Chapter 637

Zhang Fu and He Zu exchanged a glance, their faces and eyes brimming with undisguised excitement and gratitude, and they spoke in unison:

Translation: Zhang Fu and Zuo He exchanged a glance, their faces and eyes filled with undisguised excitement and gratitude, speaking in unison:

Note: the phrase means "said in unison".

Daoist Withered Wood, your great kindness and virtue—we cannot repay you in this lifetime. If we are fortunate enough to be reborn in the next life, regain our memories, we will surely repay you!

Translation: "Kumu Daozhang, your great kindness and virtue, we cannot repay in this lifetime; if in the next life we can be reborn in time and regain our memories, we will surely repay you!"

We need to keep punctuation. Use quotes.

Having said that, Zhang Fu and He Zu flew toward the Ghost Gate at top speed.

Translation: After saying that, Zhang Fu and Zuo He flew toward Guimen Guan at top speed.

These words.

Translation: These words.

It's not that they're being sarcastic; they're speaking from the heart. Although they all met their end at the hands of Daoist Xuanqing, it's impossible for them to have no resentment toward him.

Translation: It's not that they're being sarcastic; these are their sincere words. Although they were killed by Xuanqing Daozhang, it's impossible for them to bear no grudge against him.

They have wandered the martial world for years, doing little good and plenty of evil—robbery and murder are commonplace for them.

Translation: They've wandered the martial world for so many years, doing few good deeds but many bad ones, and banditry is commonplace.

Countless cultivators have died at their hands, but since they are not demonic cultivators and souls are useless to them, they have never bothered to tamper with the souls of those they killed.

Translation: Unknown how many cultivators have died miserably at their hands; they are not evil cultivators, and souls are useless to them, so they never bothered to tamper with the souls of those cultivators they killed.

Moreover, having roamed the martial world for so long, they have not only heard of but actually seen many demonic cultivators—Kong Yuan Si being one of them.

Translation: But having roamed the martial world for so many years, they've not only heard of, but actually seen many evil cultivators; Kong Yuan Si is one of them.

Such demonic cultivators deserve heavenly punishment; they ruthlessly slaughter cultivators and also attack ordinary people to seize their souls, refining them into feral ghosts to serve as their lackeys.

Translation: These evil cultivators deserve heavenly punishment; they not only ruthlessly kill cultivators, they also attack common folk to seize their souls, refining them into feral ghosts to serve as their lackeys.

Cultivators like them, if they meet a grisly end at the hands of demonic cultivators, fare worse than death—they lose even the chance to be reborn.

Translation: For cultivators like them, if they die horribly at the hands of evil cultivators, it's worse than death, and they have no chance of reincarnation.

Nowadays.

Translation: Now.

Although they perished at the hands of Daoist Xuanqing, he not only did nothing to harm them but actually helped them summon the Ghost Gate, which can at least cleanse half of their karmic debt. How could they still resent him for killing them?

Translation: They were slain by Xuanqing Daozhang, yet he did nothing to them; on the contrary, he helped them summon Guimen Guan, which can at least cleanse half of their sins—how could they still resent him for killing them?

After all.

Translation: After all.

Cultivators who have done every conceivable evil cannot be said to have completely disregarded life and death; at the very least, they know that if they can ruthlessly kill others today, others will surely do the same to them someday.

Translation: For cultivators who commit every conceivable evil, one cannot say they have long disregarded life and death; at least they know that if they can ruthlessly kill others today, others will surely ruthlessly kill them someday.

Even if they didn't die by Daoist Xuanqing's hand, they would still die at someone else's—and that person would not, like Xuanqing, help them summon the Ghost Gate after killing them. If they fell into the hands of a ruthless cultivator, they might not even get a chance to be reborn.

Translation: Even if they didn't die by Xuanqing Daozhang's hand, they'd still die at someone else's—and that person wouldn't, like Xuanqing Daozhang, help them summon Guimen Guan after killing them; if they encountered a ruthless cultivator, they might not even get a chance to be reborn.

Ding! You have successfully performed the liberation rite for Zhang Fu's soul, earning his heartfelt gratitude. Congratulations, you receive a reward: Merit +11,401!

