Chapter 109: Tu Ba's Humiliation

  This ghost is quite slick, pretending to be a master with an air of authority, deceiving people one after another. When begging for mercy, it's a real tear-jerker, wailing and crying out loud, the sound of despair just like that of a bullied daughter-in-law. If Tang Jing wanted to kill him, he would have done so long ago, why wait until now? He can see that Zhang's son was actually dead before the ghost possessed him, but this is not the reason for his kindness, as he has never been a kind person and rarely shows mercy.

  The reason he stayed with this ghost is also because there are some things that don't make sense. He dares to be certain that this guy has already formed his own consciousness, possibly longer than imagined. In general, a ghost soul that has gone through 500 years should have been promoted to a ghost general and become a ghost king by now. On the other hand, this guy's ghost energy is very strong, comparable to that of a ghost general. Although he is only a mid-level ghost soul, his actual strength may not even be able to handle low-level ghost souls.

  Moreover, the guy just now indeed appeared with a ghost fire, and the ghost fire is a symbol of the ghost general. However, this guy is only a mid-level ghost soul, how can he possess a ghost fire? This situation is extremely rare, making Tang Qing very puzzled.

  Next to him, the ghost saw that Tang Qing's Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Punishment had been withdrawn, and only then did he secretly let out a breath. Just now, he was almost dispersed by the extremely strong and masculine power of the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Punishment. He was terrified in his heart. As an old ghost who had mixed with people for many years, he deeply knew that this kind of heavenly punishment was extremely rare and required the opening of the absolute pulse and aperture. Those who could open it were one in ten thousand. This Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Master looked weak, but unexpectedly formed such a powerful heavenly punishment.

  The ghost was experienced and well-versed in the art of begging for mercy, but when he saw his opponent's thoughtful expression, he didn't dare to make another sound. Suddenly, the ghost realized that something was off, and he stole a glance, only to find that the pair of deep eyes across from him were scanning him back and forth, with an gaze that seemed to be able to see through everything like the eye of heaven.

  Tang Qing narrowed his eyes and smiled, at this moment he was using his divine sense to envelop the ghost, after penetrating it, he suddenly discovered that inside it there was a faint golden flame, this flame was very weak, as if it would go out at any time, however, when Tang Qing touched this flame, his expression suddenly changed, even his deep eyes couldn't help but ripple with waves.

  Sarira's fire.

  How is this possible... How can he have the Fire of Sheli?

  According to Tang Qing's understanding, there is only one situation in which the fire of sarira can be formed. That is when a Buddhist master with great merit and virtue is about to die, he ignites his own sarira, transforms into a ghost, and then uses this sarira to seize the power of heaven and earth, and reincarnate. Tang Qing knows that whoever forms a sarira must be a Buddhist master with boundless merit and virtue. After forming a sarira, their cultivation will reach an even higher level. Even if their physical body is destroyed, they can still rely on this sarira to seize the power of heaven and earth, and reincarnate.

  This is the privilege of Buddhist practitioners, and it's also the cause of infinite merit. But which Buddhist practitioner would ignite his own sarira and turn into a ghost? Isn't this like giving up on ascending to the nine heavens and instead choosing to descend into the nine hells? Is he crazy? As Tang Jing looked at the ghost again, his eyes had become extremely complicated.

  Being stared at like this, the ghost's heart skipped a beat, and it was truly frightened.

  "Do you know who you are?" Tang Jing asked with a strange tone.

  The ghost listened even more bewildered, stunned in place, and after reacting, immediately kowtowed on the ground, saying, "In response to Lord Longhu's words, this little ghost... The little ghost's name is Tu Ba. In the past, he was under the command of General Dong Luo, but General Dong Luo saw that the little ghost was a useless spirit, so he drove him out. The little ghost had no choice but to run to Tianqi County and become a wild ghost. I swear, I didn't harm anyone! Zhang Lao's son died before I possessed his body."

  "I'm not asking you this, I'm saying do you remember your past?"

  "What previously? What do you mean by previously?" Tu Bayi was taken aback.

  "Before becoming a ghost."

  "Hey, Dragon Tiger Lord, you're overestimating this little ghost. A useless thing like him has been lingering for hundreds of years and is only a mid-tier ghost soul. How could he possibly uncover the secrets of his past life? That's something only ghosts and gods can do."

  All the ghosts in the world, no matter what they did before their death, once they become a ghost with a strong obsession, they are just that one obsession. With this one obsession, they wander around everywhere. Even if they later form a sense of self-awareness, they only know about the memories and rumors after becoming a ghost. It is said that only when they have cultivated to become a divine spirit with supreme spiritual powers can they use this one obsession to peek into their past life.

  Tang Qing naturally knew that he was so curious, after all, what kind of evil deeds did Tu Ba do in his previous life, so that he ignited the infinite merits of the relics and transformed into a ghost.

  The night was already deep, and Tang Jing didn't stay for long. He grabbed Tu Ba and stood up to leave. On the way, Tu Ba didn't know what this Dragon Tiger Master would do with him, but based on his experience, when a cultivator catches someone, the first thing they want to do is refine them. Thinking of this, Tu Ba was so scared that he started crying out loud again, and he confessed all the wrongdoings he had done since he formed his own consciousness, in order to prove his "innocence".

