Chapter 104: The Eighth Layer Realm, The Second Ghost Slave

“Utterly ridiculous, extremely incompetent, heinously criminal!”

Inside the inn, Huang Shan, Yu Lin, and the other Seven Sons of Qingxiao were eating in their room. Hearing the impassioned voice outside the window, Yu Lin and a female Disciple couldn’t help but stand up and look down from the window.

A temporary wooden platform had been erected on the street. Standing on the platform was a scholar, holding an ancient book, his face flushed red, and the veins on his neck bulging. He was trembling with excitement.

“In the seven-thousand-year history of the Fourteen Lands of the Nine Provinces, there have been countless wise rulers and countless incompetent ones, but looking through all the Dynasties, no monarch has been as vile as the current Son of Heaven—killing his brother to seize the throne, slaying his son to vent his anger, and indulging alchemists to deceive the court in pursuit of the elixir of immortality, leaving the common people destitute!”

The scholar was extremely agitated, and his loud voice attracted more and more common people and merchants.

“The Guzhou Prefecture tragedy two years ago—how many common people died miserably, how many soldiers’ bodies were never recovered? The so-called Demonic School is destroyed only to rise again. Don’t you all find that strange?”

“That Demonic School is merely Zhao Zhi’s blade, used to capture boys and girls for Alchemy. Such actions are utterly depraved and incur the wrath of both men and gods. If the citizens of the Great Li Dynasty do not rise up, disaster will eventually befall us, and the Great Li Dynasty’s territory will be in peril!”

The scholar’s tone was extremely emotionally contagious, causing the eyes of the surrounding common people to redden.

“This world belongs to the people, not to Zhao Zhi alone. Zhao Zhi dared to kill even the virtuous Crown Prince, going so far as to frame the Crown Prince for rebellion. In the future, if he snatches our wives and children or kills our parents, will he then label us as wicked bandits?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the common people became completely agitated, angrily denouncing the Emperor’s crimes.

Standing at the window on the second floor of the inn, Yu Lin turned to Huang Shan and said, “Senior Brother, things are going haywire. Should we continue the investigation?”

Huang Shan put down his bowl and chopsticks and pondered, “Let’s go back. We should return and wait for the Sect Leader’s command, lest the Qingxiao Sect be in danger.”

The other six people nodded in agreement; they had wanted to return for a long time.

Yu Lin returned to the table and clicked his tongue in wonder, “That old Emperor truly is insane, killing even his own son, and the Crown Prince at that. The other Imperial Princes are all incompetent, knowing only how to seek pleasure. Even if the old Emperor dies later, life under heaven won’t be easy.”

The others followed suit, joining the discussion.

“That’s right. The foreign tribes from the Southern Border have come out of the mountains again to slaughter our Great Li citizens. The Emperor doesn’t care about this, only pursuing the Method of Eternal Life. This is truly an omen of national destruction.”

“It might be better if it’s destroyed. Living in the Great Li Dynasty, I haven’t enjoyed a single day of peace.”

“If the Great Li Dynasty collapses, the ensuing Chaotic World will probably last for a hundred years.”

“How magnificent and brilliant was the Great Ancestor Emperor of the Great Li Dynasty, who swept across the Nine Provinces and established achievements unseen in five hundred years, only to give birth to such a wicked son.”

“If that Crown Prince hadn’t been murdered by the current Emperor back then, the Great Li Dynasty would surely be more prosperous.”

Huang Shan did not participate in the discussion with his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters. His heart was filled with worry. If even a small town like this was struggling to contain public fury, what was the situation like in other cities? What kind of chaos would the world face next… Ganwu Hall. Sunlight shone outside the main entrance.

Mysterious Duke and a group of Jin Wu Guards stood inside the hall. They wore masks, showing no expression, only their eyes.

They kept their eyes lowered, not daring to meet the Son of Heaven’s gaze.

Above the steps, the Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhi, wore a loose white robe, his hair messy and unkempt. He lay languidly on the Dragon Throne, holding a yellowish-white Medicinal Pill in one hand, examining it closely.

“The Jin Wu Guards, three hundred and sixty-five people, are all Experts Who Have Entered the Realm of the Martial Forest. Any one of them could sweep across all the Schools under heaven. And you, Mysterious Duke, even claim to be the number one under heaven, yet someone managed to escape from your grasp, and there’s still no news after so many days.”

The Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhi, spoke slowly, his tone hoarse and sinister like a snake.

Mysterious Duke knelt halfway down, and the Jin Wu Guards followed suit.

“Your Majesty, the martial arts of those two people were extremely high. We truly could not stop them. This also shows that the Great Li Dynasty is vast and produces many talented people.”

Mysterious Duke replied in a deep, resonant voice.

“So, is this matter just forgotten?” Zhao Zhi glanced at him, asking with a half-smile.

“The Jin Wu Guards will continue to investigate and absolutely will not let this go!”

Mysterious Duke replied, his voice firm and strong.

Zhao Zhi’s expression softened. He said, “Xuan Qing, I have been under your protection since childhood. Your contributions to my ascension to the throne are immense. You will always be the person I trust the most. If I achieve eternal life, I will also bestow an Immortal Pill upon you. Among all the civil and military officials, I can only trust you. I hope you will never disappoint me, just as before.”

“This subject will certainly do his utmost,” Mysterious Duke immediately replied.

Zhao Zhi continued, “The martial arts myth’s cultivation is indeed good, but this is not the elixir of immortality. I need more Martial Artists as medicinal guides. Next, you can let the Demonic School sweep across the Martial Forest under heaven. Within three years, I must refine the elixir of immortality.”

“This subject obeys your command!”

Zhao Zhi seemed to recall something and asked, “What about the Qingxiao Sect in Guzhou Prefecture? Although this School is small, since it could execute the Devil Emperor, its Sect Leader’s martial arts must be good. Didn’t you visit there? Do you think we should capture them ahead of time?”

Mysterious Duke replied, “The Martial Artists of the Qingxiao Sect are too young, but their Natural Talent is indeed high. This subject suggests Your Majesty saves them for last. In three years, their cultivation will certainly be higher. Capturing them then will yield greater benefits. At that time, this subject will personally go up the mountain to apprehend the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect.”

“Hmm, that works too.”

Zhao Zhi squeezed the Medicinal Pill in his palm and then closed his eyes.

Mysterious Duke stood up, bowed to him, and then left with the Jin Wu Guards.

As they walked out of Ganwu Hall, Zhao Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze cold and harboring murderous intent… It was now February. After the Seven Sons of Qingxiao returned, Li Qingqiu learned about the results of their investigation and told them to rest for a while and Cultivate peacefully.

In the time that followed, Zhang Yuchun’s people continuously gathered intelligence from across the land. Public sentiment everywhere was like fire, and the people’s resentment towards the Son of Heaven intensified. Some even gathered in groups to cause trouble in the Prefectural Cities.

Many Aristocratic Families were executed and had their entire clans wiped out for assisting the Crown Prince, causing many Aristocratic Family Descendants to flee into the Jianghu. Consequently, the Jianghu was plunged into a bloodbath.

By the end of the month.

Li Qingqiu finally achieved a Breakthrough to the Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer inside the Underground Spirit Lake.

He was the only one in this Blessed Land. Due to the unique nature of the Hundred Refinements Demonic Body, after the Breakthrough, he spent another three days consolidating his cultivation. The Origin Qi surged powerfully inside his body, feeling like it was about to overflow.

Although the Eighth Layer and the Seventh Layer seem to differ by only one layer, the reality is a world of difference.

Li Qingqiu began to touch upon the existence of Spiritual Consciousness.

Spiritual Consciousness is a type of Soul Power, equivalent to opening a third eye, and it is also a new form of strength.

During the process of seeing through the Restriction of Magical Artifacts, Li Qingqiu was already getting a preliminary taste of the perspective offered by Spiritual Consciousness.

According to the records of the Taiqing Hunyuan Scripture, above the Nourishing Origin Realm is the Spiritual Consciousness Realm. He was full of anticipation for the Spiritual Consciousness Realm.

The utilization of Origin Qi is similar to a Martial Artist’s Internal Qi, but Spiritual Consciousness is completely different, allowing one to kill enemies invisibly, and making the use of Magical Artifacts even more profound.

At the Eighth Layer Realm, with a hundredfold increase in Origin Qi, Li Qingqiu’s confidence soared, and a smile appeared on his face.

