Chapter 72: The Ravine of Lost Souls

Zhang Ru Yue did not hesitate and agreed at once.

The reason I wanted Zhang Ru Yue to take action was to ensure everything went smoothly. If I acted myself and aroused suspicion, all our efforts might be wasted.

“No matter what, don’t drink human blood.” I thought for a moment and reminded Zhang Ru Yue. She could usually control herself, but when the killing intent deepened and the atmosphere grew heavier, her rationality would blur.

“I understand,” Zhang Ru Yue replied with a smile, confident in her self-control.

In a small restaurant in the town, the fat man was feasting greedily, while those around him talked about the recent tragedy that had befallen the town.

“What a pity. Such a lovely little girl,” the fat man muttered to himself.

He reached for his neck, feeling soreness and pain, as if something weighed heavily upon it.

At that moment, the little girl perched on his shoulders bent down and suddenly pinched his nose.

The fat man began to cough violently, choking on his food.

The little girl on his neck swung her legs, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

After paying his bill, the fat man headed home.

At a corner, a tall, thin man emerged, staring at the fat man’s increasingly hunched body with a cold smile.

The fat man lived in a secluded spot; now, the path was deserted save for him.

“Huff… huff…” The fat man leaned against a utility pole, gasping for breath. Why was he so exhausted today? His legs trembled—could it be from overindulgence?

Behind him, the tall man checked the time. It was about right; the Matron was waiting for this holy soul.

He took out a black bell, faintly shimmering with magical power.

“Ding… ding ding…” The man shook the bell.

Instantly, the ghostly aura around the little girl intensified severalfold, and blood trickled from her ghostly eyes.

The fat man tried to straighten his back, but couldn’t; it felt as though a thousand pounds pressed down on him, his body growing heavier and heavier.

With a thud, he fell to his knees, then collapsed forward into a roadside ditch.

He thrashed about, struggling to push himself up, but could not rise.

The little girl on his neck pressed both hands on his head, forcing his entire face underwater.

Not far away, the tall man smiled coldly. It was almost done—once he completed this task, the Matron would reward him with ample resources, enough to break through within a year.

Just then, his heart suddenly raced and a chill shot up his spine.

He spun around and saw an exceptionally beautiful woman smiling at him.

Clang.

The man reacted quickly, whipping out a dagger to stab at the woman.

She raised her hand and caught the blade effortlessly.

Before he could be shocked, pain erupted in his chest.

His expression froze; slowly, he looked down to see the woman's jet-black claws withdrawing from his ribcage, blood spurting out. In her hand, he saw a fresh, still-beating heart.

And then, nothing more—his consciousness vanished.

Zhang Ru Yue gazed at the heart in her hand, inhaling the intoxicating scent of fresh blood, then tossed it aside.

Smelling it was enough; if she couldn’t resist eating it, trouble would follow.

Zhang Ru Yue approached the fat man, whose struggles were growing weaker, and hauled him out of the water.

At this moment, the little ghost clinging to the fat man’s neck bared its teeth and howled at her.

Zhang Ru Yue slapped it hard, a surge of corpse energy flooding into the ghost’s body. The little girl shrieked, then cowered in fear as she looked at Zhang Ru Yue.

Zhang Ru Yue raised her hand; the soul-capturing bell flew into her grasp. She pointed at the bell and said, “Get in, or I’ll destroy you.”

The little ghost dared not resist, obediently rising and drifting into the bell.

…

“Matron, Chief Qian is dead—his heart was torn out,” a man whispered to the White Lotus Matron.

The Matron sprang up in fury. “What about the ninth holy soul?”

“No trace of it,” the man replied shakily.

“Useless, all of you! Can’t even handle a simple matter. Where is Qian Yuan’s body?” the Matron demanded.

“Right outside,” the man said.

The White Lotus Matron flashed outside and saw Qian Yuan’s corpse lying on the ground, a gaping hole in his chest. The torn-out heart had been replaced by the White Lotus disciples.

It was clear Qian Yuan died in utter shock.

The Matron glanced at the dagger clutched in his hand; he must have tried to strike, but was killed before he could make a move.

She stretched out her hand. A white lotus bloomed in her palm and floated above the corpse.

Watching the lotus draw wisps of black-gray aura, the Matron frowned.

Corpse energy!

Judging by the method, it was no different from a zombie.

Yet, the heart was torn out but not eaten—quite unlike a zombie’s behavior.

Unless it was a zombie under someone’s control.

“Check Li Yan’s movements today,” the Matron ordered.

Soon, my whereabouts were reported. At the time of the incident, I was chatting with two other White Lotus branch leaders, never leaving their sight.

The Matron’s suspicions eased, given my status as the disciple of the Maoshan Sect’s chief descendant.

