Chapter 805 : The Ghost Immortal's Burden

Eldrin Chen stood in silent contemplation, a profound tide of emotion surging within his heart.

For Verdant Daoist to tread the path of a Ghost Immortal [a cultivator who has chosen to remain as a powerful spirit in the mortal realm, forgoing physical reincarnation] in the mortal world was to willingly shoulder an immense Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions] and endure countless tribulations—a path that led, by its very nature, to a dead end.

This road offered almost no glimpse of a future; more likely than not, it ended in the soul's utter dispersion, leaving not even a wisp for reincarnation.

In truth, given Verdant Daoist's cultivation and profound attainments, the chance for him to abandon this path and re-enter the cycle of reincarnation was still considerable.

Yet, were he to forsake Celestial Vault Isle and seek refuge in the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead and the cycle of souls] alone, the billions of wronged souls of the Celestial Vault Isle Chen Clan would be left without a protector, doomed to scatter into nothingness.

The resentment born from the tragedy of Celestial Vault Isle in ages past was too profound, too grievous. Billions of the Human Race perished in a single night, and the sheer, overwhelming weight of their collective grievance trapped their spirits upon the isle, barring them from returning to the Netherworld [the underworld, the realm of the dead] to enter the wheel of rebirth.

To guide these souls back into the cycle, their towering sea of resentment must first be quelled.

To pacify the grievances of billions of wronged souls, only two methods exist. The first requires a Demigod Ancestor [a cultivator at the peak of power, half-step to immortality] to perform a supreme rite of salvation. The second is to avenge them, to wash their wrongs clean with blood.

The first method is exceedingly difficult. A rite capable of saving billions of souls inherently involves purifying an infinite Karmic Burden. Only supreme scriptures like the Daoist 'Scripture of Salvation' or the Buddhist 'Scripture of the Earth Store' possess such power.

These scriptures are legacies passed down from the 'Buddhas' and 'Dao Patriarchs'—beings at the level of Great Luo Golden Immortal [the highest conceivable realm of immortal cultivation]. Such lineages simply do not exist within the Purple Realm. This chapter is provided by audio-novel dot com. Support the original.

In ancient times, the Purple Immortal Lord did indeed create a cultivation art known as the 'Violet Soul-Ferrying Scripture', yet the lineage of this path has been lost for many years.

Therefore, the method of guiding departed souls to peace was clearly unfeasible. The Verdant Daoist had no choice but to forsake the chance for the Reincarnation Cycle [the cyclical process of death and rebirth]. He remained confined within Celestial Vault Isle to tread the arduous path of a Ghost Immortal [an immortal who has forsaken physical form to exist as a spirit, often bearing great karmic burdens], all to shelter the hundreds of millions of wronged souls of the Chen Clan.

"To shelter the hundreds of millions of wronged souls of the Chen Clan, he willingly shouldered an infinite Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions] with his own being, walking the nearly hopeless path of a Ghost Immortal."

"Ancient Ancestor…"

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. He opened his mouth, intending to offer some words of persuasion, but the words caught in his throat, and he found himself at a loss for where to begin.

Just imagine, if one day the present Chen Clan were to be utterly destroyed in a single night.

If Lyra Jiang, Old Granduncle, Lila, and countless other clansmen were to sink into the sea of resentment, trapped in a mindless, hopeless state, how would he himself bear it?

To abandon the clansmen he had cherished throughout his journey, to watch idly as their souls scattered bit by bit within the mortal dust, while he alone went to the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead] to cleanse his karma and seek reincarnation?

Or should he remain in this mortal realm, transforming into a Ghost Immortal, to bear the endless Karmic Burden of heaven and earth alone, just to shelter them and grant them a moment's peace?

Eldrin Chen did not know what choice he might make in the distant future, but he knew with certainty that the man he was now could never abandon those by his side.

All under heaven speak of attaining immortality as the path to ultimate freedom and unfettered existence.

Yet, if one becomes an immortal but extinguishes their humanity, losing the capacity to feel love and hatred, can that truly be called freedom?

Eldrin Chen believed that the so-called immortal was nothing more than a person and a mountain.

The 'person' refers to the individual. When a person ascends to the mountain's peak, achieving longevity beyond measure, no longer bound by the myriad affairs of the world, and gazes down upon all beneath heaven—that is the moment one becomes an 'immortal'.

If one attains immortality yet discards their humanity, then they can no longer be considered a true Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through profound cultivation].

Such an existence cannot be said to have mastered the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality and cultivation]; rather, the Laws of the Dao have consumed their humanity. They are, in essence, a 'puppet' controlled by the Laws of the Dao.

"In this lifetime, there are things one must do, and things one must not."

"You have done exceedingly well, Ancient Ancestor." Eldrin Chen gazed deeply at Verdant Daoist, then continued with a grave expression, "Yet I wonder, what can I do for you?"

"What can you do?"

Verdant Daoist pondered for a moment before speaking. "I shall impart to you a method. Forge a Divine Shrine [a sacred altar or vessel for housing and channeling divine power], and have the clansmen offer frequent prayers and sacrifices. This may provide me with a measure of aid."

