Inside Lu Pan's office in a side hall of the First Hall.
The air was filled with the cool scent characteristic of aged case files, mixed with the faint smell of pine smoke from grinding inkstones. Tall bookshelves lined the four walls, reaching the vaulted ceiling, densely packed with countless Jade Slips, bone books, and silk scrolls—all case files awaiting review, archiving, or already concluded, recording some of the Underworld's affairs, large and small, over ten thousand years. A Green Lamp Ghost Fire burned quietly on the desk, casting a steady, cold halo of light.
Lu Pan sat behind the large desk, facing a small mountain of case files. He held the dark gold Judge's Brush, its tip condensed with a spark of spiritual light, rapidly annotating a Jade Slip that recorded the merits and demerits of a Departed Soul during their life. His handwriting was bold and powerful, clear and imbued with a hint of awe-inspiring righteousness.
However, today his Mind could not fully concentrate. The arrogant face of Commander Zhao at the Naihe Bridge Head, the meaningful gaze of the Red-Haired Ghost King, and King Qinguang's heavy instruction to "endure for the greater good" repeatedly flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. The spiritual light at the tip of his brush occasionally showed a subtle, almost imperceptible hesitation.
"Sir, this is the review file concerning the 'Black Mountain Ghost General Embezzlement Case' from three days ago, synchronized just now from the Sin Mirror Platform," a young Ghost Clerk dressed in a green robe respectfully placed a Jade Slip emitting a faint white light on a corner of the desk.
Lu Pan looked up, rubbed his slightly throbbing brow, and asked, "Mm. Were there any anomalies?"
The Ghost Clerk hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "The review result is the same as the previous judgment; the evidence is conclusive. It's just... when I was verifying the list of key evidence, I found that a box of 'Hundred-Year Soul Essence,' which was one of the key pieces of evidence, was marked as 'Sealed' in the inventory record. However, during the routine inspection by the Patrol Division yesterday, that box was found to be... empty."
Lu Pan’s hand holding the brush paused slightly, and his gaze sharpened as he looked at the Ghost Clerk: "Empty? When was this discovered? Why report it only now?"
Feeling the pressure, the Ghost Clerk lowered his head further: "It was discovered at noon yesterday. The initial explanation from the Treasury was a recording error, suggesting it might not have actually been stored. But I cross-referenced the testimonies of the Ghost Officers who escorted it, along with the spiritual contract bearing the seal of the inventory official, and both clearly show that the box of Soul Essence was indeed delivered to Vault Number Seven in Section A. I felt something was amiss and dared not conceal it."
Lu Pan set down the Judge's Brush, leaned back slightly, and fell into thought. The Black Mountain Ghost General was once a commander guarding an important pass on the outskirts of Fengdu, subordinate to the Central Ghost Emperor. He was investigated for embezzling military supplies, and this case was personally tried by Lu Pan; with witnesses and material evidence complete, the verdict was finalized. That box of Hundred-Year Soul Essence, while valuable, was not core evidence relative to the Black Mountain Ghost General's crimes. Who would risk tampering with the Yama Hall's treasury for a box of non-core Soul Essence?
Was it remnants of the Black Mountain Ghost General's faction trying to destroy some evidence? Or... was someone trying to cover up something else? Or perhaps, was it simply a treasury clerk committing theft?
He vaguely felt that there was an unusual implication entangled behind this matter.
"I know about this," Lu Pan said gravely. "You did well. Do not make a sound about it for now. Secretly transfer copies of the relevant case files, testimonies, and spiritual contracts here to me."
"Yes, Sir!" The Ghost Clerk's spirits lifted, and he took his leave.
Lu Pan watched the Ghost Clerk depart, his gaze returning to the mountain of case files. The vast and complex machinery of the Underworld handled countless such matters daily; they seemed insignificant, but often, a tiny clue could lead to a massive, submerged iceberg.
He composed himself, picked up the Judge's Brush again, and decided to finish the urgent official duties at hand before thoroughly investigating the missing Soul Essence case.
Time quietly slipped away as he reviewed the files. The light of the Green Lamp Ghost Fire seemed constant, illuminating his focused and slightly weary profile.
After an unknown amount of time, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall. A Ghost Officer, wearing the dark uniform of a runner and bearing the token of the Express Dispatch Division, rushed in with an anxious expression.
"Lord Lu Pan! This is bad!"
Lu Pan looked up, recognizing the Ghost Officer who reported directly to the Express Dispatch Division, responsible for relaying urgent messages. "What is the cause for such alarm?"
"Reporting to you, Sir! We just received an urgent dispatch from the patrol captain at Solitary Delusion Peak! While patrolling near the Sunken Soul Abyss, they discovered a... a small-scale outbreak of an Underworld Fiend Lair! Baleful Qi is surging out, having already corrupted a ten-mile radius. Dozens of low-ranking Ghost Servants who were collecting 'Yin Condensing Grass' there are trapped, and the situation is critical!" The Ghost Officer spoke rapidly, indicating the urgency of the situation.
