Chapter 384: Giving You Time to Run

The colossal marsh dragon, over a hundred zhang long, was far too massive to fit on an ordinary hilltop. Its dark, almost black back gleamed with a metallic yet otherworldly sheen. Every wrinkle, groove, and detail of its hide conveyed an overwhelming sense of reality and terror, as if it were a primeval beast that had traversed time and space to appear here.

The marsh dragon’s eyes were open, its pupils mere slits.

Under its watchful gaze, the Daoist leaned on his bamboo staff, showing not the slightest hint of fear as he slowly walked past it, continuing his ascent up the mountain.

A total of five marsh dragons loomed, each possessing the cultivation of a great demon.

The largest and most ancient one, positioned at the very top, had cultivation on par with the fox demon. It was no less powerful than the demon kings who had wreaked havoc in the north, amplifying their power through the blood and fury of vengeful spirits.

Two other demons stood at a distance. Both were far larger and more imposing than ordinary humans.

Song You suspected they belonged to the white rhinoceroses.

The white rhinoceroses had been hunted relentlessly by the Heavenly Palace and had reached the end of their rope. Their presence here, seeking the State Preceptor, could mean many things. Perhaps they sought to partake in the State Preceptor’s pursuit of longevity or his plans for the underworld.

They might hope to use the forming underworld as a sanctuary to escape the Heavenly Palace’s purges. Alternatively, they might aim to atone for their crimes or follow a path similar to the Mountain God of Pingzhou—by aiding in the creation of the underworld, they could secure a place for themselves in human history. If the people offered them incense and belief, the Heavenly Palace might reconsider its judgment.

As Song You neared the summit, the towering eight-tailed fox came into view, standing several zhang high. In its mouth, it held a severed fox tail radiating an ancient spiritual resonance.

This, too, was something Song You had anticipated—

Both the State Preceptor and the fox demon were masterful strategists.

The Hidden Dragon Temple’s heir’s descent down the mountain had disrupted their plans and alerted them to a potential threat. However, their ability to remain concealed and prepare countermeasures swiftly had prevented them from being immediately exposed.

Undoubtedly, their contingencies extended beyond this moment. They had likely anticipated the possibility of being discovered by a descendant of Hidden Dragon Temple and had made ample preparations for it.

The State Preceptor’s preparation consisted of these seven great demons.

Seven great demons of this era...

As for the fox demon’s preparations, they were harder to discern.

Yet the Daoist remained calm. Step by step, he reached the mountain peak. The wind howled, whipping his robe and causing it to flap loudly, while his hair lashed wildly against his face.

“State Preceptor, your plans are truly meticulous...”

Ignoring the seven great demons—whether familiar or unfamiliar—Song You first turned his gaze to the only human present. “Even after coming all the way to Mount Ye, I couldn’t find a single flaw.”

“Of course, you couldn’t find a flaw...” It was the eight-tailed fox demon who spoke first.

When Song You shifted his gaze slightly toward it, the massive fox had already seated itself on the ground. Its eight tails swayed in the wind, its fur rippling like waves. Despite its imposing appearance, its tone was utterly composed.

“The State Preceptor only conducted the trial for the first batch while you were in the north. Once that was done, he dismantled all the formations. It wasn’t until you left that he began setting everything up again.”

Song You pursed his lips after hearing this but said nothing. He simply withdrew his gaze and refocused on the State Preceptor.

Truthfully, his emotions were somewhat complicated.

“You’ve come after all,” the State Preceptor said with a sigh before addressing him directly, “All my life, this has been my sole pursuit. My ancestors, for generations, have shared this same pursuit. Aside from this singular goal, I can say with a clear conscience that I have done nothing to harm Great Yan or humanity. I have committed no other misdeeds, and I have worked tirelessly for the people, bringing prosperity and creating this golden age for Great Yan.”

“Moreover, if it weren’t for my efforts convincing His Majesty to foster the evolution of the people's will, the Heavenly Dao wouldn’t be as it is today. The ghosts in Mount Ye were meant to dissipate shortly after their death.”

The State Preceptor paused before continuing, “Would you consider leaving on account of this? Once I finish refining the Longevity Pills, if you desire, I can offer you a batch. If you decline, I will take my pills and leave. The grand era of Great Yan will remain untouched, the underworld will be established without disturbance, and Changyuanzi will cease to exist. I will never again appear on any stage in this world.”

Song You listened, his response measured. “Even ghosts of the underworld can feel pain.”

“I only refine guilty ghosts,” the State Preceptor countered. “Given my contributions to the people and the underworld, would you not weigh this in your judgment?”

“Guilty ghosts...” Song You muttered the term softly, then raised his gaze to the State Preceptor. His narrowed eyes were sharp as blades. “But Lin You did not commit the crimes recorded in your ghost ledger, did he?”

The young Daoist’s gaze was piercing.

The State Preceptor’s face remained calm, but he avoided Song You’s eyes, turning instead to the surrounding great demons. “I have studied the texts of Hidden Dragon Temple extensively and understand the abilities of its descendants. Even the greatest of great demons—perhaps not even this esteemed fox demon—can rival a disciple of Hidden Dragon Temple. But against seven great demons, or eight, even your master in her prime would struggle to prevail, wouldn’t she?”

“Seven! Seven!” The fox demon’s voice rang out immediately. “State Preceptor, don’t count us in. We foxes of Yuezhou have always been close to humanity, ever since the time of our ancestors. We would never harm humankind, nor would we dare oppose Hidden Dragon Temple, the pinnacle of the Human Dao. Especially since we already have a friendship with the Daoist...”

