Chapter 59: Using the City as an Array

Qin Shu, the mastermind behind this spectacle, felt his own scalp tingle with unease at the sight.

Childbirth—in one fell swoop, birthing dozens at once. Only vicious ghosts, those beings of pure soul, could endure such a trial without perishing on the spot.

On the opposite bank, hordes of vicious ghosts recoiled in fright, instinctively retreating as terror gripped their spectral forms.

As they fled, Qin Shu advanced, his body floating aloft. With a wave of the Profound Origin Banner in his hand, the waters of the Netai River surged, conjuring forth another water dragon.

“Aaaaah! (Run for your lives!)”

The shrill screams of souls rose as most of the vicious ghosts retreated like a receding tide. A small fraction remained, their wails of agony mounting.

One by one, the tiny ghosts were born.

Then, to Qin Shu’s astonishment, the newly born ghosts began to devour one another, rapidly growing larger with each swallow.

When they had reached a certain size, their gaze turned upon their mother, and they lunged forward, tearing into her with ravenous hunger until they had consumed her entirely.

These juvenile ghosts, now grown into vicious fiends, exuded an even more potent aura of malevolence. Their eyes held not a glimmer of reason, only an insatiable drive to consume.

“Look at what you’ve wrought, you fool!” boomed the colossal face above Xi Liang Ghost City, its voice filled with rage. “This is the result of your actions!”

For when a ghost died, it became a bane, its nature growing even more ferocious than before.

But so what?

Qin Shu manipulated the waters of the Nieties River to sweep around and engulf all these fears, dragging them into the river where they dissolved and perished.

Then he noticed that the waters of the Nieties River seemed to be overflowing slightly.

Seeing the dumbfounded faces, Qin Shu looked up and asked, “It seems you can’t leave the city. Why is that?”

This Western Liang ghost queen was overwhelmingly powerful, far exceeding the fifth rank of Primordial Infant realm. If she could leave, Qin Shu would have no choice but to flee.

“Do you think this king would tell you?” The ghost queen looked at him as if he were a fool.

Qin Shu smiled. “It seems you really can’t leave, then. That puts my mind at ease.”

“You trick this king.” The ghost queen screeched again.

Her mood swung wildly from screeching to furious roaring.

Qin Shu said, “I’ll help you cool down, then.”

“What do you want?” The ghost queen was suspicious. She couldn’t imagine Qin Shu trying to bring the waters of the Nieties River over to the Western Liang City from such a great distance, and with his weak power.

But reality proved her wrong.

The five-colored glow brightened on Qin Shu’s body.

The Profound Origin Banner controlled the water. The Flame Banner evaporated it into mist. The Cyan Lotus Banner raised the mist skyward on a rising wind. The Cloud Banner moved the mist about. The Apricot Yellow Banner caused the mist to rain down.

In the Plague River, the water began to simmer and rise in tendrils of mist, coalescing into dark clouds overhead. Laden with the essence of the Plague River’s waters, these clouds were swept by the wind towards the Ghost City of West Liang.

The ghostly visage dissipated above the Ghost City of West Liang as a beam of black light emerged, tearing through space. A malicious voice hissed into Qin Shu’s ear.

Even as shards of the Abyss, fragments of this world remained connected to the higher realms of the Abyss. Perhaps the Demon Queen of West Liang had seized some serendipitous opportunity, breaking through the bounds of this world and gaining the ability to traverse the void into those loftier abyssal realms.

However, the Infinite Abyss adhered to the law of the jungle: survival of the fittest. To venture there unprepared could spell her doom, for she would no longer be the strongest entity in her domain.

Moreover, ascension to the higher Abyss was a chancier affair; she might even find herself relegated to the lowest rungs of power.

This was why she had always hesitated to ascend and remained in West Liang City. Every year, she would order her followers to fetch a single ladle of water from the Plague River. By drinking this water, birthing a child, her strength would be diminished, but her position would be made all the safer.

However, if the evil fetus rain were to pour upon her, giving birth to too many children would cause her strength to plummet.

