Chapter 88: The Murderous Dry Well

Abe Haruha swiftly departed the Imperial Palace, returning to his Jingguo Shrine.

“Abe Haruha, what news? What happened with the sub-formation, and what’s going on with the Imperial Family?”

The divine statue immediately questioned Abe Haruha upon his return.

Abe Haruha sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, first calming the turmoil within him.

Although he hadn’t gone all out in the recent battle, he had keenly felt Bai Mengqi’s immense power. This left him both exhilarated and wary.

“To think such a formidable ability user has appeared in Xia Country…”

Abe Haruha murmured to himself, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

Only after fully composing himself did he finally answer the divine statue’s questions.

“One of the sub-formations was destroyed. Concurrently, an ability user from Xia Country infiltrated the Imperial Palace and took a gem shard from a princess. I fought them, but failed to apprehend them.”

Upon hearing this, the divine statue immediately erupted in fury.

“Xia Country again! The people of Xia Country are truly audacious. Sooner or later, our Great Japanese Empire will reclaim its former glory. If we ever get another chance, we will never give them an opportunity to rise again.”

Indeed, these malevolent spirits harbored an undying ambition.

****

Meanwhile, Bai Mengqi had already left the Imperial Palace, returning to her hotel.

The moment she flew in through the window, Zi Yanran approached her, asking, “Mengqi, how did it go? You seem a little tired.”

Bai Mengqi chuckled, producing two Immortal Crystal shards.

“I just got them, but I also encountered an unprecedentedly powerful enemy,” Bai Mengqi explained.

Upon hearing this, Zi Yanran couldn’t help but grow worried.

“What? Then, shouldn’t we return home immediately?”

Zi Yanran believed that anyone Bai Mengqi found difficult to handle must be incredibly formidable. She feared that the opponent might seek them out again.

Bai Mengqi shook her head.

“It’s fine, but tomorrow there might be an even more arduous battle. Yanran, I have to send you back home today.”

Bai Mengqi’s words only made Zi Yanran more uneasy.

“What? Send me back? No, haven’t you already collected all the shards?” Zi Yanran grasped Bai Mengqi’s hand, asking anxiously.

She sensed that Bai Mengqi was about to undertake something very dangerous tomorrow and didn’t want her to take such a risk.

Moreover, the fact that Bai Mengqi wanted her to return home only further suggested that Bai Mengqi might be in mortal danger tomorrow. At least, that’s what Zi Yanran believed.

Bai Mengqi immediately shook her head.

“No, I promised someone I’d help them with something, and it’s something I want to do myself. However, it will undoubtedly provoke the entire ability user world. I’m confident I can escape by myself, but with you, it’s hard to say.”

Seeing the resolute expression on Bai Mengqi’s face, Zi Yanran knew she couldn’t dissuade her.

She took a deep breath, then nodded at Bai Mengqi.

“I understand. I’ll arrange for someone to pick me up and take me back now.”

If Bai Mengqi said so, then her returning would be the greatest help she could offer.

“Thank you for understanding.” Bai Mengqi immediately gave Zi Yanran a hug.

Approximately half an hour later, Bai Mengqi accompanied Zi Yanran into a car and headed to Tokyo International Airport.

Transit arrangements had already been made by the Xia Country Ability Bureau, and a plane was waiting.

“Miss Zi Yanran, correct? We are from the Xia Country Ability Bureau, here to escort you back.” One of the female ability users greeted Zi Yanran.

Zi Yanran nodded at them, then quickly turned to look at Bai Mengqi.

“Mengqi, please come back soon after you’ve finished your business. The children and I will be waiting for you at home.” Zi Yanran’s concern was palpable as she urged her.

These words made the Ability Bureau personnel somewhat puzzled.

“What? Miss Bai isn’t returning?”

Bai Mengqi shook her head.

“I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be staying a few more days. Please take Yanran back first.”

The Ability Bureau personnel had no choice but to take Zi Yanran first.

Thus, under Zi Yanran’s worried gaze, she boarded the plane. The aircraft quickly took off, carrying Zi Yanran away.

With Zi Yanran gone, Bai Mengqi completely relaxed, knowing she had no more worries.

She turned and returned to the hotel, beginning to merge the other two Immortal Grade shards.

As for what she planned to do tomorrow, it was to destroy the remaining four Yin-gathering locations around Tokyo.

These four locations were the Murderous Dry Well in the northern suburbs, the Haunted Building in the city, the Accident Amusement Park to the west, and the Mass Grave to the east. Coupled with the Ghost Town to the south, there were originally five such places.

However, the southern location had already been destroyed, leaving only four.

These four locations were currently guarded by powerful ability users, dispatched by Abe Haruha. He worried that the enemy might still attack the shrine, and if anyone exploited such an opportunity, the consequences would be even more severe.

****

Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Suddenly, an invisible storm swept through the hotel where Bai Mengqi was staying. The storm appeared so abruptly that it left the surrounding pedestrians utterly bewildered.

“Why is there such a strong wind all of a sudden? Where did it come from?”

The hotel where Bai Mengqi resided was surrounded by towering buildings, making this sudden storm seem particularly eerie.

