At this moment, Chu Yue and I were hiding within the Jiufang Fu Array set up by Master.
This formation was composed of nine talismans, forming a circular barrier.
It could resist the attacks of ghosts from outside.
I watched the ghosts that were killed by the talisman formation.
And asked Master:
“Master, how long can this talisman formation last?”
As I spoke, I looked at the ghosts surrounding us from all directions.
These ghosts let out low growls, some desperately lunged forward, while others tentatively slapped against the outer wall of the talisman formation.
Master took a deep breath and took out his pipe:
“Under normal circumstances, it can last for a day and a night.
However, from the current situation, it can only last for twenty to thirty minutes at most.
Therefore, we must seize this short period to rest and replenish our energy.
Then, we will make a concerted effort to fight our way out.”
With that said, Master lit his pipe and took a hard puff.
I nodded and took out a half-finished bottle of water from my bag, handing it to Chu Yue:
“Chu Yue, drink some water.”
Chu Yue hadn't drunk any water for a day, and after running for so long, she was very thirsty.
Seeing the water, she quickly took it and drank two gulps with a gulping sound.
Besides water, I also had chocolate.
I gave it all to Chu Yue, so she could replenish her energy.
These were prepared by Zhang Youguo in advance before Master and I entered the Yin-Yang Gate.
After all, entering at nine o'clock at night meant that the next opening of the Yin-Yang Gate was a full twelve hours away.
I checked the time; it was now past four in the morning.
Master and I had been in this Spiritual Phantom Ghost Realm for seven hours.
There were still five hours until the passage reopened.
Based on the path we took to get here, the time to rush back to the exit before 9:30 AM would be very tight.
If we missed 9:30 AM, we would have to wait another hour.
And every extra second spent here was dangerous.
Therefore, we had to reach the exit of the Spiritual Phantom Ghost Realm within five hours and leave this place safely.
I thought to myself.
At the same time, I sat on the ground, leaning against a pillar, and looked at the ghosts around me.
Chu Yue, having replenished her fluids, also had some spirit.
Looking at the swarms of ghosts in all directions, she said with self-reproach:
“I’m sorry Qin Ze, Daoist Priest Gu.
I’ve caused you trouble and put you in such a dangerous situation.”
Hearing this, my Master waved his hand:
“Miss, there’s nothing to apologize for.
We masters and disciples accepted your father’s money, so it’s our duty to save you.
Just follow us closely later.
We will definitely lead you out of here safely.”
I also smiled:
“Yeah! Don’t worry! This is just a minor situation, Master and I can handle it.”
I said that outwardly, but inwardly I was terrified.
This was no minor situation; this was the biggest, most bizarre, and most peculiar situation and encounter I had ever experienced in my career.
In a deserted, closed-loop Yin-Yang passage.
It had become a ghost’s lair, called the Spiritual Phantom Ghost Realm by that Dark Nether Ghost.
Just as I thought this, Chu Yue spoke again:
“Qin Ze, when you entered, did you see any of my colleagues? There were eight of them? They all got separated from me.”
Hearing this, I came back to my senses.
I nodded:
“Yes, I did. Four have already died, and the other four were settled by us in the front.”
Chu Yue frowned slightly when she heard that four had died.
This was not what she wanted to see, but it was also not something she could control.
After all, arriving here unexpectedly was an accident.
During this rest period, Chu Yue was also confused as to why she had come here.
So she continued to inquire:
“Qin Ze, why is there a basement level four under our parking garage?
Hiding so many ghosts?
How did a few of us end up here?”
I didn’t answer immediately, but organized my thoughts and replied:
“This is actually a passage connecting the human world and the underworld.
In our line of work, we call it the Yin-Yang Gate.
But this Yin-Yang Gate has a problem; it only has an entrance in the human world, but no exit to the underworld.
This has resulted in a closed-loop space.
Ghosts that float in can only wander here forever.
Over time, the number of ghosts has increased.
Now, it has become a ghost realm.
Your company’s elevator happened to be connected to this Yin-Yang Gate.
Last night, when you took the elevator to the third basement level after work, the elevator door opening coincided with the opening of this Spiritual Phantom Ghost Realm.
So, you ended up here…”
“Can these ghosts get out?”
Chu Yue asked with trepidation.
I couldn’t answer this question for Chu Yue, so I looked at Master.
Seeing me look at him, Master exhaled a puff of smoke and said:
“These ghosts have been dead for a long time, and once they leave the human world, they cannot return.
Otherwise, your Qinggang Building would have become a ghost building long ago.”
Hearing this, Chu Yue finally let out a sigh of relief.
Her heart was also filled with fear.
She had never imagined that their company was built on the entrance to a ghost realm.
But fortunately, these ghosts could not leave this place.
For the next ten minutes or so.
Everyone was relatively silent, resting quietly and recovering their strength.
I also sat cross-legged, regulating my internal energy and physical condition.
The brief peace did not negate the ongoing danger.
At this moment, the nine suspended talismans suddenly began to shake.
The pale yellow halo enveloping us seemed to be trembling.
Seeing this, Master and I both had stern expressions.
Master even spoke directly:
“The talisman formation is about to disappear. Get ready, we need to leave here immediately…”
Hearing Master’s words.
I immediately flipped over.
At the same time, I gripped my peach wood sword.
I looked around again and saw that the ghosts were constantly slapping the light wall outside the talisman formation.
Muffled thuds of “咚咚咚” kept ringing out.
As the power of the talisman formation continuously receded, the nine talismans could no longer repel the ghosts.
More and more ghosts, seeing this, rushed forward with shouts of “嗷嗷”.
Master said with a grim expression:
“The talisman formation is about to be broken. You two stand behind me, I will use the last bit of power from these nine talismans to repel these ghosts and clear a path.”
“Yes, Master!”
After speaking, I pulled Chu Yue over.
Chu Yue was now like a well-behaved girl, not daring to make any extra moves.
Master scanned his surroundings and formed a hand seal.
His finger movements changed rapidly, so fast that I couldn’t even see them clearly.
Finally, Master let out a low roar:
“Nine Talisman Mantra; As swift as the law commands, activate!”
With the command issued.
The nine floating talismans suddenly flashed with yellow light.
Immediately after, with a “bang,” they exploded.
Waves of talisman power began to surge outwards.
Ripples of “嗡嗡嗡” energy surged outwards, one after another…