If Chen Xi failed to defeat the opponent, Mo Lin was prepared to intervene himself.With a single thunder talisman, he would show them the true meaning of power.Mo Lin had already laid the groundwork in his mind, even plotting out the precise sequence of his moves: the ghosts would first tear into one another, and then he would subdue the chaos with a single strike.
"Enough," came a deep and resonant voice.Following the source of the sound, they saw an elderly man with a head of white hair.His face was deeply lined, as though life had already drained him of vitality.He stepped forward and interrupted the standoff.
"Consider yourself lucky," Sun Wendong sneered coldly at Mo Lin, then retreated to stand quietly behind Li Gu.Had the patriarch not intervened, he would have crippled Mo Lin on the spot.Li Gu likewise cast a mocking smile at Mo Lin, as if silently saying, You really are lucky.He and his bodyguard were indeed two of a kind.
"Is that your father?" Mo Lin asked Li Yuemei, who stood nearby.It wasn't that Mo Lin failed to recognize him—It was simply that the man looked impossibly aged, like someone standing at death's door.
"Yes, but he's not yet fifty," Li Yuemei whispered in reminder.
Not even fifty, and already so old?Mo Lin was momentarily stunned.
"You mustn't be too surprised, young man," the patriarch said slowly, noticing Mo Lin's confusion. "I have... undergone some things, thus becoming what you see now."
"You've harnessed the Netherworld Ghostfire?" Mo Lin suddenly guessed aloud, unable to hide his shock.
Indeed, that could be the only explanation for the patriarch's unnatural aging.At the mention of Netherworld Ghostfire, the atmosphere grew palpably heavier.Even Li Wuya and the others narrowed their eyes, murderous intent flashing within.
The patriarch, however, appeared utterly unbothered by their wariness.
"No need for such vigilance," he said unhurriedly. "The existence of the Netherworld Ghostfire is no great secret—many already know of it."
"You've gambled your life to control the Ghostfire? Was it worth it?" Mo Lin pressed further.
The patriarch froze for a moment.Mo Lin's question caused his estimation of the young man to rise significantly.At a mere glance, Mo Lin had discerned so much—clearly, he was no ordinary youth.At least, he was the first to ever speak so directly to the matter.
"What would a mere fifth-rank Spirit Master know?" Li Gu snapped at Mo Lin.
"Enough... stop your barking," the patriarch silenced him once more.
"Ten years of life in exchange for one year of control—how many years do you think you have left?"Indeed, the patriarch had sacrificed a decade of his lifespan for every fleeting year he could command the Ghostfire.
"You have an astute eye, young man," the patriarch chuckled awkwardly. "There is a lady who mastered a strange fire. I wished to follow her example."
"You speak of Cui Xinyun?" Mo Lin responded coolly."But you are not her. You could never become a second Cui Xinyun.She controls the Crimson Lotus Hellfire thanks largely to her master's teachings."
It wasn't Mo Lin's intent to belittle the patriarch.Rather, he spoke the truth: Cui Xinyun's command over the Hellfire was a result of her extraordinary heritage and intensive nurturing.She had a profound foundation and strong mentors supporting her.After all, even the act of separating one's soul to walk the underworld was something ninety-nine percent of people could never achieve.
And the patriarch?With no such background or support, gambling his life on mastering the Netherworld Ghostfire was nothing short of suicidal.
"You know quite a bit, it seems," the patriarch said, eyeing Mo Lin with newfound interest. "You are acquainted with Cui Xinyun?"
"There are... some entanglements," Mo Lin muttered with a headache.That woman defied all normal logic.Once, she had even burned down his villa in Yunchuan—without a second thought.
Through their brief conversation, the patriarch's impression of Mo Lin rose considerably.
"Abandon your pursuit of the Ghostfire. You might yet live a few more years," Mo Lin said nonchalantly.
The patriarch chuckled and, seeing fit to change the subject, turned to Li Yuemei.
"Yuemei, I permit you to compete for the position of family heir," he announced.
After his conversation with Mo Lin, he realized the young man was far from ordinary.Since Mo Lin served as Yuemei's protector, granting her a chance seemed only fair.
"Thank you, Father," Li Yuemei bowed respectfully.
Meanwhile, Li Wuya and Li Gu both wore unreadable expressions, each scheming silently.
"Your first competition," the patriarch continued, pointing towards a distant mountain, "shall be a ghost-hunting contest."
"There are ten Nightmare-grade ghosts upon that peak. Whoever captures the most shall emerge victorious."
"Father, what reward awaits the winner?" Li Wuya asked eagerly.
"The reward," the patriarch replied evenly, "is a chance to witness the Netherworld Ghostfire."
At the mere mention of it, everyone's spirits were inflamed—including Mo Lin's.
He had agreed to assist Li Yuemei for precisely this opportunity.Even if it was only a single glimpse, it was still a precious chance.
"Third Sister, you might as well give up," Li Gu sneered."You don't stand a chance."
His disdain stemmed mainly from the fact that Li Yuemei's bodyguard was but a fifth-rank Spirit Master.What could a mere fifth-ranker achieve against Nightmare-grade ghosts?
"Father's permission doesn't mean you can truly seize the position," Li Wuya added mockingly, his gaze sliding meaningfully toward Mo Lin.Clearly, he and Li Gu shared the same disdainful thoughts.
Ridiculous!Mo Lin felt distinctly underestimated.
"Come on, let's go ghost hunting," he said lazily, ignoring the pair and leading Li Yuemei toward the mountain.
Other things, perhaps, were not his forte—but ghost hunting?That was Mo Lin's specialty.
And Nightmare-grade ghosts, no less?It was as if the heavens were offering him a feast.
Besides, he happened to be in need of a few Nightmare-grade spirits.
"Do you have a plan?" Li Yuemei asked, seeing how confident he appeared.
"No plan. Just catch them when you see them," Mo Lin replied casually.
"Seriously...?" Li Yuemei was dumbfounded.Catch them on sight?It sounded so easy, but ghosts were adept at hiding.
How were they even supposed to find them?
"I found one," Mo Lin said suddenly.
Li Yuemei was stunned.Already?They had barely entered the mountain!
"Can you at least change your exclamations?" Mo Lin teased.
Li Yuemei nodded sheepishly, "Okay."
Mo Lin quickened his pace, and Li Yuemei hurried after him.After ten minutes of running, they finally caught sight of a Nightmare-grade ghost.
The journey had not been easy.
"You really found one?" Li Yuemei gasped again.Mo Lin hadn't used any tools—it was as if he had a built-in locator.
In the past, Mo Lin could have located all the ghosts in under a minute and captured them effortlessly.Li Wuya and the others would not have even glimpsed a ghostly shadow.
But now, things were different.His strength had been severely weakened after the battle with the Ghost Realm.The Yin Division's power was gone; the might of his ghost envoys, gone too.
Thus, it had taken nearly ten minutes just to find one ghost.
A rather embarrassing performance for a former Yin Division lord.
4o