As soon as the words left his mouth, the scenery before Zhang Yuanqing's eyes rippled like water. It was the omen of entering the Spirit Realm, yet no Spirit Realm prompt sounded in his ears. The teleportation jade talisman allowed a Spirit Realm walker to enter the Spirit Realm without accepting a quest—did this count as bypassing the Spirit Realm? Watching the ripples before him settle from violent to still, he saw the white ceiling replaced by a deep night sky.
Beneath a night sky as deep and dark as black velvet, an amusement park sparkling with dreamy light ran day in and day out.
Joyful music, chiming bells, the roaring whoosh of roller coasters... all wove together into a lively, picturesque tapestry.
Zhang Yuanqing waited in place for a few seconds. Hearing no Spirit Realm prompt, he made a guess in his mind.
*It seems the teleportation jade talisman really did bypass the Spirit Realm. Using it to return to a dungeon leaves me in a quest-free state.*
"Right now, if there are other Spirit Realm walkers inside Jinshui Amusement Park, what would I be considered? A bug? A dungeon boss? Or nothing at all? Heh, once my level is higher, I could come back to old dungeons to show off and scare low-level walkers."
Indulging in these mischievous thoughts, he took out the teleportation jade box and drew the second teleportation jade talisman.
Just as he was about to crush it to visit the Mountain God Temple, he froze.
After using the first talisman, he had realized the item was a one-way teleport.
"If I go to the Mountain God Temple and then return to reality, all three jade talismans will be used up. What would be the point of this experiment then?"
His expression went blank, and he froze on the spot.
Perhaps due to inertia of thought, he had instinctively assumed that once he entered the Spirit Realm, he would naturally be returned to reality afterward. That had always been the case in the past.
Yet upon discovering that entering left him in a quest-free state, he had immediately spotted the flaw.
Moreover, since he had never used the teleportation jade talisman before and wasn't familiar enough with the item, his planning hadn't been thorough.
After a few seconds, he bared his teeth. "Forget it. Since I'm already here, I might as well check on the Ghost Bride and pry for some intel on the old crone."
His current strength was a far cry from what it used to be. Combined with his items, suppressing the Ghost Bride would be no trouble at all.
Walking forward along the route in his memory, Zhang Yuanqing passed one amusement park attraction after another. Soon, a complex of buildings sleeping in the dark appeared ahead.
Here, the path was vintage flagstone, flanked on both sides by antique buildings with white walls and black tiles in the Jiangnan style.
White paper was pasted onto the courtyard gates, and white lanterns hung from the eaves—quiet and eerie.
Compared to Mute Village, the yin energy here seemed quite thin and gentle... After walking for a few more minutes, Zhang Yuanqing stopped outside a large courtyard.
From the eaves of this courtyard hung big red lanterns, and festive red paper was pasted on the doors. The household seemed to be holding a wedding.
*Knock, knock!*
Zhang Yuanqing stepped up the stairs and knocked on the courtyard gate.
Before long, the gate creaked open, and a chilling blast of cold air blew out through the crack. Through the narrow gap, Zhang Yuanqing saw a lantern floating out from the thick darkness.
The lantern stopped behind the door. Then, a ghostly, bluish-black hand with pitch-black fingernails extended through the gap, holding a wedding invitation.
Dark energy welled up in Zhang Yuanqing's eyes, lending his aura a wicked, regal dignity. He said coolly,
"Scram!"
The bluish-black ghost hand shuddered and silently withdrew.
The lantern floated away in haste, as if fleeing for its life.
*Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never bully the young and poor! Ghost Bride, I'm back...* Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped straight inside.
After entering the old residence, he deactivated Spirit Devouring, bypassed the outer hall, and arrived in the backyard.
He looked around. The night was heavy, the courtyard quiet, and red lanterns hung along the corridor, casting an eerie red glow. Yet there was no sign of the Ghost Bride.
