Chapter 297

The way he uttered "Master" lacked sincerity and true emotion.

This was because transactions are reciprocal. There are visible and invisible transactions; the former are openly priced, while the latter rely on personal connections. Li Zhuiyuan's initial stance was that he could accept any form of transaction. He had no choice, being relatively weak and having little room to maneuver in a precarious position. Even if he only gained a "personal favor" from the Great Emperor, Li Zhuiyuan wouldn't feel he lost out. At the very least, it offered room for imagination; as long as it wasn't cashed in, its perceived value would remain.

It was actually the Great Emperor who first broke this unspoken agreement. Yesterday, at the door of the guesthouse room, Li Zhuiyuan overheard the conversation between the two inside. The Great Emperor's final words acknowledged Li Zhuiyuan as Their direct disciple. In the entire Jianghu, few would be able to withstand such an affirmation; their hearts would undoubtedly swell with immense gratitude and pride.

However, Li Zhuiyuan was an exception. Besides emotional value, the young man had avenues to obtain practical value. As one of only two beings in the world who mastered the Twelve Edicts of Fengdu, Li Zhuiyuan possessed the ability to secretly leverage the Fengdu Great Emperor. Receiving the Great Emperor's personal acknowledgment was equivalent to gaining a legitimate spiritual authority, which would grant Li Zhuiyuan higher permissions.

Therefore, after "eavesdropping" on the conversation at the door, Li Zhuiyuan immediately returned to his room. He risked a backlash to transfer the red thread from his right hand to his left, then used a mirror to deduce the karmic entanglements behind him. However, the deduction showed no change in the phantom image of the Great Emperor behind him. This meant that the Great Emperor's declaration of "direct disciple" was truly just words, meant for entertainment and amusement. The Great Emperor had drawn a pie for him.

Li Zhuiyuan decided to eat it! "Since you were the first to give me a 'direct disciple' title with no practical value, I'll take it seriously. Our sect's foundation, I'll leverage it as much as I can. After all, I'm returning your 'Master' call."

After Li Zhuiyuan called out "Master," he received no further response from the Great Emperor. A response was no longer needed. They had reached the stage of laying out their chips; it was about taking what was available. More words and so-called emotional appeals might be "heavy," but they wouldn't tip the scales. Zhao Yi was now "dead," so he didn't witness any of this; otherwise, he would have been cheering excitedly. Comparatively, his own offering of a "dog's laziness" to the Great Emperor was just childish mischief, showing ignorance of the world. What Li did this time was truly sitting down at the table to eat.

However, the subsequent changes revealed another side of the Great Emperor. The Great Emperor was, after all, the Great Emperor. Any entity attempting to coerce Them would pay a price. Even if They couldn't overturn the table at this moment, They still had Their own way of playing.

Black lines appeared on Zhao Yi's body, starting from his limbs and finally gathering on the opposite side of his heart, where a human face emerged. It was Su Luo, the tomb owner. Li Zhuiyuan, in the passenger seat, watched this scene with a hint of solemnity in his eyes. Zhao Yi had previously continued Li Zhuiyuan's arrangements within the tomb owner's body and used the Black Book's secret technique once. He had paid a corresponding price for it, leaving behind an intractable hidden danger. This danger was originally controllable, and Su Luo's calm, non-violent nature had minimized the side effect. But now, with the further infusion of the Great Emperor's power, Su Luo was strengthened. Regardless of whether Su Luo chose to remain tranquil, his influence on Zhao Yi would inevitably intensify. The side effect of a single use of the Black Book's secret technique instantly became comparable to five or more uses. Had his strength increased? Yes, it had. But Zhao Yi would rather not have this kind of increase. Because the extent of this power increase was far outweighed by the cost required for stability, and it would sow great misfortune for the future. As Su Luo's face solidified, it began to move, shifting from Zhao Yi's chest to his shoulder, and then further, eventually covering Zhao Yi's entire face. At once, Zhao Yi's face became blurry and indistinct. Li Zhuiyuan had seen a similar scene on the person under the peach forest; now, Zhao Yi was rapidly approaching the state of Qing'an.

In the back compartment, the gifts from the new round of concessions were also being distributed. The four spiritual beasts within Tan Wenbin reappeared. Originally pure and and distinct, they gradually became twisted and ferocious with this new infusion. They had become more powerful and more violent. Whether they would still honor their original vows, and whether the Five Senses Diagram under Li Zhuiyuan's control could continue to restrain them, remained a big question mark. At the very least, when the four spiritual beasts returned to Tan Wenbin's body after this infusion, they all showed varying degrees of resistance.

