As the sun began to rise, Mu Zhanting and Yin Ya were the first to reach the second level of the mysterious structure. This floor was filled with densely packed stone cocoons that burst open upon their arrival, revealing rotting infants-turned-vicious ghosts. These spirits proved nearly impossible to kill, and the situation worsened as more demon cultivators who recognized Mu Zhanting were teleported to their location. Left with no choice, the pair could only flee.
Fortunately, the ghostly mother-child duo seemed to have left their scent on Mu Zhanting and Yin Ya. Instead of relentlessly pursuing them, the infant ghosts turned to battle the demon cultivators. Seizing this opportunity, Mu Zhanting, who had come to rescue his captured guards, managed to ambush and kill the Nascent Soul cultivator responsible for their abduction, claiming the demon’s spatial pouch.
However, the sheer number of demon cultivators forced them to retreat. Upon reaching the next level, they encountered a new challenge: the Thousand Coffin Prison. Among a thousand coffins, only one led to the exit, while the rest contained undying skeletons of varying cultivation levels. If they failed to find the correct coffin in time, all would perish from the corrosive miasma.
Faced with this dire situation, cultivators from both righteous and demonic sects set aside their differences to search for an exit. As more coffin lids were lifted, the number of awakened skeletons increased. In desperation, Mu Zhanting released the previously captured cultivators from his spatial pouch. Just as the poisonous mist began to rise, Ji Yang signaled the correct direction, allowing them to escape by a hair’s breadth.
Once they reached temporary safety, the uneasy alliance quickly dissolved. The demon cultivators, eyeing Mu Zhanting, debated whether to eliminate this potential threat to their sect’s ambitions. However, they hesitated, wary of the divine protection that typically shrouded imperial heirs.
Suddenly, Nan Yan sensed a malevolent gaze from among the demon cultivators. She spotted a disheveled woman with her face tightly wrapped in cloth, leaving only small gaps for her mouth and eyes. The woman’s attire identified her as Li Mian, whom Nan Yan had last seen affected by some ghostly technique before being pulled away by Ji Yang.
Li Mian, unaccustomed to such predicaments, seethed with rage. She glared at Ji Yang and hissed, “Uncle Han, kill this traitor and extract his soul for me!”
Han Leizi, though uncertain of Ji Yang’s unexpected arrival, shared Li Mian’s anger. He pointed at Ji Yang and declared, “Prince of Chen State, we can settle other matters later, but you have no right to interfere with Tian Xie Sect’s internal affairs!”
Mu Zhanting turned, asking coolly, “What do you mean?”
“This man is a traitor to our Tian Xie Sect,” Han Leizi explained. “He’s likely behind the traps we’ve encountered since entering this ghostly city!”
As Han Leizi’s words sank in, the demon cultivators turned their attention to Ji Yang. Accusations flew, each more venomous than the last, as they blamed him for their losses and swore vengeance.
Ji Yang, however, remained calm. With a slight smile, he asked, “Don’t you want to hear me out? I might have crucial information for you.”
Ignoring Ji Yang’s implied threat, Han Leizi began gathering spiritual energy, his killing intent palpable. “Killing you and searching your soul will suffice,” he growled.
Unfazed, Ji Yang pointed to the beast statue above them. “The hour before sunrise is when yin energy is weakest,” he explained. “If you wish to claim the position of Youquan Prison Lord, now is your best chance. Once the sun fully rises over the eastern mountains, the yin energy will disperse, and Youquan Creek will vanish like morning dew. The choice between seizing this opportunity and dwelling on grudges is yours.”
As if by coincidence, Ji Yang tapped the beast statue. Immediately, blue flames began to coalesce in its mouth, shrinking as the dawn’s light pierced through the clouds. Soon, only a pulsating, blue fire shell remained, seemingly ready to drop from the beast’s maw at any moment.
