This was not the first time Qingyi had left her body in spirit form, but she had never told anyone about it. Not even Master, as close as he was. She had never mentioned that she had learned to project her divine soul out of her body. She had studied Daoist arts from childhood and naturally understood that a soul could not wander for too long. If she was not careful, a stray ghost could take possession of her empty body.

To ensure that no one would covet her little body, she not only kept ritual implements to ward off all evil on her person at all times, but had also inscribed a spiritual talisman at her elbow — if any filthy thing dared try to enter, it would be burned to cinders.

Qingyi floated cheerfully down the mountain, but her luck was not great this time — she had slipped out during Ghost Month, when the Ghost Gate was not strictly guarded. She ran into a procession of a hundred wandering ghosts, and upon seeing this fresh soul — a living soul at that — they were all startled and then delighted. Among them, several of the larger ghosts grew so excited that their ghost-eyes went red.

“A living soul bearing great merit — a supremely nourishing substance! Ha, Ghost Month this year is indeed favorable to us!” One large ghost bared its gaping, hideous maw and lunged toward her with clawing arms, its cold, eerie ghost-energy surging to devour and consume her entirely.

Qingyi was only ten years old, but being the product of a strict teacher’s training, she had experience fighting great ghosts before. She felt not the slightest alarm — on the contrary, she rushed forward with excitement.

Soul versus soul, fighting in spirit form — what a novel experience!

A few of the cleverer ones, seeing this little living soul face a hundred ghosts without so much as a flinch — worse, with open excitement on her face — felt a lurching sensation in their chest and instinctively took a step back.

And indeed, they soon witnessed a gruesome scene. Tearing, howling screams of agony, great ghosts dissolving into wisps of black smoke — those remaining locked their spectral forms rigid, shaking violently with dread.

“Little Heavenly Master, have mercy! We have never harmed anyone,” some ghosts dropped to their knees crying.

This ferocious child’s origins were completely unknown. She had begun attacking with ghost-destroying techniques from the very first move, which clearly marked her as someone from the Daoist path — with ruthless methods on top of it. They had never heard of anyone this dangerous!

Qingyi, still shredding the soul of a large ghost in her hands, asked, “It may be Ghost Month, but the Ghost Gate has not opened wide. What are you all doing traveling in a pack? Are you planning to bring harm to the mortal world?”

Small as she was, she was formidable, and even in her soul form her divine spirit carried with it a blazing, upright energy. As she called out her question, that righteous energy surged and seemed to emit a golden light, making all the ghost-souls weaken by several degrees, and they hastily explained: “We would not dare. It is the birthday celebration of the Feng Ya Lord of the Nine Depths, and we are going to pay our respects.”

“A birthday celebration? Every last one of you, empty-handed. Who would believe that?” Qingyi narrowed her phoenix eyes at them. “You think I’m young and naive, don’t you — spinning nonsense to fool me.”

“Little Heavenly Master is not aware — since ancient times, when the Feng Ya Lord celebrates his birthday, all gifts are sent in advance. On the actual day, one simply attends the feast to pay respects.” An older-looking ghost explained. “And so we need only proceed forward and receive the Feng Ya Lord’s blessing.”

“You all look genuinely awed. Is this Feng Ya Lord very powerful?” Qingyi asked with keen interest.

The ghosts smiled but gave no answer.

Powerful? Of course he was powerful. He was the pinnacle among their kind, a ghost cultivator with the prospect of ascending to immortality — naturally he was powerful.

“I have never seen what a ghost-realm birthday looks like. Take me along to witness it.”

The ghosts privately thought: you will have no return.

The older ghost glanced once at the blazing upright energy on her body and the faint golden light that surrounded her, then said, “Little Heavenly Master, as you are a living soul, it would be unwise for you to remain out of your body for too long. It would be better for you to return.”

“Stop your chatter and lead the way!” Return was not going to happen — she had barely just left. She had deliberately come out to the meditation stone with Ah Yue for three days of seclusion, and this was a golden opportunity. There was no going back like this.

What could the ghosts do? A proverb says, good words cannot save one who is determined to die. She insisted on going to meet her end, so let her go.

The group set out again. A few more times, other ghosts spotted this fearsome being, lit up with two glowing eyes, and then got beaten until their souls scattered — which eventually put the whole procession into quiet, well-behaved submission. They all came to learn the name of this ferocious child.

