Volume Eight: Judgment of Hell Chapter Nine: Night on Star Island

Atop the mountain summit of Star Island, the altar stood silent and foreboding. Eight members of the Ghost Sect sat cross-legged at the eight cardinal points of the altar, each immersed in deep concentration. In the center of the ritual platform, a barely breathing man was placed, his eyes closed and utterly unresponsive. The eight continued to chant their incantations, and countless vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts dissolved into wisps of black smoke, vanishing into the man's body. He showed no sign of awareness, as though he were long past feeling.

With the persistent cadence of the chanting, the man slowly rose to his feet, and the eight stood with him. The ritual continued. Each reached within their robes and withdrew a black pearl. As the incantations intensified, the pearls began to spin in midair, and from each pearl a beam of dark light shot into the man at the center of the altar. Suddenly, he let out an earth-shattering roar, the sound reverberating across all of Star Island.

"Not good! The demon is about to take form. When the demon is complete, the Eight Torments and Seven Stars Array will activate," Chen Haixu exclaimed in alarm. "We can't wait any longer, Revered One. If the Eight Torments Seven Stars Array starts, it'll be too late."

"No more waiting. Attack," Yaoguang commanded. Ghost Elder was the first to rush forward, knocking the guards at the door to the ground before they could react.

Ghost Elder moved like the wind, charging along the only path, and the guards stationed every five steps felt a gust sweep past before collapsing. Yet, the Ghost Sect was not to be underestimated; their response was swift. Soon, a dozen sect members surrounded Ghost Elder. Yaoguang arrived at the scene, wielding a long whip that knocked down one adversary with a single strike. Another attack sent a would-be assailant sprawling behind Ghost Elder.

"Phoenix, take your people in first. Leave this to me," Xuancheng had reached the front lines.

Yaoguang nodded, leading Ghost Elder deeper into the stronghold. Her whip danced through the air, infused with spiritual power, impossible to withstand. Those who rushed forward fell in various postures, defeated.

"Where's your Orchid Sword?" Ghost Elder asked amidst the skirmish.

"These outer guards are mere mortals. I can't harm them," Yaoguang replied.

"I'm not telling you to hurt them—use it to strike the main gate. There's a barrier on the door, it's hard to break," Ghost Elder clarified.

"No problem." With those words, Yaoguang reached the end of the passage. She soared upward, her Orchid Sword blazing with radiant light, and brought it down with a sweeping motion. With a thunderous crash, the gate collapsed.

"Senior, your sect's barrier isn't very sturdy," Yaoguang teased.

"That's because you're wielding an ancient divine sword. Anything beneath it is like tofu," Ghost Elder replied, speechless. As he spoke, he threw an attacker over his shoulder, eliciting a scream from the Ghost Sect member who had tried to ambush him.

But as the gate fell, Yaoguang saw dozens of massive creatures flying out.

"Revered One, be careful! Hell Blood Bats!" Chen Haixu's voice cried out in terror from behind. "Don't let them bite you. Their bodies contain a paralytic toxin—once bitten, death is certain!"

Yaoguang immediately led her spirit beasts into the air to battle the Hell Blood Bats, but these bats were cunning, never engaging directly and always seeking an opening to attack. As Yaoguang knocked one bat aside, she saw another silently approaching Jiang Yun from behind—its mouth opened to reveal two-inch fangs, glinting like steel needles.

Yaoguang lashed out with her whip, sending the bat flying, but a moment later another appeared behind Huo Mingkun. Yaoguang reached out, but was too late—just as she was about to shout, a fiery talisman shot toward the bat, setting it ablaze. Huo Mingkun staggered back several steps in fright. Yaoguang turned to see that the talisman had come from Chen Haixu, perched on the back of the male immortal.

"Revered One, Hell Blood Bats fear fire," Chen Haixu continued, launching more talismans.

Yaoguang nodded, her fingers forming seals in rapid succession as she chanted, "Burn." A beam of light shot from her fingers, striking a blood bat and igniting it instantly. Everyone followed Yaoguang's method, and soon the area was filled with golden beams—each one sent a bat crashing down in flames, like a meteor shower. Yaoguang moved toward the gate.