Maoshan’s three great arts—of course, one includes the art of raising zombies.

“Matron, what now?” An elder approached, voice grave.

“We can’t delay any longer; this is our only chance. Even without the ninth holy soul, the Saintess must descend. As for whoever is behind this, we’ll settle accounts after the Saintess arrives,” the Matron declared sharply.

After a moment’s deliberation, she added, “To be safe, summon everyone to Soul-Severing Gorge and cut off all contact with the outside world.”

…

Soul-Severing Gorge: icy streams flow between sheer cliffs, a single fissure running through the center.

Such a formation is called ‘Heaven’s Thread.’ Many places have them, but never have I seen one so deep.

Now, I sat on a stone in the gorge, cigarette dangling from my lips, surveying my surroundings.

I’d been brought here suddenly, without time for detailed arrangements, though I’d managed some preparations beforehand—hopefully, they’d prove useful.

More than a hundred people were present; from their conversations, I gathered everyone had been summoned here without warning.

If I’m not mistaken, the White Lotus’s meticulous plan had reached its critical stage.

The Saintess descending? Ha! I’ll see what sort of Saintess she is.

“Li Yan.” Hu Xiao Yu came to sit beside me, elbowing me with a hint of excitement in her expression.

“What’s with you? So cheerful?” I asked absentmindedly.

“The Saintess is coming! Of course I’m happy. This is our moment—White Lotus will rise again!” Hu Xiao Yu clenched her fists, her eyes full of anticipation.

Look at that brainwashing—normally so shrewd and slippery, now acting like a fool.

“Why so listless? Did you hurt your kidneys last night?” Hu Xiao Yu giggled.

“Get lost. I, Li Yan, am tireless—a legend known as Seven Times a Night. Even if you joined me, I’d have no problem at all.” I winked at her, teasing.

Hu Xiao Yu shot me a glance, then nestled against my arm, resting her chin on it, her face coy and lovely. “Not impossible. After the Saintess descends, I’ll grant you your wish.”

“Come off it. I’ve seen through you—don’t tease me if you’re not going to let me have a taste.” I hooked my finger under her chin, turning her head away.

She grabbed my hand and bit down on two of my fingers.

I swallowed hard—damn, is she trying to provoke me?

“If this works out, I’ll give myself to you—just afraid you won’t be able to handle it,” Hu Xiao Yu licked my fingers, laughing sweetly.

Vixen!

She flirted like a rabbit and darted away; I closed my eyes and recited the Purity Spell.

Night fell. The mountain winds howled through Soul-Severing Gorge, sounding like ghostly wails.

I looked up; clouds shrouded the night sky, black as ink.

“Nine Yin converge; Sky Ghost devours the stars.” I calculated with my fingers, frowning.

I’d been brought to this gorge so suddenly; though I left some covert marks along the way, the terrain was complex and shrouded in maze formations. I wasn’t sure if Nightingale could find this place.

Just then, a light appeared ahead.

It was the twelve White Lotus maidens, led by Hu Xiao Yu, radiating a holy white glow.

Seriously—aren’t they hot dressed up like human light bulbs? I mused.

“The Matron commands: everyone follow us; branch leaders in front, incense masters behind,” Hu Xiao Yu announced.

I moved to the front, following Hu Xiao Yu and the maidens.

After a while, the stream grew more turbulent.

Soon, a massive cavern entrance appeared ahead, the gorge’s waters pouring into it.

Hu Xiao Yu and her group entered the cavern, and I followed.

Water flowed into a deep, bottomless fissure inside the cave; there was no echo of water striking, attesting to its depth.

Ahead lay a vast, empty space, layered with nine arrays.

Nine layers of Eight Trigram Yin formations—damn, this was even more advanced than the one at Spirit Valley.

The array’s runes were as I expected, similar to those blue-green sigils.

From the first to the eighth layer, each array held a white bone box. Only the ninth layer lacked one.

Inside the bone boxes were holy souls; the ninth layer was empty because the so-called holy soul was sealed away.

“The Saintess descends; the revival of White Lotus is at hand. I ask all of you to join together, use your powers to activate the sacred array and summon the Saintess,” the White Lotus Matron proclaimed, holding up a white lotus that floated overhead, casting holy light.

I looked up; stalactites hung above, some short, some long, some thick, some thin.

“Huh, they’re arranged in a pattern—should complement the array below,” I realized, surprised.

At that moment, the White Lotus Matron stepped onto the ninth layer’s array, took out the green crystal known as the Mountain God Jade, and placed it in the central recess.

Then she sat cross-legged in the center, hands forming lotus seals.

Suddenly, her eyes shone with white light, and she pressed her seals onto the array.

In an instant, the nine arrays lit up with streaks of blue-green rune light.