Evil must be met with greater evil, and ghosts with their own kind!
The Hujijingang Hell Imprint opened its monstrous maw, emitting an eerie laugh. The gates of Avici Hell swung open, and countless paper money bills shed countless formless ghosts.
Golden sand spewed from the ghost's mouth. Even the formless "nian" could not escape the Hujijingang Imprint's devouring. Following this, cries of anguish echoed from the hellish face. The denizens of Avici Hell seemed not to have anticipated that Ji Xiang would swallow the "nian"!
After all, Avici Hell was not a landfill. Even a Dharma Realm should not have everything thrown into it!
However, to Ji Xiang, what was sacrifice but a garbage disposal center?
As for classification, or things that even the evil spirits wouldn't eat?
"The 'nian' and the evil spirits of Avici Hell fought each other. Although the formless ghosts were formidable, the evil spirits of Avici Hell would not disappear. Even if their souls were torn apart, they could quickly regenerate."
"In the repeated struggles, the 'nian' would ultimately fail and be devoured by the evil spirits. Similarly, by weakening the evil spirits, there would be no need to worry about what monsters might be released when the gates of hell were opened."
The last time a powerful ascended being had almost pried open the gates of hell and escaped, Ji Xiang remembered it vividly.
It indicated that the entrance to Avici Hell was not entirely secure. With sufficient strength, one could force their way out.
The door before him, stripped of the "nian's" power, instantly turned into decaying dust. The entire mansion, along with it, crumbled into dust, ceasing to exist!
Ji Xiang followed suit, and the surrounding houses gradually disintegrated.
"This is not right. These houses are not earthly structures but dwellings of the underworld. That paper money was the power sustaining their existence. Indeed, that paper money was sent by the ghosts to the 'nian'."
As the houses collapsed, something within the dust seemed to have lost its control.
Ji Xiang sensed it, but his Inner Scene Divine Tablet offered no description, as these things posed no threat to him.
"Although these demonic mansions have been dismantled, why do I feel a sense of unease?"
Ji Xiang felt something was amiss and decisively activated his Yin-Yang Dharma Realm. However, the realm's coverage revealed no vengeful spirits or anything of the sort. Instead, it was a wasted use of his Dharma Realm's power to traverse between Yin and Yang, causing Ji Xiang to frown deeply.
Should he continue to destroy the other mansions?
...
In Suzhou's Fengyue Pavilion, Feng Menglong was conversing with his beloved, Hou Huiqing, recounting the strange and eerie events he had witnessed on his journey back from the north. His tales often brought a sparkle to the eyes of Madam Hou, who would sometimes pat her chest to calm her startled heart.
When Feng Menglong spoke of possessing "Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi," Madam Hou looked at him with even greater curiosity:
"What is Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi?"
Feng Menglong smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "Although I have repeatedly failed the imperial examinations and am merely a scholar who has not achieved official rank, my journey north this time has earned me the favor of Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi. It has also made me realize that everyone is born with their own destiny. Sometimes, it's not a lack of talent, but a failure to display it in the right place."
"What is the use of being the Grand Secretariat? They also lack righteousness. Throughout history, sages have never emerged from the imperial court but have resided in the mountains and wilds."
"Do you know of the great Master Wang Yangming?"
Madam Hou blinked her beautiful eyes. "Of course! Who doesn't know of Master Yangming!"
Feng Menglong said sternly, "I intend to become like Master Yangming! Possessing the righteousness of Heaven and Earth, I am bound to achieve something great."
Afterward, Feng Menglong mentioned his plan to write serialized novels to be published in small newspapers.
Madam Hou smiled charmingly. "If my dear wishes to write serialized novels, rather than publishing them in those small newspapers that might be destroyed at any time, why not align yourself with Daoist Master Ji? He is an official of the court. You can establish your own newspaper, print it ourselves, and distribute it at your own expense, featuring stories of demon subjugation and strange occurrences. Most people in the common folk love to read such things."
Feng Menglong pondered for a moment and sighed. "It's easier said than done, but I have no assets."
"Why should my dear worry? Do you not still have me?"
Madam Hou took out some of her jewelry and treasures. Throughout history, scholars have often been fickle. This is because once scholars achieve official recognition, they often look down upon courtesans and actors. However, Feng Menglong had a congenital advantage: he had repeatedly failed the examinations.
Feng Menglong was deeply grateful, but he said, "These are for you to buy your freedom. They should not be brought out at this time. I can leverage Daoist Master Ji's reputation to sell loose papers on the streets first. If the response is good, I will naturally earn a lot of money."
