Chapter 369: Rage
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
All of them watched on slightly dazedly as the dark Yin aura began to spread all around. This did not look like demonic Qi, nor did it look like yin Qi. It did look grey and dark, but it brought with it a certain heat, so that the surroundings felt like something was burning. Even the rich immortal Qi that was present was slowly being forced out.
"What is this?"
"Grievous energy!" Lonemoon's expression darkened as he stepped forward. Only grievous energy had such a smooth aura. But grievous energy normally only appeared on individuals in the Underworld. Why was there grievous energy in the immortal realm
Just as he was thinking about this, the grievous energy that had shot up into the sky condensed into a ball. It shot down rapidly toward Shen Ying, causing all of the flowers and structures in its wake to wilt and collapse, respectively.
"Master!" Yi Qing paused. He immediately drew his immortal sword in an attempt to defend Shen Ying, but Shen Ying was much faster than he was. She reached out and caught the ball of grievous energy.
A piercing scream came out of nowhere. It sounded crazed and shrill, so that everybody's ears began to hurt. The ball of energy started to shift and writhe in Shen Ying's palm, but it could not break out. The screaming got even louder and sharper.
Even the Celestial Emperors could not withstand it any longer. They stepped backward, scrunching up their faces. This sound seemed to have the power to wound primordial spirits.
Shen Ying tilted her head and looked at Chef. Very seriously, she asked, "Can I eat this?"
Yi Qing hesitated and shook his head. "No!"
"Oh." That's disappointing.
Yi Qing quickly conjured a seal which flew out of his hands and formed a golden chain. The chain wrapped around the grievous energy, trapping it within. Shen Ying released her grip.
Even so, the grievous energy did not rest. It continued to attack the chains which were containing it.
"Shen Ying, Chef." Lonemoon flew over and glanced at the both of them. Seeing that they were fine, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he turned to face the ball of energy. It really was grievous energy – and so rich at that! What exactly happened in this person's life? How could the grievous energy break through the gates of the Underworld and into the immortal realm?
Out of habit, he released his divine perception to scan the ball of energy. Lonemoon started. "There is a soul in this grievous energy!" There was so much grievous energy, yet the soul was kept intact despite being engulfed in it. That was a miracle. He frowned and turned to Chef. "Let's bring it back with us first."
He turned and looked at the grey skies, raising his hands and conjuring a wind seal which blew the surrounding heat away. The skies began to clear up.
Thankfully, Little Black and Yu Hong had already signed the deed. Lonemoon was just about to invite all of the immortals back to the main hall. "Everybody..."
"Sect Mater..." Before he could finish speaking, Si Yu suddenly exclaimed. "Senior Sister Yu Hong and the others are gone!"
"What!" Lonemoon shouted. He turned to check the Deed-Signing Stage. Indeed, there was nothing but empty space there. Little Black and Yu Hong were nowhere to be found...
——————
In the rear hall of Invincible Sect.
"I've searched the entire heavenly palace. There's no sign of Little Black or Yu Hong," Lonemoon said to Chef, who was beside him.
"They're not in the demonic palace either." Yi Qing shook his head.
Their expressions darkened. Yu Hong and Little Black seemed to disappear into thin air. Even their aura was untraceable.
Lonemoon frowned and turned to look at the ball of grievous energy floating in the air in front of Shen Ying. "Shen Ying, you've been staring at it for half a day now. Have you discovered anything yet?"
"Huh?" Shen Ying paused chewing on her fruit and tilted her head. "Er, it's a little hot."
"..."
Hot?
You freaking stared at it all day just to measure its temperature?
"Forget it, I think we can only ask that ball of energy for Little Black's and Yu Hong's whereabouts." Lonemoon conjured a defensive array to protect themselves. "Chef, undo the chains."
Yi QIng nodded curtly. With a flick of his wrist, the golden chains containing the grievous energy disappeared. The grievous exploded at once, expanding to fill the surroundings extremely quickly. A human silhouette appeared in the middle. There was indeed a soul contained inside.
"Who exactly are you?" Lonemoon asked in a low voice.
The ball of grievous energy gave no reply. Instead, it screamed once again – a shrill and piercing scream just like the one before. It rushed toward Lonemoon and Chef, but was stopped by the immortal Qi around them.
"The grievous energy in its body is too rich. Its sanity and consciousness have been overcome by all the grievous energy," Yi Qing said. "I'm afraid it wouldn't understand you even if its soul is still there."
Lonemoon frowned and looked at the crazy figure which was still crazily charging at the two of them. Suddenly, he recalled something and turned to Yi Qing. He said, "Chef, go to where Chengyu is and get Little Shortie over."
Yi Qing paused, suddenly understanding what Lonemoon was intending to do. He turned right and flew out. A moment later, he returned with Little Shortie in tow. She was the Meng Po who governed the River of Forgetfulness. She would know best about souls.
"Little Shortie, do you have any way to get rid of all of this grievous energy so that this soul can regain its sanity?" Lonemoon asked, pointing to the ball of grievous energy.
"I could do that," Little Shortie answered, nodding. "But the grievous energy was born out of his own soul. Even if I can remove it for awhile, his soul will continue to produce grievous energy if his grievances have not been resolved."
"I understand that." Lonemoon was more concerned with finding Yu Hong and Little Black. "Just get rid of it for now."
"Alright!" Little Shortie nodded. She stepped forward, reached out and opened her palms toward the grievous energy. A soft golden glow appeared around her hands. Once the glow appeared, the grievous energy around the grey figure began to melt away like ice. Moments later, the grievous energy was completely gone. The figure that was inside the grievous energy became clearer. He was dressed in a green robe and looked no more than 20 years old. A youthful man who looked a bit like a nerd. He looked completely harmless.
The man opened his eyes, looking faintly confused. When he spotted the woman whose hands were glowing, he paled. He screamed, "Ghost!!!!"
As he screamed, he covered his ears and shook his head. In a flash, he ran to the table and hid underneath it, trembling incessantly. All that could be seen was his behind.
Yi Qing: "..."
Lonemoon, "..."
Meng Po: "..."
Crazy! Who was the real ghost over here! Was he trying to be funny?
Even Shen Ying, who had been chewing on her fruits, stopped eating to look underneath her table at the young man trembling there. She dropped her hand holding the fruit, frowning. Then, she grabbed the man by the collar and pushed him onto the table. It was then that she picked up her fruit from the floor.
Huh?
The man hesitated and glanced at the woman who was wiping the fruit from the floor on her robe. She was about to bite down on the fruit when he asked, "... Miss?" After some thought, he realised that ghosts would not be able to eat. So... "You're not a ghost?"
"Of course we aren't!" Lonemoon replied, frowning. He snatched the fruit from Shen Ying's hand and glared at her. "Get another one!" She didn't even know how to wash her fruit before she ate it – how lazy! Lonemoon tossed the fruit to Yi Qing and turned back to address the male ghost. "You are the ghost." Lonemoon
"What? That's impossible, I'm clearly a..." The ghost started after he looked down at his body. Then, he screamed. "Ah!"
He looked as though he had gotten the shock of his lifetime. His eyes rolled back, and his entire body swayed. The man looked like he was going to pass out at any moment. Afterall, he was a soul – there was no way he would actually pass out. All he could do was keep screaming and running around the rear hall in a panic.
Indeed, he was one timid ghost.