Chapter 19.1 Tianyan City
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The Ghost Realm resided at the northern edge of the Canghua continent, neighboring Yunxiao. With a single swift sword stroke, traversing distances of millions, it was possible to complete a round trip within a day.
Journeying northward, they crossed the desolate Reincarnation Mountain, only to be confronted by a mighty river blocking his path.
Known as the Forgotten River, its waters shimmered in a captivating shade of emerald green.
Contrary to the tales inscribed in ancient tomes, the waters of the Ghost Realm’s Forgotten River lacked the enchanting power to cleanse one’s memories. Instead, it was merely ordinary water, tainted by a faint trace of deathly aura, appearing as a mystical blend of blue and green, exuding an inexplicable and somewhat unpleasant scent.
Pei Jing had ventured into the Ghost Realm on a previous occasion.
Accompanied by the enigmatic Ji Wuduan and the resilient Yu Qinglian.
Those were the days when they had just emerged from the arduous five-year training at the Institute of Celestial Ascension. Having escaped the clutches of their ancestral masters, they were only a step away from jubilantly lighting up the sky with firecrackers, celebrating their newfound freedom.
After suppressing their true instincts for such a prolonged period, the urge to reemerge into the world had become too tantalizing to resist. So, a pact was forged among a group of a dozen or so comrades—a commitment to spend half a year together, embarking on a perilous journey to hunt down and vanquish malevolent spirits and mischievous creatures. In essence, it was an opportunity to engage in thrilling encounters and unwind.
Those were the unfortunate times when they unwittingly became the magnet for a plethora of ill-fated ghosts and creatures.
In the span of six short months, they traveled across vast lands, conquering mountains and rivers.
Amongst their myriad adventures, one particular incident led them to cross paths with the mysterious Ghost Realm.
They encountered the mystical Reincarnation Mountain with its peculiar peaks and unusual rocks, as well as the turbid bluish-green waters of the Forgotten River.
Pei Jing was quite intrigued and couldn’t help but ask about the names of the mountain and the river. With a constant smile on his face, he gestured and teased, “Why not build a bridge here and plant some flowers by the river? You wouldn’t even need to think about the names. The bridge would be called Naihe, and the flowers would be called Bi’an. It’s supposed to be a city of the living, yet it imitates the realm of the dead in every aspect. Have you all spent so much time with the deceased that you’ve started seeing yourselves as dead too?”
Ji Wuduan remained unfazed. In the short years they had spent together at the Institute of Celestial Ascension, he had already figured out Pei Jing’s character. Without any change in expression, he coldly retorted, “You dress in white from head to toe every day, but I don’t see anyone dying around you.”
Pei Jing simply laughed and said, “Haven’t you already anticipated that you’ll lose to me in the Trial of Challenging the Heavens fifty years from now? I should start mourning your impending defeat.”
Ji Wuduan clenched his teeth and warned, “Just you wait.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Pei Jing replied calmly.
Yu Qinglian, who was gazing at her own reflection in the waters of the Forgotten River, rolled her eyes upon hearing their banter. “That’s not how you wear mourning clothes. You clearly lack sophistication.”
Pei Jing smiled playfully and remarked, “To use the phrase ‘a sinking fish and a fallen goose’ on oneself, are you really in a position to teach me idioms?”
Chen Xu, who was standing beside them, rushed forward and attempted to cover Pei Jing’s mouth. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Let’s not say anything more.”
Yu Qinglian’s exquisitely beautiful and alluring face instantly contorted. She abruptly stood up, her vibrant pomegranate-colored dress brushing against the bluish-green waters of the Forgotten River as she drew out her whip.
She roared in anger, “Pei Yuzhi! Say that again!”
As the fiery whip struck the ground, the Forgotten River surged with terrifying waves.
Pei Jing gently released Chen Xu’s hand, intending to make her see the reality, only to be preempted by someone else.
Wu Sheng, the peacekeeper who always emerged as the mediator, stepped forward. “Enough. Let’s cross this river first before we continue. We haven’t even entered the Ghost City yet.”
Pei Jing glanced at Wu Sheng and lazily responded, “Alright, I’ll give you face.”
After all, Wu Sheng wasn’t as impulsive as the other three, who seemed to constantly provoke him, both openly and in secret.
They soared above the Forgotten River, suspended in mid-air.
Walking through the air, Feng Jin, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke, “Are you so confident about the Trial of Challenging the Heavens?”
Pei Jing turned his head. The young Phoenix Emperor was arching an eyebrow, his deep golden eyes cautiously assessing him.
It had been ingrained in Feng Jin’s nature to be competitive and ambitious. From the very beginning, he had enjoyed challenging Pei Jing. Pei Jing blinked and smiled faintly, “It’s just average. Taking the first place won’t be a problem.”
Feng Jin sneered disdainfully. “You sure have a big mouth.”
