NOVEL NEXT Chapter 325: Ghost Village 2
"The river cleanses their grievances, obsessions, sins, and other filth. However, these things don't just disappear. Over time, the filth accumulates and becomes a nether fiend." Feng Xue explained.
"I get their origin, but why is one in the living world?" Shen Xu asked in a confused voice.
"There is only one explanation." Feng Xue sighed and quickly continued.
"If I am not mistaken, the Ghost Village has inexplicably become linked to the underworld. The old well should be the conduit."
"This…" Shen Xu muttered and turned to Zhen Yuan.
However, Zhen Yuan was also clueless.
Although he had read many books, the netherworld was still a mystery to him.
"How do we deal with the nether fiend?" He asked, but Feng Xue shook her head.
"Only the powerful beings of the netherworld can kill nether fiends. Living beings can only escape when they encounter them."
Shen Xu frowned when he heard this.
A moment later, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Feng Xue and Yang Shi.
"Is there an opportunity in the Ghost Village?" He asked.
"There is but…" Yang Shi hesitated, but seeing his master's curious expression, he reluctantly continued.
"Nether Stones and Nether Lotus." He said.
"Master, nether stones are spirit stones for ghost cultivators. They are extremely valuable." Feng Xue said.
"Can Wenqiang use them?" The double asked.
He originally planned for Li Wenqiang to become a ghost cultivator.
However, after merging with the Nine Heavens Tower, Li Wenqiang learned a different cultivation method and no longer needed to become a ghost cultivator.
Still, the man was almost tempted to jump into the well, so Shen Xu suspected nether stones were useful to weapon spirits.
"Nether stones are useless to ordinary weapon spirits. However, Li Wenqiang was originally a human cultivator and his soul is contaminated with nether qi due to his death. Because of this, nether stones are an excellent cultivation resource for him." Yang Shi confirmed.
"This is good news." Shen Xu nodded but soon narrowed his eyes.
"What about us? Can we use them for soul refining?" He asked, but Yang Shi immediately shook his head before speaking.
"Don't think about it! Nether qi is toxic to human, monster, and demon cultivators. Excluding the inhabitants of the netherworld, only ghost cultivators can freely absorb nether qi." He said.
"Is that so?" Shen Xu muttered, feeling a little disappointed.
However, he soon perked up and looked at the two.
"What about the nether lotus?" He asked.
"Now that is a good thing." Yang Shi exclaimed, and Feng Xue nodded.
"The Nether Lotus is a soul tonic. It can heal an injured soul, increase soul power, and even replace a lost soul."
"What do you mean?"
"Cultivators have three yang souls and seven yin souls. However, it's not uncommon for a soul to be lost due to injury, previous life karma and other things. A Nether lotus can replace the lost soul, preventing the loss from affecting a cultivator's daily life and practice."
"It's really a good thing." Shen Xu nodded.
"Are the nether stones and Nether lotuses in the well?" Zhen Yuan asked.
He saw a law pillar when they first arrived.
However, this law pillar belonged to the well and had nothing to do with other treasures.
Because of this, Zhen Yuan was a little confused when he heard there were two precious treasures in the Ghost Village.
"The Ghost Village is not as simple as it looks." Yang Shi started with a solemn expression.
"It's called the Ghost Village, but the real threat is the Nether Fiends and the forgetfulness water in the well."
"Wasn't there only one nether fiend?" Li Wenqiang asked.
Hearing this, Yang Shi shook his head and began explaining.
"Ordinarily, places that are linked to the netherworld will only show their true form during the full moon. As a result, the night of the full moon is the most dangerous but also the only chance to collect nether stones and nether lotuses. The treasures won't appear at other times."
'That explains it.' Zhen Yuan thought, feeling relieved.
After that, Zhen Yuan, Shen Xu, Feng Xue, and Yang Shi left the space.
However, they didn't go to the Ghost Village and instead parked their ship several metres from the village entrance.
On the following days, they saw many ghosts entering the village and jumping into the well.
