To the Demon Realm! King Yama Is Shaken!

Xu Changqing recovering his memories had been within expectations. After all, the Sacred Relic Pearl had remained inside his body for so long. As the resting place of the sacred souls of generations of Descendants of Nüwa, it was bound to have affected him somewhat.

Zi Xuan had probably guessed this. But since Xu Changqing had not admitted to recovering his memories, she had gone along with the act and fulfilled his wishes.

She had gotten her answer from Xu Changqing’s reaction.

He was not Gu Liufang, nor was he Lin Yeping. He was not anyone’s replacement.

Compared to Chu Yang’s earnest advice, Xu Changqing’s silence was what truly shattered the last trace of hope in Zi Xuan’s heart.

She personally brought this long and tangled romance to an end.

Xu Changqing’s desire to repair the Sacred Relic Pearl also stemmed from his wish to sever all karmic ties completely.

Yet Chu Yang felt that the fate between these two would not end so easily.

"The Sacred Relic Pearl was originally Nüwa’s treasure. It is also where the souls of generations of Descendants of Nüwa return, and it contains their spiritual power."

"There are actually similar treasures, such as the Five Spirit Orbs. Perhaps if we gather all five, we can find a way to restore the Sacred Relic Pearl’s power."

"I heard that the Fire Ghost King in the Demon Realm has a Spirit Orb. We can go take a look in the Demon Realm tonight."

Chu Yang tried to steer Xu Changqing’s attention toward the Demon Realm, and Xu Changqing was indeed tempted by the suggestion.

Xu Changqing nodded in agreement. "In that case, let’s wait until tonight and make a trip to the Demon Realm."

Jing Tian suddenly felt uneasy, as though this trip to the Demon Realm would bring him some sort of trouble.

Midnight.

In a room on the second floor of the inn, Zi Xuan sat blankly in a chair. Since Xu Changqing had left, she had remained like this.

After holding on for so long, all that remained now was confusion.

A flash of red light.

Demon Lord Chonglou suddenly appeared. Seeing Zi Xuan so distracted, he said coldly, "I can help you restore the Sacred Relic Pearl."

Zi Xuan did not even look at him as she replied icily, "Why does the dignified Demon Lord always engage in such underhanded spying?"

Chonglou said angrily, "I merely left a mark on Fei Peng. How was I supposed to know he would come here?!"

Only then did Zi Xuan realize she had misunderstood Chonglou. Her expression softened considerably, though her tone remained firm. "Thank you for your kindness, Demon Lord, but the Sacred Relic Pearl’s spiritual power clashes with demonic qi. I do not wish for my clan’s sacred relic to be tainted. We walk different paths and cannot work together."

Hearing the veiled mockery in her words, Chonglou did not get angry. He merely said, "And you and he are on the same path? Once the Sacred Relic Pearl’s spiritual power is exhausted, you will eventually become mortal. Yet he will only cultivate the Dao and remain on Shu Mountain for the rest of his life. You still cannot be together."

Zi Xuan lowered her head and smiled. "It is already enough. In the end, I was simply too greedy. Descendants of Nüwa are fated to suffer, yet I was able to love him through two lifetimes and even give birth to Qing’er. Heaven has already been exceedingly kind to me…"

Chonglou’s expression remained indifferent as he turned into a streak of red light and vanished. Before leaving, he declared harshly, "If that is so, then you and he should owe each other nothing in this life. But you wasted your spiritual power healing his wounds. I will take that power back!"

Zi Xuan tried to stop him in panic, but Chonglou had already vanished without a trace. She could only hurry after him.

Meanwhile, Chu Yang and the others had already gathered by the city gate.

At midnight, the gate leading from Fengdu City to the Demon Realm would open. From there, they could enter the Demon Realm directly.

But there was one problem.

When living people entered, their Physical Bodies would remain in the Living Realm. If no one watched over them, there could be serious consequences.

