Chapter 28

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Chapter 28: Title

Not only was the Ghost in Red pondering the meaning of this sentence, but countless netizens were also speculating.

Xiao Tianji remained the enigmatic figure who spoke sparingly, yet every utterance shook the world—his debut Weibo post being a prime example.

*Try brushing the iron armor gleaming like snow,

Casually wield the star-stirring treasured blade.*

The poem had been dissected endlessly by online scholars, while the Analysis Department maintained heightened vigilance since Xiao Tianji’s post.

"It still reads like a casual throwaway line," Lin Jing sighed, massaging his temples.

Ge Yun entered to find her section chief slumped at his desk. "Still obsessing over Xiao Tianji’s cryptic message?"

"Obviously." Lin Jing peered through his fingers at the striking woman.

"Today’s reports." She deposited files on his desk. "Return them before closing."

"Any word from Tang Tong?"

Ge Yun’s lips curved knowingly. "We’ll alert you immediately when she returns—every department knows about Comprehensive Section 5’s… special assignment."

"Watch your back around Liang An. He’s sharpening knives for your downfall."

Eighth Floor

"Ghost in Red!" Ming Ming bounded over.

"Speak." The crimson apparition responded tonelessly, enduring the persistent nickname.

"Brother Baiye says I’m departing soon. When will I see you again?" The child’s eyes glistened.

"Death’s realm holds its own peace. The mortal coil isn’t always kinder." Her voice softened marginally, recalling Baiye’s account—a drunk driver’s collision claiming four lives, this child among them.

Those perishing before the Spiritual Energy Awakening rarely gained even ghosthood’s bitter privilege.

"I leave at dawn. Will you take me to visit Grandma and Grandpa?" Ming Ming whispered on his final mortal night.

"Ask Baiye." She snapped her phone shut.

"He’s exhausted every night. I won’t bother him."

The Ghost in Red studied the pleading face before relenting. "Wait here."

Though free to depart the Special Bureau, courtesy demanded notification.

"Leaving us?" Lin Jing blinked at the pair. "Was our hospitality lacking?"

"He requires ancestral farewells. I accompany him."

"Hanzhou City’s six hours by high-speed train. Hardly convenient for…" He trailed off, recalling protocol against her departures.

"Though I suppose you could ride undetected." His mouth quirked. "Free passage, technically."

The Ghost in Red’s stare could frost glass.

"Tough crowd." He rubbed his nose.

"Uncle Lin Jing!" Ming Ming piped. "Daddy said that’s stealing!"

The section chief winced. Why did this imp call Baiye "brother" and the spectral woman "sister," yet label him "uncle"? Even Liang An got respectful "brother" titles. Premature aging seemed the only explanation.

"…Call me brother."

Mingming stuck out her tongue with a mischievous giggle.

"Forget it, I’ll use my Identity Card to purchase yours," Lin Jing sighed, contemplating the bureaucratic dilemma. "Once the red-clad senior returns from Hanzhou City, we’ll assist with your identity registration. Surviving in this society without an Identity Card is impossible."

He added wryly, "You know, the Zhongxia citizen Identity Card is the hardest to obtain in the world—money can’t buy it."

Of course, the Ghost in Red wasn’t human. Her documentation would require…special considerations.

"Your efforts are appreciated." The Ghost in Red inclined her head gracefully.

"Mingming, you’re still short enough for free passage. Board the train with your Ghost in Red companion." Lin Jing’s fingers danced across his phone screen, securing their tickets.

In the cafeteria:

Bai Ye emerged from the training room, limbs leaden, only for Yang Xingyu to inform him of the Ghost in Red and Mingming’s departure.

"Why wasn’t I included?" Bai Ye’s spoon trembled in his grip. Had they invited him, he’d have escaped this afternoon’s brutal conditioning.

"Training priorities, perhaps." Yang Xingyu clapped his shoulder. "But are all bloodline bearers this fragile? Barely days in and you’re crumbling?"

"Not everyone gorges on Crimson Fruits for marrow purification," Bai Ye retorted, massaging his temples.

