Chapter 248
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Chapter 248: Title
In the guest seats, Xiao Tianji toyed with a fan whose design struck a familiar chord with viewers behind the screens—wasn’t this the very fan Young Master Leng always carried? While their camaraderie was well-known, none imagined they’d grown so intimate that even a "wife" could be casually borrowed.
(Fan = wife = internet users’ playful moniker.)
Leng Xingwen guarded his fan jealously, rarely permitting others to touch it. That Xiao Tianji could idly flick it open spoke volumes about their bond. Raising the spread fan like a shield, Xiao Tianji quipped to his neighbor with a smirk, “How the world has fallen, with hearts no longer as noble as the past. This deluge of dog food batters my very soul.”
Leng Xingwen’s lips curled in retort, “As if your own hands stayed clean through it all.”
“By hierarchy, shouldn’t you address me as ‘Shixu Gu’?”
A woman in red robes, her hair styled in a Lingxu bun adorned with a red jade cloud-patterned hairpin, tilted her head as she spoke, the tassels of her buyao swaying gently. Raven locks cascaded over snow-pale shoulders, framing delicate features softened by affection.
None but the Ghost in Red could claim such presence.
She’d certainly overheard the banter, yet her gaze remained fixed on the young Taoist beside her—this soul reclaimed after twelve centuries of waiting deserved not a blink’s distraction.
Xiao Tianji scoffed, “Tend your own garden before weeding others’.”
“I’d never intrude on strangers’ affairs,” Leng Xingwen arched a brow, “but since when are you a stranger?”
The Ghost in Red murmured, concern lacing her words, “Yujue, how fare you? The underworld’s ghostly energy… I warned against accompanying me—”
“Long repose demands movement to mend the body.” Yujue’s smile held spring warmth, radiating the grace of a refined gentleman. “And I’d walk any path to stay at your side. Twelve hundred years alone… that burden should never have been yours.”
【Hostess is legendary—how does she even capture this audio?! (⊙o⊙)】
【Holy smokes! The scumbag himself!】
【?? Scumbag??】
【When Ghost in Red emerged 400 years back, she hinted about a ‘young Taoist’—cold case of the century!】
【Mystery solved after four eras!】
【Grandpa, rest well—I’m burning the answers to you now!】
【Big shot alert—who even knows 400-year gossip?】
【Every Ghost in Red lore thread mentions him though!】
The Awakening of Spiritual Energy four centuries prior hadn’t granted all longevity. As stars outshine common lamps, only those of profound cultivation endured through the ages.
【Newbie here—context please! (^o^)/~】
【Explain!】
【Basically, when she broke free from the ancient seals, Ghost in Red credited/dragged some young Taoist.】
【Addendum: Their history reeks of romantic subtext.】
【Translation: star-crossed power couple.】
【All lovey-dovey now—screen’s cracking under their dog food avalanche.】
【Xiao Tianji: I need eye bleach.】
Unnoticed, Xiao Ziqing materialized among the guests, gliding toward the group with silent steps.
Xiao Tianji snapped his fan shut, unsurprised by her arrival. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into Leng Xingwen’s arms. "Enjoyed the show from afar?"
"This livestream wasn’t announced beforehand. I never consented to appear on camera." The bright-eyed young man with starlit gaze smiled disarmingly, contrasting sharply with his aloof Weibo persona.
Xiao Tianji’s enigmatic reputation had persisted since the Awakening of Spiritual Energy era, when his few divinations shook the world. His public appearances remained countable on one hand across centuries – hence the flood of viewers specifically here for him.
【Aaaah! My eternal crush! Streamer, give us face close-ups!—】
【Beauty filter activated.】
【My taste differs – pan to the lady beside him!】
【Oh you old horndog.】
【A serendipitous broadcast! Shouldn’t this count as big shot’s divination?】
Leng Xingwen caught the fan with practiced grace, its fluttering motion pausing near Xiao Ziqing’s press badge. "Miss Xiao needn’t heed his words," he said with an easy smile. "He takes no offense."
Xiao Ziqing inclined her head. "Your courtesy honors me, Young Master Leng. I bear no grievances."
Every invited guest held significant status – figures Xiao Ziqing had studied during her lifetime. She recognized Leng Xingwen, though never imagined conversing with him posthumously.
