Chapter Fifty-One: Villains Meet Their Match

“Not here?” Ji Feichen searched the entire haunted house back and forth, but no matter how he looked, the whereabouts of the Nine Nether Water eluded him.

Nine Nether Weak Water, if it were to spill into the world of the living, would surely give rise to a river of poisonous weak water, a hellish pit. Here, the sinister aura of the netherworld would condense, spawning all manner of ghosts and spirits. Yet, after Ji Feichen’s investigation, not a trace could be found. The vast haunted mansion was eerily silent, mysterious, but barren, lacking the faintest sign of treasure.

Meanwhile, above Turtle Mountain, the winds calmed and clouds dispersed, the sky stretching clear for thousands of miles, golden light bathing everything. A portal stood in the clouds, dragons and phoenixes winding in auspicious harmony, turtles and unicorns bringing fortune, five-colored radiance purifying the mountain’s baleful aura, transforming the entire landscape with vitality.

Ji Feichen knew Li Jingxun’s work was nearing completion, so he set aside his search. “Never mind, there’s plenty of time. I’ll visit another ghost’s lair another day.” With that, Ji Feichen went to rescue the living.

A fierce ghost’s dwelling was much like any other haunted abode—three chambers. The front room greeted guests, the middle was for rest, and the final stone chamber housed the ghost’s original corpse.

Within the empty tomb, there were no burial goods, only a massive stone coffin adorned with dragons and phoenixes at the center. Ji Feichen could faintly hear sobbing from within.

The coffin was sealed tight, carved with dragons and phoenixes, bound by powerful sinister magic. Ji Feichen tossed a Jasper Tide Pearl onto the lid; with a resonant thud, it shattered the evil power.

The man brushed his sleeve, a breeze pushing the coffin open to reveal skeletal remains and a young girl.

The skeleton was hideous, dressed in fine clothes and adorned with gold and jade jewelry. But—

Looking closely at the bones, Ji Feichen’s expression changed, staring in shock, his face troubled and uncertain.

From a corner of the coffin, the girl in red hurriedly jumped out. “Immortal, this corpse… this corpse…” Qiu Jinling shuddered with fear. She had been locked in the coffin by the fierce ghost, intended as a match for a ghostly wedding. The plan was to let her starve to death inside, then bind her soul to the ghost, making them a pair of spectral spouses.

But once inside, the girl was shocked to discover—the corpse was female!

“The ghost outside who fought me—though shrouded in darkness—was definitely male,” Ji Feichen mused, suspecting hidden secrets beneath this affair.

“We should leave, this isn’t a place to linger.” Ji Feichen took the female skeleton, coffin and all, and reunited with Qiu Jinling and the other two.

By then, Zhou Yan’er had already reburied all the corpses at their graves, erecting cenotaphs for the fallen comrades who had hunted the ghosts.

“Our fellow cultivators died defending the Way; may you return to the path of immortality in another life.” She bowed deeply before the cenotaphs, and spiritual light blossomed from the graves. After Zhou Yan’er purified them with incantations, the souls of the four cultivators were freed, departing their mortal shells.

They bowed to Zhou Yan’er, and their magical tools intertwined, merging into a celestial sword that flew into Zhou Yan’er’s hand.

Their treasures had long been battered and broken, yet each still held a spark of spiritual energy. Now, freed with Zhou Yan’er’s help, they combined their treasures’ essence, forging a jade sword as a token of gratitude.

Zhou Yan’er was startled, barely able to speak before the four souls faded into the netherworld.

“Thank you, friends.” Zhou Yan’er spoke solemnly, “This sword in my hand will shine brightly in days to come, becoming a holy weapon against evil, worthy of your intent.”

The sword was not yet fully formed—only the spiritual embryo of a celestial sword, lacking the necessary array diagram. In a sense, it stood in contrast to Ji Feichen’s Nine Cloud Mystic Disk.

The Nine Cloud Mystic Disk had its array diagram completed, needing only the fusion of materials. Zhou Yan’er’s jade sword, meanwhile, was pure and radiant, its attributes yet to be inscribed, leaving the choice entirely to her.

She admired the jade sword, and caught sight of Ji Feichen emerging from the haunted house with Qiu Jinling, his expression grave.

