Chapter 375: Phoenix Cries and Thunder Rolls, the Impermanent Departs

A strong wind whistled as a tall, thin figure stumbled along; it was Xin Yi, and his destination remained the Ganzhu Hall up on the mountain.

This time, Zhao Wuyang did not follow along. For one thing, every time he came to report, that Bai Wuchang would always find some way to scare him, leaving him so jumpy now that he would jump at the slightest movement; from the bottom of his heart, he did not want to see him.

The second reason was that some complications had arisen where Zhao Wuyang was stationed.

The world was in chaos, and Living Corpses were running wild; furthermore, those with malicious intent were taking advantage of the troubled times to wreak havoc, leaving the people of Chenjian unable to make a living.

The Imperial Court had not failed to intervene; they had once sent out large armies to suppress them, but unexpectedly, it backfired. After countless casualties, many more Living Corpses were added to the ranks.

Helpless, the local authorities eventually had no choice but to gather all the few remaining living people inside the city. Bailiffs checked doors daily, and once someone was found to be dying, they were immediately dragged outside the city.

Such measures were able to curb the threat of the Living Corpses, but they were inevitably somewhat excessive, leading to much public grievance.

Families were forced to separate; who could be willing to accept that?

Furthermore, among them, some only looked weak but actually still had a chance of recovery, yet the government offices forced them to be taken out of the city to fend for themselves.

Naturally, there were no few survivors, and by supporting each other, they eventually formed the Outside-City Village over time.

The people of the Outside-City Village suffered because of the Imperial Court, so they were unwilling to submit and formed their own faction. Whenever the Imperial Court transported supplies, they would lie in ambush and seize them, leaving the Ministry of Revenue in utter misery.

According to the current Imperial Court laws, officials and soldiers were not allowed to use force at will; if they harmed anyone's life, they would inevitably face imprisonment.

Although the Outside-City Village was labeled as rebel bandits by the Imperial Court, the current Emperor was wise. He knew deeply that the people were the foundation of the country, and that all of this was caused by mistakes within the court. Therefore, he ordered the Imperial Academy to coordinate with various ministries, making pacification the primary principle and treating the people outside the city with leniency.

The sects had long held a virtuous reputation among the people and bore responsibility in troubled times. Responding to the Imperial Court's call, various sects sent disciples down the mountain. Firstly, it counted as training, and secondly, it was to pacify the world; most importantly, it was to save the world from fire and water.

Xin Yi and Zhao Wuyang were ordered to go down the mountain to guard the Outside-City Village at the foot of the mountain year-round and mediate conflicts with the Imperial Court. Accompanying them was a disciple from the Kunwu Sect named Caiwei.

Caiwei was skilled in medicine, but her ability to subdue demons and monsters was somewhat lacking, and her Martial Arts cultivation was not outstanding. Therefore, she usually just stayed in the village to guard it, treating the villagers' illnesses and injuries, while the task of going out to subdue corpses and quell chaos was left to Xin Yi and Zhao Wuyang.

What was important was that Caiwei had discovered one thing: the Living Corpses that everyone spoke of as being extremely dangerous were not all as terrifying as the rumors suggested.

Those Living Corpses, although they were dead spirits in dead bodies, some could still maintain the thoughts they had when they were alive, and they were not as mindless as the Black and White Venerable said.

But there was a difference between the living and the dead, and the three of them could not bear it, so they decided to quietly keep the matter hidden.

However, this was ultimately no small matter, and the reasons behind it were difficult to clarify. Xin Yi was a bit uneasy, so he took advantage of the night to visit the Black and White Venerables.

Zhao Wuyang knew well that the matter was extraordinary and that a cultivator must never shirk their duty, but he was truly terrified of that Bai Wuchang. He really could not understand how a dignified deity of the Netherworld could spend his days doing nothing but playing tricks and acting like a clown.

Seeing Zhao Wuyang's bitter face, Xin Yi just smiled helplessly, instructed him to stay and help Caiwei, and then headed to the Ganzhu Hall alone.

