Chapter 20: What Is Your Relationship with the Ghost Immortal?

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"You've injured so many disciples of my Mount Mao and still dream of escaping back to the Ghost Realm? Wishful thinking. You'd best stay here forever," Leaf Yijian declared coldly just as Jiang Xiaofei finished speaking. The disciples behind him were filled with murderous intent, itching to shatter the souls of everyone from the Ghost Realm in vengeance for their fallen brothers and sisters.

This immediately struck terror into those from the Ghost Realm, and all eyes turned to Jiang Xiaofei. With the Ghost King now sealed, Jiang Xiaofei had become their pillar.

A woman robed in black gazed at him anxiously. "Master Fei, if they won't let us leave, what should we do?"

"Don't worry. I'll hold them off for a while. Use the chance to escape back to the Ghost Realm," Jiang Xiaofei replied.

His words touched the black-robed woman deeply, yet she shook her head. "If you aren't leaving, neither are we."

"That's right! If Master Fei doesn't leave, neither do we. At worst, we'll fight Mount Mao to the end!" the others from the Ghost Realm shouted in unison, unafraid of life or death.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaofei grew angry. He shouted, "If you truly want to save the Ghost King, then get back to the Ghost Realm right now!"

"But Master Fei, you'll die!" the woman protested.

Jiang Xiaofei could see her concern for him. He smiled. "Don't worry. They can't do anything to me."

"Alright then, but you must be careful," the woman conceded, nodding before leading the others down the mountain.

"Don't even think about leaving Mount Mao!" Leaf Yijian roared just then. He moved his hand, and a river of spiritual power surged forth, transforming into a giant hand that reached for the retreating Ghost Realm group, clearly intending to destroy them all.

"Your opponent is me," Jiang Xiaofei declared. His own hand moved, summoning a river of ghostly energy that formed a ghostly hand, clashing against Leaf Yijian's, protecting his companions' retreat.

"You brat, you court death!" Furious that his attack was blocked, Leaf Yijian formed a seal with his hands, sending a fiery red spell crashing toward Jiang Xiaofei.

"It's you who's courting death," Jiang Xiaofei retorted coldly. As the spell approached, his hand moved, unleashing a vast surge of millennium ghostly energy. From within the aura, a fierce skeletal head emerged with a howl.

The moment the ghostly visage appeared, Leaf Qingzi, who had been meditating in the distance, abruptly opened his eyes. "Not good. That’s a millennium soul spirit! Junior brother is in danger!"

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Without hesitation, Leaf Qingzi flashed to stand before Leaf Yijian. His hands moved in constant seals as he recited incantations. Strange golden characters spilled from his lips, swirling before him to form a yin-yang array that blocked the millennium soul spirit.

Taking advantage of this, Leaf Qingzi fixed a cold gaze on Jiang Xiaofei. "Who are you, boy? What is your connection to the Ghost Immortal of the Underworld?"

Jiang Xiaofei frowned. "With your status, do you have the right to know? And why should I tell you?"

Leaf Qingzi bristled with anger. "You may have some skills, but on Mount Mao, you don’t get to run wild."

"Break!" Leaf Qingzi changed his hand seal, and immediately runes shot from the yin-yang array, assaulting the millennium soul spirit.

These runes seemed born to dispel evil. The soul spirit wailed in agony as if burned by golden fire, the sound shrill and pained. Under the corrosive force of the runes, it quickly dissipated.

Witnessing this, Jiang Xiaofei's face twisted in distress. That millennium soul spirit had been a birthday gift from his wife for self-protection, and now it was gone—how could he not be heartbroken?

Sensing his pain, Leaf Qingzi sneered. "So you realize my power now?"

"Still, if you tell me your relationship with the Ghost Immortal of the Underworld, I’ll spare your life. If not, I’ll make you wish for death."

"Senior brother, this one cannot be left alive!" Leaf Yijian urged as soon as Leaf Qingzi finished. The other disciples of Mount Mao also pleaded, desperate for Leaf Qingzi to kill Jiang Xiaofei. Though they didn’t know why Leaf Qingzi was hesitating, they sensed Jiang Xiaofei would become a future threat if left alive.

Leaf Qingzi ignored the clamor. He smiled at Jiang Xiaofei. "Well, have you decided? Nod your head and you’ll be spared. I promise you’ll leave the mountain safely."

Jiang Xiaofei’s gaze turned cold. "And if I refuse?"

"That’s not up to you," Leaf Qingzi replied with a furious laugh. His hand moved, and runes swarmed from the yin-yang array, howling toward Jiang Xiaofei.

Faced with these strange runes, Jiang Xiaofei dared not be careless. He quickly formed seals, summoning a vast shield of ghostly energy to resist them.

But the runes were too powerful; they eroded the ghostly shield, then wound themselves around Jiang Xiaofei’s body.

Immediately, he found himself immobilized, power sealed and at the mercy of his captors.

Yet Jiang Xiaofei would never submit to Mount Mao. "Kill me if you must, but don’t expect me to confess anything. I will never tell you, so give up," he spat coldly.

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"Boy, I admire your unyielding spirit, but it's not wise. I have plenty of patience—I can torture you slowly until you speak," Leaf Qingzi said, then turned to Leaf Yijian. "Lock him in Mount Mao's dungeon. No one is to approach him without my order. Post guards as well."

"Senior brother, you can rest assured," Leaf Yijian replied.

Leaf Qingzi nodded slightly and disappeared from view.

After Leaf Qingzi left, Leaf Yijian turned his gaze to Ye Qiuchen and said coldly, "Did you not hear me? Quickly call some disciples and take this brat to the dungeon." As he spoke, he drew a finger across his throat.

Ye Qiuchen understood the gesture. "You can rest easy, Master. I’ll see it done."

With that, he called several junior brothers to approach Jiang Xiaofei.

As the others busied themselves, Ye Qiuchen leaned close to Jiang Xiaofei and whispered, "Thank you for showing mercy to my fellow disciples. I’ll find a way to help you escape."

"Brother, what are you whispering to him?" a young disciple asked, noticing Ye Qiuchen's strange behavior.

"Nothing, just telling him to behave," Ye Qiuchen replied with a smile, glancing at Jiang Xiaofei. Seeing him remain silent, Ye Qiuchen said no more, and together with several disciples, lifted Jiang Xiaofei and carried him off to the dungeon.

Inside the damp and gloomy dungeon, after tossing Jiang Xiaofei inside, Ye Qiuchen and the others swaggered away. As they left, one of the young men snorted, "Who knows what Ancestor Leaf is thinking, sparing this brat's life."

"Who can say? But he won’t live long anyway. Let him have a few more days," another replied.

Once Ye Qiuchen and his companions had vanished from sight, Jiang Xiaofei surveyed his surroundings. Despite the dungeon’s darkness and humidity, he found it oddly comfortable.

He closed his eyes, focusing inward, seeking a way to break free from the runes that bound him.