Chapter 445

Chapter 445: Humans Turned into Ghosts

Li Hui continued to explore the ruins, which had been set up to suppress the fierce beast, Tao Wu. He had reached the very bottom and found an ancient teleportation array in the northwest corner.

“Strange! There’s actually a teleportation array here. Brother Yuan didn’t return, he must have used this array to leave.”

“What an ancient coordinate range! Based on the stellar positioning index, the destination is not on the Wutu Continent.” Li Hui was greatly shocked; this was actually a cross-continental teleportation array, seemingly able to be activated only once. A layer of horror suddenly filled his heart: “Is it possible? This teleportation array was set here to allow the fierce beast Tao Wu to guard it. After so long, Tao Wu has already died. Who set up this array?”

“To use this type of teleportation array again would require tens of thousands of high-grade Miao Jade pieces, along with a large number of Qian Kun Moving talismans for reinforcement. Once we settle all matters in Dalong, we might give it a try,” Li Hui shook his head. Although he had the desire to travel, he couldn’t get away. Besides, with the dark moon appearing, other continents were equally in turmoil; peace was rare in the world.

Guang Jin suddenly transmitted a message: “Master, the Transcendent Tathagata Buddha you had the Buddhist nation offer has reacted. Mu Qianyun used this wooden carving as a Buddha, leaving a spiritual sense imprint. The two heavenly kings barely caught a trace of energy, locking onto An Yun City, the largest city in Jingzhou, three hundred thousand miles away. However, the heavenly kings say this may very well be a deadly trap.”

“A trap? It could be,” Li Hui nodded slightly. “It’s unlikely that Jieyin would have such good luck finding Qianyun’s wooden carving, so this must be a clue left by the enemy to lure us in.”

“So, Master…”

“The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, making it easy for us to be led along. There are countless talented individuals in the world, and the methods of those ghost cultivators are inherently strange. Setting traps to lead us is bound to be more peculiar and hard to guard against.”

Li Hui cracked his knuckles, his expression solemn: “My intuition tells me this matter goes beyond our expectations. This statue was not left by Cheng Yuyan; she wants me to fight the National Master of Dalong, preferably to our mutual destruction, while she can come out to clean up the mess. There’s no reason for her to set up another trap. I have a deadly feud with her, and once the time comes, I’ll confront her directly. Why go through the trouble? So, the enemy must be someone else, likely the father and son mentioned by my Master, Xun Maodong.”

Guang Jin agreed, “Exactly, I also feel something is off. So, the enemy finally can’t hold back and is showing us their claws?”

Li Hui suddenly asked, “Guang Jin, are you familiar with the ghost cultivators?”

“Ah? Aren’t ghost cultivators just a bunch of scum unwilling to descend into hell? They’re unwilling to fade away, transforming their souls into ghosts supported by resentment and dark energy.”

“That’s just superficial understanding; I need to delve deeper into them. It’s said that knowing oneself and knowing one’s enemy enables victories in a hundred battles. We don’t even know where the Yin Moon Dynasty is, so how can we talk about exterminating our enemies?”

“That could be difficult. Although this external transformation of yours is remarkable, it carries overwhelming vitality and Buddhist power. It’s almost impossible to turn into a ghost cultivator.”

“Things are achievable through effort!” Li Hui made his way to the upper levels of the ruins, surrounded by nine colors rotating, gliding through the clouds and leaving mountains and rivers behind.

Located in An Yun City, the largest city in Jingzhou, after the appearance of the dark moon, a large population had moved here, and the city expanded numerous times with over a hundred thousand craftsmen building its walls daily.

From the air, one could observe the walls surrounded by rings upon rings, with as many as thirteen layers from the outermost to the innermost. Regardless of whether they could defend against the ghosts, the imposing city walls at least offered the inhabitants a sense of security.

Countless ghost-repelling talismans were affixed to the walls. As dark energy wafted over and touched the walls, dozens of ghost-repelling talismans immediately ignited, turning to ashes. Some cultivators rushed to replenish the supplies.

