Lin Ji couldn't have imagined that two months later, he would once again be walking on this official road.
During his trip to the capital to report on his duties, he had accompanied Miss Luo on this road and unraveled the mystery of the confused wandering spirits.
Now, walking the same old path, it seemed to be connected to that incident.
"So, if I hadn't spoken up back then, would things have turned out differently now?"
"Not quite, even before leaving Qingyang County, Master Xingchi had approached me. He mentioned something about my deep blessings and regretting that I hadn't entered the Buddhist path, even gifting me treasures of the Buddhist sect."
"Wait!"
At this moment, Lin Ji suddenly realized a major flaw in the whole situation.
The timing didn't add up!
"If the Demon Suppression Staff had fallen into my hands, leading me to visit the Ghost King City, then when Master Xingchi handed me the Demon Suppression Staff, I hadn't even left Qingyang County, and the unfortunate son of the Ghost King hadn't died yet!"
"Could it be that the current siege of the Ghost King City is also part of their plan?"
The more Lin Ji thought about it, the more it seemed possible.
"What was the purpose of paying such a high price? What role did the Ghost King of Liang City play?"
Unfortunately, Lin Ji's thoughts were quickly interrupted.
The official road now was not as peaceful as it had been two months ago.
Several ghost generals had deployed the Ghost Domain, causing Lin Ji to realize after walking for a while that he was going in circles.
"Got too lost in thought, what a hassle."
Lin Ji's expression darkened, and he directly took out the Demon Suppression Staff from his bag, activated its spiritual energy, and smashed it towards the area with the strongest ghost energy sensed by his divine consciousness.
After a burst of golden light, the Ghost Domain immediately dissipated.
Several ghost generals were also dispersed by the impact.
"The strongest the ghost generals can reach is only the Fourth Realm. With the Demon Suppression Staff in hand, they dare to come and seek death." Lin Ji shook his head and continued forward.
Along the way, he slew many reckless ghost creatures.
After advancing about twenty miles, Lin Ji turned west and plunged into the dense forest by the roadside.
Compared to the official road, there were fewer ghost creatures in the forest.
Not only that, Lin Ji encountered many unintelligent ghost soldiers along the way, but these ghost soldiers clearly sensed the aura on Lin Ji's body and did not attack.
"Are they still being restrained? So those causing trouble outside are indeed the Ghost King's subordinates who have lost control."
The paths in the forest were much smoother than the official road.
An hour later, Lin Ji had advanced fifty miles along the forest path.
At this moment, the surrounding ghost energy had become denser, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Lin Ji knew that he had entered the range of the Ghost King City.
The Ghost King City was the manifestation of the Ghost Domain of the Ghost King of Liang City.
Ghost creatures thrived in this Ghost Domain, but it was a place where humans should not enter.
Not to mention, if the Ghost King were to move this Ghost King City to Liang City, within moments, most of the city's residents would be killed or injured; those lucky enough to survive would fall seriously ill, at the very least suffering brain damage and becoming disabled.
Of course, if he were to do so, he would undoubtedly face the most ruthless pursuit from the Celestial Supervisory Bureau.
The Celestial Supervisory Bureau would spare no effort to gather strong cultivators and swiftly eliminate him.
Gradually, the surrounding ghost energy turned into mist, shrouding everything in a hazy veil.
Lin Ji saw many ghost creatures coming and going around him. In this Ghost Domain, they lived like ordinary people.
There were conversations about where to find wild beasts in the mountains to hunt and kill.
There were also whispers about why a living person like Lin Ji had appeared here.
But none of the ghost creatures stopped Lin Ji, nor did they attack him.
In this Ghost King City, the fierce ghosts seemed to restrain their nature, and the ghost generals even more so.
It was only in this Ghost King City that these ghost creatures could find peace.
"No wonder the Ghost King, not long after escaping the Demon Sealing Tower, was able to establish such a large Ghost King City and gather tens of thousands of subordinates. For these ghost creatures, this place is the best."
A good place for ghost creatures, but the opposite for humans.
"No wonder I need to be at the Fourth Realm to come here. At this point, I already need to use seventy to eighty percent of my spiritual energy to resist the invasion of ghost energy, and this is just the Ghost King's Ghost Domain."
Just as Lin Ji's expression turned grim, unsure of how far he still had to go, a figure blocked his path.
"A living person? Quite bold, daring to appear here. Do you think we don't attack the city, so we don't need to consume living energy?"
Lin Ji looked up and saw a woman in a white long dress.
Her face was beautiful, but her skin was deathly pale.
If it weren't for his divine consciousness telling Lin Ji that this woman was full of ghost energy, he wouldn't have been able to distinguish her from a living person with his eyes alone.
"Miss?"
"Linglong."
Lin Ji was momentarily stunned; he had never heard this name before.
But this woman in front of him was definitely not just an ordinary ghost general.
"Ghost Marshal?"
"You have good eyes." Linglong covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, with a demeanor reminiscent of a noble lady.
"What brings you here? If you don't want to die, you'd better leave quickly. Humans cannot stay here for long."
"I am Lin Ji, the Chief Catcher of Liangzhou, here to meet the Ghost King as ordered." Lin Ji bowed.
"The Ghost King does not see anyone. If it's about Liang City, you should leave."
Linglong sighed, "There are quite a few objections to the matter of Liang City even within the Ghost King City. After all, the Celestial Supervisory Bureau used to be very powerful. Anyway, you, a mere Chief Catcher, coming here is of no use."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji directly took out the Demon Suppression Staff.
As soon as the staff was brought out, the surrounding ghost energy dissipated significantly.
Linglong also took a step back, looking at the Demon Suppression Staff in Lin Ji's hand with some suspicion.
"What is this?"
"The Demon Suppression Staff, the eye of the Demon Sealing Tower formation."
"With this, can I meet the Ghost King?"
"Wait here, I will inform him." Linglong floated away.
Watching her departing figure, Lin Ji felt a strange unease in his heart.
It was the first time he had encountered a ghost like Linglong, a Ghost Marshal who was at least at the Fifth Realm, maybe even the Sixth Realm in strength.
Such a powerful being actually spoke kindly to him and displayed courtesy.
Truly strange.
After waiting for a short while, Linglong returned.
"Just keep walking inwards, and you will naturally meet the Lord."
"Thank you."
Lin Ji nodded and did not put away the Demon Suppression Staff, so he could conserve some energy to resist the invasion of ghost energy.
After just a few steps forward, Linglong's figure disappeared.
Lin Ji's divine consciousness sensed that with each step he took, he advanced tens of meters, but it appeared as if he was moving normally.
"Is this the Ghost King's method?"
After a short walk, when Lin Ji took another step, he found himself in a dim hall.
The entire hall was empty, with only an empty throne at the end of the steps.
The gathered ghost energy slowly formed into a figure sitting on the throne.
When that figure looked at Lin Ji, he felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
The Ghost King of Liang City had arrived!
(End of this chapter)