The lights on the Liang sisters began to merge, even flowing interchangeably between them. From then on, the relationship between the sisters changed. They, who should have supported each other to become stronger together, became each other's predators. The weakening of one could strengthen the other, and the death of one could grant the greatest benefit to the other. It's not uncommon for siblings to turn against each other over money. What the Liang sisters now faced was a temptation to contend for something far beyond money. Could they continue to trust each other in the future?

The nascent three-way balance in Runsheng's body was shattered. Ghost energy raged powerfully, while malevolent aura and resentment resisted unwillingly, causing most of Runsheng's energy gates to become blocked and forcibly closed.

Three black lights appeared before Lin Shuyou. This time, there was no attempt to find the Boy; instead, all three were directly struck into Lin Shuyou's glabella. The white crane mark on his glabella dimmed, forcibly replaced by a black Ghost Marshal's seal. This was equivalent to sealing the Boy. If the Boy wished to revive and emerge, he would first have to contend with Lin Shuyou himself.

Certainly, rapid infusions of external power would inevitably lead to various problems; "pulling up seedlings to help them grow" has always been a pejorative term. But Li Zhuiyuan still believed that the Great Emperor could have mitigated these negative effects. Instead, the Great Emperor not only refrained from doing so but deliberately amplified the negative impacts as much as possible. The proof was that in this round of concessions, Li Zhuiyuan himself was the only one omitted. On one hand, the Great Emperor probably knew that the young man had the ability to adjust and absorb even malicious gifts. On the other hand, it was a deliberate warning. Li Zhuiyuan had no complaints about this.

On the radio, Brother Liangliang's crying gradually subsided. Li Zhuiyuan was very grateful for Brother Liangliang's persistence and help this time, even if this last effort didn't yield an outwardly good result, but rather created a host of problems. But this wasn't Xue Liangliang's fault; it was his companions who were "too weak to receive fortification." Moreover, problems weren't frightening; they could be resolved through study and effort. The development paths of his companions were originally designed by Li Zhuiyuan himself. The young man believed he could help them adjust back on track and ultimately turn a "funeral into a festive event."

Guesthouse room. Xue Liangliang was confused. Suddenly, he forgot why he was crying, why he was sitting on the floor, and why he was clutching the report tightly. Liangliang had reached his limit and could no longer continue. Old Zhai spoke at this moment: "Comrade Xiao Xue, I wish to fulfill one last wish before I retire: to be the presenter for this meeting. I hope you can grant me this." Xue Liangliang handed over the report, saying, "Of course, Old Zhai, you are indeed the most suitable person to present this report." Old Zhai reached out and took the book. This time, there was no struggle between them; Xue Liangliang let go decisively. Engineer Luo frowned, his eyes showing doubt, and turned to look at Old Zhai. He had overseen many projects and experienced the real world. When Xue Liangliang and Li Zhuiyuan were threatened by Lady Bai, Engineer Luo had even demonstrated how to plead for forgiveness before Lady Bai's statue. Therefore, he had a certain sensitivity to things that seemed incredible to ordinary people. At this moment, Engineer Luo realized that Xue Liangliang's strong emotional shift didn't seem to be entirely Xue Liangliang's own doing. "Old Zhai, you..."

"Buzz." Before Engineer Luo could finish speaking, another scene appeared in his and Xue Liangliang's vision. In this scene, both their actions and words began to rewind, all the way back to Old Zhai knocking on the door from outside. Then, from that point, it fast-forwarded again. Old Zhai entered, and the three of them discussed the meeting procedures and precautions in the room. Xue Liangliang didn't refuse or cry, and Engineer Luo didn't show doubt or confusion. Everyone conversed very naturally. Finally, Old Zhai made his reluctant request, which Engineer Luo agreed to, and Xue Liangliang readily handed over the report. From then on, everything returned to normal. The discordant wrinkles were smoothed out. Xue Liangliang and Engineer Luo were not Li Zhuiyuan from yesterday, unable to clearly perceive this change and remain conscious; they simply forgot what had happened in the "first round."