*Last time, the Ghost Bride only appeared after all four betrothal gifts were gathered. That must be the way to summon her.*
Having detected no powerful yin energy, Zhang Yuanqing purposefully headed into the candlelit room in the backyard.
The furniture inside was made of wood in an antique style, resembling a woman's boudoir from the Republican era.
Zhang Yuanqing looked toward the dressing table by the window. The bronze mirror faced the door directly; in the reflection, the door was shut tight, whereas the door behind him was wide open.
On the dressing table lay a steelyard rod.
Stepping up to the table, just as he picked up the rod,
the door inside the mirror slowly opened. A woman with her head hanging low appeared in the glass. She stepped over the threshold, sat down beside the dressing table, and then removed her own head, set it on the table before her, and silently combed her hair.
It was a terrifying, hair-raising sight—more than enough to frighten newcomers out of their wits.
Back then, Zhang Yuanqing had been frightened half to death and nearly screamed. But now, black light swirled in his eyes as he raised a hand and slapped her across the face with all his might.
His palm passed through the mirror's surface like passing through an illusion, stirring water-like ripples.
*Thud!*
The female ghost's head was sent flying, rolling away across the floor.
Zhang Yuanqing followed up by dragging her body out from the other side of the mirror, raining punches and kicks upon it. "Scaring me back then, huh?! Scaring me?!"
The head whimpered and sobbed, transmitting thoughts of begging for mercy.
*Clang!*
Zhang Yuanqing stepped across the threshold, shut the door, and let out a long breath. "So satisfying!"
Next, Zhang Yuanqing found the large vat containing the medicinal wine and lifted the wooden lid. A foul stench rushed out. The vat was filled with light-black liquid, where a little vengeful spirit still attached to an umbilical cord swam back and forth. Its chick-like ghostly eyes lifted from time to time, glaring fiercely at the human who had opened the vat.
*A newborn calf knows no fear of tigers...* Zhang Yuanqing scooped up a bowlful of liquid using a porcelain bowl he found in the room, then blew a puff of yin energy into the vat.
The yin energy landed in the water and transformed into the plump, adorable, thin-haired Little Doubi.
"Good boy, beat it up!"
Zhang Yuanqing shut the lid and strode away. From the large vat behind him came the shrill wails of the little vengeful spirit.
Next, he collected the wedding quilt and gold hairpin in turn. The moment all the betrothal gifts were assembled, gusts of yin wind whipped through the courtyard, setting the plants swaying wildly.
*Whoosh—*
A path carpeted in red unfurled in the hazy night, leading to a small courtyard at its end.
Bright candlelight shone inside the courtyard, and the doors and windows were pasted with the character for double happiness.
Zhang Yuanqing stepped along the red carpet into the courtyard and pushed the door open. Inside the bridal chamber, seated beside a large bed carved with dragons and phoenixes, was a woman in wedding robes, her pale, delicate hands folded over her lower abdomen.
She sat there quietly and demurely, thick darkness swirling over her face, obscuring her features.
*She's waiting for me directly inside the room this time...* Goosebumps rose on the back of Zhang Yuanqing's hands, his adrenaline surging as he entered combat mode.
Even now, facing the Ghost Bride head-on gave him a slight tingling chill on his scalp.
The Ghost Bride was powerful.
Yet unlike the feeling of standing before an abyss during their first encounter, this time Zhang Yuanqing could intuitively sense her power and discern her level.
The Ghost Bride's aura was stronger than the Transcendent stage, which was why she had been able to kill Hengxing Wuji so easily back then.
However, Zhang Yuanqing's past assumption had been mistaken: she had not reached the Saint stage. After all, the difference between Saint and Transcendent was not one or two levels; it was an entire major realm, a chasm of a hundred and eight thousand li.
For Spirit Realm walkers, beyond the peak of the Transcendent stage lay advancement to Saint, with no in-between options.
