Chapter 301: Ritual Money, Old Capital (28)
Although Li Chengyun had learned from the ghost official about the past and present of the ebony statue, and knew that its unmatched power to suppress evil came from the fact that the statue was carved a thousand years ago in the image of the Fengdu Lord at the peak of his power, just moments before ascending the throne—
—he still hadn’t imagined that the ebony statue…
Was alive.
Li Chengyun stared in shock at the general for quite a while before finally making sense of the truth behind the ebony statue and the general, thanks to Yan Shixun’s explanation.
“It seems the ghost official didn’t tell me everything,”
Li Chengyun said with a light chuckle. “He never mentioned that not all the ghost officials from the old Fengdu died on the battlefield. Nor did he say that those who fled ended up dead because of him and the ebony statue.”
“They say rare things are precious—looks like he just wanted to raise his own worth a bit.”
Li Chengyun winked at Yan Shixun, his expression livening up with the playful mischief of youth. “When I see him again, I must bring this up.”
The smile on Yan Shixun’s lips froze. He suddenly realized—Li Chengyun still didn’t know that the ghost official had already died to keep the plan hidden from the old Fengdu.
His face turned bitter at once. “Master, actually…”
As Yan Shixun began recounting what had happened at the mass grave, the light smile that had lingered on Li Chengyun’s face gradually faded. His expression grew solemn, and his gaze toward the general became more respectful.
“Back when I first came up with this plan, I had already prepared myself to die, but the ghost official…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
But everyone present understood what he truly meant.
Ye Li, who had been walking slightly behind, heard this and immediately turned his gaze to the general, his eyes filled with censure.
“As the commanding general, you failed to consider the big picture, resulting in the deaths of innocent people.”
Ye Li’s voice was calm as he stated, “The general is derelict in his duty.”
The accused general remained composed, showing neither panic nor guilt. “He knew there would be danger and death before getting involved. It was his own decision. Naturally, he must bear the consequences. There’s nothing to blame.”
“Besides—”
The general’s voice was steady. “These thousand years were already borrowed time. He should have died that stormy night a thousand years ago.”
“If one does not die, how can life be sparked anew? If one seeks to seize hope from a dead end, then before entering the game, they must be prepared for death. This is a path with no return. Only those with unwavering determination may tread it.”
He looked at Ye Li with thinly veiled disdain. “You hold power over Fengdu, yet you still can’t see through even this. Has the Great Dao been entrusted to the wrong person?”
Ye Li sneered coldly, completely provoked by the general’s words. For a moment, he didn’t even care about Yan Shixun anymore and directly clashed with the general, their argument escalating quickly, like a battle of swords made of words.
Li Chengyun silently watched the scene unfold before him. After a moment of thought, he turned his head slightly and looked at Yan Shixun. “Xiao Xun, did you only meet the embodiment of the ebony statue today?”
Yan Shixun didn’t quite understand but still nodded. “Before today, I didn’t even know the ebony statue existed. It was only at the mass grave that I first saw the one from a thousand years ago.”
This confirmed the suspicion in Li Chengyun’s heart. A soft smile surfaced in his eyes, shimmering like golden rays of sunlight.
“Now I believe it. The two of them are the same being in different forms.”
Li Chengyun chuckled softly and murmured under his breath, “After all, whether it’s the one from a thousand years ago or the one from today, they both, at first glance, immediately took a liking to my Xiao Xun…”
Beside him, Yan Shixun: “?”
He couldn’t help but feel there was some hidden meaning behind his master’s words—was it just his imagination?
Yan Shixun pondered for a while, but in the end, remained completely baffled.
However, everyone else present—including the one hundred thousand ghost soldiers who had followed the general across the shattered abyss—gradually came to understand what was really happening before their eyes.
“I still remember clearly what you said before about the fear that battle a thousand years ago left in your heart.”
The official in charge glanced at the back-and-forth between the general and Ye Li, his tone complicated as he said to the King of Hell, “Back then, I thought that general must’ve been like a drawn sword, especially with how cautious you were. But I didn’t expect… that general is exactly the same as the Lord of Fengdu.”
—Both harbored a deep, profound affection for Mr. Yan.
King of Hell: …………
Even the King of Hell began to doubt his own ghostly life, wondering if his memory had somehow malfunctioned.
Was this general—who had fallen in love with Yan Shixun not even a day after meeting him—really the same person as the one he had seen on the battlefield a thousand years ago?
Had he remembered it wrong?
The King of Hell looked at Yan Shixun with an expression full of mixed emotions.
