A life of idleness in the world of demons

Chapter 68, Section 67: The Yin Ghost Cultivator (5.1K words - Long chapter, please subscribe)
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Ning Xuan's divine soul was frantically biting at Tian Youzi's divine soul.

Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone Tianyouzi?

Seeing that there was no way to hide, Tian Youzi looked at the soul body that was inferior to him in both size and strength, and his eyes flashed with resentment and venom once again. He pounced on Ning Xuan again, pinned him down, and bit down hard on Ning Xuan's soul between the eyebrows.

When souls devour each other, the first place devoured is usually the area with the "greatest emotional fluctuations." However, within the soul, the space between the eyebrows is where a life's "strongest emotional memories and feelings" reside. As the saying goes, "to catch the thief, first catch the king," so Tianyouzi decided to devour the opponent's strongest part first.

Suddenly, a large piece was missing from Ning Xuan's brow.

Tianyouzi swallowed hard.

This swallowing isn't just about memories, it's also about empathy.

For eighty-four years, he was unable to move or speak, unable to live or die, constantly collapsing until his consciousness was completely chaotic. He would wake up from the chaos, then fall into chaos again, and collapse again, in this endless cycle. The negative emotions such as resentment, hatred, and malice contained within him were simply the "ultimate state of being alive."

If Ning Xuan hadn't been pulled back to his initial state by the "Heavenly Demon Talisman" at the moment of his death, restoring his body and mind to their original state and turning that painful period into a past memory, he would have truly died completely.

It's too bitter, it's just too bitter.
However, the "Heavenly Demon Talisman" was obviously of an extremely high level, so high that its existence could not be detected in Ning Xuan's memories. Therefore, he could only experience a "complete, ultimate pain that would not be pulled back to the initial state".
Therefore, Tianyouzi began to enjoy the experience of Ningxuan being suppressed for eighty-four years.

It's unknown how long he experienced it.

Maybe a year or two, maybe just a month or two.
In short, in Ning Xuan's eyes, after swallowing the memory between his eyebrows, Tian Youzi almost instantly collapsed in a daze and began to vomit violently.
"vomit."

"vomit!!"

Tianyouzi lay on her stomach, vomiting up all the memories she had just swallowed.

Then, he turned his head and looked at Ning Xuan with an extremely abnormal, extremely confused, extremely incomprehensible, and incredulous look of fear.

The first bite: being devoured from head to toe by the bear demon, bit by bit, over and over again;
The second bite: In the darkness, sharp teeth devoured my eyeballs and internal organs, tearing and biting rapidly, yet I still felt it deeply.

But those two bites combined weren't as painful as the first one.

This third bite was like a true hell on earth; he had only experienced the beginning when he was already broken.

Compared to the "value of this third bite," confinement and drowning in a pig cage are far inferior.

Tian Youzi looked Ning Xuan's soul up and down in horror, completely unable to understand why this soul could still be standing alive in front of him.

He couldn't understand.

I really don't understand!

However, he had already lost all interest in devouring this divine soul.

He didn't want to swallow another bite, because he couldn't swallow a single one!

The strength of one's spirit determines whether one is active or passive during the soul-devouring process. If a giant is facing off against a child, and the giant devours with its large mouth while the child bites back with its small mouth, the child will soon be completely devoured by the giant. This is called soul fusion, also known as possession.

But here's the problem: if the giant's flesh is normal flesh, but the child's flesh is poisonous in every bite, then this is the situation we're in now.

Ning Xuan did not stop; he continued to devour.

Tianyouzi fled, and Ningxuan pursued him.

After an unknown amount of time, Tianyouzi was completely devoured.

Several lines of information flashed through his mind:
[Clausque ghost]

[Heavenly Demon Nature Attribute: Taiyin Gang (Spirit): 22]

【Innate Ghostly Technique 1: Taiyin Ghost Life: In the land of Taiyin, there are numerous wandering souls. If even one soul harbors overwhelming resentment, a Taiyin Ghost can be born. The Taiyin Ghost is accompanied by its innate malevolent treasure, hidden within the Taiyin Ghost Realm. As long as the treasure exists, the ghost's body will remain forever.】

【Innate Ghostly Technique 2: Claustrophobia: When a claustrophobic ghost is in a dark room, its ghostly energy recovery speed increases, and its mental limit can be slowly increased; if it is not in a dark room, the ghostly energy recovery speed is greatly reduced.】

【Innate Ghostly Technique 3: Ghostly Seal of Confinement: A unique power of the Taiyin Ghost. When the Ghostly Seal of Confinement is placed on the ground, it can seal all doors and gates. If anyone inside tries to break through the door, it will trigger the power of "transforming the illusory into the real" and withstand an attack of equal strength.】

Ning Xuan looked at this information.

