Chapter One: The Uninvited Guest

Summary:
Freedom is inherently incomplete, for every kind of liberty has its limits. When an individual's freedom crosses the boundary and endangers others, such conduct turns into wantonness.
Each of the Six Ghost Spirits bears their own fate and suffering. Tormented by the evil curse "Witch God's Descent," which had eroded his very nature, the Soul Devourer joined forces with Nightmare to slaughter innocents throughout the human world, gathering souls for his own consumption. Concealing this from their leader, the Moon Ghost King, they turned an amusement park into a living hell.
Shi Jun stumbled upon their trail by accident. Outraged by their atrocities, he finally unleashed his full strength, tapping into his hidden power and injuring both the Soul Devourer and the Moon Ghost King.
After the turmoil, Shi Jun learned from other spirits the true reason for Soul Devourer's crimes and became wary of the Nether Emperor lurking in the shadows. Just then, a man claiming to be his uncle suddenly appeared, and soon after, experts from both the Immortal and Demon realms began to emerge before him—a greater conflict was about to break out...
In the face of Shi Jun's uncle, the Great Demon Lie Jin—deemed the Demon Realm's most promising candidate for the next Demon Lord—ordinary experts from the Immortal and Demon worlds were no match. Yet, during the family's reunion, the Nether Commander Yaksha of the Underworld stormed in, bearing news that even made Lie Jin turn pale with shock...

* * *

"The sea seems to have suffered a shock. Look at him, he's nearly lost his mind—how pitiful! I'll have to give him a calming draught later so he can have a proper sleep," muttered Motuo as he struggled to drag the two imposters into a corner, humming to himself, "And really, what's the fuss about a few deaths? If only you could see the Demon Realm—life and death are nothing special. Those formidable old demons fight day in and day out, and death comes as swiftly as a word. You witness it enough, and it becomes mundane. Death, after all, is just a passage; reincarnation or oblivion brings ultimate peace and freedom..."

Motuo rambled on, lost in his own thoughts, while Shi Jun could only shake his head with a wry smile—such reasoning would never be accepted in the human world, least of all by Hu Hai. Despite his boisterous exterior, Hu Hai was emotionally fragile and prone to overthinking, and faced with such a situation? If this mass suicide was indeed orchestrated by those escaped spirits, who knows how long Hu Hai would blame himself for his previous recklessness!

This thought made Shi Jun pause. Shouldn't he be feeling at least a little anxious? Why did he feel so calm, as if nothing had happened? Was it composure or cold-bloodedness? Shi Jun shook his head, reflecting: it seems I'm more cold-blooded than Hai.

The two sat in silence for a while, both gradually sensing something odd—why was the living room so quiet? Wasn't someone supposed to have come to the door? Motuo, moving swiftly, flung open the door and dashed out, Shi Jun following close behind. What he saw made him freeze: the front door stood half open, with Hu Hai standing motionless, back toward them, as if frozen in shock. Motuo, who had just reached his side, also stopped abruptly, behavior that was highly unusual.

Since Motuo was turned slightly, Shi Jun could see his expression clearly. His face was contorted in a strange mix of excitement and delight, eyes bulging, mouth wide open, nostrils flaring, and drool trickling down—much like a starving glutton glimpsing his favorite dish, overwhelmed with both anticipation and joy.

Just as Shi Jun wondered at this, a woman's voice sounded softly: "Have you stared enough? I'm asking if you are Shi Jun—did you hear me?" Her tone was gentle and low, and though displeasure lingered in her heart, her words remained soft, pleasing to the ear and comforting. Shi Jun felt his heart tremble, and a vision of Chiyang's elegant face flashed through his mind, stirring his emotions to the point where longing for her surged uncontrollably.

He stood dazed for a moment before snapping back to attention—what was wrong with him today, so easily distracted? He shook his head, coughed lightly, and called out, "Hai, is someone here for me?"

But even after calling twice, Hu Hai seemed oblivious, not even turning his head. Motuo, at least, seemed to recover as if waking from a pleasant dream. He nudged the dazed Hu Hai aside and stepped back into the room, straightening his clothes and smoothing his hair, adopting an air of unprecedented gentlemanliness. "Shi Jun is inside, miss—no, my lady, please come in." Shi Jun couldn't help but feel both exasperated and amused. What caliber of beauty was this, who could not only pull Hu Hai out of his self-pity but also transform the ever-lecherous Motuo into a model gentleman?

* * *

Into the room stepped a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, cradling a black cat. She wore a long, black-trimmed robe of pale purple, cinched at the waist with a teal sash that accentuated her graceful figure.

Silky silver hair cascaded down her back, intertwined with golden bells and ribbons that chimed with each movement, sending clear, sweet sounds straight to the heart and conjuring strange imaginings.

Her face was fairer than snow, her features as delicate as a painting—a rare beauty, though her expression was cold. Yet a slight furrow of her brow and a fleeting glance from her eyes held an infinite allure. Especially that trace of youthful innocence in her gaze, reminiscent of a startled white rabbit—so endearing that even Shi Jun, strong-willed as he was, found himself momentarily entranced.