Han Leizi’s eyes flickered with interest. He shouted, “Miss Mian! This man has caused great losses to our Si State’s Nascent Soul cultivators. His crimes are unforgivable, and I must tear him to shreds. As for this opportunity, I leave it to you and our fellow cultivators!”
Chaos erupted as the Nascent Soul cultivators unleashed their attacks. Nan Yan readied her prayer beads, but Ji Yang swiftly moved her to safety before facing the oncoming Han Leizi. In a blink, Ji Yang teleported onto the statue, with Han Leizi in hot pursuit.
Nan Yan frowned, recalling Zhu Sui’s failed sneak attack on Ji Yang earlier. She wondered what other plans he might have for this mayhem but had no time to ponder further. She rushed to aid the righteous Dragon Lion Guards, who were struggling against the Nascent Soul cultivators despite their impressive formations.
The nearest Nascent Soul cultivator had transformed into a monstrous lizard-like being, with scaled arms, a barbed tail, and a forked tongue dripping venom. His speed was incredible, and his claws easily tore through protective spells. One guard narrowly escaped death by sacrificing a chunk of flesh.
“You can’t escape!” the lizard man snarled, poised to deliver a fatal blow. Suddenly, he froze as Nan Yan’s prayer beads ensnared his tail, sending waves of paralysis through his body.
“A Buddhist cultivator!” he exclaimed, shocked by the aggressive use of Buddhist power. Nan Yan yanked her beads, slamming the Nascent Soul cultivator against the beast statue’s claw.
Though dazed, the lizard-man quickly recovered. Seeing Nan Yan’s cultivation level, he roared, “Mere firefly, you dare challenge the sun and moon? Die!”
Nan Yan’s training in the Seven Tribulation Karmic Pagoda now proved invaluable. In the past, she couldn’t have withstood even the spiritual pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator, let alone engage one in combat.
Glancing at Mu Zhanting, who was single-handedly fending off two Nascent Soul cultivators, Nan Yan understood the caliber expected of imperial heirs. They all had to be capable of facing Nascent Soul cultivators head-on, with some even boasting kills at that level.
“Be careful, friend! We’ve already lost two brothers to this venomous creature!” a guard warned.
“Stay back,” Nan Yan commanded. Though unskilled in long-range combat, she knew she had to maintain a constant shield of Buddhist energy against the lizard-man’s attacks, a tactic that drained her spiritual energy and limited her movements.
As the battle intensified, Nan Yan realized she needed to end it quickly. The lizard-man, seeing her stand her ground, sneered, “Buddhist flesh is a great tonic for my Ink Lizard Phantom form. Since you won’t dodge, I’ll gladly devour you!”
Unwilling to prolong the fight, the lizard-man unleashed his full Nascent Soul power. A spectral lizard formed behind him, his features becoming more reptilian as his demonic aura surged.
“I’m a half-blood of the great Ink Lizard demon clan!” he boasted. “This ghost city has awakened 40% of my demon blood. You’ve made a grave mistake, Buddhist!”
Their clashing energies created a shockwave, startling nearby combatants. “Am I seeing things?” someone exclaimed. “A Foundation Establishment cultivator fighting a Nascent Soul one-on-one?”
As the dust settled, Nan Yan emerged, blood on her lips but hands flashing through Buddhist mudras. The lizard-man found himself trapped within a massive bell.
“You’ve exhausted 80% of your spiritual energy just to trap me for ten breaths,” he mocked. “How foolish!”
A wounded Dragon Lion Guard urged, “You’ve done enough, friend. Leave now; we’ll hold him off!”
Nan Yan shook her head, wiping blood from her mouth. “Ten breaths is all I need.”
The ground around the bell began to glow like molten rock, forming an intricate Buddhist array. Four sacred objects—a sword sheath, prayer beads, a copper bowl, and a jade talisman—appeared at the cardinal points, connected by golden threads. The lizard-man inside howled in agony.
“What is this Buddhist fire?!” he screamed. “It’s burning through my demon blood armor!”