The eighth-floor cafeteria, typically sparse, now brimmed with Special Bureau personnel during lunch hours—all hoping to glimpse the extraordinary individuals.

Their eight-seat table accommodated the group perfectly.

"Xiao Bai," Yang Xingyu prodded, fingers tracing his jawline, "am I truly unsightly?" His mournful gaze shifted to Li Canghai across the table.

"Cease that nickname." Veins throbbed at Bai Ye’s temple.

"I’m Red Fox TV’s top outdoor live streamer! If not a paragon of elegance, at least dashing. Why do they stare at Daoist Priest Li instead?"

"Brother Yang’s quite handsome," interjected Hu Mei sweetly, before adding, "but Daoist Priest Li possesses…a certain aura."

"What aura? The bedroom-eyed variety?" Yang Xingyu snorted. "Since the Spiritual Network launched this morning, Zhenyue Palace’s inbox overflows with would-be monks—all thirsting after a certain daoist priest."

Li Canghai merely smiled enigmatically, his silence more disarming than words.

Yang Xingyu’s bravado faltered under that tranquil gaze. Some celestial air about the daoist made mockery feel sacrilegious.

Nearby, Chen Qingfeng observed the exchange with amusement. To him, these were mere youths at play.

"Young Monk Huixin, eat heartily."

"Amitabha. Gratitude, Taoist Priest Chen." The rosy-cheeked novice bowed.

At adjacent tables, masters of martial arts debated fiercely. Though not technically extraordinary individuals, the Special Bureau accorded them equal respect.

The meal’s rhythm broke when Li Canghai’s phone chimed.

"Yes."

A pause. "We’ll arrive post-meal." Hanging up, he met the table’s collective inquisitive stare—a butterfly pinned by countless curious eyes.

“It’s Chief Liang calling. He says there’s urgent business and wants us to meet him immediately after lunch.”

“Us? All of us?” Yang Xingyu arched an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

*

The Special Bureau arranged a driver to transport Ghost in Red and Mingming to the station.

Holding her hand, Mingming followed the crowd guided by Lin Jing’s meticulous instructions. Ghost in Red had chosen to remain invisible to avoid complications, eliminating any risk of wrong turns.

As for Mingming, ordinary people couldn’t perceive him without her spiritual energy to sustain his presence.

After clearing the ticket checkpoint and boarding the train, Ghost in Red settled into her reserved window seat – strategically isolated from accidental contact. Mingming perched on her lap, swiveling his head to absorb every detail.

A sunglasses-clad young man soon occupied the adjacent seat.

“Can’t he see us?” Mingming whispered, waving a hand before the man’s obscured eyes. “Why wear those indoors?”

Unaware his supposedly vacant seat hosted two passengers, the man adjusted his shades. Ghost in Red meanwhile scrolled through Weibo, marveling at this modern society where handheld devices contained entire worlds of information.

…

Xu Li opened the Spiritual Network on his phone, anticipating six hours of boredom. Since dawn, whispers about the Network had followed him everywhere – including this train compartment’s hushed exchanges.

Could he now count himself among extraordinary individuals? He pondered while scrolling, considering registration after returning from Capital City. Information Section 2’s new verification system promised official confirmation within three days for applicants.

The sunglasses grew irritating. Surely a moving train posed minimal risk of encountering supernatural entities? As he lifted the frames, his hand froze mid-motion.

This couldn’t be happening.

A ghost. On a bullet train. Of course.

A pallid boy stared curiously at him, but Xu Li’s attention locked onto the crimson-clad woman beside the child – hauntingly familiar. Years of paranormal encounters steeled his nerves. Feigning nonchalance, he refocused on his phone.

His trembling fingers navigated to the Spiritual Network’s archives. There she was – the identical woman in red from the profile photo.

Holy crap. Since when do ghosts look like supermodels? Xu Li’s thoughts blurred. That morning he’d dismissed her image as photoshopped – every specter he’d witnessed before resembled nightmare fuel.

His eyes betrayed him, drifting sideways under pretense of window-gazing. The ghost’s porcelain features glowed in the afternoon light.

