The innkeeper's smile froze on his face, then quickly returned to normal.
"As everyone knows, only living ghost cultivators and Lord Ghost King can travel between the Ghost Realm and the mortal world! If you wish to return to the mortal world, you must defeat the Ghost King and become the new Ghost King, or cultivate anew, discard all your spiritual energy, and re-cultivate the Ghost Path! Then, you will need to reshape your physical body before you can return to the cultivation world."
The two spoke at no small volume, yet none of the surrounding ghosts showed any surprise, implying these were public knowledge.
"Overestimating yourself! I advise you to give up this idea obediently. You are not the only ghost who wants to return to the mortal world, nor the only one who wants to become the Ghost King. To re-cultivate the Ghost Path to a realm where you can travel between worlds will likely take centuries. Even if you succeed then, the people and things you care about will have long since vanished..."
Perhaps sensing Jin Bao'er's rare and potent spiritual energy, the old man in the corner finally spoke, his tone laced with disdain.
"Haha... You old geezer have been dead for centuries, and you still love to meddle!"
"If she's not afraid of death, let her be. At worst, she'll be scattered into soul dust by the Ghost King! Haha!"
An overwhelming wave of malice washed over Jin Bao'er, but she looked at the old man and approached him, her voice firm.
"Senior, do you know the Ghost King's cultivation level? I have something I must do, and I must return to the mortal world!"
Even though she had lost her memory, the hatred etched into her soul remained. She knew she had to go back! As for what would happen to her then, she didn't care!
Besides, she seemed to have promised someone she would help them find something. This promise was important, and she had to return.
Seeing her humbly asking a beggar for information, everyone burst into laughter, as if they had seen something utterly bizarre.
"Haha! You're a strong cultivator with some skill, yet your eyesight is terrible! You actually seek guidance from a useless beggar! This is utterly laughable! Haha."
"Hahahaha!"
The surrounding boisterous laughter did not deter her. Her brow furrowed in displeasure, and she cast a cold glance at the crowd. The oppressive aura of the Nascent Soul stage surged forth, crushing several of them to the ground, leaving them struggling for breath!
"Noisy!"
This display of pressure made the onlookers, who had not yet had time to mock her, choke back their words. They stood stunned. Everything that had happened at the city gates had led them to believe this woman was only at the Golden Core stage, and her saving so many people was merely a fluke.
However, this steady and potent Nascent Soul pressure now filled them with horror! Where did this old monster come from? She was pretending to be a young girl, making them misunderstand! They had been tricked!
The old man on the ground also sensed the unusually powerful force. His cloudy eyes snapped open, and a flicker of astonishment crossed his face as he saw Jin Bao'er. His voice was laced with shock.
"You... are under twenty?"
His cryptic words made everyone look up in astonishment again! The man currently pinned to the ground by the pressure roared in disbelief.
"Old... old beggar, are you crazy! Under twenty? Have you become senile from old age!"
However, the old man's gaze remained fixed on Jin Bao'er, as if awaiting her reply.
Jin Bao'er was somewhat accustomed to this. After all, she had encountered such situations many times in the cultivation world!
"I am seventeen this year..."
"Seventeen?!"
As soon as she spoke, gasps of shock echoed throughout the inn! The people on the ground were completely stunned...
The old man became even more emotional, standing up abruptly, tears welling in his eyes.
"It's you! You've been found! Such a person truly exists in this world! Haha! Wonderful!"
Sensing the old man's excitement and the complex, astonished expressions of the surrounding people, Jin Bao'er also felt confused.
"Senior, you still haven't answered my question."
The old man, hearing her, gradually calmed down from his surprise, his joy undiminished. He beckoned Jin Bao'er upstairs to discuss further.
He left the other ghosts with complicated expressions.
A moment later, they arrived at Jin Bao'er's room. The old man specifically set up a formation and his expression became serious.
"The Ghost King's cultivation is... currently mid-stage Out-of-Body. Their strength is formidable. This Ghost Realm has four great cities..."
Before Jin Bao'er could speak, the old man proactively explained the current state of the Ghost Realm.
The Ghost Realm is the destination for the deceased from the cultivation world and other continents. At some unknown time, it was divided into four regions. The city they were in, Wuwang City, was governed by Ghost King Sa Leng. Sa Leng himself was extremely bloodthirsty, monopolizing the largest Ghost Crystal mine in the Ghost Realm and enjoying the consumption of ghost cultivators' souls to strengthen himself. This caused widespread fear throughout the Ghost Realm, with people afraid of being targeted by Ghost King Sa Leng if their cultivation became too high.
Not only that! To intimidate other regions, the Ghost King constantly instigated provocations, using his formidable strength to seize resources from other regions, causing immense suffering in the Ghost Realm.
"If that's the case, why not unite with the other three Ghost Kings to defeat Sa Leng together?"
As soon as she spoke, the old man's expression changed drastically. He quickly glanced outside the formation, ensuring no one was present, before saying.
"Although everyone wants to eliminate the Ghost King, asking so openly like this might attract eavesdroppers! Alas... a united front is impossible. These four Ghost Kings have disliked each other for a long time. It would be a miracle if they didn't fight, let alone join forces."
Jin Bao'er nodded, her expression solemn.
"I understand. But why are you so certain I can defeat Ghost King Sa Leng?"
The old man smiled at her words, his eyes filled with adoration and reverence.
"Long ago, a prophet of great divine power left us a sliver of hope! He said: 'White light will bring the purest of strong individuals to the Ghost Realm, utterly destroying the darkness!'"
Jin Bao'er: This sounds full of chuunibyou and arrogance, with no other flaws! The old man actually believes it?!
After listening, Jin Bao'er lowered her gaze slightly, a mocking smile slowly curving her lips.
"Senior has likely mistaken me... I can hardly be called pure. And this so-called strong individual... Hmph! How can a strong individual be killed and end up in the Ghost Realm!"
Not to mention destroying darkness! She herself was reborn from despair and hatred. How could someone stained by darkness destroy darkness...
Thinking of this, she suddenly stiffened! Rebirth? Fragments quickly flashed in her mind, emotions of hatred, unwillingness, anger, and despair surged into her heart!
Her beautiful face contorted, and the surging killing intent made her tremble uncontrollably! She remembered everything! She was forced to death by Lou Yun, self-detonating her Golden Core! That voice allowed her to be reborn...
And then? What happened then?
The astonishing hatred and killing intent startled the old man, making him turn pale. He stumbled back several steps... Jin Bao'er, however, turned around, forcing herself to calm down, her breathing ragged.
"I understand. Thank you, senior! I need some time to think."