Chapter 101: The Realm of the Dead (3)

Wu Zui had never before encountered a ghost capable of resisting the karmic flames, especially one supported by the Heartseeker Sword. Given the sword’s power to penetrate the translucent black barrier, it was certainly not subpar. Thus, this ghost must be quite extraordinary.

“I remember you can imprison spirits inside the sword. Can you trap this one as well?” Wu Zui recalled Wang Hu being sealed within the sword and silently wondered.

At that moment, the Heartseeker Sword embedded in Wu Zui’s heart trembled slightly. A crimson chain erupted, binding the ghostly driver before pulling it into the sword’s core.

Clink—

A black plaque fell to the ground. Wu Zui bent down and picked it up. The front bore an image of a river; the back was inscribed with the capitalized word “THIRTEEN.”

“Thirteen? What does that mean? I’ll interrogate you thoroughly once I get back!” Wu Zui muttered, slipping the plaque into his backpack. He then pulled out his specialized phone to check his location. If nearby, he would summon Dragon One for extraction. His focus had been so fixed on the ghost that he hadn’t noticed his surroundings.

“Huh? No signal? Didn’t they say you could make calls anywhere?” Wu Zui murmured as his phone displayed a dead signal.

Turning to find his way back, he suddenly noticed behind him a vast, swirling black vortex stretching seemingly from earth to sky.

Under the dim sky in the distance lay countless graves, each marked by white sails fluttering without wind. Above the tombs drifted clusters of ghastly green will-o’-the-wisps, around which pure waves of resentful energy pulsed ceaselessly.

A narrow path of white bones extended from beneath Wu Zui’s feet, winding endlessly into the distance. The vegetation flanking the bone trail was unlike anything he had seen—twisted and eerie.

There were crimson grasses whose edges bore yellow triangular serrations and exuded the stench of decay, yet irresistibly drew one’s attention. Flowers bore blossoms shaped like sorrowful human faces, with scarlet liquid trickling down their cheeks.

This was a realm belonging to the dead.

A mere glance at one such blood-red flower with its human visage stirred a profound ache in Wu Zui’s heart, as if all the injustices in the world had befallen him alone, drowning him in despair.

Suddenly, a blue glow sparked within his mind’s eye, where he had sketched himself with magnetic energy. A wave of cool clarity swept over him, snapping him back to awareness.

“The Realm of the Dead? I’ve actually entered it!” Wu Zui gasped, hastily averting his gaze. Even a single flower by the roadside nearly ensnared him. Instinctively, he shielded himself using the dwindling magnetic energy at his disposal.

Judging by the strange surroundings, Wu Zui admitted to himself he could not guarantee his safety here. The crying-faced flowers were everywhere; given their density, these plants represented the lowest tier of existence in this world.

If so, the horrors here far exceeded his expectations.

Fortunately, the exit was not far. Wu Zui cautiously stepped toward the black vortex. A powerful suction emanated from within, feeling much like the opening of a spatial singularity.

Just as he was about to leave through the vortex, a massive shadow loomed over him.

Within that shadow, two enormous blood-moon eyes ignited, locking onto Wu Zui with a piercing gaze before he vanished from the bone path, leaving the sinister realm behind.

Back in the normal world, Wu Zui quickly looked toward the black vortex. The gigantic ghost had not followed him out, and he finally exhaled in relief.

The Realm of the Dead was truly terrifying. Not only was the final ghost beyond his ability to confront, but even the lesser spirits at the roadside nearly overwhelmed him.

This place was no domain for a four-star Awakened. Wu Zui suspected that even Wu Xiang—the great monk ranked akin to a seven-star anomaly—might perish here.

Pulling out his phone, he noted it was past five in the morning. He was deep within a mountain, over a thousand miles from Yanjing City. It was unfathomable how the No. 444 bus had traveled so far overnight.

“Dragon One can’t reach me here. First, I’ll find the nearest highway and figure out a way,” he resolved.

A deep sigh escaped him. Though he had destroyed the bus, he was far from relieved. His fears had manifested.

