Chapter 558: Xiezhi Master

As Ji Yuan channeled his magic into the Xiezhi painting, the scroll began to draw spiritual energy from the water mansion and emit sounds.

"I am Xiezhi! Who dares disturb me here?"

The Xiezhi in the painting was vividly colored, its eyes blazing with power. As Ji Yuan increased his magical input, it became even more ferocious, baring its fangs and claws as if ready to devour someone, appearing as though it could leap out of the scroll at any moment.

"Uncle Ji," Ying Feng asked, unable to contain himself, "why does it only say that one phrase?"

Ying Feng could see that Uncle Ji was continuously channeling magic into the painting, and the surrounding spiritual energy was being drawn in more and more. Yet, the strange beast on the scroll kept repeating the same phrase, occasionally letting out a roar.

"Not for much longer," Ji Yuan replied.

Over this period, Ji Yuan had essentially figured out one thing: the Xiezhi painting reacted to very specific auras. The stronger and purer the spiritual energy and magic channeled into it, the greater its reaction would be.

Although the former Grand Master of Da Xiu had also discovered the Xiezhi painting's characteristics and crafted the Xiezhi Pendant based on them, the quality of his magic was far too inferior. Every wisp of Ji Yuan's magic was transformed from the danqi refined by Samadhi True Fire; in terms of purity, he had truly never encountered anyone superior.

The purity of the magic determined the total amount the Xiezhi Pendant could hold. This meant that what the Grand Master of Da Xiu previously thought was the limit for channeling magic was, in reality, far from it.

At this moment, Ji Yuan channeled magic at a steady and relatively slow pace, yet it was continuously accumulating. Although the Xiezhi on the painting kept repeating the same phrase, it became increasingly lifelike, more and more like a real beast, and wisps of black smoke began to drift out from the scroll.

As the black smoke appeared, both the Dragon Daughter and Dragon Son instinctively became vigilant. This was a powerful demonic aura, an unprecedented and startling one. Moreover, the surrounding water temperature, centered around Ji Yuan's arm, was slowly rising, and the area where the Xiezhi painting was located seemed to boil.

"Ruoli," Ji Yuan instructed, "manifest the previous light and shadow again. Remember to keep your distance; the Xiezhi on this painting can harm people."

Xiezhi?

Ying Ruoli and Ying Feng both paid close attention to this, but they didn't neglect what needed to be done. Ying Ruoli responded with a "Yes," then focused and cast her spell, striving to reproduce the image her father had sent back through his divine sense.

Currently, Ying Ruoli had long since begun to refine her cultivation, even gradually separating her divine path cultivation from her flood dragon dharma body in preparation for her future transformation into a true dragon. Her state of mind was already sufficient, and her cultivation had also reached the required level. She was not lacking in patience; she aimed to adjust her own state to true perfection. In her situation, although at first glance she seemed similar to the Dragon Son Ying Feng, she had actually surpassed her brother by a great deal in many details.

Now, with the aura reproduced and within the water mansion, the blurry monster appeared somewhat clearer than it had previously on the river surface.

On the scroll in Ji Yuan's hand, the Xiezhi was roaring, but suddenly its voice halted, and its gaze swept towards the form made of water waves before it.

"I am Xiezhi! Who dares..." Just as Ji Yuan expected it to gather power for a while, like last time, in the next instant, a sharp claw wreathed in black smoke suddenly extended from the painting. The moment it appeared, it blasted a dry space in the river water where the three of them stood. The claw fiercely swiped forward, and at the same time, a violent roar erupted.

"Get lost!" it roared.

Splash!

"Hm?"

The light and shadow in front of the Dragon Daughter were instantly torn apart by the sharp claw, and a keen light swept towards her body. She barely managed to dodge, and the moment the claw grazed her chest, it suddenly turned. Ying Ruoli's arm reflexively transformed, manifesting dragon shadows and scales, which she then used to block in front of her.

Boom!

The Dragon Daughter slid back several steps before stopping, but the surrounding vibrations had not ceased. The water throughout the mansion was severely agitated.

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

"Ah!" "Watch out!"

"Clang!" "What's wrong?"

"What's happening?"

The yakshas and fish-maids in the water mansion all struggled to stand steadily, looking around in alarm. However, they were not truly panicked, knowing that the River Goddess and the Dragon Son were present, as was Master Ji, so there would certainly be no danger.

After the water mansion shook for a while, the commotion gradually subsided, and the aquatic creatures throughout the mansion calmed down.

"No need to make a fuss," a yaksha leader announced. "Everyone get back to work!"

After a yaksha commander issued this command, everyone dispersed, while he headed towards the main hall to check.

The recent events had transpired in an instant. Ji Yuan had already put away the Xiezhi painting, while the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter seemed not to have fully recovered. Seeing Ji Yuan deep in thought, they dared not disturb him for now. Some yakshas who had come to investigate gradually gathered around, but upon seeing the Dragon Daughter wave her hand, they carefully retreated.

A moment later, seeing Ji Yuan's expression return to normal, the Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter quickly posed their questions.

"Uncle Ji, did you figure anything out?" "Yes, Uncle Ji, and what exactly is this Xiezhi?"

Ji Yuan was still unsure, but he at least had a glimmer of a guess.

"This Xiezhi is an ancient divine beast that distinguishes good from evil and right from wrong," Ji Yuan explained. "As for the monster in the light and shadow, it might also be a type of ancient divine beast or fierce beast."

Ji Yuan didn't know if the Xiezhi told everyone to "get lost," but for it to utter that word was clearly unusual.

