Chapter 424: Lu Yang: It's My Turn to Make a Move

:

"Southeast of Hanshui City lies a small hamlet known as Baishui Village, home to a certain wedded pair. The husband was named Liu San. One early morning, Liu San awoke and found himself quite bewildered, for he had not been roused by his wife as was her custom."

"Having called out for his wife throughout the house to no avail, Liu San commenced a search, only to discover at last that she had drowned within a water basin."

"The coroner discovered no signs of struggle upon the wife's corpse, appearing as though she had willingly drowned herself within the basin. Deeply mystified, he reported the matter up through the ranks. Following a thorough investigation, the authorities decreed it the work of a drowning ghost."

"A so-called drowning ghost is one who perishes by water with resentment harboring in their heart. Should they chance upon a surge of yin energy at the moment of death, they form a phantom to plague the mortal realm."

"Drowning ghosts habitually dwell in rivers, lakes, and seas. It so happens that near Baishui Village there lies a cold pool. Its waters are so bitterly freezing that mortals who consume it over long periods fall ill; its yin energy is exceedingly heavy, making it perfectly suited for a drowning ghost's habitation."

"A senior brother of the late Golden Core stage happened to pass by on his journey back to the sect. Upon hearing of this matter, he went to the cold pool to investigate, summoning a living corpse to dive into the water and capture the spirit."

"Yet that drowning ghost possessed formidable might—at the very least a half-step Nascent Soul stage, and quite possibly the early Nascent Soul stage."

"The ghostly plagues in Hanshui City are far too numerous. The forces that the authorities and the sects can mobilize are stretched to their limits, leaving no spare hands to deal with this drowning ghost."

"Well, shall we accept this mission?"

Zhao Po had obtained a mission scroll and, summarizing it briefly, inquired of Lu Yang and the other two.

Meng Jingzhou felt that a mere drowning ghost offered no challenge: "It sounds rather uninspiring. Is there nothing more challenging? For ins..."

"There is a female ghost seeking a groom for a ghost wedding..."

"The drowning ghost it is, then," Meng Jingzhou hastily interjected, cutting Zhao Po short.

No jests intended—given his current predicament, either the female ghost would find him displeasing and refuse to appear at all, or she would find him displeasing and swat him to death with a single palm.

"Very well, let us set forth then." Prior to their departure, Zhao Po bestowed a talisman upon each of the three.

"What manner of talisman is this?"

"The Soul-Dispersing and Phantom-Banishing Talisman, specially crafted by our sect. It is issued to every disciple who goes forth to quell the ghostly plagues. The sect discovered that specters are exceedingly difficult to obliterate entirely. Even if a malevolent ghost is struck down and weakened, without the corresponding means, it remains arduous to slay them. Thus, cooperating with the talisman masters and ghost-catching Daoists of the government, they crafted this talisman overnight."

The disciples of the Corpse-Driving Sect were all corpse-drivers. They cultivated techniques of the yin attribute, which was closely aligned with the nature of malevolent ghosts; they could defeat the specters, yet found them difficult to kill.

"Once we defeat the drowning ghost, we can drive this talisman to resolve the creature!"

"Your noble sect has indeed considered matters thoroughly," Lu Yang said with a chuckle as he stowed away the talisman. In truth, it was of little necessity to them.

With Meng Jingzhou, that bane of all ghosts and monsters, present, he could burn the malevolent ghost to ashes.

Be it the True Fire of Pure Yang or the Samadhi True Fire, both were substances that thoroughly countered malevolent spirits.

The cold pool was situated diagonally opposite the Corpse-Driving Sect, separated by the entirety of Hanshui City. The company departed the sect and passed directly through the city, skirting past the "Come Again" Barbecue Shop, which was still in its trial-opening period.

Hanshui City remained as prosperous as ever, with people coming and going in a bustling throng; the calamity of malevolent ghosts had not diminished the city's splendor overmuch.

Firstly, because Hanshui City was densely populated, its yang energy was heavy, and malevolent ghosts dared not lightly step within or cause ruin here.

Secondly, even if one returned home, it was not necessarily safe; a single door could not bar a ghost intent on mischief. On the contrary, it was far safer outside where the crowds gathered.

The four men and one corpse followed the coordinates described in the mission, bypassed Baishui Village, and arrived at the cold pool.

Standing by the water's edge, the four could feel the biting chill brought forth by the pool.

The cold pool was flanked by mountains on three sides, shielded from sunlight throughout the year. The surroundings were thick with lush vegetation, among which several old scholar trees were most conspicuous.

Under the influence of these manifold factors, the pool's waters had become freezing cold.

The water was crystal clear, yet the bottom could not be discerned, rendering the location of the drowning ghost impossible to find.

"How peculiar, why is there not a single fish?" Meng Jingzhou wondered aloud. Reason dictated that such a place should teem with fish; it would not be strange even if a great fish weighing a hundred or eighty catties were to emerge.