Nan Yan’s expression remained cold. “Good and evil will be repaid in the end. My Buddha cleanses all demons. This array punishes evil and purifies karma. I grant you… early ascension to paradise.”
As she spoke, the golden threads sliced into the bell. With a horrific shriek, the lizardman’s body was shredded. His head broke free, and the Nascent Soul within spat out a green poison pearl. But before he could use it, a shrill female voice cried out—
“Useless old lizard!” A sickle flew from behind, shattering the poisonous pearl and splashing its contents towards Nan Yan.
The poison penetrated her protective Buddhist light. Though she dodged quickly, two drops landed on her face. As she staggered back, Li Mian laughed maniacally.
“This is true karma!” Li Mian shrieked. “If not for you, I wouldn’t be in this half-human, Half-Face-Ghost state. It’s only fair your face rots too. I’ll cut off your limbs, stuff your finger bones in your eyes, and then—”
Li Mian’s rant was cut short as Nan Yan tore off her melted mask, revealing her true, striking features.
“I see now,” Li Mian gasped. “That face looked familiar. You’re the one my brother wanted—”
“Your heart is poisoned beyond salvation,” Nan Yan declared. Unleashing her full Buddhist power, she struck at Li Mian.
Panicking without Han Leizi’s protection, Li Mian screamed, “Corpse Sickle!”
Nan Yan was determined to end Li Mian, but suddenly Yin Ya appeared.
“Second brother?” Yin Ya, who’d been fleeing a Nascent Soul cultivator, spotted Li Mian’s summoned weapon and grinned. “What a treasure!”
Using his innate talent for illusions, Yin Ya effortlessly severed Li Mian’s spiritual imprint on the Corpse Sickle. His fox tail snatched the weapon, using it to fend off his pursuer.
“You scoundrel!” Li Mian raged. “Return my father’s spiritual treasure!”
Nan Yan was equally exasperated. “Are you a bottomless pit? Your siblings are fighting for their lives, and you’re looting corpses? Elder brother, say something!”
Nearby, Mu Zhanting, now battling three Nascent Soul demon cultivators, laughed gleefully. “Come on, I can take more!”
Nan Yan was speechless.
Suddenly, the tower shook violently. Han Leizi’s furious voice boomed from above—
“Deceitful wretch! You tricked me!”
An explosion rocked the statue, nearly toppling the tower—the statue had awakened.
Ji Yang descended gracefully from the statue’s head, first ensuring Nan Yan’s safety before tossing something shiny to Yin Ya.
“A treasure, catch it,” he called.
Yin Ya’s fox ears perked up as he caught the object. “See? The third brother is nice. You just scolded me… Huh? What’s this?”
It was an ornate nine-pendant crown, exuding an eerie ghostly aura. The aura seemed to recognize Yin Ya, enveloping him in wisps of gray energy.
Nan Yan, sensing trouble, grabbed Yin Ya. “What’s so special about being this prison’s master?”
Ji Yang replied nonchalantly, “Nothing much. Look how ordinary I am.”
Nan Yan retorted, “You’re far from ordinary! You command that Yin Zhu statue like a pet dog!”
Ji Yang shrugged. “It’s not that special. Becoming the prison master just means you’ll have some ghost servants around.”
“What do these ghost servants look like? Compared to that ghost mother and child?” Nan Yan pressed.
Ji Yang looked at her meaningfully. “Sometimes, things you initially fear become endearing over time. He’ll get used to it.”
Nan Yan sighed. “Doesn’t your conscience bother you?”
Ji Yang quipped, “It does hurt. Will the Bodhisattva personally treat it?”
Nan Yan was speechless.
“Do you know why I practice Buddhism?” she finally asked.
“Why?” Ji Yang responded.
“So that one day, if I’m thirsty while walking, I won’t impulsively decide to kill a brother as a sacrifice to the heavens,” Nan Yan replied pointedly.