Chapter 803: Ghosts
Chapter 803: Ghosts
After death, do people turn into ghosts?
Why would Senior Sister Ye ask such a question? Could it be...
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as he pondered briefly before asking Hua Shanshan, "Senior Sister Shanshan, are there any remaining belongings of Senior Sister Ye Jin?"
Hua Shanshan thought for a moment and shook her head. "It's hard to say. Jin'er burned to death, and the entire house was engulfed in flames. Nothing was left behind. Even if something survived, they would have been collected by the sect and handed over to the Ye family."
"Nothing at all?" Mo Hua frowned. After a moment of contemplation, a spark of inspiration flashed in his eyes. "What about books or jade slips?"
"They were all burned as well..."
"No, not her personal belongings," Mo Hua interjected. "I'm talking about books and jade slips she may have borrowed from the sect."
Comprehension dawned on Hua Shanshan's face.
"See if you can find a way to check the library records and see if Senior Sister Ye Jin had borrowed any books or jade slips before her death. There may be some clues in those items," Mo Hua suggested.
Hua Shanshan gave Mo Hua a surprised glance, impressed by his quick wit.
Indeed, Junior Brother Mo is exceptionally bright.
"The records in the library are confidential," Hua Shanshan said, "but I have an aunt who is an elder there. I can ask her for a favor. By this time tomorrow, I'll bring you the books and jade slips, or I'll come to inform you if I can't get them."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement. "Alright."
The next day, after Mo Hua finished his classes, he once again arrived early at the foot of the mountain and waited.
Soon enough, Hua Shanshan approached, clad in a gorgeous brocade robe, her features exquisite.
The two sat side by side under a large tree.
Hua Shanshan handed Mo Hua an embroidered storage bag adorned with a myriad of flowers and heaved a long sigh. "It was a bit troublesome... No matter how I pleaded, my aunt refused to agree. I had to promise her that I would achieve a 'top-grade' in the upcoming sect assessment for pill refining before she finally relented and checked the records for me."
Hua Shanshan pointed to the storage bag. "I've borrowed all the cultivation books that Jin'er borrowed from the library within this month and placed them in this bag."
She then added, "These items are not supposed to be shown to outsiders, so please be careful not to lose them, Junior Brother Mo. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain it to my aunt..."
"Yes, yes, Senior Sister, rest assured!" Mo Hua assured her.
Hua Shanshan felt relieved, but she still had her doubts. "But... are there really any clues in these items?"
"Hopefully," Mo Hua replied, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
...
Inside the Tai Xu Sect.
Upon returning to the disciples' residence, Mo Hua opened the storage bag that Hua Shanshan had given him.
It was a storage bag from the Hundred Flowers Valley, adorned with vibrant and colorful flowers.
Inside the bag were four cultivation manuals and a jade slip.
Mo Hua flipped through each item one by one.
The jade slip contained a method for cultivating flowers, specifically instructing on how to nurture various precious varieties of magnolia trees.
The Hundred Flowers Valley, true to its name, included floriculture as one of its cultivation courses. The female disciples of the valley were all skilled to some extent in the art of cultivating flowers.
Mo Hua recalled Senior Sister Shanshan mentioning that Senior Sister Ye Jin had a fondness for magnolia trees, so she focused her floral arts on that particular flower.
However, Mo Hua himself had no interest in floriculture, especially when it came to flowers that weren't edible.
After flipping through the jade slip and finding nothing of note, Mo Hua temporarily set it aside.
Next, he turned his attention to the cultivation manuals.
There were books on pill refining, cultivation, and even one on how female cultivators could apply makeup and rouge. But the last book was rather peculiar.
Its title was: One Hundred Taboos of Cultivation.
This manual outlined nearly a hundred taboos that cultivators should avoid during their journey, serving as a guide to prevent disciples from straying down the wrong path.
As Mo Hua flipped through the book, his gaze suddenly paused on one particular page.
There was a slight crease on the page, and near it, there appeared to be a tear stain.
Next to the stain was a line of text: "...If a person dies in a tragic way, filled with deep resentment, they may transform into an extremely vicious ghost..."
Tragic death, deep resentment, transformation into a ghost...
Mo Hua's heart grew heavier as he pondered these words.
After a moment of contemplation, he put away the storage bag and took out the White Bone Broken Sword, releasing a small portion of its seal. "Bone Sword, I have a question for you."
"Master—" Before the sword could finish, it realized that Mo Hua disliked being addressed as such, so it quickly changed its words. "Young Master, please ask."
"How did you become a 'demon'?" Mo Hua inquired.
"Well..." The sword gave an awkward laugh. "Didn't you already know? You killed me, leaving no flesh or blood behind. My soul took refuge in the broken sword, and thus I became a sword demon..."
Mo Hua furrowed his brows. "Is your situation... rather unique?"
The sword's heart trembled, and it felt a bit guilty. "Young Master, do you mean...?"
"I've killed others and witnessed countless deaths, but very few have transformed into 'demons' after their demise," Mo Hua explained.
Apart from the sword, the only other person Mo Hua knew who had transformed into a demon after death was Zhang Quan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Nanyue City's Corpse Mountain who had colluded with Lu Chengyun in refining corpses.
