Chapter 167: The Bound One

The pit before them was so deep that the bottom couldn’t be seen — even a Light Body Talisman might not be enough to reach it safely.

With no better choice, Yuan Jiang pulled out a celestial artifact and formed a quick seal. The artifact immediately expanded, floating in front of them.

“Everyone, get on. I’ll take us down,” Yuan Jiang said.

They didn’t hesitate and stepped onto the artifact together, descending toward the direction Ye Yuan had indicated. When they reached about three hundred zhang below, they finally touched the bottom — and were met with an overwhelming surge of yin energy seeping from beneath a pile of broken stones. Within it, faint traces of a soul’s aura lingered — the only one left in the entire city.

It seemed… it was trapped beneath the rubble.

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The group fell silent, black lines forming on their faces as they turned to Yun Jiao.

“What now?”

Yun Jiao twitched her lips helplessly. What else could they do? “We dig. It’s not like we can blame the Ancestor for… overenthusiasm.”

She massaged her temples and looked to Bai Yu. “Old man, you brought Earth-Penetration Talismans, right?”

Bai Yu stared blankly at the massive pile of rocks ahead, his expression torn. “Uh… I did. A few.”

“Good.” Yun Jiao sighed, then quickly issued instructions. “Distribute one each. Clear the stones in that area. Yuan Shishu, keep watch — make sure the rest of the debris doesn’t collapse again. I’ll set up a defensive array to prevent another slide.”

She paused, glancing back at the calm figure who had, moments earlier, casually demolished half a city. Then, with a perfectly serious face, she pulled out a small pouch and handed it to him. “Ancestor, thank you for your hard work. Please rest for a bit.”

Both Yuan Jiang and Bai Yu gasped, eyes flicking nervously toward Ye Yuan.

Would he… take offense?

Ye Yuan blinked, looked at the pouch — then decisively accepted it. “Alright.”

And began eating the biscuits.

Bai Yu: “…”

Yuan Jiang: “…”

This must be a fake Ancestor. Or a fake Master. Definitely a fake.

○|￣|_

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With the walking natural disaster occupied by snacks, the rest worked efficiently. Within a quarter of an hour, the defensive array flared to life. At its center, where the trapped soul’s aura was strongest, a white light burst forth. The energy blew away the surrounding rubble, clearing a circular space several meters wide. The pit brightened instantly.

Only then did they finally see who was trapped inside.

It wasn’t Xi Teng.

Instead, it was a man in his thirties or forties — unconscious, covered in mud and blood, his body marred with wounds so deep that bone showed through. His clothes were shredded, and his limbs bent at unnatural angles, forcing him into a kneeling posture. Around his body wound bright red chains, pulsing faintly with energy.

Looking closer, they realized those weren’t chains at all — but lines of glowing talismanic script, carved directly into his skin.

“The Soul-Devouring Lock!” Yuan Jiang gasped, hurrying forward.

Yun Jiao and Bai Yu followed. On closer inspection, they noticed that the man wasn’t a normal, semi-transparent ghost. His body had form — a solid one.

“The Three-Yin Body?!” Yun Jiao exclaimed. Then realization dawned. “He’s the Yama of the Realm of Spiritual Restoration!”

Both Yuan Jiang and Bai Yu froze in shock. Only a Yama — a master of a ghost domain — could cultivate the Three-Yin Body, the highest form of ghostly existence. But why was such a being bound and buried here, so weak he could barely survive?

“Yuan Shishu, could you use celestial energy to purge the Soul-Devouring Lock?” Yun Jiao asked. “It’s formed from condensed yin energy — celestial qi is the best counter.”

“I’ll try,” Yuan Jiang said, pressing his palm to the man’s forehead. A white glow spread from his hand, slowly washing over the Yama’s body. The crimson runes began to fade — but agonizingly slowly. After half an hour, only the bindings around the man’s right arm had dissolved.

Frowning, Yun Jiao examined the Yama’s condition. Then she took out her silver needles, forming a formation around him.

The moment her needles landed, the flow of Yuan Jiang’s celestial energy surged — from a trickle to a roaring flood. The red runes vanished in seconds. The Yama’s body went limp and collapsed to the ground.

“It’s undone,” Yuan Jiang said, exhaling in relief. But as he looked down, his brows furrowed deeper. “The Soul-Devouring Lock only binds the spiritual body. Why didn’t he just abandon his yin form and escape? Even Han Shu abandoned his Three-Yin Body once.”

“Because of this,” Yun Jiao said, pointing to the man’s back.

Yuan Jiang turned him over — and his face changed instantly.

There, protruding from the Yama’s spine, was a silver-white nail glowing faintly with cold light. It pierced clean through his body, the tip embedded near his core.

“The Soul-Pinning Spike!” Yuan Jiang exclaimed, his expression darkening.

No wonder his soul hadn’t escaped — the spike had nailed it in place. Unlike the lock, this was no spell — it was a celestial artifact, crafted specifically to subdue evil spirits and ghosts.

Whoever had done this hadn’t just bound him — they’d meant to erase him entirely.

“Little Martial Niece, can you remove it?” Yuan Jiang asked urgently. “The longer it stays inside, the more of his soul force it drains. He’s probably unconscious because of it.”

“It’s tricky,” Yun Jiao admitted. “I can’t remove it completely yet. I’ll suppress its influence first, then work it out later.”

She began to move, her silver needles flashing. After half an incense stick’s time, the glow on the spike dimmed, and the Yama’s body stirred faintly.

“He’s waking up,” Yun Jiao said, putting her needles away.

The man’s eyelids fluttered before he slowly opened them. “You… who are you? I… what happened…” His voice was hoarse, confused. Then his eyes widened in sudden panic. “That bastard! Where is he? Stop him! You must—”

He tried to get up, but his body failed him. He collapsed again with a loud thud, hitting his head hard against the ground.

“Lord of the Realm, please don’t move,” Yuan Jiang said quickly. “You’re gravely injured.”

The Yama blinked at them, his gaze landing on Yuan Jiang. “You’re… from the celestial realm!”

“Yes. I am Yuan Jiang,” he said, then quickly gestured to the others. “These are my juniors.”

The Yama didn’t seem to notice the omission of the calm figure standing off to the side. His eyes widened in recognition. “Yuan Jiang… Tianzun of the Celestial Realm?! One of the Five Heavenly Guardians?”

Yuan Jiang smiled faintly. “Indeed. Tell me, Lord of the Realm — who did this to you? And what happened to your city?”

“City?” The Yama’s eyes flickered. “What about the royal city?”

“Your realm’s royal city has become a wasteland,” Yuan Jiang said gravely. “Other than you, not a single soul remains.”

“What?!” The Yama’s face drained of color. He struggled to rise — and promptly fell again, head-first, with another resounding thunk.

Everyone: “…”

…There was really no need to be that polite.

(End of Chapter)