Chapter 648 - 355: The Bride (Part 2)

Lü Zhong couldn’t help but wonder about her origins. ’If I’m not mistaken,’ he thought, ’I’ve run into a Ghost Cultivator. Then again, this power is truly bizarre. It can pull a Foundation Establishment Cultivator into an Illusion Realm without them even noticing.’

As far as Lü Zhong knew, the Ghost Cultivators of this world faced a similar plight to Demon Cultivators. Due to constantly absorbing Negative Energy Yin Spiritual Qi, their bodies were greatly affected. While gradually becoming neither human nor ghost as they transformed into Yin Souls, it was extremely rare for them to maintain a clear mind.

The one before him seemed to be an exception.

’Perhaps she’s a Ghost Cultivator with a legacy...’ Lü Zhong guessed.

Before the Immortal Dao flourished, Ghost Cultivators had once been as prosperous as those of the Witch Dao. But later, when Evil Spirits were suppressed by the Immortal Dao, the Ghost Cultivators suddenly became like a river without a source and gradually declined.

’It seems Central Earth has undergone a great change. After countless lives were lost due to Hei Ming’s Ascension, the Yin Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth suddenly surged. Coupled with the decline of Sect Clan forces due to the Soul Loss Syndrome, they can no longer suppress them as forcefully as before. That must be why these legacy Ghost Cultivators are daring to show their faces now.’

As Lü Zhong thought of this, many of the questions that had long troubled him were answered.

He now had a good idea of what the "death tide" Hee Yun had mentioned was. It was likely the dual catastrophe of a massive number of Soulless and the rise of the Ghost Cultivators.

Only a crisis of this magnitude could make a Divinity Transformation Immortal Sect lower its proud head and choose to make peace with the Southern Barbarian threat. This would ensure a continuous supply of resources, allowing them to concentrate all their power on the fight against the Soulless and the Ghost Cultivators.

Glancing at the Ghost Cultivator dressed as a bride, Lü Zhong gave up the idea of skewering her with his Thunderous Spear. This Ghost Cultivator only had an Early-stage Core Formation cultivation; he could kill her quite easily.

’With my trouble-attracting constitution, I’ll probably run into a Nascent Soul Stage Ghost Cultivator in the future, and there’s a high chance of conflict. It’s necessary to learn about these legacy Ghost Cultivators in advance.’

Seeing that the members of the Wu and Lin Families were only slowly losing their Essence Qi and their lives weren’t in immediate danger, Lü Zhong took control of his Incarnation again. He prepared to enter the Illusion Realm to take a look, hoping to find out why the Ghost Cultivator pulled people into it. He had a feeling her bridal attire wasn’t just a personal preference.

...

He opened his eyes again.

Lü Zhong found himself in a different place—an impressive mansion. Everything around was draped in red and decorated festively. Large, red lanterns with the "double happiness" character hung from the eaves, and suonas and horns continuously played celebratory tunes. It was clear that a wealthy family was holding a wedding.

Following the flow of people, he sat down at a table.

Eight people to a table.

The table was already filled with dishes, all mundane mortal fare like sweet and sour carp and four-joy meatballs, with not a single Spiritual Food in sight. It was worth noting that the cooking techniques were quite exquisite; the color, aroma, and flavor were all well-mastered. It was clearly the work of a master chef.

The aroma was so tantalizing it made one’s mouth water.

’What a pity this is all just an illusion.’

Lü Zhong regretfully put down his chopsticks and turned his gaze to the others at his table.

Judging by their attire, the first six were from the two families’ caravans. There were both mortals and Qi Refining cultivators among them. Right now, their faces were stiff and their eyes were dull and lifeless. A single glance was enough to tell they were hopelessly trapped in the Illusion Realm.

As for the remaining two...

One was a little girl in old clothes. Her face was also stiff, but it was more out of fear. Judging by her darting eyes, it was clear she had maintained her Spiritual Wisdom and was still conscious.

’This is...!’ Lü Zhong let out a soft sound of surprise and took a longer look at her.

As if confirming something, a faint smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

Only then did he shift his gaze to the last person.

This person looked like an old man in his eighties or nineties. His graying hair and beard were a mess, and he was thin with gaunt cheeks, but his gaze was incomparably sharp. Although he wore a gray Daoist Robe that was faded from washing, considering the Sword Box on his back, Lü Zhong guessed he was a Sword Cultivator who practiced the Sword Dao.

Interestingly, this Sword Cultivator had also hidden his cultivation.

Due to the limitations of his Incarnation’s body, Lü Zhong couldn’t see his exact Realm. However, one thing was certain: he was at least above the Foundation Establishment Stage and very likely had a Core Formation Stage cultivation.

Noticing Lü Zhong’s gaze, a flicker of surprise passed through the Sword Cultivator’s eyes.