"After you buy your freedom, we will together..."
These funds were for Madam Hou to buy her freedom. Her flirtatious interactions with Feng Menglong were well-known within the brothel.
Madam Hou's face flushed slightly, yet she also appeared displeased. "As a scholar, how can you go out and sell newspapers?"
Feng Menglong smiled with a newfound freedom. Having experienced the Maze Dragon Casino incident and been possessed by a celestial fox, he had undergone some transformation.
"Reading the books of sages is the foundation of one's life. But if it's for a living, what work is lowly or noble? Since I could transcribe boat songs among the boatmen, and inquire among beggars to understand their lives, I see living people everywhere. There are no higher or lower classes."
"Work is work. Studying is not work, but a means to better work."
"Accumulate earth to form mountains, and winds and rains will arise. There is no small work, no accumulation, and without experiencing many hardships, how can one achieve great success?"
The two looked at each other and smiled. Their hearts were in sync, and they knew they were destined for each other.
However, soon, panicked cries from other women echoed from below the Fengyue Pavilion. Feng Menglong immediately told Madam Hou to stay put. As he reached the doorway, a gust of wind blew open the doors, and a clay statue of a deity, exuding evil energy and covered in fresh blood and rotten flesh, entered the chamber.
The clay statue radiated surging evil energy and was quite tall. The deity's face was ferocious.
But this clay monster let out a cry of pain:
"Save me, save me!"
Then, the cry of pain turned into a fierce roar:
"I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"
"Your flesh and blood will turn my clay form into a living person!"
Constantly switching between desperate pleas for help and brutal threats, this clay deity seemed to be targeting Feng Menglong!
The clay deity lunged forward but abruptly stopped, then switched to a mask of pain and fell backward.
The mask of pain vanished, replaced by a ferocious one, and it stood up again, preparing to pounce!
This bizarre sit-up stunned Feng Menglong.
Madam Hou looked at the clay deity, a flicker of surprise and fear in her eyes. But soon, she took a deep breath and quietly retreated to the back, retrieving a white hair from under the bed.
Feng Menglong, not noticing his beloved's actions, was also startled. He quickly widened his eyes and shouted:
"Halt! What demon are you! Reveal yourself at once!"
With that shout, his tone became perfectly appropriate, and a surge of righteousness erupted. The evil energy on the clay deity immediately weakened, and the blood and rotten flesh rapidly fell off. Following this, the clay deity cried out:
"Finally, I am free! Thank you, helper! Well done, you know how to use righteousness!"
"Quickly, where is the Tiger-Eyed Chan Master with you? Something big has happened, and I need his help! Beg him to save me!"
Feng Menglong recognized the voice and exclaimed in surprise:
"You are that lecherous old man from earlier!"
The clay deity said urgently, "It's me, it's me! Quickly, invite Tiger-Eyed Chan Master to save me! Whether he is a demon or an outsider, I implore him to save my temple! I, Luo Po Xian, kowtow to him!"
"As long as he saves me once, let alone register with the Daoist Affairs Department, I will sell him my life!"
Feng Menglong was bewildered. "What Tiger-Eyed Chan Master? I don't know him at all. And why are you appearing in a clay body, you lecherous old man? Are you perhaps a monster in disguise!"
"Take this talisman!"
Feng Menglong felt in his pocket, grabbed a Golden Light Charm, and before throwing it, he checked to confirm it was drawn by Ji Xiang, not Hu Xiao Shi, before tossing it.
The Golden Light Charm flew out, and the clay deity was repelled by a great force, crashing out of the doorway. However, it quickly rushed back in, praising:
"Well struck! Wait, is this a talisman given to you by Tiger-Eyed Chan Master?"
"Hit me again, hit me again!"
The Golden Light Charm had annihilated much of the evil energy controlling him. Now he had the initiative and was fighting for control with another "yin spirit" within the clay.
Feng Menglong was dumbfounded. The other party was actually asking him to hit him harder. He had never heard such a request!
Feng Menglong found it strange and dared not act. The clay deity immediately stomped his feet. "Why aren't you hitting me?"
"Are you trying to trick me out of my talismans, exhaust them, and then plot against me! You demon, I can see you're no ordinary person with a single glance! I knew you weren't a good person earlier!"
The clay deity, unable to get his way, quickly said, "Fine if you won't hit me! Quickly, take me to see Tiger-Eyed Chan Master!"
