Chapter 88: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Tang Wei saw that it feared fire, so she simply gathered a fireball in her palm and hurled it into the black mist. Her fireball was no ordinary thing, nothing like the balls of spiritual energy conjured by Long Wei. Though Little Fire was still young, it was already superior to the finest core flames of the cultivation world, and it would only grow stronger, destined to become the most powerful divine fire. Ordinary flames could not compare. The fireball Tang Wei wielded was born of Little Fire’s own blaze, the natural bane of sinister arts, so she had no reason to fear the black mist.

Indeed, with a single scream, the vast expanse of black mist vanished. It was Tang Wei’s first battle, and she was so pleased with her achievement that she couldn’t help but cry out excitedly, "Wow! That’s amazing!" Her shout drew everyone’s attention, and those fleeing for their lives, seeing her prowess, rushed toward her.

Tang Wei did not hold back; fireballs flew from her hands one after another, as if they cost nothing. The black mist suffered grievously, recoiling and gathering inward. Soon, it was reduced to a single mass, and Tang Wei pressed her advantage, quickly catching up to Zi Xuan, who was rescuing others with his sword.

Seeing Tang Wei’s spirit fire was effective, Zi Xuan abandoned his swordplay and began muttering, evidently thinking of a new technique. As expected, a beam of light streamed steadily from his hand, and whenever the black mist touched the golden radiance, it shrank swiftly inward. The light in Zi Xuan’s hand extended into a mesh, growing larger and larger until it enveloped the entire black mist.

The golden net began to contract, and the black mist no longer transformed into grasping hands but compressed tightly, struggling to break free of the net. Tang Wei, observing Zi Xuan’s method, imitated him, shaping her spirit fire into a line, wrapping it ceaselessly around Zi Xuan’s golden net. In moments, a faint firelight adorned the net, just as it had once wrapped around Tang Wei herself.

Tang Wei’s spirit fire was the nemesis of the black mist. Once her fire entwined it, the mist erupted in wails and howls so mournful and harrowing that one’s hair stood on end. The black mist diminished rapidly, gradually revealing Bai Mei and his six puppet figures at its center.

Bai Mei’s face was deathly pale, his body limp as if stripped of bones, sprawled on the ground. His clothes were drenched, making him look every bit the soaked chicken, listless and defeated. The ornamental whisk he always carried was now nothing but a heap of ragged threads and a bare stick, lying on a nearby slope—so much for heavenly silkworm threads; it was merely a ghostly artifact he used for soul refinement. The recent ordeal, if it did not kill him, at least left him gravely wounded.

Zi Xuan was intrigued by him. He had thought the security department was useless, but it turned out this man truly had some skill. Who would have imagined that on a little planet like Earth, someone could practice ghost-banishing arts to such mastery, even innovating beyond tradition? Zi Xuan had to admit that exceptional talent could be found anywhere. If Bai Mei were not so steeped in evil, Zi Xuan might have wanted to nurture him, for geniuses are rare.

Long Wei was still locked in battle with the black soul threads inside him. Zi Xuan had no intention of assisting, instead approaching Bai Mei and smiling, "I must admit, you’re quite capable—collecting so many vengeful spirits to forge such a ruthless ghost artifact. Have you never felt any guilt?"

Hearing Zi Xuan mention ghost artifacts, Bai Mei was stunned; he never expected anyone else in the world to know about them, believing himself the sole keeper of such knowledge. He strained to open his eyes to see who this person was, only to find a young man before him, which left him disappointed. He sighed, glanced longingly at his ruined whisk, and closed his eyes, unwilling to let go.

Ghost cultivators were a branch of demon cultivation. Thousands of years ago, deemed too poisonous and sinister, they were purged and their methods destroyed. Since then, ghost cultivation faded from memory, its true nature unknown even in the cultivation world, where such practitioners were exceedingly rare. Who would have thought a lineage survived on Earth? Had Zi Xuan not come across records detailing these cultivators in Ziyang’s collected notes, he would not have recognized what he was dealing with today.

Bai Mei’s sect passed its teachings to a single disciple each generation, training them secretly. After the great catastrophe a millennium ago, the art was never spoken of again, and many were unaware of its existence—even Long Wei and the others believed Bai Mei practiced some crooked path.

