Chapter 185: The Peculiar Quintet

Chapter 185: The Peculiar Quintet

The wind roared like a wild fire.

On a barren mountaintop, several kilometers away from the Dongyue Temple, stood an extremely dilapidated temple to the City God, a relic from an unknown dynasty. A coffin occupied the spot where a deity should have been enshrined.

A fashionably dressed young man lay on the coffin, holding a bizarrely designed gun that emitted puffs of white smoke from its muzzle.

When the white light hit Zhang Dao'an, the young man cursed irritably.

"Damn it!"

His equally trendy companions chuckled at him.

"What's the matter, Yan? Aren't you the sharpshooter? You're using an A-class firearm and S-class custom bullets, and you still missed?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're aiming for the leaderboard with this performance? You have a god-level weapon, and the 'Guardian' is in a weakened state due to 'level breakthrough.' And you still can't handle it?"

"Yan's aim really is raw. If you ask me, the 'Godly Gun' would be better off in my hands. What a waste of an A-class artifact."

"Shut it. You, with your greatsword, just focus on your swordplay!"

At that moment, a man with facial scars who had been silent among the group finally spoke, "Enough. Since we've already completed our mission, we shouldn't linger. This 'hunting ground' is rated S-class for danger. We don’t want to provoke the 'Guardian' here."

Yan, the one with the gun, casually got up from the coffin he was sitting on and slapped it with a smirk.

"I think the rating for this 'hunting ground' is inaccurate. We hunted so easily after arriving. The 'Guardian' here doesn’t seem that strong." He then cast a covetous look toward the distant Dongyue Temple, "I wasn't mistaken earlier. The greatsword he holds is at least A-class! My 'Godly Gun' is already an A-class artifact, and coupled with S-class 'Divine Source Bullets,' it still didn’t destroy that sword... Captain, if we give that sword to Old Seven, we'll have three A-class weapons in our team."

The captain was tempted for a moment, but his expression suddenly changed as he swiftly turned his head.

Across the distance of over ten kilometers, amidst a sea of thunder and lightning, their original target looked right at him.

Those eyes—one black, one white—seemed as close as could be, staring directly at him.

"The 'Guardian' has spotted us! Set up the teleporter! Move!"

At the captain's command, the others began to act swiftly, despite their ongoing chatter.

A handful of oddly shaped stones were placed on the ground. A girl wearing a hooded cloak placed her hands on the ground, and soon intricate magical circles formed.

A nebulous white light slowly materialized within the circle.

Yan was still feeling greedy.

"That 'Guardian' doesn’t look all that formidable, right? He was just in a 'level breakthrough.' Shouldn’t we capitalize on it? I'm out of 'Divine Source Bullets,' but I still have a few A-class bullets left. Shouldn't we give it a try?"

"Enough. Something's off about this 'hunting ground,' and I have a bad feeling. Let's listen to the captain and get out of here quickly after completing our task... What is that?!"

Several shadows appeared from nowhere.

Yan acted swiftly, aiming his gun without taking aim and shooting at the shadows.

A flash of white light, and the shadows were instantly dispersed.

"Ghosts? We've all sprayed ourselves with demon repellent. How dare these things get close?"

Just then, the captain, looking serious, drew his weapon—a strangely designed fanged blade.

"All members on alert! The 'Guardian' is almost here!"

On the other side.

Jie Fangcheng's current condition was far from good. Going through the tribulation of the heart was his weakest point. As the thunderbolt descended, he felt as if he was seeing those familiar faces all over again.

"Your Highness! Every person has to die sometime; I am not afraid! I wish to be the sword in Your Highness's hand, claiming the heads of our enemies!"

"If we are to be led like lambs to the slaughter today due to this so-called 'will of heaven,' and we fail to hold Luo Yun Pass, what will become of the people behind us? What will become of the Great Ru? Whether it's a god or a demon, we should fight to the death without retreating!"

"Yes! No retreat!!"

"I haven't yet married, and I have three siblings at home. Even without me, my parents have someone to rely on. But without me at the border, who will defend our Great Ru!"

"Your Highness! Give the order!"

"Your Highness!"

The pungent scent of blood seemed to linger in his nostrils, taking him back to that day.

Jie Fangcheng knew all too well what his heart's tribulation was. He could not break only to rebuild; the heavy, overly large sword he carried was evidence of that.

Even the modified Dream Fish had failed to explore the deepest desires in his heart because, despite his emotional turmoil, Jie Fangcheng would make the same choices if he had to do it all over again.

He did not wish for a redo, to make any changes.

Jie Fangcheng believed that these comrades in his heart's tribulation would not abandon their cause either, even if they knew the outcomes, if given another chance.

His emotional turmoil remained irresolvable.

And this time, in the realm of illusions, a figure in a suit appeared.

The quick-witted but physically weak individual turned his back on Jie Fangcheng. The sword in his hand was too heavy for him to lift, so he used it as a shield, positioning it in front of himself.

And he also acted as a shield, placing himself between Jie Fangcheng and danger.

"Jiang Dao'an..."

Jie Fangcheng took a step forward, reaching out to grasp his wrist. Just then, Jiang Dao'an's form shattered like a mirror, leaving behind only an apologetic smile.

Boom—

Thunder roared.

Jie Fangcheng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

A momentary lapse in focus allowed the tribulation lightning to infiltrate his body like a cold, venomous snake.

Already fraught with karmic hindrances, Jie Fangcheng felt as though his entire being was dispersing, yet the surrounding golden light of merit held him together.

It felt as if he had experienced Jiang Dao'an's soul shattering both in an instant and countless times over.

When the thunderstorm cleared, the usually suave Manager Jie seemed momentarily blinded, unable to see anyone around him.

Chains from heaven and earth bound him, and Jie Fangcheng remained oblivious.

The source of the white light was not close, but Jie Fangcheng had caught a glimpse of the perpetrator's face.

It was strange.

They were five individuals dressed rather peculiarly.

——It didn't matter.

Their peculiar attire had nothing to do with him.

Jie Fangcheng only needed them to die.