  "Dragon Tiger Lord, please have mercy on me! Butcher Eight really hasn't done anything that goes against heaven and reason. Besides, the little ghost has been feeding on residual souls all these years, which is malnutrition. Even if you were to refine me, you wouldn't gain any benefits!"

  "Although the divine soul is a great tonic for the ghost, the little ghost also admits that he has been yearning for the divine soul for a long time. Unfortunately, the little ghost's abilities are too lowly, and he can't beat them. Over the years, every time the little ghost goes out, it quietly lurks on the side, waiting until they finish fighting and someone dies before daring to go up and absorb some residual souls. If you don't believe me, Dragon Tiger Lord, you can take a look! The little ghost only absorbs residual souls, never having absorbed living souls... like me, a malnourished little ghost..."

  "Shut up, Grandpa didn't say he wanted to refine you."

  "Hmm... Lord Longhu, you promised to spare me? Little ghost thanks Lord Longhu, Lord Longhu has a kind heart, will surely ascend to the Ninth Heaven and contend for the throne of the immortals..."

  "You're not going anywhere until I figure it out."

  He was at a loss, he didn't know what the Dragon Tiger Heavenly Master wanted to do with him. However, an hour later, he finally knew, but he cried, crying even more miserably than before. Two hours later, in a desolate wilderness, a bonfire was burning, and a wild boar was being roasted to a deep red color. Tang Jing sat cross-legged on the ground, eating "crazy fruit" while drinking wine, waiting for the meat to be cooked. Next to him stood a yellow banner, under which lay a dog - a sturdy wolf dog that had been wandering in the wilderness. This kind of wolf dog could survive in the treacherous forest and was naturally cruel, daring to howl at tigers and wolves, and able to kill snakes and rabbits. However, this wolf dog was now lying on the ground, its head drooping, looking lost and disheartened, especially with tears in its eyes as it stared blankly at the bonfire, its eyes filled with endless grievances.

  That's right, this wolf dog is Tu Ba.

  Tu Ba thought he had met a good person, but he never expected that this Dragon Tiger Heaven Master would forcibly stuff him into the body of a wolf dog. As a ghost, Tu Ba's progress was slow and he was considered a waste, but he had still managed to linger for several hundred years and had some dignity. Tu Ba thought that being possessed by a dog was the greatest insult to himself, and if this matter were to be known by his peers, how could he still have the face to mix in the ghost world in the future?

  It's worth noting that the ghosts of the world also have a sense of hierarchy, and being able to possess some higher spirits is naturally worthy of respect from all ghosts. At worst, possessing an ordinary person won't be ridiculed, but possessing a dog is a blatant shame, a huge shame. Tu Ba refused to submit even in death, struggling violently, however, when he saw Tang Jing's five fingers emitting gray light like electric sparks, Tu Ba became honest and no longer dared to resist.

  The wild boar was finally cooked through, and Tang Qing had been starving to the point where his stomach was stuck to his back. He sprinkled the seasonings he had prepared earlier on top of it, then tore off a large piece of meat and started devouring it. The flavor was incredible. He took a swig of wine from the jug, tore off another piece of meat, and handed it over, saying "Help yourself."

  Staring at the palm-sized piece of cooked meat, Tu Ba's entire body was trembling. This was not a tremble of emotion, nor was it a tremble of excitement, but rather a tremble of rage.

  Humiliation, what a huge humiliation!

  Grandpa Ghost is not a dog, nor a carnivore, but a ghost, a dignified ghost, one that lives on divine souls.

  Tu Ba's inner voice was screaming, glaring at the somewhat thin back, hating to tear it into eight pieces, and pulling out his soul. Soon, Tu Ba seemed to sense something, and immediately fell to the ground again. At this time, Tang Jing's voice came over.

  "How long have you been in Tianqi County?"

  Tu Ba was furious with the Dragon Tiger Heaven Master, gritting his teeth and curling his lips. Suddenly, a soft hum came from Tang Qing, and Tu Ba quickly responded, "Dragon Tiger Master, I have been in Tianqi County for over 200 years."

  "How long? Tell me about the Water Cloud Sect."

  "What's the Water Cloud Sect? What do you want to know, sir?" Tu Ba was able to live until now with the strength of a mid-tier ghost, so he naturally knew the principle that one must lower their head when under someone else's roof. His words were very respectful towards Tang Qing.

  "What is the influence of the Water Cloud Sect in Tianqi County?"

  "What power? What power does the Water Cloud Sect have? The resource-rich land has long been divided up and taken by the several giants of Tianqi County, leaving us with no way out. Our sect leader is critically ill, the elders have either left or scattered, and only a dozen or so disciples are barely holding on. If it weren't for that disciple named Ning Shuang's efforts to hold on until now, I'm afraid the Water Cloud Sect would have disappeared from Tianqi County long ago."

  In an instant, Tang Qing turned around, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, like the edge of a sharp knife, which made Tu Ba tremble with fear.

  "Is everything you said true?"

  "It's true, if you don't believe me, you can ask others, everyone in Tianqi County knows about it."

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