Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 97: Chapter 86: Ghost Refining in the Yellow Springs, Dad’s Old Friend (5,000-Word Chapter)

”The Ghost General is a necessary artifact...” Xiong Qianqiu said coldly.

Such a sinister and malevolent creature, even those with High Skill would stay far away. To refine a Ghost General, the Xiong Family went to great lengths and even entrusted Night is not bright to find a Corpse Ghost.

”A Corpse Ghost? Is that even possible to find?” Xiong Qianxing couldn’t help but ask.

It is said that a white robe signifies the void, a red robe signifies evil, and a black robe signifies death; it’s most inauspicious to wear such clothing before death.

However, there is something even more terrifying, known as the Purple-Clad Corpse Ghost, which involves a living sacrifice to the Gate of Life and Death.

This means peeling the skin off a living person and draping it over another living being, whose soul will then be trapped within the body after death, unable to reincarnate, becoming a horrific Fierce Ghost, almost akin to a Demon, called a Corpse Ghost.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a grave robber accidentally stumbled into an Ancient Tomb. The passage of time was so great that even he couldn’t discern the origin of the tomb.

The grave robber, driven by greed, made his way to the main chamber. Besides the coffin, there was a high platform resembling an altar, upon which lay a skeleton clad in purple, as if it were its skin, with dense chains binding the shoulder bones.

This Ancient Tomb had been sealed for at least a century, yet the skeleton lay on the platform with its body slightly rising and falling, and a deep groaning sound emitting from its nose and mouth.

Terrified, the grave robber hurriedly retreated. Upon returning, he washed his hands of the matter, and it wasn’t until his old age that he mentioned it. He claimed that the tomb was possibly not meant for a human, and as for the details and location, he remained silent.

Oddly enough, the very next day after mentioning it, he died inexplicably, passing away without illness.

That grand tomb was indeed the work of the Yin Mountain Sect’s Ancestral Master, and it was also the origin of the Purple-Clad Corpse Ghost ritual.

Nowadays, this Daoist Skill has long vanished. To find a Corpse Ghost, one must seek it in various Ancient Tombs, something that only Night is not bright can accomplish.

”Just a single Corpse Ghost costs more than five million, and that’s after taxes.” Xiong Qianqiu said blandly.

”Refining a Ghost General is no small matter; the family has certainly gone to great lengths.”

Xiong Qianshan thought deeply, knowing the Xiong Family’s meticulous preparations likely stemmed from that Yin Mountain Ghost King of the past.

No one anticipated that outside the Xiong Family’s direct lineage, such an extraordinary person would emerge, possessing unparalleled skills yet defying the family’s control.

This kind of existence was like a ticking time bomb for the Xiong Family, ready to explode and bring disaster at any moment.

”Xiong Sanqi left Yujing City ten years ago. After all, he’s a member of the Xiong Family. The family is perhaps being too cautious, too fearful...” Xiong Qianxing couldn’t help but say.

”What do you know? How could you understand how rampant and domineering Uncle Sanqi was back then?” Xiong Qianqiu replied with a cold smile.

Back then, she was still young but vividly remembered Xiong Sanqi singlehandedly smashing his way through the Xiong Family, forcing a group of elders to kneel in the ancestral hall, slapping each other.

Since then, the name Xiong Sanqi became a taboo in the Xiong Family, and also a nightmare for many.

In their eyes, this man was the Xiong Family’s affliction that needed to be eradicated.

Once the Ghost General was refined, even if he returned, he could no longer act with the same brazen impunity.

Of course, within the Xiong Family, there were many who idolized someone like Xiong Sanqi, especially among the younger generation.

”He swore an oath never to set foot in Yujing again in his lifetime.” Xiong Qianshan said solemnly.

”Ridiculous.”

Xiong Qianqiu sneered, ”For someone of his caliber, nothing is forbidden. What oath can restrain them?”

”If you think like that, you’re too naive.” Xiong Qianqiu shook his head.

Of course, if Xiong Sanqi could abide by his oath, it would be a relief for many.

But if he broke it, the Xiong Family must be fully prepared.

”Is Xiong Sanqi truly the Xiong Family’s nightmare? Let him never return!”

Xiong Qianshan murmured to himself, gazing upon the Yellow Springs within the earthen temple.

...

Yujing City, Old Town District.

Dark clouds surged, the wind howled, and distant thunder grew ever more deafening. The streets no longer had any passersby.

The streetlights on both sides of the road were flickering erratically, as if suffering from poor connection.

Zhang Fan looked up and found himself at the entrance of Hongfu Garden.

”Young man, wait a moment.”

At this moment, a gruff voice came from behind. Zhang Fan turned around to see a middle-aged man with one eye approaching.

”What is it?”

”Young man, you look familiar.”

The one-eyed middle-aged man pulled out a crumpled photo from his pocket, comparing it at Zhang Fan’s side.

With the corner of his eye, Zhang Fan caught sight of the photo, seeing Zhang Lingzong and his younger self.

”Dad? How do you have this photo?” Zhang Fan showed a puzzled expression.

”I’m a friend of your dad’s. I happened to be passing through Yujing, and he asked me to come check on you.” The one-eyed man chuckled.

”Uncle, what’s your name?” Zhang Fan was overjoyed to finally hear news of his father after so long.

”My name is Sanqi, just call me Uncle Sanqi.”

”Uncle Sanqi, where is my dad now?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”He’s in Shangjing, dealing with some matters. Once he’s done, he’ll come back,” the one-eyed man smiled and said. ”He asked you not to worry.”

As he spoke, the one-eyed man extended a hand, pulling Zhang Fan. ”Come, nephew, let Uncle take you out for a good meal.”

”Fan.”

Just then, a call came from a short distance away.

As Zhang Fan was about to leave with him, he paused at the sound, turned, and saw Liu Fusheng emerging from the reception office.

”Uncle Liu...”

Zhang Fan greeted and quickly introduced, ”This is Uncle Sanqi, a friend of my dad’s...”

”Fan, you head home and rest for a bit. Come down later for dinner. I’ll have a word with him first.” Liu Fusheng waved his hand, his gaze not leaving the one-eyed man’s frame for a moment.

”Uncle Liu, you know each other!?”

”Know each other... of course we do.” The one-eyed man sneered.

”Alright, I’ll be right down.” Zhang Fan nodded and turned to enter the residential area.

”Xiong Blind, you’re still alive?”

”Liu Canshou, aren’t you living well too?”

In the night wind, the two locked eyes, shaking hands firmly, like old comrades, as a thunderclap echoed through the sky, as if a storm was brewing.