Ch. 1254 - Karona, Forbidden Lands

“So, you understand how difficult this will be, right? Threats and other tricks won’t work, unless you have the power to crush them outright. Otherwise, they’ll never break precedent for you.”

Hearing that, Xie Changliu fell silent.

“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I acted rashly.”

“I didn’t intend to clash with the Mirage Tides Heaven for now,” Xu Zimo said. “Their true target is Sunflower City. Everything else is meaningless. From now on, you’ll follow me and act when I say so. We’ll go to the Netherworld eventually, and we’ll face them head-on, but not yet.”

“I understand,” Xie Changliu nodded.

Xu Zimo looked up at the sky and said softly, “It’s almost dawn.”

Around them, the ghost spirits began to retreat to their shelters. The rule of Nether City was clear, only ghosts could roam at night. By day, aside from the Ghost Envoys, no other spirits were allowed to be out.

“Come with me,” Xu Zimo said, leading Xie Changliu back to the Flower Granny's Lodge.

Inside, the blind old woman known as Flower Granny stood at the counter, fingers moving across her abacus.

“We don’t have ghost coins,” Xu Zimo said with a smile, “but will this do?”

He took out the Soul-Rebirth Pearl that Xie Changliu had stolen. The surface of the pearl was uneven, and faint wisps of wandering souls could be seen swirling inside.

“We’ll use this to exchange for ghost coins,” Xu Zimo said.

Flower Granny paused, took the pearl, examined it for a while, then handed it back.

“This pearl contains seven wandering souls,” she said. “It belongs to a Ghost Monarch. The only Ghost Monarch in this city is the city lord, Karona.”

Flower Granny chuckled and shook her head. “This pearl is far too precious for an old woman like me. But if you want to stay here for the night, you don’t necessarily need ghost coins. Just agree to one condition.”

“Name it,” Xu Zimo said.

“You two outsiders, since you came to Nether City, you must be planning to go to the forbidden land, aren’t you?”

Seeing that Xu Zimo didn’t deny it, she continued, “More than ten years ago, my son entered the forbidden land. He never came back. If you’re going there, I’d like you to take something to him.”

“Where is your son now?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I don’t know,” Flower Granny shook her head.

“The forbidden land is enormous. If you don’t even know where he is, how can we find him?” Xie Changliu couldn’t help but ask.

“You don’t need to search for him deliberately,” Flower Granny said. “If fate allows, and you meet him, please give it to him. If not, then forget it. As long as there’s even the faintest chance, I won’t give up.”

She sighed. “Over the years, many travelers have stayed here. I’ve asked each one to help me. But my son is still nowhere to be found.”

“Alright, we’ll do it,” Xu Zimo nodded.

Flower Granny nodded slightly. She went behind the counter and took out a small bundle, along with a portrait tucked inside.

“This is my son,” she said. “If you see him, give him this package. Tell him that I miss him and want him to come home.”

Afterward, she arranged rooms for the two men and warned, “Don’t leave your rooms tonight. No matter what sounds you hear, do not come out to look.”

When she left, Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu each went to their own rooms.

In Nether City, it was always dark, whether day or night.

Late into the night, a commotion suddenly broke out outside their rooms, followed by the sound of things shattering.

Xu Zimo remembered Flower Granny’s warning and didn’t go out. The noise continued all through the night until dawn.

When Xu Zimo finally stepped outside, he found the first floor of the inn completely wrecked.

Flower Granny was bent over, quietly cleaning up the debris.

“What happened?” Xie Changliu asked, frowning.

“Nothing new,” Flower Granny said, waving a hand dismissively. She clearly didn’t want to say more. “You’re leaving already?”

“We’re going to see the city lord,” Xu Zimo said with a nod.

After saying their farewells, the two stepped into the streets once more. Nether City had reopened for the night, and the streets were bustling again.

“That Flower Granny…” Xie Changliu began, hesitating.

“I know,” Xu Zimo nodded. “She’s strong.”

“Everyone has their own story,” he continued. “As long as she’s not a threat to us, we’ll leave her be.”

Indeed, Flower Granny’s strength surpassed even Xie Changliu’s. If she lived in seclusion here, it was likely for her own reasons.

There was no city lord’s mansion in Nether City, but there was a Nether Temple, and that was where the city lord Karona resided.

There were no restrictions on entering, the temple was open for anyone to visit and offer tributes.

“The city lord’s quite ambitious,” Xie Changliu said with a cold snort. “Gathering the faith of the masses, just like the Daoists and Buddhists do.”

“Even ghosts follow their own path,” Xu Zimo said. “At the level of a Saint Sovereign, any form of cultivation is precious.”

Unlike Buddhist temples, the Nether Temple radiated an aura of corruption and decay. Its architecture was black and white, supported by a few massive pillars holding up a wide roof.

The main gate was carved with the image of a monstrous figure, two horns, a painted demonic face, and dreadlocked hair.

When they entered through the gate, eerie music began to play, strange and intoxicating, enough to lull the mind toward sleep.

The temple wasn’t large and had no side halls. Straight ahead stood the main shrine.

Just as the two stepped inside, there was a loud boom, the temple doors slammed shut on their own.

At once, the eerie music grew louder, more chaotic, like the pounding of war drums.

The two men looked up. Before them stood the statue of Karona.

She held an iron trident in one hand, her gaze solemn and commanding. Her appearance was identical to the image carved on the temple gate.

“Return this sovereign’s Soul-Rebirth Pearl,” a woman’s voice echoed.

The statue shimmered and turned into a living form, Karona herself, towering above them.

Feeling the immense pressure of her aura, Xu Zimo turned to Xie Changliu with an amused look. “So, how exactly did you steal her pearl?”

“I disguised myself as a Ghost Envoy,” Xie Changliu said. “I wanted to gather information about the Mirage Tides Heaven. I didn’t know she was in the middle of a soul rebirth. It’s a complicated process, I’ll explain later.”

Xu Zimo understood that this wasn’t the time for stories.

“We can return the Soul-Rebirth Pearl,” Xu Zimo said, “but on one condition.”

“You’re not qualified to bargain with me!” Karona shouted, her voice thundering.

As her fury spread, the entire temple shook violently.

“In that case,” Xu Zimo said calmly, taking out the pearl, “I’ll just destroy it.”

“Wait!” Karona exclaimed in alarm, quickly stopping him.

“Oh? So now we can talk?” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“Fine,” Karona said, frowning. “Name your condition.”

“We want to enter the forbidden land,” Xu Zimo said.

“Deal,” Karona replied immediately, waving her hand. “Give me the Soul-Rebirth Pearl, and I’ll send you there at once.”

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