Chapter 262 - 242 Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
Kunlun Cave Heaven.
The weather was gentle and the skies were clear.
With the back against a massive tree, Spirit Ginseng Child’s eyes were bright red as the small hands typed like phantoms.
"Assist, save me!"
"You useless piece of @¥#%!*&..."
Two months after seeing off eighteen ghost cultivators, no one else helped the Spirit Ginseng Child with leveling up; consequently, the Honorable Sovereign soon plummeted to the golden ranks.
With its nimble fingers, it made the teammates so angry they quit the game, only then did it feel truly content.
"If I can’t win it’s all because the team members are going AFK!"
Just as Spirit Ginseng Child was about to start the next game, a bright light shone nearby, from which more than a dozen figures emerged.
That was followed by routine admiration and shock. The spiritual energy within the cave heaven was enough to cultivate to the peak of Golden Core, a thousand times more potent than in the mundane world, making it a true Immortal Realm in their eyes.
"Ahem!"
A voice resembling that of Zhou Yi reached the Child’s ears. With a flick of the hand, the mobile phone was stowed away, another wave and the spiritual energy flowed around, transforming the Child from an internet-addicted teen to an attendant under the seat of an immortal.
"This is a sacred place of the immortals; keep your voices down!"
The sound thundered into everyone’s ears. They promptly bowed deeply to pay their respects to the great immortal.
Spirit Ginseng Child’s gaze fell upon Emperor Mingxiang, and said, "There is a familiar aura about you, does your ancestry include someone who had once cultivated in Kunlun?"
"Replying to the Immortal Master, my humble ancestor Zhu Kang, indeed once studied arts in Kunlun."
Emperor Mingxiang knelt on the ground, holding high a letter, "Before my ancestor passed away, he left a letter stating that if his descendants were to possess an immortal fate, it must be handed to the great immortal."
The Spirit Ginseng Child drew the letter towards itself, made a spell gesture, and the letter vanished.
"The great immortal is in seclusion; I have already delivered the letter to him. Whether or not he will meet with you all requires a short wait."
The seven from Red Alliance showed significant changes in expression; they had seen their ancestor’s notes. Back then, the great immortal was already in seclusion, and even after more than two hundred years, he still had not emerged, truly befitting his legendary status.
After a moment.
The door of the Daoist temple opened without any wind, and a gentle voice came forth.
"Come inside to talk."
With great joy, everyone thanked and bowed before following the Spirit Ginseng Child into the Daoist temple.
The temple was simple and ancient in its design, indistinguishable from Kunlun Palace. It seemed that Martial Emperor had indeed cultivated in Kunlun.
The main hall.
Zhou Yi sat cross-legged, his gaze landing on Emperor Mingxiang, praising him.
"Zhu Kang has done very well!"
"Thank the great immortal."
With humility and fear, Emperor Mingxiang was only addressed about his great ancestor and based on the usual practice of criticism following praise, it seemed likely a "but" was forthcoming.
Zhou Yi looked at the members of Red Alliance and said, "The Red Alliance has also done well."
"Thank the great immortal."
The Red Alliance members were genuinely terrified. Reflecting on the past, their forebears’ revolution was incomplete, and they were likely to be recorded as compromisers in history books centuries later.
Members of the newly-formed party, kneeling at the back, dared not lift their heads; they were once opponents of the immortal’s disciples.
Zhou Yi shook his head and refrained from further comment.
Compromise is the inevitable end of all struggles.
Considering the many formidable enemies the Red Alliance faced at the time, and their own inadequate foundation, their success was tremendously difficult.
"Your purpose here has already been divined by me."
Zhou Yi said, "All of you possess Spirit Roots. Cultivating in Kunlun for a year is enough to maintain the stability of the Imperial Court, but..."
His words caused everyone’s faces to drastically change as they held their breath, waiting for the immortal’s next words.
"I have also divined that a calamity will befall the Mortal World, known as ’The Night of a Hundred Ghosts.’ As heaven and earth revitalize to a certain point, the Yin and Yang energies manifest, spawning countless ghostly entities that will harm all living beings."
"One of you must leave Kunlun to spread this word for early preparations!"
Zhou Yi scanned the crowd, and everyone’s gaze darted about, hesitant to give up such a rare opportunity for immortal fate.
After pondering for a moment, Emperor Mingxiang said, "Great immortal, I am willing to go. My ancestor left his will stating that the Zhu family are servants and followers of the great immortal, bound to undertake any orders even at the cost of our lives."
"Very good, I grant you a scroll of Cultivation Technique!"
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, and with a wave of his hand, Emperor Mingxiang vanished.
"You may go to the Scripture Pavilion to select cultivation techniques, and if you have any doubts in your cultivation, ask the child. After one year, leave on your own."
