Chapter 314: Netherworld Hall

The news of Lin Jing’s arrival in the Western Desert began to spread outward from the Golden Light Temple.

Before long, the entire Western Desert knew of the Demon Court Holy Son’s arrival.

Those of the Buddhist sects naturally rarely coveted Lin Jing’s Longevity Flesh, and the ghostly objects in the Western Desert were also generally uninterested in a Longevity Physique.

Because they themselves were already “dead,” existing in the form of souls.

This form was already considered living against the heavens, snatching time from the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

This led to weak ghostly objects having very short lives, at risk of their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering at any moment.

Powerful ghostly objects, on the other hand, as long as they found the right method, could persist for a terrifyingly long time; they were two extremes.

However, in exchange for not being restricted by Lifespan, ghostly objects had many weaknesses, and cultivation was not easy.

Besides Buddhist Cultivators and ghostly objects, news of Lin Jing also reached the ears of the Western Desert’s Yao Beasts and demonic sects.

A bizarre scene unfolded: few of the powerful Yao Beast races in the Western Desert wanted to capture Lin Jing to eat him; most wanted to use Lin Jing to establish a connection with the Demon Court and transform into the Yao Race, bitterly searching for any trace of him.

As for the Netherworld Hall—

With long black hair covering her face, the white-clothed Nether Hall Holy Maiden knelt half-way beneath the throne.

On the seat was a strange existence wearing a black robe, devoid of flesh, with a body like a humanoid skeleton and a heart sculpted from a wisp of Netherworld Ghost Fire.

A ghost Cultivator of the Dao Inquiry Stage. The Netherworld Hall Master.

“According to intelligence, the Demon Court Holy Son likely came for the Golden Light Temple’s Golden Light Gu and has nothing to do with our plans.”

“However, it is said that the Demon Court Holy Son once displayed the Netherworld Hall’s ghost fire technique in Tongtian City, having cultivated it to Perfection with the help of the Demon Emperor… I wonder what his intentions are.”

Facing the Saintess’s report, the Netherworld Hall Master remained silent for a long while.

After a long time, he slowly spoke: “Since the Demon Court did not come for the Netherworld Hall, then leave them be.”

“My unlucky Junior Brother was not weak, yet even he was forced into Corpse Dissolution. It is better not to provoke this Lord of the Demon Court.”

“Our goal is that Weapon Spirit.”

“Once we successfully master it, whether it be the Demon Court or the Ancient Kingdoms, we will have nothing to fear.”

A ghostly fire light flashed within the Netherworld Hall Master’s hollow pupils.

The Weapon Spirit, the Ghost Mother.

What even the Buddhists did not know was,

This Weapon Spirit was no ordinary ghostly object; according to the Netherworld Hall’s ancient records, it was created by the Ancient Immortal Palace!

A “War Weapon,” the Ultimate Artifact Spirit.

It was equivalent to a skeleton key that could activate any Magic Treasure; even an Immortal Artifact level treasure could be driven to some extent—

The Netherworld Hall Master’s bony fingers lightly tapped the seat.

Immortal Artifact—

A weapon claimed to be manageable only by a True Immortal.

Currently, although a few Immortal Artifacts remain in the hands of various major powers throughout the Tianyuan Continent,

Even the Ancient Emperors of the Ancient Kingdoms cannot activate an Immortal Artifact.

On the continent, the only one currently capable of activating an Immortal Artifact is the City Lord of Martial Emperor City.

Though it is unknown what method he used, because of this, he can stand tall between the Ancient Kingdoms and the Western Desert with the power of a single city, unconstrained by either side.

To be precise—the entire Martial Emperor City is that Immortal Artifact.

A city as an artifact!

And coincidentally, the Netherworld Hall also possesses an ancient Immortal Artifact Legacy.

Pity, they have long lacked a means to activate it.

An unactivatable Immortal Artifact is no different from scrap metal.

And the Ultimate Artifact Spirit created by the Ancient Immortal Palace, the Ghost Mother, is one of the possibilities the Netherworld Hall seeks to activate their Immortal Artifact.

Years ago, Netherworld Hall Cultivators found the Weapon Spirit’s sealing place in the Western Desert. However, before they could crack the ruins and obtain the sealed War Weapon Spirit, the Golden Age arrived, and the Weapon Spirit broke the Seal on its own.

