<h4>Chapter 547: The Great Ze Ghost Domain</h4>
"Zhong Shan, let''s keep moving. Don''t listen to this crazy old man who just wants to scam wine!" Xianxian pouted.
The Old Wine Man almost choked on his drink at her words. It felt like a cmity had struck him.
"I believe him!" Zhong Shan suddenly said.
The Old Wine Man had stated there was danger ahead, and he could have easily fabricated a reason. However, he hadn''t, which suggested he disdained lying. Moreover, Zhong Shan''s true body possessed a simr ability, so he chose to trust the Old Wine Man.
Hearing Zhong Shan''s words, Yan Chongzhi raised an eyebrow in surprise. The Old Wine Man, clutching his wine jar, was momentarily stunned. Even he found his own exnation hard to believe, yet Zhong Shan believed him?
Xianxian was annoyed, while Mr. Corpse silently observed, seeming to have noticed something.
"You believe me?" The Old Wine Man asked, looking at Zhong Shan with a strange expression.
"Naturally!" Zhong Shan affirmed with a nod.
Seeing Zhong Shan''s nod, the Old Wine Man''s expression grew even more peculiar. After a long stare, he finally said, "Give me two more jars of wine."
Everyone: "..."
"I told you, he only wants to scam wine!" Xianxian immediately eximed.
After sessfully securing two more jars of wine, the Old Wine Man''s face reddened once more at Xianxian''s words, but his love for wine was undeniable.
Da Xun Dynasty, Forbidden Territory
In the court of the Da Xun Dynasty, a minister bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, as you predicted, following the descent of the golden sun in the Great Ze Ghost Domain, Zhong Shan has dyed his court sessions and headed to the Great Ze Ghost Domain."
"Your Majesty, Yan Chongzhi of the Da Ying Dynasty has also left his capital for the Great Ze Ghost Domain," another minister added.
"Good, good, good! Hahaha!" Emperor Guo Fengughed heartily.
"This is a great opportunity, Your Majesty. With both emperors away, their armies will be demoralized. We should seize this chance to conquer both dynasties. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for Your Majesty!" a ttering minister suggested.
"Indeed, this is a divine opportunity!" Guo Feng agreed.
"Your Majesty, the Da Zeng Dynasty is now very powerful and has the blood wolves assisting them. Even without Zhong Shan, they are formidable. We should concentrate our forces and swiftly capture the Da Ying Dynasty before turning our attention to the Da Zeng Dynasty," another minister advised.
"Your Majesty, we should first attack the Da Zeng Dynasty. With Zhong Shan away, it''s a golden opportunity. Once we capture the Da Zeng Dynasty, the Da Ying Dynasty will be insignificant," another strategist argued.
While the Da Xun Dynasty was plotting their military campaign, Zhong Shan had joined forces with Yan Chongzhi and the Old Wine Man.
As they flew, Yan Chongzhi suddenly asked, "Zhong Shan, are you familiar with the ancient divine powers?"
Zhong Shan''s pupils contracted at the question, and both Xianxian and Mr. Corpse raised their eyebrows.
"Uh? You know about ancient divine powers?" Xianxian asked in surprise.
"Yan, you have keen insight!" Zhong Shan remarked.
Zhong Shan realized that Yan Chongzhi had likely deduced their origins from the yang world. This confirmed Yan Chongzhi''s sharpness and astuteness.
"You tter me. How can Ipare to you?" Yan Chongzhi replied with a smile.
Yan Chongzhi was not being modest but expressing his genuine admiration. In just a few years, Zhong Shan had established the vast Da Zeng Dynasty, proving he was no ordinary individual.
The others, meanwhile, exchanged bewildered nces, unable to follow the cryptic conversation between the two.
"Zhong Shan, I used to be a First ss Eastern Duke of the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty," Zhong Shan openly revealed.
"Ah, that exins Zhong Shan''s remarkable abilities. The Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty and its ancient divine powers are truly extraordinary!" Yan Chongzhi remarked with a hint of admiration.
"How did Yan Chongzhi know about the ancient divine powers?" Zhong Shan asked, curious.
"Such a monumental event as the creation of heaven and earth, how could we not know? Even though the ancient divine power used ''Houtu'' to shock the earth and seal the underworld, the underworld was still in turmoil. Such a grand feat cannot go unnoticed. Although it ultimately failed, the final strike created countless rifts between heaven and earth, allowing many people from the yang world to enter the underworld. I''ve been specting how Zhong Shan arrived in the underworld. Was it during that time, several decades ago, when the yang world armies entered the underworld?" Yan Chongzhi asked, eyeing Zhong Shan intently.
Zhong Shan understood Yan Chongzhi''s probing. Answering yes would be too direct and seem insincere, while answering no would require further exnation.
"Hehe, what do you think, Yan Chongzhi?" Zhong Shan replied with a smile.
"Haha!" Yan Chongzhiughed, dropping the subject. He had realized that Zhong Shan was difficult to pin down, his responses watertight.