"It's getting late. I'll make some preparations before the meeting starts. My apologies for disturbing your rest." Old Zhai stood up, preparing to leave. Luo Tingrui said, "We can't sleep anyway, so let's go downstairs and have some tea together." "Alright, it'll be a good opportunity to discuss and add more information while I'm reviewing it." And so, Old Zhai, Engineer Luo, and Xue Liangliang left the room together and went to the first floor. Thinking it was too early for guesthouse staff to be on duty, Xue Liangliang brought his own tea leaves, tea set, and a thermos of hot water. However, today's meeting was extremely important, and the hospitality work was highly prioritized. The service comrades were already on standby, and several tables of people were already downstairs, drinking tea and waiting.

Old Zhai found a quiet corner and sat down, chatting with Luo Tingrui while flipping through the report, quietly awaiting the formal start of the meeting. Midway, Xue Liangliang went to the restroom. On his way back, he unconsciously stopped. It felt like there was an extremely important promise in his mind, but he couldn't recall it. "Did I actually fulfill this promise?" He looked up towards Ghost Street. A thick fog had risen that morning, completely enveloping Ghost Street in a grey haze, rendering everything invisible. Xue Liangliang's heart involuntarily felt a pang of unease.

Carrying his concerns, he walked back to the first floor and approached the corner where his teacher and Old Zhai were sitting. Xue Liangliang's gaze instinctively fell on the report Old Zhai was reading. Old Zhai tilted his head slightly, glanced at Xue Liangliang, then closed the report and placed it on the inner side of the seat. The sofa was a bit slippery, and the report slipped into the gap between the sofa and the wall. Xue Liangliang: "Old Zhai, I'll pick it up." Old Zhai stood up and refused Xue Liangliang: "No, it's alright, I can do it. You sit." He first pushed the sofa out with some difficulty, then bent down and reached for it, finally retrieving the report. He laughed self-deprecatingly: "Ah, getting old, my body really isn't as capable as it used to be. Sometimes, you just have to admit it. It's time to retire." Engineer Luo: "Even if you retire, Old Zhai, with your experience and knowledge, you can still contribute significantly. I don't believe you can truly rest." "I might see if I can go to a school and teach some students." Upon hearing this, Engineer Luo immediately looked at Xue Liangliang. Currently, graduates from Haihe University were mostly guaranteed job placements. Whoever held the power of allocation had greater influence within the university, and Xue Liangliang indeed possessed that power now. Xue Liangliang understood and directly extended an invitation: "Old Zhai, if you don't mind, you could become an honorary professor at our Haihe University, teach some classes, and broaden the students' horizons." A flicker of interest appeared on Old Zhai's face, but he didn't rush to accept. Xue Liangliang continued, "Xiao Yuan also studies there." Old Zhai smiled, "Good, once I've handed over my current responsibilities, I can stay in Jinling for a while. Jinling's charm is good for the soul." Xue Liangliang had long since noticed Old Zhai's fondness for Xiao Yuan. Of course, no teacher would dislike a student like Xiao Yuan. However, Xue Liangliang didn't tell Old Zhai that Xiao Yuan was largely absent from school nowadays. He figured it was better to successfully "trick" him into going there first.

Old Zhai opened the report again and continued reading. Seeing the teacups were empty, Xue Liangliang prepared to pour tea for both teachers. Just as he stood up, Old Zhai closed the report and leaned slightly back. Xue Liangliang joked, "You look as if I'm trying to snatch something from your hand." Old Zhai picked up his teacup, took a sip, and chuckled. He himself felt a bit inexplicable, as he genuinely had that feeling. Just then, Zheng Hua jogged in. Not seeing the people sitting in the downstairs corner, he first ran upstairs, then a moment later came back down to ask a server, finally noticing his teachers' location. Zheng Hua: "Teacher, Engineer Luo, they've arrived." Engineer Luo and Old Zhai both stood up, briefly tidied their clothes, and then walked out together to greet them. Although the meeting time was set in advance, most people would arrive very early. The meeting could begin at any time once the truly important figures had all gathered. Television crew had long since set up their equipment in the meeting hall, and a separate team was specifically assigned to film at the guesthouse entrance. The early morning sun had already risen. Fengdu was half shrouded in thick fog, and half clear and cloudless. After a series of handshakes and greetings, Engineer Luo and Old Zhai, one on each side, led a few people while being surrounded by a crowd, walking towards the auditorium. As they walked, Old Zhai stopped, and the procession on his side also halted. Everyone first looked at Old Zhai, finding him gazing up at the sky. Above their heads, a rainbow arched, exceptionally beautiful.

