Chapter 401: The Ghost City is Completed, and the Divine Takes Their Place

The stone slabs floated in midair, forming a spiraling staircase.

The monk stood halfway up the mountain, gazing at the full moon, silent for a long time.

Only after a while did he lower his head and continue his ascent.

The Daoist, clad in his worn robes, remained seated at the center of the high platform, meditating. Behind him, the maidservant sat obediently, while a calico cat played with a tricolored cloth ball on the platform. The cat paid no attention to either the Daoist or the monk. At most, she glanced at the monk as he climbed up, but then promptly returned to her task.

One paw batted the ball, the other tried to block it. Despite being just a cat, she seemed extremely busy.

Suddenly, her left paw lost to her right, and the ball accidentally rolled to the edge of the platform. Unable to stop it in time, it fell off the edge.

“

Swish

!”

The cat bolted to the edge of the platform, crouching to peer over at the falling ball.

The stone pillar was several dozen zhang high.

The cat froze for a moment, watching helplessly as the ball tumbled down. After observing where it landed, she spun around and darted off to retrieve it.

Meanwhile, the monk sat down before the Daoist once again.

“Daoist Master Song, greetings.”

“What brings you here, Master?”

The monk wasted no words, speaking directly, “I wish to remain in the Ghost City to enlighten the wronged spirits and wicked ghosts.”

“...” Song You paused for a moment before asking, “What do you mean by

enlighten

?”

“To calm the hearts of the wronged and guide the wicked toward virtue,” the monk replied.

“And how long do you intend to stay?”

“Until this place no longer needs me,” the monk answered.

“You must understand, Master,” Song You said, “if the underworld is fully established, the cycle of reincarnation will eventually be implemented. The wronged spirits and wicked ghosts you enlighten will enter the cycle and start anew.”

“Even a moment of peace is still peace. Even a fleeting turn toward virtue is still virtue.”

“And what about the people of the mortal world?”

“There are many monks in the mortal world, but in this Ghost City, I’m the only monk here.”

“What if I told you,” Song You asked calmly, “that in this Ghost City, you may only comfort the ghosts and guide them toward virtue, but you may not openly preach or propagate Buddhist teachings?”

Hearing this, the monk’s heart remained unmoved, and his expression stayed calm. Bowing his head with his hands pressed together, he simply replied:

“That is my

Buddhadharma

[1].”

“Have you truly thought this through, Master?”

“I have,” the monk replied firmly.

Song You no longer questioned him further. Instead, he spoke plainly, “Master, as you’ve toured the Ghost City alongside the ghost officials, you may have heard from them that, under the original plans of the State Preceptor and the Heavenly Palace, the idea of a underworld and reincarnation was already influenced by Buddhist thought. For this reason, a position was reserved in the underworld for a certain Bodhisattva from the Buddhist sect.”

“I am no Bodhisattva, nor do I dare to act as one.”

“Do you recall what I told you in Gui Commandery, Hezhou?” Song You said, his tone light. “I told you that you are destined to become a Buddha. Master, your understanding of Buddhism is profound, and your merit is boundless. The good you achieved in Gui Commandery alone rivals that of many gods and Buddhas in the heavens, let alone the merits you have earned elsewhere.”

“My cultivation is shallow and unworthy of such a role,” the monk replied modestly.

“That’s not quite right,” Song You said, shaking his head. “Today, Master, you are willing to remain here—to resolve the confusion of lost souls, to dissipate their grievances, and to guide wicked ghosts toward virtue. By willingly forsaking the sights of the mortal world to stay in this sunless Ghost City, you are already the Buddha for the souls here.”

“I do not act for such recognition,” the monk replied.

“I have waited a long time for you, Master,” Song You said sincerely, just as he had spoken to Divine Lord Yuewang. “Whether it’s the Heavenly Palace appointing a Bodhisattva to oversee this place or the Buddha himself making the decision, I would not trust it, nor would I agree to it.”

He added, “If you are unwilling, you may freely roam the Ghost City, and that seat can remain vacant indefinitely. But if you are willing, I will handle matters with the Heavenly Palace and the Buddhist sects. From then on, whether you are called a Buddha or a Bodhisattva, it doesn’t matter. In the hearts of the souls of the underworld and the people of the mortal world, they will know the truth.”

The monk pressed his hands together, closed his eyes, and sat silently.

The moonlight streamed down, and the sound of the

qin

filled the air.

The monk’s appearance had grown far more weathered than it had been a few years ago.

After a long time, he opened his eyes.

“Amitabha...” The monk gazed at Song You and asked, “Will the gods and Buddhas above easily agree with you, Daoist?”