Upon entering, the girl surveyed the room, her gaze finally settling on Shi Jun. She asked in a low voice, her brows slightly knit, "Are you Shi Jun?"

Strangely, even as he spoke with this girl, Shi Jun's mind kept drifting to Chiyang, thinking: This girl is truly a beauty beyond compare, but compared to Chiyang, she lacks a certain heroic spirit... So he nodded and replied coolly, "Yes, I am Shi Jun, but I don't believe we know each other?"

He had intended to be polite, but seeing both Hu Hai and Motuo uncharacteristically fixated on the girl—Motuo's lecherousness was expected, but Hu Hai's entranced gaze was quite out of character—he became instinctively wary. His intuition told him this girl was anything but ordinary.

What mattered more was the unusual fluctuation of spiritual energy emanating from her. Shi Jun sensed that, though she appeared calm, she was quietly gathering power in preparation for action. Despite having only recently begun his cultivation, and not yet fully confident in his abilities, he instinctively focused his mind and quietly activated his Ice Shield's protective field.

The change came in an instant. No sooner had Shi Jun finished speaking than the girl nodded somberly, released the black cat, and in a flash of white light conjured a long-stemmed lotus blossom. The jade-white petals opened slightly, releasing an exquisitely subtle fragrance.

Shi Jun started as he saw the heart of the flower spin, releasing a jet of white mist that flew over and exploded with a bang, filling the room with a bone-chilling cold. At the same moment, the black cat, having just landed, swelled to several times its size, transforming into a full-grown panther. Its tail snapped upright, hind legs tensed, and with a powerful leap it soared into the air. Its emerald eyes flashed with a demonic red light, and razor-sharp claws sliced straight for Shi Jun's throat.

* * *

Though Shi Jun had been on guard, he had not expected the girl to attack so suddenly and fiercely. Even more startling was that her "pet" black cat abandoned all pretense of languor, launching a deadly assault in perfect coordination with her.

Caught completely off guard, Hu Hai and Motuo were instantly subdued by the freezing air. With two dull thuds, their bodies stiffened and fell like toppled clay mannequins, utterly immobile.

Left with no alternative, Shi Jun had to fight with all his might.

* * *

A storm of black wind, bristling with lethal intent, swirled before Shi Jun. The panther, once airborne, moved with increasing speed and agility, resembling a relentless, tireless machine of death, unwilling to stop until its target was destroyed.

Meanwhile, the girl's assault was no less formidable. From the moment she attacked, an icy chill filled the room, intensifying as the mist from her lotus drew closer. Shi Jun felt his body temperature plummet—it may have been autumn outside, but inside it felt like the depths of winter, his breath condensing into mist.

What troubled Shi Jun most was Hu Hai and Motuo's predicament—taken by surprise, they were incapacitated, and their condition was uncertain. But Shi Jun had no time to spare; with a single thought, he activated his Ice Shield, enshrouding himself in its powerful protective barrier.

Against the panther's physical attacks, the Ice Shield held firm. Save for the wind of its claws and the sparks of white light at the barrier's edges, Shi Jun was unharmed.

But the girl's icy mist was peculiarly troublesome. Whenever it was dispersed by the shield, it would quickly re-form, becoming thicker and more adhesive, clinging to the barrier and slowly seeping its cold deep within, lowering the temperature inside.

It was a slow but steady process, like a chronic poison—incapable of killing instantly, but steadily draining the victim's life.

Shi Jun shuddered. He knew this was the bane of the Ice Shield—unless he found a solution, defeat was only a matter of time.

He was anxious, but his mind remained clear. Such intangible attacks couldn't be countered by defense alone; he needed to create an insulating layer in a short time. That required... Suddenly, inspiration struck. Taking a deep breath, Shi Jun activated the Ice Shield's counter-spell: "Frozen to the Core."

* * *

A sphere of pure, transparent ice appeared, trapping the chill between the shield and the ice wall. The structure resembled an igloo, built by Eskimos in the frigid north—crafted from ice, yet highly insulating due to the vacuum layer within. This idea had come to Shi Jun thanks to his architecture studies—insulated windows and walls all applied this principle.

Shi Jun was a diligent student, well-versed in such basic physics. He had never expected his knowledge to come in handy in battle.

The girl was surprised to see her cold mist blocked by such a bizarre barrier, but her tenacity did not allow her to retreat without settling the outcome. Frowning, she lifted her left hand, placing her lotus against her right elbow, and sent it spinning rapidly. The jade petals struck together, producing a rain of crisp, musical notes.

Shi Jun heard the crystalline tones—"ding ding dong dong"—and at once felt his spirit waver, his feet moving involuntarily toward the girl. The Ice Shield's glow dimmed, and under the panther's relentless assault, deep dents quickly appeared.

This was the girl's most formidable technique—"Brahma Sound Soul Search," a spiritual attack blending music and her own innate allure. However strong the Ice Shield, it was useless; as long as Shi Jun's mind was ensnared by the melody, he would lose all resistance and become her prey.