He took out the Bronze Mirror he had previously obtained thanks to Bai Ninger. A Ghost was hidden inside this mirror. Previously, he couldn’t interact with the Soul in the mirror, so he had to put it aside.

Now that he had reached the Nourishing Origin Realm Eighth Layer, he wanted to try using the Soul Capturing Incantation to subdue it.

With the destiny blessings of the Human Ghost God and the Hundred Refinements Demonic Body, Li Qingqiu’s application of the Soul Capturing Incantation was already superb.

Lin Chuan floated nearby. When Li Qingqiu took out the Bronze Mirror, he seemed to sense something, turned his head to look, and quickly approached.

Li Qingqiu ignored him and cast the incantation on the Ghost in the mirror.

In the darkness, the Female Ghost in White lay there. She seemed to sense something, abruptly raised her head, her pale face contorted with ferocity, her eyes blood-red. A Sinister Qi rushed directly out of the Bronze Mirror, transforming into the figure of the Female Ghost in White, who lunged at Li Qingqiu, baring her fangs and claws.

Lin Chuan wanted to intervene, but seeing Li Qingqiu raise his hand, he had to stop.

Just as the Female Ghost in White was about to grab Li Qingqiu, she was suddenly immobilized, trembling all over, unable to advance.

Li Qingqiu’s eyes had turned purple, and he continuously chanted the incantation. Soon, the Female Ghost in White closed her eyes.

Relying on his dominant Origin Qi and the blessing of the Human Ghost God, Li Qingqiu effortlessly established a Soul connection with the Female Ghost in White and began reading her memories.

This woman in white was named Nangong E, and she was actually a Princess of the Wei Dynasty.

The Wei Dynasty was the predecessor of the Great Li Dynasty. Although it only occupied Six Prefectures, it was a powerful Dynasty that lasted three hundred years and left a profound mark on history.

Nangong E died at the age of sixteen. At that time, the Imperial Authority was unstable, and someone forced their way into the palace. Her Imperial Father knew he couldn’t reverse the situation, so he strangled her to death while she was still dressing. Her Wronged Soul was thus housed inside the Bronze Mirror.

Later, after the Emperor died, the eunuchs broke into her Bed-chamber, plundered the treasures, and took them out of the Imperial Palace. After more than a hundred years of wandering, the mirror finally ended up in a bandit’s warehouse, where it was found by Li Sifeng and Bai Ninger.

A pitiable person.

Seeing that she had committed no evil, either in life or after death, Li Qingqiu decided not to feed her to Lin Chuan.

She can be his second Ghost Slave!

Ghost Slaves are very useful. Currently, Lin Chuan can move around the entire Qingxiao Sect and secretly help him handle many matters. Having one more Ghost Slave is naturally a good thing.

Less than half an hour later.

Nangong E woke up. Much of her Resentment Qi had dissipated, allowing her rationality to return.

She looked at Li Qingqiu, understanding that he had become her master. She instinctively felt awe and dared not approach him easily.

“Follow me from now on. If one day I learn the Method of Transcendence, I can help you enter Reincarnation.”

Li Qingqiu spoke with a smile. Nangong E knelt timidly on the ground, not daring to reply.

Seeing this, Li Qingqiu said no more. He picked up the Bronze Mirror and walked toward the exit of the Underground Spirit Lake.

He bestowed the name Nangong Mirror upon this Bronze Mirror, treating it as a memorial to Princess Nangong E.

Nangong E cautiously followed behind Li Qingqiu. Lin Chuan occasionally looked back at her, his eyes full of curiosity.

As fellow Ghost Slaves, he would not devour Nangong E without Li Qingqiu’s command.

Furthermore, he didn’t dare to devour Nangong E because he felt she was very dangerous.

Walking in the forest, even under bright sunlight, neither Lin Chuan nor Nangong E was affected—this was one of the benefits of becoming a Ghost Slave.

Li Qingqiu was surprised to find that Nangong E could actually shake the trees along the way.

This was remarkable. Lin Chuan could only touch physical objects in reality at night, yet Nangong E could do it during the day.

Could she serve a certain role in combat?

Thank you,.0.0., for the 500 Qidian Coins reward~