Master of Strange Dao

The Flying Boat once again headed north from Almsgiving Town.

On the night following Yu Ziqing's departure, a Black Robed Man appeared at the side of the Detoxification Beauty Club.

With seals clasped in hand, the Black Robed Man silently expanded a key point in the protective Formation, making it large enough for a person to pass through, yet this act did not affect the operation of the Formation itself.

His feet did not touch the ground, hovering three inches above it as he walked through the air, stopping near a stone table in the backyard, where he then pulled out a Jade Mirror from his chest.

Next, he reached into his sleeve and grabbed a Fourth-tier ghost, compressed it into a ball with a ghostly face.

He pressed the ghost against the back of the Jade Mirror. The ghost's face showed terror and despair as it slowly disappeared into the mirror.

Then, ripples began to spread across the face of the Jade Mirror, reflecting the interior of the courtyard as the scenes within rapidly reversed until it displayed the reflection of Yu Ziqing sitting in the courtyard by daylight, drinking tea alone.

The clear reflection on the Jade Mirror began to blur, and ripples appeared; the entire surface of the mirror started to darken.

At this moment, the power within his body gushed out like water from an opened gate, crazily drained by the Jade Mirror.

His face slightly changed, he exerted force in his hands and immediately smashed the Jade Mirror into dust.

Only then did the terrifying sensation abruptly end.

He glanced around, the heavy yin qi lingering, filled with an overwhelming presence of hungry ghosts. Nearly every inch of the place was covered by the breath of hungry ghosts.

He felt no particular power, which only meant that the object of his retrospection had come into contact with some force he could not even sense.

The Black Robed Man quietly retreated, sneaking away through the side garden.

After the Black Robed Man left, a gaunt hungry ghost silently emerged from the well in the garden.

The hungry ghost approached the spot where the Black Robed Man had been and emitted a breath, swallowed a dissolving wisp of qi from the air.

Then, it reached out to collect every last fragment of the Jade Mirror dust scattered on the ground.

It crawled back into the well, waiting in silence.

Waiting for Cece to return to hand over these items.

At least a drop of sweet rain could be exchanged.

The hungry ghost joyfully shut its mouth, holding onto that trace of qi, fearing it would disperse; this was the most important.

Only the smart and sensible hungry ghosts had the right to guard this place; the foolish ones could only dwell in the Abyss, waiting for the occasional person to come and give alms so they could eat their fill.

Having seized this opportunity, the hungry ghost was not willing to let it go.

...

Yu Ziqing came again to the southern part of Dazhen, passing the fertile lands that Lei Yu once offered him, he found the earth teeming with people and livestock.

The clusters of settlements dotted the land, adding much vitality to the area.

Just by looking, Yu Ziqing's mood lifted considerably; at least these people wouldn't starve to death.

The Lei Clan did things on a grand scale.

Before reaching the destination, Lei Yu had already sent a trusted aide to lead the way.

Upon arrival, the area was already populated with numerous people.

Nearby was a snow-covered mountain, looking, from a distance, like a white-garbed maiden crouched in weeping.

This was Sorrow Mountain, and the entrance to Sorrow Cave Heaven was on the mountainside.

There was a hundred-yard-high cave, with Divine Light flowing inside that betrayed no fluctuation, and outside the cave, a Formation had already been readied.

Clearly, Lei Yu had been preparing for a long time and had been stalled here for a while.

"Brother Qing, you've come at the right time, come quickly," Lei Yu laughed heartily as he flew out of the cave.

"Looking at your complexion, have you found a breakthrough?"

"The breakthrough was found long ago, I just saw Brother Qing arriving, and I knew we could finally enter, so naturally, I'm in high spirits,"

"Let's get one thing straight, I've been particularly busy recently and I won't have time to accompany you inside," Yu Ziqing shook his head, clarifying this upfront.

"No matter, when the time comes, get Brother Wu to make a move. As long as the protection is broken, Brother Qing can go about your business. When I come out, no matter what treasures I find, I will not keep them to myself. You may choose three items first, then let Brother Wu choose one,"

Yu Ziqing was indifferent; he wasn't planning on going anymore and thus wasn't concerned about any potential gains.

If a treasure that could stabilize a mountain were truly found, he didn't believe Lei Yu would willingly let him choose without reservations.

He just wanted to see, if Lei Yu really went inside, who would become anxious, who would care a great deal, and who would reveal themselves at that time.

This Sorrow Cave Heaven was at most akin to a blade of grass that startles the snake in the phrase 'beating the grass to startle the snake.

And that snake might very well be someone from the Shadow Department.

For example, the person who captured him.

Or perhaps, No.2 from the Seventh Floor.

It's also possible that the person who captured him is No.2.

After all, according to Su Li, aside from that Chief Venerate, who has been in power for a very long time, half of the people in the Shadow Department advanced more than a hundred years ago.

Yu Ziqing glanced at Wu Shuangge beside him.

"Gege, go ahead and listen to Young Master Yu's instructions to help them break the protection,"

Wu Shuangge nodded, reached out his hand, and the Companion Magical Treasure appeared out of nowhere.

The form it took was still that of the previously seen wooden barrel.

Yu Ziqing couldn't help but chuckle at the quick learning of his compatriot.

The group arrived deep within the cave, where a vast inner space unfolded, lined with a stone wall that mirrored a surface, upon which Divine Light surged, faintly forming the shape of a jade bi.

The reliefs that appeared intermittently on it carved out the mountains and rivers within the Grotto Heaven, but their constant shifting made it difficult to discern clearly.

This was why it couldn't simply be blasted open.

First, doing so might collapse the entire mountain, and second, the jade bi that formed the entrance might also shatter, causing the Grotto Heaven within to either fall into the Void or begin to collapse.

Lei Yu had a thorough understanding of this place and was directing Wu Shuangge on where to break through.

The filth and toxins accumulated within the Magical Treasure erupted outwards, continuously scouring the areas that needed to be dissolved.

On the giant wall, the light at eight points dimmed rapidly, and the energy provided from other areas couldn't keep up with the dissolving speed of the filth and toxins.

An hour later, a hollow began to form in the Divine Light that flowed over the giant wall. The void expanded until all the Divine Light on the jade bi disappeared, and Wu Shuangge withdrew the Magical Treasure.

Lei Yu's face lit up with joy as he bowed slightly to Wu Shuangge.

"Many thanks to Brother Wu for lending a hand."

"And thank you, Brother Qing, for your righteous assistance. If it's convenient, why not join me inside?"

"No, I have other matters to attend to,"

"Well, then, why not rest here for a few days? When I come out, I can let Brother Qing be the first to pick a few items,"

"No need, just send someone to notify me when you come out. I indeed have urgent matters to attend to and cannot delay any longer, goodbye,"

Yu Ziqing smiled and waved his hand, promptly leaving with Wu Shuangge.

Lei Yu was slightly taken aback, surprised.

He had thought that Yu Ziqing might want to demand more.

But now, with the protection broken, Yu Ziqing truly turned and left without a moment's pause.

It seemed he indeed had vital business to attend to.

This made Lei Yu's prior assistance seem almost too generous; only to pick three or four items hardly seemed generous enough of him.