The King of Ten Thousand Ghosts walked on air, flanked by gusting winds. With each step, thick mists of ghostly energy coalesced in the air into an unyielding cloud of blackness.

The clouds that initially hovered over the Dongyue Temple began to spread like ink in water, darkening the sky as thunder rumbled in the distance.

All around him, legions of ghosts bowed low to the ground. The world seemed filled only with the clash of thunder and the clinking of chains.

With each step Jie Fangcheng took forward, the dark phantom behind him grew more solid.

The statue in the black temple calmly opened its eyes and stood up. The sword that had initially been held aloft was now in Jie Fangcheng's hand, and a second sword appeared in the statue's grasp.

It was a seemingly unremarkable gentleman's sword, wreathed in a scarlet mist of blood. As the statue moved, four immense chains tightened, trying to lock him back in his seat.

In the mortal realm, each step Jie Fangcheng took added a touch of blood-red to the black mist underfoot.

It seemed someone had caught up with him, frowning and saying something, even attempting to push him back.

"Get out of my way!"

Jie Fangcheng brandished his great sword, cutting down the one who obstructed him and continued forward.

Onward still...

Ahead, a barren hill emerged before Jie Fangcheng, its lush trees obstructing all sight.

Jie Fangcheng levitated mid-air, his white hair billowing.

The golden light of virtue that once surrounded him was now drowned out by the black mist of ghostly energy, covering him like an additional layer of black robe.

Jie Fangcheng lowered his head.

At the peak of the barren hill, five peculiarly dressed "mortals" held equally bizarre weapons—one of whom wielded an energetically potent gun.

In mid-air, Jie Fangcheng raised his great sword.

Behind him, the almost fully materialized figure dressed in ceremonial robes also lifted the blood-misted sword high.

Lightning flashed across the sky, but the sound of breaking chains and the slashing sword surpassed even the roar of thunder.

The space-shattering slash descended, and three of the five deftly formed a defensive formation. The team leader bore the brunt, blocking Jie Fangcheng's strike with his tiger-headed sickle before being flung backward, landing with a look of shock as he gazed at the airborne figure with billowing white hair, appearing like a spectral being.

Too powerful!

"Captain!"

Suspended in mid-air, the figure clad in a dark robe, stepping upon a mist of black and crimson, with chains faintly binding him at his side, once again lifted his sword.

Boom——

Humm——

Someone among the group of five reached into the void, pulling out a shield to protect his teammates.

The shockwave created by the sword striking the shield instantly reduced the dilapidated temple to ashes. The person holding the shield coughed up blood.

"Xiao Qi! Hurry up!!"

Named "Xiao Qi," the girl's hood was blown off by the shockwave, revealing a pair of pointed ears clearly not belonging to a human.

Jie Fangcheng looked down, and although he didn't understand the complex markings on the ground, he instinctively knew their purpose.

These people wanted to flee.

How peculiar.

They were supposedly human, yet they had managed to withstand not just his sword, but also the sword of the divine statue behind him.

He couldn't let them escape.

Between heaven and earth, four chains emitted a grating noise that set one's teeth on edge.

Cracks had appeared on the dark markings on Jie Fangcheng's forehead. He roared.

Snap——

The chain binding the statue's right scapula broke, and in a fury, a bolt of lightning struck down. Against the backdrop bright as day, the black ghostly mist around Jie Fangcheng nearly solidified.

He gripped his great sword with both hands and swung it down once again!

Die!!

The "Captain" at the forefront saw his tiger-headed sickle snap in half, and he was once again sent flying, smashing through a wall.

"Captain!! Xiao Qi!!"

Elf Xiao Qi continued to press one hand to the ground, while with the other, she gestured toward the Captain's direction.

A net of green light materialized, pulling the unconscious Captain quickly back to her.

Just then, chaotic footsteps sounded from outside the ruined temple.

"Jie Fangcheng! Calm down!!"

Calm?

The statue behind Xie Fangcheng once again raised its sword.

As the sword struck down, those hastily raising shields for protection felt as though they were hammered by an immense axe. Not only did their shields shatter, but the people themselves were also pounded into the ground. Their blood, a burnt crimson, spurted out as their veins ruptured and they lost consciousness.

Three people remained—

Snap—

The chains on Xie Fangcheng's left shoulder blade also broke. The sky was laden with dark clouds, and within them lurked a purple calamity lightning, gathering strength for its release.

Xie Fangcheng remained oblivious, his gaze locked intently on the remaining three individuals.

No matter who stands before them, it's clear that these five individuals are connected to Zhang Daoan's death.

In that case, let them all die!

Dark energy envelops him, almost entirely consuming the golden light that once was.

Just then, a flash of light from an angle intercepts his third strike.

"Xie Fangcheng! You're turning into a malevolent spirit! Wake up!"

During this brief interruption, the ground erupts in a surge of white light.

Xie Fangcheng, his eyes filled with fury, forcefully pushes away the person blocking him.

He too is at the end of his tether; the nine heavenly bolts have nearly shattered his soul. With great effort, he broke through two chains. His fourth strike lacks both elegance and technique.

All he does is channel all the remaining, scant demonic energy into the sword he holds.

As he swings the sword, Xie Fangcheng coughs up a mouthful of blood. Ignoring everything else, he fixates solely on the white light.

The three remaining able-bodied individuals are swept by this strike, each stumbling and coughing up blood. But it's already too late.

After the flash of white light, the figures of the five people vanish before him.

Xie Fangcheng stands still, sword in hand.

At that moment, a hand gently rests on his shoulder.

"Xie Fangcheng! Your seal is about to break! Come back with me quickly..."

With a "whoosh," Xie Fangcheng raises his colossal sword once more.

He holds the sword to the neck of the person standing behind him, his eyes, one black and one white, resembling deep pools.

"Why did you stop me?" he asks.

Standing behind Xie Fangcheng is Xue Li.

The moment the divine statue was about to awaken, the Underworld sensed it.

Jie Fangcheng's seal was located directly beneath the statue of Dongyue, on the uppermost layer of the Underworld.