With that, he vanished from view.
...
Several days later.
The National Dynasty called back retired soldiers, conducted inspections across the nation, and imposed military control over key cities.
One month later.
Emperor Mingxiang gave a televised speech, detailing his journey to the Kunlun Wonderland and declaring that the Imperial Court had received the support of immortals.
During his speech, he subtly revealed the immortals’ appraisal of Ancestor Zhou, significantly boosting the prestige of the Imperial Clan within the National Dynasty.
"The immortals have proclaimed that a ghost calamity is imminent in the Mortal World, and I would rather forsake the chance for immortality to return to the Mortal World. I believe that our well-prepared Imperial Court will surely ensure the safety of the people of our great Zhou..."
Emperor Mingxiang’s speech was, of course, edited word for word by others.
The section about the calamity of the night of a hundred ghosts caused the cabinet to debate for a month before deciding to make it public.
As expected, once the news spread, it immediately caused quite a stir.
Fortunately, the Imperial Court was well prepared and treated it as a rehearsal for the ghost calamity. Anyone who tried to create chaos during this time was executed on the spot to prevent them from causing greater disruptions during the night of a hundred ghosts.
The unrest was quickly suppressed, and during this period, the army killed quite a number of cultivators.
Power had come too easily and status had risen too quickly, so it was inevitable that some cultivators believed they were chosen by destiny, using the calamity as an excuse to challenge the Imperial Court’s authority.
As a result, they were torn to shreds by bullets amid the roar of modern weapons!
Starting from Xianjing, Emperor Mingxiang visited each city in turn, delivering speeches to calm the people’s fears.
With both physical and psychological guidance, the people of the National Dynasty soon faced the calamity with composure, swearing under the guidance of the Imperial Court to fight to the end against the malevolent spirits and ghosts, and for the prosperity of humanity!
Meanwhile.
The official website of the Outer Sect of Qi Zong issued a sect master order, with all disciples preparing for war and supporting the Imperial Court in protecting humanity.
With the combined efforts of the Imperial Court, Imperial Clan, and sects, the situation in Cloud Continent stabilized. However, when the news reached the other continents, chaos ensued once again.
That day.
Ningde Fang was unusually lively.
In the center of Top Scholar Street stood a new machine, shaped like a security gate.
Cultivators from the Investigation Bureau were responsible for activating and operating it, and the entire Patrol House went out to knock on doors, calling on households according to their household registrations.
Anyone who wasn’t a local had to clearly mark their destination and be inspected by the local Investigation Bureau. Those who resisted were dealt with by the Imperial Court: the light punishment was arrest, and the severe punishment was execution.
All people were lined up in a long queue, walking one by one through the security gate.
Ninety-nine percent of people triggered no reaction, but a very few caused the machine alarm to sound, emitting a "beep beep beep."
"Name? Address? Cultivation Technique? Cultivation level..."
A series of registrations followed, and then a person would try to persuade them to comply with the Imperial Court’s arrangements to defend their sector, offering power, money, and status — all one had to do was catch ghosts.
Cultivators tend to be self-centered and are unenthusiastic about obeying orders from the Imperial Court.
However, cultivators also have parents and relatives, who need power and status and would naturally help persuade them on behalf of the Imperial Court.
At the end of the line.
Zhou Yi was chatting with some acquaintances, a group of people without Spirit Roots, indifferent to the bustling world of cultivation and questioning since it had nothing to do with them.
"Hey! Half a year ago, we thought that the future belonged to the sects and that the Imperial Court would have to obediently follow orders. Who would have thought that they would gain the support of Kunlun?"
"This is only temporary. The immortals of Kunlun rarely concern themselves with worldly affairs. After the ghost calamity is over, the sects will still call the shots!"
"Old Xu makes sense. Guns may threaten cultivators now, but once our strength grows, who will listen to the orders of the mere mortals in the cabinet?"
"Who knows, maybe in the future if you don’t cultivate, you can’t even enter the cabinet..."
Zhou Yi listened with his hands in his pockets. No matter if it’s Blue Star or Nine Continents, the common folk love to discuss the affairs of the National Dynasty. He couldn’t help but speak up and ask.
"Do you think we can survive the ghost calamity?"
"Of course we can. The immortals of Kunlun are watching over us from above, and we have ancient ancestors guarding us from below. Those mere ghostly entities don’t stand a chance!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yi’s smile broadened.
"I haven’t been working in vain!"
"After the ghost calamity is over, I’ll set out to sea to slay that twin-winged tiger cub. Yuan Ling’s territory should also be almost ready to break through, and then I’ll unite it with Kunlun to form a single realm. Three joys will come all at once!" n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"When I return, the Nine Continents will indeed be a world where the way of immortals prospers!"