Translation: "Ding! You successfully performed soul salvation on Zhang Fu's spirit, receiving his heartfelt gratitude. Congratulations, you earned a reward: Merit +11401!"

Ding! You have successfully performed the liberation rite for He Zu's soul, earning his heartfelt gratitude. Congratulations, you receive a reward: Merit +13,101!

Translation: "Ding! You successfully performed soul salvation on Zuo He's spirit, receiving his heartfelt gratitude. Congratulations, you earned a reward: Merit +13101!"

Two mechanical, icy tones rang out in his mind one after another. Although Wang Ping'an had anticipated this, even though he was far away at the Yue family residence, his young face could not hide his excitement.

Translation: Two mechanical, cold-toned voices sounded in his mind; although Wang Ping'an had expected this, being far away at the Le Family's residence, his face could not hide his excitement.

Slaying Zhang Fu and He Zu alone contributed over twenty thousand merit; performing the liberation rites for their souls added another twenty thousand. Adding the merit from killing numerous warriors earlier—several thousand each—brings the total to over fifty thousand merit.

Translation: Slaying Zhang Fu and Zuo He together contributed over twenty thousand merit; performing soul salvation on their two spirits likewise contributed over twenty thousand merit; adding to that the merit from slaying warrior after warrior earlier, which contributed several thousand, the total exceeds fifty thousand merit.

Wait!

Translation: "Wait!"

Wang Ping'an suddenly realized, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the countless corpses strewn across the distance, and muttered to himself, "I'm such an idiot—I forgot to perform the liberation rites for them too!"

Translation: Wang Ping'an suddenly realized, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the distant corpses lying on the ground, and muttered to himself: "I'm clueless—I forgot to perform soul salvation on them too!"

As he spoke, Wang Ping'an strode briskly to each warrior's corpse, focused his mind, silently recited the liberation sutra, activated the "Liberation" skill, and once again gradually formed a Ghost Gate in the sky. As the gate opened, a terrifying suction emanated from it, pulling the souls of the warriors one by one out of their bodies.

Translation: As he spoke, Wang Ping'an strode to each warrior's corpse, focused his mind, silently recited the soul salvation scripture, used the skill: Soul Salvation, once again gradually forming Guimen Guan in the sky; as Guimen Guan opened, a terrifying suction emanated from it, pulling the souls of warrior after warrior out of their bodies.

When the warriors' spirits saw the Ghost Gate appearing above, they initially felt joy—but upon catching sight of the paper figure controlled by Wang Ping'an in their peripheral vision, their faces and eyes filled with undisguised anger and icy killing intent.

Translation: When these warriors' spirits saw Guimen Guan in the sky, they were initially pleased, but when they caught sight of the paper person controlled by Wang Ping'an in their peripheral vision, their faces and eyes filled with undisguised anger and icy killing intent.

They did not die beneath a flying sword, but rather were cut down in the pursuit of generals and cavalry.

Translation: They did not die beneath a flying sword, but rather at the hands of pursuing officers and cavalry.

Although they were not slain by Wang Ping'an's own hand, seeing the paper figure he controlled made it obvious who the true murderer was—Wang Ping'an himself.

Translation: Although they were not killed by Wang Ping'an's hand, seeing the paper person he controlled at this moment, how could they not realize that the true murderer of them was Wang Ping'an?

Don't think they were merely guards for Zhu Xing; their benefits in the Zhu household were far from ordinary, with most of them enjoying multiple wives and concubines.

Translation: Don't think they're merely Zhu Xing's guards; their benefits in the Zhu Clan are far from ordinary, most having multiple wives and concubines.

This is the fruit of their years of arduous cultivation, one of their ultimate dreams. Although they know that passing through the Ghost Gate can at least cleanse half of their karmic debt—sparing them a trip through the eighteen layers of hell—and even accelerate their rebirth compared to ordinary spirits by an untold factor.

Translation: This is the fruit of their years of arduous training, one of their ultimate dreams. Although they know that passing through Guimen Guan can at least cleanse half of their sins, sparing them a trip to the Eighteen Levels of Hell, their reincarnation timing would be far earlier than that of ordinary ghosts—by who knows how many times.

However.

Translation: However.

