GB Chapter 22

Bi Qianren chose to settle down in Jiangdu initially to have Zhuge Qingtian’s soul transcended by the Celestial Master Sect. He never expected that this person would actually be a newly born ghost god, incapable of being transcended even by Ling Sui Daoren’s cultivation. This put him in a dilemma. His trip to the polar region was intended to comprehend the path of solitude, but if he brought Zhuge Qingtian along, with that person’s enthusiasm, even the perpetually icy polar region would likely become lively. However, leaving him behind unattended made him hesitant, imagining the look on his face when he woke up.

Before the annihilation of the Bliss Palace, Qianren always concealed his demonic energy with poison. He Huan also forbade any palace disciples from disturbing him. Therefore, people in the martial world only thought he was a master of poison. While wary, they weren’t as desperately avoiding him as they are now. It wasn’t until He Huan returned to the righteous path that Qianren was forced to face experts in the Demonic Cult’s infighting. After many battles, his secret was exposed. The righteous path, feeling suspicious, investigated and discovered that this Demonic Cult Protector was a child He Huan picked up from the demonic pool.

This demonic pool was located in the Realm of the End of the World, the place where the former Demon Lord perished. Because it was tainted by the Demon Lord’s demonic energy, it was barren. Ordinary cultivators, if they entered, would be reduced to bones by the miasma within a day. It was unknown what means He Huan used to retreat from that place unharmed, and even bring out a baby.

That Demon Lord was a ruthless figure who had once wreaked havoc upon the world, forcing immortals to descend to quell the chaos. Naturally, a child connected to him wouldn’t be a good sort. People had many speculations about Qianren’s identity. Some said he was the Demon Lord reborn, others said he was the Demon Lord’s son, and some even asserted he was a living demonic weapon created by the Demon Lord to destroy the human world. Otherwise, how could a devil like He Huan have been so kind to adopt a disciple covered in poison?

After the righteous path discovered Qianren’s demonic energy, the Heavenly Path Alliance sent people to inquire about the matter with He Huan. According to their way of thinking, since this fellow returned to the righteous path, he shouldn’t refuse to answer the Heavenly Path Alliance’s questions. In the end, He Huan indeed cooperated quite well. He took out pen and paper on the spot and said, “I have a plan. To prevent the devil from harming the world, someone must monitor him day and night. Therefore, my disciple still doesn’t have a cultivation partner. Those interested in applying, please line up and leave your contact information and name, regardless of gender. Even demon cultivators are welcome.”

Although his expression was very serious and earnest, and his tone was quite grand, the righteous cultivators present still decisively ignored his words and flew straight back to their respective sects. They were joking; not to mention that people in their fifties had no interest in having a relationship with a demonic cultivator, even if they were willing to sacrifice themselves, the Demonic Cult Protector’s blood could not be withstood by even a Nascent Soul cultivator. Having a relationship with him was no different from courting death.

After this incident, the Heavenly Path Alliance only confirmed two things: first, the devil Qianren was looking for a cultivation partner, and second, they would all jump off a cliff if they held any serious expectations towards He Huan. So, they distributed Qianren’s portraits to all the disciples of their sects, repeatedly warning them to avoid this devil, and then, they unanimously funded a new wave of increases to He Huan’s bounty in the martial world.

In this way, Qianren became a notorious devil known throughout the martial world. Rumors about him also became more and more mysterious, to the point where the news that even touching him would mean death was spread around. Even the Demonic Cult disciples didn’t dare to have close contact with him. After forty years of living alone, Zhuge Qingtian was the first person willing to approach him.

The rumors in the martial world were always exaggerated, but it was a fact that Qianren’s demonic energy was dangerous. He himself didn’t know what consequences there would be if he had a cultivation partner, and after his prime, he stopped thinking about such things, developing his current desireless nature. Qianren had experienced many storms in life, so he naturally understood that Zhuge Qingtian was not in love with him; he was just lonely and wanted someone to be with him. He knew what it was like to live in the world alone. Although he was used to it due to helplessness, he didn’t want Zhuge Qingtian to live like him. Just like the youth had said, such a life was too boring.

He glanced at Zhuge Qingtian, who was absorbed in examining an ancient painting on the table. He finally only sighed. He would teach him some more things. Once this person learned to control the power of a ghost god, he would naturally have many companions. By then, he wouldn’t need him anymore.

Although Chou Fugui was a bit foolish, he was also kind. Even though Mo Pan hadn’t taken away the evil ghost, he still sent several ancient paintings to the Celestial Master Mansion as a reward the next day. Cultivators had very long lives and were not interested in these antiques. Finally, Zhuge Qingtian, who happened to see them, asked to have them for amusement. Strangely enough, Zhuge Qingtian had no memory of learning how to paint, but when he looked at these famous paintings, his first reaction was that they weren’t drawn well, as if he could paint better. Thinking this, he couldn’t help but murmur to himself, could he have been a painter before?

