Gu Yejin had not expected that the Ghost King's previous injury was caused by the destruction of his Blood Gourd, which had damaged his soul. Although the Blood Gourd was not the Ghost King's intrinsic magical artifact, it was one he had nurtured with his soul for many years. Once destroyed, he would also be injured.
"Does the Ghost King know who did this?"
The people within Compassionate City likely lacked the ability to breach the Blood Gourd's blood refinement barrier. This matter must have involved external forces for such an accident to occur.
Gu Yejin's stern features bore the characteristic silent, gloomy shadow of a ghost cultivator. He did not impolitely stare at the Ghost King's current disheveled and enraged state. He knew the Ghost King to be both violent and narrow-minded, selfish, and like a tyrannical dictator. He would not be moved by anyone's good intentions or concern; conversely, he would not allow anyone to see his moments of weakness.
He knew, of course, that the Blood Gourd would transmit everything he wished to know truthfully. Although it had been destroyed, at the last moment, the Ghost King had clearly seen that the "Demon-Slaying Arrow" was responsible for all the damage.
All the gloom and temper seemed to be smoothed away in an instant. He thought of something, and his gloomy, blood-red eyes surged like a river of blood: "Hahaha, the Demon-Slaying Arrow, it's the Demon-Slaying Arrow... The Demon-Slaying Arrow has been taken away, and it no longer guards the border of Fengdu like a caged beast!"
As he spoke, he grew more excited, striding down the steps and grabbing Gu Yejin's arm: "We've finally waited for this, our unrestrained days in Fengdu are finally near!"
Gu Yejin's mood was not as excited or thrilled as the Ghost King's. On the contrary, he felt a heavy premonition of impending storms. He let out a soft sigh.
"May it be as Your Majesty wishes, to trample upon the restraints of the immortal cultivation sects."
The Ghost King threw his head back and laughed wildly. He had never felt such uninhibited joy, as if the aspirations he had planned for many years were about to be realized. The atmosphere changed drastically, and a sea of blood permeated the surroundings. Everything was so evil and broken, yet this was the scene the Ghost King most wished to see: "Hahaha... You're right, Rong City, Hua City, and Compassionate City, these three lines of defense that have confined Fengdu and caused ghost cultivators to be frustrated for so long are finally about to collapse. Which city do you think we should trample first?"
Gu Yejin knew that the Ghost King's question at this moment was sincere. He was genuinely deliberating which of the disliked cities that had once threatened or obstructed him he should begin his destruction with.
"Perhaps Your Majesty could discuss this matter with King Yu Yi, King Nan Jiao, and King Mei Gu. After all, Fengdu is divided into four cities, and it would be improper for only Your Majesty to initiate hostilities. It would also leave our rear exposed, allowing other ghost kings to take advantage."
"Yejin's consideration is correct. Although my cultivation has far surpassed theirs, why should I be polite with these pieces of trash I can utilize? I'll leave this matter to you. During this time, I will absorb more blood slaves..."
At this moment, Gu Yejin's eyes flickered upwards, and he said indifferently, "Your Majesty, haste makes waste. You have been diligently cultivating the Blood Demon Technique in recent years, yet—"
The breath in his nostrils was instantly snatched away. Gu Yejin was choked by the Ghost King of Shuofang City with his ghost energy, his voice stuck in his throat.
His face turned ashen, and his inability to breathe was not exactly fatal for a ghost cultivator; at most, it was humiliating and uncomfortable.
"Yejin, you should just do as you're told. You shouldn't interject in other matters... it's best to keep quiet!" King Shuofang was an unpredictable madman, and after practicing sinister arts in recent years, his madness and reason alternated uncontrollably.
With a thud, Gu Yejin was thrown to the ground. He knelt on one hand, supporting himself: "It was my subordinate's overstepping. I will attend to it now."
---
The specters and monsters living in the Ghost City of Fengdu seemed to sense simultaneously that the forces restraining them were weakening. A spectacular and moving wave of golden light erupted from the east, like the first ray of dawn that pierced the darkness before daybreak. This power and light were disliked and avoided by the inhabitants living in the Yin and malevolent realm within the ghost capital.
Some monsters even fled in panic as if facing the end of the world, trying to burrow into shelters they believed to be safe and sturdy.
But after this intensely eye-catching golden light that threatened their evil nature, there was only a deep darkness, without a single ray of light, as if the sun that illuminated the world had finally fallen, and the earth had fallen under the dominion of darkness. They would no longer feel the suppression of light and an inexplicable sense of restraint.
What had happened?!
Everyone was confused, excited, and agitated. They only knew that creatures that plundered and slaughtered, once their muzzles and chains of restraint were removed, would have their eyes turn scarlet and use their sharp teeth and powerful claws to destroy, tear, and devour. This was no different from wild beasts.
Therefore, when they saw the light perish, they were overjoyed and began to revel in the streets.
---
On the other side, in the immortal cultivation sects of Immortal Perch Cave, Maha Zen Monastery, and Flowing Immortal Sect, there was a Ziwei Qiankun Great Destiny Plate. The disciples stationed there discovered that something was amiss. The situation on the destiny plate, which had been stable, began to shift, with large amounts of inauspicious black energy emanating from it, transforming into terrifying beasts that made one's scalp tingle.