Since that mysterious voice had sounded, ghosts no longer feared magnetic energy or golden weapons as before; even karmic flames transmuted from magnetic energy were less effective. It was clear—the ghosts had evolved.

Coupled with the sudden emergence of newborn specters from unknown origins, humanity’s future looked bleak indeed.

“I need to report this Realm of the Dead to the Minister. Although that giant didn’t follow me out, the ghost driver’s free movement means others can escape from that world,” Wu Zui thought.

“The bus window was broken; someone must have escaped. Though they didn’t contact the Reconstruction Bureau, I’ll have to search along the route. And that plaque—I can’t forget that.”

As he pondered, Wu Zui followed his phone’s navigation toward the nearest highway, conserving his magnetic energy. He deliberately avoided the mountain graves he had traversed when boarding the No. 444 bus.

But when misfortune strikes, even drinking cold water can cause trouble.

Despite his efforts, where near the Realm of the Dead could be truly safe? The eerie mountain graves bore striking resemblance to the realm’s entrance, hinting at a connection.

Unbeknownst to Wu Zui, a ghost had quietly begun stalking him.

One hour later—

Still trekking, Wu Zui silently cursed. Mountain paths were treacherous—not an exaggeration. Though the highway lay only five kilometers as the crow flies, the winding trail had barely carried him through two-fifths of the distance after an hour.

Though by time it should be daylight, thick mountain fog and the hidden sun rendered distant vision nearly impossible. Worse, several spectral tails trailed him relentlessly.

Thanks to his visualization technique, Wu Zui’s perception exceeded that of ordinary Awakened of his level. He sensed the growing number of ghosts behind him. Except for one three-star entity, the rest were low-level one- or two-star spirits.

Yet many ants can kill an elephant.

Especially since Wu Zui was in a weakened state. Among those ghosts lurked a formidable three-star adversary. If a fight broke out, he would have to bleed and unleash his full power, as the ghosts would never allow him time to absorb magnetic energy from high-explosive magnetic grenades.

Moreover, such grenades couldn’t eliminate so many foes at once.

“Now they even call for reinforcements? Compared to their previous infighting, their intelligence has plummeted!” Wu Zui scolded inwardly.

Forced to divide his attention between the ghosts behind and the hazardous path beneath, the hour-long journey left him utterly exhausted.

“Mountain paths in the mist, dangers beneath my feet. Heed this advice: do not raise your head, do not gaze around—just walk straight ahead...”

Suddenly, a woman’s singing drifted through the mountains. Though the lyrics were mediocre, her voice was melodious and enchanting, like a yellow warbler’s call, irresistibly drawing in listeners.

Had Wu Zui not just endured a night battling the bus, he would have questioned why a woman sang deep in these mountains and grown wary. But fatigue dulled his senses.

Captivated by the beautiful voice, he followed the melody, soon forgetting the ghosts trailing him.

Meanwhile, the spectral horde gradually dispersed.

Behind Wu Zui appeared a woman carrying a red lantern, clad in a long red dress with floral lace, her hair black and lustrous beneath a gilded phoenix crown. She moved gracefully, like a refined lady of noble birth, approaching him with delicate footsteps.

This was the same three-star ghost who had first detected Wu Zui. Initially, sensing his four-star Awakening, she had dispatched numerous minions to drain his magnetic energy, explaining the ghostly tail.

But now, seeing Wu Zui weakened and seemingly powerless after his ordeal in the Realm of the Dead, her suspicions were confirmed.

The Realm of the Dead was no place for a four-star Awakened.

This lantern-carrying ghost had once mistakenly entered there herself. Though she gained the power of spiritual corruption, she barely escaped with most of her life lost, protected only by her palace lantern. Few living beings could emerge from that realm intact; those with remaining combat strength were even rarer.

Seeing this, she dismissed her minions, intending to claim Wu Zui alone. If she could consume the flesh and blood of a four-star Awakened by herself, her promotion to a four-star ghost was imminent.

The low-level whelps, lacking intelligence, instinctively obeyed the familiar figure’s command.

Approaching Wu Zui, the lantern ghost gently looped her lantern-bearing left hand around his arm, like a newlywed bride, and began walking forward while softly humming…