Chapter 1534: Ghosts Throughout The Mountain

“Greetings, master. Greetings, senior uncles.”

Xin Yuyao saluted them before explaining, “These people noticed something and did not set foot on the Celestial Asking Road. They even attempted to leave. So, I captured them.”

“Oh. Looks like not all of them are idiots after all.” A man who looked like a withered corpse walked up to Fu Qingbai and looked him up and down with his shriveled, deathly white eyeballs. “It’s unfortunate that his talent is somewhat lacking.”

“Hehe. You can give him to me if you don’t want him, senior brother.”

A man covered in rotting flesh from head to toe looked at Fu Qingbai greedily. “Yes, he’s a little old, and yes, his talent is average. Still, he’s way better than the idiots on the Celestial Asking Road. He will be usable with a bit of modification.”

“You have no reason to be hasty, Fifth. Your stinking shell can still hold you for a bit. My body is already destroyed, and I desperately need a new one. I think he fits me.”

A man with no body and only a rotting, smelling soul floated over with obvious greed in his eyes.

The man who looked like a withered corpse immediately blocked their way like he was defending his food. “What are you doing? What are you doing? I only said that his talent is poor. I didn’t say I didn’t want him. He’s mine, you hear me? Don’t even think about laying your hands on him.”

“Your body is still intact, senior brother! You should give him to me!”

“Yeah. you can’t just claim him by force because you have more seniority than us, senior brother!”

“Yeah! You’re the senior brother. You should know modesty and give him to us!” For a time, the group wouldn’t stop arguing with each other. They might address each other as senior brothers and junior brothers, but their eyes and faces were overflowing with undisguised malice. No one was willing to compromise even a little.

“Silence.”

It was at this moment a cold harrumph came from somewhere. “You’re fellow disciples, so why are you arguing and competing against each other like stray dogs?”

The group immediately fell as silent as death.

A man wearing a bluish green Taoist robe slowly walked over.

The old man was very old. His hair and beard were completely white, and his face was covered in deep wrinkles. His back was crooked, and he walked very, very slowly like he was a snail.

No one dared to disrespect the old man in any way, however. They all bowed their heads and bent their backs before calling out, “Sect master!”

“Mm. Rise.”

The old man eventually shambled up to Fu Qingbai. Fu Qingbai subconsciously cried out in shock when he saw the old man’s face. Or rather, his lack thereof.

The old man was missing his facial features and orifices. There were only fleshy pits and scarlet flesh buds. It looked horrifying.

“Haha. Apologies for scaring you.”

The old man did not get angry despite Fu Qingbai’s rude reaction. In fact, his tone was very genial.

“You don’t belong to the Eight Views Sect. Who... Who are you people?”

Fu Qingbai wasn’t fooled though. The genial voice chilled him to the very core of his soul.

“Of course we’re members of the Eight Views Sect.”

The old man said slowly, “I’m the thirty-sixth sect master of the Eight Views Sect, Yan Guhui. These are my junior brothers.”

“If that is true... then why did you turn out like this?” Yan Guhui shook his head sorrowfully. “Sigh. It’s a shameful thing, really. It is my misstep that culminated into a terrible tragedy that ruined the Eight Views Sect. Ah, I am so ashamed!”

“Luckily for us, the heavens prefer things alive than dead and so leave us with a sliver of hope. I shall seize it so that we may recreate the former glory of the Eight Views Sect and cleanse myself of my sins.”

“May the heavens’ blessing be with you...”

“And what... can this junior possibly do to help you, senior?”

If you want to resurrect the Eight Views Sect, then do it! Why the fuck did you capture me?

He didn’t actually say this, of course. He didn’t want to die yet.

“Of course you can.” Yan Guhui smiled. “In fact, you are the key to the resurrection of the Eight Views Sect!”

“Indeed, indeed.”

“We need every bit of help you can lend us to accomplish our mission!”

......

The rest of the group were chiming in as well.

“This junior feels incredibly honored.” Fu Qingbai felt his scalp growing numb as he listened to their laughter. “So, what can I do?”

The withered corpse from before let out a cackle. “It’s simple. You simply need to lend us your body.”

Fu Qingbai gulped. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, senior.”

Yan Guhui smiled and launched into an explanation, “That old disaster forced us to shut our gates and seal ourselves in. Although we managed to survive, our bodies rotted, and our vitality was completely lost. That is why we need new bodies.”

“Only then can we regain our strength and manifest the Eight Views Sect’s old glory.”

“You’re planning to possess us?” Fu Qingbai immediately figured out his intentions. In fact, he already thought this might be the case. He was simply hoping that he was wrong. Now that his last ray of hope was destroyed, his face immediately became ashen with despair.

He finally understood why the Eight Views Sect was willing to use such precious celestial energy to purify their bodies. He also understood why they were willing to let him cross the Celestial Asking Road even though he made it clear that he was unwilling to join them. It was all for their own sake. No wonder they were so “generous”!

Infinite fury burst through the blanket of despair covering Fu Qingbai’s heart, and he struggled with all his might.

“No, we’re not possessing you.”

Yan Guhui withdrew his withered palm and tapped Fu Qingbai on the forehead. The enraged, agitated, and terrified Fu Qingbai abruptly calmed down just like that.

“The Eight Views Sect is an orthodox sect and the descendant of the Taozu. Why would we do such an evil thing?”

Yan Guhui replied smilingly, “We’re simply borrowing your bodies for a bit.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t damage your minds. We will preserve it until the time is right to deliver you to the cycle of reincarnation. When you are reborn, we will recruit you to our sect, teach you the ways of Eight Views, and aid you in accomplishing the unparalleled Way.”

So, you’re saying I should thank you for this?!

Fu Qingbai was furious. Yan Guhui made it sound oh-so-pleasant. “Deliver you to the cycle of reincarnation”, “recruit you to our sect when you are reborn”, “aid you in accomplishing the unparalleled Way”. But even if everything he said was true, everything he promised would only be fulfilled in the next life! In this life, these fucking bastards are going to possess his body!

“What, are you reluctant?” Someone saw the anger on Fu Qingbai’s face and said in a pretentious, “We’re doing you a favor, so don’t be ungrateful” tone, “In ancient times, the number of people who wish to join the Eight Views Sect was as great as the number of fishes in a river. We only accepted unparalleled geniuses back then. People like you could not even dream of getting close to the Eight Views Celestial Mountain.”

“Today, you obtained an unparalleled opportunity to join us and learn our unparalleled arts. Heavens only know how much good karma you must have accumulated across your lifetimes to earn it. You really should be grateful.”

“Why are you wasting his breath on him? A mediocre talent like him will never understand our kindness.” A man said cruelly, “If he refuses to listen, then we will simply extract his soul and torture him.”

“D-Don’t kill me!” Fu Qingbai immediately cowered. “This junior is old and untalented. Even if you possess, I mean, borrow my body, I doubt you’ll be able to achieve much.”

“To be honest, I have a better idea to restore you to your former strength and reforge the glory of Eight Views.”