Chapter 38: Ghost King Part 4

Until the day he met Xiang Xian, his life had only a sliver of light, and Xiang Xian already represented his entire existence.

“Since you were unwilling to raise me,” hatred surged in Xiao Kun’s heart as he choked out, “why did you bring me into this world?”

Jing Pian Ge answered candidly, “To journey through this world once—apart from hardships, is there nothing that made you willingly believe it was worthwhile?”

Xiao Kun did not reply. In that silence, Chaosheng suddenly spoke up. “There is, so this is the mortal world?”

“Exactly.” Jing Pian Ge said slowly, “Before the sandstorm ends, I must explain the dire straits you face right now, Xiao Kun. Where to begin? If you want to understand your situation, perhaps we must start from the dawn of heaven and earth.”

When Wu Yingzong heard this, he was simply floored, his expression plainly saying: Can’t you just cut to the chase?

Chaosheng soothed him with a glance. At that moment, he was the calmest of them all.

“Don’t worry,” Chaosheng said. “Since he puts it that way, there must be a reason.”

“Speak.” Xiao Kun said gravely.

Wu Yingzong, Hulü Guang, and Chaosheng each found places to sit. Jing Pian Ge looked up at the cave walls and casually swiped through the air. Firelight reflected on the walls, casting the shadow of a dragon.

“Pangu created this world—a legend you all surely know well. Pangu’s power scattered to the four corners of the earth, and the primordial gods fell into a long slumber. Afterward, the gods inherited the Creator’s divine power and emerged one by one, carving out divine domains in the world, where all things flourished…”

Jing Pian Ge’s voice was low and hoarse. Countless scenes flickered on the cave walls like shadow puppets, sketching the primordial era.

“Many years later, the dragon fell, crashing onto the northern lands.” Jing Pian Ge said, “It was the progenitor of all dragons in heaven and earth, named Zhuyin.”

“Ah!” Chaosheng exclaimed. “Zhuyin’s eyes open for day, close for night—I know of it! It’s the ancient god that controls time!”

“Precisely.” Jing Pian Ge replied, “After Zhuyin fell, it left behind its dragon pearl, called the Dinghai Pearl, meaning to regulate the vast sea of time. It held the power to reset causality and reverse the flow of time. Over seven hundred years ago, the pearl reincarnated as a human during the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation. It shattered in a great battle.”

Xiao Kun suddenly recalled the blank first page in Xiang Xian’s illustrated guide:

[This object is linked to Shenzhou’s destiny, reversing causality and turning back time.]

Jing Pian Ge continued, “After the Dinghai Pearl shattered, its core remained—a finger-wheel known as the Wheel of Fate. To prevent demons and monsters from obtaining it and wreaking havoc on the human world, the Grand Demon-Exorcist Chen Xing entrusted it to the Ghost Clan for safekeeping, placing it in the hands of Tuoba Yan—my master.”

“Wait…” Chaosheng said, full of doubt. “I think I’ve heard of it. This magic treasure can reverse time, yes! But there are scarcely any records of it!”

“Exactly.” Jing Pian Ge said. “The mortal world destroyed all descriptions of it, leaving no records to prevent those with ill intent from coveting it.

“Later, my master ventured into the depths of the Netherworld, seeking the truth of life and death, and never returned. The Wheel of Fate was sealed in the Divine Palace, and I was tasked with guarding the seal.”

What Xiao Kun pondered, however, was something else—how powerful must a treasure be that could reverse causality and time? It was a world-shattering force!

“A Demon Race member named ‘Mu’ came and stole the Wheel of Fate,” Jing Pian Ge continued, “and had his subordinate ‘Mr. Liu’ drive me from the Divine Palace.

“For over seven hundred years, no one has activated the Wheel of Fate. It requires immense power to wield, and once activated, time rewinds, all causality resets. No matter how much effort you make, if he refuses to accept defeat, he can simply start over at any time.”

Xiao Kun said, “So if it’s activated, time and causality are fully reset, and everyone’s memories are lost. How would we even know if time has regressed?”

Jing Pian Ge replied, “That’s the most crucial point I want to warn you about.”

Jing Pian Ge made another gesture, and the light and shadows on the cave walls spun backward in a frenzy. The giant dragon flew back into the sky, the army of War Dead Corpse Ghosts retreated swiftly, and the fragmented Shenzhou Great Land reassembled into a chaos like an egg.

A strong unease welled up in Xiao Kun’s heart, though he couldn’t pinpoint its source. He felt Jing Pian Ge’s words hid deeper meaning.

Seeing no objection from him, Jing Pian Ge said offhandedly, “Guarding the Wheel of Fate is the Ghost Clan’s duty. Now it’s in the Demon King’s hands, and my comrades are controlled by Mr. Liu. You must find a way to seize it back from ‘Mu.’ Otherwise, even if you overcome countless obstacles and reach him, he can activate the treasure and rewind time again.”

Xiao Kun asked, “How far back can he rewind time?”

Jing Pian Ge answered, “I don’t know. In theory, the further back, the greater the energy cost. The magical power to wield such a treasure rivals that of a god.”

Xiao Kun pondered for a moment before Wu Yingzong suddenly interjected, “If we go back to the past, will we remember what happened?”

“No.” Jing Pian Ge said. “That’s the trickiest part. Only the one activating the Wheel of Fate—‘Mu’ himself—remembers. In other words, the Demon King stands invincible.”

Hulü Guang said, “Then we sneak up on this guy and steal the wheel.”

Jing Pian Ge did not respond.