Chapter 145: Lin Wu, the Ancestor of Demons

This was a scene I knew all too well. After the chilling wind passed, the path that appeared was the Yin-Yang Road, a route leading straight to the Underworld, no need to detour through the Earth God Temple.

At this moment, the sinister wind swept over my face, sending a shiver down my spine.

The peddler’s cart led the way ahead, and I followed closely behind.

I asked him about the condition he mentioned, but the peddler said it was not yet the time to reveal it.

Hearing this, I had no choice but to let it go.

In the depths of darkness, after Er Pang slew Luo Hou, the first thing he did was to gather the demon clans' forces and launch an assault on the Underworld. This was, after all, the ultimate aim of his pact with the Demon Ancestor Luo Hou.

Thus, in Qingcheng Mountain, acting under the name of the Demon Ancestor, he summoned all the demon halls across the land to assemble there.

The demon clans had been lying dormant for a thousand years, barely able to contain their restlessness.

Er Pang declared himself Demon Ancestor, wielding the God-Slaying Spear. One after another, the demon halls responded, and in a short time, he gathered an army of fifty thousand demons.

Qingcheng Mountain borders the Old Boundary Ridge, which was originally the ancient boundary between the Yin and Yang realms. After assembling his forces, Er Pang immediately marched on the Old Boundary Ridge. Beyond that lay the Qingcheng Realm.

The Qingcheng Realm was the first stronghold of the Underworld.

Although guarded by Yin soldiers, they stood little chance against the fifty thousand demon troops, especially with Er Pang wielding the God-Slaying Spear.

Therefore, led by Er Pang and his fifty thousand demons, the invasion into the Underworld was unstoppable.

By himself alone, Er Pang slaughtered thousands upon thousands of Yin soldiers in Qingcheng Realm. After the fall of Qingcheng Realm, the remaining Yin soldiers retreated to Ghost Gate Pass.

But the demons’ momentum was unbroken; they pressed relentlessly toward Ghost Gate Pass.

The devastating defeat at Qingcheng Realm shattered the morale of the Yin soldiers defending Ghost Gate Pass. Tales of the demons’ terror spread among the survivors, deepening the panic among the Yin soldiers and generals there.

As a result, Ghost Gate Pass shut its gates tightly.

Even newly arrived souls from the Yang realm dared not open the gates to admit anyone.

The demons outside called for battle, but no one dared respond.

Outside Ghost Gate Pass, red mist swirled.

The fifty thousand demon troops had no choice but to temporarily encamp, preparing and awaiting orders to attack the pass.

Originally, eighteen Ghost Kings guarded Ghost Gate Pass, commanding seven thousand Yin soldiers and over ten thousand lesser ghosts.

It was a fortress, impregnable as a bronze wall.

Yet, with the demon army looming, even this mighty stronghold seemed on the verge of collapse.

From afar, the city was shrouded in pale mist. Above its walls hung a signboard inscribed boldly with the three characters “Ghost Gate Pass.” Though written with strength, under the demons’ overwhelming presence, the sign seemed faint and powerless.

Within the mist, eerie voices echoed—sometimes the mournful cawing of crows, sometimes quiet sobbing—sending chills down one’s spine.

Beneath the ramparts, Er Pang, clad in jet-black armor and gripping the God-Slaying Spear, fixed his cold gaze on Ghost Gate Pass.

The demons’ calls for battle went unanswered, so Er Pang ordered his generals to stand down.

The generals withdrew, and suddenly, Er Pang surged upward, spear poised. With a mighty stroke, he cleaved the “Ghost Gate Pass” signboard in two, which fell shattered to the ground.

Er Pang landed, stepping on the broken fragments, and shouted up at the city walls, “The mighty eighteen Ghost Kings of Ghost Gate Pass—are you all just cowards hiding in your shells?”

The fierce aura surged forward, shaking the city tower.

Then Er Pang swung the God-Slaying Spear repeatedly against the city walls. Though the walls trembled, protected by the power of the Ten Yama Kings and their array formations, they did not collapse from his blows.

Above the city towers, the eighteen Ghost Kings frowned deeply.

Everyone had heard of the God-Slaying Spear and knew the terror of Demon Ancestor Luo Hou. Yet none dared claim they could defeat the spear, nor could the seven thousand Yin soldiers at Ghost Gate Pass face an army of fifty thousand demons.

But Er Pang’s taunt of cowardice stung their pride to the core. When had the eighteen great Ghost Kings suffered such humiliation?

Moreover, the signboard of Ghost Gate Pass lay broken at their feet—an affront to their very honor.

If they cowered now, they would lose all standing in the Underworld, let alone command Ghost Gate Pass.

Ghost King Li Chi slammed his blanket to the ground in rage, shattering it.

“But if we sally forth, it’s surely a death trap. The God-Slaying Spear slays gods and souls alike—we likely can’t withstand even a single strike.”

At that moment, the commander of Ghost Gate Pass, Qin Ming, hurried into the hall of the eighteen Ghost Kings.

He looked at them and asked, “Which of you can go out and fight?”

Silence filled the hall.

