"All done?"
"Done."
Lin Qiye glanced at Gu Tianchen, then at the lifeless Zhao Kongcheng in his arms, silent.
After a long pause, Lin Qiye's eyes hardened, and he spoke firmly: "I hate owing favors. In exchange, I'll guard this world for you—for ten years."
Zhao Kongcheng lay in a pool of blood, still as if asleep.
Above him floated a faint golden orb—his soul.
As the black-robed elder in the Pangu Temple uttered "Soul, return to me," Zhao Kongcheng's soul drifted into the temple.
Gu Tianchen frowned. The power he'd used to destroy the Ghost-Faced King's body seemed to have come from this black-robed elder.
He sank his consciousness into the Pangu Temple, joining Zhao Kongcheng's soul.
"You are…?"
Gu Tianchen looked curiously at the black-robed elder.
With another of the eleven statues gone, he wondered which of the Twelve Ancestral Witches this was.
"I am Shebishi. Your friend's unyielding spirit moved me. As it happens, I know some soul-manipulating divine arts and couldn't bear to see him dissipate. So I acted. You don't mind, do you, young friend?" the black-robed elder asked.
"How could I mind, Senior? I'm endlessly grateful that you saved my friend. Is there a way to revive him?" Gu Tianchen asked eagerly.
"Well…" Shebishi hesitated.
"Hahaha, old poisoner, acting all high and mighty, and now you're eating your words?" Zhurong taunted gleefully.
Having taught Gu Tianchen divine arts, Zhurong had picked up some modern slang—perfect for ribbing Shebishi.
Shebishi glanced at Zhurong. "Times change, yet your reckless temper hasn't shifted an inch."
"Did I say revival was impossible?"
"There's hope?!" A spark of anticipation lit Gu Tianchen's eyes.
"Young friend, have you heard the tale of Nüwa shaping humans from clay?" Shebishi asked.
"Of course! I'll go dig some up from the garden right now!" Gu Tianchen said eagerly.
"Hold on."
Shebishi stopped him, speaking slowly. "All things have spirit, and humanity is the finest among them. To recreate a body for your friend, ordinary mortal clay won't do."
"What's needed, then?"
"The origin of earth, the Nine Heavens Breath Soil."
"Uh… do you have any, Senior?"
"I do not."
Gu Tianchen: (ー_ー)!!
"Then why bring it up?!"
"Fear not, young friend. I'll find a way to obtain the Nine Heavens Breath Soil. For now, I'll safeguard your friend's soul," Shebishi said.
"Senior, no offense, but you're stuck in this Pangu Temple. Where are you going to find something as rare as Nine Heavens Breath Soil?"
Gu Tianchen pointed at the temple's gate.
A new task had appeared at the entrance—Shebishi's condition for leaving.
It was exponentially harder than Zhurong's.
Shebishi's exit condition: Devour the soul of a deity wielding the Law of Death.
A tall order. In any mythological system, death gods were among the most formidable. Consuming their souls was near gosh darn near impossible.
Gu Tianchen had a hunch this black-robed old man might never leave the Pangu Temple in his lifetime.
Shebishi smiled faintly. "Who said the Nine Heavens Breath Soil must be found outside?"
"Enough with the suspense, old poisoner," Zhurong cut in. "Relax, kid. When our sister Houtu wakes up, she's got the Nine Heavens Breath Soil. With this old poisoner's soul-binding arts, your friend will be revived."
Gu Tianchen's eyes lit up. Right, the Twelve Ancestral Witches included Lady Houtu, who controlled the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Maybe she could revive Old Zhao without even needing the Nine Heavens Breath Soil!
Shebishi shot Zhurong a look. "Always in a rush, never keeping a secret."
Zhurong slammed his halberd on the ground, flames flaring. "What's that, old poisoner? Wanna go a round?"
"No, no, I yield. Please, great Fire God, forgive this old man," Shebishi said, waving his hands in surrender.
His divine arts leaned toward poison and souls. In a fight, few of the Twelve Ancestral Witches could match this fiery brute.
Back then, even Gonggong, with water-based powers that countered fire, lost to Zhurong. Shebishi had no desire to be pummeled right after waking up.
With Shebishi's awakening, Gu Tianchen gained three new divine abilities: God-Slaying Poison, Moon of the Dead, and Nether Eyes.
God-Slaying Poison: Unleashes a deadly black poison mist, capable of felling gods at its peak.
Moon of the Dead: Summons a blood moon to command the undead and launch soul attacks.
Nether Eyes: Sees through phenomena to the soul's essence.
With these abilities, Gu Tianchen's combat prowess surged.
"Senior, I entrust my friend's soul to your care," Gu Tianchen said, bowing to Shebishi.
"Rest assured, young friend. I'll look after him well," Shebishi nodded.
"Let the seniors catch up. I'll take my leave."
Gu Tianchen's consciousness returned to his body.
Inside the Pangu Temple.
Zhurong grinned at Shebishi. "Old poisoner, it's been ages. Wanna catch up?"
Shebishi eyed the flame-wreathed halberd, swallowing hard. "Catching up's fine, but no fighting."
"Come on, just talking's boring. Let's spar and chat!"
Before the words settled, Zhurong's blazing halberd swung at Shebishi.
"Damn it, you think I'm scared? Bring it!"
Shebishi unleashed a swirling black mist of deathly aura, grim and terrifying.
…
Old Town District.
Hongying arrived, drenched and gasping, a black case slung over her back.
"Xiangnan, I'm in the Old Town. Where's Old Zhao?"
"Junior Lin Qiye, sending General Zhao off in triumph!"
Hongying followed the voice. Lin Qiye held Zhao Kongcheng's body, while Gu Tianchen carried the Ghost-Faced King's head, approaching her slowly.
…
Ten minutes later.
A small black mongrel dog trotted across the blade-scarred ground.
A tiny cloth pouch hung from its neck.
At the spot where Zhao Kongcheng fell, Xiao Heilai's eyes gleamed, and it spoke in a human voice.
"Soul, return to me!"
After a long pause, the soul-binding pouch remained still.
"Soul, return to me?"
Xiao Heilai tried again, but the pouch stayed unresponsive.
"No way. It's only been fifteen minutes. His soul couldn't have dissipated that fast."
As Xiao Heilai puzzled, a playful voice sounded behind it.
"Wangcai, what're you looking for?"
***
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