She was about to enter when Chen Haixu stopped her. "Revered One, wait. The magnetic field inside is off."

"Did you discover something?" Yaoguang halted.

"Soul-Eater Flowers. There's pollen in the air—if inhaled, it will ensnare you. The people inside have likely taken the antidote and aren't afraid, but we haven't," Chen Haixu explained.

"What can be done about it?" Yaoguang asked.

"Water. Can you summon the White Dragon Immortal? He'll know what to do," Chen Haixu said with a sly smile.

"No problem." Yaoguang called out across space, and soon the White Dragon appeared. "Divine Lord, what are your instructions?"

"Ask him," Yaoguang gestured to Chen Haixu, grinning mischievously from the male immortal's back.

"White Dragon Immortal, please bring a torrent of water into this cave. A flood—enough to flush everything out," Chen Haixu said.

"A flood? What's your plan?" White Dragon looked puzzled.

Yaoguang quickly sent word to her allies inside to avoid friendly fire, but their replies were all confusion: "What new trick is this?!"

"Just do it. It'll be brilliant—bloodless victory. Revered One, prepare yourself. Whatever comes rushing out, strike it fast," Chen Haixu advised.

"Alright, I'll trust you." White Dragon shook his head, gathering spiritual energy in his hands. In an instant, seawater surged from all sides, pouring fiercely into the gate.

"What are you doing?" Ghost Elder and the others approached. Yaoguang glanced back; the guards had already been subdued and taken away by the Celestial Sword police.

"I don't know. I'd like to know what this child is up to," Yaoguang shook her head in exasperation.

"Revered One, ascend!" Chen Haixu called. Yaoguang reacted, spiritual energy lifting everyone into the air just as water exploded from the gate, sweeping out a dozen people who tumbled chaotically in the flood.

White Dragon withdrew his power and rose into the air. The flood carried Ghost Sect members out from within, most of them struggling to grasp anything, but the torrent was unstoppable. Yaoguang watched as they were swept far away, some landing right at the feet of the Celestial Sword support squad outside. The squad stared in shock at the battered, drenched people spilling out—what was happening inside, a flood? The first to stagger up tried to attack, only to be struck down by a talisman from Chen Haixu, unable to get up.

Next came the sound of Chen Haixu swearing: "Damn you all, tormenting me for years! Now that I live, you think I'll let you off? Did you really believe I endured your tricks for nothing? I've been secretly studying you all along. I'll cripple your spiritual power—let's see if you're still arrogant." As he spoke, talismans flew from his hands, pinning every one of those swept out by the flood—they had no chance, all felled by his magic. "Ha ha ha, that was satisfying," Chen Haixu laughed triumphantly.

Yaoguang and the others stared in astonishment—what manner of sorcery was this?

The water receded, and Yaoguang led everyone back to the ground.

"Immortal, please move forward a bit. Thank you," Chen Haixu set aside his earlier bravado, respectfully addressing the male immortal, who nodded and stepped forward. Chen Haixu sent a stream of spiritual energy inside, closed his eyes for a moment, and then turned to Yaoguang. "Revered One, the pollen is gone. The Soul-Eater Flower array is broken; we can enter."

"Good." Yaoguang gathered herself, preparing to lead everyone inside when a voice echoed from within: "Who dares trespass upon the sacred ground of the Ghost Sect?" A man in black robes emerged, standing by the door, glaring at Yaoguang and her companions.

"Sacred ground, my foot. You're better off in the latrine," Chen Haixu retorted immediately.

The black-robed man recognized Chen Haixu and was stunned, then sneered, "So, you little bastard, you're still alive. You dare return here?"

"You're the bastard. Your whole family, eight generations back, eight hundred generations, nothing but mutts—and not just mutts, but mangy ones," Chen Haixu snapped. "Why shouldn't I return? I'm here to take your life. You, a defeated wretch, dare to bluster in front of me? Shameless!"

"How dare you?" The black-robed man's fury was palpable.

“What, you want to fart? Go ahead, you’ve done plenty,” Chen Haixu replied with a smirk.

“You scoundrel!” the man snarled.

“You’re not just a scoundrel, you’re an egg—roll away, and we’ll clear a path. Roll nicely, or you won’t look like an egg at all,” Chen Haixu countered.

