The Demon Exorcism True Monarch seemed to have made a resolute decision. He turned his head, looked at Xu Qing, and said, "I am the God of the Underworld, bearing the seal of righteousness, tasked with subduing demons and suppressing evil. This is the foundation of my path and the extent of my virtue."
"If I do not firmly adhere to this path and am unwilling to exert all my heart power to cultivate this righteousness, then the Great Dao will never be attainable!"
Xu Qing frowned slightly and asked, "Brother Demon Exorcist, have you changed your plan again?"
The man in the red robe was silent for a moment, then candidly said, "This matter wasn't really concealed; when Brother Xu arrived, did you encounter a strangely painted person?"
"Are you talking about Ascendant Fuluan?"
"Yes, precisely that eggless person who uses his backside as his face!"
"..."
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch coldly snorted, "This eggless scoundrel and I have been quite close, yet I am a ghost god, while he is but a fool obsessing over ascending to immortality!"
"Back in the day, I debated with him for a hundred days, resulting in a method to counter Ghost Law."
"The cultivation of Ghost Law relies on absorbing the souls of millions of ghosts, gaining Ghost Divine Techniques, and continually strengthening itself. It has no fixed flesh body; all ghosts are its containers. As long as there is one ghost shape or spirit remaining in the world, it will not be annihilated."
"The only method we derived to restrain Ghost Law was to present it with a ghost god flesh body, imprison it within, even if just for a moment, thereby gaining the chance to completely obliterate it!"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch's expression was grim, yet unpredictable, as he spoke. "Years ago, I resolved to feed myself to ghosts and sought a helper at the critical moment to deliver Ghost Law a fatal blow."
"And that eggless person was the one I wanted to find back then."
As the Demon Exorcism True Monarch continued, his expression grew increasingly unpleasant. "When he heard that I wanted him to act at the crucial moment, he hesitated and said he regarded me as a brother, unwilling to annihilate Ghost Law while killing me."
"I believed his words, treated him as a brother thereafter, then he sought the myriad calamity Ghost Kings, sought the Eight Banner Marshals, sought the Lord of Corrosive Darkness."
"I assumed he wanted to use those three skeleton ghosts with flesh bodies as substitutes for me to face calamity, but unexpectedly, that eggless man turned around and told me he wanted me to play the role of executor, bringing those three worthless Ghost King corpses to fight Ghost Law."
"..."
Xu Qing finally understood the words of the Demon Exorcism True Monarch.
"What you mean, True Monarch, is that Ascendant Fuluan was reluctant to let you be the bait because he didn't want to risk his own life as the executor?"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch coldly snorted, "Otherwise, why do you think I call him an eggless person!"
Finishing his words, the man in the red robe shot a meaningful glance at Xu Qing.
"..."
"Why do you look at me like that, True Monarch? I'm not an eggless person."
Xu Qing spoke with truth; as a zombie, he indeed, in some sense, didn't count as a person.
"I certainly believe in Brother Xu. After all, Brother Xu dared to kill the Celestial Lord General single-handedly, which alone shows he is someone truly gutsy and daring!"
"..."
Xu Qing typically responds better to soft persuasion than hard pressure. Though he verbally dismissed the flattery, claiming he didn't buy into it, his expression betrayed his pleasure.
"I understand your words, Brother Demon Exorcist, but just now, as I came over, Ascendant Fuluan claimed he brought a new brocade pouch of plans, yet you, True Monarch, didn't recognize his good intentions and drove him away..."
Without even mentioning it, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch got instantly infuriated.
"That scoundrel spouts nonsense! Do you know what his proposal was?"
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch reached out to retrieve a jade slip recording Secret Forbidden Scriptures, Xu Qing took it and saw it was a demon power titled 'Ghost Prison Scripture' written in cloud-like small characters.
Xu Qing gave it a cursory look, then his brow furrowed.
The man in the red robe grumbled irritably, "This is a demon power specifically used for devouring evil ghosts, turning profound dark Magical Power into one's own."
"Ascendant Fuluan seems to think that because I devour evil ghosts, I can cultivate this technique to strengthen the ghost god's power..."
According to Ascendant Fuluan, although Ghost Law is greedy, it is no fool without schemes. The Demon Exorcism True Monarch's plan to use himself as bait might not necessarily lure Ghost Law.
