Shen Liang faced the gazes of the five Evils with composure, neither flinching nor showing arrogance; he simply stood there peacefully.
He truly had nothing to be arrogant about. It was his master’s compassion that led him to be transcended.
He would keep this kindness in his heart; there was no need to flaunt it.
Following Taotie’s earlier example, Shen Liang bowed deeply toward Wu Gou, who was still within the light screen on the ceiling.
“Master is compassionate. After a hundred thousand years of hardship, I have finally found liberation.”
“Shen Liang has no way to repay you except to offer this life in loyalty to Master, the Young Palace Master, and the Great Emperor's Palace.”
“I will face ten thousand deaths without hesitation to honor the grace of this transcendence.”
After speaking, Shen Liang stood up and turned to the other five Evils.
“You need not be envious.”
“Once Master passes the third trial and takes full control of the Xuandu Ghost Mansion, everyone will have their chance.”
As he spoke, the gazes of the five Evils grew even more fervent.
Indeed.
The new master hadn’t even finished the third trial yet.
Once he passed it, the Xuandu Ghost Mansion would be his.
At that time, all seven of them would be the new master’s subordinates, and they would have plenty of opportunities to interact with him in the future.
As long as they worked diligently and served with sincerity, why would they need to fear lacking an opportunity to be transcended by a true Buddha?
They had already waited a hundred thousand years; they could wait a little longer.
They could afford to wait.
Inside the light screen, Wu Gou began the third trial and was currently selecting his third talent.
He had already chosen two.
The first was Vajra Demon Subduing, a Buddhist divine technique for suppressing demons. Once mastered, a single palm strike could repel ten thousand ghosts.
It took him half a stick of incense to learn it and another half to defeat the divine sense.
The second was the Great Light Mantra, a Buddhist purification spell that could dispel all evil spirits and cleanse all filth.
Again, it took him half a stick of incense to learn and half a stick to defeat the divine sense.
Neither was a particularly rare talent, but both were solid, fundamental techniques.
Wu Gou didn't choose anything flashy; he picked the most stable and useful talents related to Buddhist dharma.
He knew he wasn't there to show off his skills, but to inherit the Ghost Mansion.
Now, he was choosing the third.
His gaze swept across tens of thousands of light orbs before finally landing on a cluster of golden light. Its radiance was incredibly pure, like a small sun plucked from the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Wu Gou reached out and pointed at that golden light.
Arhat Golden Body—a Buddhist guardian technique. Once mastered, the physical body would be as hard as vajra, impervious to all spells and untouched by any evil.
Given his two lifetimes of Buddhist cultivation and deep understanding of dharma, it again took him half a stick of incense to comprehend and half a stick to defeat the divine sense.
The timing was precise, not a second more or less.
Wu Gou nodded in satisfaction.
With all three talents mastered, the third trial was considered passed.
The light screen dissipated, and Wu Gou stepped out from the void.
He was bathed in brilliant golden light, the Arhat Golden Body yet to fade, making him look like a small golden statue.
The seven Evils rushed forward in unison.
Taotie spoke with a sob in his voice, “Congratulations, Master! Blessings to Master!”
Shen Liang also stepped forward, pressing his palms together and bowing deeply.
“Master is compassionate. Shen Liang is here to welcome Master.”
The Chained Ghost pushed Taotie aside and leaned toward Wu Gou with a fawning expression.
“Master, Master! My name is Si Qiu. In life, I was a blacksmith in Northern Liang. After death, I cultivated in the Xuandu Ghost Mansion for a hundred and ten thousand years. I specialize in close combat, and I’m thick-skinned and durable—I’m the best at taking a hit!”
“If Master has any dirty or exhausting work in the future, please feel free to command me!”
“If Master would be so merciful as to personally give me a beating, I would ask for nothing more!”
Hong Xiu covered half her face with her fan, her other hand gently tugging at Wu Gou’s cassock.
“Master, this humble one is named Hong Xiu. In life, I was the Courtesan Queen of the Southern Tang Music Registry. I understand the human heart and the ways of the world, and I have mastered the Path of Extreme Emotions.”
“If Master ever feels lonely, Hong Xiu can accompany Master to talk and pass the time.”
“Master!”
“Master!”
“Master...”
The five Evils scrambled to introduce themselves, each describing their strengths in extravagant terms, wishing they could kowtow a hundred times to Wu Gou right then and there.
Wu Gou stood in the center, his head buzzing.
These ghosts were all fierce and malevolent; how did they turn into this the moment they stood before him?
Hong Xiu clung to him, Zhao Lie stood expressionless but with burning eyes, and Si Qiu looked as if he wanted to press his face against Wu Gou’s feet.
Wu Gou sighed and pressed his palms together.
“Amitābha.”
“There is no need for this, benefactors.”
“This monk only passed the trials by luck and has not yet truly taken control of the Xuandu Ghost Mansion. Once I have formally inherited the Ghost Mansion, I will speak with you all in detail.”
The five Evils nodded in unison.
