Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 607 - 548 Ghost Realm

The two bickered unceasingly, their noisy argument reaching the third floor and prompting travelers to open their windows and watch the spectacle.

"I have no such brother." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The short, plump man yelled, "Who exactly are you?!"

"I am your younger brother, my dear older brother."

The tall, skinny man said with a pained expression, "Your name is Zhou Hongmao, and mine is Zhou Chengcai. Our father is Zhou Deming, and our mother is Tai Qing.

We were born in Tant County of Xuzhou, silk merchants by trade, here in Luzhou to collect the final payment for our business. Do you not remember any of this?"

The one named Zhou Hongmao, the short, plump merchant, grew more agitated. "Liar! How do you know the names of my parents..."

"Brother, you were injured and got confused."

Zhou Chengcai explained, "The day before yesterday, after we had collected the payments, there was a heavy downpour. You accidentally fell from your horse and hit your head on the ground. I was the one who helped you find a doctor. Have you forgotten?

Touch the back of your head; isn’t there a bump there?"

Zhou Hongmao’s lips twitched. It seemed that since waking up, he indeed felt a dull pain at the back of his head.

"We went together to the sick house, found a doctor, got medicine from him, and then checked into the Yuelai Inn."

Zhou Chengcai continued patiently, "Yesterday, the innkeeper paid us to leave. At first, you were inclined to agree, but I insisted we stay because I was worried your recent head injury meant you shouldn’t move around too much.

If you don’t believe me, you can ask the innkeeper and the clerks if this happened."

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the innkeeper on the first floor. The innkeeper carefully examined Zhou Hongmao and Zhou Chengcai’s appearances and said hesitantly, "I remember now, that did happen."

"PHEW..."

Seeing that he now had a witness, Zhou Chengcai sighed in relief and looked towards Lu Qingya with a bitter smile. "The misunderstanding is resolved. Please, Master, retract your powers."

"..."

Lu Qingya did not respond. Instead, he lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the inn’s ceiling, as if he could see through the brick and tile to the stars beyond.

Seeing him in such a trance, the group of students dressed in Lu Li Academy uniforms hesitated before calling out, "Teacher?"

WHOOSH!

Lu Qingya swished his sleeves, and a violent wind swept out from them. Beams broke, tiles scattered, and a large hole tore open in the roof above the inn, allowing the pouring rain to fall through.

The sky was pitch black, devoid of any starlight.

Lu Qingya rose with the wind, flying out of the inn through the gaping hole in the roof. Many travelers cried out in astonishment—unassisted flight was a hallmark of a Cloud Patrol Monk.

Moments later, Lu Qingya landed back in the inn, his eyebrows furrowed.

The students and Doctors of Lu Li Academy asked in low voices, "Teacher?" some called out, while others inquired, "Mountain Master, what has happened?"

"There’s trouble."

Lu Qingya said calmly, "Everyone stay where you are. Do not move."

After speaking, he floated down to the first floor. With a gesture in the air, he released the Iron Melting Technique, and the metal door locks instantly snapped in two.

Driven by the strong wind, the inn’s main doors slowly creaked open.

Beyond them lay absolute darkness. The streets of Luzhou were enveloped in pitch black; no glimmer of light was visible, no sound audible.

The light from the talisman lamps inside the inn only extended five paces out the door before being completely absorbed by the darkness.

Yuelai Inn seemed like a lone island suspended in a vast ocean.

"Young Master..."

Chai Chai appeared behind Li Ang, nervously clutching his hand.

"It’s okay."

Li Ang turned his face, patted the back of Chai Chai’s hand, and reassured her, "Lu Qingya is one of the strongest Candle Cloud Realm Magic Masters in Yu Country, perhaps even in the whole world. With him here, there will be no danger."

Deep down, he had already begun to grumble internally.

What on earth was this? He had just left Chang’an to return to his old home in Yizhou, and this too had to turn into some bizarre incident?! Was there any justice left in the world?

"Cui Qiao, step back a bit."

Li Ang’s mother, Cui Yi, said, "Don’t stand so close to the front."

"Okay."

Chai Chai obediently let go of Li Ang’s hand, stood with Cui Yi, and took out a few talismans from under her pillow to prepare for defense.

HUH? Why does something feel off?

Chai Chai’s movements paused for a moment, but she couldn’t quite recall what felt wrong.

Standing in the first-floor hall, Lu Qingya raised both hands to form a Magic Formula. His long robe whipped about vigorously as a profound, sea-like Spiritual Energy poured out, forming the shape of an azure Dragon Head in mid-air.

The Dragon’s eyes were dignified without anger, its whiskers floated as if in a breeze though there was none, and its mouth slowly opened, drawing in a deep breath.

Then, it exhaled.

BOOM—

A destructive azure airflow burst forth, instantly obliterating and pulverizing the bluestone floor tiles in front of the inn.

The mere residual force of the wind, leaking out just a tiny bit, was enough to shatter all the latches on the windows on the first floor.

Li Ang had no doubt that even if an Innate Martial Artist were placed in the path of that airflow, invoking their strongest defensive Martial Arts, they would be blasted into oblivion, not even dust remaining.

This was the Candle Cloud Realm Dragon Breath Technique.

The Azure Dragon Breath continued for over ten seconds before gradually ceasing.

The ground outside the inn’s door sank deeply, the soil now displaying a Glaze Glass-like crystalline color. Yet, the darkness showed no signs of weakening or diminishing.

"A Ghost Realm??"

Ji Xingwang, a Doctor of Science from Lu Li Academy, exclaimed in astonishment.

The common people, who had never heard the term, looked on cluelessly.

But the faces of the more knowledgeable travelers changed dramatically.

Ghost Realms are often generated by an Alien.

It is akin to a closed space detached from the world, where people inside and outside cannot see or communicate with each other.

The Ghost Realm only disperses when the Alien responsible can no longer sustain the energy consumption and voluntarily withdraws it, or when the Alien is killed.

Li Ang had encountered one during his first year at the Academic Palace.

However, the source of that Ghost Realm had merely been a newly born ghost baby, and the situation had been resolved smoothly without much danger.

But now, the entire Yuelai Inn, with over a hundred travelers, had been engulfed.

Even Lu Qingya, representing the pinnacle of the Magic Master’s Dao Path, using the supremely powerful Dragon Breath Technique, had failed to break the barrier.

How powerful might this Alien be...?

Li Ang quietly activated his Telekinesis, dragging his bundle out from under the bed to retrieve the Radiant Crossbow and the Dragon Fall Spear.

The Ghost Realm before him was unusual. He had lost contact with his Ink Silk Clone outside and couldn’t sense its presence at all.

My Arbitrary Gate ability can still be used as normal. However, seeing that even the Dragon Breath Technique couldn’t break through the darkness, if I teleported rashly, who knows where I’d end up?

"The center of an Array is its eye; the center of a Ghost Realm is the Alien."

Lu Qingya turned around and said calmly, "Disciples of Lu Li Academy, heed my command! Go and gather every person from every room in the inn. Have everyone bring their belongings and assemble in the first-floor hall.

Those who refuse are to be brought here by force."

After speaking, he turned to the innkeeper and said, "Innkeeper, if you please, bring out the guest register for the past few days."