Behind him, Jiang Yun couldn’t suppress her laughter. Huo Mingkun burst out laughing as well. Yaoguang shook her head, smiling at Ghost Elder, "Did you know Haixu was such a character?"

"Sorry, I just found out myself," Ghost Elder replied, barely holding back his amusement.

"Hmph, you should have stayed dead. Now that you’ve returned, you won’t leave alive," the black-robed man growled, his anger boiling over.

"Ghost Ling, I gave you face. I came today to demand justice from the Ghost Sect—you killed my parents, tormented me, but heaven let me survive so you will pay in blood," Chen Haixu said, all joking aside.

"You? You’re not worthy," Ghost Ling sneered.

"If he's not, am I?" Ghost Elder stepped forward, standing before Ghost Ling.

"You—Ancestor?!" Ghost Ling stared in disbelief.

"Rare that you recognize me. But don’t call me ancestor—I, Ghost Elder, have no such degenerate disciples. I’m here to demand justice as well," Ghost Elder said sternly.

"Ancestor, you came for..." Ghost Ling hadn’t finished when he was sent flying, crashing to the ground. No one saw Ghost Elder make his move.

"Ghost Qing was always a chatterbox, and his followers even more so. Why else would I come? To fight, obviously. Enough nonsense," Ghost Elder said, hands clasped behind his back, leading the way inside.

Yaoguang glanced at Xuancheng, laughing wordlessly—Ghost Elder and Chen Haixu were truly cut from the same cloth, their manner of speaking remarkably alike. Yaoguang instructed Xuancheng and Tianyou to remain outside, one guarding the entrance, the other the exit, while she led the immortals inside.

The cave was vast, now in utter disarray after the flood. Ghost Elder entered and struck Ghost Ling’s crown with a beam of spiritual power, crippling his cultivation. "Haixu, do you know the way to the altar?"

"Ancestor, I do." Chen Haixu pointed to the wall opposite the hall, "The entrance is there, but I don’t know how to open it."

"That’s fine. These things are child's play for me," Ghost Elder replied. He approached, formed a seal, and spoke, "All ghosts return, Ghost Gate opens—open!" As his words fell, light from his fingers struck the door, which slowly opened.

Ghost Elder stepped onto the stairs within. Yaoguang signaled to the group, and they ascended as well. "Kun, Yun, guard the exit," she said, then led the immortals up.

The staircase led directly to the altar. As they reached the top, a voice called out, "Ghost Ling, what took you so long?" The speaker turned, startled. "Who are you?"

"Well, Ghost Qing, has ten years made you forget me?" Yaoguang felt sick at the sight of his face.

"Phoenix, so it's you. Persistent as ever," Ghost Qing sneered, then spotted the male immortal and Chen Haixu. "Oh, you're still alive? How did it feel to be dismembered, little bastard? Still not dead?"

The male immortal paled, and Chen Haixu ground his teeth in anger. Yaoguang reached out to steady him, but before she could speak, Ghost Elder roared, "Hmph, wretch!"

Ghost Qing saw Ghost Elder and was taken aback. "Ancestor?!"

"Wretch, you dare call me that?" Ghost Elder raged.

"Why not? You’re the Ghost Sect’s founder," Ghost Qing replied, quickly regaining his repulsive composure. "Ancestor, you’ve returned at the perfect moment—the demon is complete."

"Wretch," Ghost Elder spat, sending a beam of spiritual power. Ghost Qing dodged.

Suddenly, the figure atop the altar emitted a furious roar, as if from the depths of hell.

"Not good! The demon is born, the array is activating. Stop him!" Chen Haixu cried.

At once, Yaoguang’s immortals attacked, but their spiritual power struck the demon like cotton—ineffective.

Ghost Elder’s attack was repelled, and the demon roared again, shaking the earth.

"Ha ha ha! You can't kill him. The demon under the Eighth Torment and Five Aggregates is invulnerable," Ghost Qing laughed.

The eight gathered around Ghost Qing, protecting him.

Yaoguang soared upward, her Orchid Sword shining with golden light, and struck down.

