GB Chapter 53

Zhuge Qingtian was a top cultivator in his previous life, so after becoming a Ghost God, his understanding of his own power far surpassed the God of Lamentation and the God of Joy, who were not good at cultivation. He discovered that the common belief in the cultivation world that Ghost Gods were equivalent to cultivators who had transcended the tribulation was actually wrong.

Unlike cultivators whose true qi stabilizes in their bodies upon advancement, a Ghost God’s power depends on their Sha Qi, which determines the upper limit of their abilities. In reality, a Ghost God’s power fluctuates with their emotions at every moment. It’s just that, after experiencing many changes, the God of Lamentation and the God of Joy have long since become incapable of feeling strong joy or sorrow.

Unlike them, Zhuge Qingtian, having kept Zhao Huai’an’s memories sealed, still felt like the past events had just occurred, even after a hundred years. Adding to that the fact he was going through the special period of his first heartfelt affection for someone, his emotions fluctuated constantly. His cultivation level jumped back and forth between the Golden Core and Transcending Tribulation stages. Lüling observed the changes in the density of the blood ink around him and actually found a rhythm to it, which was a unique occurrence in the Ghost Domain.

Of course, Zhuge Qingtian wasn’t worried about his unstable power at all because, this way, he could justifiably ask Qian Ren to carry him while flying! What use was powerful Sha Qi? It was much better to leisurely enjoy the scenery with one’s beloved’s arms around his neck. Could other Ghost Gods do that?

Contentedly leaning against Qian Ren’s chest, the Sha Qi surrounding this irresponsible Ghost God weakened a bit, and he immediately rejoiced, “Master, I’ve become weak again, you must hold me tight!”

“I really want to throw you down.”

Speechless, Qian Ren watched him. Zhuge Qingtian’s behavior that redefined his understanding of things had not stopped. He had never seen anyone so happy about weakening.

Despite the teasing, Zhuge Qingtian’s eagerness to obtain a physical body hadn’t diminished. The thunderclouds here, although swirling, were far less powerful than the Heavenly Tribulation’s thunder. With Qian Ren’s cultivation level, it wouldn’t be difficult to fly past the cloud layers. However, the higher one went, the greater the strain on a cultivator’s physical body, and only cultivators at the Transcending Tribulation stage could reach the top of the sky. It was said that the Immortal and Mortal realms were separated by Heavenly Thunder, and cultivators who passed through the thunder layers at the top of the clouds could break through the void and ascend to become Immortals.

Although Qian Ren’s demonic energy was powerful, it was still not enough to transcend the tribulation. Zhuge Qingtian recalled that Lüling was a spirit born from the resentment of cultivators who died under the Heavenly Tribulation. Since this was his birthplace, it was likely that many Heavenly Tribulations had descended here. He couldn’t help but worry, “Master, are you sure there will be Underworld Soil here?”

He was originally worried about Qian Ren, but unexpectedly, Lüling, who had been following them, answered eagerly, “Impossible, there’s nothing here but thunderclouds.”

Lüling was born with the ability to control thunder, so he was definitely right. However, Zhuge Qingtian just rolled his eyes at the spirit and then said to Qian Ren, “If I remember correctly, the Demon Lord’s place of death should be an island. It’s been sixty-eight years, does Grand Master really remember the route?”

Perhaps the pressure of flying in the high altitudes was too great, because Qian Ren hadn’t said much since reaching the cloud layers. Zhuge Qingtian couldn’t sense the surrounding environment himself, and could only test his situation through words. Unfortunately, Lüling completely missed the point of his worries. Seeing that there was finally a topic he could join, he immediately said happily, “Ask me! I’ve been to all the islands around here.”

Ask you? And then be led by you to Xiaoyu Mountain to find the Ghost Goddess? Don’t hide it, your eyes have completely betrayed your inner plan!

He could understand the desire to get married, but it was too much to bother others to be matchmakers just to get a wife! Did this old spirit not know that interrupting someone’s flirting could get one kicked by a horse? It was just because there was someone watching that Master was too embarrassed to tease him!

Gritting his teeth at this stumbling block who had taken over all his questions, Zhuge Qingtian finally asked from the bottom of his heart: “Exactly how long are you planning to follow us?”

“I don’t know why, but as soon as I saw you two, I had a feeling that maybe this person could save me.”

Spirits weren’t as complex in mind as humans, Lüling’s intention to abduct a new Ghost God and break the Ghost Goddess’s formation was extremely obvious. Or rather, if his level of concealment could even be considered a scheme, then it would just lower the bar for all conspiracies in the world. In terms of concealing thoughts, Zhuge Qingtian was many times Lüling’s ancestor, so he naturally saw through the other’s intentions at a glance. He bluntly stated: “Don’t think I don’t know, you said the same thing to the God of Lamentation and the God of Joy back then.”

However, since spirits didn’t have the complicated minds of humans, they naturally didn’t have the thick skin of an expert either. Without even the slightest hesitation, Lüling changed his tune, “I was just tricking them before, but this time it’s absolutely from the bottom of my heart.”

Silently watching the old spirit who had completely gone all out in his pursuit of beauty, Zhuge Qingtian felt a shared impulse with Zhao Jicheng for the first time in his life— could he throw this guy into the Heavenly Prison?