Many questions were answered at this moment.

The Zixia Temple, at least the Zixia Temple in the capital, should be a group of Yin ghost cultivators.

Qin Shanjun is right, no one can join them.

The Yin ghost is clearly different from ordinary ghosts.

The creation of a Taiyin ghost requires both a "Taiyin land" and a "large number of dead souls." If there is a Taiyin land, but not many people have died there, then it won't work; if many people have died, even if the resentment is great, it won't work if it's not in a Taiyin land.

When a Taiyin Ghost is created, it is accompanied by a natal evil treasure.

This innate evil treasure exists in the Yin Ghost Realm.

If the natal evil treasure is not destroyed, the Taiyin ghost will not be extinguished.

Tian Youzi was merely a shell of this Netherworld Ghost, so his death would naturally not harm the Netherworld Ghost in the slightest. Even though he had repeatedly killed the Netherworld Ghost with his own power, it could still revive time and time again, and this was the reason why.

Therefore, he could not kill the Netherworld Ghost, but could only merge with it. Thanks to the "Heavenly Demon Talisman," every bite he took from the Netherworld Ghost belonged to him; otherwise, there might have been further complications.

This is the fate of the Taiyin Ghost.

Let's talk about claustrophobia.

As long as one is in a secluded place, not only can one recover ghost energy extremely quickly, but one can also slowly increase the upper limit of sexuality.

The reason why Tianyouzi remained hidden in the carriage and then hurriedly searched for a house after casting the Ghost Seal was because of this.

The first time, Tianyouzi stayed in the house, so he suppressed him for eighty-four years without exhausting his ghostly energy.

However, on the third occasion, he destroyed all the houses and all possible hiding places beforehand, leaving the Netherworld Ghost nowhere to go. Therefore, the Netherworld Ghost escaped from the sword cage at the cost of destroying Tianyouzi's skin, hoping to find a secluded place nearby. If this weren't the Nightmare World, the Netherworld Ghost might have actually found one, but Ning Xuan had already completely destroyed it. Naturally, the Netherworld Ghost couldn't find it. Over time, the Netherworld Ghost's ghostly energy was exhausted, and the suppressing power naturally dissipated.

Then comes the claustrophobic ghost seal.

This is similar to the Celestial Master's Seal.

However, the latter is born from dragon energy, while the former is born from ghost energy.

The former possesses some unique characteristics due to the nature of the claustrophobic ghost.

Previously, when Tianyouzi used his great seal to descend upon Shanyang Prefecture, he was targeting the demonic energy, so all the demons were blocked at the gate. Naturally, the demons who were blocked at the gate wanted to break out of the house, but this triggered the counterattack of "turning illusion into reality", which likely caused these demons to be severely injured, and then they were easily killed one by one by the human demons who arrived at the scene.

In truth, if those demons hadn't broken down the door and had instead remained quietly inside, even though they were suppressed by the ghost seal, the human demons might not have been able to harm them. After all, besides the Mysterious Hidden Fox, there was also a second-rank rat demon skilled in incense magic. The human demons couldn't cut through the golden body.

in addition,

Ning Xuan couldn't help but sigh.

In the end, it was somewhat of a lucky accident.

After all, when he destroyed those houses, he had no idea why he was destroying them; he was simply targeting someone based on an unusual habit of theirs.

Besides that, he had many other doubts.
The biggest question is, "Why did the Yin Ghost Cultivator impersonate a Celestial Master and stay at the Zixia Temple? And why did he resist demons?"

Tian Youzi is the senior brother of Yao Zhenxian, but he cannot be considered a strong person in Zixia Temple.

Those high-ranking officials, elders, abbots, and even the unsung heroes behind the scenes—the true powerhouses—are the high-ranking officials, elders, abbots, and even the unsung heroes who are the real Yin Ghost Cultivators.

In terms of rank, Tian Youzi was merely a formal disciple of the Zixia Ghost Temple, nothing more.

Ning Xuan didn't want to think about it anymore.

He was exhausted.

The next instant, he opened his eyes and immediately recalled the incense clone that had been trying to watch the battle.

With a spiritual power of 22 points, Tianyouzi could easily detect this incense clone.

He had already received his answer; there was no need to risk exposure by going to watch the game anymore.

Anyone who tries to understand the truth about "Zixia Temple" is considered to "know too much" and will suffer a terrible fate.

Ning Xuan returned to Youya.

She returned to the side of Fairy Yao Zhen.

Fairy Yao Zhen was still craning her neck to look into the distance, seemingly very interested in how her senior brother Tian Youzi would fight back against the demons.

Ning Xuan suddenly leaned back, sprawling out on his back.