Her tone carried the deference of a maid.

As she finished speaking, she turned her head toward Song You.

“Isn’t that right, Daoist Master?” she asked, smiling faintly.

The State Preceptor ignored her entirely, his gaze fixed on Song You. “Fellow Daoist, are you truly willing to risk so much and disregard past ties for the sake of a few guilty ghosts?”

Song You, in turn, paid no attention to the State Preceptor’s question, instead calmly countering, “Why not end this now, State Preceptor?”

“...”

“...”

The two Daoists locked eyes, their expressions unyielding, as the wind swept between them.

The will of the powerful is not easily shaken.

At that moment, faint cries of anguish reached Song You’s ears. Ghostly wails, distant yet piercing, carried a soul-wrenching sorrow that seemed to resonate deep within.

“The State Preceptor isn’t wrong. With seven great demons joining forces, even a master Daoist might struggle to prevail,” the fox demon’s voice rang out again. This time, her tone wasn’t persuasive but lighthearted, even playful. “I wasn’t lying earlier when I offered to help. If you would just say the word, we’d gladly lend a hand.”

“You all...”

Song You ignored her as well. His gaze shifted slowly, deliberately, to each of the great demons present, including the fox. Leaning slightly on his bamboo staff, he spoke in an even, composed voice, “I will leave now. If, upon my return, any of you have departed, I will consider that you have never been here. When the underworld is fully formed, should any of you seek a position within it, you may demonstrate your abilities then.”

He paused briefly.

“But if, upon my return, you are all still here—so be it. Your clans may hail from ancient times, but so too does Hidden Dragon Temple. Here on Mount Ye, we will settle this once and for all.”

Having said his piece, he didn’t wait for a response and turned to descend the mountain.

On the mountain, the marsh dragon fixed its cold gaze on him.

The Daoist casually returned the stare.

What did it mean to “settle this”?

It didn’t imply that Hidden Dragon Temple had previously fought directly with these beings. Of course, with both sides having lineages that spanned thousands of years, it was natural for there to have been conflicts in the past. But more importantly, Hidden Dragon Temple represented the Human Dao, while the marsh dragons and others represented the Demonic Dao.

In ancient times, the Human Dao and Demonic Dao coexisted. The current state of the world was already the result of that contest.

If demons refused to accept the outcome and insisted on challenging humans—

Then another round would decide the victor.

The mountain fell silent, save for the sound of the wind.

The Daoist stepped into the Ghost City within the mountain.

The Ghost City appeared much the same as during his previous visit. In such a short time, there hadn’t been any major changes. The only notable difference was the air of fear among the ghosts in the city. They seemed unsettled, unaware of the events happening outside. Yet, something had clearly shifted within the Ghost City during this period.

With an expressionless face, Song You strode through the streets.

Whispers of the ghosts drifted around him, tinged with worry.

Somewhere nearby, ghost officials were escorting bound ghosts deeper into the city. The officials wore expressions of reluctance, while the ghosts screamed in protest.

“Why are you arresting me? Why again? There must be some mistake! I already served my sentence and was pardoned! I’m just a third-class ghost now! Let me go! Let me go!”

“Why do you think they’ve been rounding people up lately?”

“They say the Ghost City has changed. It can’t hold so many souls anymore. Otherwise, it’ll bring divine punishment—lightning and thunder. So, they’re taking all the guilty ghosts and burning them to death...”

“That’s not what I heard...”

“I heard about a ghost who was only guilty of petty theft and fighting, but they dragged him off to be burned too.”

“You think our turn will come one day?”

Most ghosts weren’t virtuous saints.

But neither were they irredeemable sinners.

The majority were somewhere in the middle—ordinary people.

What were ordinary people like? What was their nature? There was no need to elaborate—just reflect on your own life. Most had made mistakes, committed minor transgressions, or done a few things they regretted. But now, even ghosts whose crimes didn’t warrant destruction were being reduced to ashes.

Rumors were spreading that even those guilty of trivial offenses were being dragged to the flames. These ghosts, not long dead, understood that the vast heavens and earth offered them no place to hide. The gods stood lofty and indifferent, unwilling to intercede for the souls of the dead. Who hadn’t erred at some point in their life? How could they not be afraid?

Song You walked forward, listening to the murmurs as he moved.

Even the ghost officials and soldiers who saw him didn’t dare to block his path.

He continued until he reached the Inferno.

The passage leading to it was already lit with a blinding red glow, far brighter than the last time he’d been there. Standing at the entrance, waves of heat rolled out relentlessly, as though they might sear the skin right off one’s face.

At the entrance stood several towering, flame-resistant demons, their bodies glowing crimson. These demons were enormous and grotesquely bloated. Whenever ghost officials brought condemned souls, these demons would take over, dragging the struggling and wailing ghosts into the Inferno. The demons’ massive, fan-like hands made any resistance futile, and even the ghost officials looked away in pity.

The Inferno had now become a proper pill furnace.

The State Preceptor’s audacity was truly beyond the reach of ordinary men—

Outside, a powerful fox demon had come to challenge him, brimming with fury. Yet here he was, stoking the flames to their peak without the slightest hesitation.

Song You stepped forward and entered the passage.

The demons stationed at the entrance were momentarily stunned. It seemed that, aside from themselves, no one—whether human or ghost—had ever willingly ventured into the Inferno.

By the time they realized what was happening, the Daoist had already passed by them, walking deeper into the tunnel.

The demons widened their eyes in disbelief and attempted to follow, but after only a few steps, they suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

The ghost officials nearby were left bewildered, completely at a loss for what had just transpired.