This phenomenon did not require astronomical observation to deduce that it was a sign of great misfortune. They quickly flew their swords to the sect's main hall and urgently reported the matter to the sect elders.
The abbot of Maha Zen Monastery stood within the Purple Bamboo Forest. It was the appropriate season, and the bamboo in the Purple Bamboo Forest was thriving. The lush green canopy obscured the sky, and sunlight filtered through, casting specks of golden light, adding a few moments of peace and tranquility to the area.
Upon learning of the ominous sign from the destiny plate, the seemingly aged old abbot, clad in a vibrant Kasaya and wearing cloud shoes, remained unhurried. His white eyebrows drooped to his cheeks and fluttered in the wind.
"This calamity has finally arrived. The situation in Fengdu is like a stagnant pool of accumulated evil. If it's not stirred, it won't flow, only festering until it becomes a foul abyss, corroding the surrounding vibrant life..."
His deep, gentle voice slowly emanated from this pure and boundless garden.
Beside him, a silent disciple understood the meaning of his words. After a moment of quiet, he said, "Should we dispatch disciples..."
The old abbot smiled. Although he had white hair and a white beard, his face was very ruddy and fair. He did not possess the solemn and dignified appearance of a Buddha statue; instead, he resembled a kind old man: "There's no need. Since Chenghong is in Fengdu, he will handle it properly. This is also a form of tempering and cultivation for him."
"Is the matter of Fengdu related to the Buddha Son's tribulation?"
"It is a tribulation, and it is a tribulation. It all depends on his own choices. Although he is the Buddha Son, he is also a mortal reincarnated as a human. Whether he becomes a Buddha or a sage, if he cannot comprehend it, no amount of external guidance will be of any use."
"Abbot, what kind of tribulation is the Buddha Son facing?" the disciple couldn't help but ask with curiosity.
The old abbot merely smiled without speaking. He looked up at the bamboo leaves swaying in the wind. They were originally still, but the wind did not stop, so they could not stop. Just as a tree desires stillness, but the wind does not cease, so too do people find it difficult to achieve tranquility, unaware that the ordinary person causes their own troubles.
---
Mu Mansion, Fengdu Ghost City.
The current person in power at the Mu Mansion is Mu Tianhe. However, this human name is not his real name. He is of the demon race, and naturally, he would not have such a human-like name.
But in order to blend into the immortal cultivation world and prevent humans from discovering the true origin of their Mu clan, he had to change his appearance and not even dare to use his clan's surname.
Mu Tianhe had been in the immortal cultivation world for over seven hundred years. During this time, he had attempted several times to break the seal between the demon world and the immortal cultivation world, but he realized that he could not achieve it alone.
However, very few demons remained in the immortal cultivation world. Many were even afraid of being captured by immortal cultivators and had been hiding in a certain region, living incognito.
Mu Tianhe had always believed he was doing the same. Years of suppression and restraint had caused significant changes in his demonic nature and temperament.
His wild nature remained, but he had become so timid that he no longer dared to take risks, until... Mu Junshi's arrival.
As Mu Tianhe was lost in thought, Young Miss Mu and Mu Nanxue entered together.
"Father."
This was called by Mu Nanxue, but Young Miss Mu did not call him.
Instead, Mu Tianhe, jolted back to awareness, quickly stood up and called out to Young Miss Mu: "Demon Lord."
Mu Tianhe dismissed those present, leaving only himself, Young Miss Mu, and Mu Nanxue in the room.
Young Miss Mu naturally walked to the main seat and sat down. Mu Tianhe raised no objection, and neither did Mu Nanxue.
"Patriarch, have the matters I assigned you been handled?"
Mu Tianhe's jaw tightened, and his expression was somewhat somber: "Demon Lord, there are no issues, but regarding Compassionate City..."
"Let's not worry about Compassionate City for now. As for Rong City, have people stabilize it, and then tell Hua City that I agree."
"Demon Lord, are you going to agree to the marriage alliance with Hua City?" Mu Tianhe asked in surprise.
"Sister, I disagree!" Mu Nanxue said emotionally.
Young Miss Mu lowered the brim of her hat. Her fair face displayed an unreadable smile: "Don't worry. Although I agree to the marriage alliance, whether it ultimately succeeds is not up to them to decide."
Mu Tianhe couldn't help but ask the question that had been weighing on his mind: "Demon Lord, was the matter of the Demon-Slaying Arrow arranged by you?"
After receiving the news just now, he had been sitting there pondering this question. Previously, no one from Fengdu had ever considered the "Demon-Slaying Arrow," but at this juncture, something that no one else could accomplish had been realized. Naturally, he felt both surprised and a sense of fear that came with being overwhelmed by such a surprise.
He feared that there might be other underlying issues.
"What happened to the Demon-Slaying Arrow?" Young Miss Mu's eyes suddenly changed.
Mu Tianhe was stunned: "No, it wasn't the Demon Lord, then, then who took the Demon-Slaying Arrow from Compassionate City?"
Those old nuns had hidden the Demon-Slaying Arrow very deeply. They believed that even if they killed all three old nuns, they would never reveal any information about the Demon-Slaying Arrow. Yet, the Demon-Slaying Arrow had now truly appeared, and it was not in Compassionate City...
If this matter was not their doing, but related to the Ghost City of Fengdu, then this matter would undoubtedly be complicated.