When Xin Yi was in the Demon Race military camp, he had heard of the Black and Bai Wuchang. Based on his understanding at the time, these two deities were one dashing and steady, the other gloomy and indifferent, fond of fighting. But looking at it now, that Bai Wuchang did not fit either description.

Perhaps the great Wuchang deity did it on purpose, but who could say for sure? Yet why would he do such a thing?

Looking at the dilapidated temple halfway up the mountain not far away, Xin Yi stopped overthinking and quickened his pace. When he got close, unexpectedly, he saw the Black and Bai Wuchang waiting at the entrance of the ruined temple.

Xin Yi hurriedly stepped forward to salute, but the Black and Bai Wuchang only stared into the distance, silent. Curious, he followed their gaze, but only saw a dimness at the edge of the sky.

After all, they were divine venerables; how could a mere mortal like Xin Yi fathom their thoughts? But he did not care; the immediate priority was to clarify the true inside story of those Living Corpses.

However, he figured he wouldn't get anything out of Hei Wuchang; he had never been one for many words, and getting one sentence out of ten questions would be good enough. As for this Bai Wuchang...

Thinking of the absurd things Bai Wuchang had done to Zhao Wuyang, Xin Yi made up his mind and slowly approached Bai Wuchang.

"Are the two Venerables waiting for someone here?" Xin Yi was not good at conversation either; he deliberated and decided to open with this so as not to appear awkward, but after asking, he felt it was inappropriate—

In this world, only others waited for these two divine venerables; how could there be anyone these two would wait for?

Bai Wuchang did not answer. The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, and the atmosphere became even more awkward. But the words were already spoken and could not be taken back. Xin Yi could only awkwardly rub his nose. He feigned a light cough, wanting to resolve the embarrassment, but found it even more awkward...

Just when Xin Yi thought he would not get a response from the two, lightning suddenly flashed in the direction they were facing, quietly tearing through the night sky.

Those flashes of light reflected on their black and white faces; the scene appeared particularly eerie, and even Xin Yi could not help but feel a bit creeped out.

"The time has come."

Bai Wuchang's sudden sigh startled Xin Yi. He did not know what Bai Wuchang was referring to, and just as he was puzzled, he suddenly heard a strange cry coming from the direction the two were facing.

This...

What is this sound!

Upon first hearing this sound, it was like the cry of an infant; a moment later, it was like the sound of a flute, clanging and rustling, extremely strange.

Xin Yi had never heard such a sound. Although he felt something strange in his heart, he felt the sound was very pleasant, and all his exhaustion seemed to dissipate in these cries.

"The Luan-phoenix of the secluded valley spreads its wings, white feathers scatter the world's gloom."

Bai Wuchang's sudden chant made Xin Yi break out in a cold sweat.

Could it be the sound of a phoenix?

How is that possible!

Legend had it that the phoenix was a familiar of the ancient deity Xiwangmu, and Xiwangmu was far away in Penglai. Not to mention whether such an ethereal realm as Penglai was real, just the fact that the God Race had disappeared for a thousand years, combined with the decline of spiritual arts in the current age, how could such a divine creature as a phoenix appear?

But these unfamiliar cries forced Xin Yi to believe it.

Another phoenix cry rang out, shaking the nine heavens, interrupting Xin Yi's thoughts. Only then did he notice that an inexplicable Qi was winding around the two.

"This is..."

"It is Nether Qi," Bai Wuchang said faintly. "The Guiyu has opened; we should return."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xin Yi heard a series of bell sounds echoing, ding-a-ling, how eerie, and the figures of the Black and Bai Wuchang became blurred.

These two divine venerables were about to leave, but his question had not yet been asked.

As if knowing what Xin Yi was thinking, Bai Wuchang's voice drifted over vaguely.

"The guides for you all will arrive in a few days. Remember not to act impulsively, lest other..."

Before he could finish, he disappeared.