Chapter 308: Wretched Chaos

Niu Batian, Gao Tianming, and Yan Fei chatted quietly at the back. Yan Fei was relatively calm, but the other two grew increasingly excited. However, they all knew that Mr. Ji disliked ostentation, so such conversations were best kept to themselves for now.

As the procession moved, they traversed a significant part of the city until they reached its center, where the magnificent City Lord's Mansion stood before them.

From a distance, the gate tower, only slightly smaller than the city's outer pass, bore a massive plaque displaying the mansion's name.

Ji Yuan murmured aloud.

"Netherworld Ghost Manor?"

Gao Tianming, now standing beside Ji Yuan again, spoke up when he heard Ji Yuan's words.

"Indeed. This old ghost Wuya is quite extraordinary among ghost cultivators. Despite lacking a divine path foundation, his cultivation is stronger than many ghost deities. He has continuously taken in lost souls and stray ghosts, single-handedly establishing Wuya City, providing ghost cultivation methods to some spirits, and harboring the ambition to create a holy land for ghost cultivation."

Ji Yuan nodded.

"He certainly has grand ambitions."

Ji Yuan also discerned a pattern: this ghost city continuously took in solitary and wild ghosts. While many ghosts would dissipate after their Yin lifespan ran out, their dissipation enriched the city with Yin energy. This dense Yin energy, in turn, provided an excellent environment for some talented ghosts, allowing them to break through limitations even without major ghost cultivation techniques.

This phenomenon is common in the netherworld under the jurisdiction of some City Gods. Occasionally, ghosts in the underworld manage to break through the limits of their Yin lifespan and become immortal. However, such ghosts often carry strong resentment and obsessions. Annually, the netherworld registers a "census" of its residents. If a ghost is found to exceed its Yin lifespan and is deemed to have ill intentions, it is immediately apprehended by netherworld constables and brought before the heads of various departments, with many being directly executed.

In Wuya Ghost City, however, the City Lord likely welcomed the advancement of ghosts. Nevertheless, only ghosts approved by the City Lord were permitted to leave the city.

The front of the procession had stopped, and a water spirit shouted loudly.

"Lord Gao of Celestial Water Lake has arrived!"

The ghost soldiers guarding the entrance had already noticed the convoy. Many important figures had arrived in recent days to congratulate the City Lord. Upon hearing the name, they quickly stepped forward.

"Lord Gao, welcome! You must be tired from your journey. Please follow me to the guest quarters to rest. When the banquet is ready, a servant will come to inform you of the time."

After speaking, the ghost soldiers prepared to lead them to the side. It was clear they didn't intend for the convoy to enter the mansion directly at that moment. Seeing this, Gao Tianming glanced at Ji Yuan, then quickly strode forward.

"Wait!"

Having been walking alongside Ji Yuan, Gao Tianming had deliberately suppressed his demonic aura. Now, he unleashed it once more, creating an immense pressure on the ghost soldiers as he approached the gate tower.

"Does Lord Gao have any other special requests? We will do our best to fulfill whatever you ask!"

Gao Tianming smiled.

"Haha, nothing particularly special. Where is Xin Wuya now? I wish to speak with him; I have something to discuss."

The ghost soldier offered an apologetic smile.

"Please forgive us, Lord Gao. The City Lord has urgent matters to attend to and cannot see anyone at the moment. He will naturally appear during the grand banquet this evening."

"Oh? Is old ghost Wuya that busy? Not even a quick meeting with me?"

"Indeed! My husband and I have traveled thousands of miles from Celestial Water Lake. Upon arriving at Wuya City, it is only proper that we pay our respects to the City Lord first. And as the host, he should, by all accounts, meet his guests first! That's only reasonable!"

Xia Qiu also stepped forward, radiating a rich demonic aura. Although not a flood dragon, her demonic cultivation was clearly profound. Meeting Mr. Ji today was a stroke of destiny for the couple, and they were determined to leave a good impression. Compared to Gao Tianming, however, Xia Qiu's demeanor was much softer.

