44 The Gate of Spirits

“Something is bound to happen tonight. Let’s head to the ancient tomb first,” Li Xintian said after a moment’s thought. At present, the Ghost Queen in red had been wounded by the energy of righteousness; she couldn’t have escaped far and must be hiding nearby.

Ancient tomb.

“Master Li, have you been unable to leave these past few days?” Bai Lingjun asked upon seeing Li Xintian.

“No, it’s just that we ran into some trouble and hoped to disturb you for a night,” Li Xintian replied, cupping his fists.

“That’s fine. Tonight, the ancient tomb and True Transmission Daoist Temple are holding a ritual duel. Master Li, you may observe the ceremony,” Bai Lingjun agreed without further questions, inviting Li Xintian to witness the spectacle.

“Thank you, Miss Bai,” Li Xintian responded courteously.

Night fell.

Both the ancient tomb and the True Transmission Daoist Temple had arranged their altars, each set for the ritual.

“Who’s that scholar walking alongside Master Bai?” Qiu Shuguang asked Yu Yuanhai.

“That’s Li Xintian. He’s been around for days now,” Yu Yuanhai replied, noticing Li Xintian beside Bai Lingjun.

“What’s going on?” Qiu Shuguang’s gaze toward Li Xintian was hostile.

Li Xintian met his eyes, unsure of the animosity, and could only offer a polite smile.

“I don’t know his background either. I just know he’s Master’s rival in love,” Yu Yuanhai explained. If not for Hu Qiuyan, it wouldn’t matter whether he knew Li Xintian or not.

“Begin the altar!”

“Master Qiu, may I start now?” Bai Lingjun stood before her altar with her disciples, as did Qiu Shuguang, while others gathered to observe. The True Transmission Daoist Temple’s altar was adorned with a Bagua diagram, while the ancient tomb’s featured a treasure lotus.

Li Xintian and Hu Qiuyan were witnessing a ritual duel for the first time.

“Go ahead,” Qiu Shuguang said, retracting his gaze.

Bai Lingjun sat cross-legged, forming the sword gesture with her hands on the altar, channeling her power to light two treasure lotus lamps.

Qiu Shuguang’s altar, meanwhile, was piled with fruit, and he ate with relish.

After lighting the lotus lamps, Bai Lingjun swiftly rotated her hands, summoning miniature bolts of lightning, then raised her sword fingers, causing a thunderclap to resound in the sky.

The thunder startled Hu Qiuyan, who gripped Li Xintian’s left arm tightly.

“It’s just thunder,” Li Xintian said, feeling the pain and certain his arm would bruise.

“Ah, sorry,” Hu Qiuyan replied awkwardly, lowering her head.

A coffin, pasted with two talisman papers, was now covered in lightning.

Bai Lingjun controlled the coffin with one hand, landing it steadily before the altar.

“Master Qiu, in tonight’s contest, whomever can control the Ghost Queen and defeat the opponent’s disciples shall be deemed the victor. Do you agree?” Bai Lingjun asked, withdrawing her power.

“I agree,” Qiu Shuguang replied, his face lighting up.

“Master Qiu, would you care to inspect the Ghost Queen inside?” Bai Lingjun asked again.

“Very well,” Qiu Shuguang nodded.

“Xiao Qiu,” Bai Lingjun called to Hu Xiaoqiu nearby.

Hu Xiaoqiu nodded and went to inspect the coffin.

Qiu Shuguang signaled to Ye Jiahen.

Ye Jiahen hurried to block Hu Xiaoqiu.

“Miss Hu, the talismans are in place. There’s no need to check,” Ye Jiahen said, pressing a hand atop the coffin lid.

“You people from True Transmission are so deceitful—I’d never trust you,” Hu Xiaoqiu replied without hesitation.

She forcefully pried open the coffin lid, and a wave of chilling energy spilled out.

Li Xintian caught a trace of it—it was the Ghost Queen’s energy. He instantly became alert.

“Just now…” Hu Qiuyan began.

“Shh, let’s watch,” Li Xintian said, deciding it best to observe further.

Ye Jiahen quickly pressed the coffin lid back down. “Believe me, I’m not that kind of person.”

“Move aside,” Hu Xiaoqiu pushed Ye Jiahen away and lifted the lid again.

Ye Jiahen stepped forward to close it.

“Senior Sister, nothing’s wrong,” Hu Xiaoqiu concluded, finding it too cold to examine further.

Ye Jiahen retreated to the True Transmission Daoist Temple.

“Master Qiu, please proceed,” Bai Lingjun nodded.

“Let Master Bai go first,” Qiu Shuguang said, chewing on fruit.

“Very well,” Bai Lingjun replied. She raised her right hand in the sword gesture, channeling her power. “Open.”

The coffin lid slammed to the ground with a boom.

“Rise!” Bai Lingjun directed her sword fingers at the Ghost Queen inside.

But the Ghost Queen lay motionless.

Li Xintian realized it wasn’t the Ghost Queen in red. He mused, “Perhaps the Ghost Queen is hiding in this coffin, and the talismans conceal her presence. But why can’t I sense her now?”

Bai Lingjun continued channeling her power, but the coffin remained silent.

“Master Bai, perhaps you should rest?” Qiu Shuguang suggested, smiling as he ate.

Bai Lingjun ignored him, suspecting there was trickery afoot.

“Let me try, then,” Qiu Shuguang said when Bai Lingjun wouldn’t respond.