Feng Menglong retorted, "I've told you, what Tiger-Eyed Chan Master? I'm not familiar with him at all. But you mentioned talismans. These talismans were given to me by Daoist Master Ji. He's not some Tiger-Eyed Chan Master; he's the Chief of the Great Ming Daoist Registry, personally enfeoffed as the True Person of the North Pole by Emperor Wanli!"
The clay deity said, "Yes, that identity is fake. He is Tiger-Eyed Chan Master... Forget it! Just tell me where he is!"
"I'll kowtow to you, alright!"
The clay deity actually knelt down and performed a deep bow to Feng Menglong. Feng Menglong was startled, and even Madam Hou beside him was stunned.
At this moment, the clay deity laughed heartily, and blood actually flowed from its clay eyes.
"My dear, he doesn't seem to be an evil person. He must have been injured by some monster and turned into this. Perhaps we should help him..."
Madam Hou felt a pang of pity, and also some apprehension. Blood flowing from a clay body was not an auspicious sign.
Coupled with the rotten flesh on his body, it seemed to be... human flesh.
Feng Menglong nodded. "...Alright. He can't defeat Daoist Master Ji anyway, so bringing him along won't hurt."
The clay deity finally let out a sigh, the blood flowing more profusely. He explained, "This clay body of mine is a statue from the incense offerings of the Earth God. Earlier today, I was injured by Daoist Master Hu... by Daoist Master Ji, damaging my physical body, so I borrowed the Earth God's clay statue to use."
"I, Luo Po Xian, am a cultivator from the Xuanmiao Temple. You can believe me. Do you know of Nan Yangzi? He is the abbot of Xuanmiao Temple and the supervisor of Quanzhen Dao in Suzhou. He is my senior brother!"
"As for the rest, I will tell Daoist Master Ji when I see him. I can only say that Xuanmiao Temple is in danger, and Suzhou is in danger!"
At this moment, strange and loud noises, extremely noisy and jarring, appeared from outside. Madam Hou's chamber was inside and had no windows facing outward, making it difficult to see the situation outside. Therefore, Feng Menglong had to go out to look.
The clay deity blocked in front of the two. The noises within Fengyue Pavilion grew louder and louder, followed by exclamations of shock!
The guests and courtesans below, including the musicians, were all terrified and rose to flee. The brothel madam was scratching her ears and wringing her hands in agony. Her body was transforming, and the strange noises were emanating from her seven orifices.
"It's the 'Niang Mu Gui'! She has transformed from a human into a ghost! She was infected by that strange black energy, causing her form and spirit to twist and change!"
The clay deity exclaimed in shock and anger, telling the two to hurry downstairs, and he would protect them! That ghostly energy had already begun to attack mortals!
"Damn it, I must have attracted them!"
The clay deity regretted it immensely. But if he hadn't come to find Feng Menglong, he would soon have been possessed by the yin spirit, or even undergone a calamitous transformation!
The Niang Mu Gui was said to be a monkey-like ghost with one bulging eye, which would break into people's homes at night to eat their hearts. When demons arise from humans, and a family's fortune declines, evil energy flourishes.
Humans transforming into ghosts, losing their form and spirit, such things were unheard of. Feng Menglong's face was filled with shock, but he could no longer afford to hesitate. They had to leave Fengyue Pavilion. He grabbed Madam Hou's hand and they ran, but before they could reach the exit, the sounds of a female ghost's tearing and biting came from behind.
At the same time, more black energy began to appear. The courtesans and guests of the brothel were fleeing outwards. Feng Menglong vaguely saw distorted silhouettes within the black energy. He immediately cast the Golden Light Charm. The Golden Light Charm displayed immense divine power, scattering the black energy and revealing transparent silhouettes within. They were like old women, hunched over, holding something resembling a bag, which was also transparent and colorless.
"What kind of monster is this? Madam Hou, you go first... Madam Hou?"
Feng Menglong was astonished when he realized Madam Hou was gone. He turned his head, and saw that Madam Hou had somehow appeared in the main hall of Fengyue Pavilion, holding a strange small idol.
As the formless ghosts rushed forward, their transparent bags opened, and eyeballs rolled out. Madam Hou, with all her might, threw the palm-sized idol towards these formless ghosts, and blew on the white hair in her hand!
Hoo!
In an instant, the white hair wrapped around the idol, and the idol's eyes emitted red light. Immediately, a human deity appeared, with a long beard, a majestic appearance, white eyebrows, and a red face, wielding a great saber of cloud and moon!
He looked seven parts similar to Guan Yu!
This deity appeared, displaying his might. With a sweep of his saber, he revealed the true form of a formless ghost!
