Chapter 1768: Returning to Familiar Places

The ghost generals, hearing this, immediately started flattering him:“Your Majesty, the Ghost King, you are truly cunning!”“No one is more devious and treacherous than the Ghost King!”“No, it should be described as ‘cunning as a ghost’.”“But we are already ghosts, aren’t we?”…

Watching several ghost generals argue among themselves, the Ghost King’s eyelid twitched. “In this situation, you should use ‘divinely ingenious calculations’.”

“But aren’t gods and we ghosts sworn enemies? How can we use their terms to describe ourselves?” a ghost general questioned.

The Ghost King was speechless.

He had previously thought that only the Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix were a bit slow-witted, but now it seemed these ghost generals weren’t very bright either.

So he simply said, “Strength is paramount now. The six of you must not take any risks. The matter concerning that person can be handled by the Human Realm operatives.”

“Follow my summons and come to me as quickly as possible.”

After speaking, the black light vanished, giving the others no chance to ask questions.

***

Meanwhile, Qiu Honglei and Wei Suo heard the intelligence Zu An had extracted and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Isn’t the Ghost King invincible then? He’s completely unkillable!”

If he’s immune to both physical and elemental attacks, how can they fight him?

“Not necessarily without a way,” Jing Teng said thoughtfully.

“What way?” The others immediately looked at her.

“I haven’t thought of one yet,” Jing Teng smiled faintly. “However, the Laws of Heaven would never create a being with no weaknesses. There must be something we haven’t discovered.”

Zu An nodded inwardly. This was similar to what he had guessed before, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Jing Teng was holding something back.

Soon, the group returned to the dilapidated house in the wilderness. From a distance, they heard Xiaoying wailing loudly.

Jing Teng was startled and quickly rushed back.

The group exchanged glances. Had some ghostly entity arrived just after they left?

When they arrived, they found Xiaoying weeping bitterly while holding her mother. The old woman, dressed in bright floral clothes, had passed away.

Jing Teng gently comforted her. Wiping away her tears, Xiaoying asked, “Grandma, why didn’t I see my mother’s ghost after she died?”

Jing Teng consoled her, “Ghosts usually form in the world when the deceased harbored immense resentment or unfulfilled desires in life. Your mother saw the daughter she had sought her entire life in her final moments. Her wish was fulfilled, so naturally, she wouldn’t become a ghost.”

“Look at the corners of your mother’s mouth; isn’t she smiling even in death?” Jing Teng knelt beside her. “Your mother will likely be reincarnated soon. Isn’t that also a form of good fortune?”

As a ghostly entity herself, Xiaoying naturally knew that beings in their state could not enter reincarnation. They were anomalies in the world, and sooner or later, they would be rejected by it. To be able to reincarnate was indeed a stroke of luck.

“Mother’s life was too full of sorrow. I hope she finds more happiness in her next life. It’s all because I was an unfilial daughter…”

As she spoke, her tears flowed uncontrollably again. Everyone present felt a pang of sadness.

After her emotions had somewhat settled, everyone honored her wish and interred her mother’s ashes together with a symbolic urn for Xiaoying.

Since there was no one left in their family, there was no need for elaborate funeral rites. She only wished for her mother to rest in peace as soon as possible.

As the urn was buried and her lingering desire fulfilled, Xiaoying’s form became increasingly faint. She first thanked Jing Teng for years of care, then pulled Zu An aside.

She tilted her head, scrutinizing Zu An without speaking.

Zu An was a little puzzled. “What do you want to say, Miss Xiaoying?”

“You’re so handsome. It’s a pity I didn’t get to sleep with you back then. I remained a maiden my whole life, and even as a ghost, it’s still the same,” Xiaoying sighed wistfully, her voice full of regret.

Zu An was speechless.

Xiaoying chuckled. “I was just joking, Young Master.”

She quickly sobered, lowering her voice. “Young Master, our Grandma is very pitiful. You must take good care of her.”

Zu An couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Jing is a strong woman. She doesn’t really need looking after; she can live a more brilliant life than others on her own.”

Xiaoying shook her head slightly. “Young Master, you don’t understand her enough. Grandma is typically cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She seems strong, but her heart is especially soft, especially after what happened back then.”

Zu An fell silent, pondering on the nature of love in this world…

“Young Master, Grandma experienced a betrayal back then,” Xiaoying looked at him meaningfully. “Young Master, please don’t let her go through a second betrayal.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of person like Zang Ao,” Zu An said, then paused. “Miss Jing and I don’t have that kind of relationship, so there’s no question of betrayal.”