“Well, I do have confidence in your abilities.”
Feng Jin gritted his teeth. “…What do you mean?”
Pei Jing turned back before the Ghost City, his black hair flowing and his white clothes elegant. When he smiled, his youthful face exuded self-assuredness.
He couldn’t help but provoke, “Is it interesting for you to constantly compare yourself to me? Can’t you recognize the gap, Little Brother? Focus on your cultivation and aim for second place in the world.”
After saying that, he quickly ran off, fearing that Feng Jin, with his petty nature like Yu Qinglian, would suddenly lose his temper and start a fight with him. Pei Jing wasn’t afraid of a one-on-one confrontation with him, but the problem was that there were too many people here who disliked him. He didn’t want it to turn into a group brawl, so he didn’t know whom to reason with.
He caught up to Chen Xu and walked beside him, secretly glancing back.
As expected, Feng Jin’s face turned pale with anger. Even the little red bird on his shoulder fluffed up its feathers. Luckily, Pei Jing was fast enough.
Chen Xu couldn’t help but admire him and made a sarcastic remark, “You’re so audacious. Aren’t you afraid that the three of them will join forces and give you a beating?”
Pei Jing was confident. “I’m not afraid. I can handle three of them.”
Chen Xu sighed. “Feng Jin really had terrible luck crossing paths with you.”
“It’s as if I was the one who provoked him first.”
“He’s the newly crowned emperor of the demonic race. He’s been pampered since childhood, so it’s normal for him to be a bit arrogant.”
“Is that his reason for picking on me every day?”
“Haven’t you already retaliated? Let’s forgive and forget for now.”
Pei Jing lazily smiled and replied, “Why are you always defending him? I think this kid, Feng Jin, has had it easy all along without facing any hardships. Helping the demonic race train their new emperor is actually doing a good deed. Besides, his arrogant and self-assured temperament doesn’t make him look like an emperor.”
“Then what does he look like?”
“He looks like a little brother.”
Chen Xu: “…”
Although he didn’t fully understand, it definitely wasn’t a compliment.
Returning to this familiar place, the scenery remained the same. The scene of the four of them crossing this river together in the past was vivid in his mind.
Wearing a golden monk’s robe and a white cloth covering his eyes, Wu Sheng often had a smile on his face. He held a staff in one hand, listening to their banter.
Yu Qinglian wrapped the whip around her fair and smooth arm, her feet adorned with golden bells that jingled as she walked. She was like a red wind chime in motion.
Ji Wuduan was wrapped in a green robe, exuding a gloomy aura, resembling a frustrated scholar in the mortal realm.
Feng Jin appeared like a leisurely person of wealth and status, carrying an air of laziness. He was dressed flamboyantly, and the bird on his shoulder always seemed half-asleep.
Meanwhile, Chen Xu stood by his side, wearing a worried expression, seemingly concerned about something.
Pei Jing, riding on his sword as it glided over the Forgotten River, cast a pensive glance downward.
The jade-green water flowed ceaselessly, resembling the passage of time.
He couldn’t help but chuckle and say, “I wonder if what those people in the Celestial Pavilion said is true or false. All these people secretly practiced and made remarkable progress while I was in seclusion?”
Suddenly, he remembered the setting of “Executioner’s Sword”.
The book was still ongoing, with many plotlines yet to be revealed. Since it was narrated from the perspective of the protagonist, Ji Wuyou, there were not many descriptions of Pei Yuzhi. In the book, Pei Yuzhi seemed to have no connection with the other four individuals from “The World without Heroes” or even the Institute of Celestial Ascension. In the end, when Pei Yuzhi fell into such a wretched and humble state, no one came to his aid.
“If I fail to save the protagonist and Ji Wuyou ends up turning evil, and he comes knocking on my door seeking revenge, I guess only Wu Sheng would come to my rescue.” After pondering for a moment, he added, “No, wait. Yu Qinglian owes me a favor. She is very clear about debts and grudges and would also come to help. I have some leverage over Ji Wuduan, so I can threaten him, and he would respond. As for Feng Jin… although he’s a little brother, I feel he wouldn’t want me to die. After all, I am his life mentor.”
Shamelessly analyzing the situation, Pei Jing started counting on his fingers, “That’s quite a few people who would be there. Perhaps I won’t have to die such a tragic death.”
Wait, something didn’t seem right.
Reflecting on the content of the novel, Pei Jing shook his head, feeling both amused and exasperated. “If we strictly follow the plot, Ji Wuyou has already achieved the Nascent Soul Stage. Calling them here would be like offering them as genuine sacrifices to the Five Slaughters. Let’s forget about that idea.”
Pei Jing suppressed his smile and said, “It seems more reasonable to influence the protagonist subtly.”
Now, he just had to wait for the protagonist to appear.
Crossing the Forgotten River, he proceeded toward the Ghost City.
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