Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Ghost Face Flower

However, Wen Jiu quickly understood.

The Yin Soul Ghost initially couldn’t possibly have seen through the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment; otherwise, it wouldn’t have refrained from attacking the Black Corpse, given that corpses and ghosts naturally clash. It likely saw through the concealment only after triggering that wave of ghostly energy.

To be able to directly repel the Black Corpse with the Triple Blood Transformation Body suggests how extraordinary the ghost technique used by the Yin Soul Ghost must be.

The reason is probably that ghost technique.

"No way."

"I have to find it."

Wen Jiu immediately made up his mind and changed direction to pursue the escaping Yin Soul Ghost.

If not now, then when?

If the Night Patrol Department arrives, they’ll definitely conduct a large-scale mountain search, and this half-faced Yin Soul Ghost will undoubtedly flee far away. Yin Souls can fly, albeit not high, but they have the ability to night-escape hundreds of miles away from Deadman Peak.

Once it escapes Deadman Peak, finding it again in these vast mountains and rivers would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Moreover, if it can be devoured, and its ghost techniques learned by the Black Corpse, the Black Corpse’s combat power would surely increase.

Even if I temporarily remain at Qi Cultivation Second Layer without breaking through, with the Black Corpse by my side, there’s no need to worry about unexpected occurrences.

However.

After pursuing for five miles, the ghostly energy abruptly ceased by a stream in a forest, seemingly disappearing without a trace.

He continued another mile.

Still, there was no trace of ghostly energy.

Helplessly, Wen Jiu released the Black Corpse, forcing it to expend ten percent of its corpse energy to again employ the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment to help him search for the ghost.

The moment the Black Corpse emerged, it promptly turned back, quickly heading back to the stream and proceeding upstream along it.

Wen Jiu immediately realized something; perhaps the ghost fled upstream through the stream, its ghostly energy washed away by the water, making it undetectable.

Soon.

Heading upstream.

The forest grew denser, where once there were dappled shadows, it now turned into pitch darkness.

Yet, upon continuing a hundred yards upstream along the stream, a massive Cold Pond came into view, the yin energy within roiling and extremely dense. Clearly, the hiding place of the Yin Soul Ghost is below.

Wen Jiu tried probing with his Divine Sense but could descend no further than three yards before feeling an increasingly sinister ghostly energy below the Cold Pond.

"Go!"

After pondering for a moment, Wen Jiu decided to explore with the Black Corpse, ready to utilize Blood Corpse Escape to retreat at any time.

Protected by Yin Technique, Wen Jiu, with the Black Corpse, descended into the Cold Pond. As they plummeted deeper, the ghostly energy became more intense, yet Wen Jiu clearly sensed that it wasn’t emanating from the half-faced Yin Soul.

It was something else.

Because the ghostly energy sweeping past was concentrated to the point of liquefying, though in mere wisps, this represented something unusual. Just like how a zombie’s corpse energy cannot achieve liquefaction.

It is unknown if anything above zombies could, but one thing was clear, whatever lay beneath the Cold Pond was extraordinary.

Soon.

The bottom of the pond was within reach.

The Cold Pond wasn’t spacious, allowing for a full view of the bottom’s scenery.

In the water, a grotesque Ghost Face Flower bloomed, and it was from this that the liquefied ghostly energy emanated.

Upon probing with Divine Sense, Wen Jiu’s expression froze; the ghost energy it released was terrifying, had it been anything other than a Ghost Face Flower, Wen Jiu might have immediately employed Blood Corpse Escape.

This surging ghostly energy far exceeded that of the Feixian Peak Master Ji Qiubai.

Glancing at the ecstatic Black Corpse beside him, Wen Jiu didn’t hesitate. He picked the flower using Yin Technique while preparing Blood Corpse Escape in case of emergency, but fortunately, no mishap occurred even after retrieving the Ghost Face Flower.

To prevent the ghost energy from leaking, Wen Jiu didn’t place it directly into a storage bag but instead put it inside the Corpse Nurturing Coffin.

The Corpse Nurturing Coffin’s primary function is corpse nurturing, but it also serves as an excellent artifact for concealing corpses and objects.

As for its nature, Wen Jiu wasn’t in a hurry to investigate, planning instead to check the information in the daily settlement later.

After circling around and finding no trace of the half-faced Yin Soul, Wen Jiu felt an intuition—if that Yin Soul realized he had taken the flower, there would be trouble.

In its current state, the Yin Soul is likely at full strength, perhaps even stronger. With this realization, Wen Jiu immediately used Blood Corpse Escape to leave.

Although feeling a pang of regret, there was no other option.