Four chains were bound to his physical form, with a sealing inscription branded near his heart to prevent his awakening.

Of these four chains, two originated from the Heavenly Realm, and two from the Underworld.

One chain from the Underworld was deeply buried at the bottom of the Yellow Springs Road, and another was locked near the Bridge of Helplessness.

As the chains trembled, the entire Underworld shook in response.

Xue Li, the official on duty at that time, decided to open the Ghost Gate to enter the mortal realm. He couldn't allow Jie Fangcheng to break free from the seal; given the current state of both realms, once the seal was broken, no one would be able to restrain him again.

Jie Fangcheng was a unique case; he himself was not evil, but he carried an overwhelming burden of karmic debts and resentment.

Should he break his own seal, the already faint golden light within him would be instantly consumed by his karmic debts. Then, when the thunder tribulation descended, it would be lethal to a vengeful spirit like him, far more than for an ordinary ghost.

Xue Li was not of a purist faction, and he had always been on good terms with Jie Fangcheng. He knew that Jie Fangcheng was not inherently malicious.

However, Xue Li was shocked to discover upon his arrival in the mortal realm that Jie Fangcheng looked like a malevolent specter. The inscriptions suppressing the dark energy around him were fully exposed, and the palace behind him appeared almost corporeal.

Years ago, Jie Fangcheng and his eight hundred soldiers chose to become ghosts to protect the Kingdom of Da Ru, which reciprocated by building a shrine in their honor.

Time passed, and the Kingdom of Da Ru was destroyed. His eight hundred ghostly soldiers, their karmic debts dissipated and their wishes fulfilled, entered the cycle of rebirth, leaving only Jie Fangcheng's statue in the main hall.

The shrine provided him with a level of faith power more terrifying than that given to ordinary gods; the statue was an embodiment of his true self.

By the time Xue Li arrived, the statue had already opened its eyes, and all of its chains were on the brink of breaking.

Just how furious was Jie Fangcheng?

Regardless of the extent of his fury, the priority was to stop him.

On his way, before Xue Li had a chance to carefully consider his words, a purist Judge from his side rushed out and rather impolitely extended a hand to push Jie Fangcheng away.

"Jie Fangcheng! Have you gone mad? Stop this at once—"

Really... asking for death.

The next second, Jie Fangcheng's sword swung down, flipping the Judge over onto the ground.

Xue Li hastily rushed over to assist, but in the blink of an eye, Jie Fangcheng had already vanished.

Locating him was straightforward—Jie Fangcheng's spectral aura was growing heavier, and in the curtain of rain, the sinister energy didn't diminish in the slightest.

When Xue Li finally arrived in haste, he saw Jie Fangcheng about to unleash a devastating third strike.

This couldn't continue!

Jie Fangcheng's current state was far too perilous!

What Xue Li couldn't understand was who Jie Fangcheng was targeting and why he was so inflamed with rage.

As a result, the person who was usually so carefree now bore a sinister look in his eyes, especially when those eyes met Xue Li's own.

"Jie Fangcheng, calm yourself! You can't continue to release the spectral energy within you! Your aura of virtuous golden light is on the verge of being consumed!"

"Answer me—why are you stopping me?" Jie Fangcheng's voice was calm, but his eyes were like unfathomable icy abysses. "Are you in league with them?"

Xue Li had no doubt that if his answer wasn't what Jie Fangcheng wanted to hear, the next second, that massive sword, capable of splitting the gates of the celestial realm, would sever his neck.

"No, I don't know them, and I don't know what has happened," Xue Li replied without hesitation.

Despite his words, Jie Fangcheng seemed not to have heard, maintaining his initial posture.

"Why are you stopping me?" he asked again.

A sudden chill crept into Xue Li's heart.

This was bad.

Jie Fangcheng had always been a malevolent spirit, but unlike ordinary vengeful spirits, he wasn't influenced by karmic debts to become a mindless killing machine.

And now, the golden light within Jie Fangcheng was barely visible. Under such circumstances...

Just then, the Judge who had previously tried to push Jie Fangcheng away on the road shouted, "What are you doing, Jie Fangcheng?? How dare you raise your hand against a Yama from the Tenth Court! Do you even know who you are anymore?!"

The Lord of Malevolent Spirits slightly turned his head at the words.

His heterochromatic eyes glanced over indifferently. The Judge felt a sudden chill, and the next moment, Jie Fangcheng's massive sword swung down.

Had it not been for Xue Li rushing to shield the Judge, the sword's aura would have cleaved him in two.

Even so, several minor ghosts who were affected by the sword aura staggered, retreating several steps before steadying themselves.

Wisps of spectral energy, like tendrils of spiderweb, flowed in from all directions, converging within Jie Fangcheng.

The divine statue behind him joined him in turning its gaze towards Xue Li and his company.

"Identity?" The wind lifted Jie Fangcheng's dark robes, his white hair and heterochromatic eyes, and his crimson lips against his pallid face, exuding an eerie allure. "What identity are you speaking of?"

Boom, boom, boom—

Thunderbolts fell from the sky. Before they could reach Jie Fangcheng, the spectral energy around him roared and charged at the lightning.

For a moment, this sinister spectral energy enveloped the entire mountain and showed signs of expanding further.

The last two chains binding Jie Fangcheng rattled noisily, on the verge of breaking as well.

Once that happened, there would be no constraints binding him between heaven and earth.

Even in this moment, Xue Li found himself questioning—could the heavenly thunderbolts, falling as a divine retribution for Jie Fangcheng’s complete transformation into a malevolent spirit, truly kill him?

Xue Li was already injured; he knew he wouldn't be able to stop Jie Fangcheng in his current state.

"Jie Fangcheng... do you even know what you're doing?"

Jie Fangcheng looked at him, then glanced at the sword in his hand.

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"I made a promise to a friend: if he were to die, I would seek vengeance for him, even at the risk of mutual destruction."

Amidst the rising malevolent energy that soared to the sky, Jie Fangcheng began to levitate slowly.

