Chapter 41: The Soul-Terrifying Bell

Lu Xin came from the year 2018. Even in the twenty-first century, humanity was still searching for ways to achieve immortality. The means of this quest, however, had shifted—from the superstitions of ancient times to the methods of science.

Ghost soldiers borrowing passage, crossing the world of the living, and entering the Underworld—such a scene would chill anyone to the bone. But when the promise of eternal life is at stake, the fear in people’s hearts diminishes, even disappears altogether.

What kind of peerless master could infiltrate the ranks of the ghost soldiers and remain undetected? Is such a being human, ghost, or immortal?

At this moment, it was with such burning curiosity that Lu Xin decided to keep chasing westward. Upon hearing the news of the Undying Resurrection Herb, Yue Buhei was visibly shocked; it was clear he had heard the rumors. As for the scholar, his eyes were fixed on the Yang sisters, wishing he could follow them to the ends of the earth, apparently having forgotten all about his journey to Chang’an for the imperial examinations.

Legend had it that the Undying Resurrection Herb grew only on the Road to the Yellow Springs and near the gates of the Underworld. If refined into an elixir and consumed, it could free one from the cycle of reincarnation, granting boundless longevity and escaping the jurisdiction of the Underworld. However, though the one who consumed it could live forever, their body would still age; thus, every sixty years, they would have to enter the Underworld once more. Upon returning, their body would revert to its state sixty years prior. This cycle would repeat, granting eternal life.

“If what you say is true, then the man in black who infiltrated the ghost soldiers should be extremely old by now, shouldn’t he?”

“In theory, yes. No matter when he took the elixir, each sixty-year cycle would be enough for the body to decay. No matter how powerful an onmyoji may be, or what anti-aging elixirs he possesses, he cannot fully guarantee his body will remain unaging and undying.”

Yue Buhei’s words left Lu Xin full of emotion. The onmyoji had great power: they could heal the sick, move mountains and seas, but in the end, the purpose of cultivation was simply to live a little longer.

A human life is as fleeting as autumn grass. From ancient times to the present and into the future, the ultimate pursuit of humankind has always been the same: to never truly die.

The army of ghost soldiers marched upstream along the great river, then entered Wenchang Town, passed through Nanling County, and finally arrived within the borders of Qingyang County under Chizhou’s jurisdiction. There, on a vast plain, the army suddenly halted.

Looking around, the barren expanse was utterly devoid of life. No sign of habitation could be seen; the nearest village lay twenty li away.

The plain was ringed by mountains on three sides, with only a southern road leading to the next town. Now, the ghost soldiers stood motionless, like statues. Above their heads, a hazy bronze bell had appeared at some unknown hour, sending forth deep, eerie peals.

The night was as cool as water, the bell hanging high overhead. All forces lay in wait; the mountains were hushed, yet the wind carried the scent of an impending storm. Lu Xin and his companions, together with the Yang sisters, hid on a southeastern hillside, gazing out over the wilds. All around, the onmyoji made no effort to conceal their presence.

“It looks like we’re getting close to the entrance to the Underworld,” Yang Xiu suddenly said, her brows deeply furrowed.

“Sister, that must be the legendary Dread Spirit Bell, right? Father once said that when the bell tolls, all spirits flee. Could it be that a great figure of the Underworld is nearby?”

“Qingyang County… lies in Chizhou. Within its borders stands a famous mountain, one of Taoism’s seventy-two blessed lands, ranked thirty-ninth.”

“You mean Lingyang Mountain?”

The sisters’ conversation seemed to spark a realization in Yue Buhei, who, despite years of cultivation in Xuanzhou Prefecture, suddenly knitted his brows. The scholar, curious that Yue Buhei had stopped mid-sentence, nudged him twice with his elbow.

“What about Lingyang Mountain? Fox, what is the Dread Spirit Bell?”

“It’s a soul-controlling artifact, able to command a hundred ghosts through its tolls. Legend has it, it’s a sacred relic of the Underworld. But in truth, the demonic sect among the Five Great Schools, the Nether Dao Sect, and the Grand Wilderness Divine Sect all possess such treasures. Nearby, there might be a true Underworld dignitary—or this is the work of a human master.”

“How could a sacred relic of the Underworld be found in the world of the living?”

Lu Xin was shocked—the world of the onmyoji was still too unfamiliar for him. Yet from Yue Buhei’s tone, it was clear these things were simply common knowledge among cultivators.

“The fox is right. Sixty years ago, also in Xuanzhou, ghost soldiers passed through, sensed by many onmyoji. Those people, like us, followed the ghost soldiers west. But all stopped at Wenchang Town, where they heard the Dread Spirit Bell.”

Yang Xiu followed Yue Buhei’s words, recounting the events of sixty years past. Her voice grew heavy, trailing off halfway.

