As the inscription activated, the manifestations of four people and one beast reappeared in the sky. In the next moment, several missiles streaked toward them, their intent clear.
Yunxi and her companions, along with Bai Feng, reacted swiftly. The missiles never had the chance to get close; they detonated midair, erupting into showers of fiery debris.
"Xun Kun, Han Lian, Yun Chen, Bai Feng, take this chance to finish off the rest. Don't leave anyone behind."
Yunxi's voice was cold. Clearly, the destruction of the launch base years ago hadn't frightened their enemies enough. Five years later, the same tactics were being used once again.
The three cultivators and one bear nodded in unison. They streaked toward their targets, weaving through the storm of shrapnel. In a single breath, the final group of corrupted souls was forced from their bodies, rising dazedly into the air, confusion clouding their translucent faces.
Black and White Impermanence, having been alerted, emerged once more from the Gate of Ghosts. They swung their hands, chains of soul-binding power shooting out. Within moments, they arrived at Yunxi's side.
Black Impermanence grumbled, "Ran Xi, didn't you say we'd get a day of rest? Why does it sound like a battlefield exploded?"
Yunxi frowned as she watched the drifting, graying souls. "Seniors, you'd better call for backup. The souls here are tainted. Just now, an evil cultivator tried to interfere with our mission to erase the 'Reincarnation System' memories of these Azure Star inhabitants.
We took the chance to cleanse all remaining targets so their memories won't cause future problems. But something in the shadows is fighting you for these souls."
Even without Yunxi's warning, Black and White Impermanence had already noticed. Some souls vanished entirely during their ascent, slipping away into nothingness. It was a blatant challenge. The two immediately extended their soul-binding chains infinitely, snaring as many as they could.
White Impermanence quickly summoned reinforcements. Moments later, Ox-Head and Horse-Face stepped through the Gate of Ghosts. Seeing Black and White Impermanence overwhelmed, they instantly joined the fray, reaping souls with ruthless efficiency.
Ox-Head and Horse-Face's strength surpassed that of their counterparts. With Yunxi's group assisting, an hour later all remaining souls were secured within the Soul-Collecting Mirror. Black and White Impermanence finally exhaled in relief.
The memory purge of the "Reincarnation System" ensured that the missile strikes would be reported merely as a planetary magnetic field disturbance, perfectly concealing the presence of the four cultivators and one beast.
Yet, at that very moment, all five froze and instinctively raised their heads to the sky. A chilling sensation of being locked onto by Heaven's Dao coursed through them.
Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face fell silent, noticing their synchronized reaction. They were just about to ask when, without a word, Yunxi's group vanished in five directions.
From the wind came Yunxi's voice. "Seniors, we're about to face tribulation. Please cover for us."
The ghost envoys exchanged a glance. Black Impermanence muttered with a dark expression, "This is a low-level plane. How could a heavenly tribulation form here?"
White Impermanence stroked his chin thoughtfully. "They linked this small world to the Underworld and helped us cleanse tainted souls. By repairing its laws, they prevented it from becoming a death region. Perhaps this is Heaven's way of rewarding them."
Ox-Head and Horse-Face folded their arms, watching the thunderclouds gather. The tribulation lightning was clearly weakened, but still potent enough to help Yunxi and her companions break through.
After two short hours, the group successfully advanced to the Out-of-Body stage (Sixth Rank). Almost immediately, they felt a powerful repulsive force—this world no longer welcomed them.
"Time to go," Yunxi said calmly.
They regrouped, following Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face back through the Gate of Ghosts.
Meanwhile, on Azure Star, Lan Lan—now the sole heir of the Wei Lan family—stared blankly at the storm-wracked sky. She couldn't shake the feeling she had forgotten something deeply important.
Daphne was already married and living with her husband in the Sack Estate. Due to the recent string of natural disasters, they had brought both families to stay under one roof.
She had glimpsed Mister Xun Kun's figure in the sky again today and had been thrilled, but after the lightning flashed, that memory slipped away like smoke. She stood there, hollow and lost, until her husband's voice called her back inside.
Elder Nan passed away quietly, a smile on his face. He had fulfilled his mission, securing a future of vitality for Azure Star.
The Special Division remained, though they no longer handled supernatural incidents, focusing instead on unique criminal cases. Ruo Bai still served as branch head, with the Gongsun brothers as his most trusted aides. Together, they pursued new mysteries.
Azure Star returned to its natural order. The cycle of life and death flowed steadily under Heaven's restored laws. Only a hidden mastermind remained in the shadows, plotting unseen.
The Underworld
As the group stepped through the Gate of Ghosts, an icy wind greeted them, thick with yin energy unique to the Underworld. Yunxi wrinkled her nose, disliking the clammy aura. Instinctively, she summoned her inner fire, Mystic Thunder Violet Flame, draping herself in a thin veil of purple smoke that repelled the oppressive chill.
Gasps erupted around her. Yunxi looked up, surprised to see Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face retreating to a full li away, glaring at her with alarm.
She turned to Yun Chen, puzzled. "What's their problem? Why are they avoiding us? Are they planning to go back on their promise?"
Xun Kun cleared his throat. "Ran Xi, put away your flame. Mystic Thunder Violet Flame is a bane to ghost cultivators."
"Oh… oh! Right, I get it!"
Comprehension dawned. With a thought, Yunxi recalled the flame into her dantian, though Zi Yan grumbled in dissatisfaction as she retreated.
Only then did the four envoys approach again.
Black Impermanence, hands on his hips, said sharply, "Ran Xi Daoyou, don't summon that flame so casually. You could burn registered souls to ash, and we'd have no way to account for it."
"My apologies," Yunxi said quickly, bowing slightly. "I wasn't used to the aura here and instinctively called upon my protective fire."
They were on the envoys' turf; arrogance had no place here.
White Impermanence spoke in a conciliatory tone. "Ran Xi Daoyou, your sudden breakthrough caught us off guard. We weren't prepared to escort you into the ghost region in your physical forms. It's no wonder you feel discomfort. This realm is where all spirits return after death.
Your bodies are highly tempting to these wandering souls. We'll escort you to the Judge's Division for some rest."
"Amitabha. We thank the four soul envoys," Yun Chen said politely.
Earlier, the nearby spirits had been circling, drawn to the vitality of their living bodies. Yunxi's flame had scattered them, but now that it was gone, they crept closer again, though none dared approach with the four envoys present. News of living beings walking through the Underworld spread quickly.