In reality, this was the energy storm generated when Bai Mengqi absorbed the two Immortal Grade shards and broke through to the minor realm of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Inside her hotel room, Bai Mengqi slowly opened her eyes and stood up. She clenched her fists, a confident smile once again gracing her face.

“If I encounter that guy again today, I should be able to handle them with ease.”

But the Great Immortaless still poured cold water on her enthusiasm.

“That’s probably not enough. Based on my senses, that individual possesses the combat strength of a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator. You’ll need to absorb at least two more Immortal Crystal shards to truly stand a chance against their full power.”

Bai Mengqi immediately rolled her eyes at the Great Immortaless.

“You certainly know how to dampen spirits! Forget it, I won’t argue with you. Let’s go resolve those four Yin-gathering locations first. We’ll start with the Murderous Dry Well in the north.”

After making her preparations, Bai Mengqi flew directly from her residence, heading north towards Tokyo. To resolve all the Yin-gathering locations before nightfall, Bai Mengqi had no time to waste on the journey.

Bai Mengqi moved like lightning, weaving through Tokyo’s skyscrapers, and soon arrived in the northern mountain forests.

Here lay a relatively pristine forest, also a notorious Yin-land in Japan. Hidden within it was the Murderous Dry Well.

People frequently committed suicide here. This well had swallowed countless innocent lives, accumulating an extremely heavy Yin energy that sent shivers down one’s spine even in broad daylight.

However, many years ago, this well was jointly sealed by several powerful exorcists.

But now, the seal on the Murderous Well had been broken, and the reason for its breach was connected to Bai Mengqi.

The female ghost who had emerged from the television last time was a malevolent spirit born from this very well.

Many years ago, a Japanese film company had even produced a movie based on the sinister legend of this Murderous Dry Well.

Since then, for reasons unknown, anyone who watched the film would mysteriously disappear, only to be found dead in the dry well.

Later, some tourists who visited the area also inexplicably met their demise in the well.

Gradually, no one dared to come to this place, save for a few ability users.

Bai Mengqi had already arrived at the location. From a distance, she could see the surging resentment spewing forth from the forest.

“I must be there. The resentment here feels even denser than the Ghost Town, and somewhat familiar,” Bai Mengqi muttered as she drew closer.

Finally, she hovered above the location of the dry well, her gaze sharp as she meticulously observed her surroundings.

Through her spiritual eyes, she saw vast quantities of black mist, which was resentment, gushing from the dry well.

She then scanned the area and noticed several ability users patrolling around.

“Hmph! Such a small number of people, they truly underestimate me!”

Bai Mengqi descended from the sky without concealment, landing beside the dry well.

This place also had a formation, with array patterns continuously channeling the endless resentment from within the well towards the city.

Bai Mengqi peered inside, and the sight made her skin crawl.

Inside the well, countless malevolent spirits were packed densely, not a single normal soul was visible.

The one with the heaviest resentment was a female ghost clad in white.

“This is practically a gateway to hell. Who knows how many people must have died to generate such terrifying resentment,” Bai Mengqi murmured to herself.

Having said this, she prepared to jump down, for what she saw was merely the entrance; a true ghost domain lay hidden within.

Just as she was about to descend, several figures darted out from the forest, rushing directly towards Bai Mengqi.

These individuals, clad in black combat attire, wielded gleaming katanas or shurikens. They were clearly the ability users Abe Haruha had stationed here.

Without revealing their identities, they immediately attacked, aiming for Bai Mengqi. She snorted coldly, twisting her body slightly to evade the strike.

She retaliated with a palm strike, her fist wind like a dragon, smashing towards the ability users.

One of them, unable to dodge in time, hurriedly swung his blade to block. But with a loud ‘bang,’ the long blade in his hand was instantly shattered by Bai Mengqi’s palm.

The spiritual energy directly struck the man’s body. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground with an expression of disbelief.

After his death, his soul left his body and was sucked into the dry well.

As for the remaining ability users, although they were terrified by Bai Mengqi’s power, they still charged at her fearlessly.

Facing these individuals, Bai Mengqi showed no mercy, killing them one by one.

The strongest among them was a B-rank Onmyoji, likely stationed there to prevent the resentment from spreading too widely.

After dealing with the others, Bai Mengqi grabbed the Onmyoji by his collar, pulling him close.

“You were sent here by that fellow from the Jingguo Shrine, weren’t you?” Bai Mengqi demanded sharply.

Though his face was pale, the man dared not say much.

“I… I was just following orders. I don’t know anything.”

Bai Mengqi frowned, realizing she wouldn’t get any useful information from him.

She wasted no more words, striking his head with a palm. The man’s eyes widened instantly before he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

His soul, too, was once again sucked into the dry well.

After dealing with these guardians, Bai Mengqi approached the dry well.

She looked at the well, brimming with Yin energy, and then jumped down. Upon descending, she quickly found herself in a dark, eerie world.

Here, the sun was unseen, everything was a灰-white expanse, and countless terrifying malevolent spirits roamed, their numbers chilling to the bone.

She even saw the souls of the ability users she had just killed. These souls were under attack by countless malevolent spirits.

In short order, their consciousnesses were erased, transforming them into vengeful spirits, members of this ghost domain.

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