Mom… she’s breathtaking.

I’d marry her in a heartbeat.

The grotesque child companion barely registered. Since the aurora-like phenomenon days prior, Xu Li had gained this cursed vision – seeing what ordinary people mercifully couldn’t.

—The restless dead.

Seeing a ghost was never pleasant—especially when each apparition grew increasingly grotesque, their horrific visages surpassing all imagination. Xu Li had never encountered the beautiful female ghosts of fantasy lore until this fateful moment.

Discovering sunglasses could obscure the unsightly beings from the otherworld, Xu Li permanently donned the tinted lenses, refusing to remove them even when mistaken for a blind man.

Yet here stood a specter defying all expectations. Xu Li resolved, his heart swelling with emotion, to devote himself as an admirer of Miss Ghost in Red. Perhaps this cold world still held fragments of warmth.

The Ghost in Red lifted her gaze, meeting the stare of the nearby human. Her brows knitted slightly. She’d cast concealment charms over herself and Ming Ming—how could this mortal perceive them? A fleeting glimmer of spiritual light flashed through his pupils answered her silent query.

Those eyes held secrets.

Xu Li’s pulse quickened, fearing exposure. When Miss Ghost in Red remained silent, he exhaled shakily—only to freeze as her voice pierced the air. “Why do you keep watching me?”

The accusation hung between them.

“Ghost in Red? Can he see us?” Ming Ming tilted her head, confusion coloring her tone.

“Your eyes perceive us, don’t they?” The Ghost in Red affirmed, studying the flustered young man.

“I…I…” Xu Li’s tongue tangled itself.

With a decisive nod, his heart thundering, Xu Li silently marveled—Miss Ghost in Red was addressing him! If only other ghosts didn’t resemble decaying corpses during conversations.

Humans were hopelessly visual creatures. Beauty eclipsed age, Xu Li mused while mentally chanting “Miss Ghost in Red”, blissfully ignoring her ancestral-era origins.

Noticing his phone’s illuminated screen, the Ghost in Red arched an eyebrow but held her silence.

Nerves loosened Xu Li’s tongue. “Are you truly Miss Ghost in Red? You’re the most stunning ghost I’ve ever seen!”

“My years far exceed ‘Miss’.” Amusement tinged her voice as she observed his bashful fidgeting.

Crash-landing before the subject of his admiration! Xu Li cringed internally. Catching sidelong glances from nearby passengers, he clamped his mouth shut.

Struggling for conversation yet paralyzed by embarrassment, Xu Li retreated behind his sunglasses. Had fate not intervened, their interaction might have ended there—a fleeting intersection of worlds.

Two hours later, chaos erupted in the adjacent train carriage. A pale-faced attendant offered stiff reassurances.

“What happened?” Ming Ming darted toward the commotion before the Ghost in Red could react.

Xu Li lunged belatedly to stop her. As no protest came from Miss Ghost in Red, he rationalized the safety of her silence.

Ming Ming returned trembling, her small frame shaking.

Despite her frosty demeanor, the Ghost in Red carried unexpected compassion—cold as moonlight yet steady as its glow. Newcomers mistook her ghostly presence and aloofness for menace, but familiarity revealed her nature.

—Their fortune deserved note. Had they encountered any other vengeful spirit instead of the Ghost in Red… The consequences didn’t bear contemplation.

“Explain.” The Ghost in Red’s frown deepened at Ming Ming’s distress.

Though spirited, the child fell under her protection by promise to Bai Ye—a vow not taken lightly.

“A man grabbed a lady! Blood everywhere!” Ming Ming’s fragmented account sent Xu Li’s imagination spiraling.

The Ghost in Red preferred noninterference. Yet recalling the Special Bureau’s persistent do-gooders—who’d never ignore such crises—she sighed faintly. “Xu Li,” she addressed the waiting mortal.

"Make way."

"Oh, right." Xu Li belatedly rose to clear space for Miss Ghost in Red, not wanting the crimson-clad woman to clamber over him like that child.

