IS Chapter 65
by VolareFirst, there were ignorant ghosts wandering aimlessly, then vengeful and malevolent spirits with rudimentary cultivation, and finally, various Yin and evil entities nourished by ghostly energy. Among them were some things Feng Jiang desired.
Occasionally, he would step into strange lands, encountering a few immortal sect disciples focused on comprehending the principles of life and death. Ye Zhuo simply passed by, not joining them.
He had no fear of life and death, thus had nothing to comprehend.
Sometimes he would hear sounds of fighting, where sects were encountering ghostly creatures in fierce battles.
If he felt they could handle it, Ye Zhuo would pass by directly, continuing his journey. If he saw them struggling to hold on, and further fighting would result in casualties, he would unleash one or two sword strikes to slay the ghostly creature.
Midway, entrusted by Grand Mountain Sect Elder Pu Xuan Hui, he did some shady deeds that satisfied Elder Pu and sent him on his way.
Unknowingly, nearly ten days had passed.
The Dao Sect had previously stated that if they wanted to go to the Ghost Realm, they had to reach the end of the Void Realm within twenty days.
That meant ten days of travel, and another ten days to seek their own opportunities.
If they didn’t want to go to the Ghost Realm, they could stay in the Void Realm indefinitely.
This place, being a transitional zone between the human and ghost realms, was no longer of much use to Ye Zhuo. He was simply looking for medicinal herbs.
Before departure, Feng Jiang had given each of them a long list, with pictures and descriptions of habits. They could actually find similar plants in the Void Realm.
Ye Zhuo plucked a pale,Epiphyllum-like flower from a dead tree, placing it in a locust wood box capable of storing Yin energy.
This flower matched the pattern, said to be called Ghost Polo, a good medicine to counteract Yang-fiery poison.
This description matched the feeling the flower gave him, proving the accuracy of the ancient books and secret records Feng Jiang possessed, not mere fabrications.
In other words, thousands of years ago, the human realm had detailed knowledge of this Void Realm between life and death. People like them had entered this realm, for reasons unknown.
However, this was something Wei Sheng Xian should consider. Ye Zhuo simply focused on gathering herbs.
Among the items on the list, the one Feng Jiang wanted most, and instructed them to find at all costs, was a rare flower called “Eight Divisions Reincarnation.”
“If we can find it, Ah Zhou might completely awaken,” Feng Jiang had said.
Ling Ming also said, “Eight Divisions Reincarnation” was located between the human and ghost realms, within the Void Realm.
There were no other clues.
Time was still ample, and even if he couldn’t find it, the other two were not useless, and wouldn’t return empty-handed.
Ye Zhuo put away the Ghost Polo and continued searching.
Since it was a “rare flower,” it would grow in a peculiar place. Along the way, Ye Zhuo went to places with dangerous and strange auras.
Now, he was heading to the deep, winding mountain range in the northwest.
Before entering, he heard a crisp child’s voice.
“Heavenly Dao gives you life, do not stray into delusion, return!”
A golden light suddenly shone, someone had cast a subtle talisman.
The talisman entered a ghostly white shadow.
The white shadow emitted a silent scream, then vanished with a “chi” sound, as if thrown into boiling iron water.
Ye Zhuo watched this scene.
The one who cast the talisman was a little Daoist in blue robes, looking no more than eleven or twelve years old.
Immortal disciples possessed wisdom and spiritual bodies. If they were born into an immortal sect, they would appear to grow faster than ordinary children. Looking eleven or twelve, they might only be six or seven years old.
Observing his demeanor and posture, he was far more intelligent and graceful than the stubborn Daoists beside Wei Sheng Xian.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Lord,” the little Daoist muttered, watching the ghost completely dissipate, “This poor Daoist has accumulated another virtue.”
Having said that, his eyes turned to another, similarly wandering white shadow ghost.
“Return!” Another talisman was cast.
That ghost also vanished.
“What are you doing?” Ye Zhuo asked.
The little Daoist suddenly heard a voice, but wasn’t startled. He looked in his direction and bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Dao friend, this poor Daoist is liberating wandering souls.”
“Really?” Ye Zhuo recalled the talisman. From any angle, it looked like it was annihilating them.
The little Daoist said seriously, “They have just died. Dissipating them at this time allows them to transform into Heaven and Earth Yuanqi, returning to the human realm’s Heavenly Dao. Otherwise, they can only be ghosts for life, which this poor Daoist cannot bear.”
Ye Zhuo, “I see.”
This child was very wise.
The little Daoist said, “If Dao friend wishes to join, I will pass the talisman to you, and we can liberate them together.”
Ye Zhuo, “Then do you know any spells that can send ghosts back to the human realm, allowing them to revive in their corpses?”
“Disturbing the laws of life and death, that is a treacherous and evil art! My Hongmeng Sect will not use it! All orthodox immortal sects would not do such a thing.”
Ye Zhuo looked at the little Daoist.
Blue Daoist robes, indeed the usual attire of the Hongmeng Sect.
