“Thank you.” The Daoist smiled at him and, with a snap of his fingers, released a few streams of spiritual energy that landed on the ground.

He then imitated the great ghost's earlier action and asked, “Where is the Mountain God?”

Suddenly, the earth trembled with a series of rumbling sounds. The cliffs below were already full of large rocks, which now shook and rolled together, quickly forming several stone giants that stood two or three zhang high.

The mountain demons and spirits, who had been preparing to attack, were momentarily stunned as they looked up at the stone giants.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Compared to the Mountain God’s incarnation from the great mountains of Pingzhou, which were as grand as mountains themselves, these stone giants were far inferior. They might even be smaller than a single fist of those of the Mountain God’s incarnation.

However, they were still taller than most of the trees in the mountains. Even mountain beasts as large as water buffalo only reached their waists. Moreover, the stone giants were immensely sturdy and imposing, with a commanding presence.

Song You cupped his hands and said to the giants, “Please, Mountain God, exorcize these demons.”

“

Rumble…

” The stone giants immediately began to run.

Song You turned his attention back to the great ghost. The great ghost’s expression was grave but fearless. He waved his sleeve, releasing countless vengeful spirits and ghosts.

“

Ahhhh

!” These spirits screamed and howled, their faces twisted in agony, as they charged toward Song You.

Song You frowned, his expression showing pity and compassion.

It seemed these spirits were the remnants of the beings the great ghost had tormented. Since there was no reincarnation in this world, the best he could offer them was freedom from their suffering.

“

Boom

!” A burst of intense flames engulfed everything.

Just like outside the demon market town in Pingzhou, these ghosts and spirits were incinerated into ashes in an instant. Even the great ghost beside flinched, while the surrounding vegetation remained untouched by the fire.

“What else do you have up your sleeves?” Song You asked the great ghost.

The great ghost's face grew more panicked. In a hurry, he used all his tricks, emitting countless black smokes that transformed into vengeful ghosts and sharp blades.

However, under the opponent's flames, these quickly turned to ash. He bared his teeth and lunged a few times, but not only did he miss, he nearly got burned to death. He even summoned the jade he had been buried with, but it was shattered by a casual flick from his opponent.

In his panic, fear started to creep in. With no other options, he looked around frantically.

The Daoist said, “It’s almost dawn. Even if you escape, where can you go?”

“You’re pushing the line!” The great ghost gritted his teeth and, not only extending his sharp fangs and claws, but also rapidly expanding his size. In an instant, he transformed into a towering demon several zhang tall, lunging at Song You.

“

Boom

!”

“

Hiss

!”

Even before the flames appeared, just the sparks alone made the great ghost panic, turning into black mist and retreating to the side.

The great ghost glared at Song You, took a deep breath, and spewed out an endless amount of black smoke. It was so dark that it looked like it had darkened the sky and blocked the sun.

However, the great ghost did not dare to attack amidst the smoke. Instead, he quickly turned and crashed into the cliffside.

As the Daoist had said, it was almost dawn. Even if he ran, he couldn’t escape far. After hundreds of years of cultivation, he wouldn’t be killed by the sun, but the world in daylight was not meant for a yin ghost. His powers would be greatly diminished in the daytime, making him slow, and he would be unable to resist or escape. It was better to return to the cave.

The cave had been his domain for many years; it was filled with yin qi during the day and it was well-connected with many places to hide. He could hold out until nightfall and then escape in the dark. Ꞧ

Who knew how far he could run in one night. It was a pity that the cave he had maintained for hundreds of years would be destroyed…

In the blink of an eye, the great ghost's figure had disappeared. At the same time, the black smoke at the cliff's edge dissipated quickly.

The Daoist waved his hand and stepped out. He glanced around, took a step forward, and passed through the illusion.

Inside was not dark but filled with blazing fire. A fire specifically burning for yin ghosts, glaringly bright.

The flames were unrelenting and had no tangible source. Since the Daoist had blown them into the cave, the fire had remained here and had been burning continuously, never extinguishing or fading. It transformed the once yin ghost's cave into a blazing inferno.

As soon as the great ghost entered, he crashed directly into the flames, his entire body curling up like a shrimp. He collapsed to the ground, struggling and shouting in agony.

“

Ah

! Immortal Master, spare me! Immortal Master, please spare me! I have rare treasures...”

But the flames did not lessen.

“Immortal Master, spare me. I have a secret that will shake the heavens... I can tell you, please spare my life…”

This time, he finally got a response. “Speak.”

“Immortal Master, please stop the fire…”

“You have nearly a thousand years of cultivation. You can afford to suffer this much.”

“If I tell you, will you—

ah

!—spare me?”

“No.”

“Then why should I tell you?”

“If you insist on speaking, I will listen and fulfill your desire to confess before you die,” Song You said, pausing. The fire only burned yin ghosts, so he stood within it without feeling the heat.

He reached into his bag to pat the head of the confused calico cat trying to peek out, while maintaining a calm gaze on the contorted and struggling face of the malevolent demon. “If you choose not to speak, that is fine too.”

“

Ah…

!” The ghost’s cries grew increasingly shrill.

