I skillfully recited a string of completely nonsensical magic incantations.
Lingli, Magic Power, they all lead to the same destination—ways of using Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
It’s just that Magicians don’t cultivate their bodies; their minds are always preoccupied with how to boost the power of their spells.
As for Xiushi, they’re terrified of dying, so their main focus is on researching how to use Lingli to increase their lifespan.
In truth, Lingli and Magic Power are essentially the same thing.
As long as your affinity with Spiritual Qi is high enough, releasing them is the same.
Moreover, to cast magic, you don’t need a base amount of Magic Power; you only need to construct the Magic Circuit with Divine Sense or words.
“I remember now!” Cluru exclaimed in surprise, “When you first woke up, you used that Lubrication Magic to open the Basement door!”
Silence~
Without Lingli, you absolutely can’t cast Immortal Techniques, but as for magic, if you’re out of Mana, you can use your Health Bar instead.
Back then, I used my Health Bar for it.
“Ka—”
The Magic Circuit was constructed.
Linno and Zhang Yin watched in terror as a cluster of Dark Voids appeared around their bodies.
From within those voids, the ominous Black Chains snaked out with a clatter.
And it was as if an invisible pressure was pinning them down, crushing them where they stood!
An indescribable Supreme Existence, Supreme Power, held them as effortlessly as grasping chicks, rendering them unable to escape—forced to submit as the iron chains bound them.
Not far away, two massive Dark Voids tore open in the air.
Two well-known figures with long tongues and tall hats appeared before Linno and Zhang Yin.
“Heh, Little Houtu’s magic really comes in handy.”
avadalkendagua, which translates to Death Curse, also known as the Black and White Impermanence Summoning Spell, can forcibly strike down the target.
It’s ineffective against those who’ve transcended Reincarnation and the Five Elements… in other words, those in the Immortal Ascension Stage or higher.
After casting, it shortens your own lifespan by an amount equal to what the target had left.
The price is steep. Unless your cultivation is overwhelming, you’ll basically die too.
Luckily, I’m not in much need of longevity.
“After you two go down, reflect on your actions. Once the overseers review your lives, they’ll probably assign you to some Underworld jobs as ghost officers.”
I casually cast another Purification Magic on myself, then stood up and stretched lazily.
The two looked conflicted.
How laughable that they once believed Heaven truly favored them, giving them the Body of Pure Yin and the Body of Pure Yang, letting them stand invincible beneath the sky.
Now they understood.
How naïve and ignorant they had been.
Master is unfathomable; her strength is beyond anything we could imagine.
“Youngsters make mistakes, that’s normal. Once you’re down there, redeem yourselves with some hard labor and witness more Worldly Suffering. After a few tens of thousands of years, maybe—just maybe—your Master will forgive you… Yes! At least tens of thousands of years! I’m very angry right now!”
The two of them were tightly bound by Black Chains.
Suddenly, they both let out a long sigh of relief.
In that moment, they were surprisingly at peace.
“Little Black, Little White, when they get down there, give them the hardest jobs, drill them mercilessly. After all, a soul can’t die from exhaustion.”
The two fiends flicked their tongues.
Wait—flicked their tongues? And Cluru too, she never nods, always waggling her feelers. Do monsters these days all use weird gestures?
However…
Things then developed beyond my expectations.
The two Long-tongued Monsters actually raised their chains and walked over to me.
“What are you two doing?” I glared. “I summoned you, remember! Hold on… is my lifespan used up?”
They flicked their tongues again.
Oh, damn.
Guess I’ve been a bit reckless lately, used up too much lifespan—even with the huge boost from a perfect Golden Core, it’s not enough.
“We’re old friends, can’t you cut me some slack? I know your Old Boss.”
The two ghosts flicked their tongues in a “rules are rules” sort of way.
“You two know you can’t beat me, right?”
Flicked their tongues.
Then, with a wave of their hands, countless black doors opened in the sky.
One pair after another of Long-tongued Monsters walked out.
I gaped in disbelief. “Can’t win so you call for backup… Little Black, Little White, you’ve really gone astray.
Now this is trouble.
Cultivating immortality and suddenly wiped out.
Not that going down below is dangerous, it’s just a pain.
The procedures are too tedious, and coming back would take at least half a month.
I’d miss the Xianlu Forging Shop vs. Mu Family Battle!
That would haunt me forever!
“Use mine!”
From the side, a warm little hand grasped mine.
After two months, Cluru once again climbed onto me, winding tightly around me.
“Use my lifespan. I still have plenty,” Cluru said.
“You… sure..?” Black Impermanence croaked, “After averaging, you’ll both… only have half a year left.”
“Mhm, half a year’s enough, right?” Cluru smiled sweetly and looked at me.
“Of course. Who am I? One day is plenty.”
I arrogantly flicked my tail.
It’s just a matter of refining a Longevity Pill.
“Well then… deal struck…”
Black and White Impermanence faded back into the pitch-black spatial rift.
At the same time, Linno and Zhang Yin’s souls were pulled inside.
“Master!” Linno cried, “Will we have another chance to be your disciples in the next life?”
“We’ll see after I’m done being angry. Don’t count on it,” I said, turning my head away.
The two smiled bitterly and lowered their heads.
Maybe their original suffering was fate, but this time’s misfortune—they brought upon themselves.
They deserved it.
Really, what face would they have to bother Master again?
They’d gone too far.
“Get lost! I don’t want to see you blubbering. Annoying!”
At last, the two vanished into the gate.
After Linno and Zhang Yin had left—
Cluru quietly took out the Box.
She climbed inside.
I joined her.
In the cramped space, our breath mingled, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance.
“Actually, you don’t need to be so upset,” I said.
“……”
I understood how she felt.
When your hopes are dashed, it’s hard not to feel miserable.
“You saw it yourself. There’s an Underworld.”
“So what…” Cluru hugged her knees, muttering in despair, “Just thinking about being awake for all eternity, never being freed… makes me even sadder…”
“No, with an Underworld, you can go find your parents.”
“???!”
Cluru suddenly lifted her head, hitting a hole through the Box.
She shrank her head back inside from the bright room, blocked the light with her tentacle, and asked in a trembling voice:
“Really?”
“Yeah, of course. Besides, the underworld’s spacious and beautiful, so most spirits choose to work there, buy a house, and wait for their whole family to be reunited before reincarnating together.”
“……” Is that for real? This Underworld is nothing like I imagined!
“You lost your parents at such a young age; they must be so worried about you. At the very least, they’d work down there to save up some Virtue for you, so you’d have better luck with Card Drawing and such…”
“……”
“So, they should still be down there. As long as you reach Nascent Soul Stage in your cultivation, you’ll have the chance to meet them.”
“Really?!”
“Really.”
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