Chapter 635: Charging into the Underworld
At this moment, the heavy earth trembled violently.
The defensive grand formation of White Paper Immortal City was activated at full capacity, drawing in the waters of the Underworld Flood Dragon River from the outside world.
Tens of millions of tons of Underworld Flood Dragon River water, mixed with boundless Yin Qi and blended with the river water of the Ink River within White Paper Immortal City, formed a continuously rotating “mountain” of black water!
This mountain of black water lifted the entire White Paper Immortal City, like a giant whale raising its head.
In the span of a dozen breaths, what had once been an immortal city on flat ground transformed into a mountain city.
Black Water Mountain White Paper City!
Heaven and earth changed color; Yin clouds churned.
The South City Gate, which had previously stood open, had long since slammed shut, forming a situation of shutting the gate to beat the dog.
An uproar erupted within Luo Si’s command tent!
Xie Sichao’s expression changed drastically as he cried out in alarm, “There was actually such a transformation!”
Many Ghost Generals felt a chill run through their bodies.
They even began to suspect that the South City Gate being easily opened earlier by the Mourning Music Ghost Performer had been a trap.
It was the White Paper Immortal City’s side setting bait.
Now, the many Golden Core Ghost Generals and the three Deadbone Colossi were the fish lured inside!
With the city gate closed, only the Path of Returning Silence remained.
“Should we have them withdraw, or continue sending reinforcements?” Everyone looked toward Luo Si.
At this moment, they suddenly realized that the previously cautious Luo Si had been right— the Vanguard General’s initiative to attack had been an act of rash advance.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Luo Si remained motionless, offering no indication whatsoever.
He was merely observing.
Inside the paper effigy giant statue, Ning Zhuo’s eyes emitted sharp brilliance.
Joy also surged in his heart as he discerned that this had indeed been a trap.
“This is very much in line with the current City Lord’s style. She treats everyone, including me, as chess pieces!”
For her greater scheme, any chess piece could be sacrificed.
“Mother, now that the Mourning Music Ghost Performer can be eliminated, and without the Path of Returning Silence to retreat through, we can swallow this crucial force of the enemy in one bite!” Ning Zhuo shouted excitedly.
The Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin, however, still kept her eyes tightly shut and transmitted through spiritual sense alone: “Xiao Zhuo, remain calm.”
“Now is not the best time for us to act.”
“Rest assured, the City Lord will certainly make a move!”
“Forgetting River Prefect setting the blood sacrifice target on White Paper Immortal City was inevitable.”
“There is already a karmic entanglement between him and the current City Lord. A violent clash is bound to occur.”
After a pause, the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin continued, “We… need to patiently… wait.”
“Wait for our… opportunity.”
“Only if we… destroy Forgetting River Prefect’s hundred-year plan can this… calamity truly end, allowing the people of the entire city to regain a peaceful… life.”
Ning Zhuo was startled. “Mother?!”
He noticed that the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin’s spiritual transmission had begun to show signs of intermittence.
This scene was all too familiar in his memory.
In the past, she had shown the same symptoms, which rapidly worsened until she lost consciousness and could no longer communicate.
Now, the process was progressing far more quickly than before.
How long had it been? And already she was showing signs of being unable to hold on.
White Paper Immortal City.
City Lord’s Mansion.
The City Lord’s true body was also quietly waiting for Luo Si’s next military order.
There was neither an order to withdraw nor to reinforce.
The City Lord’s true body wore a gloomy expression, a cold smile rising in her heart. “The enemy general is somewhat interesting.”
Since the Vanguard General and the others had insisted on rashly charging into the South City Gate, withdrawing now would be meaningless.
Mercy does not command an army!
Luo Si’s lack of an order was itself an order—allowing them to continue serving as bait to lure White Paper Immortal City into revealing more.
Luo Si needed to see the true strength of White Paper Immortal City.
“In that case, let me show you.” Seeing that she could not entice more of the enemy’s forces, the City Lord’s true body immediately cast out a ruler.