Meanwhile, Xiao Tianji addressed the camera with cryptic amusement. "The crowd’s curiosity centers on Ghost in Red’s companion, it seems?"
【Yes yes!】
【Psst… Didn’t Young Master Leng mention someone being a big shot’s Shixu Gu?】
【Big shot’s Shixu Gu? From antiquity? Impossible!】
"By lineage, he’s my Shixu Gu – as you heard." Xiao Tianji abandoned his usual "secrets of heaven cannot be disclosed" evasiveness. "Presently, he’s Ghost in Red’s partner." His eyes crinkled teasingly. "No divination needed to foresee broken hearts tonight."
Ghost in Red continued peeling oranges impassively. Witnesses gaped at this domestic vision – when had the ice-cold warrior ever embodied nurturing tenderness? Her reputation screamed ruthless efficiency, making this "virtuous wife" image as contradictory as an immortal consuming poison.
【Nooo my 400-year crush! QAQ】
【En garde, rival! Peak tier three warrior challenges you!】
【Hiss—tier three big shots exist?!】
【Since when do cultivation hermits watch streams?】
【Lies until my idol confirms!】
【Denial’s useless – senior didn’t deny it!】
【Since when has Xiao Tianji’s golden tongue erred?】
Xiao Tianji remarked, “Oh, you doubt my words?”
“Shall I have our esteemed Shixu Gu greet you instead?”
The young Taoist’s robes accentuated his poised elegance, his profile turning slightly toward the camera. His clear, luminous eyes held a serenity that had weathered the world yet remained unaltered.
Ghost in Red set aside her citrus fruit, brows furrowed in mild reproach. Though unnamed, her intended recipient was unmistakable.
“Yujue has only just awakened.”
【Aww, I’m deceased!!!】
【—Mother, behold your prospective son-in-law!】
【By the heavens—such lethal handsomeness!】
【I’m utterly captivated. This gentleman shall henceforth reign as my 108th divine muse.】
【Where’s your dignity? (﹃)】
“Ghost in Red,” Xiao Tianji chuckled, “Though newly roused, our Shixu Gu is no fledgling. His grasp of this era surpasses your assumptions.”
The crimson-clad woman studied Yujue silently.
Yujue’s fingers closed over hers in reassurance. “I’ve acquainted myself with recent developments.”
“Your recovery remains incomplete,” Ghost in Red countered, her chiding tone softened by affectionate concern.
【…Cold dog food right in the face.】
【I’ve been overfed.】
【This! This is a couple show off behavior!】
【Why does their dynamic feel… inverted?】
【Implying… dominant lady x delicate gentleman vibes?】
【Don’t voice it! (But you’re not wrong)】
【Since when did we become romance analysts?? _(:з」∠)_】
As banter flowed, distant figures materialized through the mists.
A maiden glided toward them, feathered garments rippling like celestial tides, twin coiled buns framing her face. The azure droplet gracing her brow shimmered as flowing silks cascaded from her arms. Beside her walked a youth of striking beauty—midnight robes billowing around his athletic frame, jet-black ponytail secured by a feathered hair crown glittering with pearlescent motifs.
【Gods above! Isn’t that White Jade Capital’s—】
【Drop the ‘isn’t’—it’s definitely her!】
【The Floating Cloud Immortal Officer herself! The Underworld’s influence must be immense.】
【But why’s a demon lord accompanying an Immortal Officer?】
【Since when do spirit cultivators and fairy cities fraternize?】
“Our tardiness humbles us.”
The seeming thirteen-year-old’s voice blended regal poise with mischievous charm, her ethereal aura freezing breaths midair.
Leng Xingwen bowed toward the ageless Immortal Officer, dimples flashing. “Nay, honored one—we simply arrived too eager.”
Xiao Tianji smiled at the Floating Cloud Immortal Officer, his gaze shifting between her and the Xuanfeng Demon Lord. "This must be the illustrious Xuanfeng Demon Lord. What brings you both here together?"
"We encountered each other beyond the gates of the dead," Xuanfeng responded coolly, her detached manner surprising those present as she deigned to answer.
In cultivation prowess, the White Jade Capital’s Floating Cloud Immortal Officer might not rival those seated here, yet her status commanded equal reverence. As the official representative of the celestial authority’s sole public liaison, her position naturally held weight.