The emperor of the Mingtang, the noble families from all over the land, the invading demons, the Taiyin ghosts resisting the demons, and those sects that have temporarily disappeared from the river of history but have never completely vanished.
Each of them harbored their own thoughts.

Each one has a far-reaching strategic vision.

What is he still hoping for?

Whatever he does, he only becomes a tool for one side to fight against the other.

It's better to just go with the flow and drift along, hoping to at least protect yourself.

Just then, he heard a serious voice in his ear.

"Don't be discouraged, Ning Xuan. We are still young. One day we will be able to make these invading demons feel pain, just like Senior Brother Tian Youzi."

Ning Xuan closed his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to the fairy beside him.

Logically speaking, Fairy Yao should also be a Yin Ghost Cultivator. This can be seen from Tian Youzi's attitude towards her.

If she were merely a shell, Tian Youzi wouldn't have needed to maintain such a "fellow disciple" relationship with her. After all, the "demon-slaying mission in Shanyang Prefecture" was an extra task that Tian Youzi could have avoided.

But Tian Youzi still went out of respect for Fairy Yao Zhen.

Is this something a mere physical body can do?
So, did Fairy Yao Zhen lose her mind and get too caught up in the role?
However, in this realm, he is most likely unable to obtain information about Fairy Yao Zhen and others, because Fairy Yao Zhen is not a Heavenly Demon, and he can only investigate her if she goes to the Incense World.

Seeing that Ning Xuan did not respond, Fairy Yao Zhen persisted in calling out, "General Ning?"

Ning Xuan replied, "Yes, I'm here."

Fairy Yao Zhen was taken aback, turned her head to look at the young general who had suddenly become incredibly lazy, stared at him intently, and asked, "I'm very curious, what are you thinking about?"

Ning Xuan said, "I'm thinking about what we should eat tonight."

Fairy Yao was completely stunned. She asked, "Have you figured it out yet?"

Ning Xuan said, "I've got it."

Fairy Yao asked, "Why don't you continue?"

Ning Xuan said, "Because you didn't ask."

Fairy Yao Zhen said, "Don't you think it's boring no matter what you say about food? Senior Brother Tian Youzi is entering a dangerous other world. I think we should be more concerned about him."

Ning Xuan suddenly sat up straight, ramrod straight, and said, "You're right."

Then, he really looked into the distance.

He sat very high up, so his gaze could naturally fall on a very distant place, the very place where Tianyouzi led his people into the world of incense.

Previously, Ning Xuan would have thought that Tian Youzi was going to retaliate.

But now, he really doesn't know what Tian Youzi is going there to do, or what her real plan is.

He doesn't want to know.

Not at all.

Compared to those things, he began to wonder if his father, who had been busy for so long, had actually found him a marriage partner, and whether that partner was physically strong, had long legs, big breasts, and what her personality was like.

Time flew by, and by evening, Ning Xuan had not eaten what he wanted. Instead, he returned to the "first station surrounding the Frozen Hell" and ate some braised pork with the soldiers, along with some tightly packed dry rations. The braised pork had plenty of salt in it, which meant that their pay had not been withheld.

Then, he and Fairy Yao Zhen crossed the "second station where the Celestial Masters and Taoist boys gathered" and went to the most dangerous third station.

In the middle of the night, Ning Xuan felt the incense sticks around him ringing and rippling. The human-headed demon rose from the abyss of Youya Cliff, transforming into wisps of black wind that resembled hair, and wrapped around him.

Golden, transparent mountains also appeared around Fairy Yao Zhen. This was the second-rank Celestial Master's spell, "Mountain Barrier." Within the golden transparency, the venomous faces of the human-headed demons slowly became visible.

Fairy Yao Zhen diligently used her magic to defend against these elusive human-headed demons.

Ning Xuan yawned, glanced at the headless demons slowly moving through the golden mountains, and then collapsed again.

These trivial matters were not enough to make him open his eyes and face them.

Go to bed early.

I hope time passes quickly.

Tianyouzi, please come out soon.

He also wanted to return to General Qin's mansion as soon as possible.

Speaking of General Qin's mansion, he had a headache again. However, he neither touched Madam Zhao nor killed anyone from General Qin's mansion. He had also "left a way out" for Qin Shanjun, so there would be no problem meeting him in the future.

However, he didn't want to see him.

Fairy Yao Zhen said helplessly, "General Ning, this place is dangerous. You should open your eyes."

Ning Xuan thought to himself, 'This is clearly the territory of Zixia Temple. It's one thing for this Frozen Hell to swallow up some Daoist boys and Celestial Masters from outside.'

With your junior sister here, she can't possibly offend you; at most, she'll just tease you.

As for me... I'm your partner, so please, for my sake, I'll be fine.