The ghost soldier hesitated, then looked at Gao Tianming.

"Lord Gao, could you please tell me the purpose of your visit to the City Lord? It would help me when I go to report!"

Though the ghost soldier appeared young, he was in fact an old ghost who had lived for a long time. Seeing Gao Tianming's accusing demeanor, he knew there had to be a reason.

Gao Tianming turned to look at Ji Yuan. After receiving a slight nod from him, he addressed the ghost soldier.

"Several of my friends, who are living humans, accidentally entered the ghost city last night. They were taken by a Black Edict Envoy in your city and their whereabouts are unknown. I hear they are to be presented as food to Xin Wuya at the banquet tonight. I am here to demand their release!"

Living humans? And friends of the Celestial Water Lake Flood Dragon?

The surrounding ghost soldiers were slightly startled by this news.

"In that case, please wait here, Lord Gao and Lady Gao. I will go and report to the City Lord immediately!"

The aggressive demonic aura of the two monsters was too intense, and the ghost soldiers could barely withstand the pressure, so they immediately went to report.

The Netherworld Ghost Manor was immense. The ghost soldier hurried inside to report, passing through gates and corridors, until he finally reached the exterior of a massive, pitch-black building.

The building's large, black gate was tightly shut, exuding waves of tangible black mist. The chilling Yin energy made it difficult for even ghosts to bear.

"City Lord, Lord Gao of Celestial Water Lake has arrived with Lady Gao. They insist on meeting you."

However, the ghost soldier waited for a long time without any response from inside. He could only loudly report Gao Tianming's matter from where he stood.

"Lord Gao of Celestial Water Lake says he has several mortal friends who accidentally entered the city last night and were seized by a Black Edict Envoy, to be presented to the City Lord at the banquet. Lord Gao wishes for the City Lord to release them immediately."

Waves of eerie ghostly energy began to drift around, and terrifying illusory ghost figures appeared, making even the ghost soldier nervous.

"Gao Tianming's friends? Mortals?"

A voice emerged from the dark chamber, causing the ghost soldier to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Indeed. Lord Gao and Lady Gao seem quite displeased about this."

"Hmph, this is not Celestial Water Lake. Go tell him that if the Black Edict Envoy truly brings living humans as offerings during the banquet, I will hand them over to him myself. I have no time to see him now."

"As you command!"

The ghost soldier quickly bowed, then immediately excused himself and departed.

Outside the mansion, Gao Tianming's anger flared upon receiving such a reply after waiting for so long.

"Old ghost Wuya puts on quite a show of authority! Can't he find that Black Edict Envoy and release them immediately?"

"Lord Gao, please don't make things difficult for us. The City Lord said he has pressing matters and cannot be disturbed. He will release the people himself when the Black Edict Envoy brings them tonight!"

"Hmph!"

Gao Tianming snorted coldly and took two steps back to stand before Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji, do you think we should just storm into the Netherworld Ghost Manor and drag old ghost Wuya out?"

Ji Yuan looked at the manor, filled with boundless ghostly energy, and then at the surging Yin and ghostly auras surrounding the city center. Turning hostile now would likely invite an endless horde of ghosts immediately, and being too aggressive might be counterproductive. So, he shook his head and said,

"Never mind. It is his celebration after all. Since he's promised to release them, there's no need to make a big fuss."

"Yes, I understand!"

After respectfully answering, Gao Tianming turned back to the ghost soldier.

"Very well then. I will wait for old ghost Wuya to release them tonight. However, you must also relay a message to him on my behalf: tell him not to blame me for not warning him. If anything happens to my friends, the consequences will be far more severe than he can imagine! Now, lead us to the courtyard where we are to rest."

"Yes, yes, this way, Lord Gao!"