The escaped Weapon Spirit was uncontrollable and its movements elusive; even if the Magic Treasures it possessed were destroyed, sealed, or restricted, its true body could not be found.

Now, nearly half of the Netherworld Hall’s members are wandering the Western Desert with various Magic Treasures, hoping to find the Weapon Spirit.

“Why hasn’t it appeared yet—”

“It’s already been half a year—”

Half a year later, in the sky over the Western Desert.

The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor steered the Nine Dragon Boat, flying aimlessly over the Western Desert.

Following Lin Jing’s request, it carried a cart of Magic Treasures to find the Weapon Spirit, but after half a year, the Ghost Mother simply refused to invade their treasures.

However, the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor occasionally heard of the Ghost Mother acting elsewhere, but by the time they arrived quickly, the Ghost Mother had often vanished without a trace.

“Old Ancestor, could it be because you’re too strong that the Ghost Mother doesn’t dare come near us?”

A young Prodigy of the Thunder Dragon Clan in charge of pulling the boat flattered him.

“It’s not because of that!” The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor shook his head. “A while ago, that Weapon Spirit even dared to seize Buddhist artifacts from a temple guarded by a Void Profound Buddhist Cultivator. It doesn’t look like the type to be afraid of trouble.”

“Then maybe the Magic Treasures we’re using to bait the ghost aren’t to its taste?” another Lei Long Prodigy guessed.

“One or two treasures would be one thing, but we have a whole cart here, including top-grade Magic Treasures. This Ghost Mother couldn’t be that picky.” The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor was still puzzled.

Moreover, to bait the Ghost Mother, he had temporarily sealed his lightning power and the Dragon Clan’s Yang Qi. The ten thunder dragons sighed one after another, feeling for the first time that catching a ghost was so difficult.

“We must hurry; there is only half a year left until the Golden Light Temple’s Legacy trial ends,” the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor calculated the time in his heart.

At the same time, he looked inside the flying boat; fortunately, His Highness the Saint had not yet emerged from seclusion.

They had arrived in the Western Desert quite late. Because of the Undying Monk’s Lifespan, the Golden Light Gu Legacy trial was only set to last three years; by the time Lin Jing and the others arrived, only one year remained.

By this time, other Buddhist competitors had likely already sealed their ghostly objects and were waiting for the final competition.

“If it really doesn’t work—” Just as the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor was considering whether to bring out a supreme treasure of the Thunder Dragon Clan to help the Saint fish for the ghost, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked into the distance.

“It’s here!!!”

As the sky darkened, sensing a ghostly power at the Void Profound level, the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor’s eyes shone with golden light. The nine thunder dragons in charge of pulling the boat immediately pulled the Saint and fled into the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor’s internal space to avoid being affected by the battle.

However.

Just as the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor intended to battle the Weapon Spirit he had waited half a year for, as the Void Profound Ghostly Object appeared, the entire dragon fell into deep thought.

Looking at the “Red-Clothed Ghost Bride” before him, the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor couldn’t help but tug at his whiskers.

Wait, why is it a Ghost Bride and not a Weapon Spirit???

“Ghost Bride it is then. Since we haven’t caught the Weapon Spirit, we need something to show for it.” The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor gave up thinking in the next instant.

His aura instantly crushed toward the Ghost Bride.

Crackle!!!

The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor returned to his original form, vast lightning surrounding his body. After a bolt of thunder flashed, a Dragon Pearl-like lightning ball condensed in his mouth.

“On your person…”

Facing the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor’s aura, although the Ghost Bride instinctively felt wary, something inside the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor’s body made her ignore that aura and face him directly.

“On your person, there is a Marriage Certificate. That is mine.”

“I have no intention of making an enemy of you; I only came for that Marriage Certificate.”

“Huh???” Facing the Ghost Bride’s words, the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor was stunned.

A Marriage Certificate?

The Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor naturally knew what he had on him.

The nine juniors he brought couldn’t possibly have anything to do with this Ghost Bride.

Then what was the Marriage Certificate she spoke of?

“Senior, let me out. The Marriage Certificate she mentioned is on me.” At that moment, a voice rang out from within the Thunder Dragon Old Ancestor’s body, causing him to fall into deep thought once again.