“The man outside wields the God-Slaying Spear, but I don’t think he is Demon Ancestor Luo Hou. Luo Hou was long ago destroyed by the Four Immortal Swords. What do you still fear? Eighteen Ghost Kings, pride of Ghost Gate Pass—are you all cowards?”

Qin Ming’s anger blazed.

Li Chi gritted his teeth and said, “General Qin, the forces are too uneven. We cannot fight!”

“Rest assured,” Qin Ming replied, “all forces within Ghost Gate Pass are at your disposal.”

“Seven thousand Yin soldiers against fifty thousand demons? Even if we send them all out, we still can’t win!” Li Chi said.

Qin Ming’s gaze turned icy as he stared down Li Chi. “If you can repel the demon army, the Qin Division will surely reward you handsomely!”

“And if we die? What use are rewards then?” Li Chi continued. He was not cowardly; rather, he resented Qin Ming, who should be leading the charge to boost morale.

The Underworld was fractured into factions, and Qin Ming’s move seemed intended to let the demons eliminate the dissident eighteen Ghost Kings.

Li Chi’s words brought a slight smile to Qin Ming’s face. “General Li, don’t misunderstand. You think I don’t dare fight? If I truly dared, I wouldn’t have shut the city gates so tight.”

“Then why close the gates if you dare fight?” Li Chi challenged.

“Looks like you really misunderstand. I can’t fight now because I must go request reinforcements from the Yin Division. If you can hold out half a day, reinforcements will come. The Yin Division has a hundred thousand Yin soldiers—are they afraid of his fifty thousand demons?”

“Tell me, who among you can reach the Yin Division to call for troops?” Qin Ming asked.

The eighteen Ghost Kings, known for their integrity and independence amidst factional strife, were isolated. None answered.

Without connections, it was impossible to summon help in the Underworld.

Qin Ming had effectively cornered them, leaving them speechless.

Outside, the rumble of the demon army battering the gates continued. The power of the Ten Yama Kings was limited; they could barely hold back the seemingly suicidal assaults.

Though aware of the conspiracy, Li Chi said, “Very well. I hope you keep your word, General Qin. If reinforcements come, the eighteen Ghost Kings will lead the fight outside the city!”

“Good!” Qin Ming said, a cunning look flashing across his face.

Inside Ghost Gate Pass, Li Chi donned his battle armor, gripping a jet-black Mourning Club, standing imposingly on the marshal platform.

During troop inspection, one of the eighteen Ghost Kings, Chu Mei, noticed Qin Ming leaving in haste and asked, “Brother, do you think General Qin is fleeing?”

Qin Ming mounted a skeletal steed and vanished in a flash.

Seeing this, Li Chi’s suspicions were confirmed: Qin Ming had no intention of summoning aid; he was abandoning the city.

Li Chi sighed deeply.

“The Underworld will change hands sooner or later.”

“Brother!” Chu Mei warned, for such talk was taboo; if overheard by the wrong ears, one could lose their shadow-soul.

“Born a hero among men, die a hero among ghosts! Brothers, are you afraid?” Li Chi asked those seventeen Ghost Kings behind him.

“Not afraid!” they answered in unison.

Li Chi knew his brothers’ spirits well—no matter the torment, they feared nothing, not even the eighteen hells themselves.

“Good! Eighteen Ghost Kings, hear my command! All Yin soldiers, hear my command! All Yin spirits and lesser ghosts, hear my command!”

“Today, as long as I stand, the city stands. If the city falls, I fall!”

Li Chi’s roar echoed through Ghost Gate Pass. His gaze was resolute, his mind set on certain death. Even if it played into Qin Ming’s hands, he bore no regrets. Even sacrificing his shadow-soul to hold the gate one more hour would be worth it.

“Understood!”

The Yin soldiers roared back, spirits rising.

“Chu Mei, Zhang Wang, Zhu Liang! The three of you accompany me out of the city to battle. The others stay to defend Ghost Gate Pass! If we fall, four other Ghost Kings will take our place, and so on!” Li Chi ordered.

“Understood!”

The eighteen Ghost Kings saluted together.

Then the three of them rode out with Li Chi. On the city walls, the four great Ghost Kings mounted skeletal steeds. At Li Chi’s command, the steeds let out long howls as they leapt from the battlements.

Dark mist spread, black smoke billowed.

Behind Li Chi, the other three Ghost Kings and three thousand Yin soldiers surged forth, a tidal wave sweeping down from the walls.

Seeing this, Er Pang’s lips curved slightly.

“So you finally dare to come out and fight!” he said.

The skeletal steeds howled. Li Chi fixed his gaze on Er Pang and demanded, “Who are you, to dare invade my Yin Division’s Ghost Gate Pass? What punishment do you deserve?”

Er Pang met Li Chi’s stare.

“I am Demon Ancestor Lin Wu!”

Li Chi appraised Er Pang and said, “Demon Ancestor Lin Wu? I only know of Demon Ancestor Luo Hou, but he was long ago slain by the Four Immortal Swords! You claim to be Demon Ancestor—do you truly believe that grants you the right to run rampant across the world?”