The vast expanse of Black Mountain stood unchanged through the ages.

  Three figures stood at its edge, gazing into the dense, ancient forest.

  “There’s something wrong here. Something’s off.”

  Lu Qingmo’s face bore no trace of anger—only deep contemplation.

  “The Mountain God shouldn’t have allowed that Deathborn Wraith inside. He’s nurturing a calamity. There must be a hidden reason I’m unaware of.”

  Lu Qingmo knew the nature of the Mountain God well. He was not a ruthless villain; on the contrary, he was a being of integrity, intolerant of corruption.

  If that weren’t the case, the Xuandu Monastery would have dealt with him long ago. There was no way they would have let him roam free for centuries.

  When it came to deities within the Great Qi Empire, both the royal family and Xuandu Monastery followed a simple principle:

  Some were to be recruited. Some were to be eradicated.

  Who to recruit and who to eliminate depended entirely on their actions.

  At least, that was the policy on the surface.

  But the Mountain God’s recent actions were far too strange.

  Could it be that he was changing because he was nearing his demise?

  “Ruoyue, where did you first encounter the Wraith?”

  “I had just completed a commission for the authorities and was heading back to town,” Bai Ruoyue explained.

  “But then, my Guiding Talisman suddenly burned to ash. That’s when I saw him from a distance… that wraith climbing out of Yunjiang River. It was as if he sensed something, and without hesitation, he bolted straight toward Black Mountain.”

  “I gave chase immediately and sent a snail message to Junior Brother.”

  “What level of strength did the Wraith display?” Lu Qingmo pressed further.

  “Not particularly strong. Judging from its movements while fleeing, I’d say it had only just reached the Organ Tempering stage.”

  “Only the early Organ Tempering stage?” Lu Qingmo was slightly surprised.

  “That doesn’t add up. It shouldn’t be that weak.”

  “The early Organ Tempering stage…” Han pondered for a moment before saying,

  “I’ll go. I’ll enter Black Mountain and track it.”

  “The Mountain God won’t let you in, Aunt Mo, but I’m only at the Meridian Refinement stage—I don’t exceed the threshold.”

  “I’ll go with Junior Brother,” Bai Ruoyue chimed in. “It’s safer that way.”

  “With our combined strength, as long as we don’t go too deep, we shouldn’t be in any real danger.”

  Lu Qingmo studied the two of them.

  A Meridian Refinement expert capable of taking down two Organ Tempering cultivators—now at the perfected stage, meaning even stronger.

  And someone who could hold her own against a weakened Bone Forging warrior.

  Against a mere early-stage Organ Tempering Wraith, there was no real risk.

  “…Alright.”

  She agreed. With a flick of her wrist, she scooped up the soil tainted by the Deathborn Wraith’s energy, sealed it in a yellow talisman, and fed it to her wooden green frog.

  “This will allow you to track the Wraith. But remember—your safety comes first. Do not go too deep,” she cautioned.

  “If the situation turns dire, retreat immediately. If you encounter danger beyond your ability, contact me. I’ll find a way to get you out.”

  The Mountain God barred her entry now, but if Han and Ruoyue found themselves in peril, she would not hesitate to force her way in.

  As she watched them disappear into the depths of Black Mountain, just as expected, the Mountain God did not interfere. He had no reason to stop them.

  —

  Inside Black Mountain, Han turned to Bai Ruoyue.

  “Senior Sister, keep your aura concealed.”

  He handed her a concealment artifact from his collection.

  “Junior Brother, what does your intuition tell you?”

  “….”

  I have no intuition left.

  Last month, I was a god.

  This month, I’m the god of dreams.

  “Nothing for now. So, we need to be extra careful.”

  “Oh.”

  Bai Ruoyue wasn’t surprised. Intuition wasn’t something one could rely on all the time.

  The wooden green frog stretched out its tongue, pointing the way. They followed.

  Without the omniscient perspective he once had, traversing Black Mountain felt entirely different this time.

  Beasts were everywhere. His spiritual senses were severely restricted by the mountain’s energy, making long-range detection nearly impossible.

  Some creatures grew agitated when exposed to spiritual probing, while others had natural abilities that rendered them undetectable.

  Having once possessed near-divine awareness, Han now felt like a blind man.

  Bai Ruoyue, however, was unfazed—this was just how it had always been for her.

  She had lived through “hard days” and could adapt.

  Thankfully, they were still in the outer region, where the beasts were weaker. Even sudden encounters posed no real threat.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  But their progress was significantly slowed.

  Swish!

  An arrow pierced a charging Meridian Refinement beast. Han retrieved his arrow and examined the surroundings.