Xiaoying smiled faintly. “Young Master will understand in time.”

Without waiting for him to ask further, she turned and left, thanking Qiu Honglei and Wei Suo, then bowed three times towards Jing Teng. Finally, she reluctantly dissipated into the wind.

Jing Teng let out a soft sigh. With familiar people leaving one by one, how could her heart not be sad?

“Try to look at it positively. Xiaoying left with her wish fulfilled,” Zu An comforted.

Jing Teng glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. “What did she just say to you?”

Qiu Honglei also looked over curiously. Zu An’s expression became somewhat unnatural. “Nothing much, just normal goodbyes.”

“Is that so? She said more goodbyes to you than to me. I’ve raised her for so many years for nothing then,” Jing Teng said, sounding slightly displeased, but not truly angry.

Zu An gave a dry laugh. “Now that Xiaoying is buried, let’s go find your true form from back then so you can recover as soon as possible.”

“Are you so eager to send me away?” Jing Teng stared at him quietly.

Zu An: “???”

“Isn’t recovering your true form your own wish?”

Jing Teng said nothing more, simply turned and walked away, no longer acknowledging him.

Qiu Honglei, standing by, watched the two of them back and forth. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off between them.

***

After dealing with Xiaoying’s affairs, the group ventured deeper into Zhichuan. They noticed a significant increase in the number of people, many of whom were cultivation masters, compared to other areas.

However, Jing Teng led them, mostly taking secluded routes, so they avoided conflict with the crowds.

They soon arrived at a large mountain. As they climbed, Wei Suo suddenly pointed into the distance and exclaimed, “Look, what a huge tomb!”

The others followed his gaze and indeed saw an incredibly magnificent tomb in the distance.

While most tombs were underground, this enormous one was situated above ground.

At a glance, the main body of the grand tomb stretched endlessly, its end nowhere in sight.

Its scale and grandeur resembled an imperial mausoleum, but it was even larger.

Historically, imperial mausoleums of powerful dynasties were often built by hollowing out mountains, making an entire mountain a tomb.

However, this grand tomb was not within a mountain; instead, all its structures were built on the surface.

Especially the main tomb, which seemed to stretch infinitely. It was baffling how its builders accomplished such a feat.

The entire tomb appeared desolate and mysterious. Even from tens of miles away, one could faintly feel the oppressive aura emanating from it, as if some great horror was hidden within.

“Those cultivators must be here for this grand tomb,” Zu An mused, vaguely seeing dense crowds near the tomb’s entrance. Evidently, they had been gathered there for some time.

The figures were clearly divided into several factions, distinctly separated and seemingly wary of each other.

“Don’t worry, they can’t get in yet,” Jing Teng said calmly, in contrast to the excitement of the others. She didn’t even spare the grand tomb more than a passing glance.

“How do you know?” Qiu Honglei asked, somewhat suspicious.

“If they could get in, would they still be guarding the tomb entrance?” Jing Teng replied casually. “Given the terrifying pressure felt even from this distance, it’s impossible for them to enter by brute force.”

“If that’s the case, what’s the point of so many people coming to Zhichuan?” Zu An wondered inwardly. From what he had observed on their journey, this grand tomb must have attracted heroes from all over the land to investigate. He wondered if Yan Xuehen and the others would also come to check the situation.

Zhao Hao would likely come; he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He hoped the women wouldn’t run into him.

“If nothing unexpected happens, the seal on this grand tomb will soon open by itself,” Jing Teng replied.

“Do you know something secret?” Qiu Honglei pressed, unable to contain her curiosity.

“I simply learned a few things by chance when I received guidance from Immortal Lord Baopu back then. I don’t know anything more,” Jing Teng shook her head.

Qiu Honglei rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t believe a word you say. This woman is full of schemes.’

Seeing that she wouldn’t elaborate, Zu An knew pressing her was futile. Instead, he asked, “Why did you bring us to this mountain?”

“Didn’t you say earlier that you wanted me to find my true form?” Jing Teng looked into the distance, a hint of melancholy in her expression. “That’s the house where I lived back then.”

Everyone followed her gaze. They had arrived at a hollow in the mountainside. The place was filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, with lush trees, and noticeably richer spiritual energy than anywhere else they had passed.

Deep within the forest, faint glimpses of scattered eaves and dougongs could be seen. However, most of the courtyard was covered by ivy and other plants. Had she not pointed it out, they might have passed by without realizing there was a residence here.

However, Zu An quickly frowned. He sensed that someone seemed to be inside!