Chapter 1603 - 1117: Ghost General Si Ming (2)

Chapter 1603: Chapter 1117: Ghost General Si Ming (2)

Speaking of which, it’s simple for a Ghost Cultivator to become powerful—just consume ghosts.

However, if one forcibly devours without a cultivation technique, it’s very easy to fall into becoming an Evil Ghost and lose sanity; having a cultivation technique while consuming ghosts can keep your wits about you and get stronger, but without a legitimate source, randomly devouring ghostly entities can make it difficult to cross the Celestial Tribulation during advancement.

Therefore, the orthodox Ghost Messengers of Netherworld Fengdu can enjoy unique conditions—choosing to devour the worst villains, thus becoming stronger without invoking divine punishment.

Mr. Jiang said the little ghosts he found for me were all polluted and then purified, so there’s no problem!

Once a ghostly entity is corrupted into something bizarre, with various unimaginable forms, its inherent spirituality cannot reincarnate. Even after purification, they are not normal ghostly entities, so devouring them for cultivation is equivalent to waste utilization, naturally without worry.

As Jiang Yuan chatted idly with the ghost, five minutes passed, and an Insect Ghost finished purification.

Jiang Yuan put down the axe, entered the Purification Workshop to retrieve the purified product, then placed the contaminated items inside for purification; he also placed corrupted ghostly entities in the Refining Workshop, ensuring everything was busy.

"Here, you take this to cultivate first." He pulled the purified Insect Ghost out from the Storage Bag, noticing it had shrunk significantly, standing slightly over a meter tall, its color and form even more solidified, but still feather-light in his hand.

Mist Dragon expressed gratitude, the translucent body floating out of the house, not reaching out to take the Insect Ghost, but instead activated his cultivation technique!

The ghostly body instantly turned into a pale gray vortex, swallowing the Insect Ghost straight away, then transformed into a translucent human shape, "Once I refine this guy with the Ghost Immortal Scripture, my body should become more substantial!"

Watching the ghostly wind retreat into the house, Jiang Yuan: ...

The effect of the system’s skills has already been considerate of my psyche. So, the Ghost Immortal Scripture should be used this way, swallowing it in one go regardless of the size!

Picking up the axe to continue clearing land, with just a few days until spring arrives, he decided to plant the most basic crop—Mulberry Grass, which ghosts could eat raw, maturing in just three days.

After the crops have matured, he won’t harvest them immediately.

Come spring, he’ll harvest and simultaneously plant new seasonal seeds on the day of the change. This will prevent the cultivated farmland from reverting to wasteland without crops, which would require re-cultivation and watering.

Jiang Yuan busied himself in Fuyun Space; meanwhile, his clone gathered materials around the outskirts of the mountain, bustling yet tranquil time.

Meanwhile, by the banks of the Yellow Springs Nai River, the Meng Mansion, shrouded and protected by a faint purple glow, caught the attention of lurking specters.

"That’s quite something, who built a courtyard on the banks of Yellow Springs? Just a few days ago, it was empty, not a sound," Water Ghost Dou Likang craned his neck, peeking from among the rocks, whispering, "Could it be Fengdu’s doing again?"

The Yaksha Ghost glanced over, smirking coldly, "What tricks can Fengdu pull? They drove a group of Loose Cultivators over noisily, yet most perished or were crippled, ten dwindled to two, ultimately scurrying away without returning. Without the master’s prowess, their fussing amounts to nothing."

Water Ghost Dou Likang peeked again, hesitantly saying, "Look closely, it really is a huge courtyard! Ordinary Ghost Cultivators would be scared witless from afar, just at the roaring of Yellow Springs. We’ve been rewarded by the master, devoured so many Fierce Ghosts and Evil Ghosts, yet dared only to sneak a peek from afar.

Obviously, that courtyard isn’t something regular Ghost Cultivators can manage, must be some new trick from Fengdu! Building a courtyard by the Yellow Springs, with purple aura shrouding it, even the master wouldn’t dare approach easily."

The Yaksha Ghost bared his fangs, gesturing for him to continue.

"Think about it, last time Fengdu sent that group of Loose Cultivators to their deaths, yet some still made it back, right?" Water Ghost continued analyzing, "As long as someone went back, detailed information would spread out. After all, Fengdu holds much of the Old Underworld’s treasures, naturally aiding them in constructing such a courtyard.