Clang! The sword struck the demon, producing a sound like steel upon steel. Phoenix was shocked—the demon was unafraid of the divine sword.

The immortals’ attacks were futile.

"Revered One, you must break his invulnerability. Then I can act," Chen Haixu said.

Yaoguang nodded, sending a beam of spiritual energy into the sky, where a firework exploded.

At that moment, chanting echoed from all directions of Star Island. Ghost Qing looked around in surprise.

Beams of spiritual power rose from every corner of the island, forming a massive formation in the sky that enveloped the altar. Yaoguang’s immortals came from every direction, launching coordinated attacks on the demon.

Ghost Qing and his followers sat cross-legged, chanting incessantly. Black mist radiated from the demon, and every strand became a fierce ghost upon touching the ground. Countless ghosts appeared, attacking the formation.

Ghost Elder glanced at Yaoguang; the two stood side by side, right feet raised, executing the steps of Heaven's Mandate. This time, Yaoguang was calm and measured—her power had grown since the underground palace, and Ghost Elder's skill was on par with Daoist Guishan. Their combined execution of Heaven's Mandate Step was flawless.

The fierce ghosts continued their assault, while poisonous insects poured from the demon, attacking the surrounding immortals.

The Golden Silkworm King emerged from Yaoguang's body, undeterred by the pressure from Heaven's Mandate Step, delighted at the feast of poisonous bugs, devouring with abandon.

Ghost Qing persisted in chanting, but Yaoguang calmly continued the steps. The stars of Heaven’s Pivot, Heaven’s Jade, Heaven’s Axis, Heaven’s Authority, and Jade Balance lit up one by one. When the Star of Opening Sun appeared, Ghost Elder trembled, but Yaoguang steadied him, her own star shining. The immense pressure bore down, but the two pressed on, stepping through the formation. As Ghost Elder neared his limit, the North Star finally shone. Both sat cross-legged, fingers weaving seals, chanting constantly. Layers of black clouds rolled in from the horizon.

Thunder rumbled, lightning crackled in the sky. Yaoguang finished her incantation.

A bolt of lightning crashed down. Yaoguang and Ghost Elder simultaneously guided it toward the demon. The demon staggered, continuing to emit dark mist—more fierce ghosts appeared, the formation weakening.

A second bolt struck. Yaoguang and Ghost Elder drew down lightning again, and torrential rain poured from the sky. The demon remained unmoved. The formation grew thin—the demon’s corrupted ghosts were powerful. With the ninth bolt, a white shadow streaked across the sky and landed behind Yaoguang and Ghost Elder, followed by a dozen white shadows. They landed and began the ritual steps in unison.

It was Daoist Guishan, leading a group of priests. Thunder crashed as Yaoguang and Ghost Elder summoned another bolt.

Guishan and his followers completed their steps, chanting rose up, and a purple lightning bolt descended from the heavens.

White Dragon led his water tribe, bursting from the water, sending pillars of spiritual water at the demon.

The demon roared, but Chen Haixu noticed cracks appearing on its body. At that moment, a golden light shot from Chen Haixu’s hand—the Spirit-Fixing Nail he had carried all this way flew like a sword, piercing the demon.

The demon howled in rage as another bolt of lightning struck. Cracks widened, Ghost Qing’s chanting accelerated.

Then, an astonishing scene unfolded—the ghosts unleashed by the demon ceased attacking the formation and instead turned upon the demon, assaulting it wildly. Lightning continued to fall. Under the combined assault, the demon began to falter.

“How can this be?!” Ghost Qing was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend why the summoned ghosts suddenly attacked the demon.

“Now, little one,” Daoist Guishan called from behind. Yaoguang glanced at Ghost Elder, seized the moment, and flew upward. With a rush, Phoenix’s golden wings unfurled, revealing her true form. Amidst the torrential rain, her golden radiance illuminated all of Star Island. Yaoguang raised the Orchid Sword, gathering brilliant golden light, and slashed fiercely at the demon.

The demon roared, something within it shattering. Yaoguang pointed her sword again, sending a beam of light that set the demon ablaze in the downpour. As she watched the burning demon, Ghost Qing went mad, turning to glare at Chen Haixu.