He didn't know where those five individuals had come from, but he sensed their divine power.

The celestial realm?

Jie Fangcheng tilted his head upward, gazing at the dark sky.

Beneath his feet, black mist solidified into steps. Holding his sword, his expression icy and filled with murderous intent, he seemed poised to ascend directly into the celestial realm.

Just then, from the coffin on the ground, a silver Dream-Returning Fish swam out unsteadily.

The thick smell of blood in the air made the Dream-Returning Fish retreat slightly, its silver tail fin flaring up in fright. Yet recognizing Jie Fangcheng, it hesitantly circled him twice before settling on his shoulder, which was motionlessly rooted in place.

Jie Fangcheng turned his head.

On his shoulder, the Dream-Returning Fish followed suit and also turned its head.

How could this be...

Jie Fangcheng, who was already on his last breath, looked bewilderedly at the familiar fish—a creature that should have still been within Zhang Daoan’s mind. Before he could understand what was happening, heavenly thunderbolts struck down from above.

Caught off guard, Jie Fangcheng stumbled, his eyes shut tight, as he fell off the steps formed by the black mist.

Just before losing consciousness, he faintly heard two cries.

"Jie Fangcheng!!"

"—Lord of Dongyue?!"

.

Jie Fangcheng had a very long dream.

In the dream, he had not yet gone to the frontier; instead, he remained at Shengxia Mountain, seeking enlightenment from immortals.

At that time, everyone in Ru Kingdom was eager to seek the path of immortality, for the country had genuinely been visited by divine beings.

But even while seeking enlightenment, Jie Fangcheng felt that immortals were not as detached from worldly affairs, as lofty and proud, as they were proclaimed to be.

"If they're truly above it all, why would they need human worship?"

At the time, he had proposed an innovative performance measurement system for deities, suggesting that gods should earn offerings based on their performance. Those who performed well would receive more offerings, while those who didn't might not even have a temple built for them.

He even advocated for a celestial selection process to identify the eleven most suitable deities to form a temple for Ru Kingdom. Temples would be built on the same mountain to facilitate offerings from the faithful.

His propositions, however, were promptly rebuked by his master.

"Deities are deities. It's a grave sin for mortals not to revere them!"

Indeed, it was a serious offense. Jie Fangcheng had committed deicide, killing the god who had once manifested in Ru Kingdom and caused temples to be erected everywhere.

Jie Fangcheng didn't believe in this, but strangely, he seemed to have innate affinity with the divine.

Incantations that others struggled to memorize came easily to him. Hand signs for magical arts that others could not execute, he could perform with ease.

Although these spells were fairly basic, like conjuring fire or drawing water when thirsty, they were still considered miraculous by average people.

Jie Fangcheng didn’t really care for these capabilities. Given his status, he had no need to light a fire himself or quench his own thirst.

Compared to the nebulous "mystical arts," Jie Fangcheng had a deeper interest in weaponry. Swords, spears, staffs, and rods were the basics; he had trained in all kinds of obscure weapons.

To him, these seemed far more useful than any magical arts.

And not just weapons—he didn’t shy away from learning all sorts of forbidden techniques either.

As the Crown Prince of Ru Kingdom, Jie Fangcheng had access to all kinds of knowledge.

The accumulation of knowledge during that period let him in on many secrets unknown to ordinary people.

For example… how to create malevolent spirits.

The methods to artificially transform a ghost into a malevolent spirit were so cruel that Jie Fangcheng could only bear to read them once and refused to look at them again.

He never expected that he would eventually have to personally employ such methods.

Scenes in his dream shifted rapidly. Perhaps his old acquaintances didn't want him dwelling on his past traumas. None of the particularly horrific memories made an appearance; instead, he dreamt of many amusing old times.

He had many friends when he was the Crown Prince. Free from any princely arrogance, they got along well, going on spring outings and horseback riding together, secretly mocking their tutors when class was over.

Later, at the frontier, the times not spent in battle were also quite enjoyable. The men in the army were rough around the edges, and their candid banter was far more liberating than what he'd hear from young nobles.

All the dark and gloomy tones in the dream were erased, leaving only bright sunshine that warmed the dream landscape.

But the footage seemed to stutter after his death, as if finding it hard to select any more scenes to project.

Until he entered the game.

Qi Chanyang, Lu Xiaoguitar, Gu Shanshan, Yue Haiyang… Zhang Daoan.

"— Zhang Daoan."

Jie Fangcheng's eyes snapped open.

He awoke abruptly, inadvertently kicking the silver-hued Dream-Returning Fish, which swam around him in innocent circles.

Jie Fangcheng took a deep breath, his mouth and nostrils tinged with the scent of blood.

He slowly sat up.

The sound of rattling chains echoed around him as he moved.

Jie Fangcheng looked around. The place was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Familiar, because he was still in the Underworld; unfamiliar, because he found himself in the Eighteenth Layer of Hell.

His wrists, ankles, and even his neck were shackled with specialized chains, confining him in a cell meant for holding malevolent spirits.

He tugged at the chains, which were specifically designed to restrain spirits like him, a perfect fit for the job.

Under normal circumstances, he could have easily broken free, but now he was so weakened that even his aura seemed dim. It seemed pointless to waste energy breaking the chains.

Leaning against the wall, he stared at the Dream-Returning Fish, who, tired from swimming, had settled on his lap.

Before long, the sound of footsteps approached, and a group of infernal officials walked in. The leader, dressed in red, seemed to be on his way to another cell but paused to scoff at Jie Fangcheng’s awakening.

"Jie Fangcheng, you've got some nerve..."

Before he could finish, Jie Fangcheng lifted his eyelids and shot him a glance.

"Summon the Dongyue Divine Lord to see me."

He leaned tiredly against the wall.

Everything that had happened was now beyond his understanding. If anyone in the Underworld could solve this riddle, it would be the Dongyue Divine Lord.

However, the official's voice suddenly turned shrill.

"Who are you kidding? Dongyue Divine Lord is dead!"

Jie Fangcheng's eyes widened abruptly.