He also had an ancestral "Zombie Chart", and after death, the whole family would enter the chart, intact and together.
There must be some kind of heritage to this.
However, since Mo Hua was not well-versed in the ways of the undead, he couldn't discern what exactly the Zhang Quan clan was inheriting from this sinister path.
Aside from Zhang Quan, when other cultivators died, that was usually the end of it.
They wouldn't easily transform into evil spirits.
The Sword Bone was another special case.
It seemed to have prepared for this eventuality, either by refining itself into a natal magic treasure, achieving the Golden Core as a demon cultivator, or by having its flesh and blood obliterated upon death, transforming into a Sword Demon.
Back then, in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, Mo Hua hadn't had the time to think too deeply about it.
Now, as he pondered the matter carefully, he felt that something was amiss.
A "Sword Demon", even if in his eyes it was nothing more than an ant that he could squash at will, had, in some sense, transformed from the path of humanity into the path of a "ghost", avoiding true death and annihilation.
If cultivators had the choice, many would opt to become "Sword Demons" after death.
Obviously, there was no such good fortune.
Most cultivators simply perished upon death.
There was something off about this Sword Bone...
Within the White Bone Broken Sword, the Sword Bone's skeletal structure trembled slightly.
Serving a lord was like serving a tiger.
Especially when that tiger was not only powerful and ferocious but also possessed a cunning and vicious intellect.
The Sword Bone's voice was hoarse as it struggled to remain calm, "In response to Young Master's question, in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley where there was no sunlight, I merely harbored a glimmer of hope in desperation. I thought that if by some chance, I could transform into a Sword Demon, it would be a way to survive."
"Eventually, by coincidence, I was killed by Young Master, and my consciousness entered the White Bone Broken Sword, successfully transforming into a Sword Demon. I believe it was due to Young Master's good fortune that I was able to do so."
"If not for Young Master, I wouldn't have taken this path either. Perhaps during my Golden Core breakthrough, I would have been reduced to ashes with no remains left behind..."
The Sword Bone subtly flattered Mo Hua.
Mo Hua's gaze was thoughtful, but he didn't ask further questions. Instead, he asked, "Do you know... how a person becomes a 'ghost'?"
The Sword Bone didn't want to answer.
It was unsure how much Mo Hua knew about the ways of ghosts and demons, and it feared that it might accidentally reveal something if it spoke too much.
However, it also couldn't say nothing at all.
The Sword Bone paused for a moment before slowly saying, "When a cultivator loses their physical body due to special circumstances, but their divine consciousness remains, over time, they will transform into a ghost."
"Ghosts covet human bodies, especially those of their close relatives."
"If there are no close relatives, then their teachers, sect members, friends, and anyone else connected to them, anyone who holds their memories, will become their prey."
"They will parasitize these people, devouring their consciousness. Once they finish consuming one host, they will find another, and continue feeding."
"And those who are parasitized by ghosts will undergo drastic changes in their temperament and go mad. Once the ghost devours their consciousness, the possessed person will also perish..."
...
The Sword Bone finished its explanation, feeling somewhat apprehensive.
Mo Hua nodded slightly.
What the Sword Bone had said was quite similar to what Huang Shan Jun had told him.
"Are there any special circumstances?" Mo Hua asked again.
"Special circumstances?"
"For example..." Mo Hua recalled the line from the One Hundred Taboos of Cultivation, "'If a person dies a tragic death, filled with deep resentment, they can transform into an extremely vicious ghost...'"
Tragic death...
The Sword Bone's expression turned solemn as it nodded, "Yes."
It thought for a moment before continuing, "There are always exceptions. In the path of ghosts and demons, there are those who cultivate the ghost path, willingly becoming ghost cultivators; there are those whose physical bodies are destroyed, leaving them no choice but to become ghosts; and there are those who are unlucky, parasitized by evil beings, turning into ghosts..."
"But these are all common occurrences."
"The extreme case is 'tragic death'. When a cultivator experiences immense torture and suffering before death, harboring intense resentment and hatred, they will transform into evil ghosts, fierce ghosts, violent ghosts, or other extremely vicious ghostly beings after their tragic death."
"These kinds of fierce ghosts are far stronger than ordinary evil spirits, and their resentment runs deep. They are even more terrifying when it comes to killing people."
Mo Hua frowned.
Huang Shan Jun hadn't mentioned these things before.
He turned his head and silently looked at the White Bone Broken Sword in his hand.
This Sword Bone seemed to know quite a lot...
"Alright, that's all for now."
Mo Hua spoke, and then he supplemented the God-locking Array, resealing the Sword Bone.
Within the White Bone Sword, the Sword Bone heaved a long sigh of relief.
However, a layer of worry clouded Mo Hua's brows.
"This doesn't bode well..."
If this was truly the case, Senior Sister Ye Jin must have thought that by dying a tragic death filled with resentment, she could transform into a ghost. That's why she set herself on fire, burning herself alive.
She endured such pain to become a fierce ghost.
But becoming a ghost wasn't that simple.
