Chapter Five: The Arrival of the Ghost Lord

Inside the Council of Elders, the five elders each held steadfast to their own views, forming two distinct factions: the First and Second Elders advocated for harmony, suggesting the matter be dropped as a favor, while the remaining three, led by the powerful Fifth Elder, believed they should seize this opportunity to eliminate future trouble.

The First Elder spoke gravely, “This matter truly isn’t wise. If he really returns, neither of us will have a way out.”

The Second Elder echoed, “Yes, yes, we should always leave ourselves a retreat!”

The Fifth Elder sneered coldly at their words. “A retreat? Did you think of a way out when you decided to take part in that affair back then? And now you speak to me of retreat? What a joke!”

“But things aren’t as they were,” the First Elder retorted. “How could he possibly know we were involved? Why not do him a favor and bury this matter forever?”

The Fourth Elder, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, unable to hold back. “Brother, have you forgotten who he is? Even the Celestial Emperor dares not offend him. Now that you’ve crossed him, do you really think we have any way out?”

The First Elder was left speechless.

The Fifth Elder declared, “It’s decided. Yama is not here—this is our last chance.” He clapped his hands. “Bring in Black Impermanence for questioning!”

Obsidian was brought in by several guards, his expression as impassive as ever, just as he had been that day, sending a visible shudder through the First Elder—truly a bloodthirsty fiend!

Obsidian felt an inexplicable restlessness as soon as he entered the chamber.

The Fifth Elder composed himself and questioned in a deep voice, “Black Impermanence! You infiltrated the Forbidden Pavilion and altered the Book of Life and Death. Do you admit your crime?”

Obsidian was momentarily stunned. He seemed to see another version of himself standing upright in the courtroom, eyes coldly regarding everyone as ants. Unconsciously, he and that other self spoke as one: “To save him? What crime is there in that?”

The Fifth Elder’s face darkened, his entire demeanor soured. “Guards! Give this insolent wretch three lashes with the Soul-Returning Whip!”

The Soul-Returning Whip? At this, everyone’s faces changed. Such a sinister artifact—one lash would shatter the soul, two would sever its source, and three would scatter it to oblivion! Moreover, was this not the very weapon forged by that man? The scene before them was utterly absurd.

The Fifth Elder barked, “The first lash!”

But the guard holding the whip dared not move. His legs trembled uncontrollably. He knew well that to obey the elder meant certain death, but defiance at least left a sliver of hope.

Those who remained in the Council of Elders were all seasoned veterans; they were well aware of truths unknown to outsiders.

Seeing this, the Fifth Elder snatched the Soul-Returning Whip from the guard and kicked him aside. “Useless wretch! Why keep you at all?”

The guards restraining Obsidian released their grip, stepped back, and stood in silence, heads bowed.

The Fifth Elder, nearly laughing in anger, said, “Do you think by refusing to help today, you’ll survive? With that man’s vengeful nature, do you expect to crawl away alive?”

He laughed maniacally, and Obsidian instinctively took a step back from this madman.

The Fifth Elder narrowed his eyes and snorted, “Trying to escape?”

With a flick of the whip, it coiled itself around Obsidian, rendering him immobile.

“First lash!”

Obsidian didn’t even see the whip move before his clothes split apart. He felt no pain, yet his mouth filled with a metallic taste—blood trickling from his lips.

The Fifth Elder gathered his strength, using seventy percent of his power. “Second lash!”

With a tearing sound, Obsidian felt a thousand needles stabbing into him, an overwhelming agony. He bit his lip, face pale and drenched in cold sweat, his body turning translucent and faintly glowing.

The Fifth Elder, seeing this, felt a surge of relief. No matter how illustrious you were in your past life, now you are merely a mortal. One more lash, and you will be as dust, forever erased from this world!

There will be no more Ghost Lord!

He swallowed a pill to boost his power, heedless of the consequences. Today, this man must die! With all his strength, he delivered the final lash...

At last, Obsidian vanished, dissolving like a bubble...

The Fifth Elder spat blood, his internal organs shifted, and he collapsed to the ground, laughing uncontrollably. It was over, finally over...

Obsidian felt strange. He floated in midair, holding the very whip that had struck him, now curling around his wrist and transforming into the mark of a red spider lily.

Fragments of memories—painful, sorrowful, joyful—surfaced in his mind, all revolving around Yama. No, not Yama, but Yan Yunqing alone. By the end... the warmth in Obsidian’s heart grew cold, yet the missing piece within him finally felt whole. This was his true self—not the naïve, passionate Obsidian, but the coldhearted, self-serving Ghost Lord.

He opened his eyes again, and the Underworld, along with the four other realms, trembled.

The Fifth Elder saw a flash of white light, and the man who should have disappeared now stood before him, completely unharmed.

The Fifth Elder gasped, another mouthful of blood spurting forth. Trembling, he pointed at the Ghost Lord, “You, how can you possibly still be alive!”

The Ghost Lord let out a low laugh. “The Underworld was created by me. The Book of Life and Death by my hand. All ghosts revere me. What right have you to judge me?”

The Fifth Elder’s expression froze, panic overtaking him. “Impossible, impossible! How can you still be alive?!”

From all directions, shadows appeared, streaking toward the Council. In barely a breath’s time, four figures were kneeling before the Ghost Lord.

“Your servant, Black Thrall.”

“Your servant, Chi.”

“Your servant, Wang.”

“Your servant, Liang.”

“Greetings, my lord!”

The Ghost Lord narrowed his eyes, smiling. “Oh? One’s missing—where is Mei? And you lot, you lose someone and don’t even bother searching... must I do everything myself?”

The four, well acquainted with their master’s temperament, broke out in a cold sweat and cried in unison, “Your servants admit their fault!”

The Ghost Lord burst out laughing, tears streaming down his face. “I was only teasing you—must you take it so seriously? Aren’t there still some guests here needing your attention? Have I not taught you the proper way to receive guests?”

Black Thrall frowned slightly. The lord’s temperament was even more inscrutable than before. Whether this return was a blessing or a curse, who could say?

Chi’s lips curled into a strange smile. “Does our lord mean...?”

The Ghost Lord’s voice turned cold. “Leave not a single one!”