On the other end, the infernal official continued to speak.

"We found a coffin in your 'majestic' temple. Inside was the Divine Lord's body! You are an ungrateful wretch! After the chaos you and your eight hundred spirit generals caused, not only did the Divine Lord protect you single-handedly in the Celestial Realm, he even granted you divine vision, enabling you to see through people’s hearts. And this is how you repay him?"

Jie Fangcheng remained silent. With a sudden burst of strength, the chains around his neck broke and deformed.

"Jie Fangcheng! Locking you up here was a collective decision made by the Fourth Yama King. Are you rebelling?"

Without lifting his head, Jie Fangcheng continued to break the chains on his wrists and ankles. "It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve rebelled. Keep talking, and I’ll have your head.”

He spoke calmly, not as a threat, but as a statement of fact.

Normally, the Underworld's meetings turned into a forum centered around Jie Fangcheng, yet he had never taken offense, too indifferent to quibble with anyone.

But now, he tore off the chains binding him, approached the door, and kicked it open. The sect-aligned ghost officials near the door recoiled in collective horror.

Jie Fangcheng paid them no mind, quickly determining his direction and vanishing from their sight.

The Underworld was awash in solemn busyness.

News of the Dongyue Divine Lord's death couldn’t be kept secret, witnessed not only by Jie Fangcheng and Xue Li but also by some ghost officials.

With the death of their highest authority, and the killer still unknown, everyone feared a reprise of the great war in the Underworld. Each felt threatened.

As Jie Fangcheng walked by, the ghost officials who recognized him whispered among themselves, evidently "knowing" he was the one who had killed the Dongyue Divine Lord.

After all, they were all aware that his true form had almost fully awakened.

Even if the Dongyue Divine Lord’s power had diminished, he was not someone easily killed by any common means.

At the time, there was nobody else by his side except Jie Fangcheng, who was on the brink of becoming a malevolent spirit. All signs pointed to him as the culprit.

Jie Fangcheng wasn’t bothered. He confidently entered the administration building and took the elevator to the eighteenth floor.

As expected, when he pushed open the conference room door, renowned figures from the Underworld were arguing vehemently inside.

The room fell into an abrupt silence as Jie Fangcheng entered.

Faces held a variety of expressions, but no one seemed particularly surprised by his breaking free from the chains.

However, what was Jie Fangcheng thinking now? He had drawn a sword against Xue Li while still in the mortal realm; was he going to rebel again?

It was Xue Li who broke the silence with a cough, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief before gesturing for Jie Fangcheng to come over.

Jie Fangcheng hesitated for a moment, then sat next to Xue Li, listening silently to the ongoing debates.

The death of the Dongyue Divine Lord had significant, yet not overwhelming, impacts on the Underworld.

When the great Underworld war had just ended, both the Underworld and the mortal realm were in disarray.

The Dongyue Divine Lord left the Underworld to take up his post at the Dongyue Divine Temple. He purified the corrupt energies in the mortal realm, assuming the role of a "deity."

While the four Yama Kings could recover in the Underworld, the Dongyue Divine Lord had little time for rest.

He was already severely injured. Everyone had thought that once the remaining Yama Kings had fully recovered, it would be his turn to rest. But due to their injuries not being fully healed and the heavy workload in the Underworld, things had been dragged on until now.

Although the Dongyue Divine Lord seemed to be the leader of the Underworld on the surface, in reality, the only one under his jurisdiction was Jie Fangcheng.

Back when Jie Fangcheng had just entered the Underworld as a malevolent spirit, none of the Yama Kings dared to take him in. The Dongyue Divine Lord created a separate hall for him, placing him directly under his command.

Although his position was subordinate to the Yama Kings and even ranked lower than the two judges, Zhong and Cui, his unique status, directly under the Dongyue Divine Lord, meant he was only answerable to him, making his movements between realms considerably easier.

With the long-standing absence of the Dongyue Divine Lord from the Underworld, his death left everyone bewildered for a moment before they realized not much had actually changed.

After all, everyone was already accustomed to life without a supreme leader.

At this point, the debate among the crowd had reached its conclusion, currently discussing the situation of the 'Infinite Game.'

Some argued that the game's unique ecosystem shouldn't be judged by universal moral standards.

Others contended that the game was a part of their lives and should be governed by existing rules.

Both sides represented the two major factions within the Underworld, each refusing to yield, leading to heated arguments.

Clearly, this kind of debate wouldn't be settled in a day or two. It would likely take weeks to decide how to deal with the wandering souls emerging from the game.

Though Jie Fangcheng merely sat quietly, the conflagration of debate soon spread to him.

Someone with ill intentions spoke up: "Manager Jie, you were part of this game. What are your thoughts?"

Since entering, Jie Fangcheng had appeared to be lost in thought, unclear about what was on his mind.

Prompted by the question, he finally stood up.

"So, you want to hear from me?" His gaze swept over everyone in the conference room. "A friend of mine died, in part due to this game. Does anyone here have a connection to this game?"

Faces exchanged glances, and for a moment, nobody spoke.

Observing their expressions, Jie Fangcheng calmly scanned each individual.

"If anyone here was involved in the creation of this game," he didn't draw his sword, but shattered the massive conference table in front of him with a single palm strike, "even if they flee to the Divine Realm, I will not spare them!"

Someone finally blurted out, "Jie Fangcheng, you're insufferably arrogant!"

Jie Fangcheng had little interest in their meeting; he glanced at the person who had spoken.

Now that everyone knew he had almost unleashed his true form in the mortal realm, that glance alone made the person involuntarily retreat.

"Is that so? If you’re involved with this game, then you haven’t seen the extent of my arrogance yet."

With that, Jie Fangcheng rose to leave.

He stood quietly at the door, gazing downward.

Hundreds of thousands of souls released from the game were waiting on the Yellow Springs Road. Some who had committed egregious sins in both the game and the mortal realm had already been dispatched to serve sentences in the Eighteenth Hell. The remaining souls were densely packed, cheerfully waiting for their judgment.