Yet, if the Demon Exorcism True Monarch cultivated the Ghost Prison Scripture, devoured the ghosts under Ghost Law, and thereby increased his own ghost god power, making the bait more tempting, it would significantly enhance the lure for Ghost Law.
However, despite the Ghost Prison Scripture's potential to transform ghost entities into Magical Power and cultivation, its side effects cannot be ignored.
All who practice the Ghost Prison Scripture will, while devouring evil ghosts and transforming their power, simultaneously absorb the ghosts' resentment and hostility upon themselves.
Ordinary minds would fall under the influence, turning into neither-one-nor-the-other Demon Dao Demon People after consuming hundreds of ghosts.
Those with a solid will, even after consuming over a thousand ghosts, cannot escape the fate of falling into the Demon Dao, losing themselves.
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch's will is exceptional even in the ghost god realm, and following Ascendant Fuluan's advice to consume ten thousand ghosts would assuredly incur hatred from Ghost Law. Equally, Ghost Law might be drawn by the ghost god power emanating from the True Monarch, fostering a desire to devour him.
Driven by the lure of profit, no matter how rational, people often succumb to primitive desires when the temptation is significant enough.
Ascendant Fuluan's strategy can be considered ingenious, yet it's also a self-destructive plan that would injure the enemy while suffering all harms.
Enveloped in the karma of ten thousand ghosts, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch's mind would undoubtedly fall into chaos. If he wishes to remain clear-headed, it would require him to exert all his effort.
This isn't even the worst outcome; if he consumes ten thousand ghosts swiftly and becomes a 'Little Ghost Law', the Demon Exorcism True Monarch would be incapable of expelling the chaotic thoughts bound by the ghosts. Should True Monarch fuse with Ghost Law, he'd truly transform into a complete evil demon.
If Xu Qing exterminates the flesh body and true soul of Ghost Law, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch's body and soul would also entirely turn to ash, with no chance of reincarnation.
At this point, Xu Qing finally understood why the other questioned him about ghost gods, whose intentions were clear from the beginning.
Endowed with the seal of righteousness and revered by all, with demon subjugation as his charge, this path constitutes the Demon Exorcism True Monarch's path to godhood.
And now, before him lies this seemingly insurmountable foe, Ghost Law.
What to do?
There is only one answer.
That is to unite with the Dao and return to heaven and earth.
Seeing Xu Qing remain silent long, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch sought to say something, yet ultimately altered his remarks, "Do you know why I sought you out?"
Before Xu Qing could speak, the man in the red robe answered himself, "After you eradicated the Celestial Lord General, the underworld shook, which isn't a good omen for the nine Netherworld zombies. Ghost Law perhaps received some sort of decree, already beginning to spy into the mortal realm."
"I'm unwilling to gamble; you once said you'd lend me a hand for Jin Sect. I chose to believe you, and am willing to entrust my life's fate to your hands."
"This isn't about sentiment; truly, there's no other choice. If Brother Xu feels uneasy, when the day comes to act, you can use all means, even chop me into pieces. I too would have no complaints."
The Demon Exorcism True Monarch spoke frankly, yet on Xu Qing's ears, the words sounded amiss.
"Don't pretend to be so heroic in sacrifice, like everyone has to nobly perish!"
Others may not be able to save the Demon Exorcism True Monarch, but Xu Qing indeed has a chance to pull this ugly man back from the brink.
Though for the other to remain in this world may be impossible, reincarnation and rebirth...
Now that is Xu Qing's area of expertise.
Unsure of the implication of Xu Qing's words, the Demon Exorcism True Monarch frowned, "This Ghost Prison Scripture poses great danger to me. If cultivated, I'll transform into a demon, unlikely to stay clear-minded. You mustn't spare me for the sake of our relationship; that would bring me nowhere but a more disgraced death..."
Xu Qing chuckled, "Brother Demon Exorcist, rest assured. Others might show mercy, but I will certainly maintain clarity, and when the time comes, I won't hesitate for a moment!"
"After all, I'm a funeral master, respecting the deceased most. True Monarch's corporeal form is a ghost god's corpse, and I'll naturally honor True Monarch's choice, never showing mercy and betraying the dying wishes of beloved kin!"
"..."
Xu Qing agreed so readily, yet the Demon Exorcism True Monarch couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Somehow, this youngster before him seemed even more infuriating than Ascendant Fuluan?