Li Hui retracted his spiritual sense and said to Guang Jin: “These ghost-repelling talismans can only defend against evil and fierce ghosts; they cannot withstand high-level ghosts above the Condense Essence Stage. On the left side of the city gate, guards have been possessed by a big-headed ghost, and the blacksmith nearby is under the control of a Smoky Ghost. Moreover, a merchant just entering through the city gate had his soul devoured by a Greedy Ghost.”

Guang Jin gasped: “A calamity for people! With so many ghosts emerging, citizens often don’t know the real menace; high-level ghosts like to blend into crowds, just like a drunkard loves to dive into a wine cellar. This great city is essentially the wine cellar for all the ghosts. As external calamities intensify, more people come, and indeed, more ghosts appear. Cultivators can’t get through and don’t even know who around them is a ghost.”

“Exactly!” Li Hui had landed on the official road outside the city, transforming into a plump monk, dragging a wooden bowl as he headed into the city.

“Hey, Master, your aura…” Guang Jin exclaimed in shock.

“I restrained the vitality, gathering a bit of dark energy; thirty percent of the talismans on the walls have already been eroded by the ghosts, and I merely disguised myself with ghost skin.”

“Your talisman methods have become increasingly impressive! I’ve heard of people drawing ghosts on human skin, but I’ve never seen someone donning ghost skins.” Guang Jin sincerely praised.

Originally regarded as a minor path by the world, Li Hui had turned it into a grand highway under his feet. Regardless of his original talent, the accomplishments today were truly breathtaking.

“The great monk wants to enter the city? Come here for registration,” a big-headed ghost guard waved.

“Ha ha ha, understood, understood! Good face, head big as a basin, a fortune every day!” Li Hui replied cheerfully, glancing at the roster, which recorded Yokai, Yin Luo, Sad Girl, Mountain Boy, and other ghost entities, graphically depicting ghosts invisible to others, which, given time, could give birth to malevolence or be refined into ghost artifacts for a hundred ghosts roaming the night.

“Hmph, you’re quite the smooth talker! Since you can see through my true form, if you want to enter the city and blend in, you’ll have to leave behind three or two pieces of dark coins.” The big-headed ghost paused, suddenly realizing: “Wait, what kind of ghost are you? I’ve never heard of you.”

“I’m a monk! After death, I became a Buddha; my body is pitch black, like burnt charcoal, referred to as Tu Buddha!” Li Hui had no dark coins, so he reached into his sleeve and suddenly pulled out three talismans.

“What? You don’t even have dark coins? Don’t you know that money can make ghosts push grinding stones? I don’t care if you’re a Buddha or not after death; if you want to pass here, you need to pay tolls.”

“Then what are dark coins? Look at these three talismans; they are ghost-drawing talismans.” Li Hui slammed the tattered talismans onto the counter, standing tall.

“Ghost-drawing talismans? Hee hee hee, you’re trying to fool little ghosts! Do you dare to show off in front of me?” The big-headed ghost laughed heartily, nearly baring his ghostly teeth.

“Big head, big head, why don’t you recognize the goods?” The plump monk’s expression darkened; the ghost-repelling talismans on the city gates crackled. The big-headed ghost widened his eyes, frightened, and took a deep breath: “Fool! Are you trying to expose the dark energy and get me killed? Fine, go into the city; recently, there are Taoist priests and bald donkeys preparing to perform rituals, specifically targeting us. If you could sneak in and disrupt their plans, the Horse King will reward you.”

“Is there a ghost king here?”

“Hey, how fresh! This kind of large city can’t be without a ghost king. Where did you come from, you country bumpkin?” The big-headed ghost sneered in disdain.

With a wave of his sleeve, Li Hui walked through the city gate, blending into the human crowd, looking up as the sky filled with dark clouds. Once the dark clouds fully enveloped the human presence, this city would be finished.