In the hall, Cao Youdao's headless corpse swayed a little. Then, copious amounts of Yin energy gushed out from his neck and transformed into a vortex of Yin energy. His miserable screams echoed throughout the hall.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Meanwhile, the tens of thousands of Yin spirits in the entire City of Salvation fell silent.
Second Avenue of the City of Salvation. Police cars and military vehicles were parked in a row on the wide road, stretching for dozens of meters. Hundreds of soldiers were lined up in four echelons at the front.
They were protected by ropes woven from copper coins, while talismans fluttered down from the ropes. Yet right across from them, there were two to three thousand Yin spirits carrying scarlet lanterns and riding a nethergale towards them like a surging tide of spiritual energy.
"Ah …" "Hiss …" Mournful cries reverberated through the air. Like the waves of the sea, they crashed towards the army in front of them.
"Damn it …" The warrior at the forefront gritted his teeth. Obedience to orders had long been engraved into his bones. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't fearful of the tide of Yin spirits that had emerged from the ropes of copper coins.
However, no one retreated.
His arms were perfectly straight, and his legs were somewhat trembling. His back was as straight as a pine tree. Following an angry shout, a sharp arrow pierced through the air, carrying with it the burning talismans as it exploded into raging flames amidst the spirit tide.
But … there were too many of them.
As soon as the first wave of Yin spirits were annihilated, the rest of the Yin spirits immediately rushed forward, screaming as though they didn't care for their lives at all. Clatter clatter … The ropes of copper coins that were used to protect the formation rattled violently as though they were being buffeted by a strong gale.
Countless Yin spirits were piling up like a mountain in front of them, and it looked like they were about to cross the forbidden zone.
"Damn it … there's no end to these damned things!!"
In the centermost military vehicle, one of the three drivers hammered the steering wheel fiercely and stood up anxiously. "Hold the front!
He had to hold on no matter what!
Other places had reached a crucial moment!
We can't drop the ball!! "
"Captain!" The orderly beside him said anxiously, "One-third of our men have fallen!
What are you going to use to block it? "
Behind the car, there were many soldiers lying on the ground.
He didn't have any injuries, but his face was ashen and his body was cold. He didn't feel anything.
Only his heart was still beating weakly.
It was like a morgue.
If they were allowed to continue fighting, they would definitely die within an hour.
"This is an order!"
The company commander gritted his teeth and said in an incomparably iron-blooded voice, "Even if we have to use our bodies to block it, we must not break this hole before the other places are finished!"
Before he could finish his sentence, there was a loud bang, and the copper coin rope in front of him completely collapsed, scattering stars in the sky.
Time seemed to freeze at this second.
The company commander froze for a moment, and then abruptly turned to look at the frontline. Without the protection of the barrier, the sky was filled with Yin spirits and ghosts. He drew a deep breath and shouted with all his might, "Hold …"
Before he could say the word 'stop'.
He suddenly froze.
He was not the only one. All the warriors in front of him were stunned.
They had already crossed their arms in front of their chests, assuming a defensive posture, but they still did not retreat.
However, the expected ice-cold sensation did not appear.
"What's this …" A young soldier at the forefront stared at the tide of Yin spirits with beads of cold sweat all over his forehead. He could already see the Yin spirit closest to him. It had a ferocious expression on its face, and it had a greenish-white spiritual body.
However … all of them were completely still.
Just a second ago, it was as tumultuous as the sea. In the next second, it was as still as a rock.
And it wasn't just the Second Avenue. In that instant, the entire City of Salvation's Public Park, Shuncheng North Street, Dragonhorse Avenue … all of the Yin spirits that were about to charge forward, as well as the rest of the ordinary citizens, had all come to a standstill!
"He's done it …" Back in the heart of the city, the chief inspector's eyes flickered brightly as he murmured to himself, "The leader is dead, and the Yin spirits are without a leader …"
Boom!!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Yin spirits that had already formed a massive hole in the clouds around the two thousand strong army began to scatter madly in all directions.
Without a leader, the Yin spirits scattered and fled in all directions.
Whoosh … All cultivators who could see the Yin spirits immediately discovered that the scarlet lanterns that were scattered all over the City of Salvation were extinguished.
The aura of the netherworld began to recede, leaving behind only the lights of the mortal realm.
It was almost as though the moon had been extinguished, or the stars had closed their eyes. Within ten minutes, all of the scarlet lanterns in the City of Salvation had been extinguished. Then … they began to burn on their own, and the pitch-black 'Cao' character was soon engulfed in flames.
Zhang Chenghai, the nun, and Elder Mei stood side by side on the television tower. They watched as the greenish-white Yin energy dissipated, revealing the true face of the city. All of them heaved a sigh of relief.
"Immediately …" Zhang Chenghai's eyelids trembled slightly, and his voice was hoarse, "Order all troops … to plant the national flag of Hell on every single street lamp tomorrow morning!!"
"We're going to tell all the ghosts that dare to covet the mortal realm … who's the true ruler of this land!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a man dressed in a suit walked over and whispered into his ear, "Sir, we've just received an order from the higher-ups."
"It's about … what the City of Salvation should do in the future.
It's a red-headed document number one.
This is a serious matter. The mayor and the secretary are already waiting for you. "
… … …
He no longer knew what was going on in the City of Salvation.
As soon as he killed Cao Youdao, his proof of identity flew out once more, and a line of red words appeared on it, "You've killed a Hunter-class vengeful apparition. 200 merit points awarded."
"Current merit points: 1,800 merit points away from becoming an Anitya Hellguard."
Qin Ye couldn't care less.
In any case, I don't have any plans to level up any further.
Forget about 1,800 merit points, even 18,000 merit points wouldn't be enough.
