Chapter 79: Underworld Lord Xuanming's Ghost-Controlling Position
Time waits for no one.
While Lü Yang was deep in thought, the darkness surrounding the yellow-robed old man nearby had already spread to his vicinity, carrying a potent corrosive force.
Lü Yang raised his head and examined the figure with keen interest.
"So this is a witch ghost?"
The Witch Ghost Path was once a major demonic sect of antiquity. Every disciple would refine a personal witch ghost as the foundation for their future cultivation.
Yet with the emergence of Golden Core Sword Qi, the entire Witch Ghost Path was exterminated. These witch ghosts, now uncontrolled by cultivators, began wandering the secret realm. Based on the strength of their original masters, they were categorized into white-robed, yellow-robed, black-robed, and the most vicious red-clothed ghosts.
As for the living humans in the secret realm, their origins were complex.
Some were descendants of servants once kept by the Witch Ghost Path, while others came from disciples who had voluntarily crippled their cultivation during the sect's downfall.
Because within this secret realm, cultivation was forbidden.
The Golden Core Sword Qi sought to eradicate the Witch Ghost Path's legacy, so anyone who cultivated—even just at the first layer of Qi Refining—would be slain by the sword energy.
Lü Yang's status as an outsider made him bait for the sword qi's "fishing," which was why he hadn't been killed upon entering. But it made little difference—as long as the sword qi remained, his avatar couldn't leave the realm, rendering him as good as dead.
The fate of the Witch Ghost Path was bitterly ironic.
With only mortals surviving—unable to cultivate—they became prey for the uncontrolled witch ghosts, hunted and devoured endlessly.
Those who commanded ghosts were ultimately consumed by them.
"Yet humans always find a way in adversity."
Though unable to cultivate, generations of mortals in the secret realm risked their lives over centuries and eventually discovered a method to counter the witch ghosts:
"Submitting ghosts to serve Yama."
In essence, they used a secret method to offer themselves to the witch ghosts. While being devoured, they could temporarily borrow the ghosts' power.
"The cultivator who created this system called himself 'Ancestor Nether Whisper.' The Tingyou Sect he founded became the sole dominant religion in the secret realm, deeply rooted with systematic ghost-control methods. Titles varied based on the ghost's grade."
Those controlling white-robed ghosts were called "ghost attendants."
Yellow-robed ghost controllers were "rakshasas."
Black-robed ghost controllers were "wuchang emissaries."
As for the most vicious red-clothed ghosts—anyone who could control one instantly became a Tingyou Sect elder, revered in the secret realm as "Yama's Envoys."
"...Quite the variety."
Though practitioners of this ghost-control system rarely lived beyond a year or two, their strength while alive was undeniable.
The strongest could rival perfected Qi Refining.
The yellow-robed ghost before Lü Yang was at mid-stage Qi Refining level.
What truly intrigued Lü Yang was sensing a trace of mysterious aura related to "position" from this yellow-robed ghost.
"Almost like... fragments of a divine ability?"
It felt akin to the superior divine abilities that composed greater divine arts, albeit weakened countless times over, making it faint.
Lü Yang reached out, seizing the yellow-robed ghost and refining it instantly.
"Definitely position-related, but not at Foundation Establishment level."
"These witch ghosts roaming the Witch Ghost Secret Realm must all be connected to a certain greater divine ability—each ghost a fragment of it..."
After pondering, Lü Yang retrieved the Myriad Spirits Banner.
He then placed the yellow-robed ghost onto the banner, transforming it into a banner spirit... Gradually, an odd expression crossed his face.
"This is... an unexpected boon!"
The witch ghosts in the secret realm concealed traces of positional aura, likely tied to a greater divine ability—and his Myriad Spirits Banner could harness these ghosts.
Delighted, Lü Yang's thoughts raced... He realized he could systematically capture and refine every witch ghost in the realm via the banner, reassembling these positional fragments. Perhaps he could even reconstruct a greater divine ability to aid his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!
The thought ignited fervor in his heart.
"The people here have long suffered under these witch ghosts. Kind-hearted as I am, overflowing with compassion, I'll reluctantly take these ghosts off their hands and restore peace to this land..."
Next, Lü Yang glanced at the unconscious youth.