Yet the reality was that not a single fish resided within the pool, not even a fingerling.

"Devoured by the ghost? Do ghosts eat fish as well?"

Lu Yang pushed the question-laden Meng Jingzhou aside and squatted on the ground to observe the cold pool: "Never mind whether it eats fish or not; you may ask after we have captured it. The question now is how to descend. Who among us is proficient in watercraft to lure the malevolent ghost out?"

The four looked at one another. Lu Yang possessed the Sword Spiritual Root, Meng Jingzhou possessed the Single Spiritual Root, Man Gu belonged to the ancient Barbarian Race, and Zhao Po was a corpse-driver—none were skilled in the ways of water.

"Allow me, I shall command the living corpse to go down!"

Zhao Po ignited three sticks of incense and bowed thrice to the living corpse. The corpse absorbed the essence of the incense; a hint of ruddiness appeared upon its pale skin, and a trace of awareness flickered in its hollow eyes.

The living corpse leapt into the cold pool, and the tranquil waters rippled violently. Evidently, the corpse had found the drowning ghost and a struggle ensued.

A ghost's might stems from the terror within a living being's heart and the frailty of the soul, two factors that held not the slightest sway over a living corpse.

Cold sweat broke out upon Zhao Po's brow and his teeth chattered. He could synchronize with the sensations of the living corpse, perceiving just how terrifyingly powerful the malevolent ghost it faced truly was, causing his pressure to multiply.

"Brother Zhao?" Lu Yang inquired with concern.

"The intelligence was flawed. The drowning ghost below is not of the half-step Nascent Soul or early Nascent Soul stage, but rather the mid Nascent Soul stage!"

"The living corpse also beheld a female cadaver below—it must be the wife who drowned in Baishui Village!"

"The living corpse is drawing the drowning ghost out, prepare yourselves!" Zhao Po shouted hoarsely.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang and the other two swiftly assumed combat stances. The moment the drowning ghost showed its face, it would meet with a ferocious onslaught.

Boom—

The water's surface erupted, and a figure surged out from the depths.

"Samadhi True Fire!"

"Pure Yang True Fire!"

"Overbearing Barbarian King Fist!"

The three unleashed their attacks simultaneously. Just as they were about to strike the figure, Zhao Po frantically called a halt.

"Stop, stop, stop! The one emerging is not the drowning ghost, it is my living corpse!"

The three hastily averted their vectors; the attacks missed their mark, striking the cliffside precipice instead. Massive boulders cascaded down, rumbling like thunder.

Zhao Po's eyes twitched at the sight; by no means did these attacks resemble the power of the Golden Core stage.

"Where is the drowning ghost?" Lu Yang asked, bewildered.

Zhao Po offered an embarrassed smile: "Just now, when I shouted for you to prepare, my voice was too loud. The drowning ghost heard it, realized there was an ambush, and fled back down."

"This complicates matters. Now that it knows of the ambush, it will surely not take the bait," Man Gu remarked in dismay, at a loss for what to do.

"Should we use a storage ring to drain the water?" Meng Jingzhou suggested.

Zhao Po shook his head: "It will not do. This cold pool has already become the domain of the drowning ghost; a storage ring cannot absorb that which possesses a master."

Lu Yang smiled with absolute confidence: "Leave this matter to me. It is high time you witness the supreme technique I have bitterly practiced for many a day!"

"What manner of heterodox spell have you learned this time?" Meng Jingzhou inquired curiously.

"This divine ability is illustriously renowned; you shall comprehend it at a glance!" Lu Yang assumed an air of profound mystery, heightening Meng Jingzhou's curiosity and setting his heart itching.

"Show me, quickly."

Lu Yang paced by the pool's edge, invoking his magical power to conjure a wind beneath his robes, causing his garments to flutter and imparting a grand sensation of ascending to immortality.

"Hear me, malevolent ghost below. This poor Daoist grants you a single chance. If you do not emerge at once, do not blame this poor Daoist for resorting to measures."

The pool remained utterly tranquil.

Lu Yang had long anticipated that the drowning ghost would not respond. He flipped his palm, pressing it against the water's surface, and then violently hoisted it upward. The pool's waters formed a waterspout, collecting entirely into his palm, revealing the drowning ghost dwelling at the very bottom of the pool.

Lu Yang turned back, flicking his sleeve gently with consummate grace: "You have guessed it; this is the palm technique I have bitterly studied for days to perfect..."

Beholding this sight, Zhao Po stood dumbfounded, unable to utter a word for a long spell: "This... this is the legendary Universe in the Sleeve!"

With a flick of his sleeve, the pool's water was drawn up into the fabric and vanished completely, a feat that could be nothing other than the Universe in the Sleeve.

"Yes, this is indeed my Universe in the Sleeve!"