Everlasting Immortal FirmamentEverlasting Immortal Firmament
The hungry ghost path of reincarnation:
Upon receiving the news, Ji Dihong, Cangjie, and Ao Ying were stunned.
Not only had Gu Hai survived in Boundless Mountain, but he had also thrown the five hungry ghost kings into conflict. To confirm the situation, the trio scouted the surroundings.
“Did he really incite the five hungry ghost kings? It seems like the hungry ghost bases everywhere we passed had been destroyed,” Cangjie said solemnly.
“Perhaps something happened with the hungry ghost kings?” Ji Dihong’s face sank.
“Hey! Look! There’s a hungry ghost general. I’ve seen him before,” Cangjie exclaimed suddenly.
Whoosh!
The three turned into beams of light shooting towards a rhino-shaped hungry ghost.
This ghost was like a startled bird when it sensed a powerful aura approaching. It immediately shouted, “Don’t eat me!”
“General Xili! It’s me!” Cangjie shouted.
“Ah! Mister-Mister Cangjie?” The rhino-faced hungry ghost looked surprised.
“What happened? We passed through the area controlled by your king and noticed that many of the hungry ghost marshals and generals were missing. Also, the bases were in ruins,” Cangjie inquired curiously.
General Xili gave the trio a pained look. “Mister Cangjie, you are late. My lord…he’s gone!”
“What happened on Boundless Mountain that day?” Ji Dihong asked urgently.
“That day, after the five hungry ghost kings saw you flee in defeat, they planned to capture Gu Hai. However, Gu Hai claimed he could lead them out, so they didn’t attack him. While two of the hungry ghost kings believed him, three didn’t; this formed two factions. Conflict arose, and with Gu Hai’s provocation, they began fighting,” General Xili explained with a bitter smile.
“Provocation? How did he provoke them?” Ao Ying asked, furrowing his brows.
“Two of the hungry ghost kings, Ju Mang and Tianwu, backed Gu Hai. They planned to leave with him. However, three other hungry ghost kings wanted to retain control over Gu Hai. Naturally, Ju Mang and Tianwu sided with Gu Hai. When the dispute broke out, a great battle ensued, embroiling all our factions. The conflict ended in mutual devastation. In the chaos, Gu Hai seized the opportunity to devour all the ordinary hungry ghosts at the base!” replied General Xili with a bitter smile.
“Didn’t anyone try to stop Gu Hai?” Ao Ying asked with a furrowed brow.
“While Ju Mang and Tianwu assisted Gu Hai, the other three hungry ghost kings only wanted to capture him alive, presumably to hand him over to you later. They never intended to kill him, which gave Gu Hai an opening,” explained General Xili, still wearing a bitter smile.
“And then?” Ji Dihong inquired gravely.
“After the devastating battle among the five hungry ghost kings where both sides suffered severe injuries, Gu Hai departed confidently with Ju Mang and Tianwu,” said General Xili, still wearing that bitter smile.
Ao Ying remarked, disheartened, “So, Gu Hai just left like that?”
“What else could the three hungry ghost kings do? They were indecisive and didn’t give their all, hoping to address the issue later. Who could have expected Gu Hai to be so cunning?” General Xili exclaimed in frustration.
“How so?”
“He left with Ju Mang and Tianwu but deceived them into immediately ambushing a hungry ghost king opposed to him—my king,” General Xili recalled bitterly.
“Two of them sneak-attacked one hungry ghost king?” Ji Dihong said sullenly.
“Yes. Gu Hai set up a pretense that you had returned to lure my king to a secluded place. My king was overjoyed and did not keep his guard up. He fell into their trap, ambushed and killed by Ju Mang and Tianwu. Ju Mang even devoured him!” General Xili said bitterly.
Cangjie said solemnly, “The power dynamics among the five hungry ghost kings have remained unchanged for so long, with none able to kill the others. It’s unbelievable that one fell to Gu Hai.”
