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墨書 Inktalez
I walked along the makeshift path, heading deeper into the forest. Along the way, I saw many ruined dead trees, but one phenomenon caught my attention.
I noticed that the fallen dead trees were gradually decaying, and a visible Eerie Energy was surging from them, forming a stream that floated into the air of the forest, all seemingly drawn towards the depths of the woods as if something there was summoning this Eerie Energy.
The previous group of Ghostly Beings was busy moving deeper into the forest, and since this Eerie Energy appeared afterward, they had not noticed this strange occurrence.
As I watched the swirling Eerie Energy, an ominous feeling crept over me. I furrowed my brow and instinctively tightened my grip on my Demon-Subduing Staff, muttering to myself, "Damn it, this situation looks a bit off! Should I call the Corpse Control Shaman to come in with me?"
I turned to look behind me and realized I could no longer see Bai Bufan and Shen Chunlan. I had unknowingly ventured quite far in, and now I found myself in a dilemma.
Just as I hesitated, I suddenly heard a clear bird call coming from beneath a fallen dead tree by the roadside.
"What the hell! Could there still be a Ghost Bird alive? What are those Ghostly Beings doing? How can they be so unreliable!" I cursed under my breath, feeling a twinge of fear.
Earlier, while standing at the edge of the forest, I had witnessed a Hummingbird dive into the head of a Millennium Ghost General and then emerge from its eye socket, leaving that Millennium Ghost General's head in ruins. The sight had been so gruesome that it left a lasting impression on me, which was why I feared these Hummingbirds.
I cautiously approached the source of the bird call and found that it was blocked by a dead tree, obscuring my view of the calling Hummingbird. Seeing this situation made me exhale deeply; I relaxed and said, "Thank goodness this Ghost Bird is pinned down by the dead tree; otherwise, I'd have to run again!"
I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and turned to leave, intending to continue deeper into the forest.
"Chirp chirp~~" Just as I took a few steps away, the Hummingbird trapped beneath the dead tree called out again. This time its voice sounded urgent, as if pleading for help.
Hearing its call caused a stir within my Dantian; Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Buddha Manifestation trembled slightly. I couldn't help but stop. Ever since I cultivated my Buddha Manifestation through Buddhism practice, my heart had changed—I found myself more easily moved than before.
Shaking my head and sighing helplessly, I turned back towards the dead tree and said with resignation, "Buddha's compassion saves lives; saving one life is better than building seven pagodas! I can't just leave like this; it seems I'll have to help this Ghost Bird first."
I approached the dead tree and cleared some space around it. From my backpack, I took out the Longevity Lamp, lit it, and placed it in front of the tree.
"Bird, I'm going to help you pass on now. I hope you can let go of your attachments and leave this Ghost Realm to be reborn in the Underworld," I said sincerely as I gently patted the dead tree.
These Ghost Birds were all Ghostly Beings filled with murderous attachments. Instead of physically moving it from under the dead tree, I prepared to use the Buddhist Sutra of Rebirth to help release its attachments so it could reincarnate in the Underworld.
“Chirp chirp~~” The hummingbird beneath the withered tree seemed to understand my words. It let out a cheerful call before falling silent. I could sense that it was willing to be guided by me.
I did not hesitate and sat cross-legged in front of the Longevity Lamp. With my hands pressed together, I solemnly recited, “All Things Have Spirits, All Things Have Souls. All Things Have Fate, All Lives Have an End. Do Not Be Attached to the Mortal World. Born in the Mortal Realm, Return to the Underworld. All Things Have Causes, In the Next Life, There Will Be Consequences. Namo Amitabha Buddha!”
As my voice echoed with the recitation of the Transmigration Sutra, I saw a wisp of Black Ghostly Aura rising from beneath the withered tree, gradually dissipating. This Black Ghostly Aura represented the lingering attachment of the hummingbird.
I continued my chanting without pause, reciting the Buddhist Scriptures for the Departed until I had done so seven times. Only then did the eerie aura cease to emerge from beneath the withered tree, and the hummingbird's attachment was completely cleared away.
To be safe, I began again from the start with the Buddhist Scriptures for the Departed, ensuring that no eerie aura appeared before I finally exhaled deeply and said, “Phew, that was exhausting! The attachment of this Ghost Bird was so deep; I wonder what its story is.”
My Buddhist Power had reached a significant level; even a Vengeful Spirit with Centuries of Cultivation could be guided away after I recited the Rebirth Sutra once. However, for this Ghost Bird, it took me eight recitations of the Buddhist Scriptures for the Departed, consuming about a quarter of my Buddhist Power. This clearly indicated that this Ghost Bird's attachment was extraordinary.
After resting for a moment, I packed up the Longevity Lamp and stood up, glancing into the depths of the forest as I muttered to myself, “I've been here for a while; I should still be able to catch up!”
Just as I lifted my leg to run deeper into the woods, a sudden shadow appeared before me. It raised its hand to block my path and urgently said, “Savior, you cannot go in there; it’s very dangerous!”
The figure appeared so suddenly that I was startled by its presence in this otherwise quiet area. Instinctively, I raised my Demon-Subduing Staff and pointed it at the figure's head, demanding, “Who are you?”
I scrutinized the figure and realized it was just an ordinary Ghostly Being with low cultivation—equivalent to a Century Ghost.
“Scared me! Turns out it's just a Lolo!” I thought to myself as I lowered my Demon-Subduing Staff. There was no need to be tense against such a weak Ghostly Being; I could easily deal with it.
Seeing me put away my weapon, the figure smiled and continued, “Savior, I am indeed that Ghost Bird you just guided!”
I shot him an incredulous look and replied irritably, “What? Are you kidding me? You clearly look like a humanoid Ghostly Being; how can you be a Ghost Bird? If you're not telling the truth, step aside or I'll eliminate you!”