Half of the great ghost's body was already gone. When he could no longer hold on and his resistance was depleted, the remaining half of the great ghost turned to ash in an instant amidst the flames.

Song You waved his hand, and the flames before him retreated deep into the mountain, vanishing around a bend in the cave within the blink of an eye. It was unclear where this cave led.

The ground was strewn with countless fragments of stone and wood. Song You bent down, picked up a branch, and shook it. With a whoosh, flames ignited on the branch.

Using the fire, he continued into the cave.

He occasionally brought the flame closer to the stone walls, hoping to find any murals or inscriptions. Unfortunately, all he found were numerous claw marks and rough stone walls. However, there were frequently small passages on either side, the destinations of which were unknown.

Not far in, he came upon a spacious stone chamber. This appeared to be the end of the main passage. It was likely where the great ghost had cultivated.

Though it might seem like just a cave and the ghost here was merely an evil spirit, he was once a human. In this stone chamber, there were even a stone table, stone chairs, and a stone bed, along with stone steps, as if he were trying to pretend that it was still alive.

Along the walls, there were many stone coffins, most of which were uncovered. Inside, there were human bones, not scattered but neatly arranged in intact skeletons.

These were likely people the great ghost had consumed. In his spare time, he had assembled their bones neatly and placed them in the coffins for constant viewing.

Once he was human, but no longer so.

One stone wall had his name carved on it, perhaps to remind himself. Other names were also written, possibly those of his family from his previous life. From left to right, part of it was scratched out—perhaps a moment of madness or resolve to erase these names. But halfway through, it stopped. Perhaps regret set in, and the names were re-carved on the other side.

His internal conflict and struggles were etched into the wall, and it was unclear how much time had passed since the etchings were made.

The torch illuminated only a small area. Song You examined the coffins one by one, trying to find out nothing else but insight into how this evil ghost came to be.

In the final corner, beside the last stone coffin, he unexpectedly discovered two living people. There were a man and a woman, one large-sized and one small-sized. They seemed like father and daughter.

Perhaps they had just been captured by a mountain demon to serve as food for the great ghost and had not yet been consumed. The demon had only used its demonic powers to imprison them here. However, the purifying fire had clearly burned away all the demonic magic on them. Now, the two were awake, huddled together and shivering in the stone coffin.

As the light from the fire illuminated the chamber, so the Daoist saw them, and they saw the Daoist. One side was filled with terror, while the other was calm and composed.

“…”

The Daoist blew a breath of air, and both of them fell asleep immediately.

***

A moment later, outside the cave…

All the mountain monsters and demons had been subdued, but none were killed.

Song You went over to take a look, snapping his fingers to scatter a few flames. Some of the monsters and demons turned to ash in the flames, while the remaining ones were terrified and trembled uncontrollably.

“Although you achieved enlightenment because of that ghost, gaining enlightenment is not easy. Considering that you were under its control and have not harmed any humans, I will let you off this time,” Song You said to them.

He continued, “I hope you will remember the fate of that ghost and the lesson from this incident. Cherish your cultivation and cultivate diligently. No matter what, you must not harm humans. Otherwise, even if the heavens and earth do not punish you, there will certainly be others who come to seek your demise, and you will find no good end.”

The monsters and demons seemed stunned, unable to believe it. Once they recovered from their shock, they were immensely grateful. They bowed, nodded, and even cried.

“The Mountain God I asked for help from is a bit clumsy. Could someone more agile assist me in getting these two people to the roadside?”

“…”

“Is no one willing to help?”

“

Roar…

” One of the mountain monsters stood up.

“Thank you.” Song You then bowed to the stone giants. “Thank you as well for your assistance, Mountain Gods.”

With a rumble, the giants disintegrated, and the stones scattered across the ground.

These were not actual Mountain Gods but were created using a method that turned stone into soldiers. The beings within the stones were only scattered spirits of the earth. With Song You’s cultivation, these “soldiers“ could be considered generals.

People often referred to such conjured stone giants as Mountain Gods out of habit and respect, similar to how one might call a constable “Captain” or a soldier “Lieutenant” and so forth.

Sending someone off with more respect was never a bad thing.

“Let’s go.”

Song You took a step forward and left the place. The mountain monster carried the two people carefully, following him, while the remaining mountain monsters, ghosts spirits and demons hurriedly scattered.

Faintly, one could hear the Daoist speaking to them, “No matter how you came here, since you have gained enlightenment, you should cultivate properly. As a monster of this mountain, protect it well. Do not let the other beings cause trouble, and help people whenever possible. Then, you will naturally be rewarded.”

The mountain demon did not speak, merely trudging along.

The sky was beginning to lighten.

By the time they reached the roadside, the sky was fully bright. But with recent rumors of mountain demons causing trouble and no nearby village or inn, no one dared to pass through this area so early in the morning.

The mountain demon placed the two people on the roadside.

“Thank you.”

“

Roar…

”

“Please take care and remember my words.”

“…”

Seeing the mountain demon leap away and disappear into the dense forest, Song You finally withdrew his gaze and blew a breath at the father and daughter.

He then determined his direction and walked away as the persistent questions from the calico cat echoed in his ears.