"Uncle Ji, do you have any specific guesses?" Ying Ruoli pressed further, and Ji Yuan thought for a moment before replying,

"From the current situation, the Dragon Corpse Worm must have some connection to it. It could be a 'Hou.' By the way, is your hand alright?"

The Dragon Daughter and Dragon Son exchanged glances. They had never heard of Xiezhi or Hou, but they committed the names to memory. Hearing Ji Yuan's question, the Dragon Daughter rubbed her arm.

"It's fine, I was just startled," she replied.

Ji Yuan smiled. "I was also startled," Ji Yuan admitted. "The Xiezhi on the painting reacted a bit more intensely this time."

The evening of the following day, at the Outer Port Pier of Jingji Prefecture on the Tongtian River, Zhang Rui and Wang Li, who had arrived early and were waiting, finally saw Ji Yuan appear. The boat that had previously taken Ji Yuan away for an urgent matter was now slowly pulling into the dock, bringing him back.

Seeing Ji Yuan wave back from a distance, acknowledging his and Zhang Rui's greetings, Wang Li finally let out a sigh of relief. They had been standing there for quite a while, thinking Master Ji had forgotten about them.

As soon as the boat docked, Ji Yuan stepped onto the pier stairs. The Dragon Son and Dragon Daughter stood on the boat, bowing to Ji Yuan in farewell.

"Uncle Ji, we'll take our leave for now!" the Dragon Son said. "If anything comes up, you can send a message into the river, and aquatic creatures will find us!"

"Alright, you two go," Ji Yuan replied.

Although they really wanted to follow Ji Yuan, they had their own matters to attend to at the moment, and it was not a time for play.

After watching the small boat depart, Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then turned back to Zhang Rui and Wang Li, who were still gazing at the river, and spoke.

"Let's go," Ji Yuan said. "Directly to the Jingji Prefecture Underworld Bureau."

After saying this, Ji Yuan led the way, and Wang Li and Zhang Rui quickly followed. As for what Master Ji had gone to do, neither dared to ask; if it were convenient for them to know, they wouldn't have been sent away.

Although winter was the low season for this pier, its current scale was incomparable to before. Even now, it remained busy, and so on the official road leading to the Jingji Prefecture's capital city, traffic was still heavy even in the cold winter weather.

However, this time Ji Yuan did not walk slowly. Instead, he used a "Shrinking Ground" technique, bringing the two behind him, and in less than a quarter of an hour, they had passed through the tall gates of Jingji Prefecture city and entered the Grand Zhen capital.

"It's been years," Wang Li exclaimed, "the capital has become even more prosperous!"

Wang Li sighed with emotion. Back then, he had been somewhat famous as a storyteller in the capital. The current emperor had invited him to tell stories even before his rise to power, and he had even conversed with the late emperor. For any other storyteller, this would be enough to boast about for a lifetime.

"Master," Zhang Rui asked, "are we going directly to the Underworld Bureau?"

Zhang Rui, seeing Ji Yuan's hurried and unceasing steps, couldn't help but ask. Ji Yuan had been lost in thought, but now, hearing her, he came back to his senses and nodded back at Zhang Rui.

"Directly," Ji Yuan confirmed. "Zhou Niansheng's ghost doesn't have much time left."

"Ah? Dir-directly to the underworld..." Wang Li stammered nervously. Ji Yuan didn't stop walking, and without turning back, a sentence drifted to him.

"Then you don't have to go," Ji Yuan said.

Wang Li dared not speak further. Although Master Ji was amiable, he was also resolute; if Wang Li dared to say "alright," he would most likely be left behind.

Near Miaosi Ward, even Wang Li noticed that people around them seemed unable to see or notice them. Hardly anyone's gaze lingered on them. He even vaguely felt that the people around them were starting to blur, and he could see wisps of what looked like yellow and white ethereal glows drifting around their bodies, making Wang Li feel very surreal.

"Wang, stop looking around and pay attention!" Zhang Rui admonished.

Zhang Rui's reminder snapped Wang Li back to reality. Looking ahead, he saw that the sky had somehow grown dim, and a massive city gate loomed before them. A chilling sense of dread grew stronger and stronger; even though it wasn't cold, goosebumps covered his body.

He gulped. Wang Li could already clearly see the large characters on the city gate ahead, which read: "Jingji Prefecture Ghost Gate Pass."

However, today, before the Ghost Gate Pass, it was not only the Yin-Yang Constables standing guard. There were also a civil and a martial judge, clad in official robes and hats, standing one on each side of the gate. Seeing Ji Yuan and his two companions approach, the two judges quickly stepped forward and bowed to Ji Yuan first.

"I am the Civil Judge of the Jingji Prefecture Underworld Bureau," one stated. "And I, the Martial Judge," the other added.

"Greetings, Master Ji!" they said in unison.

Ji Yuan quickly returned the bow. He had expected to go through some formalities with the Underworld Bureau, which was why he had hastened his steps, but it seemed they were already prepared.

"No need for formalities, honorable judges," Ji Yuan said. "Are you specifically waiting for me here?"

"Master Ji is correct," the Civil Judge replied. "The immortal beast White Deer's period of guarding her husband is approaching. Half a month ago, Lord City God ordered the chief officials of each department to take turns on duty here, awaiting Master Ji's arrival."

Ji Yuan nodded, then asked another question.

"If it's convenient, please take me to the ghost city first," Ji Yuan requested. "I'll pay my respects to the City God afterwards."

"Everything according to Master Ji's wishes," the Civil Judge said. "Please, Master, come in!"

After speaking, the Civil Judge directly invited Ji Yuan to enter the gate, without any intention of asking who Zhang Rui and Wang Li were, nor any plan to stop them. It was clear one was a mortal and the other a ghost god whose cultivation was not particularly high.