He had seen this little Daoist, being led by the Hongmeng Sect Leader when entering the ghost gate.
Ye Zhuo, “Your sect is inside the mountain?”
The little Daoist seemed disappointed, “No.”
Since they weren’t, he would go in to gather herbs.
Although, even if they were, he would still go straight in.
Just as Ye Zhuo was about to step into the mountain, he saw a figure in green robes hurriedly approaching.
“Little Daoist Xin Ge? So you were here. I thought I had lost you again,” that person said.
This person had gentle and handsome features, his long hair loosely tied behind his head. His tone was also gentle, and although his cultivation was high, he didn’t seem to possess much martial power.
“Dao Friend Lin, I am liberating wandering souls, hence I am here,” the little Daoist said.
“There are so many wandering souls in the Void Realm, when will you finish liberating them one by one? Little Daoist, come back to the mountain with me first. The resentment here is too heavy, how can we be at ease with you wandering alone.”
“The immortal Dao values life, and immeasurably helps people. With wandering souls here, how can this poor Daoist stand idly by? Besides, this poor Daoist is not wandering alone,” the little Daoist gestured in Ye Zhuo’s direction, “This Dao friend shares my aspirations, and is discussing the Dao with me.”
The newcomer, called “Dao Friend Lin,” had naturally noticed Ye Zhuo long ago.
Such a radiant person standing in the vast Void Realm was like a pearl in a dark room; it would be strange not to see him.
“Second Palace Master Ye, I have long admired you,” he said, “I am Lin Zhu from the Dan Ding Sect, and this is Hongmeng Sect Leader’s beloved disciple, Little Daoist Shen Xin Ge. He was separated from the Hongmeng Sect earlier and was found by me, so he is temporarily traveling with us.”
Dan Ding Sect Leader Lin Zhu, a medical cultivator.
Feng Jiang had once discussed this person, saying that his medical skills were excellent, capable of reviving the dead and regenerating bones, but he was not good at refining pills.
It was said that he once tried to refine a pill in a realm secret ground, but the explosion shattered the pill furnace and attracted countless demons. In the end, Hongmeng Sect Leader Shen Jingzhen heard the commotion and came to his rescue, allowing him to retreat safely.
Such a thing would never happen to Fourth Palace Master Feng, because he would write the pill formula and leave it for Wei Sheng Xian to refine.
“I have long admired you as well,” Ye Zhuo said, “Your sect is inside the mountain?”
“Indeed, my sect is searching for medicine in the mountain,” Lin Zhu hesitated, “Second Palace Master Ye is going to…”
Ye Zhuo, “I am also searching for medicine.”
Both were searching for medicine, seemingly a conflict.
But things were already said to this point, what else could be done?
Moreover, Second Palace Master Ye was a sword cultivator, and certainly capable in fighting. The ghosts and monsters in the mountain were a threat to Dan Ding Sect disciples, but certainly could not do anything to Second Palace Master Ye.
Lin Zhu smiled gently, “That is truly fate. My sect has roughly scouted the situation inside the mountain. Second Palace Master Ye might as well enter the mountain with my sect.”
Shen Xin Ge, “Then you go, this poor Daoist will continue to liberate wandering souls.”
“You have already liberated many today. Daoist Jingzhen will surely be very pleased if she knows,” Lin Zhu coaxed like a child, “How about you come back with us to rest today, and continue to liberate tomorrow?”
Shen Xin Ge reluctantly agreed.
Walking towards the mountain, he heard Shen Xin Ge say seriously, “Today I liberated two hundred and thirteen wandering souls, a small number. Tomorrow, I must liberate four hundred before I can rest.”
“Good, then we’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Lin Zhu said helplessly.
Then he looked towards Ye Zhuo, apologizing, “Little Daoist Xin Ge’s mind was accidentally damaged, and we cannot find the reason. For many years, he has not been able to grow up, and his mind has remained that of a child. I have made Second Palace Master Ye laugh.”
Ye Zhuo, “It’s nothing.”
A pure mind is more likely to cultivate immortality, it was a good thing.
Walking into the valley, a sticky, peculiar fragrance assailed them.
Strange-shaped, winding black vines hung on the mountain walls, bearing dense, egg-shaped fruits. Snow-white juice seeped from the cracks in the rocks, seemingly a honey dew that could be used to refine medicine. Several Dan Ding Sect disciples were collecting it.
Looking around, the mountain was filled with plants, truly a good place to gather medicine.
Dan Ding Sect disciples were busy with their tasks. Muscular Martial Sect disciples weaved in and out, seemingly on patrol.
Several alchemists had lit up pill furnaces in the open space of the valley, and were refining pills.
“The materials used in some pill formulas are too potent and would destroy the pill furnace. They cannot be refined in the human realm. But in the Void Realm, the materials are suppressed by Yin energy and deathly energy, and their tempers become mild, allowing them to form pills,” Lin Zhu said.
Remembering Feng Jiang’s account of Sect Leader Lin’s pill furnace accident, Ye Zhuo didn’t want to stay here for long.
