The aftermath of the attack on the Well of Reincarnation spread through Fengdu like a plague. The Ghost City, usually somewhat orderly, was now enveloped in anxiety. Various departmental halls reinforced their guards, the number of patrolling Ghost Officers doubled, and they scanned every suspicious figure with vigilant eyes. The path leading to the Reincarnation Department was completely sealed off, and an invisible tension permeated the air.
Lu Pan knew well that while the official investigation was grand in scale, it involved too many parties and constraints, meaning it might not quickly reach the core. And he could not afford to wait. That mysterious "Gear" Mark, coiled in his heart like a venomous snake, needed its meaning clarified as soon as possible.
Night once again became the best cover. Remnant Soul Alley, this lawless place, seemed even more "active" under Fengdu's overall oppressive atmosphere. All sorts of unsavory transactions and the Flow of information accelerated in the shadows.
Lu Pan was still wearing the same gray Cloak, silently arriving once more before that dilapidated shop. The Old Ghost behind the counter, the green fire in his eye sockets flickered once, seemingly recognizing him. He said nothing, merely nodding toward the curtain of the back door again.
In the cramped back room, You Ying remained shrouded in his black robe, as if he had never left.
"You have a great life," You Ying's androgynous voice sounded, carrying a trace of undetectable probing. Clearly, the news that the Shadow Fiend Guard's assassination attempt had failed had already spread to a certain level.
Lu Pan did not reply, directly placing the Jade Slip, which imitated the "Gear" Mark, and a small piece of cloth fragment taken from the hem of the self-detonated Shadow Fiend Guard's clothing—a fragment bearing a blurry Imprint—onto the table.
"Investigate the origin of this Mark. And its connection to the Northern Ghost Emperor's subordinates, especially within the Shadow Fiend Guard," Lu Pan’s voice sounded somewhat muffled through the Cloak.
You Ying picked up the Jade Slip and the cloth scrap, sensing them carefully for a moment. This time, his silence lasted longer, and the body beneath the black robe seemed to sit up slightly straighter.
"This Mark... is very dangerous," You Ying's voice carried a distinct gravity for the first time. "It does not belong to any faction recorded on the surface. I can only tell you that it represents a secret organization called the Netherworld Workshop."
"Netherworld Workshop?" Lu Pan frowned deeply; he had never heard this name before.
"A name that only exists in the shadows," You Ying said slowly. "It is rumored that they gather exiled and wanted artifact refiners, Formation Masters, and scholars studying forbidden knowledge from the Underworld and even the Three Realms. They are not affiliated with any single power, recognizing only money, or... equivalent knowledge and resources. They specialize in undertaking all manner of unsavory 'custom' tasks, from refining special Magical Artifacts and forbidden Talismans, to 'technical' destruction plans targeting specific Earth Veins, or even large-scale Restriction Seals."
Lu Pan's heart shook violently! A secret organization specializing in forbidden knowledge and destruction techniques! The reappearance of the Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern, the detonation of the Underworld Fiend Lair, and even the specific impact suffered by the barrier of the Well of Reincarnation... all of this seemed connectable to this "Netherworld Workshop"! They were the "henchmen" providing the technology and means!
"Who can contact them? Where are their strongholds?" Lu Pan asked urgently.
"I don't know," You Ying replied crisply. "The 'Workshop' is extremely mysterious; contact methods change unpredictably, and their strongholds are unknown to anyone. Perhaps only clients they approach know how to reach them. This Gear Mark is a token they leave for 'partners,' and also a kind of... warning."
A warning? Lu Pan looked at the cold Gear pattern; indeed, it gave off a feeling of precision, ruthlessness, and willingness to use any means to achieve its goals.
"As for its connection to the Northern Ghost Emperor's subordinates..." You Ying paused. "There is no direct evidence linking the Northern Ghost Emperor himself to the Workshop. However, over the past thirty years, the equipment of the Northern Border Army, especially the Shadow Fiend Guard and certain departments responsible for special missions, has been updated extremely rapidly, often incorporating... strange and powerful new technologies that are not orthodox to the Underworld. The outside world generally believes that Your Majesty Yong Li possesses his own secret research capabilities. But now it seems that some of that 'technical support' might have originated from here."
You Ying's words were like puzzle pieces, connecting many clues. The Northern Ghost Emperor was cooperating with a mysterious organization like the "Netherworld Workshop" to acquire forbidden technology and equipment, enhancing his own strength, while simultaneously using the Workshop to carry out secret destructive missions he couldn't handle directly—such as detonating the fiend lair at Solitary Delusion Peak and framing the Central Ghost Emperor's subordinate generals for incompetence, or perhaps... attacking the Well of Reincarnation to create Chaos and distract the Ten Halls!
What a scheme of using a borrowed knife to kill! What precise calculation!
"Regarding the 'Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern' and the residual aura from the Well of Reincarnation attack, do you have more information?" Lu Pan took the trace of the strange aura from the Well of Reincarnation scene, which he had captured in his sleeve, sealed it in a small jade vial, and pushed it over.
You Ying took the jade vial and sensed it; the body beneath the black robe seemed to tremble slightly.
"Moon Erosion Power... and it's been 'modified' and 'strengthened' Moon Erosion Power!" His voice held disbelief. "Those madmen at the 'Workshop'... they are actually trying to replicate and transform this forbidden power! The attack on the Well of Reincarnation... they used some kind of Boundary-Breaking Cone developed based on Moon Erosion Power! No wonder they could shake the barrier set up by the Great Emperor!"
Modified Moon Erosion Power! Boundary-Breaking Cone!
The technical capabilities of the mastermind were far beyond imagination!
"One last question," Lu Pan stared at You Ying's black robe, as if trying to see his true face. "The 'Netherworld Workshop'... what is their ultimate goal? Is it merely for resources and knowledge?"
You Ying was silent for a long time, so long that Lu Pan thought he wouldn't answer. Just as Lu Pan was about to give up, You Ying spoke in an extremely low voice, as if afraid of being overheard by some Existence:
"There is a rumor... the Workshop's ultimate goal is not to serve any specific Existence. What they pursue is 'Truth,' the 'ultimate knowledge' that breaks all existing rules and restraints. They view the Order established by the Great Emperor of Fengdu as shackles, believing the Reincarnation System is a confinement of the Soul's freedom... They are... 'Law Breakers' who pursue 'Chaos' and 'Disorder'."
Law Breakers! Subverting Order!
Lu Pan gasped. If what You Ying said was true, the danger posed by this "Netherworld Workshop" might even surpass the Northern Ghost Emperor's struggle for power! The Northern Ghost Emperor only wanted to replace the current ruler, but the Workshop wanted to completely destroy the entire existing world rule!
Carrying information so heavy it almost suffocated him, Lu Pan left Remnant Soul Alley. The night sky after the Nether Sun disappeared was still dim, but he felt that the fog before him seemed to have cleared slightly, revealing a deeper and more terrifying abyss.
He must immediately transmit this intelligence to King Qinguang in the safest manner! At the same time, he also needed to start investigating this elusive "Netherworld Workshop"!