“Feigning spirits and ghosts won’t save you from death!” Qian Duan spat viciously, as if trying to bolster his own courage.
He was certain in his heart that Jiang Ke’er must be an evil-cult cultivator.
Her current behavior was simply because she knew her time was short, so she was putting on a show to scare them.
Jiang Ke’er paid no mind to Qian Duan’s reaction; she was still pondering what had happened here in the past.
Apart from the seventy-two white skeletons bound by chains in the forest, there were many other bones—twisted and deformed, scattered among various races.
Clearly, a fierce battle had once taken place here.
Continuing forward, Jiang Ke’er and the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce group arrived at the foot of the mountain.
A straight path led directly to the palace atop the mountain, but at the entrance of the path, two giant axes crossed to block their way.
Three-zhang tall giants bowed their heads, baring scarlet fangs.
Their eyes glowed green, and their stone heads rumbled as they turned, sweeping their gaze across the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce group.
Qian Duan didn’t dare to breathe.
Although the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce was powerful and feared in the outside world, here, in the ancient power ruins, his status was worthless.
Especially since this place was rumored to be the Land of the Dead—a former part of Underworld Province.
“Junior Qian Duan has come to explore the old land of Underworld Province and pay respects to the seniors. Please kindly accept these incense offerings,” Qian Duan said preparedly.
He quickly took out a large amount of incense sticks and sacrificial wine from his Qiankun Bag, respectfully placing incense in front of the stone statues and lighting it, then pouring wine at their feet.
Having done all this, Qian Duan just breathed a sigh of relief, when suddenly a “clang—” rang out near his ear!
In the blink of an eye, the giant axe of the statue hovered right above his head! It was so close it could have cleaved his skull in two!
Qian Duan was frozen with terror; his entire body stiffened. Desperately, he watched as a few strands of hair were shaved off his temple, utterly confused as to which step had gone wrong.
“Se… senior…” Qian Duan trembled, looking up, only to see that the two statues hadn’t even glanced at him!
Instead, the hard stone faces now showed an expression of respect, bowing down to Jiang Ke’er with a subordinate’s courtesy!
“???”
“Rise, no need for formalities,” Jiang Ke’er waved her hand.
The statues obediently nodded and slowly lifted their bodies, but the giant axes in their hands still hovered above Qian Duan’s head.
“What… what are you up to now?!” Qian Duan glared angrily at Jiang Ke’er, ready to lash out, but his courage failed him… his legs were still weak, and he dared not move an inch under the oppressive aura of the two giant axes.
Jiang Ke’er chuckled, “You bribed them in front of their leader, of course they want to chop you up! Fortunately, they showed mercy. If it were me, your head would definitely be gone.”
“Leader?” Qian Duan laughed incredulously. “You, a mere small-time evil cultivator, dare call yourself their leader? Do you even know whom they serve?”
“Oh?” Jiang Ke’er raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Who?”
Certain that Jiang Ke’er was playing tricks again, Qian Duan no longer feared her and said confidently, “Their leader is none other than the renowned Ninth Yama King, the Supreme Rectitude True Lord! He oversees the eighteenth level of hell, Avici Hell—the King of Equality!”
Jiang Ke’er was shocked. “Wow, that’s quite a big name!”
“If you dare impersonate him recklessly, beware the King of Equality’s subordinates might throw you into the eighteenth level of hell for endless torment!” Qian Duan sneered.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Jiang Ke’er shook her head.
She waved her hand again, signaling the stone guardians to raise their axes and temporarily spare Qian Duan.
Only then did Qian Duan slump to the ground, utterly drained.
Although Jiang Ke’er seemed to have some control over the two stone guardians, Qian Duan still didn’t believe she could truly threaten him.
These stone guardians were powerful lieutenants under the King of Equality, holding high ranks.
They would never submit to a lowly evil cultivator’s command… so Qian Duan believed Jiang Ke’er might scare him with some secret technique, but couldn’t really control these stone guardians to kill him.
Looking up at the magnificent palace on the mountain peak—still imposing as ever—Qian Duan felt a surge of excitement.
Finally, we’re here!
What was once the Judgment Hall for souls? Today, it would all be stripped bare by me and brought back to the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce to auction!
“Move out!”
Qian Duan raised his arm and led the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce cultivators eagerly up the mountain path, though they didn’t forget to let Jiang Ke’er and three others walk at the front as cannon fodder.
The path was wide on both sides, seemingly free of danger, but the ghost realm was never to be treated by normal logic, so they remained cautious.
White bones were scattered along both sides of the mountain road, showing this was once part of a battlefield.
Jiang Ke’er’s heart was heavy.
What exactly happened to Underworld Province back then?
As the Queen of the Earth herself, what would she have to face?
“Move!” Qian Duan pushed and urged.
Jiang Ke’er glanced coldly at him but remained unmoved, continuing forward deliberately, lost in thought.
Qian Duan was impatient but dared not press too hard.
The path wasn’t too long, and soon the group arrived at the mountain top.
Jiang Ke’er looked down and saw a dilapidated plaque covered in dust, lying desolately on the ground.
She blew off the dust, revealing three characters: [Impermanence Hall].
Qian Duan and the others had no leisure for this—they had already kicked open the door of Impermanence Hall.
Inside, the layout resembled a mundane earthly government office.
The original appearance remained intact, with a dozen or so Underworld Officers dressed in old official robes, neatly lined up on their knees facing the hall’s front—where a dignified Old Man sat.
The Underworld Officers and Old Man’s bodies showed no decay; their faces remained as they were in life.
The Old Man had a long mane-like beard, wore a Fang Crown, a long robe, and held a Tablet in his sleeves.
The outside wind swept inside the hall, turning the Underworld Officers’ bodies and clothes to ash, but the Old Man remained unaffected, motionless, his sharp eyes fixed intently on the direction of the entrance.
Qian Duan felt as if his soul was being pierced by that gaze, chills running down his spine.
He waved at the Old Man’s corpse, murmuring, “The deceased have passed on; the living must survive. Please forgive me, Lord King of Equality…”
“Quickly grab what you can and leave!” Qian Duan ordered.
“No,” Jiang Ke’er stopped him.
“No? Who do you think you are?” Qian Duan sneered.
“This isn’t your home!”
His words had barely left his mouth when his face suddenly turned as pale as paper.
The Old Man at the front of the hall wobbled and stood up, releasing an overwhelming aura as vast and terrifying as a sea of stars!
Alive… alive?!
The fearsome ancient power who ruled Avici Hell—King of Equality—was alive?!
Under that aura, Qian Duan didn’t dare even think of escape.
Whatever he did would mean death—a difference as huge as between an ant and an elephant.
But just as all the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce cultivators were frantically thinking of how to explain themselves to the King of Equality to beg for mercy…
The King of Equality suddenly knelt down with a “pat” sound in the direction where everyone stood!
More precisely, he knelt before Jiang Ke’er.
He opened his mouth with difficulty, his hoarse but supremely dignified voice echoing through the hall.
“Your subordinate, Ninth Yama King, King of Equality, pays respects to Her Highness Houtu.”