“Brother Qinghong.” She approached, seeing the girl behind Ji Feichen—wan and pale, dressed in a crimson bridal gown, her spirit shaken.

“You must be Lady Qiu’s daughter. Your mother entrusted me to find you.”

At the mention of her mother, Qiu Jinling wept anew, hastily asking, “How is Mother?”

“She is well, just waiting for your return.” As the two women conversed, Ji Feichen looked up at Li Jingxun in the sky.

Li Jingxun, true heir of the immortal family, orthodox in the mystical arts. A portal of creation transformed Turtle Mountain into a landscape of the spirit turtle gazing at the moon.

The spirit turtle, supporting the mountain and gazing at the moon, gathered lunar essence, forming a dragon’s lair and a blessed site. Its spiritual mountain was like a great stele, anchoring fortune and energy, a feng shui treasure for burial. From now on, those interred here would benefit their descendants, and no more ghosts would be born.

“But she’ll need considerable effort to finish.” With that, Ji Feichen lent a hand. Twenty-four radiant pearls ascended, turning into twenty-four bright moons that showered sweet dew from above.

Ji Feichen formed a seal, “Rise!” The pearls shone together, white lotus and golden flowers sinking into Turtle Mountain, red blossoms and green grass growing among stones, life flourishing, and all ghostly aura dispelled.

For a moment, heaven and earth were pure, energies harmonious.

The female cultivator descended, as a cloud of merit appeared in the air, splitting in two and falling into Ji Feichen and Li Jingxun’s hands.

Ji Feichen collected the merit with the Jasper Tide Pearl, surprised: “Strange, even purifying mountain and river brings merit?” The pearl emitted a golden mist, increasing his fortune and hidden virtue. Ji Feichen quickly stowed away the twenty-four spiritual pearls.

Li Jingxun also stored her share in the Jade Book of Virtue, pondering, then smiling: “Brother, with your help, this land will never again know evil. It is indeed a deed of merit. Besides, the people here will benefit, ancestors rest in peace, and future generations will be protected. If someday a great sage arises from Turtle Mountain, would it not be thanks to us?”

Ji Feichen was thoughtful, but recalling the skeletal woman’s corpse, he urged, “This place is best left. Let us depart quickly.”

The three escorted Qiu Jinling to her elderly mother. Apart from themselves, there was a lady and two maids at home.

“Sister!” Qiu Jinling rushed into the lady’s arms. Qiu Jinchai, seeing her younger sister returned safely, was both shocked and delighted: “I had just reported to the authorities for help, yet you returned so soon?” She now noticed Ji Feichen and his companions.

Li Jingxun explained, and Qiu Jinchai hurriedly thanked the three. “Thank you for saving us. The Qiu family will surely reward you generously.”

“No need for thanks, but it’s not safe for the elderly lady and her daughter to live here alone. They should move.” Ji Feichen was uneasy, and upon seeing Qiu Jinchai, sensed something amiss.

“Of course,” Qiu Jinchai looked outside, her face bitter: “These townsfolk benefited from us, yet now would sacrifice my sister. This really isn’t a place to live!”

She embraced her sister: “Luckily, my husband and I have prospered elsewhere. Mother and you should move in with us, so the old lady can enjoy her later years.”

The rest was mundane affairs, irrelevant to Ji Feichen and his companions—just the petty struggles of mortals. The three turned to leave, but at the village gate saw a crowd gathered, with four or five men dressed as officials. These men smugly claimed credit for rescuing the Qiu family girl.

There was also a cultivator, following the officials, with an air of immortality: “I climbed the mountain, subdued the evil ghost with ease, and even helped improve Turtle Mountain’s feng shui.”

This cultivator had some skill, discerning that the land’s feng shui had been altered, and that it would become a treasure spot. The villagers, hearing this, quickly offered silver, seeking his aid to find burial spots for their ancestors.

Witnessing this, Zhou Yan’er was indignant: “We worked, yet they take the credit?” She was about to confront them.

Ji Feichen and Li Jingxun stopped her.

They exchanged smiles; Ji Feichen remarked, “If a dog bites you, do you bite the dog back?”

“The Grand Hong Empire never liked the mystical arts interfering too much. Credit going to the court is inevitable,” Li Jingxun said calmly.

Indeed, between the mystical sect and the imperial court, relations were cordial but hearts divided. Ji Feichen pondered, recalling his recent experience dealing with the drought.

Ji Feichen smiled. Zhou Yan’er scowled, “Brother, we’re bullied like this, and you smile?”

“I recall when Li and I handled the drought, the court likely claimed the credit to appease the people?”

Li Jingxun nodded, “Exactly. Our sect is not entirely secret, but ordinary people rarely interact with us. So-called immortal salvation is less tangible than the imperial court’s deeds. What we accomplished became someone’s political merit, earning them promotion.”

“Mortal affairs are not the place for cultivators to linger. As long as the creatures of Mount Chenghuang are rescued, it is merit enough. Human hearts may deceive, but Heaven’s heart cannot be fooled.”

Li Jingxun’s words made Ji Feichen nod in agreement. “Let them have the credit if they want.”

Ji Feichen gazed at Turtle Mountain, his eyes profound. “Sometimes, credit is not so easily taken. By the way, I plan to continue my ghost-hunting journey. Sisters, would you like to join?”

“Yes, absolutely!” Zhou Yan’er clapped her hands, delighted to travel with Ji Feichen, whose uprightness and skill impressed her.

Li Jingxun was about to refuse, but couldn’t match Zhou Yan’er’s eagerness. Helplessly, she agreed, and the three set out across the land to hunt ghosts and dispel monsters.

A few days later, while the court’s appointed cultivator worked privately, locating burial sites, the sky suddenly changed. A jet-black light surged through the clouds, heading straight for the haunted mansion.

Boom—

Suddenly, thunder erupted inside the haunted house, accompanied by a shrill female voice: “Water Thunder of Gui! Who is the heartless wretch who dares to ambush Her Sacred Mother!”

A shadow staggered out of the ruins, furious. “Not only was I ambushed, but my avatar laid here was meddled with.” She surveyed Turtle Mountain’s feng shui, growing angrier, “The death trap I set was destroyed—who is the blind fool wrecking my cultivation?”

She tried to divine the culprit, but Ji Feichen hid his fate, making himself undetectable. Coincidentally, a cultivator below was boasting of his achievements, searching for spiritual veins beneath her nose.

She vented her wrath on him.

What was meant to be stealing credit ended up shielding Ji Feichen and his companions from disaster.

After slaughtering the cultivator and some officials, the woman regained composure. “With that old fool’s skills, he couldn't have changed the feng shui. It must be someone else. Such transformation of mountains is unique to those hypocrites of the mystical sect.”

Thinking of the sect’s actions at Turtle Mountain, the woman grew anxious. “Recently, the mystical sect has been targeting the Nether Sect. As a rogue cultivator of the demonic path, why would they care for me? Besides, I only meddled with mortals, requiring the blood of nine for my rites—such minor acts shouldn’t attract their notice.”

Yet, the growing power of the sect left her despondent: “Now that the mystical sect thrives, there’s no place for us demon cultivators. When will we be able to practice openly, killing for power?” For the demonic path was like a rat in the street: show yourself and you're captured, imprisoned in the Demon Suppression Tower.

“Never mind, I’ll go see the Bi family. Turtle Mountain is ruined, hopefully my arrangement there remains intact.” Sighing, she headed south.

Sunlight shone down, reflecting her face in the water, bearing a striking resemblance to Qiu Jinchai.

At that moment, Ji Feichen, unaware of events at Turtle Mountain, was wandering the wilderness, where he found a stone stele. The stele bore no inscription, but on its back, a dragon turtle carried it, the stone scarred by wind and rain, its surface badly damaged. However, a spirit light of merit was sealed within—a treasure useless to mortals, but valuable to cultivators as a refining material.

“Unnamed merit, unknown in the wild, the spirit of a conqueror, supporting mountain and river.” Ji Feichen smiled, storing the stele in his leopard pouch. One third of his task was now complete.

“Great fortune lies in the south, a solitary dance, fire and wind raging, dragons fleeing from water. Next, I must go to the land of Bi Fang to seek traces of the Chiweng.” With a casual excuse, Ji Feichen enticed the two to journey south with him.