Immortality Begins with Krypton Life

Chapter 60 The Silent UnderworldChen Mu’s eyes darkened. He held his sword horizontally to block, and the Ghostly Creature’s claws struck the blade with a loud ”clang,” sending sparks flying everywhere.

A massive force traveled from the hilt, numbing the web of Chen Mu’s hand and nearly causing him to drop his sword.

”Is this all you’ve got? And you dare to interfere with my affairs?”

The Ghostly Creature let out a series of strange laughs, its form flickering between solid and ethereal. Its attacks were as bizarre as phantoms, leaving one unable to defend against them.

Just as they were about to fall into a disadvantageous position, a fierce shout erupted from behind.

”Move aside!”

Qi Huan was leaning against the wall, struggling to support himself, but his eyes held a trace of determination.

He suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of vital blood, and quickly formed hand seals. His left hand darted into his robes, and when he pulled it out, an object had appeared in his palm.

At the same time, Chen Mu grabbed Liu Ziming and retreated several steps, catching a clear glimpse of the item amidst the exchange of attacks.

It was an old gavel, the size of a palm, with a dull color and edges worn smooth from handling.

The wood looked extremely ordinary, but a faint, pale golden halo shimmered across its surface, exuding an air of solemnity that was completely at odds with the surrounding evil Qi.

”The City God Token?”

The Ghostly Creature let out a sound of surprise for the first time, and its form within the mist seemed to stutter for a moment.

”Evil creature! Do you really think you can act lawlessly beneath the imperial law?”

Qi Huan forced himself to gather his strength and held the gavel high, chanting an archaic incantation rapidly. His voice rose and fell with a strange rhythm.

At the same time, he pressed his right fingers together like a sword, wiped them across his lips to stain them with the blood from his tongue, and wrote rapidly in the air, drawing blood-red talismans that resonated with the incantation.

”Yunmeng City God, hear my command! Officials of the Underworld, come quickly to assist! A malicious ghost is wreaking havoc, harming living souls, and disturbing the mortal realm. I specially request the City God’s divine presence to suppress this evil and restore the order of Yin and Yang!”

Qi Huan practically roared the last sentence. The sound of the incantation echoed for a long time in the silent street, and the golden light on the gavel flared brilliantly.

At almost the same moment, he slammed the blood-stained gavel down towards the ground!

”Thump!”

A muffled sound suddenly rang out. Centered on where the gavel struck, a ripple of golden light, barely visible to the naked eye, expanded rapidly. Wherever it passed, the cold, sinister Qi in the air seemed to weaken, and even the mist surrounding the Ghostly Creature stalled for an instant.

Gradually, the outline of an illusory archway was projected into mid-air.

The archway was about five zhang high, with an archaic design, vermilion pillars, and a sapphire lintel. Carved upon it were the three large characters for ”Yin and Yang Boundary.” The phantom image trembled slightly, as if officials from the Underworld might step out from it at any moment.

This was the ”City God Token” granted by the imperial court to officials directly under the Demon Suppression Division at or above the Prefecture level. Using a specially refined gavel as a medium, combined with incantations and one’s own blood and Qi, it could be used in emergencies to summon the local City God and the Underworld officials to assist.

The Underworld is appointed by the imperial court and governs the Yin and Yang of a region, holding natural authority to restrain and manage ghosts and evil spirits.

”This is a City God Token specially made by the Demon Suppression Division; it can summon the City God. To think Chief Qi actually has one—it seems Heaven hasn’t forsaken us!”

Hope shone in Liu Ziming’s eyes as he whispered this explanation to Chen Mu, waiting to see the scene of a ghostly wind sweeping in and ghost runners appearing with chains in hand.

Chen Mu, however, remained with his brows tightly furrowed.

His perception was far sharper than Liu Ziming’s, and he had already sensed that something was wrong.

Although the archway had appeared, it was completely silent.

There was no ghostly wind, no spectral figures, no chains breaking through the air, and certainly no majestic manifestation of the City God.