Items and yin entities, however, had no concept of levels; they could exist in the space between Transcendent and Saint.
"Husband, have you come to marry me?"
The Ghost Bride's voice was tinged with joy.
Mortals could not hear a vengeful spirit's voice, nor could other classes; only Night Walkers could hear it.
This communication was more like an exchange on the spiritual level.
*She actually still remembers me. And her attitude toward me seems different from other Spirit Realm walkers. Why? Just because I'm handsome?* Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment and said,
"Greetings, My Lady!"
Being socially adept, he certainly wouldn't act like a prude and blurt out things like "Don't misunderstand, miss" or "Please respect yourself, miss," nor would he act like a dense blockhead shouting, "Don't call me that!"
This greeting evidently struck a chord with the Ghost Bride. She rose gracefully and said,
"It has been long since we parted. Husband's cultivation has progressed with astounding speed, already showing the bearing of dragons and phoenixes. It is truly cause for celebration."
*So you're only acting this gentle because you see I've grown stronger? You certainly weren't like this last time.* Zhang Yuanqing cut straight to the chase without wasting words:
"I know a powerful Lady once visited this place and asked you to search for someone. Is this true?"
As he spoke, he slipped a hand discreetly into his pocket. If the Ghost Bride turned hostile or summoned Lady Sandao, he would immediately teleport away and return to reality.
To his surprise, the Ghost Bride was utterly compliant, like a submissive wife devoted to her husband. She replied,
"The person that Lady sought was none other than you, Husband."
Zhang Yuanqing was astonished. "You recognized me?"
"The night Husband was attacked, you used that Lady's item. Although this humble one could not descend, I saw everything clearly through the bridal veil," the Ghost Bride answered.
*The night I was attacked...* Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily taken aback before realizing she meant the night he encountered Hei Wuchang.
Right, back then, because of the mysterious man's sudden appearance, she hadn't been able to descend into reality. Wait, if she saw him use the Demon-Subduing Pestle, didn't that mean she also saw what the mysterious man looked like?
Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted.
"Did you see anything unusual then? For example, did a mysterious man appear?"
The Ghost Bride replied softly,
"Yes. This humble one even saw his appearance clearly. If Husband needs it, I can paint it for you."
Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed. "Thank you, My Lady! You are truly a wonderful helpmate!"
Hearing this, the Ghost Bride was delighted.
She raised a plain, delicate hand and waved it lightly. A writing brush, inkstick, inkstone, and paper appeared on the round table draped in red cloth. The brush floated up on its own, dipped into the ink, and began swiftly outlining on the rice paper.
A few minutes later, the likeness of a young man was drawn.
Zhang Yuanqing looked closely. The man had ordinary facial features and a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. While appearing spirited and vibrant, the depths of his brow harbored an unspeakable sorrow and weariness.
*Who is this? Well, as long as I have a face, it's fine. Once I return to reality, I can run it through the Public Security Bureau's facial recognition...* Zhang Yuanqing picked up the rice paper, blew the ink dry, folded it, and tucked it into his pocket.
He believed this face was definitely not meaningless. Before Hei Wuchang died, he had cried out in terror: *How could it be you? How could it possibly be you!*
That meant Hei Wuchang recognized the mysterious man, yet found his appearance unbelievable.
Since it wasn't a meaningless face, the mysterious man must use "it" often. Perhaps this face could be found in the official or Public Security Bureau databases.
"My Lady, your husband still has one more question." Not forgetting the key point, Zhang Yuanqing probed, "What attitude does that Lady hold toward me?"
Lady Sandao's attitude was important—extremely important. If the old crone harbored rage and murderous intent toward the ant who stole her dharma artifact, Zhang Yuanqing would never return the yang soul, even if beaten to death.
At the same time, it would rule out the possibility of using the Demon-Subduing Pestle inside dungeons.
On the other hand, if she was merely vexed, Zhang Yuanqing felt he still had a chance to get on his knees and sing her praises of surrender.