She had no family name, only her Daoist title: Qingyi, personally tutored disciple of the current National Preceptor of the Great Dan Empire.

A disciple of the National Preceptor — no wonder she was so capable, or rather, so ruthless.

But one ghost was watching Qingyi with venomous eyes. That gaze, full of a hatred that wanted to swallow her whole — but restrained, suppressed.

Qingyi seemed to sense something, and followed that line of sight to look. She saw a young male ghost of about ten years of age, his ghost-face twisted with malice, staring at her with what seemed like a deep and bitter grudge — yet holding himself in check.

This was not the covetous look of one eyeing the merit energy on her soul, nor anything else of that sort — it was pure hatred. This young man hated her. Yet she had never met him before.

Qingyi was not one to leave a threatening presence like that lurking nearby, but nor would she kill carelessly. Questions first — once answered, she could decide. She floated directly in front of him and asked without preamble: “What grudge do you and I have?”

Her sudden question startled him for a moment. He looked at the torrential golden light on her body, carrying its aura of authority. His gaze was wary, but also angrier for it. He blurted out: “What National Preceptor — he is nothing but a vicious, hypocritical evil practitioner beneath a righteous mask. You are his disciple, which makes you cut from the same cloth. That golden light and the karmic fortune you carry — I wager it was all stolen.”

Qingyi erupted. She charged at him. “Say that again!”

“Aah!” Her golden light was far too fierce and radiant, blazing even hotter in her rage. In the collision it was like being struck by solar fire — the young man let out a scream of agony as he was scorched.

Every ghost in the vicinity was stunned by the sudden development.

This little fiend was like a firecracker — lit the match and she exploded on the spot.

Terrified of being caught in the blast, they all scrambled backward, none daring to step in to help.

“I don’t care if you insult me. But insult my Master, and I will destroy you.” Qingyi pinched her hand into a technique seal to summon lightning, twin fires blazing in her eyes.

Stealing others’ karmic merit energy was something she would never stoop to. She could cultivate her own. On what basis did he say such a thing?

“You are all cut from the same cloth. The National Preceptor is a practitioner of evil. He destroyed the Min Clan entirely. I am Min Qingfeng — even as a ghost, I will not let you go.” Even with his soul-form scorched and weakened, Min Qingfeng could not stop screaming, lashing out with his ghost-claws toward her.

Qingyi was enraged. Her Master was revered by the people of all the realm — how dare this creature slander him?

Her eyes went sharp; her technique seal was about to strike — when without warning, an overwhelming, domineering pressure crashed down. Her every hair stood on end as she spun around to look.

Dark killing energy rolled in waves. Not good — could this be the legendary Feng Ya Lord?

“I wondered who was throwing their weight around in my territory — it turns out to be a little Daoist girl. What remarkable audacity.” The man had a head of ink-black hair, loosely tied back, dressed in a deep teal robe. His eyes were deep-set; when he narrowed them, the corners swept upward in a cold, sharp slant.

All the ghosts bowed as one, calling out in greeting: “Lord Feng Ya.”

It truly was him!

Feng Ya saw the lightning technique seal she was forming, and sent a surging, grim force of Nine Depths energy directly toward her hand — cold and sharp as a sword. Qingyi flinched and, without thinking, struck back at that force.

A boom.

All the ghosts fled in every direction, scattered by the thunderclap.

Qingyi retreated several steps, and the wariness in her eyes became apparent. This was no ordinary great ghost — this was an existence that had achieved great completion and could rightly be called a ghost king.

Feng Ya was equally surprised. No more than ten years of age, and already with this level of cultivation. Had the spiritual energy of the mortal world recovered to this degree?

“You — are you ganging up on me with your numbers?” Qingyi looked at the dense, dark mass of ghosts surrounding her, and at the many malevolent glares fixed on her, and closed her hand around the jade talisman at her waist.

If she couldn’t win in a moment, should she run?

“Was it not you who was bullying ghosts with a little cultivation?” Feng Ya watched her with arms folded, clearly entertained.

“I had never met him before, and I do not know what I could have done to offend him. Not only did he insult me, he insulted my Master. Am I supposed to pretend nothing happened?” Qingyi smiled coldly and shot a sharp glance at the weakened Min Qingfeng.

Feng Ya said coldly, “Little Daoist girl — in this world, is there such a thing as hatred without a cause?”