Although Lüling had no life goal other than the Ghost Goddess and joining in on the fun, he was indeed old enough, and he had explored the entire sea area in the past few hundred years. Therefore, his claim that there were no islands above the cloud layer could be believed. After all, with this spirit’s strange persistence towards boring events, Zhuge Qingtian had no doubt that he could fly over the entire sky above the sea.

Since joining actions with Zhuge Qingtian, Qian Ren had become accustomed to finding the main point of conversations himself. This time was no different. His silence wasn’t because he was uncomfortable; on the contrary, since entering the thunder domain, the demonic blood in his body had become increasingly excited, even giving him the illusion that this demonic energy wanted to burst out of his body.

Such a situation had never occurred before. It was undoubtedly related to the Demon Lord. However, since all that was visible was a vast expanse of clouds, and unable to find any answers, Qian Ren decided to take a risk. He set Zhuge Qingtian down and said to the two clowns, “I’m going to release my demonic blood. Stay far away from me.”

Now that the demonic blood was overly excited, Qian Ren wasn’t sure if he could still control it. After putting some distance between himself and the two ghosts, who the demonic blood considered nourishment, he took out a dagger and slashed his palm. Then, like a creature breaking out of prison, pure black liquid poured out of the wound, gathering into a large mass in just a moment.

Qian Ren hadn’t bled this much since joining the Demonic Cult. His face was somewhat pale. Zhuge Qingtian felt a pang in his heart as he watched. Disregarding his pretense of weakness, he fully activated his Ghost God power and rushed over in worry, “You were too ruthless with your cut! Is this amount of blood loss really okay?”

In the past, the demonic blood seemed reluctant to leave Qian Ren’s body, unless someone injured him, they would never leave on their own. It was the first time that such a situation had occurred. Qian Ren knew that it was because there was something here that attracted them more than him. No matter how he thought about it, the only possibility was the Demon Lord, who was the original owner of the demonic blood.

The demonic blood never hid its desire to devour Zhuge Qingtian, yet now it was completely ignoring the approaching Ghost God, spreading out to the north instead. If they wanted to find the Demon Lord’s remains, the demonic blood was the best guide. Although Qian Ren didn’t know what his connection with that world-destroying demon was, his eyes darkened and he followed after it, but not before solemnly instructing Zhuge Qingtian: “Demonic energy is harmless to me. If something goes wrong, you run.”

During his days in the Demonic Cult, Qian Ren had investigated the demonic blood in his body many times. However, no matter how many ancient texts he consulted, its origins remained as mysterious as the Demon Lord’s. Before the Purple Cloud Sect was destroyed, no sect had any records of the Demon Lord. It was as if this person had appeared out of thin air. Yet, from the day of his appearance, the Demon Lord was recognized to have a cultivation level above the Transcending Tribulation stage. No matter how secretive he was, such a person shouldn’t have been completely unknown.

He Huan had proposed the possibility of a great power from outside of their realm breaking through the void, such as the existence of Demon or Monster realms outside the human realm. However, he had dismissed this theory himself. If such a thing existed, the Xuan Sects, who received inheritance from Immortals, shouldn’t have no knowledge of it. By observing his disciple Qian Ren, he was able to confirm that although the demonic blood was unusually effective, its essence still belonged to a form of true qi. Or rather, it was closer to the chaotic true qi of a demonic cultivator who was going through Qi deviation.

The Demon Lord’s past was a mystery to all cultivators. Even the Tian Shu Pavilion, which inherited his ideology, had no information about it. Zhuge Qingtian was certain that even Yu Qing, who was madly infatuated with the Demon Lord, didn’t know his real name. The most terrifying opponent was an unknown enemy. He knew that Qian Ren had no confidence in whether he could retreat unscathed. Although he didn’t respond, he had made up his mind that if anything happened to Qian Ren, he would not live alone.

They focused all of their attention on tracking the demonic blood. However, Lüling, who was following behind, looked a bit dazed. The more he looked at the pure black blood, the more familiar it seemed. Subconsciously, he said, “This blood, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before?”

Hearing this, Zhuge Qingtian remembered that although the exact time of his appearance was uncertain, it was certain that someone had seen his tracks around the time the Demon Lord fell. The Demon Lord had been staying overseas before he died for some unknown reason, and it was possible that Lüling had seen him.

Thinking that, he felt that this old spirit, although annoying, was very useful. He quickly put on a smile and asked, “Senior Lüling, with your long and boring life, no, your broad knowledge, you must know something, right?”

After bothering these two for so long, he finally heard someone call him senior. Lüling instantly felt a sense of accomplishment. However, spirits were always straightforward, so he just said what he thought, “It’s very familiar, but I don’t remember.”

Could he beat this old spirit up?

His mouth twitched. Zhuge Qingtian felt that this guy was playing with him no matter how he looked at it. However, he glanced at Qian Ren, whose face was becoming paler from the loss of the demonic blood, and finally, he threw out a condition, “As long as you remember, I will accompany you to find the Ghost Goddess.”

“Wait, the power of love will definitely awaken my memory!”

The image of a woman as beautiful as an Immortal flashed through his mind. Lüling had indeed found motivation. He tried hard to search his memories. He was certain that he had seen this blood before, and there should have been quite a lot of it. Where was it?

Author’s note:

Lüling: Why do these Ghost Gods always want to chase me away?

Zhuge Qingtian: Why do you always have to be a lightbulb with a thunder cloud on your head when others are having a romantic time?

Lüling: Because it’s more lively with more people!

Zhuge Qingtian: Oh, you win.

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