After brief pleasantries, Floating Cloud and Xuanfeng settled into their designated seats. The ghost messengers of the underworld efficiently guided arriving guests to their prearranged positions in the guest pavilion. When new arrivals appeared, Xiao Ziqing offered cursory greetings before hastening away – her priority being interviews with such elusive figures as the Xuanfeng Demon Lord and Floating Cloud Immortal Officer.
"How peculiar," murmured Leng Xingwen with amused interest. "What stirs your curiosity now?"
Xiao Tianji stroked his chin. "The spirit cultivators’ external affairs have always been Bai Ze’s domain. Yet here we have Xuanfeng instead."
"Didn’t he only recently depart the Mountain and Sea Realm?"
Though renowned for flawless predictions, Xiao Tianji’s omniscience depended on active divination. His gift lay in deciphering heavenly patterns, not spontaneous omnipotence – that realm belonged to deities.
"Where’s the mystery?" Leng Xingwen waved his fan dismissively. "Perhaps Bai Ze simply declined… What are you doing now?"
Producing a jade compass from his sleeve, Xiao Tianji murmured, "Verifying."
"Must you indulge this compulsion?" Leng Xingwen’s eyebrow twitched. Their enduring friendship alone prevented rupture – few could tolerate living with a human divination rod who might at any moment prognosticate anything from mortal peril to undergarment hues, all with infallible accuracy.
While others sacrificed lifespan for glimpses of fate, Xiao Tianji manipulated cosmic secrets as effortlessly as breathing. The diviner channeled spiritual energy through his compass, brow gradually furrowing until he emitted a thoughtful hum.
"What now?" Leng Xingwen leaned forward.
Stowing the compass, Xiao Tianji magician-like produced a black jade turtle shell. His palm rested on the crystalline surface as contemplation deepened. Leng Xingwen waited, fan-tip tapping his chin.
When Xiao Tianji’s eyes finally opened, his grave expression banished Leng Xingwen’s nonchalance. "What dreadful portent merits such solemnity?"
"I sought Bai Ze’s threads." Xiao Tianji revealed the artifact cradled in his palm.
Leng Xingwen stiffened. "Cracks? What calamity did you foresee?"
The fractured jade shell’s web of imperfections held Xiao Tianji’s rapt attention. "Bai Ze’s peril transcends spirit cultivator affairs."
"Another forbidden celestial secret? Or has even your sight been clouded?"
Xiao Tianji’s silence spoke volumes. Bai Ze’s distress resonated with the looming crisis he’d foreseen. Though the Blue Star’s heavenly order would manifest warnings over time, the auspicious spirit beast stood foremost in the approaching maelstrom.
"The ramifications are too vast for full comprehension," Xiao Tianji confessed, drawing sharp breath from his companion.
"You mean even your vision has limits?"
Everyone knew Xiao Tianji’s divinations never failed—no challenge had ever thwarted his calculations thus far. Yet if even he claimed this matter eluded his calculations, Leng Xingwen could only surmise one possibility.
“Does this concern those above?” Leng Xingwen gestured skyward with his folding fan.
Though celestial mechanisms could chart fate’s course, one existence defied such scrutiny—the gods themselves.
Xiao Tianji, previously absorbed in his own contemplations, seemed to grasp something upon hearing Leng Xingwen’s words. The grave tension melted from his features, revealing that trademark mystic’s smile.
“The secrets of heaven cannot be disclosed.”
“The hour remains unripe.”
“There you go again.” Leng Xingwen’s cheek twitched, yet he couldn’t suppress his relief at seeing the familiar charlatan’s demeanor resurface. Xiao Tianji’s return to form meant any looming peril would inevitably meet its solution.
As time flowed, the assembly of guests reached completion.
Seated as the Eastern Huaxia Nation’s envoy, Lin Jing observed the gathering. “Quite the turnout.”
“Moderate,” Leng Xingwen countered.
The underworld’s invitations had drawn both dignitaries and renowned cultivators alike, rendering the grand occasion surprisingly unpretentious.
“Immortals, demons, spirits, and gods—the Six Realms’ denizens assemble.”