Miss Ghost in Red moved swiftly through the carriage. Watching their retreating figures, Xu Li hesitated before stealthily trailing them while attendants were distracted.

_I’ll just observe. No trouble-making_, he reassured himself. _If danger arises, maybe I can assist…_

…

"I summoned you for assistance with two unresolved matters," Liang An addressed the entering group, fingers tapping his desk. "Both involve supernatural phenomena beyond our agents’ capabilities."

"What kind?" Hu Mei’s fox ears twitched with curiosity.

"See here." Liang An pivoted his laptop to display a rustic village scene. "This Jiangnan City resort appeared idyllic until three days ago. Now…" The screen shifted to reveal dense gray fog smothering the settlement. "The entire village is trapped within this unnatural mist. Neither civilians nor our recon teams have emerged."

Aerial photographs blurred into murky abstraction despite advanced optics. "Second issue: Comprehensive Section 5 rounded up dozens of supposed mystics. We require your expertise to separate charlatans from genuine practitioners."

Yang Xingyu scratched his stubbled jaw while studying the images, his 6’1" frame attempting a contemplative slouch. "That village… radiates peril."

"You’ll screen the mystics with Bai Ye." Liang An massaged his temples. "As for the village…" His gaze swept across the four others – one Tier One operative, two innate adepts, and the danger-sensitive fox spirit. This was Special Bureau’s strongest available team.

Others showed potential like Yang Xingyu and Bai Ye, but required intensive training per manuals from Zhenyue Palace, Wudang Mountain, and martial arts masters. Since the Spiritual Network’s unveiling sparked national cultivation frenzy, systematic guidance became imperative – better than citizens scouring wilderness for dubious methods or flocking to monasteries.

"We’ll provide support personnel," Liang An added. "Miss Ghost in Red was meant to join, but…" He glared at his silent phone. "Vanished when needed most."

"Are we… capable?" Hu Mei’s tails quivered. Though no longer human and versed in specters, confronting such scale felt daunting.

"You’re not." Liang An gestured at the stoic Taoist Priests and shaven-headed youth. "But they are." Their contract with Special Bureau guaranteed cooperation during crises, compensated through generous benefits. While Hu Mei coveted the salary, others valued access to state resources – crucial during this Awakening of Spiritual Energy. Cooperation with national institutions offered unparalleled advantages.

…

Forty kilometers from Jiangnan City’s center, the mountain resort’s usual serenity had curdled into dread. Thick gray fog cocooned the village since yesterday, trapping two thousand souls. Food supplies dwindled by the hour.

A helicopter’s rotors sliced through uneasy silence as the team approached.

"The ghostly energy…" The little bald boy shuddered, prayer beads clacking. "It’s suffocating."

Standing beside Li Canghai, Hu Mei instinctively wanted to hide behind him. It wasn’t surprising for a man to be so timid; after becoming half-human, half-fox, he had become overly sensitive to danger.

Just like now, while everyone else seemed fine, the fur on his tail and ears was all standing on end.

If we are talking about professionals in the field, Huixin was more knowledgeable than the rest.

Daoist Priest Chen Qingfeng had practiced martial arts previously, and Li Canghai gained his cultivation through enlightenment. Their skills were decent, but they had no experience with these supernatural events.

After learning a few things from the Ghost in Red, they had only picked up how to release Spiritual Energy to harm, and according to her, as long as they could run their internal energy while attacking, they could hurt non-human entities.

“We are members of the Special Bureau in Jiangnan City. Chief Liang sent us to accompany you and ensure your safety,” a few soldiers in camouflage uniforms saluted them.

The Special Bureau had always been short on manpower, with most of its members pulled from the military. Before the Awakening of Spiritual Energy was made public, they had concealed the mobilization of soldiers, but now that was out in the open, they had suddenly become well-staffed.

“Could you tell us about your findings?” Chen Qingfeng asked after thinking for a moment.

The soldiers nodded and pointed to the equipment piled nearby. “This area has a very unstable energy magnetic field. All our modern technology has become ineffective, including cameras. Once you enter the gray fog, they stop working.”