Li Zhuiyuan felt indifferent about being omitted from the last round of concessions. What he couldn't understand was that his real self was still, astonishingly, alive. The young man didn't know why he could endure so much. This prolonged struggle with death was also troublesome, as Li Zhuiyuan would occasionally switch into a dying state. As soon as he "returned" to Ghost Street, the feeling of his entire body being like half-melted ice cream was truly agonizing.

At this moment, the Sanskrit chanting grew louder and louder. The procession carrying the white dog and the Buddha statue was steadily approaching. Whether they were arhats carrying the palanquin or monks clearing the path, all had solemn, dignified, and refined appearances. Layers of Buddha light shone from below upwards, illuminating the entire Ghost Street. But it hesitated to act against the dark clouds above, merely illuminating themselves. The doors and windows of the shops on both sides of Ghost Street gradually opened, revealing numerous Buddha figures inside. It felt as if all the Buddha statues from a large temple had been moved to Ghost Street for an exhibition.

The procession advanced to stand before Li Zhuiyuan. The monks carried an incense aroma, which should have been refreshing and pleasant. However, there were so many monks that the scent became overwhelmingly strong, turning into an acrid, smoky haze. Li Zhuiyuan was already breathing more out than in, and with this strong scent, he began to gasp frequently, shifting between the truck beneath the Yellow River and returning to the real Ghost Street. This frequent switching made Li Zhuiyuan feel carsick. Nevertheless, even intermittently, Li Zhuiyuan noticed some clues as the palanquin passed before him. Logically, the aroma on the arhats carrying the palanquin should have been the strongest, but it wasn't. Their scent intensified in a non-spatial way. Furthermore, the footsteps of the arhats were not immediate. Even after the arhats in front had passed, their footsteps would only echo from the empty space they had previously occupied behind. Li Zhuiyuan: So, the Bodhisattva isn't synchronized with this mortal realm? There are Past Buddhas, Present Buddhas, and Future Buddhas. Judging by this, has Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva chosen to place himself in the future? Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, remarking that these beings truly concocted all sorts of methods just to live longer. Neither the monks nor the arhats paid any attention to the "half-melted" young man by the side of the street. The white dog on the palanquin, almost killed by Li Zhuiyuan's earlier attack, was now paralyzed and very quiet. However, the Buddha statue on the white dog slowly turned its head, directing its face towards Li Zhuiyuan. The familiar gaze struck again. Li Zhuiyuan knew this was the Bodhisattva scrutinizing him. But the Bodhisattva didn't simply flick a finger and extinguish him, though the young man quite hoped they would. It's just that the Bodhisattva didn't "crush" this little ant. Because at present, Li Zhuiyuan could do nothing but melt away and await death; killing him or not was meaningless.

The front of the procession stopped before the offering table Li Zhuiyuan had left. All the monks chanted sutras. Streams of belief converged on the palanquin, forming circulating golden light. A large, pure-white, jade-like hand extended from this golden light, raised a finger, and pointed forward. "Hum!" Like ripples, a horrifying scream erupted, and endless ghost shadows overflowed, roaming the entire Ghost Street. Even though the monks throughout the street were chanting sutras, they still couldn't suppress the slight overflow of ghost energy at this moment. Li Zhuiyuan automatically blocked out the roaring of the malevolent spirits. He now heard an extremely faint sound of flowing water. It wasn't raining, nor was it a dock. There was genuinely a river, as if descending from the heavens, flowing smoothly towards him after being caressed. This was... river water. The reason he came to Fengdu this time was the river water propelled by the Bodhisattva. Li Zhuiyuan had the authority to open the Ghost Gate, and the Bodhisattva had the ability to do so. Even if the young man didn't personally open the Ghost Gate, as long as he came to Ghost Street and drew the river water, the Bodhisattva could then use the river water to push the gate open. As long as the key was here, the decision to open the gate no longer depended on the key's consent.