But among everyone present, only Yan Shixun remained completely oblivious. He hadn’t realized the general’s feelings for him at all, still believing that the general’s confrontation with Ye Li was purely because Ye Li couldn’t accept seeing a reflection of his former self.
The moment the King of Hell realized this, he nearly choked on his own ghost breath.
…Was Yan Shixun just too slow-witted? He seemed completely tone-deaf when it came to emotions. The difference in how the general treated people was so blatantly obvious, yet Yan still believed that the issue lay between the general and Ye Li—it had nothing to do with him.
How did he even come to that conclusion?
How could two people, like reflections in a mirror, come to loathe each other this much for no reason? No one had ever looked into a mirror and thought about killing the reflection.
The King of Hell pondered deeply for a long time, but in the end, gave up trying to understand the workings of Yan Shixun’s mind.
“Have you ever heard of balance?”
He asked the official in charge beside him with a serious expression. “Don’t you humans often say that when someone is exceptionally gifted in one area, they must be lacking in another to balance it out?”
The official, unsure of where this was going, nodded hesitantly.
The King of Hell continued, “Well, Yan Shixun must have maxed out all his other stats, so to maintain balance, the universe just took away his understanding of emotions.”
“Otherwise, if he got every single gift, wouldn’t that sound unfair? Wouldn’t that make people angry?”
The official in charge stammered, “Ah… well…”
Next to them, a rescue team member was already shaking his head furiously and said, deeply moved, “No, no! It’s perfectly fair! Let Mr. Yan have all the talent!”
He added, “That kind of talent… it’s not something ordinary people could bear.”
“Isn’t Mr. Yan the only one who’s ever survived Evil Spirit Bone Transformation? For anyone else, that physique is basically a curse.”
“If being maxed out in talent means living constantly with death, then I think most people would rather not have those gifts. We’d just want a simple, peaceful happiness.”
“Power comes with responsibility, and someone like Mr. Yan who embraces this path is rare. Most people, myself included, prefer the comfort of three daily meals and a routine life.”
He let out a sigh. “Out of billions of people, only one Yan Shixun exists. We truly admire him. No complaints at all!”
The King of Hell, “…Did I say something that stirred you all up so much?”
The team members immediately fell silent.
But inside, they were thinking: Aren’t you the King of Hell? Don’t you control reincarnation? What if I nod at the wrong time and, in my next life, you assign me a fate like Yan Shixun’s? I wouldn’t even have a place to cry.
Most of the rescue team members who had been following the show had personally witnessed what Yan Shixun had gone through. They had seen how he faced terrifying life-and-death crises alone, how he emerged bloodied and wounded, stepping over the corpses of evil spirits to claim victory.
Everyone who had seen him in battle respected him deeply.
They worked in a special department where their daily task was to protect lives alongside masters. Even so, someone like Yan Shixun—they had only seen one.
Alongside admiration, they also felt a profound sense of shock and, at times, shame when reflecting on themselves.
Many of them had asked themselves honestly and knew—they couldn’t do what Yan Shixun had done. That made them admire him even more. They understood clearly that even if they were given the same talent, they still wouldn’t become another Yan Shixun.
“The most important thing is…”
One team member looked at Yan Shixun with a complicated expression.
He was calmly observing the standoff between the general and Ye Li. Despite standing so close to them—and even though the fight between these two ghost deities had started because of him—he remained completely unaffected. He was even chatting and laughing with Li Chengyun.
The team member took a deep breath. “This terrifying sight—two ghost deities fighting—only Mr. Yan could endure it without a care in the world.”
“We… couldn’t.”
The King of Hell, “You say that like I could handle it instead.”
Even the hundred thousand underworld soldiers, who had been silently standing at a distance, suddenly moved quietly and in perfect sync, retreating several miles back.
It wasn’t clear whether they had been frightened by their two generals turning on each other, or if they were just being considerate and wanted to give them enough space to fight.
Noticing this, the King of Hell was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a helpless chuckle. “Ye Li really scared his own subordinates badly.”
But it was understandable. If any army suddenly found itself with two commanding generals, and those two started fighting, anyone would be bewildered and unsure which side to help.
After weighing the options, retreating silently was probably the best they could do.
While Ye Li was still locked in verbal combat with the general, pointing out each other’s flaws without backing down, he kept half his attention on the surrounding situation.
When he overheard the rescue team’s discussions, a faint smile appeared in his eyes.
He glanced at the distant army, then turned back, raising an eyebrow at the general in a provocative gesture. Without speaking aloud, he mouthed a message: Loser. Don’t even think about winning against me. Give up.