The ruler transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the air, and within a few breaths appeared above the battlefield at the South City Gate.
The ruler hovered in midair, attracting many gazes.
It measured three chi, six cun, and five fen in length. Its entire body was warm and lustrous, a deep bluish-green. The body of the ruler was straight and rigid, its sides densely covered in fine cracks resembling ice-split porcelain patterns—seemingly chaotic, yet containing a certain aesthetic harmony.
A faint layer of gray-white Primordial Qi emanated from its surface, like thin gauze shrouding green jade. As strands of Qi drifted, they emitted an extremely subtle rustling sound.
Primordial Dispersing Form Ruler!
In the next instant, Primordial Qi surged forth, merging with the jade light of the ruler’s body and shooting toward the Mourning Music Ghost Performer.
The Ghost General Yanwei stepped forward, blocking in front of the Mourning Music Ghost Performer. A strong sense of unease surged in his heart, and he directly activated the strongest defense of his life.
Yet when the Primordial jade light shone upon him, it immediately dispersed his form—splitting him into a strand of Yin Qi, a Golden Core, three souls, and six spirits.
The magical treasures and weapons he wore scattered across the ground.
Primordial— the beginning of substance before it takes form. Dispersing form— the end of tribulation returning to the Great Void!
Just as the verse on the back of the jade ruler stated: “Green jade measures the kalpas; Primordial returns to dust.”
The Ghost General Yanwei had no power to resist. He shattered apart and perished on the spot.
This scene filled everyone with horror, and they instinctively retreated, trying to distance themselves from this terrifying treasure ruler!
Only the Vanguard General let out a low roar and advanced instead of retreating. “Protect the Mourning Music Ghost Performer!!”
The generals of the Yin Soldiers’ Army quickly reacted. With the South City Gate now closed, only the Path of Returning Silence could allow swift withdrawal.
Thus, they braced themselves and surged forward, shielding the Mourning Music Ghost Performer.
They shouted, “Quick, adjust the direction of the Path of Returning Silence so we can get out!”
It turned out that the Path of Returning Silence was a one-way passage. It could only function in a single direction—either from outside the city to inside, or from inside to outside.
The Mourning Music Ghost Performer, however, wore a numb expression and gave no response.
As they spoke, the Primordial Dispersing Form Ruler once again emitted profound light, illuminating the surrounding area.
The Ghost Generals were horrified. Even with full defensive effort, all Ghost Generals within the range of the profound light were dismantled and dispersed. Numerous magical treasures and weapons collapsed into separate components.
The Mourning Music Ghost Performer was also among them, leaving behind only scattered souls and spirits, and a Golden Core.
The Path of Returning Silence Candle, which had burned down to a short stub, was also dismantled into a pile of wax oil, wick, and flame.
This astonishing sight caused the entire battlefield to fall silent!
The few Ghost Generals outside the profound light were shaken to the core, knowing they had only survived by sheer luck.
Without wax oil and wick to sustain it, the candle flame rapidly shrank, and along with it the path itself swiftly diminished, on the verge of disappearing completely.
Inside the paper effigy giant statue, the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin opened her eyes and let out a faint sigh. “The time has come, Xiao Zhuo.”
Ning Zhuo hesitated for a brief instant, then suddenly activated the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra.
The familiar flames ignited once more, this time spreading rapidly from within the paper effigy giant statue outward.
Meanwhile, the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin gently waved her hand, causing ripples in space.
In the next moment, she summoned the magical treasure Qianmo Lamp.
This Qianmo Lamp was shaped like an octagonal prism, standing four chi and two cun tall, with a diameter of one chi and eight cun. Its top arched inward like a dome, while its base was square and even. Its material resembled bronze and sandalwood.
The Qianmo Lamp could greatly regulate the earth’s Qi in a region, creating fertile fields and connecting pathways in all directions.
