Chapter 561: Rare Fate

As the white deer was not a physical body but a manifestation of a demonic soul at this moment, Ji Yuan could perceive the essence of Bai Ruo's cultivation over the years, and the celestial spiritual energy emanating from it felt even more precious.

Logically, Bai Ruo had not been cultivating effectively in the underworld all these years. Moreover, she had endured annual whippings from the netherworld authorities, which damaged her demonic soul. In fact, Ji Yuan had observed that her cultivation had regressed rather than advanced until Zhou Niansheng's death. Yet, now that she had left the Zhou family's haunted house, the white deer she rode, while not stronger in aura, had become purer and more translucent.

Ji Yuan could no longer detect any trace that this was the demon cultivator who had once hastily practiced celestial beast techniques.

While unusual for an ordinary demon cultivator, this made perfect sense from the perspective of an immortal cultivator, representing a kind of spiritual elevation.

With one leg dangling and the other coiled on the deer's back, Ji Yuan felt the gem-like solidified tear drop in his sleeve and pondered the matters of the white deer and Zhou Niansheng. Before he knew it, the white deer, guided by the judge, had carried him out of the ghost city.

At that moment, Bai Ruo was not only looking ahead but also observing her hooves. While carrying Ji Yuan, she noticed that with every step her hooves took, the murky energy from the underworld ground was dispelled beneath her. Had she not seen it with her own eyes, she would have been completely unaware. Bai Ruo naturally understood that this couldn't be due to her own power; it could only be attributed to the venerable master on her back.

In Bai Ruo's heart, she felt she might never be able to repay Ji Yuan's kindness in this lifetime. After all, this immortal possessed profound cultivation and was not a greedy mortal; even if he desired something, it would be beyond her reach. Bai Ruo did not aspire to truly become Ji Yuan's disciple; she could only revere this "venerable master" both verbally and in her heart.

The ghost city and the various halls of the underworld departments were distant and easy to get lost between. If an ordinary ghost escaped the ghost city, it would find it difficult to travel across the underworld land; the murky underworld energy alone was like dust in the wind. Conditions were only better on the main roads of the underworld, but these were frequently patrolled by netherworld constables.

Ji Yuan's group was personally led by a judge and followed by two teams of netherworld constables. Therefore, even if they encountered patrolling constables, no one would question their passage, and such was the case now. A small team of constables was patrolling along one side of the road, heading towards the ghost city. They had come from another desolate path, on one side of which flowed a turbid yellow river, appearing dim and indistinct in the underworld mist.

Just as they reached the middle of the main road connecting to the ghost city, this team of constables noticed something unusual approaching.

"There's a spiritual glow ahead."

The leading constable rested his left hand on his saber hilt and raised his right, prompting the team behind him to immediately stop and become alert. From their position, they couldn't see the ghost city, only a luminous white light growing closer through the murky underworld air. It surprisingly emanated a peculiar sense of holiness, yet it was distinct from the divine light of the City God and the various departmental deities.

The white light appeared distant but was actually approaching quickly. In just a moment, it was close by, and they clearly saw that the light emanated from a white deer radiating luminescence. Only then did they notice the two judges leading the way.

"It's the Lords of Judgment! Salute them!"

All the constables retreated to the roadside and bowed forward.

"Patrol from the Soul Arresting Bureau greets Lord Civil Judge and Lord Martial Judge!"

"Greetings, Lord Civil Judge and Lord Martial Judge!"

The Martial Judge nodded at them and uttered an "hmm" before saying no more. The group continued forward, quickly disappearing from the patrolling constables' sight. During this process, the constables on the roadside kept their gaze entirely on the white deer and Ji Yuan, even overlooking Zhang Rui and Wang Li, the mortals beside them.

"Boss, who was the person riding that deer? Not one of our underworld deities, right?"

The leading constable looked around, then nodded and said,

"Of course not. If I'm not mistaken, that was Mr. Ji."

All the constables suddenly realized. As for Ji Yuan, they had only heard his name but never seen him in person. However, now that they thought about it, the appearance they had just witnessed was indeed very much like the legendary Mr. Ji.

While the constables were looking at Ji Yuan, his gaze was on the path they had come from. His steps had been hurried when he went to the ghost city earlier, but now he could observe more carefully.

Logically, the Capital Prefecture should only have one ghost city, but the underworld area here was quite large. He hadn't noticed before, but now it seemed there were other roads extending. That team of constables had also patrolled from one of those roads, and Ji Yuan wondered where they led.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment and then directly asked,

"May I ask, esteemed judges, is there any particular significance to the path that team of constables was patrolling earlier? If it's convenient, I'd like to understand more."

Although such matters were an open secret within the underworld, outside of it, it was normal for even a venerable person like Mr. Ji to be unaware, as there wasn't much to gain from knowing. It was also a conventional underworld taboo, rarely shared with outsiders. So, the two judges didn't think much of it, and the Civil Judge looked into the distance and spoke.

"To answer you, Mr. Ji, those roads mostly extend towards other ghost cities."

"Other ghost cities?"

Ji Yuan murmured.

"That's right. Whenever there's a major change in the underworld—for instance, if the entire divine order of the Capital Prefecture's underworld were to be completely destroyed, with the Ghost Gate Pass unguarded and all ghosts escaping—the place we just visited would gradually become a dead city. Then, until a new divine order for the underworld emerges, a new city might slowly form, or the old one might be reused, depending on the circumstances."