Ye Li: I spent so much time and patience getting Shixun used to me. I carefully wove a net, waited patiently for this overly wary big cat to step into it. I came up with so many ways just to make him open his heart and realize he did feel something for me.
And you? You think that after spending just a bit of time with him, he’ll suddenly understand your feelings? Heh.
The general’s face grew colder and more murderous after realizing Ye Li’s unspoken meaning.
But he had to admit—Ye Li wasn’t wrong.
Yan Shixun… really didn’t have that string in him.
Even Li Chengyun, who wasn’t familiar with how the others usually interacted, quickly realized what was going on. Meanwhile, Yan Shixun remained completely unaware, leisurely watching from the side as though none of it concerned him.
He was even seriously discussing with Li Chengyun how to completely destroy Hell.
He had absolutely no awareness that he was being loved.
The faint smile that had been on the general’s lips completely disappeared. He stared at Yan Shixun, his thin lips pressed into a bloodless line.
Yet, Ye Li chuckled instead.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, cast a meaningful glance at the general, and turned to walk toward Yan Shixun with the light steps of a victor.
At that moment, the winner was clear.
Ye Li had never been so grateful for Yan Shixun’s obliviousness as he was now.
Only now did he realize that the dullness that had given him so many headaches had also become a barrier for others who wished to pursue Yan Shixun. It prevented them from stealing him away.
“The ghost official mentioned three places where ghost energy was the heaviest. We still don’t know the location of the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor’s former residence, but the clearest and most feasible option right now is to completely destroy the lowest level of Hell, to shatter the core of old Fengdu from the foundation…”
Yan Shixun was seriously explaining his plan to Li Chengyun when he suddenly felt a presence draw near and an arm wrap around his waist.
His words came to an abrupt halt, and he turned in surprise to see who it was.
What met his eyes was Ye Li’s genuine, radiant smile.
The irritation from being interrupted instantly dissolved. Instead, Ye Li’s cheerful mood infected him, and even before he could say a word, a smile had already crept up the corners of his lips.
“What are you doing?”
Yan Shixun asked with a helpless laugh, pushing lightly against Ye Li’s solid chest. “I’m talking with Master. Wait for me over there. It’s hard to speak like this.”
But despite what he said, there wasn’t the slightest discomfort in his expression.
He had already gotten used to Ye Li’s constant presence by his side—like air, surrounding him all the time. Whenever he turned around, that familiar face was always there.
It had become a habit that brought him peace of mind.
Li Chengyun quietly watched their interaction, the smile on his lips deepening.
How wonderful—it seemed Xiao Xun finally had someone willing to stay by his side, never leaving even in life and death.
There was no longer any need to worry that Xiao Xun would be alone.
If he had to leave again this time, then perhaps… he could truly go in peace.
When Yan Shixun pushed Ye Li away, Ye Li didn’t insist. His purpose had been to assert his claim in front of the general—to show clearly that he and Yan Shixun were not someone the general could intervene between, to make him give up entirely.
So Ye Li immediately took half a step back, maintaining a distance that would reassure Yan Shixun.
However, Yan Shixun didn’t even notice that, even as he was turning Ye Li down, the smile on his lips never disappeared.
The man in front of him was truly someone who made him feel at ease and happy.
Yan Shixun’s subconscious had already given the answer.
Everyone except him could see it clearly.
Li Chengyun smiled and said, “Looks like my divinations really are accurate. I even managed to foresee this, though I hadn’t expected it.”
But wasn’t it all a delightful surprise?
Yan Shixun looked at Li Chengyun in confusion, not understanding what he meant.
Li Chengyun didn’t bother to explain. Instead, he quickly changed the subject: “The method you mentioned, Xiao Xun, is indeed the only viable one right now.”
He spoke in an even tone: “During all the years I spent in old Fengdu, though I was trapped in the lowest level of Hell due to lingering regrets, I never stopped looking for Fengdu’s weak point.”
“No ghost knows where the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor once resided—as though it vanished completely with the death of the ghost deity.”
“The deadliest weakness of old Fengdu…”
Li Chengyun extended his hand and pointed to the ground beneath their feet. “Is right here.”
“This is the place where ghost energy is the densest in all of old Fengdu. It’s also the foundation of Fengdu’s existence. Because there are so many ferocious ghosts here, the city spirit of old Fengdu confidently placed its core deep in the lowest level of Hell, believing that with all these layers of ghostly energy as protection, no one would ever be able to get close to the core.”
Li Chengyun said calmly, “Arrogance always invites destruction. Even old Fengdu is no exception.”