They clearly understand that even if their chance to be reborn comes sooner than that of other ghosts, unless they are reborn into a wealthy family, regaining their present enjoyment is nearly impossible. Their ability to serve as Zhu Xing's guards came from enduring half a lifetime of hardship, rising above countless martial cultivators.

Translation: They clearly understand that even if their chance to be reborn comes earlier than other ghosts', unless they are reborn into a wealthy family, regaining their current enjoyment is nearly impossible; their ability to become Zhu Xing's guards came from enduring half a lifetime of hardship, standing out among countless martial practitioners.

Throughout that time, they never considered giving up, yet they persisted again and again.

Translation: During that time they had thought of letting go, yet they persisted again and again.

In the next life.

Translation: In the next life.

Whether they can achieve that again, they lack much confidence.

Translation: Whether they could do it again, they lack much confidence.

What's more.

Translation: Moreover.

Given their circumstances—whether in ascetic practice or serving as Zhu Xing's guards—they have never done a single good deed, but have committed plenty of evil. Even if the Ghost Gate could cleanse half of their karma and speed up their morning opportunities, in their next life they would hardly stand a chance of being reborn into a wealthy family, let alone being reborn as a human at all.

Translation: Given their situation, whether in ascetic training or serving as Zhu Xing's guards, they have never done a good deed, but have committed many bad ones; even if Guimen Guan could cleanse half of their sins and speed up their morning opportunities, in their next life they would hardly stand a chance of being reborn into a wealthy family, let alone being human at all.

They might end up reborn as beasts in their next life!

Translation: Perhaps in the next life they can only be reborn as beasts!

All of this is the fault of that paper figure before them!

Translation: All this is the fault of that paper person before our eyes!

Various miscellaneous thoughts arose in each warrior's spirit, and an inexpressible resentment welled up in their hearts.

The note states that various miscellaneous thoughts arose in each warrior's spirit, and an inexpressible resentment welled up in their hearts.

In this novel, you have arrived at this point.

Translation: This novel you have reached

Finally.

Translation: the end.

One after another, the warriors' spirits could no longer suppress the killing intent toward Wang Ping'an welling up in their hearts; they resisted the suction from the Ghost Gate, bared their fangs and claws like vengeful ghosts, and lunged at him from all directions.

Translation: Warrior after warrior's spirit could no longer restrain the killing intent toward Wang Ping'an in their hearts; they resisted the suction from Guimen Guan, bared fangs and claws, like vengeful ghosts seeking lives, and flew at Wang Ping'an from all directions.

"I gave you a chance to be reborn—why don't you cherish it?"

Translation: "I gave you a chance to be reborn, yet you don't know how to cherish it?"

Wang Ping'an had originally hoped that by summoning the Ghost Gate and sending these warriors' souls to be reborn, he would once again gain a large amount of merit; even if he couldn't match the twenty‑plus thousand merit from He Zu and Zhang Fu directly, at the very least the total would still exceed fifty thousand.

Translation: Wang Ping'an had originally hoped to summon Guimen Guan, send these warriors' spirits to be reborn, and thus gain a large amount of merit; even if he couldn't match Zuo He and Zhang Fu, who each contributed over twenty thousand merit directly, at least the total would still reach over fifty thousand.

After all.

Translation: After all.

The number of warriors he has slain is not small.

Translation: There are not a few warriors who have died under his hand.

This way, he would have earned over one hundred thousand merit in total, allowing him to test what proficiency level comes after mastering the Great Accomplishment realm skill.

Translation: This way he would have obtained over one hundred thousand merit in total, and he could test what proficiency lies ahead for the Greater Attainment Realm skill.

He never expected this.

Translation: He never expected this.

The warriors' souls that he had pulled from their bodies with the Ghost Gate, instead of passing through it to be reborn, bared their fangs and claws and lunged at him, seemingly intent on tearing him to pieces to vent their hatred.

Translation: The warriors' spirits that he had pulled from their bodies with Guimen Guan, instead of going through Guimen Guan to be reborn, bared fangs and claws and flew at him, seemingly wanting to tear him to pieces to vent their hatred.

"If you want to die, then I'll grant your wish!"

Translation: "Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Wang Ping'an let out a quiet, cold snort.

Translation: Wang Ping'an gave a cold snort to himself.

Skill: Soul Devour!

Translation: Skill: Soul Devouring!

(End of Chapter)