Chapter 423

Chapter 423: Ghost Hand?

In the Yin Soil, Tu Su was still trying to contact the Qingqiu Fox Kingdom.

Meanwhile in Tian Shi City, Yan Yunyu, Si Ye, and Ji Ling Sha had begun working.

Some transported supplies, others used their divine office, while some targeted specific groups – each gathered faith for Mu Lin through different methods. Their actions brought changes to the refugees and ordinary soldiers in and around Tian Shi City.

…

The Agricultural and Martial Corps had lost vast territories to the Mother of the Nest Worms and invading monsters and evil spirits.

Retreating soldiers meant retreating civilians – those who stayed became food for worms and demons. Fleeing refugees couldn’t carry all their possessions.

Even if they had, it wouldn’t have lasted long. During the feudal era, ordinary civilians rarely had extra food.

With empty hands and no work in Tian Shi City, refugees sat helpless outside the walls. Only occasional porridge distributions from the city kept them alive.

But Tian Shi City’s food reserves were low. Both Zhang Hemiao and Sheng Cang knew starving the Agricultural and Martial Corps meant inviting the insect swarm to devour everyone before famine took them. Though aware of the famine outside of the city, they could do nothing.

Desperate people outside ate dirt. Riots erupted daily.

Yet recently, something shifted.

“Sis! Wake up! South district’s preaching about Yama, the City God, and the underworld ferryman! They say these Great Gods judge souls after death!”

“Hn…”

The hoarse call roused a sallow-skinned girl with straw-like hair. Fear flickered when hearing about postmortem judgment, but she weakly shook her head.

“Too tired… When we die… then meet them…”

Hunger stole her breath mid-sentence. She couldn’t care less about gods.

As she slumped down, her brother persisted:

“They’re giving eggs and thin porridge to listeners!”

“Truth?”

“Saw it myself – steaming pots, eggs piled up…”

He didn’t finish before she staggered upright.

“Then let’s hurry! It would be bad if someone drinks up all the porridge…”

Eggs and Thin Porridge held great power during famine years. Just by offering these, Ji Ling Sha instantly attracted crowds.

When people learned they could get Eggs and Thin Porridge daily if they listened to the teachings and passed regular tests, the displaced refugees naturally didn’t mind hearing the palace maid preach about the underworld doctrines.

Besides ordinary civilians, Ji Ling Sha also gathered younger orphans to build an orphanage. The rules here were stricter, but the meals were better.

The yellow-haired girl awakened by her brother also joined. Children’s pure hearts showed clearly – upon learning Mu Lin helped her, she became his devout believer that same day.

"Thank you City God! Thank you Yama! Little Rain will pray for you every day… Eggs taste so good…"

…

Supported by Prince Liang’s residence, Ji Ling Sha used the Sky Ferry to bring endless food from Southern realms, saving countless lives.

Though Chu Lingluo and Si Ye couldn’t provide supplies, their duties best spread the Power of Belief. Since everyone sleeps, the Other Shore Flower from Yin Soil beneath Tian Shi City easily affected living souls.

Guided by Si Ye, Chu Lingluo not only made fairy tale dreams but also created visions rewarding good and punishing evil. In these, evil people suffered punishments while good ones got mercy.

Through these visions, Chu Lingluo deeply engraved the underworld’s authority into people’s souls, making them understand and fear it. This fear became another form of Power of Belief.

Si Ye: "Lingluo, don’t feel bad. This helps your beloved Mu Lin and does them good… Only by rewarding good and punishing evil can humans develop properly."

…

While Ji Ling Sha and Chu Lingluo succeeded, Yan Yunyu seemed least successful. Yet being the most capable of the three, she amazingly gained fanatic followers despite difficulties – and these followers were powerful.

Outside Tian Shi City, among countless refugees existed outcasts. These were who Yan Yunyu sought.

"Bang!"

"Alive? Come out then."

Staring at the filthy, dangerous house, Yan Yunyu didn’t enter. She blasted the door open with magic instead.

This provoked the tormented man inside beyond endurance.

"Woman! You want death?!"

"Death?" Yan Yunyu chuckled. "I’m here to save you."

"Save me?"

The man froze momentarily before bursting into mad, bitter laughter.

“Hahaha, save me? No… I’m beyond help. No one can save me…”

“Clatter…”

Before the man finished speaking, his body was wrapped in chains summoned by Yan Yunyu.

“What are you doing?”

The sudden assault startled him, and he shouted in alarm.

Ignoring his confusion, Yan Yunyu stated coolly, “You don’t get to decide if you’re beyond saving. That’s my call.”

Her voice shifted from icy pride to a teasing lilt:

“You’ve noticed, haven’t you? The forbidden power inside your body is sealed.”

“Huh?”

The madman froze briefly before his face twisted from shock to wild joy.

“Gone… It’s really gone! The pain’s fading, the whispers in my ears stopped… I’m sane again. The forbidden power vanished!”

True enough, Yan Yunyu targeted those corrupted by forbidden power.

These outcasts endured endless torment while being shunned by society.

Though others saw this power as a curse, Yan Yunyu possessed the means to suppress it.

Her Infinite Chains fused multiple extraordinary abilities: the Divinity of Silence, Root Word "Fixing," Great Luo Merging Heaven, Chaos Origin Essence, and Central Earth Evil.

While unable to purge the forbidden power entirely, the chains could temporarily seal it or use silent divinity and Great Luo Merging Heaven to keep it in check.

For these desperate souls, even this temporary relief was precious.

Before, they’d lived like prey fleeing Death’s scythe. Now, gaining extra time to breathe felt like a miracle.

Yet while the man rejoiced, Yan Yunyu remained unimpressed.

Unlike Chu Lingluo, she never acted out of pure kindness.

As the man celebrated, she cut in bluntly:

“The power isn’t gone—just contained. If I lift the seal, it returns. But if I choose, I can suppress it within you indefinitely.”

With a thought, she retracted most chains, leaving a small segment coiled around his arm.

The remaining metal formed an Ouroboros-like loop—embodying the serpent’s essence.

Mu Lin Association’s teachings flowed through the True Spirit Domain Chart. Having shared both bed and secrets with her, Yan Yunyu had woven part of the Ouroboros’s core principle into her Infinite Chains.

This infinite cycle made escape nearly impossible for those bound.

Yet she’d deliberately left a trigger in the chains.

The corrupted cultivator could now unleash his forbidden power by activating this switch, then reseal it afterward by rewrapping the chains.

Relief washed over him—while forbidden power was dangerous, powerlessness meant worse suffering in these dark times. This compromise suited him perfectly.

But he knew better than to think this came free. “What’s your price?” he demanded.

“Clever.”

Yan Yunyu’s lips curved. “You’ll do three things: worship the City God, Yama, and me—master of the Infinite Chains—without reservation.”

“Then you’ll join the army I’m raising for Mu brother… that’s Yama. You and other tainted ones will become my soldiers.”

“In exchange, I’ll shield you from the forbidden power’s torment and strengthen you.”

“Fair terms. I agree.”

His quick acceptance drew a smile.

“Good. Your first task: bring me others like you. They’ll receive these holy chains and a chance to live anew.”