“It’s all your fault…” In a flash, Ghost Qing rushed forward, yanking Chen Haixu from the male immortal’s back and hurling him into the falling lightning. The moment happened too quickly for anyone to react—a bolt struck Chen Haixu.

“Haixu!” Yaoguang saw blood spray from Chen Haixu.

“Phoenix, I’ll guide the lightning. You defend him and help Haixu weather the tribulation—it’s the only way to save him,” Ghost Elder called.

Yaoguang nodded, darting above Chen Haixu. Ghost Elder chanted, summoning lightning again. Yaoguang drew on her spiritual power to shield him—one strike, two, three...

“Revered One...” Chen Haixu gazed up at Yaoguang, her wings spread wide against the storm, her golden cloak billowing. He murmured, “Sister.”

That single word shattered Yaoguang’s heart. The lightning continued—eleven, twelve bolts. Yaoguang spat blood, her body trembling as she turned to glare at Ghost Qing, her eyes blazing with wrath.

“Courting death!” Yaoguang roared, her phoenix wings flaring, sending streams of golden light that struck Ghost Qing and his eight followers, hurling them to the ground amid splashes of blood. She readied another attack when a clear voice sounded behind her: “Sister.”

Phoenix turned to see Chen Haixu, once near death, now wrapped in white light, rising into the air. The bandages had fallen away, his once tattered clothes transformed, and the blood vanished.

“Sister,” Chen Haixu hovered before Yaoguang.

“Haixu,” Yaoguang wept.

“Sister, don’t cry,” Chen Haixu smiled, his warmth shining like sunlight to Yaoguang.

On the ground, the demon was nearly consumed by flames. Yaoguang looked down, then struck the earth with her Orchid Sword, utterly destroying the demon’s remains. Her fury split the ground, and a Blood Jade Ghost Spirit flew out of the fissure. Yaoguang caught it, then turned to the fallen Ghost Qing.

“Ghost Qing, I want you to watch as I destroy everything you care about.” With that, Yaoguang crushed the Blood Jade in her hand.

“No…” Ghost Qing screamed.

Yaoguang soared upward, chanting sacred verses. Beams of golden light struck the fading array atop the ritual platform. The fierce ghosts ceased their attack and cries, standing silently as the waves of light washed over them, their eyes filled with longing. Yaoguang’s chanting quickened, and among the ghosts, everyone saw the souls trapped in each node of the Eight Torments Soul-Locking Array.

“By my divinity, I guide your souls; by my divinity, I grant you pardon—break!” As Yaoguang’s words fell, the array shattered, and countless vengeful spirits transformed into points of light, ascending to the heavens.

“Thank you...” The voices from the void shattered all of Ghost Qing’s hopes.

“No…” Ghost Qing howled.

“Ghost Qing, mortal judgment awaits you, and I’ll be waiting in the Netherworld. Soul extraction is quite an experience,” Yaoguang stated coldly as she landed on the platform, watching Ghost Qing’s despair with a chilling smile.

Xuancheng and the others were summoned inside; Ghost Qing and his eight followers were dragged away like broken clay.

“Phoenix, don’t get cocky. The Ghost Sect will rise again,” Ghost Qing shouted as he was taken.

“Ghost Qing, remember—my presence will forever be your nightmare,” Yaoguang’s voice echoed in Ghost Qing’s ears. He no longer resisted, limp as a dead fish.

“Revered One, I fear this isn’t over. When I was half-dead, a black-robed man came to see Ghost Qing—he’s darker than Ghost Qing, but he’s not here today,” Chen Haixu said.

“Don’t worry, Haixu. We’ve dealt a severe blow to the Ghost Sect and sent a warning. They won’t act soon, but your concerns are valid—the investigation won’t stop,” Phoenix reassured him, then turned to the others in confusion. “Did we set up a barrier at the start of the battle?”

Everyone looked at each other, then shook their heads in bewilderment.

“Oh no… This is a mess,” Yaoguang groaned, quickly dispelling the formation and clearing the clouds, then leaping skyward.

Fireworks exploded across the sky, illuminating the heavens above Star Island.

“Well, that’s one way to handle it,” Ghost Elder laughed heartily.

“Haha!” Guishan joined in, laughter echoing across the island.