"Rumble!" The Ghost Gate was opening, bringing with it an aura of decay and antiquity. More and more ghost energy surged out. All the monks on the street sat cross-legged, golden marks appearing between their brows. Subsequently, as soon as this large amount of ghost energy exited the Ghost Gate, it was actively absorbed into the monks' bodies. Li Zhuiyuan watched as many monks' faces turned green, transforming from benevolent expressions to twisted and ferocious ones. They were using this self-sacrificing method to help the Bodhisattva share the burden of this pressure. Even if Li Zhuiyuan thought they didn't need to do this—if a Bodhisattva couldn't endure such minor pressure, they might as well descend from the lotus platform sooner. They chose to do so voluntarily, seeking a sense of great satisfaction. The Bodhisattva didn't stop them, nor did They reach out to help them share the burden, even though it would have been very simple for Them.

The opened Ghost Gate was no longer merely a door; it was more like a newly torn rift, a scar left upon the world. The arhats carrying the palanquin stopped there. Even though the Ghost Gate was open, they did not proceed. The large hand reached out once more, grasping a corner of the Ghost Gate. Soon, streaks of golden light spread from the hand towards the Ghost Gate. Li Zhuiyuan finally understood: the Bodhisattva had no intention of entering the Ghost Gate and the Underworld at all. The Bodhisattva had deceived the world, deceived the myths. Of course, it's possible that the Bodhisattva once intended to preside over the Underworld, but now, perhaps They had changed Their mind. The Bodhisattva wouldn't enter. They wanted to seize control of the Ghost Gate and seal it forever. A Ghost Gate that could no longer be opened would lose its meaning, and an Underworld completely cut off from the outside world would cease to have value. Eternal sealing meant destruction. Then, the Bodhisattva could create a new Underworld from scratch, one belonging to Them, redefining the relationship between Yin and Yang according to Their own blueprint. It must be said, this truly aligned with the Bodhisattva's typical behavior: abandoning the True Monarch to be eternally sealed, and then establishing the Guanjiang Shou system.

The malevolence on the Ghost Gate was continuously being transformed by the Buddha light. When the Buddha light completely covered the entire Ghost Gate, it would mean the Bodhisattva had gained full control. The speed, while not slow, wasn't exactly fast either. It was probably because only one hand was being used. So, where was the other hand guarding against? Li Zhuiyuan's peripheral vision glanced towards the outside of Ghost Street. Perhaps, it was guarding against the Great Emperor outside. From this perspective, the Bodhisattva was convinced that Old Zhai was the true Fengdu Great Emperor, or alternatively, that the true Great Emperor was not in Fengdu at this moment. Immortals were all setting traps for each other, constantly on guard. This level of confrontation, with the Heavenly Dao suppressing them from above, was no longer a straightforward fight upon meeting. There were myriad factors to consider. Let's see who wins in the end. Li Zhuiyuan felt it would be the Great Emperor who won. Even though the Bodhisattva's actions and true intentions surprised and even subverted Li Zhuiyuan's original expectations, this didn't affect his judgment of the outcome, as he hadn't factored in the Bodhisattva's variable in the first place. He thought the Great Emperor would win because in this wave of events, the Great Emperor's direct intervention was minimal. Unlike the Bodhisattva, who never appeared in person, Their obvious interventions were very frequent. Li Zhuiyuan believed that the one with the confidence to sit back and watch had a greater chance of winning. How long had he been "walking the river"? The Bodhisattva picked up his own "blade," but the Great Emperor had already been operating as Old Zhai for so long.

"Boom!" Just then, two massive, withered hands stretched out from within the Ghost Gate, seizing the Bodhisattva's pure white, sacred hand. Immediately after, they began to pull it into the Ghost Gate. The moment they made contact, a terrifying ripple of aftermath spread. Fortunately, they were above, and the impact point was also high up; if it had happened on the ground, Li Zhuiyuan believed at least this Ghost Street would have been instantly obliterated. The Bodhisattva had miscalculated; the Great Emperor was in Fengdu. The Great Emperor was forcibly dragging the Bodhisattva, who sought to control the Ghost Gate, into Fengdu's Underworld. The Bodhisattva's other hand extended, and both sides began to exert their strength. The image of four hands quickly dissolved, replaced by a stalemate between the black aura of the Great Emperor and the Bodhisattva's Buddha light. Both sides were expending their foundations.

At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan felt that all the suffering he had endured while alive was worth it. A confrontation of this magnitude was rare and impossible to seek out, and even if one did find it... one shouldn't expect to get close and watch safely. Unlike now, where he was just a rotten life anyway. If he died, he'd merely reunite with his companions in the truck. If he could still live, even if a small ripple of the aftermath obliterated him, it wouldn't matter. At this point, his mission in this "wave" was complete. He had painstakingly traveled thousands of miles to get here, all to act as a matchmaker for Them, to set up a card table.