For them, even if they were to descend into Hell, it was far better than being caught in the game’s endless cycle of reincarnation.

Some were embracing each other tearfully; these were relatives and close friends who had been separated in the game, finally reunited.

He wondered how Ronghua was doing.

Wei Yuan should be back by now, right? Zhou Dao Wu and the others have probably seen him too?

Only Zhou Dao An probably hasn't returned.

Jie Fangcheng stood at the door for a moment before stepping forward.

Given his current situation, he wasn't particularly inclined to seek out Nie Shuangshuang and the others to witness their heartwarming reunion.

Instead, Jie Fangcheng headed directly to the top floor of the Underworld.

The topmost floor was home to the main section of the Dongyue Divine Temple, as well as the Dongyue Divine Lord's office.

Jie Fangcheng seldom visited; he was lazy and disliked the long elevator ride.

In contrast to the office he had seen in the "Divine Favor" dungeon, the real office of the Dongyue Divine Lord was messy. Papers were piled everywhere, and no one had taken the time to tidy up.

Jie Fangcheng normally hated coming to the office to look through files. This time, however, he found a corner to sit in, scrutinizing the room as if he were a player navigating a dungeon, patiently searching for clues.

Dongyue Divine Lord was dead and even sealed in a coffin.

What was the deal with that abandoned City God Temple? Who killed him?

What was the situation with those five individuals back then? Jie Fangcheng couldn't gauge their power nor see their names.

They couldn't possibly be ordinary mortals; the number of beings, even among the gods in the Divine Realm, capable of withstanding Jie Fangcheng's three sword strikes were few.

If they were from the Divine Realm, chances were they had known identities.

Should he make a trip to the Divine Realm?

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Jie Fangcheng covered his mouth, coughing a few times before looking at his palm—covered in fresh blood.

His condition was really not up to par. Perhaps he should rest a few days and recuperate before going? If a fight was inevitable, better to be prepared.

If only Zhou Dao An were here. Puzzle-solving was Jie Fangcheng's weak point. If Zhou Dao An were around, he would probably have figured out the situation with a mere glance.

Now there's only himself...

Only... himself?

Jie Fangcheng was suddenly reminded of something.

Faced with this sea of diverse materials, if there was anyone in the current Underworld who could quickly find useful clues... who could be more experienced than the players?

As for other intelligent beings in the Underworld, aside from the Qing faction who were at odds with him, Jie Fangcheng was unsure who among the rest might be foes.

Players were different; they were victims of the game, thus making them highly trustworthy.

Especially those people from Rong Hua—

Jie Fangcheng swiftly exited the office and took the elevator straight down to the first floor.

Once outside, he scanned the crowd and noticed, conveniently, that the people from Rong Hua were positioned at the edge of the crowd. There must have been about a thousand players gathered, all of whom had spent time in Rong Hua.

Not only were familiar faces like Wei Yuan, Nie Shuangshuang, and Qi Chanyang present, but also Yan Xiaohua, the friendly ghost, who stood vigilantly among them, attentively watching over the players from Rong Hua.

As soon as Jie Fangcheng appeared, Nie Shuangshuang was the first to spot him.

"Brother Jie!"

Nie Shuangshuang's expression was complex: excitement was there, for she had finally reunited with long-lost friends, but so were disappointment and sorrow.

Seeing Jie Fangcheng now, countless emotions converged into a single phrase from her lips: "Take heart."

Jie Fangcheng smiled and asked, "Do we have anyone particularly good with puzzles? I need some help looking for clues."

Nie Shuangshuang and the others exchanged glances. She quickly pointed out a few players who appeared quite clever, then sighed somewhat despondently.

"If Ying Ying and the guild leader were here, their problem-solving skills would be top-notch."

Jie Fangcheng paused: "They haven't appeared?"

"No," Nie Shuangshuang shook her head. "There are so many people; perhaps they haven't found us yet."

Her words seemed somewhat forced.

From the time Jie Fangcheng had fallen unconscious to now regaining awareness, three or four days had passed. Though the road to the Underworld was crowded, everyone here was a spirit capable of floating as a basic skill.

However, despite being ghosts, most were still accustomed to standing on the ground, thus preventing the aerial space from turning into a kite-flying area.

"Not just the guild leader and Ying Ying; it seems that players who entered the 'Reincarnation Training' dungeon haven't appeared either," observed Qi Chanyang, who was keen-minded. After arriving, he had checked and none of the managerial staff from Rong Hua who died in last year's nationwide dungeon had returned. Others he knew who had entered the 'Reincarnation Training' dungeon were also absent.

What exactly was the 'Reincarnation Training' dungeon? Why did players who entered it seem to vanish?

"This game doesn't appear to be as simple as we thought," Qi Chanyang remarked.

Jie Fangcheng nodded: "Let's walk and talk."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Qi Chanyang hurriedly spoke up: "Brother Jie, there's someone else we should bring along, someone you also know. She's a quick thinker."

Jie Fangcheng instantly knew who he was referring to.

"Gu Shanshan? You've seen her?"

"Yes!" Qi Chanyang's face broke into a relieved smile. "She and Xiaoqin are nearby; I'll go call them over."

Qi Chanyang left swiftly and returned just as quickly, bringing Gu Shanshan and Lu Xiaoqin before Jie Fangcheng.

"Brother Jie!" Lu Xiaoqin was as vivacious as when they first met. Upon seeing Jie Fangcheng, she initially paused, as if surprised by his real appearance, but then immediately burst into a radiant smile. "Thank you, Brother Jie! Dropping your name indeed carries significant weight!"

She was introverted by nature, and after being absorbed into the game as an NPC, she could only be 'sliced' into multiple copies, serving as background cannon fodder in countless Level 1 dungeons. She was a peripheral character in the game.

When the Underworld discovered this infinite game and intervened, peripheral characters like her were among the first to be rescued.

Players didn't retain memories from their time as NPCs. Lu Xiaoqin only felt that she seemed to have died in a Level 1 dungeon named "Blue Mountain Mental Hospital," and then found herself in the Underworld upon opening her eyes.