Now, after generations and Bai Mei’s own repeated refinements, his nearly completed ghost artifact was destroyed, and he himself was suffering the backlash of ghostly energy, his meridians almost entirely severed. Even if he tried to cultivate again, he would never achieve anything; Bai Mei was now entirely at the mercy of others.

Zi Xuan saw his resigned demeanor and realized he would have to use special methods to extract information. Noting Bai Mei’s attachment to the whisk, Zi Xuan knew where his breakthrough lay. He feigned regret, saying, "Such a pity about the materials for this ghost artifact. Had you used the proper method, when it was complete, even I might not have been its match. Alas, what a shame!"

Tang Wei didn’t know what he was up to but didn’t ask, merely watched from the side.

Seeing Bai Mei unmoved, Zi Xuan continued, "To collect so many fierce ghosts and spirits, but use the wrong method—of course you must always fear the backlash of ghostly energy!"

Bai Mei suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Zi Xuan, "How do you know my method was wrong? Have you seen the forging of such artifacts?"

"Of course I know. I’ve seen it in my master’s records. Why? Do you want to know? You’re going to die anyway, so what does it matter?" Zi Xuan dangled the answer, wanting to see how obsessed Bai Mei truly was. Only by confirming this could he proceed with his plan.

Bai Mei was not foolish. He spoke directly, "What will it take for you to tell me the true method? No need to test me; I’ll do whatever you want. I just want the real answer." He sighed, his gaze turning distant as if recalling his life, and continued, "From the moment my master passed it to me, my whole life was devoted to forging it. I tried countless ways, but this was the best I could manage. I thought it would never be more than this. Yet you know the real method—if you tell me, I can die without regret."

Zi Xuan did not wish to waste words. "I’ll ask you a few questions. If you answer honestly, I’ll tell you the method. Fair enough? You must promise your answers are true."

Without hesitation, Bai Mei raised a hand and swore, "I, Daoist Bai Mei Wu Zichang, vow that if there is a single lie in my answers, my soul will fall into the eighteenth level of hell and never be reborn." Truly a ghost cultivator—so ruthless even with himself.

Such an oath reassured Zi Xuan. He began, "You killed the Twin Monsters of Tianshan, didn’t you?"

Bai Mei nodded.

"And the little girl who traveled with them—whom did you hand her to?"

Though puzzled as to how Zi Xuan knew he handed her over, Bai Mei did not question further and answered, "A man in black. I don’t know his identity; he came to me and exchanged ten boys with spiritual roots for her." Bai Mei recounted every detail, even the location of the exchange.

Zi Xuan asked several more questions but could not find any useful clues. After a moment’s silence, he was convinced the true mastermind could not be found through Bai Mei. He sighed, "To forge your ghost artifact, you must first purge the fierce ghosts’ resentment, then use four spirit ghosts as generals, each controlling a direction, harnessing their essence for true success. You used their resentment for attack without any means to suppress it. As the number of fierce ghosts grew, so did the malevolence. Fortunately, you only thought of this method. Had you persisted, you would eventually be devoured yourself. Tell me—am I right?"

Bai Mei pondered Zi Xuan’s method, and when he grasped the key, he burst out laughing, nodding as he laughed, "So that’s it! I always went against the proper way—how could I succeed? This method is marvelous! I understand now! I understand!"

After his laughter subsided, perhaps trusting Zi Xuan, Bai Mei offered a word of advice, "Young man, unless you must, stay out of this affair."

Zi Xuan’s eyes brightened. "What do you know?"

Bai Mei spoke in a whisper, "I always felt that man in black was steering my thoughts toward the Xuanyuan family. It must be a feud among the great clans. That’s why I only told you what actually happened, not my suspicions. Don’t fall for their schemes." He whispered so quietly that only Tang Wei nearby might hear. Afterward, he closed his eyes, indifferent to everything.

Zi Xuan nodded thoughtfully, calculating inwardly.

"What are you thinking? Did you find some clue?" Tang Wei couldn’t help but ask, seeing him lost in thought.

Zi Xuan smiled, gave no direct answer, and instead took her hand. "It’s nothing. Let’s go check on Long—see how he’s doing!"

"And what about him?" Tang Wei pointed at Bai Mei on the ground. After catching him, she didn’t want him to escape.

"Leave him. He won’t get away." Glancing at Bai Mei, eyes closed and resting, Zi Xuan led Tang Wei away.