There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 235: Ghosts hiding immortals?

Not far from the princes, several more beams of light descended one after another.

Leading the group were three Nascent Soul cultivators, dressed in luxurious clothes and exuding an extraordinary air, but they all seemed to be covered in an aura of exhaustion.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Qian, Brother Sun, I didn't expect you all to come."

Upon seeing the three, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a brocade robe with a handsome face came forward to greet them. He was Li Muyun, an elder of the Li family in Yujing.

"Brother Mu Yun, you've come too?" The cultivator addressed as Brother Zhao had a withered face and a low voice. "The disturbance in the Nirvana Realm has far-reaching implications. How can we miss such an opportunity?"

The cultivator surnamed Qian sighed, "In this world, if you don't advance, you fall behind. The laws of the Immortal Dynasty are strict, and resources are increasingly tilted towards the top. Families like ours are rated as middle-grade, which is better than the top but not as bad as the bottom. But in reality, we do not control spiritual veins or spiritual mines. We are just superficially glamorous. If we cannot advance further and our descendants are not ambitious, we may not even be able to keep our current positions within three generations."

The cultivator surnamed Sun interjected, "That's why we always try our luck whenever there's a change in circumstances! Li Qing of the Hidden Star Sect can stir up trouble and possesses great treasures. If we can get a share, it might help our family overcome the difficulties. However..." He changed the subject and looked around, "I haven't seen a single person from the Five Sects and Six Religions. That's really strange."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the group all turned serious.

"This...they were the most aggressive pursuers before, how come they suddenly disappeared? Could it be that they had something to hold back? Just one person, and they could make these families hesitate? Could the rumors be true?"

"The rumors may be exaggerated, but there's no smoke without fire. However, if we just keep an eye on things and don't rush in, we can at least save our lives!"

"I've been to this place once before. It was dangerous, but as long as you're not greedy, you can get out!"

Something unusual must be going on, but the die was cast and there was no turning back, so they could only console themselves.

Just then, the light appeared again from afar.

This time, however, Lu Zhao, Ao Yu, Han Jing Zhenren, and a female cultivator dressed in black robes and with her face covered by a black veil arrived together.

The moment they landed, the four of them felt their hearts pounding as they sensed more than a dozen powerful auras. Even the aftershocks of these auras made their minds race!
Ao Yulong's eyes widened: "Good heavens! Nascent Soul cultivators are usually elusive, but today, seventeen of them have appeared at the entrance of this mud pit!"

Lu Zhao's expression was solemn. He said in a low voice, "Don't make a fuss. Yujing is the central hub of the Immortal Dynasty, where the fortune of the world is concentrated. Countless Nascent Soul cultivators have been cultivating here in seclusion. Not to mention, most of the Nascent Soul cultivators from the sects of the world have been recruited into the secret palaces in the heavens for seclusion. What we have seen today is just the tip of the iceberg. Seventeen is not many at all."

Master Han Jing, however, was filled with worry: "My junior brother has ventured into this place alone, and with so many multi-stage Nascent Soul cultivators arriving just in time, even if we are willing, I fear we will find it difficult to change the overall situation. My junior brother is a prodigy, with an unwavering will, and he can always create miracles in dire straits. However, this situation is far more dangerous than ever before, and unfortunately, I am powerless to help him..."

Upon hearing this, the others also frowned.

Just then, a voice came from behind them—

"Don't worry, senior brother."

Everyone turned around and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a simple blue robe, with a thin face and gentle eyes, standing behind them. His aura was ethereal, as if he were in harmony with the world around him!
"Master, my brother!"

"Sect Leader!"

The newcomer was none other than the current sect master of the Hidden Star Sect, Daoist Qingyuan!
Lu Zhao, Ao Yu, and the others hurriedly bowed, but Master Han Jing's expression changed, and he stepped forward quickly: "Junior brother! You... how could you come here in person! Instead of secluding yourself at Dingyuan Mountain to slow down your growth, you came to Yujing. Once your aura is recorded by the Immortal Dynasty's great array, you may never be able to return to the mountain gate and will be forcibly conscripted into that secret realm!"

Daoist Qingyuan smiled calmly, his gaze sweeping over the many Nascent Soul cultivators. He said indifferently, "Even if I hadn't come this time, my time wouldn't have been far off. The sect's legacy must be passed down from generation to generation. If I can do my part for my junior brother and leave a spark for the sect's revival, then I should have come." Seeing that Han Jing hesitated, he spoke first, "My senior uncles are all highly skilled and have been able to protect the sect's foundation for many years, but their progress is not as good as mine. Given the current situation, I was going to be summoned soon anyway, so it's more appropriate for me to venture into such a dangerous place."

Then he changed the subject: "Besides, I've already come all this way, so how can I turn back? Let's go, let's enter!" With that, Daoist Qingyuan flicked his sleeves and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the entrance to the bottom of the Hell.

When Han Jing Zhenren, Lu Zhao, and the others saw this, they all sighed and could only follow closely behind.

The Nascent Soul cultivators from the powerful families had already noticed the group. They exchanged glances, and considering their families' future, followed them. At the bottom of the Hell.

First floor, central area.

"puff!"

Chen Qing pointed his fingers like a sword, and a beam of annihilating starlight shot out. The crazed figure rushing towards him suddenly froze, and the black aura on his body dissipated like boiling water poured on snow, revealing the withered and twisted body below. Then, with a "bang," it exploded and turned into foul-smelling foam.

Chen Qing frowned slightly. He had been traveling at a fast pace and had quickly broken out of the range of those pale arms, but then he encountered a group of crazed cultivators. These cultivators seemed to be made of flesh and blood, but their bodies were filled with ghostly energy. If their physical bodies were not completely destroyed, no matter how badly they were injured, they could get up and fight again!

