Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Spirit of Settled Realm
Page (1/3)
“Oh dear, my meridians suddenly ache,” Qu Yiqiu murmured, clutching her arm at just the right moment as she watched the others follow Chi Yushu into Qu’nan City. Instantly, she drew the attention of two companions.
“Junior Sister, what’s wrong?” Luo Yingying hurried over, her concern plain.
Wu Qiu frowned. “Is it because you took the Foundation Establishment Pill? You’ll need some time to recuperate these next few days. You shouldn’t rush into battle.”
Qu Yiqiu circulated her spiritual energy, beads of sweat dotting her brow as she struggled to keep her voice steady. “Perhaps so. I was too hasty. Senior Brother Wu, Senior Sister Luo, please go ahead with the team. I’ll catch up after I’ve adjusted my breath.”
The disciples of the second squad passed them by.
Luo Yingying glanced at Wu Qiu. “Senior Brother, you go first. I’ll stay with Junior Sister Qu.”
Wu Qiu crouched down. “No rush. I’ll wait here with you both.”
As the long line ahead gradually shortened, Qu Yiqiu feigned guilt. “Senior Brother, Senior Sister, please go on ahead. The passage only remains open for a limited time. If I cause you to miss entering Qu’nan City, I’ll never have the face to see you again!”
Wu Qiu looked toward the passage’s entrance, his brow furrowing deeply. “With your current condition, Junior Sister, I’m afraid you won’t recover quickly.”
Luo Yingying’s worry grew. “You won’t miss the passage, will you?”
Qu Yiqiu laboriously produced a porcelain bottle. “It’s fine. I have Foundation Stabilizing Pills. If I miss this opening, I’ll simply enter with the next squad. Senior Sister, Senior Brother, please go. The sooner you enter, the sooner you can get a lay of the land.”
Wu Qiu and Luo Yingying exchanged a troubled glance. “Very well. Rest and meditate, Junior Sister, and we’ll wait for you inside.”
Qu Yiqiu forced a smile. “Alright.”
As soon as they left, she swallowed a pill, slipped out of the queue, and melted into the crowd.
Wu Qiu turned back to Luo Yingying. “Let’s go, Junior Sister. Everyone here is a righteous cultivator; nothing will happen.”
Luo Yingying nodded, masking her lingering concern.
Hidden in the throng, Qu Yiqiu watched them intently. Once she saw them turn and walk away side by side, she let out a subtle sigh of relief.
She had no intention of entering Qu’nan City now.
Qu Yiqiu made her way to a secluded corner. Out of sight, she abruptly changed direction and flew off on her sword.
Autumn Leaf Crimson Valley.
At this hour, everyone’s attention was focused on Qu’nan City. The valley was deserted.
“Golden Ghost King, are you hiding something from me?” Qu Yiqiu gripped the Soul Suppressing Banner, her gaze dangerous.
The Golden Ghost King shook his head frantically, like a rattle drum. “Master, I would never dare keep anything from you!”
Qu Yiqiu narrowed her eyes. “Still refusing to speak? It seems I’ve been too gentle with you.”
Page (2/3)
With a mere thought, the Golden Ghost King clutched his head in agony, writhing and grimacing in pain.
“Master, master! I swear, I’ve told you everything! I’ve kept nothing from you!”
Arms folded, Qu Yiqiu regarded him coolly, a hint of killing intent glimmering in her eyes.
Sensing death’s shadow, the Golden Ghost King’s face went ashen. This woman was truly ruthless!
“Master, I was wrong! I’ll tell you everything, please don’t kill me!” Ignoring the pain that stabbed through him, he crawled at her feet, begging for mercy.
Qu Yiqiu sidestepped neatly. “Tell me the secret of the Ghost Cultivator’s Paradise.”
“I—I don’t know… please spare me, Master. I haven’t uncovered the Ghost Cultivator’s Paradise’s secrets, but I do know that the entire place can move!”
At her mental command, Qu Yiqiu released her hold, and the Golden Ghost King gulped in great lungfuls of air.
“How does it move?”
