Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Gathering of a Thousand Ghosts
Translator: 549690339
“You want to give the Bead of Heaven and Earth to that mortal boy?” While preening its feathers, the Nether Phoenix curiously inquired.
“Mortal? Where did you get the idea that this child is a mortal?” Dong Huang asked with some amusement.
“I have an impulse to devour him, isn’t that indicative of a mortal?”
The Nether Phoenix questioned, puzzled.
Having come into close contact with Feng Qing’an, Dong Huang could detect an anomaly, as could the Nether Phoenix, yet it seemed to have misunderstood something. This was its first time descending upon the human world and encountering mortals.
“No, you underestimate yourself. Even after falling into the underworld, you would never have such desires toward a mortal!”
Dong Huang decisively responded.
“Then why am I enticed by that boy? He smells so good, I want to peck at him.”
“You don’t need to ponder the reason too deeply. Just restrain your thoughts, I’ll handle the matter.”
Dong Huang did not explain to the Nether Phoenix. The secret that an Innate Spiritual Root, or a person born from undying immortal medicine, was only for her sister to know. No more existence should be in the know.
This was also why she planned to attempt obtaining the Bead of Heaven and Earth, even if it meant the destruction of a Ghost Nation.
Easily traversing the gap between the human world and the underworld, Dong Huang returned to the Soul Cleansing Spring. At the edge of the spring, the once unmotivated Nan Ge who had stopped singing, looked astonishingly at her sister who had returned in such a short amount of time.
“Sister, have you met Feng Qing’an?”
Dong Huang nodded, and with a wave of her hand, a silver phoenix emerged from the water. Released in the air, the phoenix split into several parts all bathed in silver light, transforming into individual components of armor and fitting onto the ruler of the Ghost Nation with perfect alignment.
That was too quick!
The young girl was a little taken aback by her sister having met Feng Qing’an, and even more surprised to see her summon her Silver Luan Armor, fitting it perfectly.
“Sister, are you leaving already?”
Nan Ge had a mix of joy and reluctance, making her feelings complicated.
She was happy because, after her sister’s departure, she could freely search for Feng Qing’an, but she was also saddened by how short her sister’s visit had been. This was the first time her sister had left in such haste.
“There’s a treasure I need to retrieve. Don’t worry, after getting the item, I will come back. It won’t take too long!”
Dong Huang gave her sister a glance, and the Nether Phoenix on her shoulder flew high into the sky. The creature, initially small as a fist, transformed into a terrifying Nether Beast with wings spanning more than a hundred feet within an eye’s blink.
Clad in armor, the ruler of You Huang Ghost Country leapt onto the Nether Phoenix’s back, rushing towards the Ghost Nation she governed. She was planning to summon her Ghost Army to wage a war against Turbid Evil King!
“Mmm!”
Watching her sister’s departure, Nan Ge seemingly obediently responded. But as soon as the Nether Phoenix’s figure faded, the girl, who had previously been dipping her feet in the spring, jumped up.
Transforming into a robe, the Purple Light Forest fell onto the girl who immediately yanked up her elegant floral skirt and ran towards the gap between the human and underworld realms, showing off her quaint and slender legs.
“Feng Qing’an!”
As the young man was still lost deep in his thoughts, the girl familiarly climbed over the wall, slipped through the window, and threw herself into his arms. Her clear and rosy face was full of joy.
“Nan Ge, how did you get here?”
Feng Qing’an was caught off guard. He looked surprised. The older sister had just left, and the younger one was already climbing through his window and onto his bed. Was this elder sister of hers so open-minded?
“What’s wrong? Why can’t I come?”
The girl, lying in the boy’s arms, lifted her head. Her delicate face was streaked with a look of grievance, and it seemed as if there was a glint of moisture in her clear eyes.
“Your sister just left, and you’re already here to see me. Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”
“My sister has already left!”
“Left?”
“Yes, she returned to the Ghost Nation. It seems like there’s something important.”
“So that’s the case!”
Feng Qing’an suddenly understood. So, this ruler of the Ghost Nation had just briefly interacted with him and then hurriedly left. “So, you don’t have to worry about anything!”
“Indeed! ”
Expressions of affection were exchanged between the two, their hearts fully aware even as their tongues remained silent.
Where skeletons littered the ground and Yin Qi filled the sky-
This was a barren realm. Although it had the same sandy and rocky terrains and undulating barren hills, there was a lack of vitality. Even the few plants that managed to sprout in the crevices and depressions of the rocks were similarly tainted with life-draining energies.
But compared to the eerie silence surrounding the Soul Cleansing Spring, this barren realm was bustling. White souls, whose numbers were enough to send chills down one’s spine, howled through the sky, making sounds that could drive humans insane.
However, these Wandering Souls, which could stir chaos just by randomly falling onto the human world, were nothing more than insignificant decorations underlining the gloomy sky in this very realm.
There were dreadful birds with wings shrouded in dense Yin Qi, soaring across the sky. Whenever they felt hindered by the excessive number of souls, they would open their mouth and swallow up hundreds — using them as food.
Amid these barren hills and wilderness, ghastly looking Nether Beasts wandered. Whether they were the predatory birds in the sky or the ferocious beasts on the ground, they weren’t the rulers of this realm.
Even with the little wisdom left in them after being corrupted by the pervasive malignant energy, these predatory birds and ferocious beasts harbored a deep fear for the majestic city that stood atop the plain highlands, towering like a primordial behemoth.
That was the convergence point for the ten thousand ghosts, a real ghost city. Within the city, there were many entities much more terrifying than them; colossal demons as tall as tens of meters were commonplace, too numerous to count.
These Nether Beasts wandering the wilderness looked upon the ghost city with awe, yet they also had an uncontrollable longing within.
As long as they could join the ghost city – even as mere mounts, not only will they not have to live in a state of constant danger, but they could also recover more of their lost memories and intelligence through forbidden techniques.
Ring!
A phoenix cry that echoed between heaven and earth resounded, followed by a stormy gale that obliterated any soul in its path.
The moment the phoenix’s cry was heard, all the predatory birds in the sky began to descend. Some even smashed directly into the ground. The Nether Beasts wandering for food also shrunk their bodies, not daring to draw the Nether Phoenix’s attention.
When the Nether Phoenix landed in the grandest city of this realm, a clear and wide corridor emerged in the direction from which it had flown. However, this corridor didn’t last long; it was quickly filled up by densely packed souls.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
However, these countless souls, no matter how ceaseless their dismal cries may seem, were suppressed by the sound of beating drums coming from within the towering city.
The summoning drum!
The prelude to the ruler’s expedition!