Everyone began discussing who should stay behind to guard the Physical Bodies. Tang Xuejian eagerly raised her hand, her reason being that she did not want to go to the Demon Realm.

"That place is terrifying. I’m not going. I’ll stay up here and watch over your Physical Bodies."

"When the passage between the two realms opens, it is not only people from above who go down. Ghosts from below will also come up. Miss Tang, you must be careful if you stay alone in Fengdu City!"

"Ah? Then I’d better go down with you!"

After only a few words, Tang Xuejian immediately changed her mind and insisted on going down with everyone.

Chu Yang smiled. "You go down first. I’ll handle everyone’s Physical Bodies."

Lin Yueru said worriedly, "Daoist Chu, aren’t you coming? Without you, I’m afraid things will be very dangerous down there."

Xu Changqing said, "Junior Brother, how about the two of us go down to search for the Fire Spirit Orb while the others remain in the city? At least they can look after one another."

Tang Xuejian hurriedly nodded. "That would be best!"

Chu Yang glanced at Jing Tian. Thinking of Fengdu’s restraint over ghosts, he considered it carefully before giving up on having Jing Tian sacrifice his looks. He planned to seize the Fire Spirit Orb by force instead.

Getting the Wind Spirit Orb from the God Realm would be another matter. They would definitely need to borrow the name of "General Fei Peng."

"In that case, Senior Brother and I will go down. You can help watch over the Physical Bodies."

Seeing Chu Yang and Xu Changqing about to enter the Demon Realm, Li Xiaoyao suddenly said unwillingly, "Can’t you take me too? The three of them are enough to stay up here!"

Xu Changqing thought it made sense, so he agreed to let Li Xiaoyao enter the Demon Realm with them.

The three stepped into the passage together, but Tang Xuejian suddenly cried out.

"Daoist Chu’s physical body didn’t stay behind!"

Lin Yueru and Jing Tian looked closely and were likewise shocked.

"What is going on?"

"Why isn’t Daoist Chu’s physical body here? Daoist Xu’s and Li Xiaoyao’s are both here!"

"Could Daoist Chu not be a living person?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? How does Daoist Chu look like a ghost? Didn’t you see him walking down the streets in broad daylight? Can ghosts come out during the day?"

The three argued endlessly, while Long Kui, dressed in red, also jumped out of the Demon Sword to join the commotion.

She floated over to Jing Tian’s side and said, "Brother, if a ghost’s cultivation is strong enough, it can also appear during the day. That Daoist Chu took Demon Lord Chonglou’s attack head-on. There may really be something wrong with him."

Hearing Long Kui speak badly of Chu Yang, Lin Yueru immediately became furious. Pointing at Long Kui, she scolded, "Don’t spread your nonsense here! Daoist Chu is an outstanding disciple of Shu Mountain. Would the Sect Leader of Shu Mountain not know whether he is human or ghost?"

Red-clad Long Kui folded her arms and stared coldly at Lin Yueru without saying a word.

Seeing that she seemed ready to lose her temper, Jing Tian began coaxing her.

Chu Yang, who had already entered the Demon Realm, knew nothing of the argument above. He was currently standing before the enormous gates of Fengdu City.

Fengdu City in the Demon Realm was far larger than its counterpart in the human realm. The gates and walls were covered in the scars of time, exuding desolation.

The three walked into Fengdu City when a group of Ghost Soldiers suddenly appeared out of thin air and blocked their path. "Unauthorized persons are forbidden from entering Fengdu."

Li Xiaoyao’s eyes widened. "There’s even this? I never heard about it!"

Chu Yang smiled and pulled out a stack of spirit money from his robes, handing it to the ghost soldier in front. The ghost soldier lowered his head for a look, then accepted it with lightning speed.

The Ghost Soldiers then stepped aside and formed two rows on either side, treating Chu Yang and the others as though they were invisible.

Li Xiaoyao was shocked again. "That works too?!"