He raised his right hand in the sword gesture, theatrically chanting, “Rise.”

He repeated himself several times, but the Ghost Queen did not stir.

Qiu Shuguang grabbed an apple from the table and threw it at the Ghost Queen. “Rise!”

Suddenly, the Ghost Queen moved.

She extended two pale hands, each with nails over a centimeter long, clutching the coffin’s sides as she stood. Her face was ghastly pale, dressed in a red gown, with fangs protruding from her mouth—it was clearly Yu Yuanhai in disguise.

“So easy,” Qiu Shuguang said with a grin when the Ghost Queen stood.

Bai Lingjun shook her head silently.

“Anyone can see True Transmission is up to something. It’s so obvious,” Hu Qiuyan whispered.

“Shh,” Li Xintian hastily gestured for silence.

He too could tell it was a person playing the Ghost Queen.

“Now, make her fly,” Qiu Shuguang said, darkening at Hu Qiuyan’s words as he took another bite of fruit.

Yu Yuanhai, hearing this, paled—he couldn’t fly. He jumped, skidded across the ground, and landed before his fellow disciples.

The atmosphere was awkward beyond measure.

“Idiot, not this side, the other!” Qiu Shuguang threw another apple at Yu Yuanhai.

“All disciples, if he doesn’t fly, break his legs and then his head!” Qiu Shuguang shouted angrily.

“Yes!” Yu Yuanhai’s fellow disciples responded, brandishing thick clubs.

“So heartless,” Yu Yuanhai muttered, unable to fly, so he jumped and slid across the ground.

Li Xintian wondered why everyone believed the act—was their thinking too naive?

Everyone dropped their clubs, except for Ye Jiahen, who wore a sly expression.

“Form the array!” Bai Lingjun ordered as Yu Yuanhai, acting as the Ghost Queen, approached.

Only Hu Xiaoqiu abstained.

Yan Wenyan led her junior sisters in action.

“Arrange the lightning talisman formation.”

Six people simultaneously formed sword gestures, conjuring a long talisman that spun around Yu Yuanhai.

“Lightning!”

Six talismans crackled with electricity, shocking Yu Yuanhai until he trembled.

Yu Yuanhai, enraged, tore the talismans apart.

He rushed at Yan Wenyan’s junior sisters, delivering a palm strike to each, sending them tumbling before his own group. He then looked to Yan Wenyan, drooling from the fangs.

“Ah, what are you doing?” Bai Lingjun’s junior sisters screamed.

“Ouch!” Yu Yuanhai’s fellow disciples suddenly clutched themselves in agony.

Yu Yuanhai leapt over, pinning Yan Wenyan to the ground.

His chest, padded with fruit, pressed against Yan Wenyan’s chest.

“How bothersome,” Yu Yuanhai muttered, fiddling with the fruit.

“Get off me, let me go!” Yan Wenyan protested, recognizing him.

“Stop talking, get up, defeat them!” Qiu Shuguang yelled, furious.

“But I haven’t kissed her yet!” Yu Yuanhai raised his head.

“So it’s all tacitly understood—they’re acting,” Li Xintian realized.

“Senior Sister,” Hu Xiaoqiu called to Bai Lingjun.

“This Ghost Queen has become ferocious. Kill him!” Bai Lingjun commanded.

“Ah?” Yu Yuanhai heard this and quickly stood up.

“Alright.” Hu Xiaoqiu nodded, drawing a sword, forming the sword gesture, and thrusting the blade swiftly into Yu Yuanhai’s left chest.

No blood flowed from his chest.

Hu Xiaoqiu controlled the sword to fly out, and suddenly a pineapple appeared.

“A pineapple?” Hu Xiaoqiu stared at the fruit impaled on her blade.

Suddenly, thick fog rolled in, hail began to fall, and fierce winds toppled the True Transmission Daoist Temple’s altar.

“An evil spirit is coming,” Bai Lingjun said, steadying the lotus lamps.

“The Ghost Queen’s presence is here,” Li Xintian sensed the red-robed Ghost Queen.

“Miss Bai, quickly have everyone return to the tomb,” Hu Qiuyan urged.

“Everyone, back to the tomb!” Bai Lingjun’s lotus lamps extinguished as she shouted.

A demon clad in black charged in, pale-faced, killing Yu Yuanhai’s fellow disciples and Yan Wenyan’s junior sisters. They melted into pools of water.

Li Xintian and the others had no time to save them.

The demon grabbed Hu Xiaoqiu’s arm, which bore a rune resembling a door.

Hu Xiaoqiu quickly retreated to Bai Lingjun’s side.

“Haha, you thought you could escape me—Ghost Gate!” the demon laughed.

“You’ve hounded me relentlessly, but this time I’ve brought reinforcements!” The Ghost Queen in red appeared, absorbing the spirits of the slain.

“Be careful, everyone. She’s the millennial demon!” Bai Lingjun warned. Nearby lurked another Ghost Queen, the one Li Xintian had mentioned earlier.

“Stay back. This is between her and me!” Li Xintian drew his Righteousness Brush, ready to act, but Qiu Shuguang interrupted.

“You’re just a scholar—how can you handle such demons and Ghost Queens? Rest, let me take care of it,” Qiu Shuguang said, eager to impress Bai Lingjun.

“Let him embarrass himself first,” Bai Lingjun said to Li Xintian.

Li Xintian could only nod in acquiescence.