“The sounds from inside cannot be transmitted out; up to now, we haven’t heard anything coming from there.”

“It’s so quiet around here that even the birds aren’t singing,” Li Canghai said, looking around.

“This place feels a bit like the red-clad senior, but the aura is much more dangerous. There may be a thousand-year-old ghost inside,” Huixin said after pondering for a moment.

“No way? Our luck is too bad; who knows how fierce a thousand-year-old ghost can be?” Hu Mei instinctively clutched his tail, thinking that only its fluffiness could offer him some comfort at this moment.

“Regardless of whether it’s true or not, we still need to go in and take a look.”

“The red-clad senior claimed her strength is Tier One. If Huixin’s instincts are correct, we should be able to handle it,” Chen Qingfeng said, patting Hu Mei on the shoulder.

“If you’re scared, stay behind us.”

“Aw, Uncle Chen, you’re so kind!” Hu Mei immediately grabbed onto Chen Qingfeng’s Taoist robe and wouldn’t let go.

The ten-member group stepped into the gray fog.

Upon entering, they discovered an unexpected sight—the mist didn’t permeate the entire village but encircled it like a protective shell.

Emerging through the haze, they found themselves standing on the village’s central path.

“Not a soul in sight. How peculiar,” Hu Mei murmured, her vulpine ears twitching nervously. “Weren’t there supposed to be tourists and villagers everywhere?”

“Let’s investigate deeper,” Huixin suggested.

The village cascaded from mountain base to mid-slope, its architecture naturally picturesque. Yet the deserted settlement beneath brooding skies radiated unsettling vibes.

“The sun was blazing earlier. How did it turn so gloomy?” Li Fan, their military escort, frowned at the heavens.

“Not clouds,” Li Canghai corrected grimly. “Ghostly energy shrouds the sky.”

The Special Bureau had amassed extensive archives on supernatural phenomena—ancient texts, modern studies, even folk tales. During cultivation breaks, Li Canghai had perused these records. Combined with his spiritual sensitivity, he immediately recognized the environmental distortion.

Though fundamentally distinct, the nuances between Spiritual Energy, ghostly presence, and yin forces remained elusive to the duo’s fledgling understanding.

“The epicenter lies there.” Huixin pointed toward distant wooded slopes at the village’s heart.

As they progressed, the oppressive atmosphere thickened until they stumbled upon prone figures littering the ground.

“Are they… sleeping?” Hu Mei whispered, clutching her tail like a security blanket.

"They’re all dead," Li Fan said with a heavy heart, crouching to examine the bodies. The victims’ clothing suggested they were tourists, with some resembling local villagers.

"Hisss—"

"This evil ghost is truly ferocious?!" Hu Mei exclaimed, her voice trembling.

Li Canghai and the group wore grim expressions as they pressed forward, the journey growing increasingly silent. The scattered corpses along the path multiplied—even soldiers in camouflage uniforms lay among the fallen.

A dreadful realization settled upon them: likely no soul in this village had been spared.

Their destination lay beyond the village’s rear mountain, where the famed Tree of Union stood. Known for its entwined branches, this romantic landmark now loomed ahead, draped in ominous purpose.

Red silk ribbons fluttered from the tree’s boughs, now choked by billowing black fumes. Within the smoke coalesced a grotesque evil ghost, its twisted horned visage more monstrous than human, devouring the final remnants of captured souls.

"Ha! So I return!" the ghost roared, its voice echoing like grinding stones. "You may banish me once, but I’ll always resurface!"

This was the horrific scene that greeted Li Canghai’s group upon arrival.

"Such a malevolent spirit," someone murmured.

The oppressive atmosphere rendered the ghost’s true form visible even to ordinary people, bypassing the need for Yin-Yang eyes.

The entity immediately fixed its gaze on the newcomers, jagged teeth glinting as it sneered, "More living morsels? Two stinking Taoists, a half-demon…" Its slit-pupiled eyes narrowed at the monk. "…and a bald donkey!"

Hu Mei: …The audacity!