“Understood. I’ll wait for Master to formally inherit the Ghost Mansion before coming to get my beating.”
“Yes, yes, Master is right.”
“Master, if you are ever lonely, you must remember me. I am available at a moment’s notice.”
Wu Gou was somewhat overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and quickly walked toward Chen Zhou.
“Big Demon.”
Chen Zhou looked at Wu Gou’s glowing golden face and couldn't resist patting his bald head.
“Not bad. Even better than I expected.”
Wu Gou grinned, revealing a row of bright white teeth.
“I couldn't exactly embarrass you.”
Xuandu stepped down from the high platform and nodded with satisfaction.
“Since you have passed the trials of the Ghost Mansion, you should remain here for now.”
Wu Gou pressed his palms together. “Yes, Senior.”
Xuandu stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the murals on the hall’s ceiling with a distant gaze.
“The Five Direction Ghost Mansions were built during the ancient era, personally established by the Northern Great Emperor.”
“The Emperor chose the name Xuandu, meaning the Ferry of the Profound Darkness, the Ferry of the Underworld.”
“The duty of the Ghost Mansion is to receive the souls of the dead, judge good and evil, settle the righteous souls, and punish the evil ghosts.”
“In the ancient era, when the divine path flourished, the souls of mortals would be received by ghost bailiffs after death and brought into the Ghost Mansion.”
“The good would enter the Hall of the Righteous to enjoy the blessings of the afterlife.”
“The wicked would enter the Hell of Evil Ghosts to suffer the pains of punishment.”
“Those whose deeds were difficult to discern would enter the Hall of Judgment to be personally decided by the Five Direction Ghost Emperors.”
“The Emperor once said that the ferry of the Underworld should be like a clear mirror, reflecting good and evil without bias.”
Xuandu turned his head to look at Wu Gou.
“I will teach you the inheritance of the Xuandu Ghost Mansion piece by piece.”
“The methods of judgment, the techniques of reception, the regulations of settlement, the laws of punishment, and the Xuandu Ghost Mansion’s unique abilities for inspecting, stripping, categorizing, and organizing talents.”
“You must learn everything.”
“Because from this day forward, you are the next Xuandu Ghost Emperor.”
Wu Gou pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.
“I will do my utmost to live up to your trust, Senior.”
Xuandu nodded and added, “You needn't be too nervous.”
“The operation of the Ghost Mansion has its own rules; you only need to follow them.”
“If you encounter any difficulties, you can ask the seven Evils.”
“Though they may seem unreliable, they have followed me for a hundred thousand years and know everything about the Ghost Mansion like the back of their hands.”
Hearing this, the seven Evils straightened their backs in unison.
“Master, rest assured!”
“We will tell you everything we know!”
“Whatever Master wants to ask, we will answer!”
Wu Gou smiled slightly.
“My thanks to you all.”
The seven Evils were so happy they nearly jumped.
After finishing his instructions, Xuandu stepped back and looked at Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou, standing to the side and listening to Xuandu, suddenly had a question come to mind.
After a moment of thought, he decided to ask.
“Seniors, I have a question, though I don't know if it’s appropriate to ask.”
Zhaoye said with a smile, “Speak freely.”
Chen Zhou chose his words carefully.
“Why does it seem like all of the Five Direction Ghost Emperors are in such a hurry to find a suitable successor?”
“Senior Xuandu was anxious, Senior Dongming was also anxious, and Senior Suwei as well.”
“Even Senior Zhaoye—though you say you aren't in a hurry, you’re actually quite anxious too, aren't you?”
Zhaoye smiled and didn't deny it.
Chen Zhou continued, “I’m just a bit curious.”
“You all have lived for a hundred thousand years; why is it that at this specific time, you’ve all suddenly become so eager to find successors?”
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Zhaoye looked at Chen Zhou, remained silent for a few breaths, and then let out a sigh.
“Kid, why do you think the Great Emperor's Palace is so anxious to choose a new palace master?”
“Even when your strength was insufficient, it resolutely woke up from the ninth-stage Wanchuan Pond, took advantage of its authority to skip directly to the eighth-stage Wanchuan Pond, and devoured other inheritance artifacts just to claim you first?”
Chen Zhou thought for a moment and said tentatively, “Because of my extraordinary talent?”
Zhaoye smiled.
“Not entirely.”
“If the Great Emperor's Palace still had a master, no matter how high your talent, it wouldn't be this desperate to find the next one.”
Chen Zhou frowned. “So it’s because of the Northern Great Emperor’s fall?”
Zhaoye nodded.
“The Great Emperor's Palace was built by the Emperor during his life to govern the Underworld and command the Five Direction Ghost Emperors; it is the highest authority of the Underworld.”
“But without the Emperor, the palace cannot exist indefinitely.”
“Masterless things will slowly drift toward extinction.”
“The same goes for us old ghosts.”
Chen Zhou was startled.
“Seniors, you also...”
Suwei nodded bluntly and patted his chest.
“What’s there to hide?”