It would mean there was room for maneuvering.
If pushed to a dead end in the future, he could simply return the artifact.
The Ghost Bride said gently,
"I once pleaded on Husband's behalf. That Lady prides herself on being an orthodox deity canonized by the imperial court and is not bloodthirsty. As long as Husband returns the Demon-Subduing Pestle and admits your wrongs properly, the Lady can show leniency and spare your life."
*Is that true? You aren't lying to me, are you...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a wave of relief wash over him, as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest, though he didn't quite dare believe it entirely.
Nodding impassively, he said,
"I understand. Thank you for telling me, My Lady!
"It's getting late. Rest early, My Lady; I will take my leave now."
Hearing this, the yin energy around the Ghost Bride roiled violently. She called out anxiously, "Husband, wait..."
Her voice turned aggrieved and tearful. "Is Husband simply going to leave like this? Abandoning this humble one here?"
*Ah...* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself: *My Lady, the living and the dead tread different paths. I'm no hero like Ning Caichen; I can't be a ghost rider.*
Yet aloud, he said, "Your husband hates to part with you as well, but a real man must strive across the world. How could I stay cooped up here? Truly, I have no choice."
The Ghost Bride agreed wholeheartedly. "Husband harbors grand ambitions. This humble one understands and should not force you to stay."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, thinking, *You really know how to see the big picture.*
Who would have thought that she would suddenly change tack? "Husband can take this humble one with you."
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but blurt out, "What?!"
The Ghost Bride lowered her voice. "This humble one knows that Husband and that Lady share the same lineage and can house ghostly beings. Naturally, you can take me away."
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly grew wary. "Why do you wish to come with me, My Lady?"
He suspected she wanted to lurk by his side as a traitor.
If the Ghost Bride said, "A wife obeys her husband," Zhang Yuanqing would teleport away on the spot.
"This humble one has been trapped here for many years, restricted in movement, with no progress in cultivation. If that Lady had not bestowed a breath of yin energy upon me, I would not be where I am today. Yet her deed was merely giving a man a fish. If I wish to advance further, it is immensely difficult without finding an exceptional talent like Husband."
The Ghost Bride pleaded pitifully, "I beg Husband to have pity and take this humble one away."
*She wants to be my spirit servant?* Zhang Yuanqing still didn't agree immediately. Instead, he asked,
"Why didn't you follow that Lady?"
The Ghost Bride said resentfully, "This humble one is a bride, not a maidservant. Moreover, that Lady had no intention of keeping me by her side."
*Meaning, following me makes her a bride, while following the old crone makes her just a maid? Oh right, being a bride is her character setting.*
*If the Ghost Bride is willing to follow me, I'll take her as a spirit servant. That way, I'll have a powerful spirit servant of my own. If I nurture her carefully, she can grow alongside me. Yeah, I really do lack a spirit servant who can fight. Little Doubi is child labor, after all, nowhere near strong enough...* Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. He said,
"Alright! Then I will take you with me, My Lady."
He immediately walked over to the table, drew the Bloodthirsty Blade, and slashed his wrist, letting crimson blood flow into the inkstone.
Once the blood mingled with the ink and threatened to overflow the inkstone, he pulled his wrist back, picked up the writing brush, dipped it in the mixture, and began sketching a Spirit Talisman formation on the bridal chamber floor.
Refining a spirit servant primarily depended on aptitude, and a vengeful spirit of the Ghost Bride's caliber naturally had more than enough aptitude.
Next was using Spirit Talismans to dissolve the rancor from the vengeful spirit; a spirit body brimming with monstrous rancor could not be directly taken as a spirit servant.
Once the impurities were purged, it was time for the same steps used with Little Doubi: enveloping the spirit body in his own Taiyin power to cleanse it, letting the spirit body and its master merge mentally, and implanting a brand.
Before long, Zhang Yuanqing finished drawing the Spirit Talisman formation and gestured for the Ghost Bride to enter.