Yet, soon after Wen Jiu’s departure, the weakened half-faced Yin Soul stealthily entered the Cold Pond, absorbing the ghost energy within and growing increasingly powerful, even several times its previous peak strength.

Then the half-faced Yin Soul rushed towards the location of the Ghost Face Flower, only to find the pond bottom empty, prompting it to roar in rage, shaking the Cold Pond’s waters into turbulent waves.

But after the roaring and howling, it immediately left the Cold Pond, turning into a Black Shadow fleeing far beyond Deadman Peak.

"Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing... I’ll remember..."

This time.

The ghostly words he left behind are filled with boundless resentment.

It’s not just about uttering a harsh remark.

...

Meanwhile.

Wen Jiu landed five miles away. As he put the Black Corpse into the Corpse Nurturing Coffin, signal talismans started to flash in the air one after another.

It seemed very urgent.

Upon seeing this, Wen Jiu understood: Mu Ye’s body must have been found.

But Wen Jiu was not in a hurry. Instead, he leisurely headed in the direction of the signal talismans while thinking over his explanations.

He didn’t fear the Illusionary Pill.

Because when regular elixirs entered his body, the Yin Technique rejected them.

In other words, Wen Jiu couldn’t even consume regular healing elixirs. For him, the best healing substances were deathly energy and Yin evil Qi, making him even more sinister than some heterodox demons.

At least other heterodox demons find use in consuming pills.

When he arrived at the scene of the incident, numerous disciples from the Night Patrol Department and disciples from Feixian Peak at the Wushan Market were already there.

Wen Jiu mingled among them, mimicking their solemn expressions.

Half an hour later.

Si Kongbai led the Night Patrol Department disciples to the site and began a thorough investigation of the surroundings. The death of a steward was no small matter.

Soon after.

People from the Demon-slaying Department and the Demon Suppression Department also arrived one after another.

The ones who came were the two who had tried to recruit him the other day: Li Qing in a Cyan Shirt, and the fierce-looking burly man.

Wen Jiu and the rest of the Night Patrol Department disciples were questioned back and forth three to four times, yet no suspicion fell on them.

While they were investigating, Wen Jiu stood quietly to the side.

After inspecting the surroundings with his divine sense multiple times, Li Qing came to his conclusion, "Fellow Daoist Sikong, if I am not mistaken, your steward was killed by ghostly entities. The methods of tearing and the traces of soul extraction all belong to ghostly hands."

The fierce-looking burly man from the Demon Suppression Department squatted, examining the blood left by Li Ye at his death, and spoke in a deep voice, "I can feel the presence of the Blood Ghost Hand and another person’s blood... this indicates that there is at least one other person here, and traces of your Night Patrol Department’s Wind Patrol Sword Technique are present."

Upon hearing this.

Si Kongbai’s expression changed.

He had discovered what the two said as well.

But he hadn’t dared to think too much about it before, the Blood Ghost Hand, Wind Patrol Sword Technique, and another person’s blood...

His instinctive thought was whether there could be a spy from the Blood Robe Tower within the Night Patrol Department.

As for the remaining members of Blood Robe Tower committing murder, the possibility was low, because the Night Patrol Department and the people from the Inspection Hall are currently hunting them down outside. How dare they return to Lianwu Mountain to murder Mu Ye?

"Fellow Daoist Sikong, the two of us have seen what we needed and are finished here. It’s neither demons nor devils, so the rest is up to you now."

"The Inspection Hall is currently thoroughly investigating the matter... the Main Peak Elder is even coming over shortly, you better handle it properly and swiftly. Otherwise, just because of that Blood Ghost Hand, another big stir is inevitable!"

Li Qing and the burly man spoke their piece and left with their teams.

But before leaving, they both glanced in Wen Jiu’s direction and gave a friendly smile.

Si Kongbai didn’t notice this scene; he was darkly staring at Mu Ye’s corpse, a growing gloom in his heart.

The Main Peak Elder of the Inspection Hall was about to arrive.

Yet, such a thing happened.

Not to mention who the third person present was. The Wind Patrol Sword Technique and the Blood Ghost Hand alone were enough to make the Night Patrol Department the target of many.

Additionally.

He sensed a familiar ghostly aura.

Yet, with Li Qing and the burly man present, he dared not speak up.

It was precisely the mysterious Ghost Cultivator from Feixian Peak, whom Elder Gong suddenly decided to find after Fang Zheng’s death.

"Things are becoming increasingly complicated."

"I shouldn’t have let them come to Lianwu Mountain... just a few dead disciples from the Spiritual Agriculture Department!"

Si Kongbai rubbed his brow, falling into deep thought.

[We’re hitting Three Rivers Ghost Concealment!

Guys, please make sure to read the latest Chapter today!!!

Feique kneels in thanks!

We’ll have three updates again today!]