He glanced at the one-inch man in front of him and asked curiously, "What's this?"
"Blade Awakening."
Arthis responded, "The Yin artifacts of Hell's officials are all treasures that have been infused with the aura of the Sixfold Ghost Kings.
As long as you've reached the level of a Soul Hunter and are qualified to be recorded in Hell's Records, you'll have to drip a drop of your blood on it, and the aura of the Sixfold Ghost Kings will immediately appear. "
"Blood sacrifice?"
"You could say that …" Arthis responded exasperatedly, "The more blood you use, the stronger the aura of the Sixfold Ghost Kings you'll be able to summon … I'd never expected that you would only dare to make a one-centimeter cut on your palm!
You're simply too cowardly! "
"Have you ever thought about what would happen to you if the aura of the Sixfold Ghost Kings couldn't kill Cao Youdao?"
Qin Ye responded with great displeasure, "What do you know? I'd rather not hand over my flash ability if I could. What I'm doing right now is the pinnacle of mental arithmetic!
Let me ask you - what's the outcome? "
Arthis grew taciturn.
The most infuriating thing was - How could Cao Youdao be so weak?
How could he have caused her to lose the opportunity to stand on the moral high ground and educate this piece of trash?!
She couldn't even refute it!
"Count yourself lucky this time …" Arthis gnashed her teeth, "Now, take out Hell's Records.
This pit should lead straight to Hell, and it might have once been a passageway where Yin and Yang intersected.
Hell's Records must have been swept here by the aftermath of Hell's collapse, and that's how Cao Youdao was able to survive. "
Qin Ye stood beside the pit and stretched out his neck to take a closer look. His cautious movements made Arthis feel the urge to press his head into the pit.
"Leads straight to Hell?"
Arthis responded through gritted teeth, "Yes … Cathay has countless similar entrances, most of which are located in places that are almost undetectable to humans.
Otherwise, how do you think Emissaries of Hell would be able to emerge from the mortal realm?
Do you think they'd just pop out with a 'biu' sound? "
Qin Ye nodded.
And then … just as Arthis was on the brink of collapse, Qin Ye picked up the surrounding debris and attempted to plug up the pit!
"What the hell are you doing?!!"
Arthis felt as though she were approaching her menopause. The more she learned about Qin Ye, the more she lost her temper. She was practically screaming at the top of her lungs, "Although Hell's Records isn't one of the three great treasures of Hell, it's still in the possession of the Third King Yanluo of Hell, Emperor Song!
It suppresses the Blackrope Hell!
It's only a hair's breadth away from becoming a supreme treasure!
Without it, you'll at best be promoted, but you won't be able to promote anyone else!!
You won't even be able to form your own team! "
Qin Ye stared at Arthis in bewilderment, "Why would I want to promote others?"
"Let me count for you. I'm currently holding onto the shard of King Yanluo's Seal, and all other heretics who stand in my way have already been burned to death. As long as I hold onto the shard of King Yanluo's Seal, I'll be able to survive until the end of the world!"
Arthis suddenly grew taciturn.
"Arti?"
Qin Ye didn't say anything for several minutes. He was worried that Arthis would suffer too much of a blow, and he couldn't help but ask.
"Haha … So that's what you've been thinking all along …" Arthis chuckled coldly after another minute, "Think about it carefully. Granny Meng is an important member of the Netherworld, and why would she be lingering in the mortal realm for such a long time?"
Without waiting for Qin Ye's response, she continued, "If it were merely for the sake of the shard of King Yanluo's Seal, why would I have risked everything to take Wang Zemin's soul back then?"
"Kid … I don't know if you don't want to think too deeply about it, or if you've already considered it and are avoiding it.
But … you can't avoid it … "
Her voice was incomparably somber, "King Yanluo's Seal … is one of the three great primordial treasures of Hell.
The Yellow Springs is hidden within the shard of King Yanluo's Seal, and the Yellow Springs … is the core of Hell. As soon as the shard of King Yanluo's Seal is gathered, it would be tantamount to the rebirth of Hell! "
"The gates of Fengdu Necropolis would be reopened, and the order of Hell would be restored!
Everything, including the loss of Hell, would be restored!
This is akin to … the creation of a new era! "
"Enough!!" Qin Ye bellowed furiously, "I don't want to hear any of this."
Arthis laughed uproariously, "Hiding … you're hiding again?
Of course, I don't blame you this time. After all, the responsibilities of the shard of King Yanluo's Seal are simply too great. Anyone would have to choose whether or not to shoulder this burden.
Unfortunately, Granny Meng didn't give you the opportunity to hide at all! "
"Did she drag her time in the mortal realm just to play a collection game with you?"
"Wrong!
She's looking for the next King Yanluo of Hell!
Whoever gathers all the shards of King Yanluo's Seal will be able to open the gates of the Yellow Springs!
Reopen the gates of Hell!
Appoint the Prefect of Hell to become an Anitya Hellguard!
Restore Hell to its former glory!
Restore Yin and Yang to balance once more!!
This is an act of supreme merit! "
"That's why!
Back then, I went crazy and tried to snatch Wang Zemin's soul for myself!
That's why Granny Meng sought you out!
Because … you've consumed the taisui fungus, so you won't die!
That means you have an infinite amount of time to accomplish this grand task!
You're the one and only, the best candidate! "
"Shut up!!" Qin Ye grabbed the soul sphere and smashed it against the wall.
The soul sphere tumbled down. Arthis watched Qin Ye's chest heave up and down as she chuckled, "As expected … you've already guessed it … That's why I said that you're smarter than a monkey. You've spent decades honing your skills, so how could you not have thought of this?
You must have guessed it when I told you that the shard of King Yanluo's Seal contained the Yellow Springs, didn't you? "