Huixin: B-bald donkey?!

Chen Qingfeng & Li Canghai: *Stinking* Taoists?

Others: (Unnamed but deeply offended)

Taoist Priest Chen Qingfeng, designated leader due to his combat expertise, raised his sword. Yet when battle commenced, their carefully laid plans unraveled like old rope.

Li Fan’s group gaped at the chaotic skirmish, so different from elegant tales of immortal duels. They turned to Hu Mei.

"Aren’t you assisting?"

"I’m but a delicate fox," she demurred, ears flattening in uncharacteristic meekness. "Besides, one Tier One and two Tier Ten Practitioners should suffice." She nibbled her thumbnail, adding silently: *Unless this foe exceeds our worst fears.*

Taoist Priest Chen became a blur of motion, his spirit-infused long sword leaving trails of light. Each strike provoked bestial shrieks from the ghost. Nearby, Huixin’s resonant chants summoned golden radiance that dissolved ghostly energy like dawn banishing night frost.

Li Canghai unleashed a palm strike, spiritual energy crackling against the entity’s form.

"DEATH TO TAOISTS!" The ghost lunged at Li Canghai, exploiting perceived weakness—while mortal bystanders remained untouched, not from mercy, but because the three Practitioners demanded its full attention.

Its current mid-Tier One cultivation paled against former Tier One Pinnacle glory. Without digesting stolen souls soon, its power would plummet further—an unacceptable prospect.

*Ants felling an elephant,* it seethed. These Practitioners’ countering techniques eroded its strength with each passing moment. Desperation fueled its assault.

"PERISH!"

Steel groaned under spiritual energy’s corrosive touch. Even modern alloys couldn’t prolong the long sword’s lifespan beyond thirty minutes in Taoist Priest Chen’s hands.

Hu Mei rushed over to support Li Canghai upon seeing him cough up blood.

At the crucial moment, Chen Qingfeng swung his sword to block a strike, only for the blade to snap in two, forcing him to stagger back several paces.

"Taoist Priest! Are you hurt?"

"Nothing serious." Li Canghai wiped his mouth with a bitter smile. "Just shows my lack of combat experience. Had it not been for Qingfeng Taoist Priest’s intervention…"

"His power dwarfs ours," Chen Qingfeng stated gravely.

"Clearly. Can the little bald boy still endure?" Hu Mei steadied Li Canghai while anxiously eyeing Huixin’s solemn countenance within the Buddha Light.

Li Fan and the others gripped their firearms, itching to charge forward, but Chen Qingfeng discarded his shattered sword and barred their path.

"Hold your positions!"

True Buddhist techniques proved effective against malevolent spirits. Though the evil ghost thrashed violently within the golden radiance, Huixin’s authentic cultivation kept it contained.

"The young monk seems at his limit," Hu Mei murmured, brow furrowed yet her heart strangely tranquil. "Why don’t I feel any panic?"

"Has my sixth sense malfunctioned?" She pinched her earlobe in frustration.

A mellifluous voice tinged with amusement suddenly sounded behind them.

"How fortuitous my timing. To encounter fellow cultivators mere moments after the Spiritual Energy’s Awakening."

The group whirled to behold a striking figure that drew simultaneous gasps of awe.

The stranger’s jet-black hair flowed from a white silk ribbon, his features sharp as carved jade beneath arching brows. Starlight seemed to dance in his half-smiling eyes. His pristine satin robes shimmered with silver traceries, the jade pendant at his waist swinging beneath flowing sashes. The folding fan in his hand completed the image of a refined gentleman of the world.

"I am Leng Xingwen," the radiant-eyed youth announced with a fan-snap salute. "By your leave…"

Before anyone could respond, he materialized beside the raging ghost. With casual elegance, his fan – forged from unknown material – sheared through the specter’s horn.

"Devourer of living souls! You’ll haunt no more this day."

Huixin’s strained expression eased as fresh golden light reinforced his barrier. "Many thanks, benefactor."

