Chapter 119: The Myriad Ghosts Pilgrimage Art

In the Ghost Abyss, within the Si Mansion, after a bout of intimacy, Jun Yao put on her clothes and asked Jiang Xiaofei, "Are you truly going to declare war on Heavenly Ghost City in three days?"

Jiang Xiaofei nodded. "Although Heavenly Ghost City has strong soldiers and sturdy horses, we must fight to thoroughly crush their conspiracy. Only then can our Si Mansion stabilize the Underworld. Besides, we are not without a chance of victory."

Jun Yao shook her head. "But with the backing of that mysterious power, I fear the odds are not in your favor."

"That is exactly why I must declare war. I want to see for myself what kind of force dares to meddle in the affairs of the Underworld," Jiang Xiaofei said with a determined look. "Do not worry. I am no longer the man I once was; I would not take such risks without confidence."

"Very well then," Jun Yao replied, seeing his resolve. "If you are determined, I will support you. However, I must warn you: it is best not to reveal the Heaven-Sealing Divine Talisman."

"Why?" Jiang Xiaofei asked, frowning in confusion.

Jun Yao explained, "The battle at the Abyss of Ghostly Howls will inevitably attract the attention of various factions. The Heaven-Sealing Divine Talisman is a divine artifact; there is no telling whose greed it might incite, leading to unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Xiaofei nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, I have ways to defeat them even without using the power of the talisman."

"That is good," Jun Yao said with a slight nod. "By the way, where did the exotic fire within you come from?"

Hearing Jun Yao mention the Phoenix True Fire, Jiang Xiaofei immediately recounted the events, though he omitted any mention of Xiaofeng. After all, with Xiaofeng residing in his sea of consciousness, he feared she might grow jealous.

Upon hearing his explanation, Jun Yao was still astonished. After all, the Phoenix True Fire transcended the category of mere exotic fires; it was a divine flame. Most importantly, it had been gifted by King Xiao. King Xiao was a formidable deity, a being existing far beyond the reach of ordinary gods. That such a person would help her husband left her bewildered. Driven by curiosity, she asked, "Husband, do you know this King Xiao?"

"No," Jiang Xiaofei replied, shaking his head immediately.

"That is strange," Jun Yao murmured, a thoughtful frown appearing on her face.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," she replied. "Let us set that aside for now. Although you possess the Phoenix True Fire, try to use it sparingly. Something as close to divinity as the Phoenix True Fire will only invite covetous eyes."

"Then what should I use?" Jiang Xiaofei asked, surprised.

Jun Yao smiled. "Naturally, the ghost arts from the *Underworld Ghost Path*. This will not only signify that you are part of our Si Mansion, but it will also command respect. The *Underworld Ghost Path* was left behind by the previous King of the Underworld. If they see you have mastered the complete techniques, they will surely hold you in awe. If you rely only on foreign magic, even if you crush them, it will be hard to win their hearts. For millions of years, the Underworld has been ruled by masters of the Ghost Path; they would never accept an outsider as their king."

"I understand!" Jiang Xiaofei exclaimed, suddenly enlightened. "Do not worry. Even without the Phoenix True Fire or the Heaven-Sealing Divine Talisman, I can still outmatch them. It is time to test the power of the 'Ten Thousand Ghosts Pilgrimage Technique'!"

At the mention of this, his eyes filled with anticipation. Though he did not yet know its true power, the name alone sounded formidable—after all, it claimed to be able to devour gods and ghosts alike!

Jun Yao nodded. "Go and prepare. I believe that after the battle at the Abyss of Ghostly Howls in three days, you will carve out a reputation that will shake the four corners of the world."

Jiang Xiaofei nodded, said no more, and sat cross-legged to begin practicing the technique. However, he found himself without a clue, as the manual provided no specific training techniques. He was puzzled—could it be that this technique required no practice?

As if sensing his confusion, Jun Yao spoke. "The Ten Thousand Ghosts Pilgrimage Technique requires no practice, yet it has a method of cultivation."

"Have you practiced it?" Jiang Xiaofei asked, frowning.

Jun Yao shook her head. "I have not, but my father did."

Jiang Xiaofei was startled. "Was the previous King of the Underworld truly your father?"

Jun Yao nodded. "My father told me that this was a highly sinister technique. It uses the devouring of ghosts to boost one's cultivation, but the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. After careful consideration, he gave it up, and I never practiced it either."

"If it is a wicked art that harms others to no personal gain, then I shall not practice it," Jiang Xiaofei remarked after a moment of thought.

Jun Yao smiled. "But you are different. You possess the magical power of the black and white energies within you; you should be fine."

Jiang Xiaofei considered this. "Then I shall try. Tell me, what is the method?"

"It is to devour the souls or primordial spirits of others to enhance your own cultivation," Jun Yao explained. "However, this only works on those of equal or lower rank; it loses its soul-capturing effect on those above you. Furthermore, if the opponent's strength or soul power is far greater than yours, you will suffer a backlash."

"It truly is a wicked art that harms others to no gain," Jiang Xiaofei sighed. He had thought he found a treasure, but it turned out to be a sinister technique. Still, he believed there was more to it—the text claimed it could devour gods and ghosts, so perhaps the previous King of the Underworld had simply not reached that level.

Noticing him drifting into thought, Jun Yao said, "The choice to practice it is yours, but do not say I did not warn you. Be careful not to lose your mind to the darkness."

"Rest assured, I will be careful," Jiang Xiaofei promised.

Jun Yao said no more and began her own meditation. Jiang Xiaofei followed suit. Although the pilgrimage technique was temporarily set aside, he began practicing other ghost arts within the *Underworld Ghost Path*.

One technique, "A Wisp of Smoke Becomes Ghostly Qi," was a powerful art. Though not as formidable as the pilgrimage technique, it delighted him. It allowed him to create a clone, essentially doubling his combat presence. How could he not be excited? However, he soon discovered its flaw: the clone only possessed half his own strength.

Disappointed but undeterred, he began practicing another art, the "Ghost Saint Heaven-Piercing Seal." While less aggressive than the pilgrimage technique, it was still a useful addition to his repertoire.