People had their own way.

Ghosts had their own Kido.

In the end, it all came down to money opening the way.

After resolving the issue of the Ghost Soldiers blocking their path, Chu Yang led Xu Changqing and Li Xiaoyao into Fengdu City. It was midnight in the Living Realm, but here in the Demon Realm, it was noon.

The underworld was shrouded in eternal darkness. Green ghost lamps illuminated the entire ghost street, while ghostfire occasionally drifted over from the roadside, sending chills down one’s spine.

Aside from the eerie atmosphere, Fengdu City’s residents looked no different from ordinary people, except their complexions were a little paler. The city’s buildings were also largely similar to those in Fengdu City of the Living Realm.

Li Xiaoyao and Xu Changqing looked around with curiosity written all over their faces. A day trip through the Demon Realm as living people was not an experience everyone could have.

They did not notice that Chu Yang’s expression had become somewhat strange, as though he were secretly wrestling with something.

Ever since entering Fengdu City, the Fengdu sleeping within Chu Yang’s soul had grown increasingly restless. Its extreme hunger was becoming difficult even for Chu Yang to suppress.

He needed to find something for it to "eat" quickly, or the child would be stifled.

Chu Yang urged Xu Changqing and the others onward, telling them to hurry and find the Fire Ghost Hall where the Fire Ghost King resided.

The Fire Ghost Hall was located in Lava Hell, at the lowest level of the Demon Realm. Even King Yama did not wish to set foot there, because the temperature was simply too high for ghosts to withstand.

In the entire Demon Realm, only the Fire Ghost King could remain there unharmed.

To reach Lava Hell, they first had to pass through the Wasteland. The so-called Wasteland was the Demon Realm’s wilderness, where mindless wandering spirits and wild ghosts roamed.

The instant he stepped onto the Wasteland, Chu Yang stopped suppressing Fengdu’s hunger and allowed it to act freely.

The black ancient sword shot into the sky. The Hellscape Scroll on its blade actually began moving vividly. In an instant, the wandering spirits and wild ghosts throughout the Wasteland let out terrifying wails.

Their cries shook the Demon Realm. Fengdu City in the distance trembled as though an earth dragon had turned over.

Demon Realm, Wu Chang Hall.

King Yama sat high above, reviewing the documents in his hands like a mortal emperor. On his far left, one particular volume was glowing.

The three words Book of Life and Death were written upon it.

Suddenly.

A wave of crying sounded outside Wu Chang Hall.

King Yama frowned. "Who is making such a disturbance outside the hall?"

A judge entered from outside and bowed with clasped hands. "Reporting to King Yama, the sound is not coming from nearby, but from somewhere farther away."

Just as King Yama was about to question him further, Wu Chang Hall suddenly shook violently. Every document on the table fell to the ground, while only the Book of Life and Death slowly floated into the air, its glow growing ever brighter.

King Yama watched the scene with a grave expression. Only after the Book of Life and Death settled down did he retrieve it.

"A supreme treasure capable of affecting the Demon Realm’s fortune has appeared. Zhong Pan, quickly take every ghost soldier in Wu Chang Hall and investigate. You must find the source. I will come shortly."

After saying this, King Yama turned and walked deeper into Wu Chang Hall.

Upon receiving the order, Zhong Pan immediately assembled the Ghost Soldiers and headed for the Wasteland.

At the same time.

The Ghost Gate opened wide above the Wasteland as Fengdu greedily devoured the wandering spirits and wild ghosts across the land.

These ghosts had completely lost their minds and had no possibility of reincarnation. If left alone, they would only turn into Ghost Qi and disappear within the Demon Realm.

That was why Chu Yang allowed Fengdu to consume the ghosts here rather than those in Fengdu City earlier.

Li Xiaoyao and Xu Changqing were dumbfounded by the grand scene of ten thousand ghosts wailing together. When they recovered their senses, only wasteland remained in the Wasteland. Not a single ghost could be seen.

