Chapter 282 - 137: Young and Full of Vigor, It’s Understandable

Chapter 282: Chapter 137: Young and Full of Vigor, It’s Understandable

They might have been ordinary people in life, but at the moment of death, they harbored immense resentment or obsession. This earned them a sliver of favor from the Celestial Dao, allowing them to miraculously retain their souls.

These types of souls often have fragmented memories and exist in a dazed, confused state, becoming lonely, wandering spirits.

Those with deep-seated resentment transform into vengeful wraiths and embark on the path of a Ghost Cultivator on their own. Most of them are vicious and powerful.

But those with pure obsessions are like Yu Xiaoqian.

They drift about in ignorance.

They are either subjugated by Demons like the Tree Demon Granny and forced to become Ghost Cultivators, or they’re slain by righteous Cultivators as an easy way to accumulate merit, like a bag of experience points.

Even if they are lucky enough to start on the path of a Ghost Cultivator, their Innate deficiencies limit them. After several hundred years of cultivation, they might at best become a Tier Four or Tier Five minor ghost, never achieving anything great.

In truth, Jiang Mu had initially valued Si Rumeng more—the powerful ’tool’ who could provide long-term value.

He hadn’t paid much mind to weak, limited-potential female ghosts like Yu Xiaoqian, intending to just let nature take its course.

However, his previous conversation with Tian Wenjing about "gods among mortals" had sparked a new idea in his mind.

Si Rumeng was wildly ambitious, scheming to use her demon body to usurp the status of a "god among mortals." From a long-term perspective, Jiang Mu was happy to see her try.

If she succeeded, he would share in the massive rewards.

If she failed, Si Rumeng would bear the brunt of the backlash.

However, this woman was deeply cunning and difficult to tame—a double-edged sword that was exceptionally sharp but could easily injure its wielder.

She might not be willing to be manipulated by him forever.

He needed an insurance policy.

A "lock" that could restrain or even counter Si Rumeng at a critical moment.

And Yu Xiaoqian, the simple-minded little female ghost who depended on him out of gratitude for saving her life, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Jiang Mu hadn’t figured out the specifics yet, but after the recent dream, a rudimentary plan had begun to form in his mind.

’Perhaps I can also build Yu Xiaoqian into a god.’

Not the "god among mortals" type like Si Rumeng, who needed to steal orthodox Incense and Candle Power and deceive the Celestial Dao. Instead, a more secretive type of god—one that catered to the spiritual needs of ordinary people.

For example, a god of dreams.

After all, among all the beings in the world, who is without troubles? Who is without hardship?

When crushed by the pressures of reality, many people choose to escape.

Living a life of debauchery is one form of escape.

And isn’t a beautiful dream that brings a moment of peace and joy also a sanctuary for the soul?

Even if it’s only an illusion, it can give those on the verge of collapse a moment to breathe and reignite a glimmer of hope.

It’s like some characters in the movie *Inception*, who were willing to sleep forever in the real world, indulging in elaborately constructed dreams to escape a harsh reality.

If Yu Xiaoqian could evolve into something like a Nightmare, gaining an ability like "dream-weaving" or "dream-guiding"...

...she could deliver "beautiful dreams" as a form of solace to those who are desperate and disheartened.

This would give them psychological comfort and release.

Then, he could work behind the scenes, quietly spreading legends about a "Dream God" and how "praying for dreams brings peace," essentially running a marketing campaign...

Perhaps an alternative path to "godhood" could be paved this way.

By doing so, not only could Yu Xiaoqian gain a continuous supply of Incense and Candle Power for her cultivation, but she could also become his trump card on the spiritual plane.

It’s just that...

Yu Xiaoqian’s aptitude was truly terrible.

Without a great opportunity, it would be impossible for her to break through her Innate limitations and evolve into a higher-level ghost-type creature like a Nightmare.

Breaking through her current realm was hard enough.

’Opportunity...’

A thought crossed Jiang Mu’s mind, and with another flip of his wrist...

...a jet-black, perfectly round bead radiating a cold, sinister aura appeared in his palm.

It was the life-pact Ghost Pill that Yu Xiaoqian had spat out to save him.

Ji Hongyuan once said that if a Ghost Pill is separated from its host for more than three days, the ghost’s soul will dissipate.

Counting the time, this was already the third day.

He had originally planned to return it to that girl, but when he’d casually tried to inject a wisp of Demonic Qi into it, Jiang Mu discovered that the Ghost Pill could be slowly permeated and altered by it.

This discovery made him postpone his plan to return it.

He decided to study it a bit more before giving it back.

The core of a human Cultivator is the Star Pill, the core of a Demon is the Demon Pill, and the core of a Ghost Cultivator is this Ghost Pill.

If he could use Demonic Qi to completely transform this Ghost Pill and improve its quality, perhaps he could help Yu Xiaoqian shatter her Innate shackles.

Paving a path for her evolution.

At this thought, Jiang Mu no longer hesitated.

Following his will, the Demonic Qi accumulated in his Demon Slot flowed out like a stream and slowly poured into the Ghost Pill in his hand.

Nourished by the Demonic Qi, the Ghost Pill began to emit a faint purple glow.

As Jiang Mu injected Demonic Qi to alter the Ghost Pill’s quality, he also extracted a special wisp of Incense and Candle Power from the Buddha Lamp beside him.

This wisp of power was tinged with a trace of Si Rumeng’s essential Divine Soul aura.

He forcibly crushed this wisp of power, fused it into the Demonic Qi, and then, using the Demonic Qi as ink, he inscribed an extremely secretive and complex Dharma Seal into the Ghost Pill’s core.

This was a restraining Dharma Seal specifically targeting Si Rumeng!

If Si Rumeng ever made a move against Jiang Mu in the future or tried to escape his control, he could use this Dharma Seal to have Yu Xiaoqian restrain and interfere with her at a critical moment.

This was a hidden move, a piece set on the board for a future game.

Beyond that.

Jiang Mu did something even more "selfish."

He split off a wisp of his own divine sense, mixed it with Demonic Qi, and branded his own name into the deepest part of the Ghost Pill.

This wasn’t about control.

It was a subconscious bond.

This way, while ensuring she retained her own thoughts and emotions, no matter how powerful Yu Xiaoqian became in the future, and regardless of whether she kept her current memories...