"Go!"
Madam Hou seemed to have transformed into someone else as she commanded the deity's actions, forming a strange hand seal.
This made Feng Menglong's eyes widen, and the clay deity was also astonished:
"Spirit Driving and Ghost Subduing Technique! The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends!"
The ability to command deities to fight for oneself, the spirit driver being the deity's master. Even these minor folk deities were worshipped daily, accumulating powerful incense and divine power. Although they were not among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Deities and lacked divine tablets in the Great Fu Li, their strength varied greatly depending on the prosperity of their patronages. The weak were extremely weak, and the strong were extremely strong!
The deity summoned at this moment was the protector of the brothel industry, the White-Eyebrowed God!
Even a minor deity was still a deity. A ninth-rank official was still divinely appointed. The numerous old women-like formless ghosts immediately scattered. The surrounding black energy thickened, and the courtesans rushed towards Madam Hou.
Feng Menglong wanted to ask, but Madam Hou apologized to him. "My dear, please be patient... I did not intend to hide this from you."
The clay deity flew over and immediately said, "Of course, you didn't intend to hide it. The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends are not ordinary techniques, especially the art of driving spirits. If cultivated to a high level, one can summon the power of the gods to assist, which is a supreme technique of borrowing strength!"
"It seems someone found you and taught you this technique earlier. Heh! I said, why didn't you come to cultivate with me, little girl? Turns out you've already been noticed!"
"Let's leave quickly!"
The clay deity called out. At this moment, the guests and prostitutes also ran towards the three of them. However, when they reached the outside, the previously bustling street was now deserted, like a ghost town!
And between heaven and earth, the black energy grew denser. Within each strand of black energy was a ghostly silhouette. Feng Menglong immediately asked, "You lecherous old man, what are these monsters? Do you recognize them?"
The clay deity said, "If I knew what they were, wouldn't I know how to deal with them? Of course, I don't know! But judging by their formless appearance, they are somewhat like 'nian'!"
Feng Menglong asked, "Aren't you a Yellow Court Great Cultivator?"
The clay deity replied, "The Yellow Court doesn't know everything, and my strength is currently damaged, suppressed by evil energy. I don't even have the Golden Core realm! I can't even manifest my Nascent Soul! Luo Po Xian is truly fallen!"
Madam Hou looked around the Fengyue Pavilion. She rushed to the stalls in the night market where statues of deities were sold, but they were now all empty. She picked up several statues, recited incantations, and soon, several divine forms with strong incense energy flew from nearby entertainment venues!
These places of romance and pleasure were actually excellent locations for accumulating incense!
Boom!
Within Fengyue Pavilion, several people who had not escaped were transformed into monsters. The monsters fought with the White-Eyed God, while Madam Hou pointed at the statues, and several more deities rushed out from within the statues!
First, a deity covered in flags, wielding eighteen types of weapons, confronted the ghosts!
Marshal Lei Haiqing, the protector deity of the Pear Garden actors!
Next, a deity in wide robes and a golden belt, wearing an official hat, holding a treasure ingot!
The God of Prosperous Business, the protector deity of money houses!
Following that, a strong deity holding twin sabers, like a butcher, charged into the crowd of ghosts!
King Lu Tou, the protector deity of the butchery industry, later depicted as Fan Kuai!
The four deities blocked the horde of ghosts. The clay deity clamored to find Ji Xiang, but when they arrived at Ji Xiang's residence, nothing remained except for a remaining sack of magical artifacts.
Feng Menglong clutched the Golden Light Charm and hoisted the sack. As long as these magical artifacts remained, their lives would be guaranteed.
He told the clay deity not to worry. "There's no need to panic. Daoist Master Ji is powerful. Ever since I met him, he has seen everyone as a mere stepping stone. Let's wait a moment. Such a strange situation has occurred in Suzhou, so Daoist Master Ji must be out subduing demons and monsters! Wherever there's an explosion later, we'll head there..."
"So, Madam Hou, can you tell me why you know magic?"
Feng Menglong looked at Madam Hou. Her expression was somewhat dejected, but she didn't expect Feng Menglong to take her hand and sigh.
"Forget it. Fortunately, your magic isn't too powerful. If it were, I fear the immortal and mortal realms would be separated. After this confession today, we might never see each other again. This is how it always happens in storybooks, where celestial maidens return to heaven."
Madam Hou was stunned and playfully hit Feng Menglong.
But this was not the time for affection. Those formless ghosts, similar to "nian," were inexplicably increasing in number...
.........