  “…Something’s off.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We noticed earlier—wherever the Deathborn Wraith passed, it should have left corruption behind.”

  He gestured toward the mountains around them. “But we’ve traveled this far and haven’t seen a single trace of contamination.”

  “Could the Wraith have suppressed its own energy?” Bai Ruoyue speculated.

  Han shook his head. That was something they could only confirm by catching up to it.

  They pressed on, their movements precise, their concealment flawless. Strong as they were, they remained cautious.

  Through the outer periphery… the inner periphery… the middle region.

  “This Wraith runs too damn fast,” Bai Ruoyue muttered, wiping her forehead.

  “But this time, the number and strength of the beasts seem lower than before. Some of the stronger ones must have retreated deeper.”

  “The beasts must have sensed the Mountain God’s blessings coming to an end,” Han observed, glancing at the wooden frog.

  “Apart from the Mountain God, they are the true rulers of this place. They know it best.”

  The saying ‘The ducks know when spring comes’ fit perfectly here.

  “Even with their reduced numbers, there are still Bone Forging beasts around. We can’t drop our guard.”

  Han thought for a moment before deciding, “If we don’t find the Wraith soon, we should retreat. Pushing forward is too risky.”

  Eliminating the Wraith was secondary to their own survival.

  Besides, if it ventured too deep into Black Mountain, it wouldn’t last long anyway.

  —

  After another stretch of travel, the wooden frog suddenly trembled.

  Han tensed and scanned the surroundings.

  At the very edge of his spiritual perception, he sensed something ominous.

  “There!”

  They rushed ahead and soon spotted a cliff. Across a twenty-meter gap stood another mountain.

  And on the other side—waiting for them—stood their target.

  Draped in black, it was unmistakably the Deathborn Wraith.

  “How audacious,” Bai Ruoyue sneered.

  As they drew closer, Han was surprised.

  The figure before them did not resemble a typical Wraith.

  Despite the corpse-like pallor, its skin looked unnaturally smooth, more like that of a living person. The only telltale signs were the black markings near its eyes.

  No fangs. No grotesque features. Its pupils were a dark green, lacking the usual undead traits.

  The more unnatural it seemed, the more dangerous it likely was.

  “Deathborn Wraith?” Han asked.

  The figure nodded. “You may call me that.”

  “Why are you chasing me?”

  Because you have the secret formula to immortality.

  “The massacre at Ironstone Village’s mines—those government officials. You killed them, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. That was my doing.”

  “Then that’s reason enough to capture you.”

  “Spare me the words,” Bai Ruoyue interrupted. “You think this cliff can stop us?”

  She prepared to leap across. Twenty meters was nothing for her.

  Han, however, held her back. The Wraith shook its head.

  “I’d advise against it.”

  “A Bone Forging Ironwing Eagle nests below. The moment you leap, you die.”

  As if on cue, a piercing screech echoed through the ravine, shaking their very core.

  Bai Ruoyue’s expression darkened as she felt the pressure of a Bone Forging predator.

  Han stepped to the edge, extending his spiritual senses—only to withdraw them instantly.

  A massive, gleaming-winged eagle emerged from below, locking its predatory gaze on them.

  Eyes filled with killing intent.

  Ready to strike.

  The Deathborn Wraith said nothing, but it placed a hand on the Ironwing Eagle’s head. The beast’s fierce gaze softened, though its sharp eyes remained locked onto Han and Bai Ruoyue.

  Seeing this, the two cultivators tensed.

  The wraith… could command beasts?

  That made things much more difficult.

  If they attempted to leap across the cliff and the eagle attacked midair, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

  Martial artists at the Organ Tempering stage couldn’t fly. Once airborne, they would be helpless against a flying beast’s assault.

  Han studied the wraith. Though its aura was undoubtedly sinister, it wasn’t quite what he had expected.

  And its intelligence… it was disturbingly human.

  Wraiths could retain a sliver of consciousness, but to reach this level of awareness in just a few days?

  Everything about this creature was unusual.

  “You’re… different,” Han said, attempting communication.

  “I am still myself,” the wraith replied, its voice calm. “I have simply changed my identity… my way of existence.”

  “I awakened during the first earthquake. I could have left at any time.”

  Han was surprised.

  It had been conscious since the first tremor? But no one had heard a single word about it until now.

  “But I didn’t leave,” the wraith continued. “I was waiting. Waiting for Zhang Wei and the others.”

  Zhang Wei… Han knew that name. One of the men killed by the wraith.

  “Other people passed through the mine during that time—guards, workers transporting iron ore. I didn’t harm them.”

  Han caught the implication immediately. “You had a grudge against Zhang Wei and his group?”