Moreover, these cultivators can also use spells and even supernatural powers!
Just like that cultivator who was as mad as a wild beast, devoid of any intelligence, but the foundation of the magic power he was using was clearly the style of the Taiyi Dao Palace's "Pure Yang Fire-Drawing Technique". However, it was sinister and strange, and had long since deviated from the righteous path. What he was drawing was no longer pure Yang fire, but ghost fire!

"The mortal realm of ghosts truly lives up to its name." Beside him, the cultivator surnamed Jiang waved his hand, dispelling another black shadow that rushed towards him. "Since the Western Nether Continent closed its land and sea, the orthodox path of ghost immortals has almost been lost. The Netherworld has also severed its connection. Those True Immortals and Great True Immortals who are nearing the end of their lifespan need to rely on the external forces of the ghost realm to transform into ghost cultivators. The bottom of the Hell was once the first choice because the environment here is similar to the Netherworld. Therefore, those who are now stuck here are mostly cultivators whose lifespans are about to end but who are unwilling to turn into dust. They forcefully cultivate incomplete methods. However, there are also strange things here. If they cultivate for a long time, their minds will be eroded by the Yin Sha, and they will become such half-human, half-ghost creatures."

He flicked his sleeve and pointed to the dim depths: "Although they are similar, legend has it that the underworld has eighteen levels, while this place only has three. Each level is like a secret realm, but it is not a fairyland on earth. It is a real ghostly and demonic land."

Chen Qing was about to respond, but his gaze suddenly sharpened as he turned to look at her!
In the dissolving foam, he saw a dark gray golden core slowly shattering. Its decaying and decaying aura resonated faintly with the external core he had obtained from Li Benji in his dantian!

"The Golden Core is something that a cultivator cultivates through the union of life and death. Even if one were to dissolve their body and turn to the path of ghosts, it shouldn't be like this... so filthy." Suppressing the strange movement in his dantian, Chen Qing suddenly asked, "How is cultivating to this inhuman and ghostly state any better than having one's soul scattered? And yet people still follow one after another? Is there some other secret behind this?"

"It's truly remarkable that you could think of this." The cultivator surnamed Jiang chuckled. "The Ghost Immortal lineage is originally a righteous path. The powerful rogue immortals of the past were actually a branch of the Ghost Immortals, only they had washed away their ghostly and yin energy. Unfortunately, since the decline of the spiritual tide and the severance of the Heavenly Path, the rogue immortals have disappeared without a trace. But they still left behind a few lineages and legends. Those who have reached the end of their lifespan and have nowhere else to turn will inevitably have a sense of hope."

He paused, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Besides that, there are also those with extraordinary talent who have found alternative paths and created many secret techniques. As far as I know, there are a few that steal the golden core and luck of other ghost cultivators and forcibly graft them onto their own bodies to temporarily prolong their cultivation and lifespan! Even more extreme are those who refine ghost infants and use them as second nascent souls, engaging in the treacherous practice of substitution... Hmm?"

Before the words were finished, a series of muffled sounds suddenly came from the dark depths ahead, like the beating of a giant drum!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Along with the sound, layers of air surged and spread, carrying a bone-chilling cold, mixed with shrill screams, venomous curses, and mad babbling, all rushing in!

A gust of wind blew past him, and Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine. He felt as if thousands of vengeful spirits were surrounding him, their whispers trying to penetrate his heart, corrupt his mind, and breed evil thoughts within him!
"If one's heart is like a devil, then one will become a petty person!"

He kept his mind clear and then remembered what he had read in a book. Then he sent out a divine thought to explore in all directions!

"boom!"

The next moment, Chen Qing felt that the Yin energy of the entire first layer of Nili suddenly boiled up, and countless dazed ghosts seemed to be summoned, turning towards the source of the fluctuation and letting out eager howls.

A point of azure light appeared, enveloping Chen Qing and keeping out the invading evil sounds and thoughts. He looked at the cultivator surnamed Jiang and asked, "What is the reason for this strange movement?"

The cultivator surnamed Jiang's expression suddenly became extremely solemn. His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he whispered, "The Records of the Netherworld states, 'When the Yin Spirit is extremely concentrated, it does not tread on the mortal world, but dwells in the crevices of the Nine Netherworlds. With a single thought, ten thousand ghosts weep. This is the power of a Ghost Immortal.' It also says, 'When a Ghost Infant is formed, heaven and earth weep, resentment gathers like a tide, and malevolent energy condenses into a tangible substance…'"

As he spoke, he suddenly looked up at the source of the disturbance, his eyes flashing with excitement: "This commotion is definitely not something that could be caused by ordinary ghosts or a few wretched evil cultivators! Could it be that a 'ghost immortal' is about to take shape? But if a ghost immortal is about to take shape, it would be too much of a coincidence. So, it is the legendary 'Taiyuan Evil Corpse' that has awakened?!"

Chen Qing's eyes turned cold, but he felt the Taiyuan echo in the darkness growing stronger, causing the scenery outside the stele forest to tremble again. Although it did not manifest, it was already drawing in but not yet unleashed.

"Could there really be some evil corpse of a Celestial Emperor? Then could this be considered a legacy or relic?"

He pondered for a moment and said, "Whether it is an immortal or a corpse, it is obvious at a glance. However, my knowledge of the Three Corpses is actually limited. If you are willing, you can tell me in detail." As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward, his body transforming into a stream of light, shooting straight towards the source of the howling of ten thousand ghosts.

The cultivator surnamed Jiang was taken aback, then burst into laughter, saying, "What a bold move! However, those three corpses are the mark of the Yang God manifesting sainthood among the three realms of Dao Integration and Void Breaking. He has a deep karmic connection with the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor, yet he didn't know that?"

(End of this chapter)