The stalemate continued. Li Zhuiyuan couldn't discern who had the upper hand; it seemed an evenly matched contest. Normally, this wouldn't be possible. Although Li Zhuiyuan didn't know how strong these two "immortals" truly were, there was no reason for them to be equally strong. So, one side wasn't using its full power. They likely felt no need to go all out, because the next move was imminent. But the Great Emperor was also inside. Once that next move appeared, wouldn't it impact the Great Emperor as well? Li Zhuiyuan thought this was also likely the main reason the Bodhisattva previously believed the Great Emperor's true form was outside, not just because They had met the figure behind Old Zhai in the guesthouse. In summary, in this strategic contest, the Great Emperor was ruthless to Themselves, to a degree that even Their opponent hadn't anticipated.

Guesthouse, Grand Auditorium. Old Zhai, as the presenter, stood on stage delivering his report. Although advanced in years, his voice was now resounding, and his articulation very clear. As he spoke, the future vision of the project gradually unfolded in the minds of the attendees. The report wasn't very long, but every word within it concerned the destinies of countless people. How many cultural relics needed emergency protective relocation? How many people had to pack their bags and move to their assigned new hometowns? How much of this city would be completely submerged underwater? In the past, "the transformation of oceans into mulberry fields" implied a long passage of time, but now, this possibility could be realized in a short period. Old Zhai grew tired of speaking. As he picked up his teacup for a drink, he gestured for Xue Liangliang to come up and provide additional data. Xue Liangliang's supplementary information made the images in the attendees' minds even more vivid. Many people lowered their heads to look at their feet or raised their hands. In the attendees' perception, the future of this place collided with its present. Because they believed the project would be completed and successful, they believed the future described in the report would inevitably arrive, which in turn impacted their present reality. Many people smiled self-deprecatingly after making this gesture, which indirectly illustrated the high quality of this report. Technical discussions and validations had long concluded. The formal implementation and progression of the project now required the full cooperation of many departments. Therefore, it was particularly important for everyone to clearly understand what was being done and what would be achieved.

Xue Liangliang finished his supplementary remarks and stepped down from the stage. Old Zhai pointed at Xue Liangliang's retreating figure and said to the audience: "This is Old Luo's proud student. In terms of nurturing students, Old Luo is indeed ahead of me. Just like our project, it is foreseeable that it will take a very long time, and even after completion, all aspects of its future will still require maintenance, and even protection. The burden we've taken from our predecessors is destined to be passed on to the next generation. We must not only believe in the wisdom of future generations but also trust that those with better platforms will be even wiser than us, just as our predecessors once viewed us." Applause erupted from the audience. Luo Tingrui applauded while his eyes searched for Li Zhuiyuan. Old Zhai's previous words contained an element of politeness, but the cultivation of students and disciples had always been Luo Tingrui's proudest achievement. As long as they continued to strive and build on the front lines, even if he grew old and could only lie in a sickbed, he would still feel a strong sense of participation. In the ever-changing future, there would be a tiny spark of glory belonging to him.

"Liangliang, where's Xiao Yuan?" "He should be sitting at the back of the auditorium. You know, the front seats aren't very convenient." The seating arrangement for this meeting was very strict. Luo Tingrui chuckled, "What's inconvenient about it? If it comes to it, he can sit on my lap." Xue Liangliang: "Teacher, are you trying to show off this little top scholar while Xiao Yuan is still young?" Luo Tingrui: "Being a top scholar is nothing anymore. I saw the things Xiao Yuan organized during the meeting that day. In terms of professionalism, Xiao Yuan has already caught up to, or even surpassed, you, his senior brother." Xue Liangliang: "Isn't that quite normal?" Luo Tingrui nodded: "Indeed." Old Zhai concluded his report without any unnecessary delay. As he spoke the final sentences, he closed the report and folded it in his hand. "Thank you all. My report is finished." After he finished speaking, Old Zhai forcefully slammed the report onto the table in front of him. "Clap!" Everyone in the hall stood up and applauded enthusiastically, as this meeting could also be seen as a mobilization rally before the project began.