“Its greatest weakness—was its overconfidence.”
It believed no one could resist the Ghost Dao, believed the momentum was already in its favor, and that nothing could stop its revival…
It grew proud before the dust had even settled.
Li Chengyun lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.
That… was not a good habit.
Even at the very last moment, even with just a breath left and a sliver of hope—there was still a chance to turn the tide!
“As long as we destroy the lowest level of Hell, everything else will fall into place.”
Li Chengyun smiled as he looked at Yan Shixun and said softly, “The Ghost Dao has risen, and it is contending with the Great Dao—but it will never succeed.”
“Because you’re here, Xiao Xun.”
Hermit Chengyun, who had once glimpsed the Great Dao, finally understood the original plan of the Dao completely when he witnessed both Ye Li and the general appear at the same time.
This was a game of chess that had begun a thousand years ago.
With the succession of the old and new Fengdu, a worthy opponent had finally emerged on the other side of the board—someone capable of matching the Dao’s strategies.
And the very first cause planted by the Dao… was that single glimpse the general had seen of the future.
The general had seen Yan Shixun, but at that time, he hadn’t realized what it truly meant.
—That was the miracle of the Dao, a vitality that defied all restrictions.
Even in a hopeless deadlock, Yan Shixun alone was enough to reverse the tide and support heaven and earth when they were on the verge of collapse.
The Lord of Fengdu, disillusioned with the mortal world and rejecting the Dao, the general, who silently guarded against evil for his obsession with ghosts and deities, and the King of Hell, who, full of doubt toward the Dao, fled when the gods fell—
And all the exorcists, the Taoists of Haiyun Temple, the special departments, the rescue teams, and the countless people who took it upon themselves to resist…
All humans, deities, and spirits gathered because of Yan Shixun’s existence, forming an overwhelmingly powerful force.
The trust and yearning of life—this was a power greater than any other existence.
While it burdened Yan Shixun with tremendous responsibility, it also granted him immense strength, enabling him to lead them all in resisting the Ghost Dao and restoring balance to the world.
“Xiao Xun, as long as you firmly believe we can win,”
Li Chengyun smiled calmly, as gentle as drifting clouds. “Then we will definitely suppress the Ghost Dao and restore the Great Dao.”
As Li Chengyun’s words dissipated into the air, Yan Shixun’s eyes slowly widened. He fixed his gaze on his master, even subconsciously lightening his breath.
When Li Chengyun left, Yan Shixun had not yet completed his training.
Back then, the way he looked at Li Chengyun was filled with admiration, as if gazing up at a mountain too tall to climb or a drifting cloud too far to reach.
A towering mountain that one could only revere; a noble path one could only admire from afar.
But now, Li Chengyun had affirmed his growth with unwavering confidence in his tone.
Yan Shixun took a long moment to collect himself.
Suppressing the emotional turmoil in his chest, he solemnly nodded to Li Chengyun and promised, “I swear I won’t return until we defeat the Ghost Dao. The myriad living beings do not need a Ghost Dao that slaughters life. It has betrayed life, and so all life shall reject it.”
The moment Yan Shixun finished speaking, the sky of hell abruptly darkened.
Black clouds gathered. Thunder roared. Lightning flashed. A heavy, oppressive force swept across the land.
The sky, torn open by the general, still gaped with a massive rift. Thick bolts of lightning struck the earth through it in succession. Mountains split apart. Stones shattered. Sand and dust filled the air.
Within the deafening thunder echoed the shrill screams of countless ghosts, as if they were wailing and shrieking in agony.
The heavy atmosphere made it difficult to breathe. The crowd, who had just started to feel a bit relieved, instantly tensed again, their nerves on edge as they watched their surroundings warily.
Everyone’s expression immediately grew solemn. They realized that the Old Fengdu had discovered their presence in the deepest layer of hell, approaching its core, and thus flew into a murderous rage, intent on killing them.
Amidst the sea of tense faces, Ye Li remained calm, utterly indifferent to the threat posed by Old Fengdu.
Instead, he turned to the general with a half-smile. “Because of you, my power has been suppressed all along. As the commanding general, are you incapable of strategizing and too blind to distinguish who is a true deity and who is evil?”
“Now, it’s time for you to release the power that guards against evil.”
Ye Li’s voice was low and steady. “Leave what comes next to me.”
The generalgazed at Ye Li with dark eyes and immediately sensed the truth in his words.
After a pause, he slowly closed his eyes.
In that instant, an invisible force surged outward from the general as the center.
Heaven and earth changed color.
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