“We Five Direction Ghost Emperors belong to the Great Emperor's Palace and are subordinate gods under the Emperor’s command.”
“When the Emperor fell, we, as his subordinate gods, naturally began our march toward the end back then as well.”
“What you see now are merely remnant souls, forcibly kept here by the Heavenly Talisman Great Emperor using secret techniques.”
“Once the Great Emperor's Palace has a new master and our connection to it is severed, that will likely be the day we old ghosts finally dissipate completely.”
Suwei spoke very casually, as if talking about what to have for dinner, but Chen Zhou could hear what was hidden beneath that lightness.
Chen Zhou nodded.
He understood.
This was similar to what he had guessed before.
The current existence of the Five Direction Ghost Emperors was like that of A Yao and the others—remnant souls forcibly preserved by secret techniques, grave-keepers waiting for a successor to the divine path to accept the inheritance.
All paths led to the same end.
No wonder Dongming had lost his composure like that upon learning the Great Emperor's Palace had a successor and Xuandu was ready to give away his Ghost Mansion.
And no wonder he had immediately changed his tune upon learning Chen Zhou had several talented subordinate gods.
Chen Zhou’s expression became slightly strange.
But Xuandu misunderstood the meaning of that expression.
He thought Chen Zhou was feeling sad.
A sudden wave of guilt washed over Xuandu.
He had lived for an eon and, as the Xuandu Ghost Emperor, had seen countless people—geniuses and mediocrities alike.
But he had never seen someone like Chen Zhou.
A one-year-old new god, struggling alone in the outer world.
With the divine path gone and demons running rampant, all the old gods fallen, he carried the hope of reviving the divine path and the wishes of thousands of believers on his shoulders.
It must be very hard, wasn't it?
After finally finding the Great Emperor's Palace and the Five Direction Ghost Emperors—finding a bit of the afterglow left by the old divine path—he probably thought he had found a harbor to rely on.
Only to discover that these elders couldn't even step out of the palace, let alone provide him with protection.
Even in the end, when he reached the peak, they would dissipate, unable to even accompany him as he grew.
If this were the ancient era when the Emperor was still alive, a young god with his talent and temperament would surely have been highly valued.
Young, promising, exceptionally gifted, compassionate, and capable.
Had he been born in the best of times, he would surely have harbored lofty ambitions, plucking the moon from the blue sky, admiring the flowers of the Nine Provinces, and striking awe into the three realms with his sword.
With the Great Emperor's Palace protecting him, he could have been as unrestrained and spirited as he pleased.
In all of heaven and earth, there would be nowhere he couldn't go.
It was just a pity...
A pity he was born in this era of the divine path’s decline.
A pity he was born at the wrong time.
Thinking of this, Xuandu felt even more guilty.
He looked at Chen Zhou, his gaze softening considerably.
“Young Palace Master, you needn't be sad.”
Chen Zhou blinked, startled.
He was sad?
He wasn't.
But Xuandu had already continued.
“I have lived for a hundred thousand years and seen countless people.”
“The exceptionally gifted, the brilliant, the decisive, the compassionate.”
“But I have never seen anyone like you.”
“For a one-year-old new god to have reached this point is already no easy feat.”
“If I could step out of this palace, I would truly love to see the world you’ve built.”
“To see your City of the Wrongfully Dead, your believers, and the subordinate gods under your command.”
“Unfortunately...”
Xuandu paused, his voice dropping an octave.
“Unfortunately, I cannot leave.”
“I cannot even provide you with protection.”
“Even in the end, I cannot accompany you as you grow, nor see you ascend to the supreme throne.”
“I am powerless.”
Chen Zhou opened his mouth to say something, but Xuandu didn't give him the chance.
“Young Palace Master, don't be sad.”
“We were meant to be dead anyway; meeting you after a hundred thousand years is a form of fate.”
“Let us old fogies help you choose qualified successors for the Ghost Mansions before we dissipate.”
“That way, you’ll have more support in the future.”
“This is the only thing I can do for you.”
After speaking, Xuandu let out a long sigh.
Standing nearby, Zhaoye reached out and rare as it was, gently patted Xuandu on the back.
The hall remained silent for a good while.
Standing in the middle, Chen Zhou looked at the expressions of the Ghost Emperors, his feelings somewhat complex.
He inherited the Great Emperor's Palace, and his subordinate gods inherited the Ghost Mansions—his combat power would soar; it was a joyous occasion.
The Ghost Emperors were even volunteering to train qualified successors for him, saving him the trouble—it was so convenient.
As for the remnant souls dissipating...
Chen Zhou felt that his cunning system likely wouldn't let them go; no talent could escape the system’s Myriad Herbs Life-Death Realm.
So there was even less for him to worry about.
Everything was perfect.
Except...
Chen Zhou glanced at Xuandu’s sorrowful face, then at Zhaoye’s comforting gesture, and then at Dongming’s softened gaze and Suwei’s sadness.
Forget it.
They were so tragic right now; it was better not to say anything that would ruin the mood.
He would just give them a surprise when the time came.
Rate on N.U.