Similarly, they saw many nether fiends coming out of the well, patrolling the ghost village, swallowing broken souls and finally returning to the well.
Time passed, and before they knew it, it was the night of the full moon.
The well suddenly erupted as soon as the moon rose.
A moment later, yellow liquid flooded the village, and hundreds of nether fiends flew out of the well.
At the same time, grey stones and black lotuses began to form on the ground.
Seeing this, Shen Xu gasped and pointed.
"Are those the nether stones and nether lotuses?" He asked, and Feng Xue nodded.
"The link between the living and nether worlds is strongest on the night of the full moon."
This was evident.
After all, they had been observing for half a month, but this was the first time that such a spectacle had happened.
"It's a good thing that the yellow water can't flow out of the village and the nether fiends can't leave." Shen Xu stated and subconsciously muttered.
The yellow water was from the river of forgetfulness.
After encountering a living thing, the water would destroy its body and cleanse its soul, completely stripping it of its identity.
As for the nether fiends, they were harmless to ghosts but merciless to living things.
If these two things were allowed to enter the Tianqi continent, the land would turn into a hell on earth in a very short time.
"Don't worry, master." Feng Xue suddenly said and quickly continued.
"The Ghost Village is considered part of the netherworld. Because of this, yellow water and nether fiends can freely exist there. However, they can't enter the main Tianqi continent."
After that, the four observed until morning.
When the moon left, the water retreated, and the nether fiends began jumping into the well.
Unfortunately, the nether stones and nether lotuses also began to dissipate, as if afraid of the morning sun.
"There goes my plan." Shen Xu muttered in a frustrated voice.
He originally thought they could collect the treasures after the nether fiends left.
Unfortunately, his plan couldn't keep up with the changes.
"Does this mean we need to collect the treasures before the moon sets?" He asked in a doubtful voice.
After all, before the moon set, the Ghost Village was flooded with yellow water and nether fiends.
Thinking of this, he frowned and turned to Yang Shi.
"Does your inheritance mention a method to collect the treasures?" He asked, but Yang Shi shook his head, forcing Shen Xue to turn to Feng Xue.
"What about yours?" The double asked in a hopeful voice.
However, he was destined to be disappointed.
Although Feng Xue's inheritance was broad, it didn't mention a method for living things to wade into yellow water without annihilating themselves.
"What about Li Wenqiang? Can he go?"
"Master, what are you talking about?" Yang Shi asked and subconsciously rolled his eyes.
"It's true the nether fiends won't harm brother Wenqiang. However, he is not immune to yellow water. His soul will be cleansed as soon as he dares to touch the yellow water."
Shen Xu fell silent when he heard this.
In the end, he sighed and leaned on Zhen Yuan.
"Maybe we are not destined for the nether stones and nether lotuses." He muttered in a forlorn voice.
'Are you giving up?" Zhen Yuan asked, and the double immediately sat up.
"Ayuan, do you have a way?" He asked.
"Not yet, but we have half a month before the next full moon. Let's calm down and think of a way."
Shen Xu nodded when he heard this.
He and Zhen Yuan had the space library, Feng Xue and Yang Shi had their inherited memories, and Li Wenqiang had the Nine Heavens Tower.
With such resources, Shen Xu didn't believe they wouldn't find a way before the next full moon.
After all, fifteen real days were equivalent to four hundred and fifty space days.
With their resources and intelligence, Shen Xu was certain they could devise a way to deal with the situation.
Unfortunately, he thought well, but reality was bleak.
On the next full moon, the five helplessly looked at the treasures but had no way to get them.
However, they didn't give in and continued to research.
Time passed in this way, and before they knew it, they had been at the entrance of the Ghost Village for half a year.
On this day, Zhen Yuan suddenly smiled and rubbed Shen Xu's hair.
"Xiaoxu, I may have a way." He said, his lips curled in a satisfied smile.
Hearing this, Shen Xu jumped with an eager expression.
"Hurry up and tell me." He urged, but Zhen Yuan shook his head.