Above the assembly hung a colossal hourglass, its upper chamber nearly drained of black sand. The dwindling grains hushed the crowd gradually, until three minutes before the final grain fell, the hall settled into anticipatory silence.
The venue’s immensity mirrored the underworld itself. Beyond the central platform swarmed countless spirits—eager witnesses to the reconstructed underworld’s sovereign. Despite the throng, perfect order prevailed: none dared invite intervention from the Eighteen Floors’ ghost messengers.
When the last black grain vanished, the hourglass shattered explosively. Yet instead of cascading downward, the sand coalesced into an ebony cloud overhead. Within breaths, the mass diffused into tendrils of mist swept outward by unseen winds, its ghostly essence thickest at the epicenter before fading toward the periphery.
—Such concentrated ghostly energy!
Even Leng Xingwen’s cultivated physique shuddered briefly—prolonged exposure might’ve frozen marrow. Xiao Tianji wordlessly offered him a newly materialized teacup. Though perplexed by its sudden appearance, Leng Xingwen drank trustingly. Warmth blossomed through his veins, banishing the spectral chill.
Many shared his discomfort. Lin Jing, seated nearby with lesser cultivation, suffered more acutely. Noting Leng Xingwen’s eased posture, the astute envoy promptly seized his own manifested cup. Life’s sweetness flooded him with the first sip.
Soon all attendees received cups. As they drank, the invasive ghostly energy unveiled its true form—strands of pure ghostly spiritual energy. While inferior to primordial yin forces, this refined essence still promised substantial cultivation gains when properly absorbed.
The tea they drank contained pure Yang energy, its interplay with Yin bringing profound benefits to those who absorbed it. Those who comprehended this marveled at the underworld’s magnificent display of power.
The ghost cultivators and practitioners attuned to ghostly energy reacted differently from Leng Xingwen’s group. To them, the pure ghostly spiritual energy served as potent nourishment, granting exponentially greater cultivation rewards than others received.
The cloud-like phenomenon wasn’t mere vapor but condensed pure ghostly spiritual energy. Though formless by nature, this energy had been masterfully contained – a feat requiring cultivation of extraordinary heights to prevent its natural dissipation.
Underworld residents grasped this truth fastest. Upon receiving their share of the ghostly energy, they erupted into fervor only to discover their absorption efforts yielded no increase. At this precise moment, figures materialized upon the elevated platform reserved for underworld dignitaries.
The King of Hell arrived second, all eyes instead captured by his predecessor. Upon the solitary throne sat a striking woman in dark robes, her nine-feathered crown cascading like liquid shadow. The Nine Mysterious Phoenix embroidered on her garment rippled with such vitality it seemed ready to take flight. Her regal countenance held impartial majesty, eyes observing creation with cosmic detachment.
A title blossomed simultaneously in every witness’ mind:
Sovereign of the underworld.
Supreme ruler of the dead.
Living incarnation of mortality’s curtain.
—The Ghostly Emperor.
The King of Hell initiated the obeisance, followed by judges, underworld deities, and ghost messengers in perfect synchrony. "We pay homage to Your Majesty. May your reign endure eternally, bringing everlasting peace to the Netherworld."
Guests versed in underworld protocols mirrored the Ancient Ceremony – this timeless gesture of reverence preserved through eons of divine communion.
Xuanfeng’s breath hitched as he witnessed the Nine Mysterious Phoenix undulating across the Emperor’s robes. The legendary creature appeared startlingly animate – did its obsidian eye truly wink at him? Collecting himself, the spirit cultivator representative joined others in bowing with precisely measured deference.
One by one, delegates proclaimed:
"Spirit cultivator representative Xuanfeng pays homage. May Your Majesty reign eternally, safeguarding the Netherworld’s perpetual tranquility."
"Human cultivator representative Lin Jing pays homage. May Your Majesty reign eternally, safeguarding the Netherworld’s perpetual tranquility."
Then came the spirits’ thunderous chorus, perfectly unified without rehearsal. The Emperor’s mere presence ignited primal devotion – they’d willingly embrace oblivion at her command. "WE PAY HOMAGE!" Countless spirits remained prostrated until the divine decree:
"Rise."
The compulsion lifted as one.
