"Heh, foolish boy, finally realized you were being used by us?"
"However, you've realized it a bit too late. What's done is done, and it's too late for regrets!"
Seeing Chen Xiao fly out of the River of Forgetfulness, Yama King immediately let out a sinister laugh.
"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you, kid, to actually take down that Zhulong fellow!"
"Speaking of which, our Ghost Cultivation lineage truly owes you a great debt of gratitude!"
"For three thousand years, we've been trapped in this confined space, for a full three thousand years!"
"Thanks to you, for killing that Zhulong, otherwise, who knows how much longer we would have been trapped!"
As he spoke, Yama King's dark, lustrous face flushed, and his eyes, like Meng Po's, became increasingly frenzied!
"Originally, we should have been the masters of this world. If it weren't for that tin-plated man's scheme, this king would have long since swept across the six directions and unified the heavens and earth!"
Yama King stood proudly between heaven and earth, his aura immense!
Chen Xiao, however, sneered at his words: "Tch, masters of this world? Sweeping across the six directions? With this rabble you call an army?"
"You can't even deal with a stinking snake, how dare you spew such nonsense!"
"Presumptuous!"
The Judge tilted his head, pointing his Judge's Brush at Chen Xiao, "We were trapped by Zhulong because our cultivation of ghost arts was too heavy with Yin energy, which is why we feared Zhulong's Nine Yang Candle Fire..."
"Judge, silence!"
Yama King, seeing the Judge about to make another fool of himself, quickly reprimanded him sternly.
The Judge also realized he had said too much and quickly covered his mouth.
Chen Xiao almost burst out laughing. You've revealed the core secret, and now covering your mouth is of no use, is it?
Fools are indeed fools. He and Zhujiu Yang are a perfect match, truly the 'Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick' of this netherworld.
The Judge secretly glanced at Chen Xiao, wondering if this kid would glean anything from his words.
But then he thought, so what if he did? Lord Yama King had already said that with Zhulong dead, nothing in this world could stop them.
With this thought, the Judge's face showed a smug expression again, and he said indifferently, "Lord Yama King, what if this fellow hears it? Can he conjure another Zhulong out of thin air?"
Yama King wished he could kick this idiot to death.
But this was a time when he needed people, and although the Judge lacked brains, his strength was not weak. He then dismissed the thought.
However, Chen Xiao had already found the Achilles' heel of this Ghost Cultivation lineage from the Judge's words.
He smiled inwardly, thinking how he would now control them.
"So, it seems I've really helped you out a lot. How do you plan to thank me?"
Chen Xiao asked, drawing out his words, as if Yama King would truly thank him.
"Jie jie jie..."
The Judge let out a sinister laugh, "We will naturally thank you properly. We will let you achieve eternal life in the flames of the eighteen levels of hell, jie jie jie..."
"I've helped you out so much, and this is how you plan to thank me?"
Chen Xiao feigned ignorance, "Ingratitude is the act of a shameless villain. And you, your Judge's Brush already belongs to me. Why aren't you handing it over quickly?"
"Hmph, you foolish boy, at death's door, you're still eyeing my magical artifact?"
The Judge clutched his Judge's Brush tightly, as if it would run away on its own.
Yama King pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Kid, you've helped us immensely. By rights, we should thank you properly. However, those who are not of our kind have different hearts. If you wish to receive this king's reward, you must first join the Ghost Cultivation lineage. How about it?"
"Ah? Lord Yama King, this kid cannot be spared! Keeping him, he, he..."
The Judge wanted to say, wouldn't he then take my Judge's Brush?
But he was afraid of giving Chen Xiao a hint, so the words caught in his throat, and he stammered.
Chen Xiao and Yama King simultaneously ignored the Judge. This fellow was mentally unwell; they had reached a preliminary consensus on this.
"What benefits will I gain from joining Ghost Cultivation?"
Chen Xiao asked languidly.
"Many benefits! Meng Po, you explain it to this kid!"
Yama King pointed at Meng Po.
In his opinion, Meng Po was the most eloquent in the netherworld. Entrusting this task to her was foolproof.
Furthermore, he genuinely wanted to recruit Chen Xiao, after all, he was a master capable of killing Zhulong.
And now, at a time when he needed capable individuals, bringing this kid under his wing would bring many advantages.
"Yes, my lord!"
Meng Po bowed, then looked at Chen Xiao, "Young man, there is one most obvious benefit to joining our Ghost Cultivation lineage, which you have likely already guessed."
"That is to possess boundless lifespan. In our netherworld, any ghost messenger you casually find is over three thousand years old!"
"In contrast, those cultivators, unless they ascend to immortality, which one can outlive us? As for martial artists, there's no need to even mention them; it would tarnish this old woman's mouth, pfft pfft!"
"Secondly, Ghost Cultivation primarily focuses on mental power. And from this old woman's observation, your mental power is also very strong. It's likely you also cultivate this path, so joining our Ghost Cultivation lineage is definitely the best choice for you!"
"Of course, besides the first two points, there is a third. Soon, our netherworld army will march into the human realm, and the devastation of living beings is already a foregone conclusion. As the saying goes, a wise bird chooses its tree. If you are a wise bird, you should cling tightly to our leg!"
"Otherwise, what awaits you will be the scattering of your soul and your complete annihilation."
"These are the benefits of joining our Ghost Cultivation lineage, young man. Have you thought about how you will choose?"
Meng Po's words were primarily enticement, mixed with some coercion.
Yama King nodded repeatedly as he listened. It truly was Meng Po. If the Judge had said it, he might have uttered some foolish words.
Chen Xiao remained unfazed and asked another question, "Where does the infinite lifespan possessed by your Ghost Cultivation lineage come from?"
"Haha, you wouldn't know about that!"
The Judge interjected, "We use human souls to cultivate ghost arts, absorbing the power of Yin souls. We are inherently beings of extreme Yin energy, so there is no concept of death!"
The Judge didn't want Meng Po to steal all the limelight, but unknowingly, he had once again revealed the core secret of the Ghost Cultivation lineage.
In plain terms, his words meant that Ghost Cultivators were inherently living dead, existing in a state between life and death, and thus, there was no concept of death for them. 138 Reading Network
"Judge, shut your mouth!"
Yama King was truly angered this time, his voice like thunder roaring above the Judge's head, making the Judge tremble violently, almost wetting himself.
The fact that Ghost Cultivators used souls for cultivation was a closely guarded secret.
And now, it had been revealed to this mortal by the Judge. Therefore, this mortal must either join the Ghost Cultivation lineage.
Or he must die, to eliminate all future troubles...