Ji Yuan nodded, but before he could say anything, Wang Li, who had grown less nervous over time, spoke up and asked,

"Then why not always reuse the old city?"

"Ah, well, there are naturally different considerations for each case, and some matters are not for outsiders to know."

Although the two judges were facing Wang Li at that moment, their peripheral vision was more focused on Ji Yuan. Fortunately, Ji Yuan's expression was calm, and he didn't press for more questions, which slightly eased their minds.

However, Ji Yuan could not fail to perceive the judges' reluctance to elaborate. But since they were unwilling to speak further, he, Ji Yuan, would not be so tactless as to force them using his status.

Not long after, the group finally arrived at the official jurisdiction of the underworld. Ji Yuan went to the City God's grand hall and met with the City God, while Bai Ruo knelt to express profound gratitude to the City God. With nothing else to discuss beyond pleasantries and a brief chat, Ji Yuan took his leave.

After more than half an hour, Ji Yuan felt it was time and finally bid farewell to the City God. This time, the City God personally escorted him, all the way to the outside of the Ghost Gate Pass.

Wang Li and Zhang Rui followed closely beside the white deer, looking back at the increasingly distant Ghost Gate Pass. The City God and the various underworld deities stood reverently before the pass, their level of respect beyond words.

The blurring sensation around them reappeared. As Wang Li and Zhang Rui frequently looked back, they crossed the boundary between Yin and Yang at a certain moment, stepping into the mortal realm. When Wang Li looked back again, all he saw was the quiet City God Temple in the night, with only the faint glow of the perpetual lamp visible inside.

"Phew... finally out! Who would believe that I, a scholar, visited the underworld without dying!"

Ji Yuan, sitting on the tall deer's back, lowered his head and looked sideways at Wang Li, saying,

"You'll have quite a tale to tell. What you've witnessed, even cultivators rarely see."

"Heh heh, I've remembered it all. I'll find a place and write it down."

As Wang Li spoke, he looked at the white deer walking ahead. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed this was "Lady White" from his book.

"Oh, right, where are we going now?"

"To the Earth Temple, to retrieve my physical body."

The white deer glanced sideways at Wang Li. Her voice was the same as the beautiful woman's from before, but it carried a more ethereal and noble quality.

The Earth Temple was not far from the City God Temple; they arrived there in mere moments. From a distance, the tall and robust Earth God of the Capital Prefecture was already standing outside the temple, clasping his hands in greeting, having seemingly waited for a long time.

"Mr. Ji, it's been many years. Your presence is even grander now!"

Ji Yuan dismounted from the deer's back and returned the greeting from afar. He had a good relationship with this Earth God.

"You flatter me, Earth God!"

After a few steps, they were close by. Meanwhile, the white deer directly bent her forelegs and knelt before the Earth God.

"Earth God, Bai Ruo will never forget your immense kindness in this lifetime!"

The Earth God of the Capital Prefecture, the tallest and most jovial Earth God Ji Yuan had ever seen, burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this.

"Hahahahaha... Seeing Lady White with such an aura now, it wasn't in vain for Mr. Ji and me to have put in so much effort."

The Earth God had, of course, already heard the story of "The White Deer's Fate" and found it very good, so he simply referred to the white deer as "Lady White." After saying this, he struck his staff onto the ground.

With a "thump," the ground sank and then undulated, and a giant white deer, as if in deep sleep, appeared at his feet, identical in appearance to Bai Ruo's current form.

Ji Yuan looked at Bai Ruo and said,

"Go, return to your physical body."

"Yes!"

Bai Ruo walked step by step towards her physical body, then lay down upon it and perfectly merged, without the slightest barrier. When the white deer was complete again and stood up, she shook her head, feeling that the world in her eyes was clearer and her mind was much less cluttered.

Ji Yuan had no intention of reminiscing and chatting extensively with the Earth God, nor did the Earth God intend to detain him. Once the white deer had truly adapted to her physical body, both sides parted ways. The saying "the friendship of a gentleman is as pure as water" perfectly described the relationship between Ji Yuan and this Earth God.

In the dark night, Ji Yuan rode the deer. Only when they were far from the temple district did he dismount from the deer's back. After walking a few steps, he looked back at the white deer.

"The White Deer's Fate" can conclude here. Bai Ruo, remember to cultivate diligently from now on."

Wang Li also showed a joyful expression and echoed,

"My 'White Deer's Fate' can finally truly conclude! Next time I tell the story, I'll have two more chapters to add, which will surely amaze everyone!"

Ji Yuan watched as the white deer transformed back into human form. He nodded at Wang Li with a faint, knowing smile, then walked away. Zhang Rui and the others were startled and wanted to quickly follow, but they found that Mr. Ji's figure was already fading, gradually disappearing from their sight.

"Sister, what about us?"

Zhang Rui instinctively felt a bit anxious. She certainly couldn't rely on Wang Li, so she could only ask Bai Ruo.

Bai Ruo looked somewhat lost in the direction Ji Yuan disappeared and said softly,

"The venerable master is a true immortal; we cannot keep up with him. To have had this karmic connection is already extremely rare..."