Immortal of the Nine Realms

Wang Chongsong smiled at the two eighth-transformation Ghost Immortals and said, ”Gentlemen, these are all wandering souls that have gone through registration, verification, and sealing. Shall we directly open the Reincarnation Gate?”

The two eighth transformation Ghost Immortals nodded. They handled such matters often, so further checking was unnecessary.

Seeing this, Wang Chongsong immediately sent a stream of yin energy into the shattered Reincarnation Mirror. With the infusion of yin energy, the broken mirror became veiled in a soft, shimmering white glow, as if it had transformed into a doorway.

Wang Chongsong nodded toward the group of wandering souls. ”Go in.”

They immediately entered the shattered Reincarnation Mirror in orderly fashion, vanishing one by one.

***

About an hour passed.

Wang Chongsong glanced at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen remained silent.

***

Another hour went by.

All of a sudden, both Wang Chongsong and Fang Chen sensed a terrifying aura surging up outside the Enlightenment Underworld Realm.

Sensing the sudden menacing aura, the two eighth-transformation Ghost Immortals exchanged a glance and sprang to their feet in excitement.

One roared, ”What nerve, daring to approach the Enlightenment Underworld Realm without observing the rules!”

After instructing Wang Chongsong to guard the place well, they transformed into wisps of black smoke and departed.

Seeing this, Wang Chongsong immediately took out the Yin Gourd and aimed it directly at the shattered Reincarnation Mirror. Immediately, countless wandering souls poured out from within.

Faces flashed before Fang Chen’s eyes one after another. He saw Fairy Yu. He also saw Xun Xiyin.

A full hour passed, and the Yin Gourd had yet not been emptied. Fang Chen began to worry that the two Ghost Immortals might return and catch them in the act.

”How long will this take?” he asked.

”You think it’s a short process?” Wang Chongsong said calmly. ”If it could be done in a few moments, why would I need you to call that one over to draw them away? At least a full day. Don’t rush. Besides, it’s already started. There are only two outcomes, success or failure. We’re barefoot now; why fear those wearing shoes?”

As he spoke, he shot a glare at the group of wandering souls. They exchanged uneasy looks, vaguely realizing what Wang Chongsong and Fang Chen were doing, but none dared speak or ask. After all, they had heard Wang Chongsong say it would take only one day. So they waited. A single day’s delay in reincarnation was nothing.

At the same time, the Enlightenment Underworld Realm became exceptionally lively. When the aura of the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation appeared, Yin Monarch Tuo of the Ghost Immortal Pagoda immediately led dozens of Ghost Immortals in pursuit.

Soon after, the guarding Ghost Immortals from each division also rushed out. They were like vicious dogs that had been locked up for years without leaving the yard, each one brimming with excitement and ferocity.

Some core disciples stared in shock.

”What’s going on?”

They normally never saw these Ghost Immortals stir. Why were they pouring out en masse today?

The core disciples at least knew the Ghost Immortals’ origins. The ordinary wandering souls and affiliated cultivators were completely bewildered.

Outside the Enlightenment Underworld Realm, Yin Monarch Tuo had already surrounded the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation with his forces. Unable to discern her cultivation level, his expression darkened. ”Are you a Yin Demon, or a Ghost Immortal?”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation chuckled softly. ”Ghost Immortal, Yin Demon, what does it matter?”

Her gaze swept across the assembled Ghost Immortals, curiosity flickering in her eyes. In the past, she had mostly dealt with orthodox Underworld True Gods. Non-orthodox Ghost Immortals like these were rare sights for her.

”If you’re a Yin Demon, the Enlightenment Underworld Realm has agreements with all realms,” said Yin Monarch Tuo. ”Those above the third transformation are forbidden from entering without authorization. If you’re a Ghost Immortal, the rules are even stricter. Not a single first-transformation Ghost Immortal may come here. Anyone who does is declaring war.”

His voice was cold and low.

”So, which are you? Ghost Immortal or Yin demon?”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation gave another chuckle. ”Then I’ll just leave.”

Her form turned into a wisp of azure smoke and slipped effortlessly out of the encirclement, reappearing a hundred feet away.

”You think you can come and go as you please?!”

”Do you take us, Ghost Immortals, for useless decorations?!”

”Don’t let her escape, keep her here!”

Before Yin Monarch Tuo could even get worked up, the other Ghost Immortals were already roaring and giving chase.

”Yin Monarch Tuo, could this be a ruse to lure us away?” a Ghost Immortal, who hadn’t moved, spoke in a low voice.

”The old Ghost Immortals are still inside, holding the fort. With them there, why fear anything?”

Yin Monarch Tuo sneered. ”Nothing like this has happened here in a long time. Let them stretch their legs a bit. In a few more years, we’ll probably stop liking to move around too.”

Nearby Ghost Immortals seemed to let out silent sighs.

***

Time passed slowly, second by second.

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation’s movements remained elusive, effortlessly leading the Ghost Immortals on a merry chase. Gradually, Yin Monarch Tuo sensed something amiss and immediately called all the Ghost Immortals back.

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation sighed softly. ”You’re not going to chase me anymore?”

”You don’t seem to harbor any malicious intent. No need to pursue you further. Farewell.”

Yin Monarch Tuo snorted, then led the Ghost Immortals back into the Enlightenment Underworld Realm.

”All departmental Ghost Immortals, return to your posts and check for any irregularities,” Yin Monarch Tuo said in a deep voice.

***

Fang Chen looked at Wang Chongsong. ”Is it done? The Ghost Immortals... they’re back.”

”Almost.”

Wang Chongsong’s face remained expressionless. A few breaths later, the final wandering soul from the Yin Gourd entered the Reincarnation Mirror.

He casually shook the gourd. After confirming it was empty, he tossed it to Fang Chen.

Just as Fang Chen put the gourd away, the two Ghost Immortals returned, brimming with excitement. They chatted animatedly, whispering among themselves, bursting into laughter at times. They paid little attention to whether anything here had changed.

”By the way, while we were gone, did anyone come here to cause trouble?” one of them asked Wang Chongsong.

”No. Who would dare cause trouble here? They’d be courting death,” Wang Chongsong replied with a smile.

The two Ghost Immortals exchanged a grin.

”True.”

One of them muttered, ”Yin Monarch Tuo was overthinking it, suspecting a lure-away tactic. But think about it, how could that be possible? This is the Enlightenment Underworld Realm. Who would come here seeking death? And who would even have the ability to cause trouble here?”

”Besides, even though the two of us left, there were still old Ghost Immortals guarding this place,” the other Ghost Immortal added. ”If anyone had tried anything, they’d have been suppressed instantly.”

Wang Chongsong froze. He kept his calm and asked, ”Old Ghost Immortals? Where?”

”Over there, sitting in the corner. Didn’t you see?”

One Ghost Immortal pointed toward the corner of the room.

Only then did Fang Chen and Wang Chongsong realize that there was another figure in the room. It sat motionless in the corner, like a stone statue. From start to finish, neither Wang Chongsong nor Fang Chen had sensed its presence.

Fang Chen glanced at Wang Chongsong. ”You didn’t know about this?”

Wang Chongsong looked back at Fang Chen. ”I truly didn’t.”

Both their expressions darkened. Their every action had effectively been within the old Ghost Immortal’s sight. So why hadn’t he intervened to stop them?