A shadow detached itself from behind Old Zhai. Old Zhai walked down from the stage, while the shadow drifted upwards. At this moment, streaks of radiant light had gathered there. The shadow stood in the center of the radiant light, raised its hand, and pointed towards the area of Ghost Street still shrouded in thick fog. In a flash, the radiant light soared away. These lights were conviction, belief, the fearless courage to make the sun and moon change their appearance and reshape this world, and furthermore, the highest level of luck. It would ebb and flow, rise and fall, but at this moment, it was surging like a rainbow, with the five stars emerging from the east, unstoppable!

"Ksitigarbha, you wish to seal my Fengdu and recreate the Underworld. Then today, I will personally help you fulfill your grand vow. Enter My hell, and for Me, suppress all ghosts!"

Ghost Street. The dark clouds in the sky were instantly pierced with countless large holes. A power beyond description crashed down, heavily striking the Buddha light. The stalemate was instantly broken. The Buddha light involuntarily began to move towards the Ghost Gate. But this Ghost Gate was one the Bodhisattva didn't want to enter. "If I don't enter hell, who will?" and "I will not attain Buddhahood until hell is empty" referred to Their own hell. When a new hell was first established, it would naturally be empty. The Bodhisattva would then logically attain Buddhahood. The Buddha light was further compressed, and entering the Ghost Gate seemed inevitable. But at this moment, though the Buddha light persisted, it clearly stratified. A solemn voice echoed from above: "My being is in the future." Being in the future could not only obscure the Heavenly Dao's perception but also allow escape from this carefully orchestrated vortex at this very moment. However, this statement also indicated that in this strategic confrontation, the Bodhisattva had conceded defeat. The Bodhisattva was no longer considering how to win but was planning Their escape. But was hiding in the future truly effective? When Li Zhuiyuan saw the "water" continuously rising before him, the young man knew the Bodhisattva likely couldn't escape. This "water" was not like the previous "river water"; it was more realistic and more turbulent. Most importantly, this "water" also came from the future. This place in the future would be submerged. The waves furiously surged upwards, and eventually, the previously stratified Buddha light was squeezed out once more. Radiant light and water waves converged, forming an extremely terrifying power that roared.

"Yin Changsheng..." The Bodhisattva only managed to utter this sound before the Buddha light was completely swept into the Ghost Gate. Also swept down with it was the Fengdu Great Emperor, who was inside the Ghost Gate. This impact hadn't ended and was very persistent. Keep in mind, this was a force even the Bodhisattva couldn't resist, yet it was now rushing through the Ghost Gate into the Underworld, as if the apocalypse of the netherworld had arrived. Li Zhuiyuan was quite curious. If conditions allowed, he would truly like to enter the Underworld and see, but at present, conditions absolutely did not permit it. The young man didn't know how much ruin would remain in the Underworld after this scour, but from the Great Emperor's perspective, since the Bodhisattva intended to seal the Underworld and rebuild a new one, it would be better to drag the Bodhisattva in, subdue Them under Their own authority, and then undertake the reconstruction Themselves. This way, They would both deal with a powerful adversary who contended for Their lineage and reduce the power of various factions that had begun secretly acting independently, all without getting Their own hands dirty. Li Zhuiyuan sat on the ground, having witnessed the entire event. At this moment, he felt a void, similar to what one feels after watching an outdoor movie in a village—very satisfied yet still wanting more.

"Creak... creak..." The Ghost Gate, which had only recently opened, began to close. The dramatic reshuffle concluded. What remained was for the victor to reset the table. A black shadow swept across the river, landed on the dock, and then proceeded up Ghost Street. Li Zhuiyuan watched him approach. On him, the young man saw the image of the Great Emperor, combined with the familiarity of Old Zhai. Old Zhai was Old Zhai, and the Great Emperor was the Great Emperor. Although one was derived from the other, they were not a single entity. Now, the Great Emperor had separated from Old Zhai. Currently, this black shadow would return to the Underworld to merge with its true self, and Old Zhai, from this point forward, would have no further entanglement with the Great Emperor. Living long certainly had its advantages; you could even dedicate part of your mind to experiencing almost an entire lifetime of someone else. But Li Zhuiyuan didn't envy this advantage. If one could freely experience others' lives, who would continue to cherish their own? After living someone else's life for an entire lifetime, what would be the point of returning to one's own? It would be utterly meaningless.