The figure noticed that I still intended to head deeper into the forest and anxiously said, “Savior, listen to me! I really am that Ghost Bird! If you don’t believe me, let me show you something!”
The figure reached into his possession and pulled out a walnut-sized fruit covered in strange patterns that emitted an enticing fragrance.
I carefully inhaled the fragrance of the fruit and realized it smelled exactly like the scent of the Yinling Flower wafting through the forest. A glimmer of insight flashed in my eyes as I uncertainly asked, "What you have in your hand isn't the fruit of the Yinling Flower, is it?"
"That's right, this is the fruit of the Yinling Flower. I was forced to swallow this fruit, which is why I became a Ghost Bird!" The figure's expression turned fearful. After pausing for a moment and taking a deep breath to calm himself, he continued, "Savior, I originally thought I would remain a Ghost Bird forever. I never expected to encounter you, who lifted the seal on me and allowed me to regain my human form!"
Hearing this Ghostly Being's explanation, I believed about seventy to eighty percent of it. When I had been with Bai Bufan and the others, they had mentioned that the fruit of the Yinling Flower had many uses; some fruits could even transform Ghostly Beings into other forms. The Ghostly Being before me was a prime example.
I reached up to touch my ear and looked into the eyes of the Ghostly Being, asking curiously, "Logically speaking, with your cultivation level, you should be able to seize the fruit of the Yinling Flower. Why did you block me from going deeper into the forest?"
A look of fear appeared on the Ghostly Being's face as he spoke hesitantly, "Savior, there is a strange person living deep in the forest. This fruit was forced upon me by that strange person; I didn't steal it."
"That strange person's cultivation is very high. Even a Millennium Ghost General wouldn't be his opponent; only an Eternal Ghost King could deal with him." The Ghostly Being's eyes scanned me briefly before he subtly added, "Savior, your cultivation is somewhat weak. You are not a match for that strange person. If you go there, it will only lead to your demise!"
"Uh, there's such a thing! Please tell me more about what happens deep in the forest!" I was surprised by what this Ghostly Being had recounted.
According to logic, Yinling Flowers were supposed to be unowned objects. How could someone become the master of the Yinling Flower this time? Moreover, that person's goal didn't seem to be those fruits; otherwise, he could have easily taken them and left the forest without anyone noticing.
The Ghostly Being nodded and frowned as he began recalling what had happened before. He spoke slowly, "Savior, I only stayed in that Ghost Tower for a short while..."
"Chirp chirp~~" Just as the Ghostly Being began to speak, a sharp bird call suddenly echoed through the air. A Hummingbird had discovered our presence; it flickered and transformed into a gray shadow that pierced through the Ghostly Being's chest, instantly killing him.
"Seeking death!" Seeing the Ghostly Being fall before me, an unnamed fury surged within me. I raised my right hand and gathered my Buddhist Power into it. Then I loudly chanted, "Buddhist Teachings to Save All Beings! Delivering people and spirits alike! For those who are Undead, reincarnate and forget worldly ties! Buddhist Transformation Palm! Namo Amitabha Buddha!"
I swung my hand toward the Hummingbird. A golden light erupted from my palm and enveloped it. The Hummingbird let out a shriek as its body disintegrated within that golden glow.
The Ghostly Being stared blankly at his chest wound; it was as large as an infant's fist and had pierced through his heart. If his cultivation had been high enough, perhaps there would have been a slim chance of survival; however, his cultivation was too weak—he was doomed.
"Cough cough, Savior, please do not venture deep into the forest; it's too dangerous there. I'll leave this Yinling Flower fruit to you in hopes that it can help you." Knowing his time was short, the Ghostly Being handed me the Yinling Flower fruit and weakly said, "Savior, before my soul dissipates completely, could you recite that Sutra again? That Sutra sounds truly beautiful!"
I nodded and took the Yinling Flower fruit from him. With my hands clasped together and a solemn expression, I recited: "All Things Have Spirits; All Things Have Souls. All Things Have Fate; All Lives Have an End; Do Not Be Attached to the Mortal World. Born in the Mortal Realm; Return to the Underworld. All Things Have Causes; In the Next Life, There Will Be Consequences. Namo Amitabha Buddha!"
I only read the Buddhist Scriptures for the Departed once, and the Ghostly Being before me completely vanished. However, it wasn't that I had helped it move on; rather, its soul had been destroyed, leaving nothing behind.
I sighed and put away the Yinling Flower fruit in my hand, saying, "I was just about to gather some information when you had to come over and cause trouble!"
"It seems there are great secrets hidden deep within this forest; I must go take a look." I reached up to touch the Soul Mask on my face, feeling somewhat reassured. According to the description of that Ghostly Being, the strange person's cultivation could be dealt with by an Eternal Ghost King. With the help of Dog Treasure, I should face little danger.
I looked at the path ahead and quickly ran forward. Having lingered here for quite a while, I decided to run at full speed this time, hoping to catch up with those ahead of me.
Meanwhile, the group of temporarily allied Ghostly Beings had finally reached a deeper part of the forest after some time working together and saw their final destination.
Before them stood a Towering Tree, adorned with green leaves and bearing thousands of walnut-sized fruits—three or four thousand of them. The fruits emitted an enticing fragrance, and they looked exactly like the one I had on me.
Along the way, although this group of Ghostly Beings had joined forces to destroy the dead trees, they were still ambushed by some Hummingbirds, resulting in a loss of over a hundred Ghostly Beings before arriving here.
"Haha! This is truly worth it! This Yinling Flower is so large, and there are so many fruits on it; it's enough for each of us to have one!"
(End of Chapter)
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