Li Ze let out a cold snort, cutting off his subordinate mid-sentence. Yunxi only curved her lips slightly and said, "Those who have inferior skills should admit it."
The ghost soldier's face darkened with anger, but before he could speak again, Black and White Impermanence stepped forward and said,
"Ran Xi, do not be angry. This was indeed our oversight. We did not expect the mastermind to set their sights on you.
"Judge Cui has already been informed of this matter. He sent us here to escort you all to the Judgment Division."
Yunxi was willing to give them face. She softened her tone at once and said, "Then I'll trouble the four Ghost Messengers."
Soon after, Yunxi and her companions followed Black and White Impermanence away from the now-ruined Wanyuan Residence.
Once they left, the ghost soldier who had been reprimanded spoke up. "Captain, they were too arrogant! How can they say we have inferior skills?!"
Li Ze's brows were tightly furrowed. "They have the right to be arrogant. They're the only ones so far who have managed to escape the Soul-Absorbing Formation. We really were outmatched.
Her strike went straight for the heart of the enemy. She must have injured the mastermind. And as you said, her ultimate move injured ordinary ghost cultivators to the point that even we couldn't get close. She did it deliberately to prevent ghost cultivators from launching a sneak attack."
As he spoke, his gaze flashed sharply. He immediately ordered,"Go lock up all the ghost cultivators who were attacked near Wanyuan Residence. There must be planted agents among them. I nearly overlooked this."
"Yes, Captain!"
The ghost soldier quickly took two companions to carry out the order.
"Captain, what do you think of this incident? Would the Underworld really use them as bait?"
"I don't know either. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But to go through all that trouble to set up a Soul-Absorbing Formation just for four people feels like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken. It's surprising."
Setting up and activating a formation always required time.
"Go investigate when exactly the formation was laid."
"Yes!"
His subordinate accepted the order and left to search for clues.
Meanwhile, Yunxi and her companions walked silently toward the Judgment Division. Yunxi's divine sense had already slipped into her Space, logging into the group chat.
After all, among her group chat friends was someone named "Ox-Head Horse-Face," who was clearly a Ghost Messenger from the Underworld. The Soul Refining Art had come from him. Yunxi hoped to reach out and see if she could get any help.
The light screen of the chat flickered, showing that "Fleeting Cloud" had logged in. Yunxi first sent a private message to "Ox-Head Horse-Face," asking if he was available.
[Ox-Head Horse-Face]:Little Cloud, you're lucky. I just logged in when you came online.
[Fleeting Cloud]:I'm currently in the Ghost Realm.
[Ox-Head Horse-Face]:You've switched to cultivating the ghost path? Who forced you to this step?
The other party was clearly curious about Yunxi's situation. Everyone in the group knew the newly joined "Little Cloud" was a cultivator from the cultivation world.
[Fleeting Cloud]:My companions and I were ambushed and had no choice but to enter the Ghost Realm. We planned to pass through the Underworld to return to the Cultivation Realm, but we were ambushed again. Few of my companions had a wisp of their soul forcefully extracted. I don't know what the mastermind intends to do, so I'm here to ask for guidance.
This time, the reply took longer. Yunxi guessed he was checking things on his end. She waited patiently, speculating about his exact position within the Ghost Realm.
[Ox-Head Horse-Face]:Where are you now?
[Fleeting Cloud]: On the way to the Judgment Division.
[Ox-Head Horse-Face]:Go on ahead. I'll send someone to meet you.
[Fleeting Cloud]: Many thanks.
She decisively withdrew her divine sense, as they had already arrived at the Judgment Division.
Judge Cui had received the message earlier. Seeing the four grim-faced cultivators gave him a headache. One problem after another—he felt like he was splitting himself in two to handle everything, but trouble just kept coming.
"Judge Cui," Yunxi said evenly, "as per our agreement, we helped you clean up the mess on Azure Star. In return, you allowed us to pass through the Underworld to return to Weiyu Realm.
We did what we promised. You asked us to wait a few days, and we understood your busy schedule, so we waited.
But it seems we weren't given much importance. Not only that, we've been ambushed repeatedly, and now my companions has had a wisp of their soul forcefully extracted. You should understand how serious this is.
We're not wandering spirits waiting for reincarnation. The enemy has gathered soul power from Daoists, demon cultivators, and Buddhists. Do you think they would go through so much trouble for nothing?"
Though Yunxi was angry, her words were calm and well-reasoned. Sometimes the one involved couldn't see clearly, but an outsider could. And with Yunxi's long experience fighting evil cultivators, she knew the enemy wouldn't waste effort without a greater purpose.
Judge Cui's face darkened at her words. He asked, "All four of you had your soul power taken?"
"Everyone but me," Yunxi replied coldly. She had been spared thanks to her golden immortal armor.
"This…"
Judge Cui couldn't give an immediate judgment, but he could tell something was very wrong.
Suddenly, he froze, then rose quickly from his chair, bowing toward the entrance.
A tall figure appeared in the hall, materializing from nothing in just two breaths. Judge Cui was already saluting.
"This official greets the First Hall Yama."
Yunxi saw a high-ranking figure arrive and rose with her companions to bow respectfully. "Junior Ran Xi (Han Lian, Yun Chen, Xun Kun) greets Lord Yama."
The First Hall Yama's bell-like eyes scanned the group, settling on Yunxi. His deep voice rumbled through the hall. "You're the cultivators who want to pass through the Underworld to return to Weiyu Realm?"
"Yes," Yunxi replied.
Judge Cui stepped forward quickly. "Dàrén, I have already been handling this matter."
The First Hall Yama's dark face grew colder. "Handling it? Yet they lost a wisp of their soul! How did you manage this? They're living souls! Do you know the consequences of such a loss to their spirit?"
Cold sweat broke out on Judge Cui's forehead. He lowered his head further, not daring to respond.
With a wave of his sleeve, the First Hall Yama swept Yunxi and her group into the folds of his robe. His face was still dark as he said, "You've done well, forcing me to clean up your mess! Find the truth and report back to me immediately."
He vanished from the hall.
For a long while, Judge Cui stood stiffly before sinking back into his chair, utterly drained. He issued immediate orders to Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head Horse-Face to assist the Patrol Division in investigating the Soul-Absorbing Formation at Wanyuan Residence.
Half a day later, Li Ze arrived at the Judgment Division to report.
"Judge Cui, the Soul-Absorbing Formation wasn't laid in advance. It was arranged by an expert in the sky above Wanyuan Residence. Once it was confirmed that Ran Xi and her group would stay there for a long time, the formation was suddenly activated.
Fortunately, Ran Xi Daoyou's natal artifact is thunder-attributed. That's why she was able to destroy the formation in time. But that also resulted in the destruction of Wanyuan Residence, even harming innocent ghost cultivators."
Judge Cui waved his hand. "That's not important. What I want to know is—did you catch the person who activated the formation?"
"Not yet."
"Any suspects?"
"Rong Le of Qianbao Pavilion."