Before her death, Meng Yaoyin had secretly placed it within the paper effigy giant statue, using its wondrous effects to covertly link several regions within the Underworld.
In each hidden region was stationed a paper effigy army!
Boom!
The Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin’s Golden Core radiated light, surging with a vast amount of mana that she poured entirely into the Qianmo Lamp, causing it to unleash its full power.
It also activated the corresponding formations, linking Yin and Yang.
The flames brought forth by the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra were already blazing fiercely.
The sudden strange self-immolation of the paper effigy giant statue startled both enemy and ally alike.
Under the cover of the firelight, the radiance of the Qianmo Lamp directly influenced the battlefield, causing the Path of Returning Silence to expand abruptly!
The path, originally a narrow trail, suddenly transformed into a vortex-like black hole. Within the black hole lay a broad and open road, directly connecting to the Underworld instead of outside the mortal city.
Amid the astonished gazes of all present, the blazing paper effigy giant statue strode forward and charged into the black hole, its figure entering the Underworld and swiftly disappearing.
Before leaving, it casually swept away several Golden Cores and a pile of dismantled magical treasures and weapons.
“Xiao Ma!” Qing Chi shouted. Without hesitation, he took the lead and rushed into the Underworld after it.
The Qingjiao Army followed closely behind.
“All going smoothly.” Sun Lingtong, seeing that the Qingjiao Army had entered the passage, then led the ox cavalry as the third wave.
On the Yin Soldiers’ Army’s side, the remaining Ghost Generals quickly reacted and also rushed into the passage.
Luo Si frowned deeply.
This passage led directly to the Underworld, and he sensed the stench of conspiracy. He decisively issued a command.
Upon receiving the new military order, large numbers of Headless Ghost Cavalry within White Paper Immortal City immediately turned and charged into the passage, becoming the fifth wave to enter.
Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, the City Lord’s true body observed everything.
Her brows furrowed as she thought briefly, then remotely controlled the Primordial Dispersing Form Ruler to strike once more at the black hole passage.
The Primordial Dispersing Form Ruler’s power was domineering. Just before it could disperse the passage, Daoist of the Bone Tomb let out a strange cry. Moving like lightning, he frantically squeezed into the passage.
There was truly no other choice!
The situation had changed too rapidly.
With the City Lord’s true body entering the battle, her gains were immense. She herself was extraordinary, and as City Lord, she possessed the support and amplification of the entire immortal city.
White Paper Immortal City was unlike Huoshi Immortal City. The former had been crafted by Profound Plain Scholar for mysterious purposes, almost tailor-made for the City Lord. The latter had been jointly constructed by the Southern Dou royal family and several major local clans, where the City Lord was heavily restricted and could hardly use the defensive grand formation to amplify herself.
This was also the first public appearance of the Primordial Dispersing Form Ruler!
Its wondrous effects were terrifying.
With the City Lord’s true body formally joining the battle, the defensive war of White Paper Immortal City entered a new phase.
Black Water Mountain supported White Paper Immortal City, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The Yin Soldiers’ Army suffered heavy losses—many Golden Core Ghost Generals, three Deadbone Colossi, large numbers of Headless Ghost Cavalry, and even the traitor Daoist of the Bone Tomb.
Though White Paper Immortal City successfully executed the strategy of shutting the gate to beat the dog, it also lost the paper effigy giant statue, Ning Zhuo (Jiao Ma), the Qingjiao Army, and other key forces.
Both sides suffered losses, but overall the Yin Soldiers’ Army sustained greater damage.
Underworld.
Tribulation Offering Altar.
Yin wind swept across, causing the robes of Forgetting River Prefect to flutter wildly.
Although he had already done his utmost to recuperate, his recovery speed was unsatisfactory.
After the exhausting battles against Sorrowbone Empress and Soundless Ghost Monk, Forgetting River Prefect’s combat strength was now only sixty percent of its peak.
Yet powerful enemies had arrived!
