Chapter 502: Tide of ghosts

The location of the Southern Ghost Gate, Mount Luofu.

This place is very close to the Southwest, being the Ghost Gate closest to Shaman God Mountain. Therefore, to return to Shaman God Mountain, Shen Shuibi naturally chose this Ghost Gate as an exit, walking directly from the Underworld to this location.

At this moment, Shen Shuibi and Li Qi were observing the thousands of Dharma Carriages below.

This type of Dharma Carriage, in fact, has also been incorporated into many folk customs. For example, when carrying a coffin, someone must clear the way in front, people walk in the middle, and others bring up the rear. Only then is it called a 'Carriage'.

High-ranking officials or landlords in the Mortal world would also have simple 'Carriages' when traveling.

But compared to those crude, or even useless, carriages, this orderly Dharma Carriage in front of them was clearly something only cultivators understood, truly effective, and even so effective that it resonated with the central part of Mount Luofu, thus forming a certain pull.

Li Qi nodded slightly upon hearing this, indicating that he understood.

As expected, Shen Shuibi directly stated that this was indeed related to Mount Luofu, so… they should just wait patiently and see what the other party would face.

Old Ma, however, didn't care about any of that. He just stared at the two Taoists who had beaten him with the Town Dragon Formation and the Golden Armored Warriors earlier, baring his teeth, probably thinking only of revenge.

As for Mount Luofu, resonance, the School's ultimate destination, or why no powerful Fourth or Fifth Rank cultivators came to occupy these places, he hadn't given any of these questions a single thought.

Old Ma lived quite purely, of course, one could also say quite brainlessly, but he was just a horse, and only in his twenties. Don't expect him to think about so much all day.

Li Qi's mind was constantly churning with so many ideas, and he was also very tired. Li Qi just had no choice; if he didn't think about these things, he would truly be played to death by others.

Old Ma wouldn't be played by others, so he naturally bothered less about thinking too much, preferring to act on his impulses and grievances.

Several hours later, the Dharma Carriage, under restraint, reached the depths of Mount Luofu without causing too much damage to its ecology.

However, several hours were already enough for the sky to darken.

As the sky darkened, it was the time for Yin Ghosts to run rampant.

“For them, it might be a bit difficult to get through. The Yin Qi is too heavy, affecting the performance of their Dao Arts. This place is near the Ghost Gate, and some Yin Ghosts can even reach the Seventh Rank,” Li Qi reminded.

“No matter. Any higher-ranked Yin Ghosts will be taken away by the Ghost Messengers. If there are any remaining that are too strong, I’ll just help block them,” Shen Shuibi seemed determined to have them go to the center of Mount Luofu, so she acted directly.

She stretched out her slender, fair hand and drew a few strokes in the air, then slapped it. A dense Qi surged out from her body.

This was not the 'Qi' found in all things, but the 'Qi' belonging to the Innate Three Treasures within Shen Shuibi’s body.

“Baopuzi” says: “Qi can avert natural disasters. If there are evil spirits or mountain sprites invading people's homes, throwing tiles and stones at people, or setting fire to their houses; or if they appear and move about, or one only hears their voices and words, then those who are skilled in prohibitions can use Qi to banish them, and they will immediately cease. This shows that Qi can banish ghosts and spirits. When entering mountain forests where there are many poisonous streams and vipers, ordinary people who pass through for a short time are invariably injured, but those skilled in prohibitions can use Qi to banish them, able to clear an area of several tens of miles, ensuring that their companions are unharmed. They can also banish tigers, leopards, snakes, and bees, making them all submit and unable to move.”

And Baopuzi was a cultivator from Mount Luofu. What Shen Shuibi used at this moment was Mount Luofu's method of manipulating Qi, using her own Innate Three Treasures as a catalyst to directly suppress all the Yin Ghosts around her!

Some Seventh Rank Yin Ghosts around, who had been eager to devour people, fled in terror under such a display. The surrounding hundred miles were cleared, and most of the Yin Ghosts escaped.

“Won’t this be noticed?” Li Qi said, “If it’s noticed, won’t they be forced to go on their own?”

“It won’t be noticed. I can also command ghosts and spirits,” Shen Shuibi said, using her finger as a brush to draw two circles in the air. A Talismanic core and feet appeared, inscribed with sixteen large characters:

“Greatly expel ghosts and spirits, overturn heaven and earth, depart from all evil falsehoods, enter my Dao source.”

Then, she wrote her name at the beginning: “By Shen Shuibi’s Command.”

As her name appeared, a Talisman manifested out of thin air. From the surrounding Ghost Gates, myriad ghosts howled! Countless insect poisons, plague spirits, poisonous evil demons, Yin Ghosts, and monstrous creatures were immediately pulled over by some force!

Then, Shen Shuibi cast down the Talisman and casually said, “Eighth Rank and above are not to act. As for the others, besiege the formation below.”

After speaking, the Talisman dispersed, transforming into heavy restraints that bound these demons, forcing them to act according to the Taoists' commands!

The Taoists' methods of commanding gods and driving ghosts were not as gentle as the Shaman's communication, and Shen Shuibi's attitude towards this was completely indifferent. She had never been a kind and benevolent little rabbit; her attitude towards these Yin Ghosts was probably… apathy.

I cultivate my Immortality, only caring about the people I care about. As for the others… whatever. Only when the slaughter is so great that it 'harms heavenly harmony' would she find it inappropriate.

She was like this in the Holy Flame World, and naturally, it was the same here.

Li Qi, however, frowned slightly and reached out to supplement. Countless Life Qi enveloped the converging demons below, and then he said, “If there are casualties, retreat immediately. With my Great Forest Wood Qi protecting you, your lives are safe. In return, do not truly kill anyone. Just pressure them and test their mettle.”

The demons and Yin Ghosts below were terrified and naturally dared not say anything more, only allowing themselves to be ordered about, forced by the Talisman to charge the Dharma Carriage.

However, this was actually what they wanted to do.

Even without Shen Shuibi's forced intervention, these Yin Ghosts and monstrous creatures would still charge the Dharma Carriage. After all… slaughter was their hobby, and flesh and blood Life Qi were their sustenance. These guys were pitiful in Shen Shuibi's hands, but none of them, if released, wouldn't eat people or harm lives.

All Shen Shuibi did was drive away the powerful monstrous ghosts, and then capture some weaker monstrous ghosts to act out a play.

It was just that this play was a matter of life and death.

As for Li Qi’s attitude of 'it's best if no one dies unless necessary,' Shen Shuibi didn't show any reaction.

There was no need for a reaction. Her attitude was as stated earlier: indifference. Li Qi could kill all these things or save them all; she had no opinion.

Whether they died or lived, it had nothing to do with her. Concepts like good and evil did not exist for the reclusive factions of the Dao School, just as it was once said. (See Chapter 280)

All actions and words stemmed from a single mind, neither good nor evil, truly like one's own nature.

As for Old Ma, he looked eager to try.

He had wanted to beat up these Taoists for a long time!

After all, he had just been beaten by the Taoists, and he was still holding a grudge.

As the two's spells took form, a tide of Yin Ghosts immediately surged below.

A large number of monstrous creatures poured out from the dark forest at night.

No sound of beasts or birds was heard, only ghosts and demons were seen. The Yin wind whistled, and black mist spread everywhere.

At first glance, one saw that all the usual mountain and forest scenery was gone, whether high or low, in all directions! Looking left and right, all were ghosts and demons!

A true tide, vast monstrous ghosts, surging demons, like a layered wall crashing in, causing chills to run down one's spine at the sight of it!

Looking around, there were some in the mountains, in the forests, below the ridges, in the caves, at the bottom of the ravines, and on the rivers!

All around were malevolent spirits, heaven and earth filled with demons. In front of the mountain, tiger demons roared and ox demons bellowed. Behind the mountain, half-hidden evil ghosts and half-submerged water ghosts cried out in despair.

Some hungry ghosts came with hanging sinews, some ghosts jumped from fiery pits, some were flayed to the bone, some had broken arms and severed tendons, each in a tragic state.

The surroundings were like a terrestrial Fengdu; some Yin Ghosts had their tongues pulled out, some had their skin flayed, weeping and wailing, miserably.

Grinding and pounding, cart-splitting and stone-crushing, one by one, their skin was torn and flesh ripped, wiping their mouths and baring their teeth, intestines pulled out and bellies gouged, filthy-faced and disheveled, with worried and wrinkled eyes, truly a living pool of Avici Hell!

Red-haired ghosts, black-faced ghosts, ox-headed ghosts, horse-faced ghosts, holding iron rods and copper hammers, their weapons dripping with blood, ran out from the mountain forest, wanting to devour these Taoists alive!

The flood dragons raged, the monstrous creatures' fires flickered dimly. Numerous grotesque and ugly forms, having experienced distant and strange things, were indescribable!

This place was where the Ghost Gate was located! The closest place to the Underworld. For Mortals, the Ghost Gate was probably the closest place to death. There was a common saying, “He walked through the Ghost Gate once,” used to describe a life-and-death situation.

And now, they were truly 'walking through the Ghost Gate'.

In the past, Li Qi had seen a purgatorial scene above the Eastern Ghost Gate, Mount Dushuo, but at that time he was on a Fifth Rank treasure ship, so no Yin Ghosts could approach him, and he naturally had no troubles.

Later, in the Ghost Market, he also had golden light protecting his body, plus his own cultivation was not weak, so he was not bothered by Yin Ghosts at all.

But these Taoists currently had no protective spells, and with Shen Shuibi actively driving them, this terrifying ghost tide was born, directly overwhelming and pressing down on that Dharma Carriage.