Eldrin Chen departed from the Grand Hall. Before leaving, he cast a final glance at the now-silent Divine Shrine and could not help but release a soft sigh.

Seeing him emerge, Lyra Jiang could not resist asking, "How did it go?"

"Alas..."

Eldrin Chen sighed and recounted the entire sequence of events to the others.

After hearing the tale, a wave of melancholy settled over the group. Nyssa Qu spoke up, "The mortal realm lacks any orthodox lineage for the Ghost Immortal path [a cultivation path focused on harnessing ghostly and yin energies]. Moreover, the pervasive Yang energy [the active, masculine principle of the universe] of the mundane world is quite detrimental to his cultivation. I fear his chosen path offers little hope."

Verdant Consort shook her head, however, and countered, "Nothing is absolute. He has countless vengeful spirits to convert Yin energy [the passive, feminine principle of the universe] for him. If we add the power of faith and worship to that, perhaps a sliver of hope remains." This chapter appears courtesy of audio–novel.com.

"What Lila says holds merit," Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. "For now, the only aid we can offer is to help him gather that faith."

Resolved to lend Verdant Daoist a helping hand, Eldrin Chen set about studying the method for crafting the Divine Shrine that Qing had imparted.

Once he had thoroughly comprehended its intricacies, he personally forged a Divine Shrine. To his surprise, he discovered the artifact held profound and subtle mysteries within.

This Divine Shrine could gather the power of wishes [the focused intent and devotion of worshippers] from the sacrifices of descendants, coalescing it into the legendary Incense Offering Power [a divine power born from concentrated worship and faith].

Once the Incense Offering Power [the power derived from worship and offerings] is successfully condensed, Verdant Daoist will also be able to establish hierarchical ranks such as Wandering Soul [a low-level ghost or spirit], Netherworld Soldier [a soldier of the underworld], Yaksha [a nature spirit or demon], Ghost General [a general of ghostly forces], Judge of the Underworld [an underworld magistrate], Ghost Marshal [a marshal commanding spectral armies], and Ghost King [a king ruling over ghosts], all based on the power of the Divine Shrine [a sacred altar that channels worship].

This method was created by Verdant Daoist by emulating the legendary system of the Netherworld Underworld [the realm of the dead]. In this system, a Wandering Soul is roughly equivalent to a Qi Refinement Cultivators [the initial stage of cultivation], a Netherworld Soldier can rival a Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation stage], a Yaksha can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation stage], and a Ghost General is no weaker than a Golden Core Realm [the fourth major cultivation stage].

The higher ranks of Judge of the Underworld, Ghost Marshal, and Ghost King are all Nascent Soul True Lord [the fifth major cultivation stage, where one forms a spiritual infant]. They are personally appointed by Verdant Daoist and are filled by the lingering souls of Chen Clan True Lord who fell in battle at Celestial Vault Isle.

According to the Divine Shrine method passed down by Verdant Daoist, when the souls of the wronged dead assume these positions as underworld officers, their fragmented souls, gradually nourished by incense offerings and worship, will slowly mend and become whole once more.

Furthermore, with the continuous sustenance of vast amounts of incense offering power, they will gradually regain their consciousness and memories. Their strength also holds a sliver of potential for improvement through this nourishment and their own ongoing cultivation.

"Does Qing the Ancient Ancestor intend to re-establish the Netherworld Underworld within the Purple Realm [a higher spiritual plane]?"

Upon perceiving the profound mysteries of the Divine Shrine, Lila could not help but be greatly astonished.

Lyra Jiang beside her was also taken aback. After observing for a moment, she drew a deep breath and shook her head, saying, "A pity this method is not yet fully perfected."

"To gather scattered souls, aid in reincarnation, and use Incense Offering Power to assist the ghost officers in their cultivation, it is said one also requires multiple Immortal Rank [the pinnacle of cultivation] ghost treasures such as the 'Soul-Gathering Bell', the 'Soul-Cleansing Pool', the 'Reincarnation Well', and the 'Book of Life and Death'."

"Assembling these treasures is a feat beyond even many Ghost Immortal [an immortal who cultivates through ghostly or underworld paths]. What he has is merely a single Divine Shrine. Although it possesses a trace of wondrous utility, it falls far short of what is needed to establish a Netherworld Underworld within the Purple Realm."

Beside him, Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. Establishing a Netherworld Underworld [a realm for the dead and departed souls] was no simple feat, especially one that could truly endure.

It was said that within the vast expanse of the Immortal Realm, the greatest aspiration of countless Ghost Immortal [immortals who have transcended as spirits or souls] dwelling in the Netherworld Underworld was to establish their own domain within that shadowy realm.

Success in such an endeavor would allow them to claim a portion of the Incense Offering Power [the spiritual power generated by ancestral worship and offerings] from the Immortal Clan [a clan or family of cultivators and immortals] under their jurisdiction who performed rites for their ancestors. Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel dot com.