As soon as he finished speaking, the scenery before Zhang Yuanqing rippled like ripples on water—this was a sign of entering the spiritual realm, yet there was no auditory cue from the spiritual realm. The transmission jade symbol allows spiritual realm travelers to enter the realm without having to accept tasks, so does this mean they’ve bypassed the realm altogether? Zhang Yuanqing watched the ripples transition from turbulent to calm, and the white ceiling gradually gave way to a deep, starry night sky. Beneath a night sky as deep and velvety as black天鹅绒, a dreamlike amusement park operated day after day. The cheerful music, the chime of bells, and the roaring sounds of the roller coasters wove together a vibrant and beautiful scene. Zhang Yuanqing waited in place for several seconds, still hearing no spiritual realm notification, and began to form a hypothesis in his mind. ——It seems the transmission jade symbol truly bypasses the spiritual realm. Returning to the spiritual realm through this symbol means entering the realm without any assigned tasks. "So, if there are any spiritual realm travelers within Jinshui Amusement Park at this moment, then what am I?" Is this a bug, or a副本 boss, or nothing at all? Hmm, once my level improves, I can go back to the副本 and show off, impress the lower-level travelers. While thinking of that with a touch of flair, he pulled out the teleportation scroll case and took out the second teleportation scroll. He was about to crush it to head to the Temple of the Mountain God when he paused suddenly. After using the scroll, he realized the item only enabled one-way teleportation. "Then, after visiting the Temple of the Mountain God and returning to reality, I'll have used up all three scrolls. What's the point of this experiment?" Zhang Yuanqing stood frozen, expression blank. Likely due to ingrained habits, he had always assumed that once entering the spiritual realm, he would naturally return to reality—this had been true in the past. But upon realizing that entering the realm required no specific task, he immediately sensed the issue. Additionally, since he had never used teleportation scrolls before, he wasn't very familiar with the item and hadn't considered the matter thoroughly. A few seconds later, he gritted his teeth and said, "Well, since we're here, let's take a look at the ghost bride—perfect opportunity to gather some intel on the old banyan tree." His current strength had vastly improved, and with the help of his props, he could easily contain the ghost bride. Zhang Yuanqing walked forward on foot, following the route he remembered, passing through one set of leisure facilities after another. Soon, a cluster of buildings nestled in darkness came into view ahead. The path here was paved with vintage stone, flanked by elegant, white-walled, green-tiled buildings in the Jiangnan style. The gate was covered with white paper, and white lanterns hung at the eaves, creating a quiet, eerie atmosphere. Compared to the silent village, the ambient qi here was noticeably thinner and more gentle. Zhang Yuanqing walked a few more minutes and stopped outside a large courtyard. The eaves of this courtyard bore bright red lanterns, and the gate was adorned with festive red paper—clearly, the family was hosting a wedding. "Knock, knock!" he stepped up onto the steps and rang the doorbell. Suddenly, the courtyard gate creaked open, a cold breeze rushing out through the crack. Through the narrow opening, Zhang Yuanqing saw a lantern drift in from the thick darkness. The lantern hovered just beyond the threshold, then a ghostly hand—its skin and fingernails dark and bluish—emerged from the crevice, holding a marriage invitation. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes shimmered with dark energy, his aura growing eerie and regal. He murmured calmly, "Get out!" The ghostly hand trembled and silently retracted. The lantern sped away, as if fleeing. That's what they say—after thirty years of eastward flow, thirty years of westward change; never underestimate the young. The ghost bride, I'm back. Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the gate and stepped inside. After entering the ancient manor, he set aside his spirit-consuming ability, walked past the outer hall, and reached the back courtyard. He surveyed the surroundings—dark and still, the courtyard serene. Red lanterns hung along the corridors, glowing with an otherworldly red light, yet the ghost bride did not appear. "The last time the ghost bride appeared, the four wedding gifts had been collected—this should be the way to summon her." Despite not detecting a strong negative energy, Zhang Yuanqing purposefully entered the room in the back courtyard, lit by candlelight. The furniture in the room was all wooden, with a vintage style reminiscent of women's private chambers from the Republican era. Zhang Yuanqing's gaze settled on the dressing table by the window, where a bronze mirror faced the entrance door. The door in the mirror was closed, while the door behind Zhang Yuanqing remained open. On the dressing table stood a balance rod. As Zhang Yuanqing approached and reached for the rod, the door in the mirror slowly opened, and a woman with her head bowed appeared within it. She stepped over the threshold, sat down by the dressing table, and then gently