Qi Huan’s expression gradually turned to one of disbelief, as if the secret technique he had just risked worsening his injuries to perform was merely a stone cast into an abyss, failing to stir even the slightest ripple.

Fine beads of cold sweat began to break out on his face, and the arm holding the gavel began to tremble slightly.

He bit his tongue again, spitting out a second mouthful of vital blood onto the gavel, causing the golden light to flare violently once more.

”Yunmeng City God, hear my command!”

This cry was filled with anxiety and shock, yet behind the archway, it remained deathly silent.

Let alone the City God’s divine presence, there wasn’t even the shadow of a single ghost runner.

”This... how is this possible? This City God Token is an orthodox method of the imperial court, directly linked to the laws of the Underworld. Why is there no response!”

”Unless... unless the local City God has long since...”

Before he could finish, the Ghostly Creature spoke, its tone mocking.

”Heh, heh, heh... summoning the City God, communicating with the Underworld?”

”I didn’t expect this. A mere Prefecture Banner Officer actually carries a City God Token. It’s just a pity... a pity...”

The Ghostly Creature shook its head, its voice slow and leisurely.

”Do you think a mere piece of wood and a few incantations can move the Underworld to interfere in my business? How laughable!”

Qi Huan was shocked by these words, and a terrifying conjecture welled up in his heart, forcing an exclamation from his lips.

”You... you can actually interfere with the Underworld? Could it be that the City God is also in league with you...”

”In league with me?”

The Ghostly Creature’s voice became increasingly sharp and arrogant.

”Why bother making it sound so complicated? You mortals have a saying that explains it perfectly!”

”Money can make even a ghost turn a millstone!”

As soon as these words were spoken, they struck like a thunderbolt, leaving the three of them stunned in place.

So... it wasn’t coercion, it wasn’t manipulation, but the most direct form of... bribery!

No wonder the City God Token failed; no wonder this place had turned into a ghost domain without the Underworld intervening!

It turned out that the City God and the Underworld, who should have maintained the Yin and Yang order here, had long since been bought off!

The implications behind this were far more chilling than the strength of the Ghostly Creature itself; it meant that in this Yunmeng City, certain orders of the Yin and Yang realms had long since rotted to the core!

”Pfft!”

Qi Huan was overcome by rage, and with his injuries flaring up, he could no longer hold on, vomiting a large mouthful of blood.

The Ghostly Creature would not easily miss such an opportunity. Its form surged forward, no longer playing games of shifting between the solid and the ethereal, but crushing with pure force.

”Chief Qi!”

Liu Ziming cried out in alarm, wanting to rush over, but it was too late.

The ghostly claws, carrying the force of tearing through the air, struck straight at Qi Huan’s chest—exactly at the location of his previous wound!

”Splat!”

Qi Huan was struck hard, his body thrown backward, landing heavily on the bluestone ground ten paces away.

The gavel also flew from his hand, landing heavily at Chen Mu’s feet. Looking down, the golden light on its surface was fading, and it no longer held a trace of spiritual radiance.

Qi Huan’s chest now had five claw marks, and one could even see his slightly pulsing organs inside. Blood gushed out like a fountain, and then his head lolled to the side as he passed out completely.

His life or death was unknown.

The Ghostly Creature’s gaze gradually shifted from the no-longer-threatening Qi Huan, swept past Liu Ziming, who was struggling to crawl toward Qi Huan, and finally landed on Chen Mu.

”Oh?”

Chen Mu was lying on the ground, no one knew when he had fallen. His eyes were closed tightly, his face was pale, and his breathing was weak, as if he had already fainted.

Liu Ziming was also stunned, staring at the unconscious Chen Mu, unable to react for a moment.

”Heh, heh, heh...”

The Ghostly Creature laughed, its laughter full of scorn.

”I haven’t even made a move yet, and one of them has already fainted from fear?”

”With such cowardice, you dare to join the Demon Suppression Division? You dare to interfere in my business?”

”Oh well, since he’s fainted, then... just sleep forever!”