Volume Eight: Judgment of Hell Chapter Six: The Eightfold Suffering and Seven-Star Formation

Back at the police station, Yaoguang convened another meeting, systematically reviewing the case and asking Ghost Whisker to recount the events for everyone. Chong'an then assigned the tasks.

“Senior, I’m pondering something,” Yaoguang said.

“What is it?” Ghost Whisker asked.

“The dumping sites—were they chosen at random by the Ghost Sect, or was there a plan?” Yaoguang inquired.

“Hm, I’ve been wondering about that myself,” Ghost Whisker replied.

“Phoenix, Yitian is looking for you downstairs,” Xuanchen came up and said.

“Alright,” Yaoguang led Ghost Whisker downstairs, where she saw Yitian. “What is it?”

“Miss, please get in the car,” Yitian opened the door.

Yaoguang glanced at him suspiciously but got in. “White Dragon, why are you here? Weren’t you visiting family in the East Sea?”

Yaoguang was surprised to see White Dragon.

“Phoenix, my father summoned me. He asks you to come to the Dragon Palace at once; he has important matters to discuss.”

“We depart immediately for the Dragon Palace,” Yaoguang declared.

“Understood.” The group drove toward the East Sea. Upon arriving, they vanished beyond the horizon, heading for the palace.

“Divine One, at last you’ve arrived,” the Dragon King greeted Yaoguang warmly.

“Greetings, Dragon King. May I ask what urgent matter you summoned me for?” Yaoguang observed the king’s anxious expression.

“Divine One, I recently received reports from the aquatic clans: a magnetic field was detected in the Golden Wave Bay, dark and chilling, harming many. I investigated and found a sinister magnetic field on the seabed. I personally went down and discovered this.” The Dragon King handed her a box.

As soon as Yaoguang touched it, a chill seeped from within. She opened the box to find a bloodstained jade pendant.

“Ghost Spirit Blood Jade! How could this be here?” Ghost Whisker exclaimed.

“You know this?” Yaoguang asked.

“Yes. Ghost Spirit Blood Jade is created at the moment a person turns into a vengeful ghost—blood from the tip of the tongue is used, a sliver of spirit sealed in jade, then enchanted to transform a symbol of luck into an instrument of dark energy. This artifact draws all manner of ghosts and malevolent entities within a hundred miles,” Ghost Whisker explained.

“So, the Ghost Sect isn’t just using the Eight Torments Soul Locking Array to make demons—there are other rituals too. Golden Wave Bay…wait, isn’t that the third dumping site?” Yaoguang mused. She infused the jade with spiritual energy to sense it. “Indeed, there’s a spirit inside—resentment, strong dark energy, and ghostly aura. What is the Ghost Sect up to?”

“Your Majesty, dark energy was also detected east of Golden Wave Bay,” someone reported.

“Let’s go investigate,” said the Dragon King.

Yaoguang and her companions arrived and saw black tendrils rising from the seabed. “Such powerful magnetism,” Yaoguang observed, heading straight for the source. On the seabed, nestled in a crevice among the rocks, she found another glowing object—a jade with traces of blood. Channeling her power, she sensed a strong presence of spirit, ghostly aura, and resentment.

“It’s Ghost Spirit Blood Jade.” Yaoguang returned to the group.

“Another one. What lies above this spot?” asked Ghost Whisker.

“Above is the beach—the fourth dumping site. Could it be…” Yaoguang trailed off, glancing at Ghost Whisker.

“We’re thinking the same thing, aren’t we?” he said, meeting her gaze.

Yaoguang nodded, then turned to the Dragon King. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help. We have urgent matters elsewhere and must take our leave. Please forgive any discourtesy.”

“You’re too kind, Divine One. Safe travels,” the Dragon King replied.

Back at the palace, Yaoguang addressed White Dragon, “Until this case is resolved, do not leave the East Sea. The Ghost Sect’s ability to place Ghost Spirit Blood Jade here is no small feat. Remain in the palace, and notify me immediately if anything happens. I fear the Ghost Sect is plotting something vast.”

“Understood. You take care,” White Dragon said, bowing.

“I’m off.” Yaoguang and Ghost Whisker returned to the coast. “Yitian, mobilize all the Immortal Providers. Monitor the magnetic fields near the four dumping sites. If any large gatherings of spirits occur, report immediately.”

