“So, you do not even know who this one who appeared this time is?”
“We do not know!”
Duan Jiang and Zhan Yue shook their heads repeatedly. “Although the Hui Ming Law King had profound cultivation, he did not build his own forces. He only had a few servant girls and ghost servants who attended him daily, and their strength was not strong either.”
“So, this should be another ghost who covets the Hui Ming Seven Canons. Upon learning that the Black Wheel King obtained the Refining Yang Chapter and hid in the yang world, it came chasing.”
Duan Jiang and Zhan Yue nodded repeatedly, indicating that it should indeed be so.
From the fact that the other side sent people to hunt them down, this ghost’s strength was certainly above the Black Wheel King’s, but by how much was open to debate.
After all, the Black Wheel King had been suppressed effortlessly by Daoist Ming Zhang, had he not?
So, should they call for reinforcements?
“We still do not know if that ghost is aware its subordinates are dead. We cannot have the seniors just stay in Taohua Village.” Shen Ying said helplessly.
Lu Zheng nodded. The other side had placed curses in their subordinates’ divine souls. His side did not even know who the opponent was. They could not charge into the netherworld to strike at the lair.
Fan Boyu shook his head from the side. “For others’ techniques, one can draw analogies. But to covet someone else’s foundational method so much, how lacking in confidence must one have in their own cultivation? So, how capable can this ghost be?”
Lu Zheng glanced at him, thinking to himself that it was easy for him to say. The Yuan Sheng Sect inherited from the upper realm’s Maiden Sovereign, with deep foundations. The important thing was…
That day, when Du Yueyao said the Maiden Sovereign had helped perfect the Maiden Sovereign Wish God Method, who was the one grinning like a fool?
“Fine. But at least we know the opponent’s purpose now.” Lu Zheng said. “We can also narrow down the suspects. Perhaps the City God Temple has leads?”
Those two old ghosts greedy for merit had unintentionally revealed their purpose in casual chat. They truly lacked any sense of secrecy.
“Let us go find Brother Xin and tell him about this. Have him report it to the state City God.”
They sent Du Yueyao back to sleep. Fan Boyu returned to his side room. Lu Zheng and Shen Ying then headed straight to the City God Temple.
…
“Young Master Lu! Peach Flower Immortal!”
The one who came to greet them was Lu Zheng’s old acquaintance, the patrol envoy Duan Zhong.
Upon learning the two had business with Xin Zanting, Duan Zhong opened the yin-yang road and sent them into the netherworld.
As soon as they stepped into the netherworld, Shen Ying asked Lu Zheng, “General Xin is always supervising the army in the netherworld. Actually, with our strength, we could enter the netherworld on our own. Why bother with the yin-yang road?”
Lu Zheng blinked. “Because it is convenient. Doing it ourselves is so tiring.”
He would not admit it was because he had forgotten and habitually took the yin-yang road.
Shen Ying was speechless. How much magical power could entering the netherworld near the yin-yang road consume?
Back then, the Night Lantern King could do it, and the two of them had long surpassed the Night Lantern King. How could they possibly not manage it?
But if Lu Zheng was unwilling, Shen Ying naturally followed Lu Zheng. So she floated lightly after him and said with a smile, “Lu Lang is right!”
Lu Zheng, “…”
They arrived at Night Lantern Mountain and found Xin Zanting. They relayed the information they had obtained to him.
“What? The Hui Ming Law King is dead?”
“Brother Xin knows of this person?”
“Of course! This one is also a major figure in the netherworld. How could I not know.” Xin Zanting said. “He experienced countless dynasties, yet he died in this era.”
“Then does Brother Xin know how many other ghosts are currently searching for the Hui Ming Law King’s Hui Ming Seven Canons?” Lu Zheng asked.
“That, I do not know.” Xin Zanting shook his head. “News from the depths of the netherworld, perhaps Lord Lu might know something.”
“Lord Lu?” Lu Zheng blinked. He had not expected a namesake.
Xin Zanting nodded. “The City God of Yizhou Prefecture City God Temple, surnamed Lu, given name Yuxing. In life, he was a provincial governor of the circuit, upright in office. After death, he was conferred by the court as the City God of Yizhou.”
“I will report this to Lord Lu. Rest easy, little brother.” Xin Zanting said. “Now that we have leads, we naturally will not let the other side run rampant.
The Great Jing Dynasty is vast in territory and resources. There are many who covet it. Enemies on all sides. We cannot strike everywhere, but once the enemy is confirmed, they will surely not get off easily.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “I believe that.”
Xin Zanting continued, “Madam Shen, if the other side comes knocking, just send word to me. As they are netherworld ghosts, this general can deploy troops. Two thousand yin soldiers arrayed in formation, even a general ghost king would struggle to escape.”
Shen Ying smiled and bowed in thanks. “Thank you, General Xin. This concubine will.”
Xin Zanting thought for a moment and said, “Speaking of which, Broken Blade Mountain and Chaos Corpse Pool went quiet for a while recently. Could it be because their leading ghosts went to contend for the Hui Ming Law King’s legacy? Who knows if they got anything.”
“Oh?” Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. “Could it be Broken Blade Mountain and Chaos Corpse Pool?”
Xin Zanting shook his head. “Definitely not. I know the ghosts there. We deal with them often lately, and none have infiltrated the yang world.”
After a pause, Xin Zanting said, “But it must be some power in the netherworld. Otherwise, they could not dispatch over twenty century-old ghosts.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Indeed.”
…
They chatted a few more words with Xin Zanting and politely declined his invitation to a banquet. The two bid farewell and left.
Descending Night Lantern Mountain and returning to the yang world, when they reached Taohua Village again, dawn was breaking. The eighteen heavenly maidens had all returned.
They briefly explained the night’s events and instructed the eighteen heavenly maidens not to go out anymore. They should just cultivate day and night in Taohua Village and stay vigilant.
Lu Zheng had breakfast in the village, cuddled with Shen Ying for a while, then left and returned to Tonglin County.
“Lu Lang, someone has set their sights on us again?”
Back home, he found Liu Qingyan had not gone to the clinic. Instead, she had come to the Lu residence with Du Yueyao, waiting for Lu Zheng.
“Yes, but it is fine. Through those two foolish ghosts last night and Zhan Yue’s information, we have confirmed the intruder’s origins. I have told Brother Xin, and the City God Temple will handle it.”
Lu Zheng explained the whole matter from start to finish to everyone.
Fan Boyu curled his lip. “The City God Temple is good at defending but lacks aggression. If the other side is really deep in the netherworld, how will the City God Temple deal with them? Ram them with heads?”
Lu Zheng was speechless. Fan Boyu learned the bad habits and not the good ones. Where did he pick up that ‘ram with heads’?
“What if the City God Temple fails to take them down, and they come seeking revenge on Sister Shen?” Liu Qingyan asked worriedly.
“It would not matter if they came.” Lu Zheng said indifferently. “What is their goal anyway?”
“That what, one of the Hui Ming Seven Canons, the Refining Yang Chapter?” Du Yueyao said.
Lu Zheng nodded. “That thing is with me. I already gave it to Shen Ying. If we cannot beat them, just hand it over.”
Liu Qingyan, “…”
Du Yueyao, “…”
Fan Boyu, “…”