Stepping in her embroidered shoes, her skirt swaying slightly, she walked into the formation.
Instantly, the yin energy upon her billowed and evaporated like spring snow melting, and she let out a piercing scream.
This process lasted the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
The rancor clinging to the Ghost Bride melted away completely with the yin energy. Soon after, the Night Walker essence blood contained in the Spirit Talisman formation fed back an even purer Taiyin power.
It was just like a total blood transfusion.
Once the Spirit Talisman formation dried up and lost its spirituality, Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a breath of Taiyin power to wrap around the Ghost Bride and swallowed her into his stomach.
Closing his eyes at once, he sensed the Ghost Bride within him, sinking his mental energy to merge seamlessly with hers.
After a long time, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of Taiyin power.
The Ghost Bride reappeared, clad in gorgeous wedding robes embroidered with golden mandarin ducks, dainty embroidered shoes peeking beneath her horse-face skirt. Her face was still veiled in thick yin energy, keeping her features hidden.
Her yin energy was just as formidable as before, but far purer.
"Thank you, Husband." The Ghost Bride curtsied gracefully, murmuring bashfully, "May Husband please... please return our token of affection to this humble one?"
*Token of affection?* Zhang Yuanqing was stunned for a few seconds before realizing she meant the Red Bridal Veil.
He promptly summoned the item from his inventory.
The bright-red veil featured a golden character for double happiness embroidered in the center, flanked by two mandarin ducks—exquisitely beautiful.
It floated up on its own and settled over the Ghost Bride's head.
In an instant, she seemed whole again. Her aura surged, her yin energy swelling several times over. Zhang Yuanqing felt that her yin energy was close to the ghost doll's, though still falling slightly short of the fierce ghost inside the rouge box.
Looking at the Ghost Bride in her magnificent bridal attire, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help poking fun at himself in his mind:
*I've got a kid, and now I've got a bride. Did I just skip straight to the end in one step?*
He swallowed the Ghost Bride into his stomach once more, walked back out into the courtyard, picked up Little Doubi, and swallowed him as well. Little Doubi, who had been happily returning home, suddenly discovered a great terror had moved into the house and grew restless with anxiety.
*Don't be scared. Spend enough time together, and you'll get used to this new mom...* Zhang Yuanqing crushed the teleportation jade talisman, visualizing the image of the villa's private room in his mind.
The scenery shifted from blurry to clear. Zhang Yuanqing saw modern décor, saw the villa's private room he had left behind—he had returned to reality.
"From a certain perspective, the teleportation jade talisman experiment was a failure. But unexpectedly picking up a wife—and one with off-the-charts damage output—is a win after all."
Zhang Yuanqing then felt his pants pocket. The rice paper was still there.
Not wasting any time, he smoothed the rice paper across the desk, took out his phone, snapped a photo of the portrait, and sent it to Guan Ya.
Yuanshi Tianzun: "Sister Guan Ya, can you check with the Public Security Bureau for me to see if they can find a match for this person? Also, please run a comparison through our Five Elements Alliance database as well."
A few seconds later, Guan Ya replied:
"Nice artwork. Looks like it was sketched with a brush, too. Give me a few minutes."
*Of course. My wife painted it, after all,* Zhang Yuanqing teased mentally, and replied with a thank-you.
He browsed the official forum while waiting for Guan Ya's reply.
More than ten minutes later, his phone rang. The screen displayed an incoming call—it was Guan Ya.
"Got any results?" Zhang Yuanqing answered.
Guan Ya asked in a low voice, "Where did you get that portrait?"
"Never mind where I got it. What are the results?"
"I had colleagues at the Public Security Bureau run facial recognition, but they didn't find any suitable matches. But... but in the Five Elements Alliance database, we found him..." Here, Guan Ya's tone turned somewhat strange:
"This man is the Demon Lord!"
Chapter 238