Chapter 68: Mutation

Atop the altar, as the blazing yang fire burned on, Li Yang’s flesh and skin gradually turned to charred ashes, his blood dried up, leaving behind only a radiant golden skeleton. The skeleton shimmered with flowing light, its structure resembling a centipede of dragon bones, each segment interlinked, numbering a hundred in total, utterly unlike the bones of a human. Across each joint, there were countless tiny inscriptions barely visible, flickering with a mysterious energy.

Staring at the bones upon the altar, Lady He felt her vision swim with darkness, her face drained of all color, stumbling forward toward the altar, overcome by despair.

“Hahaha... Sometimes it’s not about coming early, but coming at just the right moment!”

Just then, Shi Jian, clad in a black-and-white Daoist robe, leaped onto the altar, gazing at the skeleton at its center and laughing heartily.

“Senior Brother, what are you doing here?”

Seeing Shi Jian appear so suddenly, Ninth Uncle’s face was filled with confusion as he questioned him.

“Lin Fengjiao, drop the act. Hand over the Underworld’s Seal of Authority now, and for the sake of our shared discipleship, I might let you off!”

Shi Jian’s tone was curt and direct, making his intentions clear without a hint of courtesy.

“The Seal of Authority from the Underworld was bestowed by the elders of our sect, as you well know. At the last Maoshan conference, Master publicly declared that I would succeed as chief banker. If you have doubts, Senior Brother, you should take it up with the elders, not come here to stir up trouble after the fact!”

Matching Shi Jian’s bluntness, Ninth Uncle refused him without hesitation.

“Hmph~ Maoshan is now governed by Master Miaohua, and she naturally favors her own disciples for any benefits.”

“In terms of cultivation and seniority, you, Lin Fengjiao, are at best a halfway disciple, so why should you claim every advantage? You received the best feng shui in Ren Family Town, took the prime treasure—the Innate Eight Trigrams—from the previous chief, and now you alone are chosen for the Underworld god position!”

“On what grounds? Are you claiming Master Miaohua is impartial?”

Seeing Ninth Uncle’s righteous stance, Shi Jian’s long-suppressed resentment erupted, his face contorted with fury as he roared.

“I have risked life and limb for the Maoshan Sect for years, and in terms of cultivation, I am the undisputed first. Why must you take all the benefits, while I shoulder all the dirty and exhausting work? If you know what’s good for you, hand over the Seal now, or don’t blame me for disregarding our brotherhood!”

“The division of territories follows the sect’s branches, and Ren Family Town belongs rightfully to my talisman lineage. The treasures are similarly divided, and the Innate Eight Trigrams is a legacy treasure. The Underworld god position this time was awarded based on merit, and I, Lin Jiu, have a clear conscience.”

Faced with Shi Jian’s accusations, Ninth Uncle stood firm and unyielding.

“In that case, let’s settle this with our own hands! Frankly, I despise your sanctimonious attitude, always putting yourself on the moral high ground, pretending to be selflessly public-minded.”

“Crackle… sizzle…”

As Shi Jian spoke, arcs of electricity danced around him, the stones beneath his feet trembling as he advanced step by step toward Ninth Uncle.

“Come, Shi Jian! Our paths diverge, and we cannot work together!”

Ninth Uncle drew the horsetail whisk from his belt, his expression grave as he faced Shi Jian’s wild display of electric power.

“Rumble…”

“Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits: Divine thunder descend and reveal your might!”

Shi Jian stepped in the pattern of the celestial stars, silver lightning snaking around him, shooting toward Ninth Uncle like electric serpents.

“Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits! Disciple Lin Jiu beseeches the Supreme Patriarch to manifest his power!”

Ninth Uncle flipped his hands, chanting under his breath, and the Innate Eight Trigrams behind him flared into existence, enveloping him in its glow.

His yellow Daoist robe unfurled, transforming into a gigantic talisman that wrapped itself around Shi Jian.

With Shi Jian temporarily trapped, Ninth Uncle quickly removed the Eight Trigrams from his body and began arranging a formation.

Ninth Uncle’s lineage specialized in rituals, forming altars, drawing talismans, and such arts. While his martial prowess sufficed against ordinary foes, Shi Jian’s Thunder Fist completely countered him, and Shi Jian’s cultivation was marginally superior. Only the path of formation remained viable for him.

“Jian, stop playing around! First destroy that golden skeleton on the altar!”

Just then, ripples spread through the void, distinct from the clash between Shi Jian and Ninth Uncle.

Though Grandmaster He had lost his physical form, his spirit body was attuned to the cosmos, and he saw that the skeleton on the altar had not truly perished.

Within it, a tremendous vitality was forming, its energy causing a vague sense of unease within him.

Having cultivated to nearly the level of a ghost immortal, Grandmaster He’s sixth sense had developed into a mystical perception, a warning born of instinct, and he did not ignore it.

“Crackle… bang bang bang…”

Hearing Grandmaster He’s voice, Shi Jian, though confused, summoned all his magical power and broke free from the restraints of Ninth Uncle’s Daoist robe.

“Divine thunder descend!”

With a mighty shout, the sky darkened with thick clouds, and a massive bolt of lightning crashed down toward Li Yang on the altar.

“No…”

Witnessing this, Lady He let out a shrill, blood-curdling scream, her eyes ashen and streaming with bloody tears.

“Rumble… whoosh…”

In an instant, the world changed—where moments before the sky was clear, darkness now reigned. A terrifying, sinister energy surged from an unknown dimension, blotting out the sunlight.

“Ehehehe… hehehe… awooo…”

Across heaven and earth echoed the wails of vengeful spirits. A shadowy figure rose from Lady He, enveloping her completely.

Dimly, one could see the figure clad in a robe embroidered with a hundred ghostly images, forming nine fierce bone dragons, and crowned with a nine-beaded imperial headdress.

A colossal bronze gate materialized behind the figure, with ten thousand ghosts howling upon it, and a blood-red moon hanging ominously.

“This… what is this!”

Stunned by the scene before him, Ninth Uncle froze, and Shi Jian’s face turned pale as he stumbled backward in terror.

Even Grandmaster He, within his blissful realm, shrank tightly into a space crack, afraid to make the slightest move.

“Ah… lucky you, boy!”

The figure took no further action, merely casting a glance at Shi Jian and at Grandmaster He hiding in the space fissure, muttering softly.

But that single glance was as solid as a blow, striking Shi Jian to his core, making him tremble all over and collapse to the ground.

“Break!”

A domineering woman’s voice rang out, and a hand as pale as white jade reached from the mist, plunging into the blissful dimension.

“Mercy…!”

Only two desperate screams echoed in the void, as the jade-like hand withdrew, holding a giant egg and a sheet covered in glowing runes.

“Are you… are you Lady He?”

Ninth Uncle, trembling, stepped forward to ask.

The voice was somewhat familiar, reminiscent of Lady He, but now it carried a sovereign dominance and cold disdain, lacking the former warmth.

“Hm…”

The shadow merely glanced at Ninth Uncle, uttering a vague nasal sound, and strode single-handedly toward the altar’s center, carrying the giant egg.

That simple glance struck Ninth Uncle like a thunderbolt, sweat pouring uncontrollably down his face.