"An Underworld Fiend Lair outbreak?" Lu Pan shot up from his seat, his brow tightly furrowed.
An Underworld Fiend Lair is a place where extremely Yin and turbid Baleful Qi accumulates deep underground. Normally, it is stabilized by natural seals and Earth Vein suppression. Once it erupts, the pure Underworld Baleful Qi that spews out can corrode souls and pollute the environment, making it extremely troublesome. Solitary Delusion Peak is located on the outskirts of Fengdu, near the northern border. Although not a prosperous area, it is home to many low-level Ghost Servants and wandering souls who live and work there.
"Has the Express Dispatch Division sent anyone? Where is the Ghost General Stone Wall, who guards Solitary Delusion Peak?" Lu Pan asked quickly.
"The Express Dispatch Division has dispatched two nearby Yin Patrol Teams to provide Support. However... however, three days ago, Ghost General Stone Wall was summoned by the Northern Ghost Emperor to attend some 'Alliance Meeting' at the Northern Territory camp and has not yet returned! Solitary Delusion Peak is currently managed by a deputy general, whose strength is insufficient to suppress the Fiend Lair!" the Ghost Officer urgently reported.
Summoned by the Northern Ghost Emperor? An Alliance Meeting? Lu Pan's heart sank suddenly. The Northern Ghost Emperor's reach was extending further and further! He could casually summon a border general under the Central Ghost Emperor's jurisdiction away from his post?
He had no time to ponder now; rescuing the trapped Ghost Servants and suppressing the Fiend Lair was the immediate priority. The initial phase of an Underworld Fiend Lair outbreak is critical for control; if allowed to spread, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Prepare the carriage immediately! Muster one squad of the Soul Apprehension Guard directly under my Judge's Office, and we will depart for Solitary Delusion Peak at once!" Lu Pan commanded without hesitation. As a Judge, he had the authority to deploy his direct forces to handle emergencies under urgent circumstances.
"Yes, Sir!" The Ghost Officer acknowledged the order and rushed out.
Moments later, a bronze war chariot pulled by four Nether Horses whose bodies burned with ghostly blue flames, along with twenty disciplined Soul Apprehension Guards clad in uniform Soul Armor, assembled in the plaza outside the First Hall. Lu Pan had changed into a close-fitting Judge's robe suitable for action, the Judge's Brush strapped to his back, the Soul Whipping Rod at his waist, and boarded the chariot.
"Depart! Target, the Sunken Soul Abyss at Solitary Delusion Peak!" Lu Pan gave the order.
The Nether Horses neighed, clouds formed beneath their hooves, and they pulled the war chariot into the air, piercing the gloomy clouds above Fengdu. The twenty Soul Apprehension Guards followed like streaks of black light. The contingent sped like lightning toward Solitary Delusion Peak on the outskirts of Fengdu.
The war chariot passed through layers of Underworld Administration buildings and crossed the vast San Tu River. The scenery below gradually became Desolate. Jagged black mountains rose and fell unevenly, and the Yin Qi permeating the air grew more mixed and chaotic.
The closer they got to Solitary Delusion Peak, the heavier Lu Pan’s heart became. He could clearly sense a heart-palpitating wave of chaotic, violent Energy emanating from ahead. That was the unique aura of the Underworld Baleful Qi.
From afar, they could already see a massive, black abyss resembling a torn wound—the Sunken Soul Abyss. At this moment, on one side of the abyss, a thick column of grayish-black gas, like wolf smoke, was shooting into the sky, continuously spewing out dense Underworld Baleful Qi. The Space around the column was slightly distorted, and the corrupted vegetation and rocks had all turned to dust, leaving a scene of dead silence and barrenness.
Within the range permeated by the grayish-black Baleful Qi, faint lights could vaguely be seen flickering and struggling—those were the Soul Lights of the trapped Ghost Servants, rapidly dimming under the corrosion of the Baleful Qi.
The two Yin Patrol Teams that arrived earlier were struggling at the edge of the Baleful Qi, hastily setting up simple isolation Formation Arrays in an attempt to prevent further spread, but the effect was minimal. Their Soul Power was stretched thin against the pure Underworld Baleful Qi.
"Soul Apprehension Guard, heed my order! Form the Profound Fiend Locking Baleful Array to suppress the core of the Baleful Qi! Yin Patrol Teams, cooperate and expand outward to receive the trapped Ghost Servants!" Lu Pan stood on the war chariot, his voice carried far by his Soul Power, issuing clear instructions.
"Understood!"
The twenty Soul Apprehension Guards, highly trained, immediately dispersed, taking up specific positions, their uniform long spears pointed at the core from which the Baleful Qi erupted. Their Soul Power connected, and a massive net of dark blue light, shimmering with mysterious Runes, quickly took shape, enveloping the grayish-black column like a giant cover.
