Leading the conversation, Ancestor Qingyun spoke slowly.
"Martial Uncle is right. I feel the same way. Besides, even Ancestor Qingyun has already given his approval—there's absolutely no issue at the moment."
Beside him, Ancestor Qingluo also nodded with a smile.
"However, while we believe in him, other sects surely won't. I think the best way is to visit the Underworld and examine Ling Xiao's merit."
Finally, Ancestor Qingyou spoke solemnly.
His words left everyone silent. Indeed, while they trusted Ling Xiao, others—whether from outside sects or within Mount Mao—might not. The best way to settle all doubts was to verify the amount of merit Ling Xiao had accumulated.
However, checking someone's merit was not something just anyone could do. Unless one held a high rank in the Underworld, at the very least a Civil Judge or Martial Judge under one of the principal Judges, such access was impossible.
Even for two judges of that level, they would still need permission from a Chief Judge.
Within the Underworld, the Mount Mao Patriarch with the highest official rank was none other than Patriarch Zhong Kui himself.
He held the title of Judge of the Department of Sin Enforcement.
Legend had it that Patriarch Zhong Kui was originally the Judge of the Department of Sin Enforcement, and only assumed the title of Mount Mao disciple during a reincarnation trial.
So although he was honored as a Mount Mao Patriarch, legend claimed he was also the patriarch of several other sects—only from different reincarnation eras.
As a result, it was nearly impossible for any Mount Mao disciple to directly request an audience with Zhong Kui.
Back in the day, when Uncle Nine was acknowledged by Patriarch Zhong Kui during the Ghost Festival, even the founding patriarch of Mount Mao appeared in a dream that very night, overwhelmed with emotion.
It was said that even Mount Mao's founding Patriarch Huayang, though retired and secluded in the Underworld, was merely a Nether Envoy of the Nether Commander level.
Above Nether Commanders were the Civil and Martial Judges, and above them, the Chief Judges.
Though the difference in rank seemed minor—only two levels—it was in fact worlds apart.
"Let's give it a try. I will go to the Department of Virtue Rewards in the Underworld and seek out Patriarch Huayang. This concerns the rise and fall of Mount Mao. And since Ling Xiao is also Lin Nine's disciple, perhaps Patriarch Zhong Kui will make an exception and agree to see us."
At last, Ancestor Qingyun made a solemn decision—he would send his soul into the Underworld!
……
……
At the same time, in Ling Xiao's room in Potter's Field.
A beautiful silhouette of a female ghost floated before Ling Xiao.
"Benevolent one, are you really sending me for reincarnation? But I'm worried... Wushan Ghost Mother once said that for ghosts like us who have stayed in the human realm for so many years, sending us to the Underworld would greatly damage your vitality!"
Looking at the handsome Ling Xiao, Xiaoyu spoke with concern.
"That applies only to ordinary Daoists. For me, sending you to the Underworld takes little effort. Once there, you should reincarnate peacefully. Perhaps we'll meet again one day."
Ling Xiao looked at Xiaoyu's beautifully restored face from her life with a trace of emotion. To die so young was truly a pity.
Moreover, the fact that she had survived for twenty years in the graveyard ruled by Wushan Ghost Mother without being corrupted spoke volumes about her kind heart.
Had he not killed Wushan Ghost Mother in time, Xiaoyu might soon have become her next victim.
So, it was fair to say that Ling Xiao had indeed saved her.
As for transcending spirits, what Xiaoyu said was indeed true.
Unless the person performing the rite was a Nether Envoy from the Department of Soul Ferrying, sending a ghost to the Underworld required long-term effort from the cultivator.
Take Potter's Field for example.
Even now, at least a dozen innocent spirits awaited Uncle Nine to perform rites for their transcendence.
Uncle Nine would spend an hour or two every day on this task.
White-clothed child ghosts were relatively easy—it might take a few days to ten days to guide them to the Underworld.
But Yellow-clothed ghosts were different. They usually required ten days to several months.
As for malevolent spirits above the Shadow level, their grievances were enormous. Even with Uncle Nine's strength, it could take one to several years to dispel them.
Such ghosts could either be slain on the spot or delivered to a major temple where dozens or even hundreds of Daoists could work together to transcend them.
If that failed, the ghosts would wander the world forever.
Some spirits, consumed by resentment, would start harming others.
Those who did not harm others would gradually fade with time, eventually vanishing into nothingness.
"By the time that day comes, I might no longer remember my benefactor…"
But Xiaoyu responded with a wistful tone.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't recognize me, I'll recognize you."
Ling Xiao smiled at her words.
"In that case, let's begin."
Ling Xiao's expression gradually grew solemn.
"Rumble rumble rumble!!!"
Suddenly, a terrifying surge of True Qi erupted from his body.
The surging True Qi flowed rapidly into his eyes.
"Buzz!!!!!!"
In an instant, blinding black-and-white light burst from his eyes.
"Yin and Yang are in chaos, the Gates of Hell burst open!!"
Ling Xiao shouted in a low voice.
At the same time, the black-and-white light from his eyes rapidly converged, condensing into a beam of light that shot toward the empty air nearby.
"Boom!!!!"
In that instant, a deafening explosion rang out as if the whole world had trembled—yet oddly, nothing seemed to have happened.
Because the sound and shockwave were confined to the room, even Uncle Nine in the next room felt nothing at all.
"Shrrrrip!!!!!!"
At that moment, the beam of black-and-white light tore open a massive rift in the air.
A yellow mist surged out from the spatial tear.
And within that mist, a weathered, ancient road slowly appeared before them.
"This... is the legendary Road to the Underworld!?"
Ling Xiao was shocked by the sight.
From the other side, he could feel incredibly powerful, terrifying auras.
Undoubtedly, those were the auras of Underworld powerhouses.
"Father... Mother... I think I can feel them!"
Xiaoyu was on the verge of tears with excitement.
"Xiaoyu, it's time to go. Your family is waiting for you."
Ling Xiao quickly recovered from his awe and spoke calmly to Xiaoyu.
"Benefactor, then I'm off. Xiaoyu will never forget your kindness—not even in a hundred lifetimes."
Gratefully, Xiaoyu bowed slightly to Ling Xiao, then transformed into a stream of light and flew toward the Road to the Underworld.
Soon, her figure vanished into the Road.
"Buzz!!!!!!"
And the gateway to the Underworld, opened by Ling Xiao's eyes, slowly began to close.
The ability to open the Road to the Underworld came from the awakening power of Ling Xiao's Heaven-Earth Yin-Yang Eyes at Level 3.
Each level of the Heaven-Earth Yin-Yang Eyes offered a different function.
Level 1 allowed the user to perceive all kinds of spiritual energies.
Level 2 enabled the Yin-Yang Sealing Chains.
These chains possessed immense sealing power, especially effective against souls. They even worked on physical bodies, though less effectively.
Level 3 granted the ability just used—to open the Road to the Underworld and guide souls to salvation.
Each of these abilities could be considered an invincible power that countless Daoists dreamed of having.
Even Nether Envoys of the Department of Soul Ferrying required multiple formalities to perform such rites.
But Ling Xiao could do it simply by expending a bit of mental energy.
"Now that Xiaoyu has entered the Underworld, the storyline involving Mr. Zombie has come to a complete close. To think... it originally had two more days to run, but with me around, it ended just like that!"
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