“I later learned that Gu Hai persuaded Ju Mang and Tianwu, suggesting that since they were leaving this world, they should maximize their opportunities. He wanted them to devour the three opposing hungry ghost kings while he would consume the subordinates—us!” General Xili’s voice trembled with obvious fear.
Cangjie said solemnly, “While the hungry ghost kings can only consume one or two at a time, Gu Hai faces no such limitations. He’s using them to his advantage, to make it easy for him to consume countless hungry ghosts.”
“Yes, the sight of the black dragon consuming hungry ghosts is terrifying! Had I not escaped swiftly, Gu Hai would have consumed me by now,” General Xili recounted fearfully.
“How many hungry ghost kings did they consume?” Ji Dihong asked solemnly.
“Two. Besides my king, another hungry ghost king was devoured; Ju Mang and Tianwu consumed one each. Although Gu Hai consumed weaker hungry ghosts, they were still powerful hungry ghost marshals and hungry ghost generals. He has grown immensely powerful,” General Xili said, its voice laden with dread.
“How long is the black dragon that Gu Hai transformed into now?” inquired Cangjie.
“I’m not sure, but three months ago, when I last saw him, he was about seventeen kilometers long, even larger than me. At that time, he had already reached the level of a hungry ghost marshal,” General Xili remembered with a hint of horror.
“Seventeen kilometers long, three months ago?” The faces of Ji Dihong, Cangjie, and Ao Ying sank.
Cangjie felt an overwhelming frustration. It was he who proposed to deceive Gu Hai into the Hungry Ghost Path Secret Realm. He had not anticipated that instead of killing Gu Hai, he would make Gu Hai even stronger, exacerbating the situation.
Six months? We’ve been gone for six months. In our absence, Gu Hai grew to seventeen kilometers long? No, that was three months ago. What’s his size now?
“Your Holy Eminence, this official deserves death. It is all my fault!” Cangjie said bitterly.
“No, nobody could have predicted that Gu Hai could defy the world’s laws. Mister Cangjie is not to blame. The priority now is to subdue him. That is the most important thing now,” Ji Dihong responded.
“Yes!” Cangjie nodded.
“So, of the five hungry ghost kings, two were consumed by Ju Mang and Tianwu? The last one must have been forewarned and is avoiding Gu Hai, correct?” Ji Dihong questioned.
“Yes, there was a recent battle between the remaining three hungry ghost kings. Yet, no one could defeat the other, and they parted ways,” said General Xili.
Cangjie said gravely, “Your Holy Eminence, the key to handling Gu Hai lies with Ju Mang and Tianwu.”
“You’re right. They supported Gu Hai because they lost hope in us, thinking we’d never return. But if they realize we are back and can lead them out, they’ll surely cooperate against Gu Hai,” Ji Dihong stated.
“Indeed. None of Gu Hai’s subordinates have arrived yet. Ju Mang and Tianwu placed their bets on Gu Hai but haven’t seen any results. If we appear before them discreetly, they’ll surely lean towards us,” Cangjie reasoned.
“Then we must act swiftly and win over Ju Mang and Tianwu before Gu Hai’s subordinates find him,” Ji Dihong emphasized.
Swiftly? Win them over before Gu Hai’s officials find him? Otherwise, all our efforts would be wasted?
“Yes, we must hurry! We need to win over Ju Mang and Tianwu quickly.” Cangjie nodded.
Ji Dihong looked at the rhino-faced hungry ghost and asked, “General Xili, do you know where Ju Mang and Tianwu are?”
Cangjie added in enticement, “General Xili, if you lead us to them, His Holy Eminence can guide you out of this Hungry Ghost Path Secret Realm.”
A glint of hope flashed in General Xili’s eyes. It nodded. “I know where they are.”
“We must not delay. Let’s avoid Gu Hai and find them first, and quickly,” Ji Dihong said solemnly.
“Alright,” replied General Xili.
Moving swiftly, the four located Ju Mang and Tianwu in a valley in the extreme east in just two hours.
The sight of Ji Dihong’s party left Ju Mang and Tianwu astounded.
