Chapter 63 - 62: The Mysterious City God.
Chapter 63: Chapter 62: The Mysterious City God.
Translator: 549690339
A feeling of “Blessings from the heart” swept through his spiritual consciousness.
He did not resist this feeling but followed it, putting his soul in a semi-drowsy, semi-awake state.
Power of the soul.
It was increasing bit by bit.
As this process progressed, Xuanqing felt an inexplicable pulling force from the ground beneath his feet, as if it was trying to drag his soul down.
It sank down.
The soul plunged into the ground, diving deeper and deeper.
Deeper and deeper, it went.
A wave of dizziness came over him.
When he woke up again.
Xuanqing found himself in a peculiar space.
Cold, desolate, and extremely yin!
These words were not enough to describe this place, as all the colors in the entire world had disappeared, leaving only a despairing, silent gray.
As he surveyed his surroundings.
Suddenly.
A majestic voice resounded.
“Ha hah a-hah a”
“I was initially puzzled why the main hall was suddenly filled with auspiciousness, but it turns out it was Daoist Xuanqing who graced us with his presence!”
He saw a tall, nine-foot man with an official hat, wearing a blood-red cloak, with a long beard, and emanating an air of elegance.
City God?
Xuanqing hesitated for a moment and then slightly bowed, giving a salute, “I, Xuanqing, greet City God!”
According to the ranks, City God was a seventh-rank Yin God, which was higher than his standard ninth-rank Immortal Officer status.
“No need for such formalities, Daoist friend. You must be wondering in your heart how you ended up in this Netherworld?” City God said with a smile.
Xuanqing nodded slightly.
Indeed.
He was practicing in his temple and suddenly appeared in the Netherworld.
“Judging from your current state, I guess it must have been Spirit Night Travel, and you must have entered a profound insight, unknowingly flowing into the Netherworld along the Yin Qi.”
“What a great opportunity, you are truly blessed!” City God stroked his beard and said, with a hint of envy in his eyes.
Upon hearing this.
Xuanqing curiously asked, “What do you mean by saying that me entering the Netherworld in soul form is an opportunity?”
“Hahaha, don’t panic, Daoist friend.” City God laughed heartily, and then pointed at the surroundings, “This desolate place is not a place for conversation. How about you follow me to City God Hall, and we can talk in detail there?”
Indeed.
As Xuanqing looked around, apart from the bare gray stones, there was just the endless wasteland, not a place for conversation.
“Then I will gratefully comply!”
“Very well, 1 am going to use a magic, do not resist.”
With that said.
The City God seized his red cloak with his right hand and swung it twice.
The next moment.
Xuanqing felt a pulling force enveloping his soul. Hearing City God’s words, he did not resist.
Vaguely.
He saw that there seemed to be a hole in the City God’s cloak, with traces of stitching.
But before he could get a clear look, another wave of dizziness struck.
The scene in front of him changed once more.
Not far away.
A gloomy city stood tall, near the entrance of the city gate was a two-meter-high stone stele, engraved with three characters.
Minglang City!
“Minglang City?”
Xuanqing felt a sense of familiarity when he saw the words on the stele, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
City God on one side seemed to notice Xuanqing’s confusion and explained, “This place is the Netherworld reflection of the human world’s Bright Town.”
“That’s right, in the human world it should now be called Black Wind Town!”
Upon hearing these words.
Xuanqing suddenly understood.
No wonder he felt familiar with this ‘Minglang City.’
He remembered back when he had died at Five Elements Mountain and chose to return to the city and resurrect, he appeared in Black Wind Town.
Back then, when he stopped an old man to ask about the place’s name, the old man said, ‘It used to be called Bright Town, but later changed its name to Black Wind Town.’
“Let’s go and discuss it in the city.”
“Alright!”
Xuanqing nodded.
Entering the Netherworld’s Minglang City.
The scene in the city was shocking to those who saw it.
Looking around.
The streets were empty, and not a single ghost could be seen. Even the houses on both sides of the streets were gray and emitting an air of decay.
After a while of walking.
Finally.
They arrived at a main hall with a plaque hanging outside that read ‘City God Mansion’.
More importantly, at the entrance of the City God Mansion, they finally saw two soldiers wearing armor.
“Your subordinate pays respect to Sir City God and greets Immortal Xuanqing!”
These two soldiers at the entrance of the City God Mansion immediately knelt down on one knee and shouted respectfully when they saw the City God and Xuanqing.
“You may rise.”
The City God waved at the two soldiers, then commanded, “You two go get my Netherworld Tea and serve it to Daoist Friend Xuanqing!”
Netherworld Tea?
The two soldiers shuddered.
One of the soldiers opened his mouth slightly, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately did not speak. He could only keep silent and fetch the Netherworld Tea.
“Daoist Friend, please come in!”
“City God, after you!”
Xuanqing slightly bowed his hands.
For some reason, he always felt that the Netherworld was filled with strangeness everywhere. It seemed… the situation was quite extraordinary.
Stepping inside the mansion.
Despite the mansion’s spaciousness, it was empty except for some tables and chairs. There were no other objects, nor any servants.
Seeing this,
Xuanqing finally understood why he felt that the place was full of strangeness.
The strangeness lay in two words:
Poverty!
Yes, poverty.
In such a large city, there were no ghost figures, dilapidated houses, and even the City God Mansion was the same.
Only at the entrance of the City God Mansion were there two Yin Soldiers on guard.
Even.
From when the City God called those two Yin Soldiers to fetch him the so-called Netherworld Tea, one could see.
It is possible that in this vast ‘Minglang City’, there might only be the City God and those two Yin Soldiers.
“Please sit, my humble dwelling is rather shabby, I hope Daoist Friend won’t mind!” The City God looked somewhat embarrassed, pointing with his hand at a chair which was missing a leg.
Xuanqing’s mouth twitched slightly.
Moments later,
Two Yin Soldiers brought a teapot with green smoke wafting from it, “City God, Immortal, the Netherworld Tea is ready!”
Seeing the Netherworld Tea,
The City God’s face regained some confidence, and he laughed twice before saying, “Daoist Friend, this Netherworld Tea is a very good thing. Please, have some tea!”
Upon witnessing this scene,
Xuanqing frowned.
He picked up the teacup and took a sniff, suddenly feeling an invigorating surge through his mind. Just by smelling it, his Spiritual Soul Power seemed to strengthen a bit.
This Netherworld Tea was indeed a good thing, as the City God had said.
But because of this,
Xuanqing’s heart was even more puzzled.
Even though he didn’t know why a dignified Seventh-Rank Yin God would be so poor,
Under such circumstances, the City God still used his Netherworld Tea, a good thing, to treat him.
If one were to say that it was just pure friendship and hospitality, he would absolutely not believe it a thousand percent.
With these thoughts in mind,
Xuanqing put down the teacup.
“I have always preferred straightforwardness.. If City God has any plans, please let me know in advance!”