Chapter Thirty-Four: Discovered

"Even if it can't be stopped, it must be stopped." Gongyang Yan's resolve was unwavering.

Those petty criminals from the sect, their ambitions never die. Do they dream of enslaving the world under the sect? To become the Supreme Emperor?

Jiang Dongliu remained silent. He stepped through the void, leaving the Demon Suppression Tower behind. Within the span of a single day, he had witnessed too many mysteries in Dongbin City.

Gongyang Yan still fell short, but behind her stood the Demon Suppression Bureau of Dayuan, the Gongyang clan. In the present situation, there was no need for him to act; others would naturally push events toward the outcome he wished to see.

She—she had acted again.

Dayuan, it seemed, had reached the time of waning fortune. Eight hundred years of rule—was a change of dynasty imminent? It had been so long that people had even forgotten that anyone could ascend to the throne in this land.

But had the Guliang royal family prepared themselves to face their darkest hour?

Her existence, even within the sect, was taboo.

Gongyang Yan's expression was composed as she pondered the information Jiang Dongliu had revealed. "She?" Who was she?

"Perhaps those above already know."

What roles did the Guliang royal family, the Gongyang clan, the Demon Suppression Bureau, and the Divine Surveillance Bureau play in all this? What use was she, a mere pawn?

Gongyang Yan understood that this mission might not be about fighting monsters or demons. Too many forces were entangled.

She gazed once more at Mount Dali.

A surge of restless desire welled within her—she longed to mobilize every cannon in the army, to level Mount Dali to the ground. Yet she knew, even with such power, it would be nearly impossible.

The Divine Surveillance Bureau would obstruct her actions. Her family would urge caution.

The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts—if the Gate of the Underworld truly existed, it was most likely within Mount Dali. But how to open it? That was a question yet unanswered.

"A Demon Suppression apprentice needs time to grow."

"The appearance of Jiang Dongliu has left me little time."

According to her plan, once a hundred Demon Suppression apprentices matured, she would assign them to infiltrate all major powers in Dongbin City—indirectly controlling the city guard, the navy, the patrol forces.

Braided together like a single rope, she would consolidate Dongbin City's strength.

Meanwhile, Bai Li Feihong's body had grown stiff with cold. Fortunately, the primordial blood within him circulated slowly on its own, preventing his body from losing its warmth.

He counted the passing time, but it was agonizingly slow, sapping his patience.

"Tsk tsk, the flesh of these monsters—if offered to the Lord Ghost General, he would surely be pleased."

A voice suddenly sounded nearby. Bai Li Feihong nearly cursed aloud. Forced to hide here, he hadn't expected that this heap of rotten meat, failing to attract more monsters, would instead draw in fierce ghosts.

"Eight monsters—the Demon Suppression Bureau's sweep was truly ruthless. Luckily, they don't enter the mountain at night, so we lesser ghosts dare show ourselves."

The voice was tinged with ancient weariness—another fierce ghost.

"Enough chatter. I couldn't handle these monster corpses alone, so I called you to help. They're all offerings for the Ghost General. Those monsters are cunning; as soon as night falls, they flee into the mountains."

The ghost with the sharp, chilling voice spoke.

"The Gate of the Underworld is about to open. Soon, even those beasts won't come to Mount Dali in the daylight to absorb demonic energy," the ancient-sounding ghost remarked.

"Silence! Can we speak of the Gate of the Underworld? If its secret leaks, we'll have nowhere to hide. The Demon Suppression Bureau might come, dig up our graves, and burn our hiding places to ashes..."

"Enough. Let's figure out how to transport these monster corpses back."

"Some of these monsters won't please the Ghost General. But this ten-zhang-long giant serpent demon—if used to brew wine, it's excellent material," said the sharp-voiced ghost.

The ancient-sounding ghost replied, "...The Ghost General doesn't have a barrel that big."

"We can cut it into slices."

"Slice it for wine?!!"

Their exchange reached Bai Li Feihong's ears.

He sighed in regret—having died once, yet unable to find peace. Of all things, why must they target the giant serpent demon?

But things were not easy. The Ghost General mentioned by the ghosts was surely a power beyond Bai Li Feihong's current ability to resist. If his hiding place was exposed, escaping from this Hundred Ghost Paradise of Mount Dali would be nearly impossible.

"The night is long, and dreams are many. Perhaps the Ghost General really does have a barrel that large. Let's first haul the serpent demon's corpse back to the Ghost General's shadowy mansion and let him decide," said the sharp-voiced ghost, helplessly ending the debate.

"Five Ghosts Transporting Technique! Wandering souls of the four directions, obey my command—rise!"

He summoned a dozen lesser ghosts to lift the serpent demon's corpse.

Suddenly, with a crash, the serpent demon's belly exploded!

A faint sound—a figure, wrapped in the gleam of a blade, appeared in a flash, striking the sharp-voiced ghost with lightning speed.

The sharp-voiced ghost instinctively tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

From within the serpent demon's belly, Bai Li Feihong leaped forth, slashing at the ghosts.

How could he let the most powerful ghost live?

With a single strike, he dispersed the ghost's spirit. The blade, like a dragon, incorporated the returning flow technique from his Four Seas Fist into its movement, and with a reverse grip, he slew the other fierce ghost.

The summoned lesser ghosts scattered in terror, fleeing in all directions.

Bai Li Feihong unleashed tremendous power, accelerating his speed and dispatching the group of lesser ghosts in an instant.

"Slayed two fierce ghosts, gained 4 skill points!"

"Slayed eighteen lesser ghosts, gained 18 skill points!"

A total of 22 skill points!

Added to his existing 27, Bai Li Feihong now had 49 skill points.

The only pity was that slaying ghosts earned him no merit.

Yet with so many skill points, Bai Li Feihong saw a new hope.

"Three hours remain until dawn."

After hearing the two fierce ghosts' conversation, Bai Li Feihong knew it was time to leave.

Ghosts feared not monsters. And monsters survived in Mount Dali only by retreating to the mountains at dusk.

Bai Li Feihong hadn't gone far when ghost soldiers, riding skeletal warhorses, surged out from the ghost market and arrived at the scene.

"The aura of the living."

Their leader raised his head, gazing toward Bai Li Feihong's direction of escape. In his eyes, the living aura illuminated the path.

"Chase him down—capture this living man alive and present him to the Ghost General!"

The troop of ghost soldiers spurred their mounts, racing after Bai Li Feihong.

Running at full speed, Bai Li Feihong soon encountered trouble.

A network of ghost streets encircled Mount Dali.

The place had truly become a city of ghost streets.

He looked up to see wandering souls drifting by, their cold eyes fixed upon him.

Greedy ghostly gazes—if not for the blood aura emanating from Bai Li Feihong, they would have already pounced upon him.