The fear is, Fengdu is using the Yellow Springs as cover, building a courtyard to serve as a stronghold. From there, they might expand outward, by then truly putting us in danger! Loose Cultivators are poor and stupid, unable to find us, but Fengdu boasts treasures and High Tier Ghost Cultivators, think about the Eighteen Layers of Hell’s days..."

"Oh no, it indeed is a dire situation!" The Yaksha Ghost shuddered, Fengdu is dedicated to dealing with various ghostly entities, wielding countless methods to torture specters.

Should they truly establish that courtyard as a stronghold, with Fengdu’s High Tier Ghost Cultivators personally searching, how long can the master hide?

Water Ghost peered once more to gather more details before reporting back, the Yellow Springs forming a daunting backdrop. More he saw, the more apprehensive he became, "This is truly a grand construction, Fengdu is definitely getting serious! Let’s not waste time, hurry back to report to the master, let him decide!"

Today, the two little ghosts patrolled on command, merely wandering around the perimeter.

The main objective was to see if any Ghost Cultivators who came before had yet eluded capture; also to observe any movement, as the treasures stolen from Fengdu by the master were of critical importance regarding the ascension, no mistakes could be afforded.

Yet, this Old Underworld was polluted, evil beings lurked in bizarre excesses; even with treasures at hand, they dared not entangle with the corrupted creatures. The patrolling little ghosts behaved rather shiftily.

Cautiously sneaking along, until reaching the mountains, where the master’s influence cloaked them, they dared release their essence and sprint unchecked.

"Not good! Master, something’s amiss!"

Hearing his subordinates’ raucous commotion, Ghost General Si Ming closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.

If it hadn’t been for the severe oppression by Fengdu back then, to the point there’s no ghost available, why would I have broken out with these fools, fleeing to this godforsaken Old Underworld for refuge?

However, the tasks given to them, though turbulent, have still all been accomplished, and they haven’t been caught by Fengdu yet. In light of their loyalty and relatively reliable performance, he could only bear with it.

"How many times have I told you, stay calm and never shout in panic when encountering problems." Si Ming’s authoritative voice echoed through the valley, carrying a hint of exasperation, asking, "What’s happened now?"

The Yaksha Ghost, eager for credit, shouted, "We’ve discovered a courtyard! A massive one!"

Water Ghost Dou Likang couldn’t help but roll his eyes, knowing the other was simple-minded with developed limbs, even failing at claiming credit.

No need for anger, after paying respects he clarified logically, "During today’s patrol, we glimpsed a large new courtyard built by the Yellow Springs. Though affected by the Yellow Springs, we dared not long gaze, yet observed that the courtyard is shielded by purple aura, not the work of ordinary Ghost Cultivators.

The subordinate fears it’s Fengdu’s latest plot. Yet given our meager strength, we didn’t dare approach, and saw no shadowy figures, hence the report was brought to inform the master."

"Oh? A large courtyard by the Yellow Springs?" Si Ming immediately recalled the heard tale, claiming that Ghost God Meng Po’s manor is substantial, erected right beside the Yellow Springs, close to Nai River Bridge.

It is said, Meng Po’s residence swathed in purple aura, with Crystal Orchid, Golden Lantern Flowers, Mandala, and poppy blooming by the Yellow Springs—these ingredients to brew Meng Po Soup, sold specifically to ghosts, drink a bowl to forget past lives heading for reincarnation.

"Especially large!" The Yaksha Ghost gestured, "Stretching from this mountain to that, I dared not look closely, but faintly saw pavilions, terraces, and various flowering trees, resembling not the Netherworld, but the Celestial Realm landscape."

The more it was described, the more absurd it seemed; this place wasn’t far from the Yellow Springs. Were a courtyard to be built, it’s impossible for me, with my perception, to be completely unaware.

Si Ming pondered for a moment, saying, "Observe first, from now on, you two specifically monitor the courtyard’s movements, don’t alert the enemy. Report any changes immediately. Also, I need more Spirit Stones, have Gambling Ghost Changying find a way to procure as many as possible."

The two little ghosts complied, respectfully withdrawing.

The cave abode quieted once more, Si Ming opened his right palm, revealing a walnut-sized, translucent orb emitting a radiant glow.

He lifted the orb, eyes fixed on the faintly visible globe interior, bewilderment spread across his face, "For so long unable to unlock it, did I miss some key step?"