"Old Wine Man, is there really no danger ahead now?" Xianxian asked, looking at the Old Wine Man.
"Didn''t you say you didn''t believe me?" the Old Wine Man retorted.
"I don''t believe you, but I believe Zhong Shan. If he says there''s danger, I believe him!" Xianxian replied bluntly.
The Old Wine Man: "..."
"There''s no danger for now, but just two days ago, there was. Let''s hurry into the Great Ze Ghost Domain!" the Old Wine Man said.
The group quickly flew towards the Great Ze Ghost Domain.
It wasn''t long before they encountered several corpses along the way. The bodies were in horrific conditions, their skullspletely emptied of brains. Their clothing was still bright, indicating they had died recently.
One or two corpses could be dismissed, but seventy or eighty? This was cause for concern.
"Zhong Shan, you were right. Luckily, we didn''t rush in!" Xianxian said, looking at the gruesome scene with a sense of relief.
The Old Wine Man was speechless. It was his warning, yet Zhong Shan received the credit?
Mr. Corpsended and carefully examined the bodies, frowning deeply.
"Your Majesty, there are no signs of struggle. These people were killed in an instant," Mr. Corpse reported.
"Hmm," Zhong Shan nodded.
The group continued flying towards the Great Ze Ghost Domain with a sense of foreboding. Soon, they reached its edge.
The sky above the Great Ze Ghost Domain was shrouded in dark clouds, casting an eerie gloom below. The ground was mostly ck mud, asionally interrupted by barren, rocky hills.
The ck mud was filled with countless ck shadows—humanoid ck ghosts struggling within the mire. From a distance, it seemed like an endless sea of ghostly hands and heads, desperately trying to climb out but unable to do so.
The sky above the Great Ze Ghost Domain was also filled with many flying spirits, their transparent forms exuding a dark, ominous energy. They drifted aimlessly, moving without purpose.
"This is...," Xianxian expressed her disgust.
"Ghosts are not all the same. There are ck ghosts in the mud, spirits in the air, ghosts of the dead from the yang world, mountain ghosts born in forests, water ghosts from rivers. All are ghosts. Just as the world nurtures humans, it also nurtures ghosts. Most of these are low-level ghosts with little consciousness, born from the marsh and struggling in their misery," Mr. Corpse exined to Xianxian.
"Oh!" Xianxian nodded in understanding. Yan Chongzhi looked at Mr. Corpse with surprise.
"Are there more people or ghosts in the underworld?" Xianxian asked.
"The yang world births yang spirits, and the underworld births yin spirits. Naturally, there are more ghosts than people. Additionally, there are different kinds of yin spirits, like skeletons," Mr. Corpse exined.
"Got it!" Xianxian nodded again.
In the meantime, Zhong Shan and the others saw arge number of powerful beings rushing into the Great Ze Ghost Domain. There were humans, beasts, and some powerful ghost ns, including skeletons.
"Let''s go!" Yan Chongzhi said.
With that, Yan Chongzhi took the lead, flying forward.
As people flew by in the distance, many ghosts entangled and attacked those entering the domain. However, around Yan Chongzhi, the ghosts avoided him, creating a peculiar sight.
"Huh?" Xianxian looked around at the retreating ghosts in surprise, then nced at Yan Chongzhi in confusion.
"The Emperor of the Da Ying Dynasty is likely a ghost emperor. The ghosts naturally sense his presence and avoid him," Mr. Corpse exined to Xianxian.
Zhong Shan observed Yan Chongzhi from behind, a peculiar look in his eyes, followed by a slight smile.
They flew deeper into the Great Ze Ghost Domain, encountering more and more powerful beings.
At the center of the domain, in a mountainous area, arge number of strong individuals had already gathered.
This vast area was where the golden sun had descended, only to disappear into the mud. Zhong Shan and his group found a secluded peak to stand on.
Not far away, perhaps two old enemies met. Suddenly, they started fighting. Swords shed, and ghostly figures swirled. One of them was knocked into the mud.
As soon as he fell, countless ck ghostly hands reached up, pulling him into the mud, never to return.
"That''s terrifying!" Xianxian''s face contorted in fear as she clung tightly to Zhong Shan''s arm, refusing to let go.
Some supreme experts, unafraid of the ck ghosts, plunged into the mud. The onlookers watched closely, but those experts never emerged again.
"Something''s wrong. The Great Ze Ghost Domain shouldn''t be able to trap someone at the Nascent Soul stage. Why hasn''t anyonee back up?" the Old Wine Man frowned.
"Have you been down there?" Xianxian asked.
"Sort of," the Old Wine Man replied, frowning.
One or two disappearing could be overlooked, but many people and ghosts going down withouting back up raised rm.
Everyone grew more solemn. What was under the mud?
At that moment, three men in white flew over from a distance. They were handsome and surrounded by a gentle white light. Their robes bore a beautifully embroidered "Tian" character. Wherever they went, silence followed, indicating their high status or great power.
"Quick, hide me! Don''t let them see me!" the Old Wine Man suddenly said in a panic.