“You really came back!” Ju Mang exclaimed.
“We’re aware of everything that transpired here. Would you both be willing to collaborate with us again? Once we’ve joined forces, I promise to lead you out of here.” Ji Dihong smiled.
Ju Mang and Tianwu remained silent, their eyelids twitching wildly.
“I know you are waiting for Gu Hai to fulfill his promise. However, will Gu Hai bring you out? Just how long has it been, and how many people can open an exit in the Hungry Ghost Path Secret Realm? Besides the exception that is me, can Gu Hai do it for sure? There is only this chance. If you don’t work with us, there won’t be any more chances in the future,” Cangjie advised.
Ju Mang and Tianwu exchanged glances. Indeed, during this period, they had put all their cards on the table. However, to them, Ji Dihong represented certainty, while Gu Hai represented uncertainty. The two shared a brief silence before nodding in agreement.
“Alright. I hope the Huang Heavenly Emperor will keep his word,” Ju Mang stated gravely.
“A sovereign always keeps his word!” Ji Dihong responded with a smile.
Immediately, the tense atmosphere among them dissipated.
“Isn’t Gu Hai with you?” Cangjie asked curiously.
“Mister Cangjie, do you recall the heavenly soul you entrusted to me long ago?” inquired Ju Mang.
“Bing Ji’s heavenly soul?” Cangjie exclaimed in surprise.
“That’s right. Gu Hai captured Bing Ji and asked for Bing Ji’s heavenly soul. I assumed you wouldn’t return, so I handed it over. The earthly soul is with Qiang Liang. The last time we clashed with Qiang Liang, both sides suffered greatly, so we called a truce. However, Gu Hai coveted the earthly soul in Qiang Liang’s hands, so he went to find Qiang Liang on his own,” Ju Mang explained.
Tianwu nodded in agreement. “True. Gu Hai doesn’t stand a chance against Qiang Liang. He should return soon.”
“No, that’s not right! Where is Qiang Liang? Gu Hai might just overcome him!” Cangjie exclaimed in concern.
“What?”
“Gu Hai is profoundly cunning. How could he make a move without certainty? He took advantage of your previous engagement with Qiang Liang to weaken him severely before making his move. Quick, take us to Qiang Liang!” Cangjie urged.
Ju Mang and Tianwu’s expressions turned grave, and they nodded.
Without delay, they, along with Ji Dihong, Cangjie, and Ao Ying, headed north.
They moved swiftly. However, when they reached the extreme north, they saw black energy enveloping the sky, and a potent fragrance wafted in the air.
“That’s where it’s coming from; that’s the Gu Hai black dragon’s black energy!” Ju Mang’s expression shifted.
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream came from the black fog.
“Argh! Gu Hai! You took advantage of my vulnerability! I cannot accept this!”
The miserable scream shook the surroundings.
“That’s Qiang Liang’s voice,” Ju Mang observed, his face paling.
“Did Gu Hai consume Qiang Liang? How did he manage that? Qiang Liang is a hungry ghost king!” Tianwu exclaimed in shock.
Rumble…!
Countless evil spirits in the extreme north got sucked into the black mist. Despite their struggles, they could not resist the powerful force pulling them in.
“Argh!”
“Argh!”
“Argh!”
Shrieks and cries for help from hungry ghosts filled the air from within the mist.
“Fog, disperse!” Ju Mang waved his hand.
Boom!
A gust of wind rose out of nowhere, scattering the black fog and revealing the scene within.
Countless hungry ghosts poured into a massive dragon’s mouth in mere moments.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The black dragon chewed continuously, apparently swallowing all the hungry ghosts. Then silence descended upon the distant area.
As the black dragon weaved through the black fog, it radiated immense might, causing ripples in space.
As the black fog scattered, it revealed the black dragon that was Gu Hai, swallowing countless hungry ghosts. Its eyes radiated red light, exhaling black smoke from its mouth as it hovered in the air, looking intimidating and majestic.
Thirty-nine kilometers long!