“And then, after hearing the bell?” the scholar, impatient, pressed her to continue. She shot him a glare, replied, “They all died,” making him hurriedly clap a hand over his mouth in fright.

“You girls know an awful lot for your age. You must come from quite a background.”

Yue Buhei, with two cycles of cultivation under his belt, knew many of the world’s secrets, but even he had not heard of these things from Yang Xiu. He had long suspected the sisters’ origins, and now, seized the opportunity to probe deeper. Naturally, Lu Xin was curious too, and for a moment all three young men turned their gaze on Yang Xiu.

“Why are you staring at my sister? Watch it, or I’ll poke your eyes out.”

“This concerns life and death—we have to be clear. Little girl, just what else do you know?”

“Stupid fox, don’t think you can bully us just because you’re good-looking! Who are you calling little? Let me tell you, in the mountains of Miaojiang, there’s not a single fox as arrogant as you!”

“Haha, well said, Miss Qin! This dead fox always likes being scolded.”

“Pfft, who let you call me Qin? Only my parents and sister can do that.”

The three of them, lying in the grass, soon broke into bickering again. Lu Xin was left speechless by these oddballs. Of the five, only Yang Xiu remained composed, her gaze flickering as she stared intently at a particular spot on the plain, unconcerned with the noisy squabble around her.

Lu Xin followed her gaze. At some point, the ghost soldiers had formed a circle. The spacing between them had subtly shifted, quietly, as if an invisible hand was placing them like chess pieces, arranging some ancient formation. The onmyoji from the pre-Qin era, who had infiltrated the ghost soldiers, now stood at the very center of the army.

Time ticked by. After two quarter-hours, neither the ghost soldiers nor the ancient onmyoji moved. The Dread Spirit Bell had tolled eighty-one times, but nothing terrible had occurred.

Just as Lu Xin resigned himself to endless waiting, a silver horse suddenly descended from the night sky, crashing into the midst of the ghost army.

Next, two sword-lights—one red, one purple—flashed down as well.

“Baolin, my young friend, after all these years you’re still as impetuous as ever. Hahaha… You truly are your father’s favored general, both in temperament and in bearing.”

“Indeed, since the battle at the Xuanwu Gate, I have not seen Brother Jingde or his family. Now, thinking back, your father’s might is as vivid as yesterday. Baolin, how is Brother Jingde’s recovery?”

“My father is well, thank you both for your concern. Elders Zhao and Zhu, I am on imperial duty and cannot dismount to pay respects.”

“No matter. Since His Majesty has sent even you, the Junior Commandant of the Demon Suppression Academy, to Xuanzhou, it shows the gravity of the matter. Our Supreme Celestial Sect is obliged to lend our support. As for calling us elders… You have already mastered the Ziwei Heavenly Fire and achieved the Golden Core—such a title is no longer fitting.”

The mounted general was clearly well acquainted with the Supreme Celestial Sect. Having landed amidst the ghost soldiers, he made no move to attack, but simply chatted and reminisced. Their voices carried clearly in the still night, caught by the wind for all to hear.

“Brother Jingde? Demon Suppression Academy… Looks like that young rider is quite someone,” the scholar muttered, his expression changing as he finally quieted down. Lu Xin knew the scholar had grown up on the streets and, though unfamiliar with the world of cultivation, was well-versed in court intrigue and rumor.

“The Demon Suppression Academy is under the Onmyoji Temple, on par with the Divine Shrine—one quells disorder without, the other suppresses evil within and oversees the courts. Scholar, am I right?”

“Hmph, for once you know something, Fox. But you don’t know who this Brother Jingde is, do you?”

“Enough, out with it. No time for nonsense now.”

“Heh, don’t be impatient, Xin. If I’m not mistaken, Brother Jingde refers to the great general of the court, Yuchi Jingde. He was Emperor Taizong’s most trusted commander. It’s said that during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he personally shot Prince Qi, Li Yuanji. Such a man—just thinking of it is terrifying. That young horseman is truly blessed by fate.”

The scholar licked his lips as he spoke, marveling at the general below. Lu Xin, though from the twenty-first century, had been only nine before his journey through time and knew little of these historical figures. To him, the name Yuchi Jingde was but a fleeting mention in a history book.

“Haha! Zhao Yougui, Zhu Zhen! You two, onmyoji, consorting with the imperial lackeys—have you no shame? Ever since its founding, your Supreme Celestial Sect has been nothing but a lapdog to the court. Such shamelessness can’t last long.”

With a mocking laugh, two more figures descended from the night, riding clouds of fire to land behind the two members of the Supreme Celestial Sect. Instantly, the silver-armored warhorse reared, and its rider swung his broadsword with a mighty sweep!