Chapter 109: Retribution

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Old Ghost felt a slight chill creeping over him. Whether it was his imagination or the work of the surrounding cold winds, a trace of fear flickered across his cheeks. His pupils contracted subtly, a vague sense of dread stirring within. As his mind raced, a sinister voice echoed:

“They won’t cause much trouble. Just issue the order to close the Ghost City and conduct a thorough inspection.”

“Don’t say they’re bluffing nine times out of ten. Even if they truly could wield the forces of heaven and earth, so what?”

“Grandmother is no mere specter—what is there to fear?”

“Perfect timing, too. Grandmother is short of fresh prey, and since these are cultivators, the effect will surely be doubled.”

The tree demon’s voice was soft, yet to Old Ghost it sounded like a celestial decree. Hastily, he replied, “Your wisdom surpasses mine, my lord.”

“I shall withdraw for now and pursue the intruders.”

Seizing the moment, he could not help but hasten his escape from this land of trouble. Being with the tree demon was a constant torment, akin to bargaining with a tiger—ever on edge, a living nightmare.

“Wait.”

Old Ghost’s steps froze; a chill ran down his spine. A dreadful feeling rose suddenly. As he sat on pins and needles, a vine as thick as a human arm—gnarled and thorny—wrapped around him tightly, constricting swiftly. The barbs on the vine sent shivers down his spine.

“Have mercy, my lord! I know my error…”

Old Ghost was not surprised by this turn of events, but when calamity truly struck, he realized how frail he was. The tree demon’s temper was as unpredictable as the wind; ordinary logic held no sway. From the day he first set foot in Ghost City, his very life had depended on the demon’s whim.

Yet, the tree demon seemed utterly unmoved by Old Ghost’s pleas, showing no mercy at all.

*Creak… creak…*

A faint, sinister aura of soul tearing drifted toward the cave’s mouth, soon dissipating into thin smoke and merging with the dark energies of heaven and earth—vanishing without a trace.

The other female ghosts nearby remained impassive, as if such scenes were commonplace.

Suddenly, the tightly coiled vines withdrew quickly, as though they had never appeared, leaving Old Ghost gasping on the ground, his face pale with terror.

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“Do not be negligent again. The Ghost City is of paramount importance—no slacking allowed.”

“This was but a minor punishment. Next time, it will be far worse.”

The hoarse, grating voice rang in his ears, sending chills through Old Ghost’s very being. Fortunately, as a spirit, he could not manifest the trembling hair or cold sweat such fear would normally provoke.

The tree demon’s voice grew softer and then vanished altogether.

A cold wind blew, masking Old Ghost’s shivers.

After a long while, he finally regained composure and strode away.

In any case, he had narrowly escaped disaster. The pain he had just endured was nothing; as the demon had said, it was only a small reprimand. With a few days’ rest, he would recover fully.

What was far more terrifying still awaited him. If he failed his task, given the demon’s merciless nature, there would be no burial ground for him—only death.

Gradually, a ruthless gleam appeared in Old Ghost’s eyes. Being toyed with so easily was a bitter humiliation, especially by two low-level cultivators. It was a grievous disgrace.

…

Though inhabited by spirits, the place held no oppressive evil aura. Nestled between verdant hills and clear waters, it possessed a unique charm. Yi An slowed his pace, strolling leisurely—such peaceful moments had been rare indeed.

About an hour later, they arrived at Ghost City. Yi An noticed that the city had surprisingly few ghost soldiers—only a handful guarded the city gate. Elsewhere, apart from ghost citizens, no ghost soldiers were visible.

“For ghosts, perhaps this is a kind of paradise.”

Though small, the city was complete in every detail. Many earthly scenes were replicated here—casinos, inns, even brothels—all richly arrayed.

These ghosts lived long lives; their souls could endure for centuries without fading. Not all were devoted to cultivation; much like humans, many had other aspirations. Their mental needs thus became apparent. Though they did not require food, occasionally indulging their appetites or seeking spiritual pleasures was a great delight.

All had been human in life, retaining many human habits. This Ghost City was the best example of that.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound arose. The ghost citizens, previously calm and busy, all turned their gaze toward the city tower with complex expressions.

Ghosts inside houses also gathered, drawn by the commotion.

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“What is this?”

Yan Chixia felt unease but still sought Yi An’s counsel.

“Stay calm. Don’t panic. Let’s observe first.”

Yi An’s eyes sharpened. The bell atop the city tower was clearly a means to gather the ghosts and issue announcements. Whether the message concerned them was unknown.

Their auras were restrained, revealing only a faint trace of yin energy—finding them in the vast crowd would not be easy.

“This bell hasn’t rung for years. The last time was when a demon king caused havoc. Thanks to the city lord and a few commanders, the city was spared. I wonder what disaster has struck this time?”

A ghost nearby spoke suddenly.

Yi An: “…”

It seemed he had worried unnecessarily. This bell toll had been rung precisely because of them—no other outsiders were present.

Soon, countless ghosts poured into the streets, a dark sea of several thousand strong.

“Since its founding centuries ago, Ghost City has been a haven where spirits live peacefully and prosper. Yet wicked elements have always lurked, seeking to destroy our last sanctuary. Their hearts are vile, bringing wrath from both gods and men—truly detestable.”

“Today, once again, alien beings have trespassed, attempting to shatter our harmony and cast us into exile. Can we stand for this?”

A clear voice thundered from the city tower, striking every ear like a clap of thunder.

Yi An looked up to see a burly fierce ghost atop the tower—a Day Wanderer realm ghost, clearly different from the one they had met upon arrival.

Miaoshu House