Thinking this way, he opened another painting. Unlike the previous landscape painting, this one depicted a red-clad man flying through the clouds, holding a jade ruyi. Although only his side profile was visible, he gave off a feeling of joy and spring breeze. Zhuge Qingtian was stunned at the sight of this man. Something seemed to flash in his mind, but he couldn’t remember the details. He only murmured, “I seem to have seen this person before.”

This was the first time he had encountered an object related to his past. Qianren couldn’t help but step forward to take a look. Just as he was about to speak, Ling Sui Daoren appeared out of nowhere. After glancing at the portrait, he said, “This is the God of Welcoming Joy. There was a time when people in the Jiangnan region worshipped him as a god of good fortune. This is probably a painting left over from that time.”

The God of Welcoming Joy’s features were very distinctive, but it was surprising that this ghost god with a mysterious past was actually related to Zhuge Qingtian. Qianren asked, “Can you remember what relationship you have with him?”

However, the only response he received was the youth’s bewildered gaze. “I don’t remember, I just feel familiar.”

Ling Sui Daoren’s appearance was naturally not just for admiring paintings with them. Seeing the two talking about the God of Welcoming Joy, he took the opportunity to speak, “Every year during the Zhong Yuan Festival, the Wanguishu Academy gathers all the ghosts in the world to select a ghost emperor. During that time, both the Gods of Joy and Lamentation will be present. Great Protector, if you wish to investigate his identity, perhaps you could make a trip there.”

Qianren had heard of the tradition of the Wanguishu Academy selecting an emperor during the Zhong Yuan Festival. It was already the end of June, and not long until July 15th. He didn’t think Ling Sui Daoren was just mentioning this casually. He only raised his eyes and said, “I remember that living people are not allowed to enter the Ghost Domain.”

To this, Ling Sui Daoren said earnestly, “You are a family member of a ghost god, you can go through the back door.”

“As a leader of the righteous path, is it appropriate for you to say such a thing?”

Faced with Qianren’s contempt, the old Taoist retrieved his status as a senior of the righteous path. He coughed and said seriously, “Alright, I received information that the situation in the Ghost Domain is a bit strange this time, as if a storm is about to occur. However, righteous cultivators would be too conspicuous among the ghosts. Please go and take a look, Great Protector.”

To ghosts, the righteous energy of righteous cultivators was as bright as a bonfire in the dark. Even if their cultivation was very high, they would be discovered. But Qianren, who had demonic energy within him, was different. As long as he released his demonic energy, the other party wouldn’t be able to tell if he was alive or not. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to blend in. However, he didn’t feel he had an obligation to investigate the Ghost Domain for the righteous path. “Why should I, a demonic cultivator, agree to your request?”

Ling Sui Daoren, of course, knew their different stances, so he chose to threaten him verbally, “Because if you don’t go, I will inform the Great Elders of your sect of your whereabouts.”

Such a tone of ‘I will go to your parents’ had no real intimidation, but considering the annoyance of the elders, and the image of the Great Elders and Zhuge Qingtian chattering in his ears at the same time, was indeed a terrifying prospect, Qianren couldn’t help but darken his face. “Why would you, a leader of the righteous path, have the contact information of the Demonic Cult elders?”

After a painful look at him, Ling Sui Daoren just said earnestly, “Believe me, if he didn’t send a challenge letter to the Celestial Master Mansion every month, I wouldn’t want to remember that old rascal’s address either.”

As someone who had also been cared for by the Great Elders, Qianren very much understood his inner pain. Thinking that Wanguishu Academy was a place where ghosts gathered and that it wouldn’t be bad to place Zhuge Qingtian there, he said flatly, “Prepare a spirit ship, tomorrow I’ll throw him into Wanguishu Academy. We can discuss the reward later.”

Seeing that he agreed, Ling Sui Daoren immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that the Sword Sovereign’s disciple was truly different from other demonic cultivators. He then smiled at them and said, “Then I’ll have to trouble the Great Protector. When you return, the Celestial Master Mansion will surely present a thank-you gift.”

The two old foxes settled the trip after some haggling, but Zhuge Qingtian hadn’t really understood, he only knew that they were going to a place called Wanguishu Academy, and was immediately stunned—what was he going to do if his wife wanted him to go to school? Who would tell him what ghosts studied in the academy? How was he supposed to pretend to be a good student?

The author has something to say:

Qianren: It’s better to send this ghost who only thinks about love all day to study.

Author: But you are the family member accompanying him to study.

Zhuge Qingtian: What should I do? I’ve never been to a ghost academy, I don’t even have textbooks!

He Ku: Don’t panic, let’s do a paper to calm down.