Volume Two: Soaring Dragon Across the Nine Heavens Chapter Seven: Ruthless and Merciless

“Phoenix, the Three Ghosts are already on their way,” Xuan Chen sent a WeChat message. After reading it, Yaoguang let out a cold laugh, turned, and vanished from the Heavenly Realm.

Inside the Palace of the King of the Underworld in Fengdu, Yaoguang had already arrived, placing a jug of peach blossom wine on the tea table.

“You’re here. The souls of the Three Ghosts have arrived as well; they’re in the Hall of King Qinguang. Let’s go,” the King of the Underworld said, leading Yaoguang toward the Hall of King Qinguang.

Seeing their arrival, King Qinguang immediately descended to pay his respects. The Three Ghosts stood in the center of the grand hall, each bound with heavy iron chains. With a wave of her hand, the true form of the Phoenix Divine manifested around Yaoguang, radiant streams of golden light enveloping her, exuding a chilling, formidable aura. Yaoguang strode slowly to confront the Three Ghosts, her gaze icy and unyielding. The King of the Underworld lounged on the throne with a lazy air, while King Qinguang sat silently at his side.

“It’s you,” the Three Ghosts blinked in surprise when they recognized Yaoguang. “Why have you come to Fengdu?”

“I’ve come to send you on your way,” Yaoguang replied, a cold smile at her lips as she regarded them.

“We don’t need you to trouble yourself with that,” one of the Three Ghosts sneered.

“Is it that you don’t need me, or that you dare not be sent by me?” Yaoguang’s gaze sharpened. “You know very well how I’ll deal with you, and now you’re afraid.”

“This is Fengdu’s Underworld. What can you possibly do to us here?” they retorted, unconvinced.

“What can I do?” Yaoguang almost laughed at their bravado. “I can do whatever I wish.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” The trembling in their voices betrayed real fear.

“Why wouldn’t I? Ten years ago, your Ghost Sect stirred up chaos, spreading evil arts, slaughtering innocents, seizing souls, treating human lives as nothing. How many innocent people perished at your hands? How many souls remain trapped, unable to reincarnate? I led the Heaven Sword Division to apprehend you, but you, in your madness, activated the Heaven-Annihilating Formation, trying to destroy the mortal world and open the gates to the Asura Hell. In that battle, I destroyed your formation, saved all living beings, and preserved the world—but the Heaven Sword Division was nearly wiped out because of you. Phoenix Spirit Mountain suffered grievous losses. My own immortal consort’s body was reduced to dust. I spent half a lifetime’s cultivation and half my spiritual essence to retrieve his soul. Because of you, my realm was left a charnel field strewn with corpses. Even I barely escaped death.

Do you think it was only a hundred and eight thunderbolts I endured to ascend to the Divine Realm? When disaster struck the mortal world, when my domain was destroyed, when the immortal offerings were lost, when the Heaven Sword lost its wings—these became my karmic burden, which reached all the way to the Divine Realm and triggered the ancient Heavenly Punishment. I didn’t just endure a hundred and eight thunderbolts—I suffered three hundred and twenty-four, three times the ordeal of a Divine Ascension. If I hadn’t drawn the lightning into myself to rebuild my spiritual veins, I would have been annihilated long ago. All this is the result of your Ghost Sect’s endless malice and greed. When I returned from my seclusion, I swore a deadly oath: if ever I encounter the Ghost Sect again, I will show no mercy. Otherwise, how could I face the innocents you slaughtered, the Heaven Sword officers who died in sacrifice, the perished spirits, the wounded immortals, my own consort, or even the three hundred and twenty-four thunderbolts I endured? You call me ruthless and heartless, but everything I am today is thanks to you. And now you have the shamelessness to ask if I dare? Are you even worthy?”

As Yaoguang finished, even the King of the Underworld was dumbstruck. Three hundred and twenty-four thunderbolts—what did that even mean? To become an immortal requires enduring twelve; to ascend as a god, forty-eight; to become a supreme immortal, eighty-one; and for a true deity, a hundred and eight. The tribulation thunder is fierce—many spirits cannot even survive the twelve needed to become immortals. Yet this girl endured three hundred and twenty-four. Such a feat would shake the Three Realms to their core.

“Three Ghosts, as I said before: when the culprits are caught, their souls will be flayed and cast into torment. Ironwall Mountain—I’ll personally see you there,” Yaoguang’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. With a turn, she brought the Three Ghosts to Ironwall Mountain. In an instant, the harsh winds howled, ghostly mists surged, and the cries of countless spirits echoed. Without waiting for the Three Ghosts to react, Yaoguang struck down a beam of spiritual light. Their bodies were hurled toward the Vulture Mountain of the Ghost Vultures. Spiritual blades slashed down again and again, stripping their spiritual bodies. The ghostly vultures swooped and circled, feasting on the scattered souls, while the Three Ghosts’ wails echoed beneath the shadowed, dismal sky of Ironwall Mountain.

“Ghost Sect, we are sworn enemies. I will be your eternal nightmare—hahahahaha!” Yaoguang’s mad laughter faded as she vanished at the far end of the Shadow Bridge.

“You’re back,” the King of the Underworld said softly, looking up from the sofa as Yaoguang reappeared. She still hadn’t recovered from hearing about those three hundred and twenty-four thunderbolts, her mind a little numb.

“Yes. Thank you this time, for letting me deal with them myself,” Yaoguang replied, picking up the peach blossom wine and handing a bottle to the King.

“No need to thank me. I heard about Bailong and the others—it was a blessing in disguise. Don’t blame yourself too much,” the King offered comfort. “You were a bit frightening just now, you know.”

“I’m fine. I’ll only act that way toward the Ghost Sect.” Yaoguang smiled faintly. “Oh, right, I brought you something.” With a flick of her wrist, a mirror shimmering with seven-colored light appeared in her palm. “Bailong asked me to bring this. It’s made from his own dragon scales. With it, you can see the sights of all three realms. I hope you like it.” She handed over the mirror, then waved her hand again. Several new objects appeared on the ceiling. “I set up a mechanism in your ceiling. According to the human world’s twenty-four-hour day and night cycle, you’ll be able to see sunlight, moonlight, and a sky full of stars. Just for now—you’ll have to make do. I’m still working on your Shadowfeather Robe.”

“Thank you, Yaoyao. Love you,” the King exclaimed, hugging Yaoguang with a noisy kiss that, as always, sent a shiver of goosebumps over her.

“I have to go. I’ll bring the immortals back to Phoenix Spirit Mountain. Once I get there, I’ll send you some immortal fruit,” Yaoguang said, rising to leave.

“You can send that by mail?” the King asked, bewildered.

“Of course! If the mortal world has express delivery, why can’t the immortal realm? All right, I’m off. Bye-bye!” With that, Yaoguang left the Underworld.