With his cultivation, soul-searching a mortal wouldn't leave aftereffects. He even left behind a martial arts manual as compensation.
"Truly, I'm a great philanthropist..."
Just then, a sound came from the distant horizon.
Looking up, Lü Yang saw dark clouds approaching. Within them stood a black-robed Daoist flanked by two attendants and over a dozen beautiful maids.
The attendants held treasures protectively, while the maids carried fans, incense, flutes, and pipes. Behind them trailed a long procession dressed in black and white, playing suonas and drums, dancing as they moved—an extravagant spectacle.
"Hmm? Where are this area's witch ghosts?"
The black-robed Daoist's gaze fell on Lü Yang, his brow furrowing. "Are you the reporting commoner? Where's the ghost attendant assigned here?"
Lü Yang glanced at him indifferently. "Dead."
From the youth's memories, the ghost attendant had been killed by the yellow-robed ghost, hence his hiding in the ruins.
The Daoist's frown deepened. Suddenly, he gestured, prompting an attendant to produce a circular mirror aimed at Lü Yang. Sensing its function with his divine sense, Lü Yang didn't evade, allowing the mirror's light to shine on him.
Instantly, the Daoist sneered.
"So it's an outsider's wild fox Zen! You must've killed the ghost attendant and stolen this area's witch ghosts. Today, this Protector cannot spare you!"
"...Wild fox Zen?"
Lü Yang found this utterly absurd—a minor sectarian from a secret realm calling him wild fox Zen? The sheer audacity!
The black-robed Daoist felt no such irony.
Though secluded, the Witch Ghost Secret Realm wasn't entirely isolated. Over the years, rogue cultivators occasionally stumbled in by chance.
He'd seen many.
But rogue cultivators were weak—at best early or mid-stage Qi Refining—utterly insignificant before the Tingyou Sect.
Thus, the Daoist naturally looked down on outside cultivators.
Facing Lü Yang now, he brimmed with confidence, viewing him as merely another to capture for easy merit.
The Daoist focused his energy.
His ruddy complexion paled instantly, while his lips swelled crimson—vibrant and unsettling, radiating eerie Daoist resonance.
His controlled ghost was a black-robed one named "Name-Calling Soul Reaper." As the name suggested, once it locked onto a target, it could divine their name. When the Daoist called it, the victim's soul would be seized, dying within moments.
With this ghost, he'd never lost a battle.
This time was no different. He activated the ghost to divine the wild fox Zen's name. Simultaneously, Lü Yang sensed it.
"Divining me?"
Lü Yang's brow arched. "Interesting. As fragments of a greater divine ability carrying positional traces, these witch ghosts can indeed touch upon karma..."
As he spoke, he formed hand seals to obscure his karma.
Though confident his own position made any divination harmless, a wise man avoids unnecessary risks.
"How can this be!?"
Seeing "Name-Calling Soul Reaper" fail, the Daoist panicked, unable to comprehend why his invincible ghost faltered.
Lü Yang shook his head. "So unchallenging—far from Foundation Establishment standards."
"But perhaps it's better this way. Overcoming stronger opponents was never my style. I prefer dominating weaker foes across realms..."
Meanwhile, the Daoist seemed to recall something. Reaching into his robes, he produced a red-wax statue—majestic and solemn, crowned with three incense sticks. Without hesitation, he lit them.
Green flames instantly ignited behind the statue's head.
"Ancestor, grace us with your presence!"
The Daoist prostrated. Immediately, auspicious clouds billowed from the incense as the statue's expression softened.
Celestial music played, sweet rain fell, golden lotuses bloomed—countless marvels enhancing the statue's sacred majesty. Its features animated; though waxen, it seemed alive, glaring at Lü Yang and booming:
"Who dares defy our sect?"
"......"
Lü Yang remained silent, studying it curiously. Those with positional perception saw it differently.
Ordinary eyes saw only a lifelike statue.
But Lü Yang saw the truth—what animated it was a divine ability's radiance beneath it, seven seal characters swirling within, unleashing vast magical power.
He realized: this was the greater divine ability he'd hypothesized—formed by assembling all witch ghosts in the secret realm!
Its name:
[Underworld Lord Xuanming's Ghost-Controlling Position]!