Chapter 1177: Ghost Gate

"You've fought them too?" Chen Ling was surprised.

"Years ago, I experienced an earthquake," a flash of complexity crossed Shen Nan's eyes. "That earthquake was severe. I lost my father, and it was also at that time that I mastered the power of [Nuo]...

I'm not sure if it was a dream or reality, but I only remember that there seemed to be someone standing above the earthquake zone, wearing a pale white garment. The corners of his eyes looked like crescent moons, as if he were smiling, but also as if he weren't.

Later, I fought him in a dream. I shouldn't have been able to win, but then the two Divine Path stars of Witch and Opera lit up in the sky, and I felt power suddenly surge forth, driving him away."

Hearing this, Chen Ling immediately recalled the massive earthquake that had turned Shen Nan into a Nuo practitioner. In that terrifying disaster, there had been only one casualty, while everyone else buried underground had miraculously survived... Now it seemed their survival wasn't as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"That was indeed a messenger of the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury, but not 'Kongwang'—it was 'Suxi'," Sun Bumian replied immediately upon hearing the description of the person's expression.

"Suxi?"

"There are six messengers of the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury. Their true bodies are all behind the Ghost Gate and generally do not leave... When a large-scale death is about to occur in a certain area, their consciousness descends to ensure that all the departed souls can enter behind the Ghost Gate. After all, if there are too many souls and a mistake occurs, they would become wandering spirits in the mortal world, affecting the operation of the Ghost Path."

"So what I encountered back then was just their consciousness..." Shen Nan was thoughtful.

Chen Ling recalled the Kongwang from earlier. Ordinary people really couldn't see the other party's existence. If he hadn't also possessed the power of [Nuo], he probably wouldn't have been able to see or touch it... The power of [Nuo] exists between Opera and Witch, averting disasters and curing illnesses, standing in opposition to the Ghost Path messengers.

But the Kongwang in the Tian-Shu Realm could not only be seen by everyone but also attacked by everyone. That must have been Kongwang's true body.

"There's one more thing I find strange," Chen Ling frowned, recalling the image of Kongwang disappearing in an instant.

"After I fought Kongwang, his body drilled into the earth and disappeared in an instant... Do their consciousnesses possess the ability to shift over such long distances?"

"Shifting is possible, but his disappearance wasn't because of that."

Sun Bumian's expression was serious. He raised his hand and pointed to the ground beneath their feet, "If I'm not mistaken, we are currently standing right on top of the Ghost Gate..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling and Shen Nan were both stunned.

"You mean, the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury is beneath Wushan Town??"

"Many, many years ago, I broke into the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury, but it's been so long that I can't remember the exact location. Plus, with the passage of time, the terrain and landscape are completely different from the past." Sun Bumian paused for a moment.

"However, the aura of fortune and misfortune at the Ghost Gate is very unique... The baleful aura here is too heavy, almost completely masking the aura of the Ghost Gate itself. I almost didn't recognize it."

"Then is the disaster in Wushan Town related to the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury?" Shen Nan frowned tightly.

"Logically speaking, the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury is only responsible for the operation of the Ghost Path and wouldn't interfere with the development of external affairs... But the baleful aura here is truly suspicious, and I can't judge where its source lies."

The three fell into deep thought simultaneously.

"Perhaps the director of Bureau 749 knows something," Chen Ling suddenly spoke up.

The other two looked at him. Chen Ling continued to explain, "Don't you find it strange? Why did Bureau 749 choose this place as the site for the conference? A place of baleful aura with no hope of survival, and also the location of the Ghost Gate of the Ghost Path Ancient Treasury... This is too much of a coincidence."

"Chen Ling is right. Instead of guessing here, we might as well ask him directly," Shen Nan nodded.

"Then I'll leave it to you!"

Sun Bumian said immediately.

Shen Nan: ?

"I don't want to deal with that guy, and Chen Ling is a wanted criminal. You're the only one suitable to go," Sun Bumian shrugged helplessly.

"...Fine." Shen Nan checked the time, "The banquet should start in a while. I'll see if he shows up tonight. If he does, I'll go talk to him."

"What banquet?" Chen Ling asked curiously.

"Every time there's a meeting, Bureau 749 hosts a welcome banquet. It's for everyone to socialize before the formal meeting starts, so the atmosphere isn't too serious and rigid."

Hearing this, Chen Ling keenly caught onto something.

"Will all the guests be there?"

"Basically, yes. You have to give Bureau 749 some face. Why?"

Chen Ling pondered for a moment, his gaze slowly sweeping over the two.

"Have you two heard of the Emperor Divine Path?"

……

"So this is Wushan..."

Su Zhiwei and Yang Xiao stepped out of the car one after another, looking at the hazy town shrouded in mist and water vapor, their eyes full of curiosity.

"I thought it would be more modernized."

"It is a town in the mountains, after all, and not a popular tourist destination. It's not bad as it is now." Su Zhiwei looked at the towering hospital building in the distance, "At least the hospital looks decent..."

"After so many years, there have been quite a few changes."

Lu Xun was the last to get out of the car. His gaze slowly swept across the surroundings, as if comparing the scene before him with his memories one by one. "The roads have widened, there are more high-rise buildings... I wonder if those people from back then are still here."

"Has Director Chen arrived?"

"Just received a message; Director Chen has already checked into the Huixian Hotel."

"Huixian Hotel?" Lu Xun was surprised. "This hotel hasn't gone out of business yet... It seems to be older than I am."

Then, as if thinking of something, Lu Xun nodded to himself:

"That's true... Wushan Town doesn't have many outside tourists. I guess they never built a decent hotel, and besides the Huixian Hotel, there's nowhere else to stay."

"Then where are we staying tonight?"

"We can't stay at the Huixian Hotel. Director Sun and the others will probably be staying there. If they see us, it'll be troublesome."

"Then stay at Dr. Lu's house?"

"My house has been abandoned for too many years; it's probably gone by now..." Lu Xun pondered for a moment. "I remember there's a Lotus Hotel next to the Huixian Hotel. It was opened by my uncle. Although the conditions aren't as good as the Huixian Hotel, it should be fine to make do for a day or two."

"That works." Su Zhiwei nodded, "Being close to the Huixian Hotel will make it more convenient to act."

The three of them didn't delay and headed straight toward the Lotus Hotel.

Led by Lu Xun, they quickly found the hotel. Calling it a hotel was a stretch; it looked more like two dilapidated storefronts joined together with a hotel sign hung up. The facade was in ruins, not even as good as most budget inns.

Lu Xun pushed the door open. Behind the dim counter, a man in his fifties yawned lazily.

Seeing them, he was stunned for a moment, then said uncertainly:

"...Xiao Xun?"