Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 83

Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu were both ready for battle.

Before leaving, Luo Yansha asked Bifang to coat Qin Suoliu’s twin blades with some of her true-fire essence. This way, the corpses’ flesh would not regenerate so easily when cut.

Even though Yue Tingxi had just scolded Xie Zhi thoroughly, she now conjured a sharp long sword with her mastery of the Laws.

As the saying goes, “One sword to break all laws.” When facing these sinister, damp evil spirits, a sword technique with specific intent was far more effective.

“Not helping?”

Outside the flying boat, Yue Tingxi suddenly asked in her mind.

“You don’t seem to want me to intervene,” Xie Zhi’s voice came through their blood pact.

“The Qiongqi’s cooperation is uncertain. Even if we can communicate, whether it can be persuaded not to fight is unknown. The stronger the power, the more we must preserve it.” After discussing with the Young Mistress, Yue Tingxi had calmed down. “Compared to me, your strength is indeed greater, and it’s harder to replenish after use, right?”

“Theoretically, yes.” Xie Zhi smiled. “Then I’ll just protect your friends and family.”

Her words coincided with a sudden burst of golden light behind Yue Tingxi—without turning around, she knew that the Celestial Balance had once again strengthened the protective barrier around the boat.

Some people and things in this world were not simply black or white.

Though they had pieced together Xie Zhi’s and the World Consciousness’ schemes, at least before the Transmigration Bureau was destroyed, they could still rely on each other’s backs as companions for this final stretch.

Putting aside her doubts, Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu exchanged a glance, one drawing her blades, the other swinging her sword, and together they charged toward the army of corpse-demons.

They carried a bottle of special poison, hastily made by Lin Fengqing from the corpses’ flesh, specifically to counteract the self-healing ability of the corpse-demon army. But due to the limited quantity, they hadn’t planned to use it yet, relying instead on the wind of blades and sword techniques to strike the approaching monsters.

“…These corpses seem to be stitched from the bodies of humans and demons.” Using Hui Ga’s scanning ability, Qin Suoliu relayed to Yue Tingxi, “Their weak points are probably different from ordinary human or demon corpses.”

Fortunately, they had encountered a variety of demons, so engaging them was not entirely inconvenient.

“Ugh, stitched corpses?” Yue Tingxi said with disgust, swinging her golden sword. “A basic skill of necromancers and spirit manipulators, desecrating the dead!”

As she wielded her sword, she recalled the time she and the Young Mistress had become the “Twin Fox Asuras,” destroying a hidden spirit-manipulator nest outside Xianjing City.

According to secret investigations by the Qin family, there were already clues pointing to the responsible cultivators and factions.

Yet, the Qin family couldn’t act.

Like an ancient tree, deeply rooted for millennia, these forces were hard to shake, and rash attempts could result in backlash. Hence, established sects usually turned a blind eye as long as no major calamity arose. Only the “Twin Fox Asuras” could strike decisively when the time was right.

At that time, in the nest’s basement, they had discovered stitched corpses arranged in gruesome positions, forming giant blood-painted magic arrays.

Humans despised the dead not being buried; demons despised their bodies being used or dissected.

The spirit manipulators, seeking strong combat power, fused humans and demons—turning humans into demonized beings, using parts of demons like wings, claws, or tails as advantages.

—Now, the same horrific scene appeared before them.

Each twisted corpse possessed power comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators. According to Hui Ga’s scan, there were even Out-of-Body level corpses deep within. The highest level of these corpses depended on the skill of necromancers or spirit manipulators themselves.

“Thousands of years ago, the demon Qiongqi lost her cultivation,” Xie Zhi’s voice echoed in Yue Tingxi’s mind. “She was already a Great Ascension-level demon then. Now, it’s unclear.”

Yue Tingxi recalled what Lin Fengqing had said two years ago:

—“If one forcefully breaks the barrier, the Dao collapses and the body perishes. Either the soul leaves before the last moment and reincarnates, starting cultivation anew, or it disperses like ‘whale fall’… returning its essence to the world, completely ceasing to exist.”

Lin Fengqing was referring to Great Ascension-level cultivators breaking the barrier between this world and the Immortal Realm.

“She neither reincarnated nor dispersed her spirit,” Yue Tingxi added. “Instead, she entered the Ghost Domain as a ghost cultivator.”

“Those other two methods are dead ends,” Xie Zhi said. “Even if reincarnated, memories may not survive; an infant body has limited capacity, and without proper talent or resources, even a compressed or sealed soul memory might never be fully recalled before death.”

“The Ghost Domain is a small, independent realm where time and space differ from the mortal world. Even if she dies there, mastering ghost techniques may prevent her from truly perishing—a kind of ‘rebirth by fire’ opportunity.”

Yue Tingxi summarized the information concisely for Qin Suoliu.

With them protecting the flying boat, the passengers coordinated. By the time they neared the Out-of-Body corpses, the spiritual energy cannons infused with “Several Cold Crisp” medicine were finally ready.

Qin Suoliu, assisted by Yue Tingxi, transmitted back to the flying boat.

Then, a thunderous cannon blast erupted, followed by consecutive spiritual energy shots aimed at the weak points of the barrier calculated by the two elders of Zhaixing Pavilion.

“Lin Qing filled 7×7×49 spiritual energy rounds in total,” Luo Yansha, holding Bifang, told them. “Technically, fewer would suffice, but she seems to hold a personal grudge, so she added extra.”

Indeed, Lin Qing’s resources were enormous; the spiritual stones for these forty-nine rounds could buy half a street of the Chenzi Layer of Linlang Pavilion.

As the ghost city’s barrier crumbled, Out-of-Body corpses caught in the cannon blast had their limbs shattered and fell permanently.

The “Several Cold Crisp” effect, enhanced by Qin Yingguang, not only suppressed regeneration but acted like a high-dose temporary paralysis.

The White Jade Flying Boat advanced, the cannon fire clearing those trying to approach. Corpses either exploded into bloody pieces or were shattered silently by the boat’s golden light.

—Xie Zhi had said that theoretically her energy replenishment was harder, yet she still intervened without hesitation when needed.

Once the barrier was fully breached, Qiongqi did not appear. The boat entered the ghost city freely, moving deeper inside.

“…Something’s off,” Yue Tingxi heard Qin Suoliu say. “There should be more than just corpse-demon armies here. Why has the surrounding resentment disappeared? Has it been concentrated somewhere?”

Normally, this area of the Ghost Domain had the densest negative energy, yet now it felt entirely drained.

“This isn’t the World Consciousness interfering,” Xie Zhi confirmed. “I sense that resentment is gathering at a specific place in the city.”

“Qiongqi?” Luo Yansha tensed. “What does she want with resentment?!”

“To break the barrier.”

This time, Qin Yingguang and the five elders of Zhaixing Pavilion spoke in unison.

“But not to leave the Ghost Domain. She wants to use it as a gateway to the Demon Realm,” Qin Yingguang said, her expression unclear. “She’s making a desperate move to gather resentment and open the seal to the Demon Realm.”

“According to you, there’s no room for negotiation with this demon anymore,” Yue Tingxi said. “However, to preserve our power, I want to try once more.”

“I’ll go with you,” Qin Suoliu immediately said.

Qin Yingguang intended to go as well, but the humanoid Xie Zhi stopped her.

“The flying boat must be guarded. We cannot go,” Xie Zhi said. “Also, anyone below Out-of-Body level should stay on the boat if enemies are encountered further in.”

Her words silenced the main cabin.

Qin Suoliu’s cultivation level sufficed, and even if Xie Zhi wanted to stop her, she would insist on accompanying her.

Considering the danger ahead, Yue Tingxi transformed into her black-tailed snake form, bringing the Young Mistress inside her inner chamber, and carried the poison against high-level corpses deeper into the city.

“—Lingjian Daoist is a demon?!” The Sixth Elder, still calling her by her assumed name, widened her eyes.

“Benevolent demons who protect humans are respected guests; why not walk with humans?” Lin Fengqing countered.

“Cough, our Zhaixing Pavilion doesn’t fuss over such things. I was just curious,” the Sixth Elder quickly explained.

Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu sped deeper into the ghost city.

After a few streets, the scenery began to change.

The world suddenly came alive; dusty buildings gained color.

People streamed below, shouting and selling wares.

Yet, looking closely, these “humans” were demons, some partially retaining their demon forms.

It wasn’t idyllic, but these demons lived with joy, peace, and harmony.

Unlike when Yue Tingxi shopped in human cities, which were strictly human, these streets resembled a demon city.

“…This is very similar to the ancient demon city Qingning,” Qin Suoliu said. “Thousands of years ago, before the great war between humans, demons, and demon monsters, Qingning was in the northern human territories.”

“But after the demon monster calamity, the city disappeared. Some say the guardian demon hid it and its history with secret techniques.”

She paused. “The more widespread theory: the guardian demon was also a great demon monster. The vanished city and its inhabitants became perfect material for her cultivation.”

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