Within the dark and silent Yin clouds, candlelights flickered to life.
Under the illumination of the candlelight, a charred-bone lotus platform slowly drifted forward.
Seated cross-legged atop the lotus platform was a cultivator.
His entire body was a charred skeleton, draped in a tattered cloak that fluttered loudly in the wind.
He possessed no flesh or skin, no eyeballs or ears—only a skeleton.
Yet his eye sockets were not hollow; instead, candle flames burned within them.
His left arm was wrapped in bronze chains, while his right arm was swathed in a layer of yellow cloth. From the oil-sheened yellow cloth, candle wax continuously dripped down.
With every breath he took, sparks flew from his mouth and nose.
Encircling his body, within the lotus seed holes of the lotus platform, were nine unlit candles of varying shapes, each possessing its own mysterious aura.
Forgetting River Prefect inhaled deeply, revealing an unprecedentedly solemn expression.
He sighed deeply. “You have indeed come.”
This formidable enemy was no ordinary one. It was the strongest and most feared existence in Forgetting River Prefect’s heart—Ghostfire Prefect Yin Jiuzhu!
Ghostfire Underworld and Forgetting River Underworld bordered each other closely. Their relationship had always been tense since ancient times, and improvement was nearly impossible.
Regardless of which was stronger or weaker, both schemed against each other and sought to annex the other.
Such a grand undertaking by Forgetting River Prefect would inevitably provoke a fierce reaction from Ghostfire Prefect.
In the Underworld, the one who least wished to see Forgetting River Prefect succeed was undoubtedly Ghostfire Prefect!
Forgetting River Prefect said, “You have left Ghostfire Underworld and penetrated deep into my Forgetting River Underworld’s heartland, abandoning geographical advantage and taking the initiative to invade. You truly are not thinking clearly.”
He shook his head, wearing an expression of regret for the other.
Ghostfire Prefect let out a cold laugh. “Stop pretending. Sorrowbone Empress and Soundless Ghost Monk were both coordinated by me.”
“Besides them, there was also Painted Skin Rakshasa.”
“Heh heh heh… You can guess where she is now.”
A bad premonition surged within Forgetting River Prefect. He quickly suppressed the distracting thought. “She should be here, doing everything in her power to obstruct my attainment of the Dao.”
“If she truly is not here, then that would be most regrettable.”
“After you all fail, you will deeply regret not concentrating your full strength against me.”
Ghostfire Prefect sneered. “Forgetting River Prefect, do you think I did not seek divination? Jade-Faced Rakshasa has already infiltrated your Forgetting River Immortal City. She will wreak havoc within the city. Because I have already had someone calculate that damaging Forgetting River Immortal City will greatly benefit obstructing your attainment of the Dao!”
Before his words had even fully fallen, Ghostfire Prefect formally made his move.
One of the candles directly before him ignited on its own.
This candle was ghastly white like withered bone. Its surface was riddled with tiny holes, resembling countless wailing mouths. The wick was a strand of tangled, semi-transparent gray-white smoke.
After being lit, the candle flame burned faintly, manifesting countless struggling soul images and emitting heart-shuddering sorrowful murmurs.
Soul-Tempting Spirit-Luring Candle!
The candle flame erupted with terrifying suction, forcibly drawing in the souls and spirits of the Underworld cultivators nearby.
Forgetting River Prefect also felt his soul body becoming unstable and hurriedly cast a spell to stabilize himself.
Ghostfire Prefect’s probing strike yielded results, and he threw back his head in laughter. “Forgetting River Prefect, you truly have grown weaker.”
Hidden region.
“Where is this?!”
“How are there so many paper effigies?”
The Qingjiao Army soldiers were filled with shock and uncertainty.
“Xiao Ma!” Qing Chi called out as he rushed toward the paper effigy giant statue.
With a thunderous crash, the paper effigy giant statue collapsed, and the spiritual radiance gained from its burning converged entirely into the body of the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin.