Everyone, We Did It

The violent thrashing of the colossal body sent frantic tremors through the sinkhole floor. "Damn it! Damn it!" At first, the ghost king still had the strength to thrust his spear repeatedly into the giant crocodile, but he quickly lost the power to resist, and the scarlet barrier enveloping his body shattered. As for Weiwei, who had succumbed completely to madness, there was no sign of stopping. It continued to twist and roll its massive body with wild ferocity. No one knew how long had passed. "Weiwei, Weiwei." Hearing the familiar voice calling in its ear, the savagery in Weiwei's pupils gradually dispersed, giving way to clarity. Releasing the ghost king—now reduced to a mangled rag—from its jaws, it looked around. Only after locking its gaze onto Chen Fan did it scurry over, bury the front of its snout against the ground, and rub gently against Chen Fan's shin. It let out an aggrieved whimper. Where it had rolled, an utterly devastating scene of destruction was left behind. With a conflicted expression, Chen Fan gently stroked the fist-sized, bloody holes atop Weiwei's head, which were gushing thick blood without pause. "Come on, let's head back to the cave. I'll use the altar to heal you." The ghost king was dead. They had won this battle. It had been a brutal victory; the ghost king was stronger than he had imagined, but a victory it was. He looked up at the darkness cloaking the sky above the sinkhole. High in the heavens, the heavy canopy of the Eternal Night cracked like shattered panes of glass, exposing a dark violet breach. Along the breach's edges, an aurora of sickly green and dark crimson cascaded like a magnificent waterfall. The moment the ghost king perished, this spectacle materialized across the Eternal Night. *This must be the celestial phenomenon of a ghost king's fall,* he thought. Following the ghost king's death, massive quantities of ghost blood surged from his corpse—the gathered blood of the entire ghost tide—and were slowly absorbed by the Ghost Blood Patterns on the Level 3 wall. That previous night, the Ghost Blood Patterns had absorbed the blood of tens of thousands of ghost creatures, making their Level 3 wall extraordinarily sturdy. After tonight, it would become even more formidable. However, when the flesh worm ghost tide died that night, they had left no corpses behind—only scraps of flesh resembling popped balloons, which did not count as ghost creature remains. "Once tonight passes, the rainy season will be over." Chen Fan smiled as he looked at everyone present. "Everyone, we did it. We successfully survived the entire rainy season. Next, clean up the battlefield and repair the camp." The canyon and sinkhole were piled high with ghost stones. Those were the ghost stones left behind when the three armies had converged. There were also several gleaming exotic treasures. And the three brightest among them... The three exotic treasures left behind by the fallen ghost king. "Yes, Young Master!" Sick Monkey took a deep breath, picked up the God-Slaying Spear, and strode onto the battlefield alongside a few others. As if venting his feelings, he thrust the spear into the ghost king's tattered corpse. But in the next instant, countless fissures appeared across the surface of the God-Slaying Spear. Emerald light beamed through the cracks. The outer layer sloughed off entirely. The God-Slaying Spear revealed its true form: an emerald spear radiating intense murderous intent. "Young Master... this..." Chen Fan took the God-Slaying Spear with a furrowed brow. Gazing at its distinctly altered panel, he paused for a moment before chuckling softly. "So that's how it is." [Exotic Treasure Name]: God-Slaying Spear [Exotic Treasure Rank]: Yellow [Exotic Treasure Effect]: Growth-type weapon. Capable of dealing considerable damage to ghost creatures. Can freely change size. Martial techniques and ghost techniques unleashed with this weapon gain a hundred percent power boost. P.S.: Formerly clouded by the heart's blood of a high-tier ghost creature; the clouded state has now been dispelled. This God-Slaying Spear had been the ghost king's primary weapon, kept in Qiu Kui's care. Yet for reasons unknown, Qiu Kui had entrusted it to a subordinate monkey-headed ghost chieftain, allowing Chen Fan to seize it. Chen Fan had wondered why Qiu Kui, who was supposedly waiting out the rainy season for the ghost king, would repeatedly launch assaults against his camp; it had likely been to reclaim this spear. Fortunately, the spear had fallen into his hands. Otherwise, a ghost king wielding his primary weapon after the convergence of three armies would have been unstoppable, even for Weiwei. This was his first time facing a ghost king. The battle had been perilous, yet the spoils were extraordinarily bountiful. He glanced around, waved his hand, and grinned. "Alright, everyone, time to get to work!" *** That night, many were sleepless. Inside the Jiangbei Chen family estate, Chen Quan's mother sat by the window, gazing at the celestial phenomenon in the dark. Her face was grim, and she remained silent for a long time. What had transpired tonight was so absurd that she had no idea how to proceed with her next steps. The Blood Sacrifice Grand Array succeeded, and the ghost king emerged. Then the celestial phenomenon appeared, and the ghost king fell. Across the entire Jiangbei Wasteland, which faction had the power to slay a ghost king? She could count on her fingers and still not come up with one. Could it be... the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce? No, the Jiangbei Chamber of Commerce didn't possess that kind of strength. And the direction where the ghost king perished was toward Nameless Mountain. Could it be a contingency left behind by *that person* on Nameless Mountain? Her master had never mentioned that person leaving behind such a formidable trump card. It couldn't possibly be... She looked down at the ghost-skin map at the twenty-one ghost fires on Nameless Mountain that had yet to go out. Shortly after the ghost king emerged, twenty ghost fires on Nameless Mountain had flared to life simultaneously, mirroring the night several days ago when the flesh worm ghost tide stormed Nameless Mountain. Could it be...? She fell silent for a long time as a possibility that defied belief surfaced in her mind. *** "Old Demon Jiangbei." In Jiangnan Water City, Gongyang Gao's daughter walked to the window and leaned against the green-robed man. Looking at the brilliant aurora on the distant horizon, she said dazedly, "Such a beautiful aurora—why are you sneaking a look at it all by yourself?" "That's not an aurora." "Then what is it?" "That is the celestial phenomenon following the fall of a ghost king." "Eh?" Surprised, the young woman looked up at Old Demon Jiangbei. "The ghost king died? Doesn't seem like he was all that impressive then, was he?" "No..." The green-robed man remained silent for a long moment before saying hoarsely, "It only means a faction advanced by leaps and bounds during Jiangbei's rainy season, growing to the point where they could slay a ghost king. And the strength this faction has displayed is terrifying." "Then are we still going to Jiangbei?" "We go. We'll pay this faction a visit, find out if they have any ties to the people I intend to kill, test the waters, and then make our decision." "Whatever you say. In any case, the Gongyang clan raised the death banner to protect you, so that faction definitely wouldn't dare touch you." The green-robed man looked down at the woman leaning against him. A faction capable of slaying a ghost king wouldn't care much about the Gongyang clan's death banner. Only those who truly understood the might of a ghost king could appreciate how terrifying a faction that could slay one actually was. *** "Are we still heading back to Medicine King Valley?" Up in a teahouse, a man with feminine features turned back to look at the elder standing behind him. "Look, someone in Jiangbei took down a ghost king. Who knew Jiangbei harbored such a ruthless faction?" "We're not going back. Plans proceed as intended. We set out for Jiangbei tomorrow." The elder shook his head. "The early arrival of the rainy season was a catastrophe for common folk, but an opportunity for factions with potential. The Valley Master has given orders outlining our primary mission in Jiangbei: build good relations with this rising faction, and establish a steady supply channel for pills with them if possible. "A faction capable of slaying ghost creatures of this scale must be a grand power of at least a thousand people, with massive demand for pills in both grade and quantity. We must get ahead of the Dan Sect and secure this deal. "Even if business doesn't pan out, we must stay on good terms. "Furthermore, Medicine King Valley will rush over a generous gift by tomorrow morning so we can present it when we visit." "Fierce indeed," the young man sighed softly. "Even in Jiangnan, barely any factions can take down a ghost king. Yet Jiangbei popped out someone who wiped one out. Why does it feel like Jiangbei is on the rise?" *** Soon, dawn broke. Many slept poorly that night. Everyone knew that a faction stationed at Nameless Mountain in the Jiangbei Wasteland had killed the ghost king, but which faction it was remained unknown. The instant he crossed into Jiangbei territory, the green-robed man seated in the Gongyang clan merchant carriage glanced down at the Jiangbei ghost-skin map forming images in his hands. His eyes subconsciously drifted toward the Jiangbei Wasteland, but the ghost fires across the wasteland had all gone dark. Not a single ghost fire was in sight. Jiangbei Chen Family Outpost No. 37 had also gone dark. Only a ghost fire burned bright at the location of Nameless Mountain. He sighed softly and shook his head, saying nothing more. With the rainy season arriving early, outposts on the wasteland were doomed. It seemed that young lad hadn't been very fortunate—not as lucky as he was. All the more reason for him to cherish his current opportunity and kill everyone who deserved to die. Only... His brow furrowed slightly. When he had crossed the Jiangbei Wasteland before the rainy season, he didn't recall there being a lit ghost fire on Nameless Mountain. Traveling without pause, they arrived before nightfall at Jiangbei City, the closest city to the Jiangbei Wasteland. The man looked at the bustling pedestrians inside the city gate, a flash of surprise in his eyes. Jiangbei City actually survived the rainy season? The rainy season had ended. Envoys sent by various factions had arrived in Jiangbei City, harboring different motives but all planning to depart at dawn tomorrow for Nameless Mountain at the northern edge of the Jiangbei Wasteland to visit this unknown faction. *** "We survived." On the city wall, the Wild Wolf Gang leader stood looking out at the bustling traffic outside the city. He chuckled lightheartedly. "And this year looks especially lively. The rainy season just ended, yet so many merchant caravans have already arrived in Jiangbei City. It's a good omen. "Those two celestial phenomena last night were quite a sight. "Though I don't know what they were, they must be auspicious lights or something similar. A sign of great fortune. This year will be peaceful." "It's just that our losses were heavy..." his confidant murmured behind him. "The gang's reserves are nearly exhausted, while the other two factions didn't lift a finger." The Wild Wolf Gang leader remained quiet for a long time before saying softly, "We won the hearts of the people. Jiangbei Market and many merchants have said they won't supply the Pingtian Chamber of Commerce anymore—from now on, they only recognize us. In the long run, this is a gain. We'll just have to weather the pressure from the Pingtian Chamber of Commerce and the Jiangbei Chen family. "Still, the hardest days are behind us. Whatever comes next, things will only get better." *** The next morning, at first light, the Gongyang clan merchant caravan raised their banners and departed Jiangbei City, galloping across the Jiangbei Wasteland, soon arriving at Nameless Mountain. Unfamiliar with the terrain, they circled around before spotting a canyon near the coast. At the canyon entrance stood a banner bearing the character "Fan," alongside two large words carved into the cliff face: "Fan Gate." "Fan Gate..." Standing at the entrance of the canyon, the green-robed man gazed down the straight gorge, his expression growing solemn. In the entire Jiangbei Wasteland, very few had higher cultivation than him. He could faintly catch the scent of the ghost king's despair before death in the air. The ghost king had died right here. And lining both sides of the canyon were brownish-green pits—marks left behind by the rampant charge of the flesh worm ghost tide. He could roughly imagine how many crises this place had weathered during the rainy season. He could vaguely see figures bustling below the sides of the canyon, and faint voices drifted over. "Set this up here! We'll lay the groundwork for the market first, then I'll head out to drum up some business. Right, right, right here. Tether this horse over here." "Young Master, a merchant caravan has arrived at the canyon entrance." "Oh? People are here before I've even advertised? Come on, let's go check it out." The next moment, he saw four figures mount up and ride toward him at full gallop on Skeleton Horses. Before long, a young man leaped off his Skeleton Horse and looked at him in surprise. "Senior?" "Didn't you say you'd only pass through here after three months? How come you're here after just one? When you said you'd truly help me once after three months, did you mean this group behind you... "This gift is far too generous." Sitting in the carriage, the green-robed man suddenly chuckled as he looked at the youth before him. He truly hadn't expected this fellow to survive the rainy season. It seemed his luck was decent, having joined the faction that had risen during the rainy season. Just then, a young woman poked her head out of the carriage and asked in surprise, "Old Demon, is he a friend of yours?" "We've met once." Smiling faintly, the green-robed man hopped down from the carriage. "I never imagined you'd survive the rainy season. I come representing the Jiangnan Gongyang clan. Please go back and report that the Jiangnan Gongyang clan requests an audience at the canyon entrance." "Uh... ahem." Chen Fan held a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. Sick Monkey, standing behind him, stepped forward and said hoarsely with a solemn expression, "This is the territory of Fan Gate. The Young Master is the Master of Fan Gate—the sole authority of Fan Gate." The green-robed man froze. After a long pause, he forced an awkward smile, hurriedly wiped his hands on his robes, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands in a low, respectful bow. "It seems I failed to recognize Mount Tai. "Greetings, Master of Fan Gate. "Witnessing the celestial phenomenon last night, we learned that the Master of Fan Gate slew the ghost king, protecting the people of Jiangbei. Today, we came specifically to pay our respects. The carriages behind carry some humble gifts to express our admiration—please accept this meager token of our esteem." "You came all this way, why bother with gifts?" Chen Fan chuckled and waved for Zhou Mo and the others to accept the gifts before leading the way. "Please, step inside." The green-robed man's lips twitched, wanting to say something, but he swallowed his words, lagging just half a step behind to walk beside Chen Fan. In truth, he desperately wanted to ask: Before the rainy season, you were just an outpost stationmaster exiled to the wasteland after being persecuted by your family. After the rainy season, you turned around and became the Master of Fan Gate, capable of slaying a ghost king? Remembering everything he had boasted back then, he felt so embarrassed he wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground. Had he known this kid would rise so fast, he wouldn't have run his mouth like that. As Chen Fan made cheerful small talk, he eyed the batch of Skeleton Horses in the Gongyang clan caravan. They had Skeleton Horses too—he just wondered how much they had paid for them. The Jiangnan Gongyang clan... He didn't know if they were a big faction or not. He'd never heard of them.