Duan Family Villa.
In a courtyard adorned with large red "囍" characters, Fan Jingxing and a few old friends were toasting each other, drinking heartily.
"Old Fan, I never imagined that you, an old tree blooming anew, would finally achieve your happily ever after with Miss Duan."
Hong Qiantu raised his wine cup and drank with Fan Jingxing, his face filled with emotion.
Back then, the Duan family disdained Fan Jingxing and broke them apart, but in the end, they still allowed these lovers to be together.
Of course, to be precise, it should be "wealthy" people who finally found happiness.
Fortunately, Ji Mo had prepared a carload of extremely generous betrothal gifts.
"Miss Duan's devotion remains unchanged, having waited for a hundred years. Such a good woman is hard to find in this world. Old Fan, you are truly enviable to have such a virtuous wife."
Huineng looked envious, wishing he could also find true love and have a passionate romance.
This bald monk had even started to scheme, wandering around the Duan Family Villa whenever he had the chance, hoping to meet a woman he fancied.
Nearly half of the young and beautiful women in the entire Duan family had been approached by him.
"Old Fan, you must work hard and strive to become a father by the end of the year. If you can have a daughter who catches Mr. Ji's eye, it'll be a huge profit!"
Xuan Ao enthusiastically planned for Fan Jingxing, even helping him think of a name for the child.
"Alas..."
Fan Jingxing let out a long, meaningful sigh and abruptly gulped down wine, as if trying to get himself drunk.
Faintly visible were bruises on his ears from being pulled by an external force, and several scratches on his face from fingernails.
Clearly, married life did not seem to be that blissful.
"I miss Mr. Ji."
Tears welled up in Fan Jingxing's eyes. He still felt that the days of tilling the fields were happier.
Women were truly terrifying. Before, they were gentle as water, docile as cats, so tender and lovely.
Little did he know, after marriage, they transformed into tigresses, fierce and domineering, making one unable to bear it.
Fan Jingxing finally understood why so many girls threw themselves at Ji Mo, yet Ji Mo remained unmoved like a rock. It must be that he also knew the terror of women and did not wish to get involved.
Huineng said, "Yes, I also miss Mr. Ji dearly. After staying with you for a few more days, Xuan Ao and I will have to return. Your daily indulgence in meat and delicacies is too greasy; Mr. Ji's home-cooked vegetarian meals and white rice are still sweeter."
Fan Jingxing shot Huineng a glance. What was this monk saying? He, a monk, still ate meat and drank wine with large bowls every day, showing no restraint.
Besides, those were spiritual vegetables and grains from Mr. Ji's home, how could they be the same?
He licked his lips and couldn't help but say, "Then I'll go back too."
However, Xuan Ao stopped him: "You're newly married, why go back? Striving to have children is the right way. Moreover, your wife likely won't let you go, so give up on that idea."
Fan Jingxing's face immediately turned bitter. After marriage, his wife was in charge.
"Old Fan, you really can't go back with us."
Huineng said with a serious expression, "You must stay at the Duan Family and find a way to control it. Mr. Ji has helped you so much; you should share some of his worries."
"What do you mean?" Fan Jingxing's eyes lit up.
Xuan Ao and Hong Qiantu immediately perked up their ears upon hearing this.
Among them, Huineng had the sharpest mind. He must have sensed something.
Huineng continued, "Mr. Ji previously sent Lin Zhan to investigate the Luo family, likely intending to avenge A'li. It's probable that he will deal with the Human King Luo family soon. We, who have received Mr. Ji's favor, naturally cannot stand by and do nothing; we must contribute our meager strength."
"Deal with the Human King Luo family?"
The few of them fell into thought.
Hong Qiantu, however, showed joy.
This was a great opportunity to please Ji Mo, and he had to seize it.
"Mr. Ji enjoys the mortal world, and he likely won't act personally. He will probably use other forces to deal with the Luo family. If we are of no use then, we might be replaced by others."
Xuan Ao's eyes were filled with a sense of crisis. If they couldn't demonstrate their value, who would keep a bunch of useless people for free?
Moreover, there were plenty of people who were breaking their heads, trying every means to please Mr. Ji.
Just like Hong Qiantu, who was smiling foolishly beside him.
"That's right, the Misty Palace, the Lingxu Sword Sect, and the Wen family are all trying to latch onto Mr. Ji. If we can't achieve anything, our positions will be precarious. I will definitely find a way to control the Duan family as soon as possible and serve Mr. Ji with all my might."
Fan Jingxing immediately made up his mind.
Duan Cheng had been less involved in managing affairs in recent years. Almost all matters of the Duan family were handled by Miss Duan. As long as he pleased his wife, controlling the Duan family would not be a problem.
Each of them had their own thoughts, contemplating what they could do.
There was always a reward for effort. Ji Mo was generous, so the rewards would undoubtedly be incredibly bountiful.
...
The Ancient Soul Devouring Toad trembled uncontrollably. It had thought it would surely be silenced.
To its surprise, Ji Mo did nothing to it.
He merely walked to a nearby dirt mound, squinted his eyes, and gazed westward.
In that direction lay a boundless primeval forest.
At this moment, deep within the forest, a world-shattering change seemed to be occurring.
There, rolling gray mist was rising into the sky, and a cold, dead aura enveloped the land, sweeping in all directions.
As soon as the flowers, grass, and trees were touched by this aura, they were instantly corroded, withering and decaying.
And the creatures that were contaminated instantly lost their lives, turning into a pile of rotten flesh.
In an instant, vast areas of life essence were completely stripped away.
The originally lush forest became a forbidden zone of death.
And the area within a hundred-mile radius deep within the primeval forest had completely transformed into a black forest filled with the aura of death.
And this range was expanding at a visible speed every moment.
"The aura of the Ghost Clan, has Old Ancestor Jiuyou broken the seal?"
The Ancient Soul Devouring Toad also saw this scene and quickly understood the reason.
That was precisely where Emperor Bai had sealed Old Ancestor Jiuyou. Judging by the current situation, it must be that Old Ancestor Jiuyou had crawled out from underground.
"As expected of the most evil Ghost Clan. Even after being sealed for ten thousand years, he still managed to break free. He must be frantically absorbing life essence to nourish his body. Once he recovers his peak combat power, perhaps no one in the entire Xuanling Realm will be able to suppress him."
Although the Ancient Soul Devouring Toad had always looked down on Old Ancestor Jiuyou, it had to admit that compared to him, it was still half a step behind.
At least back then, it had almost been completely annihilated by Emperor Bai, while Old Ancestor Jiuyou was merely sealed.
Of course, this was not a matter of strength, but rather Old Ancestor Jiuyou's origins were extremely peculiar. Legend had it that he came from the Burial Ground, difficult to contain by heaven and earth.
"I've felt something was wrong there for a long time. It turns out there's a ghost."
Ji Mo muttered. He had long sensed that something was wrong deep within the primeval forest but had never had the time to investigate. Now, the situation had become quite serious.
That gray mist was constantly spreading, devouring all life. It must be stopped, otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.