Shi Jun's consciousness faded, the melody seducing him closer, each note intoxicatingly elusive. He yearned to approach, compelled by curiosity.

But then, his heartbeat began to echo the music's rhythm—at first in sync, then growing stronger, until it overtook the melody. In the end, even the girl unwittingly fell in step with Shi Jun's heartbeat, her own tune mimicking its pulse.

The illusion shattered. The girl's spell was powerful, but she had chosen the wrong opponent—against one with Shi Jun's formidable spiritual strength, a purely mental attack was as feeble as paper before a storm. Her technique, seized by Shi Jun's will, now turned upon herself.

Shi Jun's mind cleared, but the girl continued spinning her lotus, as if dancing to the most beautiful music, yearning for the harmony to last forever. Yet pain flickered on her face and confusion clouded her eyes.

Just as Shi Jun wondered, there was a sharp crack—the jade lotus shattered in her hand, crumbling to dust. She let out a muffled groan, a strange red flush crossing her pale cheeks as she collapsed, gasping for breath.

After a while, a green mist rose from her purple robe, enveloping her. As a soft hissing sounded, her breathing steadied. Looking up at Shi Jun, a faint smile broke upon her exquisite features—an expression so enchanting that, had Hu Hai and Motuo been able to move, they would have drooled a pond.

* * *

"Who are you?" Shi Jun, seeing the girl wounded, felt it inappropriate to press his advantage, but her actions were so perplexing he dared not lower his guard.

"Go help my brothers..." the girl whispered, frowning. "Chi Shang and Mang Li, go now!" With a wave of her delicate hand, she dispelled the frost immobilizing Hu Hai and Motuo, then struggled to sit up, summoning the black panther back to her arms. "Fifth Brother is injured—they can't hold on much longer!"

"What? Chi Shang and the others are in danger?" Shi Jun's brow furrowed. The girl called them her brothers—she must be one of the Six Ghost Spirits. Chi Shang had once told him their youngest sibling was a shy but beloved sister. Could this trouble be the work of other spirits, or were they fighting outsiders? In the human world, few could threaten Chi Shang and his brothers—so who were these powerful foes?

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but his expression remained steady. Sensing the girl was no longer gathering power, he relaxed and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Mei Jue," she replied quietly, looking exhausted.

As he suspected. Shi Jun was about to ask more when a sudden cry sounded: "Ah! It's one of us! Wonderful, wonderful!" Motuo had leapt up, his frost dispelled, shouting with delight.

"Why did we have to fight? Couldn't we just talk?" Hu Hai, rubbing his frostbitten face, chimed in, his gaze still fixed adoringly on Mei Jue.

It seemed Mei Jue had come following Chi Shang's instructions, but for her to attack immediately was puzzling. Shi Jun asked, "Then why did you attack us?"

Mei Jue was about to answer when she doubled over, coughing violently.

"Oh no!" Hu Hai and Motuo shouted in unison, crowding around her anxiously. "Are you alright? Hurt? Need to go to a hospital?" asked Hu Hai.

Motuo glared at Shi Jun. "Old Shi, isn't this going too far? She’s just a delicate girl—how could you hit her so hard?"

Too far? Shi Jun nearly laughed aloud—hadn't it been the girl who attacked first? Still, he didn't bother to argue; more important matters were at hand. As he was about to ask further, Mei Jue caught her breath and said softly, "It's not his fault. I was already wounded—forcing myself to fight only made it worse... Please, hurry!"

"Go now!" Hu Hai and Motuo shouted at Shi Jun together, eyes wide.

Shi Jun shot them a look—these two fools would forget everything for a pretty face—then sighed, "But you haven't told me where Chi Shang and the others are!"

* * *

He hadn't yet reached the place Mei Jue described when he saw several police and fire trucks racing ahead, sirens wailing. Sitting in a taxi, Shi Jun could only fume at how slow it went—like an ox dragging a broken cart. He resolved to have Motuo teach him the arts of flight and invisibility upon his return, lest he always arrive too late to be of use.

Before he left, Mei Jue had told him there were seven assailants attacking Chi Shang and the others—judging by their fire-based spells, they were likely from the Demon Realm. Both Mei Jue and Chi Shang had been injured, and Mang Li had sent her for help. She doubted whether the so-called "reinforcement" Shi Jun could be of any use; if he was weak, he would only get himself killed. So, despite her depleted strength, she had attacked upon arrival as a test—causing the earlier commotion.

"Oh, so it was a misunderstanding!" Hu Hai sighed with relief.

"See? Miss Mei Jue meant well," Motuo grumbled. "Lucky for you she didn't go all out, or you'd be in real trouble!" The two, eager to impress, offered to help Mang Li and the others—"and teach those scoundrels who dared offend Miss Mei Jue a lesson!" It was all just an excuse to show off before a beautiful girl.

"No need," said Mei Jue, not thinking highly of their abilities—after all, they'd both been felled by a mere chill. But she couldn't say so outright and instead said, "Someone needs to stay here and keep watch."

"Absolutely!" they eagerly agreed, delighted at the chance to remain by her side. Thus, they and Liu Qing became the stay-behind "garrison."