Chapter 317: The Cowlick Little Celestial Master Gets Even Stronger Today 12

Who would have thought that upon hearing this, Sun He, who had been silent, instantly changed his attitude and cried behind Sun Daqiang's back.

"Father… don't abandon me again, I'm so scared alone."

He wept miserably, enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes, let alone Sun Daqiang, who loved his son dearly.

"No need for any methods! I don't need to prove anything with you; my son is my son."

"Besides, I'm not even a member of the Daoist Association—I just know a little, a half‑baked amateur, and you Celestial Masters have no authority over me!"

Sun Daqiang spoke with great conviction: "Unless the Earth Granny and those gods themselves tell me, I won't believe any Celestial Master!"

He waved his hand and quickly comforted his frightened son.

After hearing this, An Wushang blinked her almond eyes, turned to look at her family's Founding Ancestor, and her cowlick swayed.

The expression on her face was obvious.

It's time for you to be exposed!

Jin Chen helplessly pushed away the cheek that had come close, "What are you thinking?"

"Thinking that you're about to be exposed."

"I'm not Tang Seng—where do all these exposure scenes come from?"

An Wushang: "……"

What a cold joke—are you talking about a literal exposure?

Jin Chen didn't even get up; he merely raised his hand, and a Soul‑Locking Hook glowing with a faint green light appeared, hovering at his side.

"This is an Underworld artifact; it only binds the spirits of ghosts and monsters, not human beings. Whether it works or not, you'll know if you let Sun He slip inside."

Sun He's crying grew louder.

But Sun Daqiang wanted to give it a try, just to shut those two Celestial Masters up!

"Don't be afraid, child; Father is waiting here for you. Just walk under that loop and you'll be fine."

"No, no, I'm scared, I really am… Father, you don't know how cold and frightening it is to be alone on Huangquan Lu; I dare not touch these things again."

An Wushang raised her hand again, her voice clear.

"Hold on—if what my brother just said is true, and your soul only leaves the body during the surgery, even if the Impermanence Yin Officers happen to arrive, you must first pass the Ghost Gate Walk, travel seven days to the checkpoint, your soul can return to look, then enter Huangquan Lu."

"The timelines don't match."

Sun He: "……"

"I… I don't know what a Ghost Gate Pass or Huangquan Lu is—anyway, it's all pitch black."

An Wushang snorted, "That means the Yin Officer escorting you isn't taking responsibility—then this is a serious matter."

Sun Daqiang's eyes shifted slightly; he unconsciously turned, furrowed his brows, and said, "Tell the truth—are you really my son or not?"

"Father! I certainly am! Don't believe what outsiders say, okay?"

Sun He's gloomy eyes grew even more eerie; he felt a constant pressure pressing on him, turned his head, and saw Jin Chen sitting relaxed, as if waiting for him to slip up.

Now Sun Daqiang finally noticed something was off.

Just as he hesitated, Jin Chen reminded him again, "If you don't act, I'll do it myself."

The fingertip resting on his thigh twitched; the Soul‑Locking Hook shot toward Sun He instantly, while Jin Chen's entire body exuded overwhelming pressure, immobilizing Sun He.

This scene stunned the counselor, who hurriedly hid but couldn't resist peeking out of curiosity.

The female student from earlier seemed to think of something, and her face turned pale.

Here the Soul‑Locking Hook happened to press firmly onto Sun He; as soon as it touched his arm, a burst of black smoke erupted.

"Ahhh—"

Sun He let out a painful wail, about to cover his arm, only to realize the injury wasn't physical—it was his soul!

"Father… save me! Save me!"

Yet Sun Daqiang still couldn't see clearly; although he'd only learned the basics, he knew this was the reaction of a monster being bound.

The spirit inside his son's body is a monster!

"It's obvious your son has been dead for a while," Jin Chen said lightly.

Sun Daqiang: "……No need for you to repeat that!"

But his attitude was no longer as rejecting and forceful as before.

The Soul‑Locking Hook had already firmly latched onto Sun He; unable to bear it, he ultimately abandoned this body and slipped out.

Its original form was shrunken and thin, its eyes equally gloomy, with no skin—just red flesh all over.

An Wushang suddenly realized, "Ah, it's a Ghost Essence—no wonder it lacks ghostly aura yet looks so like a ghost."

"Ghost Essences often arise in graveyards or burial grounds, born from the resentment of ghosts; they have no past or present lives, feed on vital essence, and their lifespan is extremely short, so they often seize a person's body at their weakest moment to continue living."

He explained this to Sun Daqiang.

But…

An Wushang's eyes widened for a moment, then grew complex as she looked at Sun Daqiang: "If this Ghost Essence could possess your son's body, it means your soul‑summoning ritual succeeded, but the Ghost Essence got there first, and the real Sun He therefore cannot enter the Underworld's cycle of rebirth—he's likely still drifting near where you performed the summoning."

"What……"

Sun Daqiang's lips trembled; these words hit him like a thunderclap from the ninth heaven.

"Exactly! Your son has become a lost soul!" the Ghost Essence screamed frenziedly, miserable and determined that no one else would fare well either.

"Noisy."

Jin Chen gave a cold snort, his five fingers tightening in the void, his indifferent eyes flashing with impatience toward it.

The Soul‑Locking Hook tightened, relentlessly crushing the Ghost Essence; amid its frenzied wails, its life was gradually taken, and finally its soul and spirit scattered.

Seeing this, the others in the office exhaled in relief.

Sun Daqiang knelt on the ground, lifted his son's corpse, burst into tears, his eyes red as he begged Jin Chen.

"Celestial Master, Celestial Master, I beg you—please find my son's soul; I'm not asking for him to return, but could you at least send him on to reincarnation……"

It's my fault…… I shouldn't have done this……

He wailed, begging Jin Chen.

Jin Chen finally stood up, naturally reaching out to embrace An Wuyang's shoulders.

"I can help you bring Sun He's soul back to the Underworld to be reincarnated, but you need to do one thing."

"You say, you say, as long as I can do it, I will certainly do my utmost!" Sun Daqiang choked up, nodding heavily.

"I need your soul-guiding ability." Jin Chen said, his expression turning grave, "But helping a cultivator guide souls will greatly damage your lifespan; you must think it through."

"No, I agree! Rest assured!"

Sun Daqiang lifted his son's corpse, feeling it as heavy as a thousand jin, tears streaming uncontrollably, "I'll be waiting for your news at any time; today I'll first bring… bring my son to be buried, wuu……"

In the end he could no longer speak a word.

Jin Chen nodded, "Tonight I will bring him back and meet you again."

An Wuyang had never experienced paternal love, and could not empathize with this feeling; when his master passed, it was also a peaceful death due to old age, and he went to the Underworld to report.

Compared to the counselor who cried hysterically after empathizing, he just stood there blankly, somewhat at a loss.