removed her head, placing it on the table before her, silently combing her hair. The scene was both eerie and terrifying, leaving the audience with a sense of spine-tingling suspense—most effective at frightening the newlyweds. Zhang Yuanqing was so startled at first that his heart and lungs ached—he nearly screamed. But now… blackness surged in his eyes as he raised his hand and gave a powerful swing. His palm passed through the mirror, as though piercing a phantom, rippling with ripples. "Plump—plump—" The female ghost's head was knocked off and rolled out far away, gurgling as it went. Zhang Yuanqing then pulled the body of the ghost from the other side of the mirror, punching and kicking it relentlessly: "You made me afraid back then! You made me afraid back then!" The ghost's head emitted soft, plaintive cries, conveying its plea for mercy. "Clang!" Zhang Yuanqing stepped over the threshold, closed the door, and exhaled deeply. "That's it! That's fantastic!" He then located the large cask holding the medicinal wine, unlatched the wooden lid, and a pungent, foul odor rushed in. Inside, the liquid was a pale black, and a small, resentful spirit, tethered by a cord, swam back and forth like a young bird, its ghostly eyes—like those of a fledgling—frequently lifting to glare fiercely at the The young calf dares the tiger... Zhang Yuanqing fetched a porcelain bowl from the room, scooped a spoonful of liquid, and then exhaled a stream of cool, dark qi into the basin. The qi settled into the water, transforming into a round, endearing, slightly sparsely-haired little sprite. "Good son, go ahead and tackle it!" Zhang Yuanqing covered the basin with the lid and walked away, leaving behind the small yin spirit wailing in the water. As he gathered one by one the items—joyful quilts, golden hairpins—reaching the full set of dowry, a strong wind swept through the courtyard, causing the grass and trees to sway. "Wheee—wheee—" A red carpet path emerged beneath the hazy night, stretching to a small courtyard at its end. Inside, the lanterns glowed brightly, and the doors and windows were adorned with the character "Joy." Zhang Yuanqing stepped onto the red carpet and entered the courtyard, pushing open the door to find a bride seated by a grand, carved bed adorned with dragons and phoenixes, dressed in wedding attire. Her delicate, pale hands were folded over her abdomen. She had waited for me right here in the room this time—Zhang Yuanqing's arms prickled with gooseflesh, his adrenaline surging, entering full combat mode. Even now, facing the ghost bride directly, he still felt a subtle tingling at the base of his skull. The ghost bride was powerful. Yet unlike the first time, when he had felt as if standing at the edge of a deep chasm, now he could clearly perceive her strength and sense her layers. Her aura surpassed the Transcendent Realm, which is why she had easily defeated the once-unstoppable one back then. But Zhang Yuanqing had previously misunderstood—she had not yet reached the Sage Realm. After all, the difference between the Transcendent and the Sage was not merely one or two levels, but a vast realm gap, a chasm of ten thousand miles. For spiritual cultivators, after reaching the peak of the Transcendent Realm, the next step was invariably the ascent to the Sage Realm—there were no alternatives. However, artifacts and spirits lacked such hierarchical distinctions; they could exist comfortably between the Transcendent and Sage Realms. "Husband, have you come to marry me?" The ghost bride's voice carried joy. The voice of a wailing spirit, inaudible to ordinary mortals and other spiritual practitioners, could only be heard by the night wanderer. This form of communication felt more like an exchange at the level of the spirit itself. She remembered me—her impression of me seemed different from that of other spirit travelers. Why? Was it simply because I'm handsome? Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then said, "Your grace, I bow to you!" As someone skilled in social interactions, he wouldn't sound stiff or say things like "Please don't misunderstand" or "Please treat me with respect," nor would he be the straight-laced type who'd simply say, "Don't call me that!" This remark clearly touched the ghost bride's heart. She rose gracefully and said, "It's been a long time since we last met. Your cultivation has advanced swiftly—now you truly possess the grace of a dragon and a phoenix. Truly wonderful and heartwarming." So you find me stronger now, and that's why your tone has grown so warm? Last time, you weren't like this at all. Zhang Yuanqing cut to the chase with no preamble: "I know there once was a powerful lady who visited this place and tasked you to find someone—has that happened?" As he spoke, he subtly reached into his pants pocket, ready to instantly teleport away to reality should the ghost bride turn hostile or summon the Lady of San Mountain. To his surprise, however, the ghost bride proved remarkably cooperative, behaving like a dutiful wife, and replied: "The lady sought specifically your lordship." Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback: "You recognized me?" "That night when your lordship was attacked, you used the lady's artifact," she explained. "Though I was unable to materialize, I could clearly see everything through the veil." The night of the attack... Zhang Yuanqing paused, then remembered—she meant the night when he was assaulted by the Black Immortal. Ah, yes. Because of the sudden appearance of the mysterious figure, she hadn't been able to manifest. Wait—she saw me using the Vumag杵. Did that mean she also witnessed the mysterious figure's appearance? Zhang Yuanqing perked up: "Did you notice anything unusual at the time, such as the appearance of a mysterious figure?" The ghost bride spoke softly: "Yes, I clearly saw his features. If my lord wishes, I can have the painting prepared for him." Zhang Yuanqing was delighted: "Thank you, my lady! You are truly a capable and supportive wife!" Hearing this, the ghost bride was overjoyed. She raised her delicate, pale hand and gently waved it, and instantly, on the round table covered with red cloth, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones appeared—her brush floated up, dipped into the ink, and swiftly sketched on the silk paper. After a few minutes, a young man’s figure emerged. Zhang Yuanqing studied him closely. The man had ordinary features, a warm smile, and seemed full of vitality, yet there was an unspoken depth of weariness etched into his brows and eyes. Who was this man? Just a face would do—once he returned to reality, he’d have to go through facial recognition like at the police station… Zhang Yuanqing picked up the silk paper, blew away the excess ink, folded it neatly, He believed the face was far from meaningless, for at the moment Black Unchanging was dying, he had cried out in fear: "How could it be you? How is it possible?" This showed that Black Unchanging had recognized the mysterious figure, yet was still astonished by his appearance. Since the face was not meaningless, the mysterious figure must have been frequently referred to—perhaps even in official or law enforcement records, where the face could be found. If truly desperate, I shall return the sacred implements. The ghost bride softly said, "I once pleaded on my husband's behalf. The Lady, who claims the official title of a celestial deity bestowed by the court, is not known for her cruelty. As long as my husband returns the Vengeance Rod and sincerely apologizes, she will show mercy and spare his life." Is that true? Are you not deceiving me?... Zhang Yuanqing felt a great relief in his heart, as though a heavy stone had been lifted, yet he still harbored doubt. He nodded quietly, saying, "I understand. Thank you, lady." "It's getting late now. Indeed, I think you should rest early. I shall be going now." Upon hearing this, the ghost bride felt a violent surge of阴energy around her, and urgently interjected, "Husband, please wait..." Her voice grew plaintive, "Are you simply leaving like this? Abandoning me here?" Ah, well... Zhang Yuanqing thought, Lady, we are destined to be different—human and spirit, after all. I am no noble knight like Ning Caiwen, and I cannot quite manage to be a spirit knight. Yet he said, "My lord does not wish to part with his wife, but a true man aspires to far-off lands; how could he remain here? It is truly beyond his choice." The ghost bride wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "My lord has grand ambitions, and I fully understand—there is no reason to detain us." Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, thinking, "You're quite considerate." Unexpectedly, the ghost bride shifted her tone and said, "My lord, may I accompany you in leaving?" Zhang Yuanqing couldn't hold back and exclaimed, "What?!" The ghost bride spoke softly, "I know my lord and the queen share the same lineage, which welcomes spirits; thus, I can be taken with you." Zhang Yuanqing suddenly grew alert, asking, "Why do you wish to go with me?" He suspected the ghost bride might be planning to settle in his inner circle as a spy. If the ghost bride simply stated that a wife follows her husband, Zhang Yuanqing would immediately arrange for her to be transported away. "For many years, I've been trapped here, with limited mobility and no real progress in my cultivation. Had it not been for the Lady's gift of a breath of yin qi, I would never have reached this point. Yet, Your Grace's kindness is merely giving someone a fish—should I wish to advance further, it would be exceedingly difficult, and I would need to find someone truly extraordinary, like my lord, a phoenix among men." The ghost bride spoke with gentle sorrow, pleading, "I beg of you, kindly take me with you and leave this place." Is that meant to make me your servant? Zhang Yuanqing still hadn't agreed, but asked instead, "Why not accompany the Lady?" The ghost bride expressed her resentment, "I am a bride, not a maid. Moreover, the Lady has no intention of bringing me into her inner circle." That is to say, if I follow you, I'm a bride; if I follow the old lady, I'm just a maid? Ah, yes—being a bride is precisely her original intention. If the ghost bride is willing to follow me, I shall take her as my spirit servant. Thus, I shall have a powerful spirit servant. With focused cultivation, she can grow alongside me. Indeed, I do lack a capable spirit servant—though the lively one is merely a junior staff member and still not strong enough. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes sparkled. "Very well! Then I shall take my wife with me." He immediately went to the table, drew out his blood-sipping blade, and cut his wrist, allowing the rich red blood to flow into the inkstone. As the blood and ink blended and nearly overflowed the stone, he withdrew his wrist and then picked up the brush, dipping it in ink, to sketch out the spirit scroll array upon the ground of the bridal chamber. The quality of a spirit servant's potential is the first criterion. For a ghost spirit of the ghost bride's caliber, the inherent quality is certainly sufficient. Next, the spirit scroll is used to purify the ghost spirit of its lingering resentment (impurities); a spirit body burdened with overwhelming resentment cannot be directly accepted as a spirit servant. Once the impurities were removed—exactly the same steps that once held the small, quirky spirit in place—the self-generated Yin energy enveloped and purified the spirit body, fusing it with the host’s spirit and imprinting a deep bond. Soon, Zhang Yuanqing completed the inscribed spiritual scroll array and invited the ghost bride to enter it. The latter, stepping gracefully on her embroidered shoes with her skirt gently swaying, walked into the array. Immediately, waves of Yin energy surged from her body, rising like spring snow melting, and the ghost bride cried out in piercing anguish. This process lasted the length of one tea service. As the accumulated resentment within her dissipated and vanished, the refined Yin energy from the spiritual scroll array began to nourish and replenish her with even purer Yin essence—akin to a blood transfusion. When the spiritual scroll array eventually dried out and lost its vitality, Zhang Yuanqing enveloped the ghost bride in a surge of Yin energy and swallowed her whole. He then immediately closed his eyes, allowing his spirit to sink deeply, merging seamlessly with hers. After a long while, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes once more and exhaled a fresh surge of Yin energy. The ghost bride reappeared, dressed in a magnificent wedding gown embroidered with golden swans, her delicate flowered shoes peeking out from beneath the horse-face skirt. Yet her face remained veiled in a dense, lingering阴气, her features still indistinct. Though the阴气 remained powerful, it had grown more refined and pure. "Thank you, my lord," she bowed gracefully, her voice shy. "Kindly return to me the token of our love." The token of love? Zhang Yuanqing paused for a moment before realizing she meant the red veil. He immediately summoned the item from his inventory. The crimson veil, adorned with a golden "Joy" character at its center, surrounded by two swans, was exceptionally beautiful. It rose on its own and settled gently upon the ghost bride's head. At that instant, the ghost bride seemed to be fully restored—her breath surged, and her阴气 intensified noticeably. Zhang Yuanqing sensed her阴气 now approaching that of the ghost doll, though still slightly behind the fierce spirits within the rouge box. Staring at the ghost bride dressed in a magnificent wedding gown, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but feel a touch of self-mockery: "The child is here, and now the bride is here—so am I truly all set in one go?" He swallowed the ghost bride once again and returned to the courtyard, then picked up the lively little one and took her into his mouth. The little one, who had been happily making her way home, suddenly found herself face-to-face with a major scare, her usual calm now replaced by restlessness and unease. "Don't worry—once you get used to her, you'll grow accustomed to this mother," Zhang Yuanqing said, breaking the jade token in his hand and mentally picturing the scene of the villa's single room. The scene gradually came into focus, and he saw the modern interior design, the very room he had left behind—now back in reality. "The experiment with the jade token, in a way, can be considered a failure, yet unexpectedly, it brought him a wife—someone whose output is truly outstanding. That, after all, is a good outcome." He then reached into his pants pocket and felt the scroll of paper still there. He didn't waste time. He spread out the xuan paper on the desk, took out his phone, took a photo of the portrait, and sent it to Guan Ya. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun: "Guan Ya, could you help me check with the police department to see if we can match this person? Also, please cross-reference this against our Wuxing Alliance's database." A few seconds later, Guan Ya replied: "The painter's skill is quite good—the style looks like it's done in brushwork. I'll have a moment." Of course, this is my wife's painting... Zhang Yuanqing self-chuckled, and replied with a simple "Thank you." While scrolling through the official forum, he waited for Guan Ya's reply. A few minutes later, his phone rang, and the screen displayed the incoming call—Guan Ya. "Guan Ya, do you have any results?" Zhang Yuanqing answered the call. Guan Ya spoke softly: "Where did you get this painting?" "Never mind how I got it," Zhang Yuanqing said, "just tell me the results." "I had the officers from the Public Security Bureau conduct facial recognition, and no match was found—yet, in the Five Rows Alliance's database, we did find one...” At this point, Guan Ya's tone became unusual. "This person is... the Mage King!"