked within his spiritual sea. Outside the barrier, the storm raged, devouring mindless ghosts like particles.
"Of course there is. Focus on the present, don’t get distracted!" Xiao Mo snapped sternly. His memories had partially returned, and he now knew exactly who this "young man" was. But this reincarnation was pathetically weak, anyone could crush him with a finger.
Had Mu Lichuan’s identity been exposed? Xiao Mo dismissed the thought immediately. This was the Lower Three Realms, a place scarce in spiritual energy and resources. If those people were searching for Mu Lichuan, they’d scour the Upper Three Realms or the Immortal Realm, not this backwater.
[Lower Three Realms (下三界, Xià Sān Jiè): In Chinese mythology and cultivation lore, the Lower Three Realms refer to the mortal world and its adjacent planes. Comprising the Human Realm (人界, Rén Jiè), the Ghost Realm (鬼界, Guǐ Jiè), and the Demon Realm (妖界, Yāo Jiè) - where spiritual energy is scarce, inhabitants are weaker, and higher cultivation is nearly impossible compared to the immortal-rich Upper Three Realms (上三界, Shàng Sān Jiè).]
Mu Lichuan steeled himself. He couldn’t afford carelessness. Without knowing the full situation, relying solely on his barrier was foolish. He remained vigilant, scanning for an exit.
He had no idea how long he walked before stopping abruptly. Below him stretched chains, each shackling a wrathful shadow soul.
[Shadow soul (阴魂, Yīn Hún): a corrupted spirit saturated with lingering resentment and yin energy, devoid of consciousness yet drawn to devour weaker ghosts to grow stronger]
Shadow souls were different from ordinary ghosts. They were souls steeped in immense resentment, devoid of will—only responding to their master’s call. Anyone else who encountered them would be corroded.
Mindless souls, carrying resentment or yin energy, fluttered toward the chained shadow souls like moths to a flame.
The chains were densely packed, restraining countless shadow souls. At the center, the largest shadow soul continued absorbing the resentment of the smaller ones, growing ever more massive.
"So that’s it…" Xiao Mo sighed. No wonder a path to the Ghost Realm had appeared in the Lower Three Realms.
Mu Lichuan frowned. "You know this place?" He was well aware of his own ignorance. Beyond the books in his spatial treasure, he had little practical knowledge.
"Inside the Nine-Sail Ghost Banner. But this is just a minor piece—nothing significant." Xiao Mo’s voice was icy, as if the artifact was beneath his notice.
[The Nine-Sail Ghost Banner (九帆鬼幡): a supernatural artifact from Chinese lore, often depicted as a cursed or spectral banner with nine sails symbolizing dominion over death - used in necromancy, soul-summoning, or as a harbinger of doom, rooted in Daoist underworld mythology]
"Then can we leave?" Mu Lichuan relaxed slightly. Fortunately he had Xiao Mo in his spiritual sea, without him, escaping would’ve been a nightmare.
Xiao Mo scoffed. "You think it’s that easy? I have no physical form, and you’re only at Foundation Establishment. No wonder you were tricked into coming here." He couldn’t fathom how the cold, ruthless deity he once knew had reincarnated into such a clueless human. Did rebirth really change everything, even intelligence?
Mu Lichuan didn’t argue. He knew his cultivation was lacking. He’d been played without realizing it, mistaking it for life experience. The seemingly peaceful mortal world hid immense dangers - ones he’d been blind to in his past life. The thought filled him with regret.
"We should dual cultivate our souls as soon as possible. But it’s impossible in this realm, and I haven’t reclaimed what’s mine. Even if we did, the effects would be minimal." Xiao Mo repeated his earlier suggestion. The more he remembered, the less he wanted to dual cultivate with this "idiot." Yet something in his mind insisted this person was important.
"Given your current state, escaping the Nine-Sail Ghost Banner requires a guide." Xiao Mo emphasized.
Mu Lichuan asked, "Who? Someone related to me by blood?" But his great-grandfather was already on the verge of death. If he became the guide, wouldn’t that kill him?
"You think your great-grandfather is capable? No, someone blessed with national fortune, carrying dragon energy. That’s what’s needed to counter this. You’re only alive now because of the golden light within you. Did you really think your meager power of faith could handle these shadow souls?" Fortunately, this is an incomplete Nine-Sail Ghost Banner. The real deal can force even a Nascent Soul cultivator to retreat.
"Mi Shen?" Mu Lichuan immediately thought of him. "But why do I feel weak whenever I’m near him?" He’d wanted to ask this for a while, but Xiao Mo had been absent.
Xiao Mo remained silent for a long time. Meanwhile, the shadow souls above had noticed Mu Lichuan. If not for the chains restraining them, they’d have torn him apart already.
"It’ll pass with time." Xiao Mo replied vaguely. He knew well that those touched by national fortune could inadvertently bring misfortune to the young man.
"I have a strong suspicion that my current predicament is tied to him. Xiao Mo, what are you hiding?" Mu Lichuan wasn’t stupid. Xiao Mo’s disappearance likely had something to do with Mi Shen.
Xiao Mo's tone grew colder. "Do you want to leave or not? Staying longer will drain your life force."
The mention of "life force" snapped Mu Lichuan’s focus back. "Then summon the guide quickly—"
His surroundings offered no exit, only shadow souls and endless gloom, oppressive and suffocating.
"I can’t. You’ll have to rely on your own will to send a message." Xiao Mo’s tone turned almost spiteful. Since Mu Lichuan dared to question him, let him handle this himself. Consider it training.
Mu Lichuan’s forehead creased. "That’s assuming the other party has a connection to me." Without one, no amount of calling would help.
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