He rubbed his neck, trembling as he looked at her. “There seems to be a Spirit of Domain Fixation inside. If you can capture it, Master, you’ll have full control over the Ghost Cultivator’s Paradise!”
Qu Yiqiu’s eyes widened in surprise.
No wonder the Golden Ghost King refused to leave—this place was like a pocket realm.
“I see. Now, take me inside. No hidden passages—I know you’ve kept a few escape routes for yourself.”
A cunning rabbit has three burrows.
Someone as afraid of death as the Golden Ghost King would never leave himself without a backdoor.
“Yes, yes! I’ll take you in at once!” The Golden Ghost King scrambled up, fawning and obsequious.
He led Qu Yiqiu to the shaded side of three towering peaks.
Beneath several massive boulders was a serpent-like tunnel.
Fortunately, Qu Yiqiu’s slender figure allowed her to slip through with ease.
In the darkness, she once more felt the sensation of falling, weightless.
The tunnel’s end led straight to the Golden Ghost King’s palace.
Yao Zhimei, startled by their sudden arrival, exclaimed, “Your Majesty? Jin Er Gou? You nearly scared my soul right out of me!”
As her dizziness faded, Qu Yiqiu regained her composure. “What are you doing here?”
Yao Zhimei’s voice shrank as she replied, face drawn. “Your Majesty, while you were gone, everything here changed!”
Page (3/3)
Qu Yiqiu’s brows knitted in confusion—what could reduce this once-formidable general to such a state?
“The Ghost Cultivator’s Paradise hasn’t fallen yet, has it? Why are you here alone?”
Yao Zhimei’s mouth twitched as she pointed to the tightly shut palace doors. “The paradise hasn’t fallen, but my palace is about to be overrun!”
Qu Yiqiu and the Golden Ghost King turned to look. The ornate doors, carved with flowers and auspicious beasts, were pressed upon by shifting shadows.
The shadows slammed against the wood, producing thunderous bangs.
The Golden Ghost King’s eyes widened. “What have you done to my little ghosts? Why are they all out of control?”
Qu Yiqiu was taken aback. “Is it the resentful aura outside?”
Yao Zhimei nodded miserably. “The little ghosts are devouring one another. Dashan, Ershan, Sanshan—all have reached late Foundation Establishment, and gained self-awareness. Now every one of them wants to devour me and break through to the Golden Core stage.”
The Golden Ghost King was dumbfounded.
Qu Yiqiu fixed her gaze on the trembling doors. “Golden Ghost King, is the Spirit of Domain Fixation inside your palace?”
The Golden Ghost King’s heart thudded with dread. How did this woman know everything?
“Yes, Master. I’ll take you to capture it right away!”
“Lead the way,” Qu Yiqiu said without hesitation.
Yao Zhimei, though unsure what the Spirit of Domain Fixation was, saw Qu Yiqiu’s serious expression and followed suit.
The Golden Ghost King led them to the back garden where he used to cultivate Yin-Congealing Grass.
“My Yin-Congealing Grass! What have you done to it?” The Golden Ghost King cried, seeing only tender sprouts and a small patch of surviving grass.
Smack!
A hard fist struck his pale face.
Yao Zhimei withdrew her hand, blew on her knuckles, and grinned. “Just teaching this fool a lesson for your sake, Your Majesty. I was afraid the rampaging ghosts would ruin the grass, so I stored most of it in the treasury.”
Qu Yiqiu nodded. “Well done.”
Clutching his face, the Golden Ghost King pointed toward the left, at the cluster of sprouts. “The Spirit of Domain Fixation is beneath that spot.”
In a flash, Yao Zhimei struck the ground with her palm, red earth scattering to either side and revealing a long flight of gray earthen steps.
“Well, well, Jin Er Gou, you really do have some skill, hiding this tunnel for so long,” Yao Zhimei teased.
The Golden Ghost King’s pale face flushed red with embarrassment. “Enough with the Jin Er Gou! My name is Golden Ghost King! And you never asked about the tunnel, so how was I supposed to tell you…”