Then, his lips moved as he sent a voice transmission:

"You... You were able to break free from the Illusion Realm too?"

Hearing the Sword Cultivator’s words, Lü Zhong understood the reason for his surprise. It was because of his apparent cultivation. While the cultivators from the Wu and Lin Families were hopelessly trapped, for an Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like him to be unaffected by the Illusion Realm was indeed quite conspicuous.

After a moment’s thought, Lü Zhong fabricated a reason and said calmly, "Senior, the reason I was able to break free from the Illusion Realm is because I practice a family Secret Skill."

"A Secret Skill?"

The Sword Cultivator didn’t doubt him.

The Lü Zhong before him, both in his demeanor and his actions, greatly resembled an heir from one of the Family and Major Sects. For an elite cultivator with such a background to possess a family Secret Skill and break free from a Core Formation Ghost Cultivator’s "Rule Illusion Realm" was not entirely impossible.

"Since you aren’t controlled by the Illusion Realm, I have a task for you. Take this little girl and leave right now—the farther, the better!" the Sword Cultivator said anxiously, pointing to the little girl at their table.

"Senior, why are you so anxious?" Lü Zhong pressed.

This Sword Cultivator’s origins were unknown, but he seemed to know why the Ghost Cultivator pulled people into the Illusion Realm. Since Lü Zhong had met someone in the know, he was naturally unwilling to leave so easily.

At that moment, all the guests suddenly turned their heads and stared in unison toward the entrance.

WHIMPER... The little girl seemed to sense something, and she became utterly terrified.

"Sigh... why didn’t you listen to my advice! It’s too late for anything now..." The Sword Cultivator sighed. He stopped trying to persuade Lü Zhong to leave and instead unslung the Sword Box from his back, looking as if he were facing a great enemy.

"Senior, can you explain now why you wanted this junior to leave earlier?" Lü Zhong continued to press.

Hearing this, the Sword Cultivator stared into Lü Zhong’s eyes for a long moment before saying, "Fine. I’ll let you die knowing why, so you don’t just die in confusion!"

He then pointed to the entrance, where a red carpet had been laid out at some unknown point.

A figure in a bright red wedding dress, her head covered by a red veil, was slowly walking in from outside. From the glimpse of a snow-white neck beneath the veil and her slender, graceful figure, one could tell she was a beautiful woman—and one with an exceptionally outstanding presence at that.

The moment she appeared, a sense of crisis suddenly rose in Lü Zhong’s heart.

’Is the Incarnation in danger?’

Beside him, the Sword Cultivator continued his voice transmission, his tone half-mocking and half-pitying. "Junior, did you sense it too? The moment this bride appeared, your Spiritual Sense started blaring warnings, didn’t it? Let me tell you, this warning is real. Legacy Ghost Cultivators aren’t like those wandering, lonely spirits. Their Cultivation Techniques are different from Immortal Dao Techniques. They need to kill according to their Cultivation Technique Rules to maximize their power."

’So that’s how it is!’

Hearing this, Lü Zhong finally understood the Ghost Cultivator’s purpose.

Then again, he had never read about this in any texts. This was clearly another result of knowledge suppression. In a world where Spiritual Qi was becoming increasingly scarce, competition among cultivators grew ever more intense. For something like this to happen in Central Earth, where the Immortal Dao reigned supreme, was practically inevitable.

As for what rules the Ghost Cultivator followed...

Lü Zhong could guess even without the Sword Cultivator’s reminder.

Holding a wedding.

If nothing unexpected happened, this was bound to be a bloody wedding, followed by a slaughter where every guest present would have to die.

’This Ghost Cultivator’s technique is extremely similar to that of Evil Spirits,’ Lü Zhong thought, recalling a past event.

Before the Spiritual Energy Great Wall was sealed, Evil Spirits were rampant throughout the Southern Barbarian lands. Even in the Bihai Region, under the jurisdiction of the Bihai Sect, large numbers of Evil Spirits had run amok. Among them was a "Ghost Bride" that had once claimed the lives of many low-level disciples from the Bihai Sect.

That was precisely why it had left such a deep impression on him.

According to the records, the Ghost Bride, like all Evil Spirits, needed to satisfy corresponding rules to kill. The Bihai Sect disciples who had died had inadvertently triggered the killing rule, which was why they were killed by the Ghost Bride during the "wedding." Every one of them had died a gruesome death.

Lü Zhong could see that the Rule Illusion Realm used by the Ghost Cultivator was distinctly different from the killing rules of Evil Spirits. The rules of Evil Spirits were triggered passively, whereas the Ghost Cultivator’s seemed to be forcefully triggered. Once pulled into their Rule Illusion Realm, if one couldn’t escape before a certain point, they would be killed by the Ghost Cultivator.

No wonder the Sword Cultivator had said it was too late.