Faced with the menacing Underworld enforcers around her, Lu Xiaoqin cautiously uttered the name Jie Fangcheng.

While representatives from the reformist faction at the managerial level might disparage Jie Fangcheng daily, lower-ranking enforcers, regardless of faction, were visibly startled at the mention of his name, and their aggressive demeanors markedly softened.

Indeed! Dropping Manager Jie's name truly carries significant weight!

Jie Fangcheng also smiled. With a wave of his hand through the void, he pulled out the bunny-and-carrot headband.

"This belongs to you."

Lu Xiaoqin paused, then gratefully accepted the headband with a smile.

Qi Chanyang had already mentioned on the way that Jie Fangcheng seemed to need people who were skilled in finding clues and solving puzzles. Upon her arrival, Gu Shanshan quickly perceived that something seemed off in the atmosphere of the Underworld.

"Has something big happened?"

Clearly, the news of the "demise of the Underworld's leader" wasn't suitable for public dissemination. Leading the way, Jie Fangcheng explained the current situation to those walking alongside him as they moved forward.

The basic structure of the Underworld, the Great Underworld War, the Heavenly Realm, the death of Dongyue God… and even the white light aimed at Jie Fangcheng that was intercepted by Zhang Daoan.

Behind all these events, there seemed to be a guiding hand, directing everyone toward their destined paths.

Gu Shanshan's brows furrowed.

She seemed to want to say something but hesitated, holding back her words for the moment.

With a long string of wandering souls trailing behind him, Jie Fangcheng proceeded into the main office building of the Underworld. Normally, someone would have jumped out to reprimand him, but given the current tension, no one dared to obstruct his path.

Everyone calmly arrived at the top floor, where a few players started skilfully searching for clues. Finally, Gu Shanshan spoke softly.

"Brother Jie, don't you think… those five individuals seemed like 'players'?"

Jie Fangcheng paused, then nodded.

Deep down, he had similar suspicions, but even if they were players, like Ji Chaoyang, everything about them—their equipment, personal skills, and so on—should also be made up of Yin energy.

But with those five, not only could he not gauge their abilities, but he also couldn't see their names. It was strange.

"What if," Gu Shanshan paused before continuing, "what if… the world we are in is itself a dungeon?"

Jie Fangcheng looked up abruptly.

Gu Shanshan had only a few clues to go on; she could only speculate.

"Five mysterious individuals with considerable strength, one of whom even resembles an elf, and whose names you can't even see... It's very likely," Gu Shanshan said, her mind racing. "Based on what you've said, Brother Jie, the game was created by a programmer from the Underworld who stole the Book of Life and Death. An outsourced programmer could not have possibly taken such a critical artifact without getting caught for so long. There must be someone high-ranking behind him."

As she spoke, Gu Shanshan pulled out a piece of paper from nowhere and began jotting down notes and sketches.

"What we do know is that ordinary human souls contain a small amount of Yin energy and some possess 'meritorious golden light,' also in limited amounts. Fifteen hundred years ago, an enforcer from the Underworld exploited his powers to steal this meritorious golden light from human souls and also aided the Heavenly Realm, altering people's fates. After that, enforcers' powers were severely restricted. Dongyue God infused the Book of Life and Death with sentience to prevent it from being easily manipulated. This means that the game's creator is not just a common enforcer; he must be someone with a name and reputation."

Gu Shanshan continued to narrow down the possibilities. "You also said, Brother Jie, that this game exists within the cognitive space of beings at least at the level of the Ten Kings of Hell. I have a speculation: of the four still alive after the Great War, three sealed away, and three completely eradicated—could the game possibly exist within the cognitive space of those three who are sealed?"

Jie Fangcheng shook his head, "Unlikely. Those three are currently exiled at the bottom of the Eighteenth Level of Hell, an area fundamentally different from the Three Realms. It's a chaotic space where even I would struggle to survive. To access it, Dongyue God himself has to go there. It's uncertain whether they are alive or dead, so it's unlikely they had the opportunity to steal the Book of Life and Death and create this horrific game."

Gu Shanshan paused before continuing, "Perhaps... they didn't steal it, but were implanted with this game?"

Jie Fangcheng looked at her and shook his head again. "I get your point; you suspect Dongyue God might be behind this. But it's truly impossible. You don't know him. During the great war between the Heavenly Realm and the Underworld, he could have avoided getting gravely injured. However, he chose to transform into a rock to prevent gods from waging war in the mortal realm. He would risk his life to protect the human world. This game is draining people's goodness to turn them into evil spirits. If he knew about it, he would be the first to strike down its creator."

Gu Shanshan put down her pen.

The speculations ended here.

"It seems... we really need to find more clues to understand the true nature of this game," she paused, "By the way, Brother Jie, could there be any clues in the Book of Life and Death?"

Triggered by her reminder, Jie Fangcheng's brain, which had seemed to halt entirely since Zhang Daoan's death, began to churn again.

The Book of Life and Death... Of course!

It's the energy source that sustains the game; there might be clues there.

Jie Fangcheng immediately stood up.

"Stay here and don't wander off. I'll be right back."

With that, he opened the door and headed straight for the Eighteenth Level.

His timing was impeccable. A meeting had just ended, and a crowd was exiting, still bickering among themselves.

Seeing Jie Fangcheng, one side appeared somewhat intimidated while the other, led by Xue Li, seemed more at ease.

"Manager Jie, what brings you here?"

Jie Fangcheng was straightforward, "Where is the Book of Life and Death?"

Xue Li hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately sighed.

"Come with me."

Leading the way, they quickly arrived at a storage room on the first floor.

Jie Fangcheng had a growing sense of foreboding.

Xue Li quickly took a palm-sized book wrapped in plastic off a shelf.

It could hardly be called a book anymore, as only a thin layer of its cover remained.

"This game is strange. After we discovered it, we organized a team to dismantle it. By the time we found the Book of Life and Death, it had already transformed into this state."

The Book of Life and Death, having been refined over many years, can nurture its own spirits.