"Save courtesies for later, young monk." The fan whirled in Leng Xingwen’s grip, transforming mid-spin into Silver Light that flashed like falling stars. The ghost’s severed head hit the ground with a spectral wail.

"He’s… incredible," Hu Mei breathed, watching their formidable foe reduced to twitching remnants. The ancient-robed cultivator moved with lethal grace they’d never witnessed.

"An ancient practitioner?" Chen Qingfeng’s fingers twitched toward his empty scabbard, combat lust stirring.

"Leng Xingwen…" Blood-streaked lips parted in revelation as Li Canghai’s eyes widened. "Testing the iron armor as white as snow, I casually wield the sword to stir the stars! Don’t you see? The verse describes a person!"

The namesake cultivator turned with fluid grace, casually hurling his jade pendant to pin the dissipating ghost. "We’ll retrieve those swallowed souls shortly. This millennium-sealed wretch chose darkness upon release – its end was inevitable."

"You mean the mountain villagers still live?" Li Canghai’s voice shook with hope.

Leng Xingwen’s starlit gaze turned pensive. "If their fated hour hasn’t come. Against Heaven’s mandate, even I cannot contend."

"Who are you?" Li Fan demanded.

"Leng Xingwen, a mere wanderer passing through," Leng Xingwen chuckled, tilting his head at Li Fan’s guarded stance. "Brandishing weapons at your savior—is this the imperial court’s notion of hospitality nowadays?"

The evil ghost disgorged the devoured souls, leaving them listless and bewildered as though unaware of their ordeal.

"Young monk," Leng Xingwen urged, "shield these souls with your Radiant Light. Once this ghostly domain fades, the midday sun will reduce them to scattered fragments."

As the multitude of souls grew, the gray fog overhead began dissolving into wispy tendrils.

Leng Xingwen channeled spiritual energy into his palm, tracing a shimmering talisman midair.

"Yin Chai, heed my summons!"

"A ghost domain has manifested here," he explained to the perplexed onlookers. "The underworld already knows. I merely hasten the Yin Chai’s arrival."

"Who dares summon me?"

The Yin Chai materialized with waves of icy wind. While Li Canghai and the cultivators remained unaffected, Li Fan and the ordinary people nearly froze on the spot.

Leng Xingwen clasped his hands in respectful greeting. "Honored Yin Chai."

The underworld envoy stood rigid in black robes, white mourning belt cinching his waist, black iron chains clinking in his grip. His stony gaze lingered briefly on the jade fan pendant dangling from Leng Xingwen’s hand.

The evil ghost quivered uncontrollably before the Yin Chai, displaying far greater terror than when subdued earlier.

"You who sowed chaos in the mortal realm," the Yin Chai intoned, "come now to atone for your sins." His chains snapped taut around the spectral prisoner.

The disoriented souls clung to each other in terror beneath the Radiant Light’s protection—without which they’d have scattered like smoke before the underworld’s authority.

"Yin Chai," Leng Xingwen entreated, "guide these souls home."

"None here are destined for death today." The Yin Chai produced an obsidian tome neither metallic nor jade, its surface shimmering with otherworldly script.

Dark mist engulfed the mountainside, devouring the remaining gray fog.

"Young monk, release your light," Leng Xingwen instructed.

"At once!" Huixin dissolved the golden radiance with hurried reverence.

"By the Empress’s decree," the Yin Chai proclaimed, "return to your vessels of flesh!" The tome burst into radiant brilliance, sending souls streaking like comets to their bodies.

Li Fan’s group stared as a nearby corpse shuddered with returning breath—where moments before, no pulse had stirred.

Gratitude hung unspoken as the Yin Chai vanished with his prisoner, leaving only frost-rimmed chainsounds echoing through sudden silence.

Below, figures scrambled upward through clearing mists. Li Fan barked orders for medical aid as survivors gasped back to life.

Observing Leng Xingwen’s casual fan-twirling elegance, Li Canghai chose archaic formality: "Young Master Leng."

"What counsel does this Taoist Priest seek?" The fan stilled, its owner’s smile knowing.

"Tell me—are you acquainted with Xiao Tianji?"