If she hadn't succeeded in becoming a ghost, it would be fine, but if she had truly transformed, she would likely start "feeding" on people.
And she hadn't died in the Ye family, but in the Hundred Flowers Valley, surrounded by her fellow sect members and sisters.
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.
...
The next day was a ten-day break from classes.
Mo Hua arranged to meet with Hua Shanshan and briefly explained the situation to her.
He didn't mention the ghostly affair, only saying:
"Senior Sister Ye Jin's death is suspicious, and the lingering resentment is profound. I'm afraid it might give rise to sinister intentions, and something terrible could happen within the Hundred Flowers Valley..."
Mo Hua had originally thought that he would need to spend more time explaining the situation.
But to his surprise, Hua Shanshan's face paled as soon as she heard this, and she said in a trembling voice, "Yes, Junior Brother, you're right!"
Mo Hua's heart sank.
Hua Shanshan continued, "In recent days, the sisters who were close to Jin'er have been feeling restless and have even had nightmares. In their dreams, they see Ye Jin with a pale face, devoid of blood, staring at them blankly and muttering things like 'so dirty' and 'I can't go on living'."
"Then, in the dream, a fierce fire ignites."
"Jin'er stands in the midst of the sea of flames, her face burned beyond recognition, looking like a monster..."
Hua Shanshan's expression was a mix of fear and pain.
Mo Hua's heart grew heavy as he realized that the situation was becoming serious.
These signs might be the prelude to her transformation into a vengeful ghost.
Hua Shanshan glanced at Mo Hua and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Mo, has something happened to Jin'er?"
"It's hard to say for sure right now..."
Mo Hua sighed.
With limited clues, he could only speculate.
Without witnessing it firsthand, he hesitated to make any definite conclusions.
After much deliberation, Mo Hua finally spoke up, "Senior Sister, could you... take me into the Hundred Flowers Valley to have a look?"
Hua Shanshan was taken aback and shook her head, sighing,
"The rules of the Hundred Flowers Valley are strict, and all male cultivators are forbidden from entering."
"Really no exceptions?"
"None..." Hua Shanshan replied.
"Alright then."
Mo Hua was disappointed.
It seemed that he would have to think of another way.
Perhaps he could gather all the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley who were familiar with Senior Sister Ye Jin, especially those who had dreamed about her...
As Mo Hua was deep in thought, Hua Shanshan stole glances at him, her eyes sparkling with unspoken emotions, her heart pounding wildly.
"Actually... there might be a way..."
Hua Shanshan said softly.
"What?" Mo Hua was taken aback.
Hua Shanshan's sparkling eyes roamed over Mo Hua's face, and finally, she couldn't contain the tumult in her heart any longer. She leaned in and whispered,
"If you... wear the robe of the Hundred Flowers Valley, I can take you in."
Mo Hua was stunned, his expression shocked. He immediately refused,
"No, absolutely not!"
It was out of the question!
How could he, a proud young man and the senior disciple of Tai Xu Sect, wear the robe of the Hundred Flowers Valley?
Even Hua Shanshan was surprised by her own suggestion.
But then she realized that this might be her only chance in this lifetime, a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity.
If she missed this chance, she feared that her wish would never come true.
"Just wear it to sneak into the valley," Hua Shanshan said.
At least let me see what you look like in the robe of the Hundred Flowers Valley.
Mo Hua flatly refused, saying, "No means no."
"Alright..."
Seeing Mo Hua's resolute attitude, Hua Shanshan felt disappointed but had no choice but to give up. "Then what should we do about Jin'er's situation?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "Can you gather all the senior sisters who have had nightmares and let me meet them?"
Hua Shanshan's face showed her dilemma, but she eventually agreed. "I'll try, but time is tight, and the sisters all have their own affairs. I can't guarantee that everyone will be available during the break."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
After that, Hua Shanshan returned to the Hundred Flowers Valley.
Mo Hua continued to ponder Ye Jin's situation. But as he thought about it, he suddenly realized a problem:
Gathering these senior sisters might not be useful.
A cultivator's divine consciousness was sealed within their sea of consciousness.
When a ghostly presence invaded, it targeted the sea of consciousness.
Since he couldn't separate his divine consciousness from his body, he could only watch helplessly unless the ghostly presence sucked him in. He would be of no help otherwise.
As for the Sword Bone...
In this situation, the Sword Bone wouldn't be of much use either.
Moreover, as a sword demon, it was best that it didn't appear in front of others.
The more challenging part was that Senior Sister Ye Jin had died in the Hundred Flowers Valley, and the place of her death was where the resentment was the heaviest and where she might have turned into a ghost.
Without addressing the "source," even if he helped a few senior sisters get rid of their ghostly dreams, it would only be a temporary solution without resolving the root cause.
Mo Hua felt a headache coming on.
During the ten-day break, he thought about it all day but still couldn't come up with a solution.
As evening approached, Mo Hua hesitated for a long time before finally sighing and reluctantly sending a message to Hua Shanshan:
"Senior Sister, if I wear the robe of the Hundred Flowers Valley, can I really sneak into the valley?"
(End of Chapter)
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