In that case, it would be better to break through reality.

Staying in this world might be safe, but there were too many restrictions.

No, she wasn’t safe now either. Someone wanted her to have their children.

They ran away! Qin Shu couldn’t help turning towards the river of evil fetuses. These things were truly terrifying, but fortunately, he could use them, which added a layer of cuteness.

Dark clouds swelled and enveloped the entire Western Great Liang ghost city.

The ghosts were filled with dread. Unable to flee in time, they were trapped.

The deluge poured down, the spirit essence filling every corner of the Western Great Liang ghost city.

“Aaaaaaah!”

Soul-shattering screamed pierced the air. Qin Shu had to block his hearing as he watched the tempestuous storm before him.

Protected by the five directional flags, the rain could not approach within a meter of him.

The waters of the evil fetus river boiled continuously, dark clouds thickening by the moment. Western Great Liang City, teeming with vengeful ghosts, saw countless little ghost children born. Together with the floodwaters from the evil fetus rain, they surged out from the city gates.

The floodwaters mercilessly engulfed Western Great Liang City.

In the torrent of the evil fetus rain, little ghost children flailed about, only to be dissolved in the next instant. The currents carried them into the river of evil fetuses, flowing towards their inevitable fate.

The torrential rain poured down for three days and three nights without cease.

Qin Shu consumed three Yin-Yang Pills, replenishing his energy reserves while continuously channeling true essence into the five directional flags.

Unbeknownst to him, the screams in Ghost City of the Western Liang had stilled; silence had settled over the place.

After another day of relentless rain, when not a sound remained within the city, Qin Shu slowly began to approach.

The city walls towered high, each brick formed from a unique stone infused with the Abyss’s essence and the yin energy of souls—making them extraordinarily robust.

Inside the city, a vast expanse of water prevailed. No debris from buildings could be seen floating on the surface.

Perhaps these fierce ghosts had no need for dwellings— who knows!

Nevertheless, this city provided Qin Shu with an immense arena for setting up his array.

The rain had ceased. The five directional flags emerged from his body, forming the Great Array of Five Elements, which perfectly enveloped the entire city.

Under the apricot-yellow flag’s influence, the city walls became even more resilient, effectively transforming the city into a defensive fortress that served as the outer layer of the Five Elements Great Array.

Without waiting for the waters of the Hei River to recede, Qin Shu summoned the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed and, with a splash, cast it into the water.

Instantaneously, the water level within the city dropped precipitously as the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed voraciously absorbed the liquid.

In the blink of an eye, the cityscape reappeared. The Cyan Lotus Dao Seed took root at the heart of the city, its slender sprout piercing the sky.

“The Five Elements revolve, gather!”

As the elements cycled through, with the apricot-yellow flag taking the lead, they began to plunder this world’s power. The Great Array of Five Elements separated heaven from earth, concealing the aura of growth.

Qin Shu hovered in the air, cross-legged atop the fabric cover of the golden cob web. He cast out his Karma Cauldron, Qingping Sword Pill, and Nine Lives Doll, which circled the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed, mirroring their positions within his sea of consciousness.

Xiao Yan had also been summoned, hovering above the Dao Seed.

“Master, why did you wait so long to call me out?”

“You wouldn’t have been much help before, now would you? Things here are a bit strange—I feared your abilities might not measure up.”

Slightly offended, Xiao Yan felt her master underestimated her. She retracted her wings and turned away, pouting like a child.

“All right, all right—there will be a chance for you to lend a hand later,” Qin Shu quickly mollified. He realized he’d spoken out of turn, hurt her pride.

“Wait and see my capabilities, Master. Hmph!” Xiao Yan retorted, her tone a mix of annoyance and affection.

She then spread her wings, circling above the Cyan Lotus Dao Seed. Strands of karma began to coalesce around her, refining her bloodline and unlocking deeper potential within her veins.

As she circled, azure flames danced around her, exuding an air of sheer dominance.