The young man's body was melting, but his mind remained clear. So, as the black shadow passed before him, the young man mustered his last bit of strength and raised his hand. "Squish... squish..." His own body was like an undercooked egg flipped over, with its contents oozing out. Li Zhuiyuan himself felt utterly disgusting at this moment. But he stubbornly reached out his hand, grasping for the black shadow's ankle. At this moment, his breath was no longer labored, and his strength increased slightly. Yes, it must be the final burst of energy before death. Li Zhuiyuan looked at the black shadow and asked: "Where's Mengmeng?" There was no sign of Mengmeng in the truck. The young man's hand grasped at air. The black shadow continued forward, not bothering to glance at the young man, not even pausing. The past display of anger was fake. Tracing back, Li Zhuiyuan could reasonably suspect that even the Great Emperor's original edict to annihilate that entire family was a groundwork for today's scheme. The Great Emperor had always been alive, not sealed in slumber. How could a being who had lived for so long retain human emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness? Oh no, earlier in the truck, the Great Emperor's remark, "How vast is your appetite?" probably did stem from genuine anger. Because he, through Liangliang, had successfully offended the Great Emperor and encroached upon Their majesty.

The black shadow walked towards the slowly closing Ghost Gate. Li Zhuiyuan's weak voice continued to echo: "We came together, so we must go back together. Release Mengmeng. This is no longer her home; I need to take her back to her home in Nantong." The black shadow entered the Ghost Gate, completely ignoring him. Li Zhuiyuan: "In the last round just now, you left me out. I didn't receive the reward from that round. It's unreasonable and illogical for everyone else to get something and for me to be omitted. It would make me lose face." The black shadow turned around from inside the gate. This time, he was looking at Li Zhuiyuan. Although his true face wasn't visible, one could sense that he found this moment a little amusing, even a little ridiculous. Because Li Zhuiyuan's current appearance and the words the young man had just spoken indeed carried a hint of innocence that shouldn't typically be found in him. Was it pleading? Was it coquetry? Was he seeking genuine acknowledgment? "You truly dare to think, and you truly dare to ask." The black shadow simply stood within the doorway, giving Li Zhuiyuan a final look. After all, this child was also his "successor," albeit verbally. The Ghost Gate had closed to only a narrow slit, and this slit was precisely where the black shadow stood. Soon, the Ghost Gate would seal this gap, ending the gaze between the black shadow and the young man.

However, just then, an extremely abrupt sound was heard: "Click!" The Ghost Gate was jammed, motionless, perfectly leaving a gap wide enough for the black shadow and the young man to stare at each other. The black shadow first looked up, then looked back at Li Zhuiyuan, who was melting on the street outside. The young man's pleading stopped, and the humility in his eyes vanished, replaced by his most accustomed serenity. If his facial skin weren't severely cracked and unable to make extra movements, Li Zhuiyuan would have truly wanted to try to curve his lips into a faint smile for the black shadow in the doorway. "You can ignore me, walk calmly past me; but in the end, you'll have to walk back the same way you walked past."

When Zhao Yi previously went to his death, why was it so simple and unceremonious, failing to create the aesthetic of death he desired? Because he had been drained dry by Li Zhuiyuan before he went to his death. Li Zhuiyuan's final choice to perish with Di Ting was also because he himself had been drained and couldn't perform any additional actions. It's worth noting that he could have used the Fengdu Great Array to suppress Di Ting and gain an opportunity to directly face the Bodhisattva. Even if the inevitable outcome was being killed by a flick of the Bodhisattva's finger, this experience would still have been incredibly valuable. Yet, Li Zhuiyuan still gave it up. When lending his mind to Li Zhuiyuan, Zhao Yi had shown Li Zhuiyuan a look of shock and admiration. Because he "saw" what Li was secretly doing!

The black shadow stepped out from the Ghost Gate's slit. His features began to sharpen, and his gaze, unveiled, looked at the dying young man on the ground. It was no longer amusement, ridicule, or pity, but rather a solemn expression filled with intense complexity. He had originally thought that Xue Liangliang's persistence was the young man's greatest reliance, setting a hurdle for him in the simplest part of his plan. But he hadn't expected the truly simplest link to be right here. At this moment, he even spoke voluntarily, his voice containing a deliberately suppressed majesty, making his tone as calm and gentle as possible: "Disciple, tell your Master, what have you secretly done?"

"Master, I changed the formation of our family's main gate."