“That is my concern,” Song You replied. “You and I each have our strengths. Just as we did in Gui Commandery, you do what you are skilled at, and I will do what I am skilled at. That’s all there is to it.”

“Amitabha...”

The monk lowered his head and softly chanted the Buddha’s name. Slowly, he rose to his feet. His eyes, as bright as pearls, met Song You’s. Standing tall, he asked, “Do you still remember what I once said to you, Daoist Master?”

“Please remind me,” Song You replied.

“I may lack the ability to read fate or peer into the heavens,” the monk said, “but I do have eyes to see the heart. The world is in chaos—Daoist Master, your days of roaming freely will not last forever.”

“...”

That single sentence pulled Song You back to that day, amidst the endless wind and snow.

What had he replied back then? He couldn’t remember anymore.

The monk was already descending.

Halfway down, he stopped and glanced up at the bright moon, remaining silent for a long while.

In truth, he had only been in this Ghost City for about a month and a half. The last time he saw a full moon was just two months ago. But now that he had chosen to remain here, it might be a very long time before he would see the moonlight again.

Lowering his head, he resumed his descent.

Meanwhile, the little cat finally made it back up, panting heavily.

This mischievous creature insisted on playing with her ball on this dozen-zhang-high platform, as if she couldn’t play anywhere else. She frequently lost the ball over the edge, making the process of climbing up and down to retrieve it endlessly troublesome.

***

Autumn passed, and winter came.

The Heavenly Palace sent their gods to visit several more times, with Immortal Elder of Green Wood serving as the messenger.

Song You enjoyed interacting with the old immortal. Immortal Elder of Green Wood didn’t try to pressure him on behalf of the Heavenly Palace; he merely acted as a neutral intermediary, passing messages back and forth.

Unlike the former State Preceptor, Song You had no interest in bargaining or exchanging favors with them, so he stood his ground without retreating.

The plan remained firm: invite Divine Lord Yuewang to serve as the Ghost Emperor, presiding over the underworld.

As for the position of the First Palace’s Palace Lord, Song You proposed inviting Immortal Elder He, the same Prime Minister He who, decades earlier during the Great Yan’s time of crisis, had stepped forward to stabilize the empire and save the people from disaster.

His actions, however, had clashed with the interests of the ruling elite, leading to his untimely death. Afterward, the faith and incense offerings of the people transformed him into a god.

Interestingly, Prime Minister He had a connection with Song You’s master’s master. Back when Prime Minister He was searching for superior crop strains in the east, he had received guidance from Daoist Tiansuan.

Though Song You had never met Daoist Tiansuan, the master of his own master, the mere mention of the name evoked a sense of familiarity and closeness.

Such a figure as Immortal Elder He, a virtuous, capable man of boundless merit, who had been unjustly killed after being discarded by the royal court like a worn-out tool, was a legendary minister through the ages. Even in the Heavenly Palace, he was relegated to a minor, idle role. Appointing him as the First Palace's Palace Lord could not have been more appropriate.

Song You spoke to him directly, inviting him to take up the post. Whether the Heavenly Palace officially acknowledged it or not was ultimately irrelevant.

As long as they didn’t dare send troops to oppose it, and the ghosts of the underworld as well as the people of the mortal world accepted it, the Heavenly Palace would eventually have to recognize it too.

After all, the gods exist in the hearts of the people, not merely on the altars of Daoist temples or in celestial records.

The Buddhist sects also sent a delegation.

However, Buddhism was weaker in influence. Even within their ranks, they often didn’t have full control over who was assigned to oversee the underworld. And now, with Song You standing so resolute, the Western Paradise emissaries only asked briefly about the appointee. Upon learning the choice, they bowed respectfully and left without contest.

***

Winter slowly passed.

It was the beginning of spring in the ninth year of the Mingde era when the Ghost City of the mortal world was nearing completion.

The lands surrounding Mount Ye, once desolate, now showed signs of vibrant greenery. A little girl sat cross-legged atop the mountain, diligently cultivating, drawing ever closer to becoming a great demon.

The swallow, however, was slightly troubled.

For nearly a year, he had worked tirelessly, carrying and scattering grass seeds across the lands within a span of dozens of li. This effort had not only accelerated his mastery of wood element spells but had also greatly advanced his divine ability to transform into countless forms. Now, most of the lingering yin qi and ghostly qi had dissipated from the area. Yet, the grass still struggled to grow as lushly as it did elsewhere, likely due to the lingering effects of the former yin qi.