Ye Linlang concealed her surprise beneath imperial poise. "Proceed per arrangements," she instructed the King of Hell, consciously maintaining her projection’s perfection. This manifestation required flawless execution – likely her last public appearance as the Ghostly Emperor for centuries.
She mentally timed the proceedings. The main event would commence shortly.
【Front-row seats! Front-row seats!】
【Historic screenshot captured!】
【Your Majesty, look at me; ah, I’ve died.】
【I heard that making a wish in front of the deities comes true. I wish to become a billionaire.】
【This is the first time I’ve ‘seen’ a deity; unfortunately, I lack culture and can only blurt out ‘Wow’ after holding it in for so long.】
【It’s starting, it’s starting! The first time I’m seeing fireworks in the underworld.】
【There are even performances; are the dancers also ghosts? The young ladies and gentlemen are so beautiful, woohoo!】
【Unfortunately, I was late to the party; There’s a reason I’m single.】
【I weakly ask if anyone else is like me, completely fixated on the Emperor, unable to look away.】
【To the one in front, you are not alone.】
In the underworld flows a river famous for its beauty, originating deep within the Yellow Springs and passing through the gates of the dead.
It has a very pleasant name.
Wangchuan.
Since the establishment of the underworld, the waters of Wangchuan had always been very calm; no one had seen its turbulent side that resembled the chaos of the human world. Until that day, they witnessed it.
The tranquil waters of Wangchuan surged, splashing the river’s water onto the banks, causing the ghosts that were splashed to lose half of their souls in an instant due to the corrosive effect of the Wangchuan waters.
Moreover, the vibrant flowers blooming on both banks, known as the other shore flowers, were withering in competition with one another.
At the venue for the grand gathering in the underworld, Yama felt his scalp tingle as soon as he received news of the incident. What on earth is going on? Why today of all days? It is important to note that today there are reporters not just from the governmental underworld but also from the living realm.
The commotion was too loud to conceal.
As Yama was about to report the situation, he noticed that the Emperor, who had just been present, was no longer there.
Right, the Emperor knows everything about the underworld and must have spotted the problem early on.
With the Emperor present, nothing would go wrong; he completely forgot that Yama was merely a manifestation of the Emperor, and he felt a knot in his stomach. He still had to maintain order at the venue. If anything went wrong, it would be a disgrace for the underworld.
It is not easy to visit the underworld while alive; after all, normal people rarely have this opportunity unless it is for special reasons.
Even in myths and legends, very few manage to return alive from the underworld.
Some began live-streaming the scenery of the underworld, and of course, the famous sights like Wangchuan and the other shore were included in the broadcast.
Thus, the situation at Wangchuan was streamed live.
【Is Wangchuan water that tumultuous??】
【Ahhh! I saw a ghost splashed by the water, and it lost half of its body; oh my!—】
【Why are all the other shore flowers withering? They were perfectly fine just a moment ago.】
【Is this some special program from the underworld? It really looks quite eerie.】
【Oh heavens, who is that figure appearing up there?】
【It’s His Majesty, no need to thank.】
【It’s the Emperor, no need to thank.】
【Wasn’t the Emperor just at the venue? He was still there when I left.】
【Hiss—brothers, stop staring at the live stream; quickly look at the news from the living realm; strange phenomena are occurring everywhere.】
Some were drawn away, while others continued to pay attention to the situation in the underworld.
Ye Linlang stood high above, observing the surging waters of Wangchuan. She waved her hand and directly moved all the ghosts lingering on both banks to a safe distance. Compared to the ghosts lingering on the banks, those who were worse off were the souls who crossed the Bridge of Helplessness and headed toward the Six Realms of Rebirth at that moment.
Having crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, they could no longer return. After their souls were damaged, they had to enter the cycle of rebirth, but being incomplete souls, their reincarnation would inevitably differ from that of ordinary beings.
Fortunately, it was not a large number, so recovering wouldn’t be too challenging.
If the true form of the Ghostly Emperor were present, controlling Wangchuan would be a mere flick of the hand. But for now, only a manifestation was present; Ye Linlang indeed exerted some effort, and after success in suppression, the manifestation dissipated.
The underworld enjoyed divine protection, so the strange phenomena were quickly subdued without causing further chaos. However, the human realm did not have such good fortune; the entire Blue Star was ablaze, as strange phenomena erupted, causing unrest across the land.