As soon as the Celestial Water Lake convoy departed, another ghost soldier entered the mansion to quietly inform the City Lord. Gao Tianming's deference towards Ji Yuan had not gone unnoticed by them, striking them as quite unusual.

In the ghost dwelling deep within the mansion, upon hearing the ghost soldier's second report, Xin Wuya frowned in thought.

"Go find Xiang Chong. If those mortals truly exist, bring them here."

"Yes! As you command!"

As dusk gathered, the city lights began to illuminate themselves. While in the mortal world, this was the time for people to return home, Wuya Ghost City grew increasingly lively, as if the entire city had come alive.

The Ghost Manor had already sent ghost soldiers to invite Gao Tianming, and the group prepared to set off for the banquet.

It was at this point that Ji Yuan truly grasped the ghost city's profound essence. From the courtyard, looking out at the city, boundless ghostly energy shrouded the sky and earth. Streets and alleys teemed with activity; the ghosts within the city numbered at least in the hundreds of thousands, and those who had achieved considerable power were likely countless.

Clearly, when viewed from outside last night, there must have been some kind of concealing spell.

"I didn't expect this ghost city to be so immense!"

Gao Tianming, standing beside him, also frowned and said.

"Indeed, I too underestimated this old ghost Wuya. Wuya Ghost City has been established on this desolate plain for a century, quietly developing from a land of countless forgotten graves into what it is today."

Niu Batian glanced at Yan Fei, who stood solemnly, holding his sword, and then also gazed outside.

"It's my first time seeing so many ghosts, Mr. Ji. Do you think all the people who have died in Zuyue Kingdom over the years have come here?"

Ji Yuan sighed.

"Not quite. The number of people who die in Zuyue Kingdom in a single year likely far exceeds two hundred thousand."

"That many?"

Old Niu looked somewhat stunned.

"I'd say that's even an underestimate!"

Ji Yuan was not exaggerating. Although he had no statistics, considering the social environment and medical conditions in his homeland in his previous life, several million people died each year. While Zuyue Kingdom's population was far smaller than his previous homeland's, its social environment and medical care were so poor that hundreds of thousands dying annually was by no means an overstatement.

"Mr. Ji, Brother Niu, and Brother Yan, let's go. We can now go and demand the release of our friends from old ghost Wuya."

The group set off together and were soon led by ghost soldiers to the Netherworld Ghost Manor.

The evening banquet was quite grand, with guest tables set up on an open space within the manor, resembling a plaza. Besides numerous ghosts and familiar demonic creatures from Wuya City, there were also many practitioners of the divine path, including mountain gods, earth deities, river and swamp gods, and even City Gods.

Laughter, roars, and even cries filled the air, creating a constant, bustling din among the guests.

By the time Gao Tianming, Ji Yuan, and the others arrived, many guests were already seated. Ji Yuan's brows remained furrowed throughout their walk.

Within the borders of Great Zhen, it was unthinkable, let alone seen, for ghost deities to sit alongside various demonic creatures and malevolent spirits.

Regardless of how many were merely feigning civility or how many were truly vicious and perverse, Ji Yuan's Dharma Eye was wide open, observing his surroundings. Various auras intertwined, many of them far from benevolent, giving him a sense of overwhelming chaos and impurity throughout his walk.

'When the human way declines, defilements and malevolent beings thrive; when the world is in chaos, monsters and evildoers run rampant. It is precisely so!'

This thought in his mind summarized Ji Yuan's impression of Zuyue Kingdom.

As Ji Yuan pondered, they arrived at Gao Tianming's assigned spot, which was not too far from the main seating area.

"Mr. Ji, please be seated!"

Gao Tianming invited Ji Yuan to sit down, and then he, Xia Qiu, Niu Batian, and Yan Fei took their seats nearby.

As more guests took their seats, the zithers, lutes, suonas, gongs, and drums around them began to play, combining to form a strange and unsettling musical style. Ji Yuan could only concede that it was perfectly fitting for the occasion.