It was Immortal Elder of Green Wood, during his final visit to the Ghost City, who had commented on this imbalance. Noting the area’s lack of trees to complement the grass, the old immortal casually waved his hand, causing countless trees to sprout from the earth. These trees had since grown into a thriving forest, lush and vibrant.

The swallow often visited this forest to reflect and study its mysteries.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of spiritual light erupted behind him.

“...”

The swallow turned sharply, his sharp senses immediately alert.

The little girl also felt puzzled. She tilted her head to look up at the sky but saw nothing. Then, she leaned further back, letting the image of the inverted Mount Ye fill her view.

However, as the two little demons turned to look back, Mount Ye remained the same as before, completely unmoving.

The swallow was the first to fly over.

The little girl scratched her head, then got up and followed.

As soon as they entered Mount Ye, the world inside suddenly seemed much more expansive—what had already been significantly larger than the visible exterior of the mountain was now vastly more so. Standing at the entrance, one could barely see its boundaries. Where once entering the mountain immediately brought one to the Ghost City, now the Ghost City had retreated far into the distance.

The space had grown to what must have been dozens of li in diameter.

“Truly remarkable...” the swallow couldn’t help but murmur to himself.

The little girl soon caught up with him, and the two of them advanced together.

As they approached the Ghost City and neared the stone pillar at its center, they saw that the Daoist had already risen and was descending the floating steps, walking down step by step. He was already halfway down.

The fox maid had also returned to her place behind her mistress.

The Daoist descended from the stone pillar platform, passing under the watchful eyes of countless ghosts. He approached the two figures near the

qin

platform and bowed deeply. “Thank you both for your assistance.”

The maid remained seated, silent and unmoving.

The woman resting her elbow on the qin table, her chin propped on her hand, lazily gazed at him. “It was no trouble at all...”

“I have always had a question I’d like to ask you.”

“Go on,” the woman replied.

“How did you come to know that the State Preceptor was refining a Longevity Pill?”

“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“If you tell me, I’ll believe you,” Song You said sincerely.

“That was decades ago,” the woman began, lifting her gaze toward him. “In truth, this method has existed since ancient times. It’s called the

Yin-Yang Longevity Method

. However, it’s extremely cruel, flawed in execution, and ineffective—at most, it can only extend life by a hundred years. Only a few practitioners who have gone astray would resort to it.

“But many years ago, while traveling the world, I happened upon someone gathering medicinal herbs. The ingredients they collected were about seventy to eighty percent similar to those used in the Yin-Yang Longevity Pill. Curiosity got the better of me—foxes aren’t any less curious than cats, after all—and I decided to investigate.

“That’s when I discovered that someone in the mortal realm had refined and improved the method through countless iterations. Truly ingenious. But it wasn’t the State Preceptor. It was his father.”

“You have remarkable patience,” Song You commented.

“It was all for naught in the end,” the woman said with a slight pause. “Now, the Ghost City has become its own independent world. No man, god, demon, or ghost can enter or leave at will. Divine Lord Yuewang has taken his place, the First Palace Lord has assumed his post, and the representative of the Western Paradise has also settled in. What do you plan to do next?”

“I came down the mountain to travel the mortal realm,” Song You replied calmly. “Naturally, I intend to leave and continue my journey.”

“When will you depart?”

“In just a few days,” Song You said, bowing once more. “Thank you both for your assistance, and my thanks to you for a year of

qin

music. It has relieved much of my monotony and brought comfort to the souls of the Ghost City.”

“I played solely for you, Daoist Master,” the woman said with a faint smile.

“...”

“Don’t believe me?”

“Let’s focus on the matter at hand,” Song You replied.

“Daoist Master, you’re so heartless,” she teased.

“...”

“Fine, let’s talk business,” the woman said, her expression turning serious. She sat upright and looked directly at him. “What do you think of the proposal I mentioned before?”

“I've thought about it for a long time,” Song You said, his tone calm and steady as he met her gaze directly. “We should make a fair exchange.”

“What kind of exchange?” she asked, her expression unreadable.

“The Ghost City is built and quite secure,” Song You began, “but to guard against unforeseen circumstances and ensure the proper functioning of this world, a being of great power is needed to oversee it.”

He continued, “If you are willing to stay and oversee the mortal world's Ghost City until the underworld is fully formed, it would be a great act of kindness to the spirits here. In return, I would give you this Longevity Pill, refined from the souls of the departed, to aid you in achieving your Nine-Tails.”

“...”

The woman’s expression immediately shifted, her gaze sharpening as she locked eyes with him.

1. The Buddhadharma, as the term itself suggests, is the Dharma, or teachings, taught by the Buddha. ☜