Entering the mountain, the feeling was even clearer. The aura inside the mountain was indeed as strange as he felt. Just as Ye Zhuo was about to bid farewell to Sect Leader Lin and head deeper, he saw several disciples in green robes hurriedly soar from the depths of the mountain towards them.
Landing in the valley, they rolled and scrambled, shouting “Master” and “Sect Leader.”
Lin Zhu frowned and swiftly flew over.
When Ye Zhuo arrived, he saw Sect Leader Lin skillfully treating the wounds of the most severely injured disciples.
The disciples were covered in blood, their wounds so deep that bone was visible, constantly oozing black pus.
“Where are the others?” Lin Zhu asked.
As he asked, his hands moved swiftly and without pause. A silver knife as thin as cicada’s wings rapidly cut away the rotting flesh from the disciples’ wounds. Whenever fresh flesh was revealed, he would dissolve medicinal pills and pour the liquid onto it to keep it fresh.
The disciple couldn’t bear it and screamed.
Lin Zhu tapped his fingers continuously, instantly sealing his mute acupoint, and continued to treat him calmly.
“Several junior brothers and sisters are still guarding the perimeter,” the disciple with lighter injuries replied. “Only a few of us escaped. Senior brothers, senior sisters, and several Dao friends from the Martial Sect have all gone missing.”
“What exactly is the situation there? Tell me in detail.”
Lin Zhu finished treating one, released his mute acupoint, and placed the disciple, who was already taking in more air than he was exhaling, aside. Under the terrified gaze of another disciple, he began to cut him.
Ye Zhuo frowned, watching his technique.
He felt it had one or two similarities to Feng Jiang’s, especially when sealing the mute acupoint.
The disciple who spoke trembled as he explained the situation.
It turned out that they had followed the Sect Leader’s instructions to gather a kind of Nether Spirit Grass in the mountain. According to plan, they were to return once they had gathered enough. However, on the verge of returning, they accidentally discovered a strange plant on the edge of the area, which had mutated from the spirit grass they were to gather. Its medicinal effects were several times stronger than the original spirit grass.
So they walked a little deeper in the direction of that plant, discovering not only more of it, but also some strange and rare herbs they had never seen before.
This area had not been explored before, so a cautious senior sister ordered them not to go any further, but to return and inform the Sect Leader before exploring further.
The Martial Sect disciples who had been sent by Upper Purity Mountain to escort them recognized a poisonous plant among them, which was a sacred medicine for body tempering in the ancient books. It only bloomed at this time, and they wanted to search deeper for it.
After some deadlock, the senior sister had all the junior brothers and sisters with lower cultivation stay outside to wait, and sent others back to the sect’s station to report. She led the few with the highest cultivation and the Martial Sect disciples to go deeper together, promising to return immediately after obtaining another sacred medicine.
That departure, however, led to a long, long absence.
The junior brothers and sisters who went back to report did not bring any elders back with them, and instead completely disappeared. Even the communication talismans could not be used.
Those who went forward did not return, and those who went back also disappeared, so the fear in the hearts of those who remained was imaginable.
A few of them, as the disciples with higher cultivation among those left behind, decided to go and investigate.
Then, in the depths of the mountain, they were attacked by monsters they had never seen before. Fortunately, they were inherently greedy and afraid of death, and had taken precautions. As a result, they didn’t even see the faces of the monsters clearly before choosing a direction and fleeing for their lives.
Perhaps by accident, they managed to escape from that area and find the sect’s valley.
Lin Zhu frowned as he listened.
In this situation, blame was useless.
“Their life-bound jade tablets haven’t broken, there’s still a chance,” Lin Zhu said, “You lead the way, the others stay behind, please invite the two elders over. I will enter the mountain with them.”
Then he looked towards Ye Zhuo’s direction.
“Second Palace Master Ye, you…”
Ye Zhuo, “I’ll go too.”
Lin Zhu felt a little relieved and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, smiling at Ye Zhuo, “Thank you, you’re really being put to trouble.”
It couldn’t be considered putting him to trouble, with a strange event occurring, it was exactly what he wanted.
Shen Xin Ge had been listening quietly for a long time. At this time, he said seriously, “Slaying demons and eliminating evil is precisely my heart’s desire, I want to go too.”
“Little Daoist, you can’t go,” Lin Zhu said, his expression rarely solemn, “If something happens, I won’t be able to explain to your master.”
“Let him go,” Ye Zhuo said, “He’s in the Integration Stage.”
Lin Zhu, “…Ah?”
“Dao Friend Ye! Why did you reveal my secret!” Shen Xin Ge said, “Master said that my body doesn’t match my cultivation, which would cause people to gossip, so he concealed my realm! By saying it, aren’t you making me a laughingstock?”
Ye Zhuo, “I’m just speaking frankly. Concealing your realm is not what a gentleman does.”
Shen Xin Ge, “Really?”
“Really.”
“But my master often says that you Micro-Snow Palace people like to hide your abilities, and must still have secrets.”
Ye Zhuo stared silently at Shen Xin Ge, “Are you going or not?”
“Going.”