  “We were once friends. Then we became mortal enemies. And now… we all belong to the underworld. My fate was sealed by their betrayal.”

  The Deathborn Wraith fixed its gaze on them and said,

  “Since you cannot cross the chasm, you might as well listen to my story.”

  “…Years ago, I worked for the government. I was the one who first discovered the small iron mine, and from then on, it became my responsibility to guard it.”

  The wraith’s voice was eerily emotionless, as if recounting someone else’s tale.

  “I was rewarded for my find. And in the depths of that mine, I uncovered a rare Iron Essence.”

  Iron Essence—an invaluable material for forging weapons, highly coveted by cultivators.

  “But friendships built over years couldn’t withstand the lure of wealth. They set a trap for me, luring me into the mine’s depths… and killed me.”

  “They buried my body in the deepest part of the mine—where the Yin energy was strongest.”

  “I awakened as a Deathborn Wraith. And I waited. I gathered information. I knew that Zhang Wei and the others would eventually return.”

  “And so, I avenged my own death.”

  “Tell me—what crime is there in seeking justice?”

  Han remained silent. It was only one side of the story. He neither accepted nor dismissed it entirely.

  The wraith paused before continuing,

  “I don’t expect you to let me go. But you won’t catch me—not in Black Mountain. No one can.”

  Now that’s an interesting choice of words.

  “I simply want someone to know… that I am not a mindless killer.”

  “After Zhang Wei and his men, I have harmed no one. Whenever the hunger for blood arose, I turned to the beasts instead.”

  Han thought for a moment. That did explain a few things.

  Why the initial killings had only targeted the officials.

  Why no other reports of the wraith had surfaced after it disappeared.

  Why Bai Ruoyue had seen it emerging from Yunjiang River.

  “What’s your name?” Han finally asked.

  “Jiang Wangyuan.”

  Han nodded. “A good name.”

  Jiang Wangyuan smirked slightly. “I know you two—Han of the Black Cloud Sect, Bai Ruoyue. Renowned geniuses. Exceptional talents.”

  “Perhaps we’ll meet again in the future.”

  Han chuckled. “You sound awfully confident that we won’t capture you.”

  Jiang Wangyuan suddenly moved. He leapt onto the Ironwing Eagle’s back, answering Han’s unspoken challenge with action.

  I can fly.

  But Han wasn’t without his own response. He raised his hand, and a flickering black flame danced at his fingertips.

  Sparks erupted in the air near Jiang Wangyuan. Though they never touched him, the message was clear.

  The wraith’s expression darkened. After a moment, he gave a slow nod.

  “As expected of the Black Cloud Sect’s number one genius… I underestimated you.”

  If Han had wished, the Yinflame could have ignited directly on Jiang Wangyuan’s body.

  Ordinary flames might struggle against a Deathborn Wraith.

  But Yinflame?

  Against a being of pure Yin, devoid of any Yang energy, it would be as deadly as it was to ghosts.

  “What now?” Jiang Wangyuan asked. “Will you risk everything to take me down?”

  Han shook his head and extinguished the flame.

  “Go.”

  “…Junior Brother…” Bai Ruoyue hesitated, but Han waved her off.

  Jiang Wangyuan studied him carefully, then nodded.

  “…Consider this a favor I owe you.”

  “Allow me to share something in return. You might find it interesting.”

  “Oh?” Han raised a brow. “Let’s hear it.”

  “After the first earthquake, cultivators visited the mine, searching for wandering spirits and promising undead. I remained hidden in the shadows, watching them.”

  “Who were they?”

  “A Daywalker from the Gao family of Black Cloud Town… and another from outside the town. I don’t know his identity, but the Gao family called him Elder Li.”

  “Two Daywalkers…” Han mused. “That is useful information.”

  Jiang Wangyuan gave a faint smile. “Perhaps our paths will cross again.”

  With that, the Ironwing Eagle spread its massive wings and took flight, carrying Jiang Wangyuan deeper into Black Mountain.

  A wraith at the Organ Tempering level, capable of commanding beasts, daring to fly so openly into the depths of Black Mountain.

  Han’s sharp eyes followed him far into the distance. Other flying beasts took notice of the eagle, considering it prey—yet as they drew close, they abruptly veered away.

  Strange.

  The Ironwing Eagle shouldn’t have the strength to intimidate Bone Forging beasts.

  It was as if Jiang Wangyuan were returning home.

  Han was lost in thought when—

  Pinch!

  Bai Ruoyue suddenly grabbed the soft flesh at his waist and twisted.

  “Ah—Senior Sister, easy! At least pick a sturdier spot to pinch!”

  “I’ll pinch wherever I want!”