Li Xiaoyao asked pale-faced, "Brother Chu, won’t we get into trouble for doing this? Won’t those Ghost Soldiers treat us as enemies invading the Demon Realm?"

Chu Yang considered it seriously, then nodded. "That is entirely possible. We should find the Fire Spirit Orb quickly and get out of here."

Xu Changqing smiled bitterly. "I should have listened to you, Junior Brother, and let you stay above. Now, whether we can even leave the Demon Realm alive has become a problem."

Chu Yang comforted him softly. "Senior Brother, don’t say silly things. Our souls entered the Demon Realm. By ordinary standards, we’re already dead!"

Xu Changqing’s face turned livid as his entire body trembled with anger.

Li Xiaoyao was practically crying as he shouted, "Brothers, let’s go already! I can see people coming from the city!"

Chu Yang suddenly turned his head and saw a vast mass of Ghost Soldiers charging toward them.

"Run!"

Chu Yang whistled at Fengdu in the sky. Having eaten its fill, it had become extremely obedient and instantly burrowed back into Chu Yang’s soul.

The three quickly fled in the direction of Lava Hell.

A short while later.

Zhong Pan arrived with the Ghost Soldiers, but Chu Yang and the others were already nowhere in sight. Looking at the empty Wasteland, he actually felt a chill in his heart.

Wandering spirits and wild ghosts had always been the Demon Realm’s greatest headache. They were like unregistered residents in the Living Realm, completely beyond the jurisdiction of its rules. The only option was to send Ghost Soldiers to exterminate them.

Each extermination cost them many men. Over time, the Demon Realm had simply allowed them to exist, causing the number of wandering spirits and wild ghosts in the Wasteland to grow until they nearly became a disaster.

Now they had been wiped out completely. Under normal circumstances, Zhong Pan should have been pleased, but he suddenly realized a problem.

Since that so-called supreme treasure could so easily eliminate these wandering spirits and wild ghosts, it must possess equally terrifying destructive power against Ghost Soldiers like them.

"Lord Zhong Pan, there are three strange individuals ahead heading toward Lava Hell. Should we pursue them and take a look?"

A yaksha ghost soldier carrying a trident stepped forward to report.

"The treasure must be in their hands. We cannot let them enter Lava Hell, and we cannot allow the treasure to fall into the Fire Ghost King’s hands. Otherwise, the Demon Realm will descend into chaos!"

Zhong Pan’s expression changed. He immediately led his troops in pursuit as a massive army of Ghost Soldiers surged toward Lava Hell.

Meanwhile.

The searing heat ahead forced Xu Changqing and Li Xiaoyao to stop.

Li Xiaoyao complained, "How are we supposed to get in when it’s this hot? We’ll be roasted alive!"

Xu Changqing’s expression was grave. "We are all souls now, so we must proceed carefully. If we are injured, then after returning, at best we will suffer a serious illness. At worst, we may completely lose consciousness, leaving only our Physical Bodies alive."

Li Xiaoyao shuddered. Looking back at the pursuers, he gritted his teeth. "Why don’t we turn around and fight them? They’re only Ghost Soldiers. We might not lose."

Xu Changqing shook his head. "Winning or losing is secondary. What matters most is that no one can bear the charge of causing havoc in the Demon Realm, not even Shu Mountain."

Li Xiaoyao looked miserable. "Then what do we do? Ling’er is still waiting for me to come home!"

Chu Yang quickly covered Li Xiaoyao’s mouth and snapped irritably, "Shut up and calm down. Don’t jinx us, or I’ll seal your mouth shut!"

Li Xiaoyao did not understand, but faced with Chu Yang’s anger, he could only close his mouth.

"Follow me!"

Chu Yang summoned Fengdu to circle around him. Then a great amount of Yomi Water surged forth, extinguishing the lava beneath their feet and forcibly creating a path leading directly to the Fire Ghost Hall.