However, this was still a weakened ghost tide. If it were normal times, there would probably be Seventh Rank Yin Ghosts mixed in here.

It was just that now Shen Shuibi used Qi to clear the area; ghosts that were not commanded by her could not enter this hundred-mile radius, so this battlefield was temporarily isolated from the outside world.

This was also why no one usually came to this area. Without Mount Luofu suppressing the Ghost Gate, this place was a human Immortal realm during the day, but at night it was a place where ghosts and evil spirits ran rampant.

Good ghosts had long since entered Reincarnation; their good deeds and good karma would be rewarded in the next life. Only those vengeful ghosts and evil ghosts remained, stubbornly holding on with their cultivation, unwilling to Reincarnate.

Before Li Weng became a Ghost Messenger, he was also such an evil ghost, often cursing entire families to death. It was Li Qi who resolved his resentment, which then led to him becoming a 'ghost with a proper position' and no longer so deeply resentful.

So Shen Shuibi felt nothing about commanding these vengeful ghosts and monstrous creatures, not finding anything inappropriate.

Of course, if necessary, she wouldn't be soft-hearted about commanding good ghosts either. It's just that, according to her personality, there would probably be some compensation afterwards, but she definitely wouldn't be like Li Qi, slowly discussing or even having good conversations with those monstrous creatures.

As a large number of monstrous creatures surged towards the Dharma Carriage like a tidal wave.

At this moment, the Taoists did not sit idly by.

On that Dharma Carriage, the Old Taoist who had been slacking off earlier was the quickest to act.

His face was full of tension. Although he knew that Yin Ghosts would appear in this mountain area at night, facing them directly was another matter entirely.

The Old Taoist flew into the air, chanting, “Heavenly Gang, Great One, a hundred gods of thunder and lightning. Blow away calamities, suppress and destroy demons. Perform creation, nourish all living beings. Limitless and Supreme, Golden Palace and Jade Capital. Eliminate all disasters!”

As he chanted, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared around him: a phantom of a White Jade Capital emerged around his body!

This phantom was very illusory, even semi-transparent, but it did not prevent it from being the appearance of the White Jade Capital.

Immortals rode Qilin, shaded by Phoenix, with hibiscus banners, heavy mists, shifting reflections, green calyx halls, golden palaces and red gates, myriad forms of auspicious clouds and strange peaks, all supported by giant wooden structures, adorned with cinnabar and ochre, like flying rainbows, spanning deep ravines, with lush forests, seemingly encompassing all the beauty of the world and hiding the wonders of ancient and modern times.

As soon as this phenomenon appeared, it immediately took effect, as if the Heavenly White Jade Capital had descended upon this place, with a heavy pressure and myriad pure Qi falling, pressing down on many monstrous creatures, making them unable to lift their heads!

However, Shen Shuibi shook her head upon seeing this and casually commented, “This White Jade Capital, not to mention being merely a form… it doesn’t even have a form. The Golden Palace and Immortal mountains are merged, which shows many misconceptions, and its power is insufficient.”

Li Qi smiled and said nothing.

For cultivators, incorporating phenomena into their spells was a very normal thing, just like using allusions in writing. It could borrow power and enhance effects in this way.

But for cultivators, there was a very practical difficulty before them.

The whole world knew that if I hung a True Immortal's portrait on my chest, it wouldn't even require a spell; the portrait itself could serve as protection.

That's why there were so many traditional customs of wearing Bodhisattva amulets and Buddha amulets.

But the question was, what did a True Immortal actually look like?

If you didn't know and carved a random True Immortal image, would it have any effect?

That's why the Dao School rarely had things like protective Talismans.

However, the Buddhist School had specifically engaged in promoting Buddha statues all over the world, aiming for everyone to receive the blessings of a True Buddha and be able to escape demonic thoughtss.

In all the myriad worlds, countless Buddha amulets were the result of the Buddhist School's active promotion, while the Dao School was the exact opposite. You didn't even know how many True Immortals existed, let alone what they looked like.

So, it was the same now. The Old Taoist must have read about the White Jade Capital in a book and, through the descriptions, visualized a White Jade Capital himself. But it was full of errors, and its power was naturally greatly reduced.

And Shen Shuibi knew what the White Jade Capital looked like, so she could naturally perform this spell more excellently. This was the difference between a rogue cultivator and a School Disciple; the rogue cultivator might not even know that their visualization was wrong.

If it was wrong now, it would definitely be wrong every step of the way in the future. When it reached a dead end, to advance further, they would only be able to abandon this spell and re-cultivate it.

Sure enough, an Eighth Rank demon below roared fiercely, and the powerful sound waves, mixed with malevolent and Evil Qi, directly shook the White Jade Capital phenomenon, making it tremble precariously!

But at this moment, the other Eighth Rank cultivators, and the thousands of Taoists under the Dharma Carriage, also began to act!