Are there any big guys in the Frozen Hell?

Of course there are.

there must be.

However, Ning Xuan was certain that the big guy would never come after him and Fairy Yao.

The air was still, but sporadic attacks occurred, and demons would occasionally emerge to prove that this "Frozen Hell" was indeed a place of demonic forces.

Fairy Yao Zhen was having a great time suppressing them, and Ning Xuan cooperated by stepping forward and killing the little demons one by one with a single strike.

During this time, the two also encountered an attack by a small "human skin army".

Ning Xuan continued to cooperate with the performance, and after a fierce battle, he defeated the enemy army and turned all the human skin soldiers back into human skin.

Fairy Yao Zhen was panting heavily from the fight.

Just then, the eerie, pitch-black iceberg suddenly began to writhe.

First, the outermost icebergs disappeared, and then slowly, slowly, all the icebergs followed suit.

The gloomy sky is disappearing, the original plains are returning, and the first rays of dawn are rising on the horizon at the edge of the plains.

Golden light shone down, illuminating all around. Fairy Yao Zhen exclaimed in delight, "Senior Brother Tian Youzi has succeeded! He has driven back the Frozen Hell!"

If it weren't for that nightmare, Ning Xuan would have felt relieved, thinking that things were just as they were, that Zixia Temple was actually quite powerful, and that he had found a glimmer of hope amidst the demon invasion.
But now, he felt that the Taiyin Ghost Cultivator had fiercely gripped the Dragon Qi World with his "ghost claws," binding the two worlds together tightly, which would make future clashes between the two worlds more frequent.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The world of dragon energy is already this complicated, not to mention the incense-burning worlds of Buddhist kingdoms and Taoist courts.

Ning Xuan exclaimed with delight, "It's a success!"

Fairy Yao Zhen said happily, "Thanks to the general for holding the line for Senior Brother Tian Youzi, those headless demons, skin soldiers, and monsters didn't get a sneak attack from behind!"

Ning Xuan said, "Thanks to Yao Zhen, you and I are partners, otherwise I really couldn't have handled it alone."

Fairy Yao Zhen said happily, "General's achievements this time will surely qualify him for the title of one of the Twelve Divine Generals."

Ning Xuan shook his head and said, "No, no, no, no, I'm far from good enough, far from good enough."

Fairy Yao Zhen said, "General, you previously presented me with the wonderful method of aphrodisiac. This time, His Majesty will surely find you a perfect Daoist partner."

Ning Xuan continued to wave his hand, saying, "No, no, no, no, I can't accept that, I can't accept that."

Fairy Yao glanced at him, thought for a moment, and said, "You're too hypocritical."

As they were talking, ripples appeared in the space in front of them.

Four young Taoist priests carried the prison cart, which was followed closely by six prison wagons.

The curtains of the palanquin still hung silently.

Fairy Yao exclaimed excitedly, "Senior Brother Tianyouzi, you've succeeded!"

The curtain of the palanquin was lifted, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with a purple face and a goatee.

Tian Youzi glanced at Yao Zhenxiangu with a smile.

This time, having gained an understanding of Tian Youzi, Ning Xuan saw things very clearly.

Tianyouzi's gaze was neither greedy nor doting, but rather a strange emotion that was hard to describe, like the feeling of "a guest who has to be seen has come to the door, so you have to open the door and force a smile."

Why do you say that?
Because in the nightmare world, Ning Xuan simply couldn't connect "laughter" with "Tian Youzi".

The latter is a ghost, a Yin ghost, filled with resentment. It doesn't even have its own voice; the sounds it makes are the roars and screams of many men, women, the elderly, and children.
How could such a monstrous thing possibly laugh?
Immediately afterwards, Fairy Yao Zhen said, "Senior Brother Tian Youzi, General Ning also contributed a lot this time. It's not too much for us to take the credit, is it?"

Tian Youzi didn't even glance at Ning Xuan, and nodded with a smile.

Fairy Yao Zhen hurriedly said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ning Xuan also said, "Thank you, Heaven."

Before he finished speaking, the curtain was already drawn back up. As the words "Senior Youzi" were spoken, the curtain's hem swayed and danced, then fell silent again.

The Frozen Hell was resolved, and Tianyouzi departed.

Ning Xuan watched his departing figure. He had not used the [Netherworld Ghost] Heavenly Demon Talisman to test its power all these days.

The [Secluded Ghost] Heavenly Demon Talisman is different from other Heavenly Demon Talismans.

Other demons don't have their own "natal evil treasure".

There are ghosts in seclusion.

But now, what if two claustrophobic ghosts suddenly appeared in the world?

Whose natal inauspicious treasure should it be?
(End of this chapter)