“Phoenix, let’s check the remaining two sites. If my guess is correct, we’ll find Ghost Spirit Blood Jade near those bodies as well,” Ghost Whisker said.

“Yes, I think so too,” Yaoguang agreed.

The first dumping site was in an abandoned grove on the western outskirts. Yaoguang approached the tree where the Blue and White Ghost Mother was buried and sensed for any magnetic disturbance—nothing. She dug deep but found nothing.

“How can there be nothing?” she wondered.

“Not below—maybe in the tree. Look at this,” Ghost Whisker pointed.

Yaoguang looked up at the tree’s dense crown. Leaping up, she searched the branches and found a brocade box. She retrieved it, jumped down, and opened it to reveal a blood jade. She glanced at Ghost Whisker, sensing it with her power. Like the others, it was Ghost Spirit Blood Jade.

Yaoguang and Ghost Whisker hurried to the second site, finding several children playing by the riverbank, pointing at something.

She approached, curious. “Kids, what are you looking at?”

“Big sister, we’re watching the fish. They’re acting strange, all gathered here,” one child pointed.

Yaoguang moved closer and saw a school of fish circling a particular spot. She shifted a stone in the water and discovered a jade beneath it. She handed it to Ghost Whisker, then, while the children were distracted, used her power to bring up some fish, distributing them among the children.

“Be good, kids. The riverbank is dangerous—there’s a monster here. Promise me you won’t play here for a while, and I’ll give you these fish.”

“Okay, but can you catch the monster? Otherwise we’ll never be able to play here again,” a child asked earnestly.

“I’m a police officer—I can catch monsters,” Yaoguang said, showing her badge.

“Alright, Mom says to listen to the police. We won’t come here for now. Let’s go,” the eldest said, leading the others away.

“Phoenix, it’s Ghost Spirit Blood Jade,” Ghost Whisker said once the children had left, coming to her side.

Yaoguang looked at the four jades, feeling troubled. “What are they planning?”

“Phoenix, let’s view the sites from above. I think we’ll see the pattern from the clouds,” Ghost Whisker suggested. “But I can’t turn invisible.”

“I can,” Yaoguang said, placing her hand on Ghost Whisker’s shoulder. Spiritual energy surged, making their forms ethereal. “Let’s go.” She soared skyward, landing among the clouds.

“Look—the grove holds the first jade, the riverbank the second, Golden Wave Bay the third, and the western coast the fourth. What does this resemble?” Ghost Whisker pointed below.

“This pattern looks like the first four stars of the Big Dipper,” Yaoguang observed.

“I thought so too,” Ghost Whisker replied.

“So each dumping site corresponds to a star, and the Ghost Spirit Blood Jade is the heart of the array? But the Eight Torments—this is the Seven Stars Array, which only has seven stars. One is missing,” Yaoguang mused. “Using the positions of the stars—what does this mean?”

“Maybe it’s not the Eight Torments Soul Locking Array, but the Eight Torments Seven Stars Array?” Ghost Whisker suggested.

“What is the Eight Torments Seven Stars Array?” Yaoguang asked.

“It’s a world-ending ritual—using the power of vengeful spirits from the Eight Torments to overlay the force of the stars, activating a catastrophic array. I’ve never seen it, only heard of it,” Ghost Whisker explained.

“If you’re right, then where’s the next star?” Yaoguang asked.

“There,” Ghost Whisker pointed at a mountain.

“West Spirit Mountain. Let’s go,” Yaoguang said, taking Ghost Whisker and flying to the mountaintop. They began searching.

“Phoenix!” Ghost Whisker called from nearby.

Yaoguang walked over. “Damn,” she cursed. “You were right.” She looked at the corpse sitting under a tree. She was about to call Xuanchen when Ghost Whisker made a sound. Yaoguang approached. “What’s wrong?”

“Something dripped on my face,” Ghost Whisker said, checking his hand. “It’s blood.”

Both looked up and saw another corpse hanging at the top of the tree.

“Unbelievable—this must be ‘Love and Separation’: one in the tree, one below, even in death they’re divided,” Yaoguang muttered, picking up her phone. “Xuanchen, bring a team to West Spirit Mountain. We’ve found two Ghost Sect bodies.”

“Why is there no trace of Ghost Spirit Blood Jade? Did you sense anything?” Ghost Whisker asked.

“No, let’s examine the bodies first, then search,” Yaoguang replied.

“Alright,” Ghost Whisker nodded.