The light net contacted the Baleful Qi, immediately producing a sharp sizzling sound of intense corrosion, the light flickering unstably. Every Soul Apprehension Guard looked solemn, pouring their full Soul Power into stabilizing the Formation Array.
Lu Pan was not idle either. He leaped down, landing at the edge of the Baleful Qi. The Judge's Brush moved in the air like a dragon dancing among clouds, generating golden Baleful Sealing Runes out of thin air. These Runes shot toward the core of the Baleful Qi like moths to a flame, assisting the Profound Fiend Locking Baleful Array in its suppression. Simultaneously, his gaze was sharp as lightning as he scanned the area permeated by the Baleful Qi, searching for the precise locations of the trapped Ghost Servants.
"Southeast, thirty paces, five clusters of Soul Light!"
"To the west, near that large rock, there are three!"
He continuously pointed out the locations, and the Ghost Officers of the Yin Patrol Teams immediately rushed into the danger zone, risking corrosion from the Baleful Qi, to rescue those Ghost Servants whose Soul Bodies were already illusory and on the verge of dissipation.
The rescue work proceeded intensely. With the addition of Lu Pan and the Soul Apprehension Guard, the situation was finally stabilized preliminarily. The surge of the Baleful Qi was temporarily contained by the Profound Fiend Locking Baleful Array; although the lair opening could not be completely sealed, it at least stopped expanding.
Just as Lu Pan was fully focused on drawing a complex 'Soul Calming and Baleful Stabilizing Talisman,' his gaze inadvertently swept over the edge of the core opening where the Baleful Qi erupted. There, due to the array's suppression and the Qi's eruption, the exposed rock layer showed an abnormal dark red color, upon which there seemed to be... residual, extremely minute etchings that were not naturally formed?
His heart stirred, and he moved closer without showing it, focusing his vision to look closely.
They appeared to be fragments of incomplete Runes, severely eroded by the Baleful Qi! Their patterns were ancient and bizarre, completely different from any sealing Runes belonging to the Underworld factions he was familiar with; instead, they exuded a savage, violent aura. Furthermore, judging by the residual marks, these Runes... were not ancient, but had been carved recently!
Could it be that these Runes stimulated or detonated the normally stable Underworld Fiend Lair?
This thought flashed through Lu Pan's mind like lightning, causing a chill to break out on his back. If this was indeed man-made, what was the purpose? Merely to create Chaos? Or to draw away the guarding general of Solitary Delusion Peak to conceal another scheme? Or perhaps... to test a method capable of inciting the Earth Vein Baleful Qi?
He immediately thought of the generals under the Northern Ghost Emperor who specialized in various strange and malevolent Cultivation Methods. Could it be...
"Sir! The Baleful Qi is temporarily suppressed! All trapped Ghost Servants have been rescued, but seven Ghost Servants suffered severe Soul Body damage, I fear..." A captain of the Soul Apprehension Guard came forward to report, interrupting Lu Pan's thoughts.
Lu Pan suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and nodded calmly: "I understand. Settle the injured properly. Leave two squads here in rotation to guard this place, monitor the Fiend Lair's activity, and await the arrival of the 'Baleful Cleansing Division' which specializes in handling Baleful Qi. The rest will return to Fengdu with me."
He took one last deep look at the dark red rock layer and the residual bizarre Runes, engraving every detail firmly in his mind.
On the journey back to Fengdu, Lu Pan sat silently in the jolting war chariot. The outbreak of the Underworld Fiend Lair at Solitary Delusion Peak, the missing Soul Essence in the Black Mountain Ghost General Case, the arrogance of the Profound Fiend Ghost Guards at the Naihe Bridge Head, the frequent movements of the Northern Ghost Emperor... these seemingly isolated incidents gradually connected in his mind, sketching out a vague yet unsettling large net.
He felt as if he were standing on the edge of a massive Vortex, and beneath the Vortex lay an unfathomable darkness. An invisible hand was stirring up trouble in the shadows, with its target aimed directly at the fundamental Order of Fengdu.
He had to do something. He could no longer passively wait and endure.
Upon returning to the Judge's Office, he dismissed his subordinates and sat alone at his desk. The light of the Green Lamp Ghost Fire illuminated his resolute profile. He took out a blank Jade Slip and used his Divine Sense to meticulously copy the exact form of those bizarre Runes he had seen at Solitary Delusion Peak.
Then, he picked up the Judge's Brush and lightly tapped this Jade Slip recording the suspicious Runes, leaving behind a miniature Imprint perceptible only to a specific person.
He needed to ascertain the origin and purpose of these Runes. And within the Underworld, regarding knowledge of ancient secrets and forbidden Talismans, there was one person who might be able to give him the answer.