But in a place like the underworld, nurturing spirits is unrealistic. After all, it's the homeland of all sorts of demons and spirits. How could this book possibly come to life?

Now the book has completely lost all its spiritual energy; in Xie Fangcheng's hands, it's just an ordinary book cover.

The absence of the Book of Life and Death is a major event for the mortal world.

But Xue Li doesn't seem overly concerned. Seeing Xie Fangcheng's expression, he quickly understands.

"Right, Manager Xie, you never really paid attention during meetings... the Book of Life and Death hasn't been accurate for quite some time now."

"What?"

Xue Li let out a wry smile: "The pace of development in the mortal world is too fast. We usually judge someone's fate—whether they should live or die—based on destiny. But advancements in human technology have allowed those who should have died to survive. Organ transplants, electronic hearts, and so on. There have even been instances of divine thunderbolts being deflected by lightning rods. Moreover, it's increasingly difficult to gain power from mortal faith, leading to a weakening of divine power in our realm. This has had an impact on the Book of Life and Death, a celestial artifact. That's why we're rushing to develop an app for self-guided reincarnation, to mitigate any inaccuracies in the Book. You're probably unaware of this since you don't attend meetings."

Jie Fangcheng, with his focus solely on martial prowess, rarely engaged in discussions about rules and regulations. He was indeed uninformed.

Holding the thin "Book of Life and Death," Jie Fangcheng paused, "I'll take this with me for now and return it later."

The Book of Life and Death was already in such a state, one could say it was as good as dead. Taking it wouldn't make much of a difference.

Xue Li watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but call out to him.

"Manager Jie... Death is irreversible. Take care."

For those in the underworld, life and death are mundane matters. The departure of Dongyue God barely made a ripple, even for an old colleague like Xue Li who has seen life and death countless times.

Humans die, and upon death, they go through the cycle of reincarnation in the underworld.

Gods too can fall, becoming nutrients between Heaven and Earth.

The underworld is no different.

The grim reapers come and go, and after many years of service, hardly anyone in the underworld mourns someone's departure.

Jie Fangcheng is a bit different. Compared to being a grim reaper, he is more like a "human." He possesses an abundance of emotions, befriends wandering souls, and shields malevolent spirits that should not have died.

Now, he nearly walked a path of no return because of the death of a friend—something others in the underworld would never do.

Facing Xue Li's consolation, Jie Fangcheng simply nodded, then took the all-but-dead Book of Life and Death back to the top floor.

Along the way, Jie Fangcheng was engrossed in examining the Book. Suddenly, the white Recall Fish, which had been dormant in his mental space, swam out and circled around the Book in his hand.

Jie Fangcheng paused, cautiously opening the plastic bag that wrapped the Book.

As soon as he opened it, the Recall Fish darted in and disappeared as if plunging into an ocean.

The Book of Life and Death, now only a cover, seemed to swell slightly, as if it had been filled.

Jie Fangcheng flipped it open and found several new blank pages inside—void of any names.

What is this?

Is this fish the Book of Life and Death?

Upon reflection, the fish's appearance had always been peculiar.

It had suddenly emerged in the "Divine Favored" instance, becoming a valuable assistant to Zhen Dao'an.

Could it be that something had gone wrong with the Book of Life and Death back then? What's the deeper story here?

Clearly, these were questions Jie Fangcheng couldn't answer at the moment. Holding the book, he returned to the top-floor office.

As soon as he opened the door, Gu Shanshan immediately greeted him.

"Jie, we've made a small discovery!"

Gu Shanshan and her fellow players were indeed experts at finding clues. Amidst a sea of documents and miscellaneous papers, they had managed to find a lead.

"Look at this... Lang Gu was previously punished for dereliction of duty—he let a malevolent spirit, who was supposed to be punished, escape. He was confined for over a decade."

This happened after the Great Underworld War when the regulations became stringent. Lang Gu's 'mistake' might have been pardonable in the past, but back then, it led to his immediate imprisonment.

Everyone makes mistakes, but after quickly scanning the document, Jie Fangcheng made a connection.

The location where Lang Gu had let the malevolent spirit escape matched the village where Lang Gu had lived when he was alive.

To uncover the connection between them, Jie Fangcheng took out his Underworld-specific smartphone, scanned the QR code on Lang Gu's personal profile, then scanned the code associated with the malevolent spirit's case. The information instantly appeared on the phone.

After reading about the malevolent spirit's life, Jie Fangcheng quickly grasped the meaning of Lang Gu's words back then.

In his past life, the malevolent spirit had been possessed by evil entities and had committed numerous misdeeds beyond his control.

However, he didn't give in. He managed to regain control over his own body, but the sins he had committed still became his karmic obstacles, attracting the pursuit of underworld enforcers.

At the time, Lang Gu was a newly appointed judge, and the malevolent spirit was from his hometown. Moreover, the spirit's karmic troubles had arisen under such special circumstances.

Lang Gu, in a moment of soft-heartedness, allowed the spirit to escape and reincarnate.

Unfortunately, Lang Gu was not Jie Fangcheng. If Jie had chosen to let the spirit go, he might at most receive some scolding from the conservative faction during meetings, while others would largely keep their opinions to themselves, considering his status and abilities.

But Lang Gu was just a newly appointed judge.

Consequently, he was imprisoned, and the spirit he sought to protect was recaptured and subjected to even harsher punishments than initially intended.

Was it from that point on that Lang Gu started having different thoughts?

Gu Shanshan also found it excessive, "Isn't the Underworld's way of doing things a bit too straightforward and harsh?"

"Although the malevolent spirit bore karmic burdens, those were inflicted on him when he was possessed. It wasn't his own doing. Should the blame really fall on this person, who is also a victim?"

"Calling it straightforward and harsh is being generous—this is downright recklessness!"

Jie Fangcheng offered no defense.

Compared to Gu Shanshan, he certainly had a better understanding of the Underworld's modus operandi.

"Are there any more clues?"

Gu Shanshan nodded, taking a deep breath.

"I fear my speculation is accurate... Our reality is very likely a 'sub-level'."