Underworld Envoy

After Qing Li’s cultivation reached the fifth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】, the rate of her Yin Qi growth noticeably slowed, and the howling yin winds beneath the hall gradually subsided.

Soon, the Yin Qi surrounding the female ghost slowly dispersed, the commotion in the great hall began to quiet down, the black smoke contracted to reveal her figure, and her cultivation ultimately stabilized at the fifth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】.

Witnessing this, Zheng Que immediately understood: among the seven ghosts Qing Li had slain this time, four were killed quickly, but three were dealt with slowly, and Qing Li herself had clearly been injured.

Those three ghosts must have been at the fourth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】.

Thinking this, he nodded slightly and was about to confer an official title upon Qing Li, but after careful consideration, he suddenly felt it was inappropriate.

Underworld Envoys were merely the lowest-ranking Underworld Official Positions, essentially petty officials at the bottom.

Appointing such a low-tier position, did it actually require him, the esteemed master of the Underworld, to personally intervene?

Wasn’t this blatantly revealing that his Underworld was a small, makeshift operation with nothing to its name?

He couldn’t use his identity in the Underworld to confer the title upon Qing Li.

With that thought, Zheng Que hesitated no longer. Taking advantage of Qing Li’s bow of gratitude, he directly used the 【Ghost Taming Art】 to draw her into his palm.

Immediately after, he gazed at the gushing black Qi between his brows and waited quietly.

As the last wisp of black Qi was absorbed by the Book of Life and Death, the surroundings shifted and swayed, and Zheng Que returned to reality.

All around was darkness, the night outside the window thick and heavy.

Zheng Que opened his palm and released Qing Li.

Upon discovering she had returned to reality, Qing Li showed no intention of wasting time. “Human brat, this venerable one is going out for a while!”

Zheng Que immediately responded, “Wait a moment.”

Hearing this, Qing Li looked at Zheng Que with displeasure, seemingly very annoyed that this human brat was wasting her time.

Zheng Que looked at Qing Li, then extended two fingers and pointed toward the space between his brows.

As his spiritual power circulated within him, a pattern resembling both a fish and an insect gradually appeared on his previously blank brow. This pattern seemed like a rune, filled with an ancient, weathered aura, exuding dense Yin Qi and profound mystery.

Upon seeing this pattern, Qing Li, who had been extremely impatient, immediately perked up.

She could clearly sense that this ancient, intricate symbol contained vast Yin Qi and secrets. An instinct deep within told her that this symbol held immense benefits for her.

At this moment, Zheng Que said with a serious expression, “This is an Edict.”

“It can confer upon a ghost the title of Underworld Envoy.”

Before Qing Li could say anything, he continued, “While I was unconscious earlier, I had a dream. In the dream, a voice told me that I am a chosen one, bearing a mission, and must undergo numerous trials to achieve enlightenment and attain divinity.”

“This Edict was gifted to me by that voice.”

Hearing this, Qing Li snapped back to reality.

As for all that talk about being a chosen one, bearing a mission, and attaining divinity, she didn’t believe a word of it.

After all, she was the chosen ghost, bearing a ghostly destiny, destined to attain ghostly divinity.

These flattering words were undoubtedly shameless embellishments added by this human brat to glorify himself.

But that Edict, it was clearly the real deal.

Thinking this, Qing Li immediately said, “Then what are you waiting for, human brat? Hurry up and confer the title upon this venerable one!”

Seeing Qing Li clearly had a request for him yet still kept calling him “human brat” over and over, Zheng Que’s face darkened, but he quickly calmed down.

He was alone now, so letting Qing Li have her verbal victory wasn’t a big deal.

As long as she worked harder to slay ghosts from now on, everything would be fine.

Without further ado, Zheng Que immediately pointed two fingers toward his brow and channeled his Spiritual Qi. In an instant, a strand of pitch-black, exceptionally pure Yin Qi was drawn out from between his brows.

This strand of Yin Qi condensed into a tangible form, resembling a dormant seed, floating between Zheng Que’s fingers. It wriggled rapidly and immediately transformed into an ancient, weathered symbol.

Qing Li stared intently at this symbol, her crimson eyes brimming with intense desire.

At that moment, following the newly acquired information in his mind, Zheng Que gently pointed toward Qing Li.

In the next instant, the symbol transformed into a wisp of ghostly light, whistling as it imprinted itself onto Qing Li’s brow.

Qing Li stood motionless, her gaze momentarily vacant. In the blink of an eye, a pattern resembling both an insect and a bird appeared between her brows. The Yin Qi around her body rapidly expanded, contracted, expanded, and contracted several times before finally stabilizing. Now, the Yin Qi had become refined and pure, as if undergoing a qualitative transformation.

The previously plain, thin, and soft white robe also quietly changed: the fabric became heavier and stiffer, symmetrical treasure flower patterns emerged on the plain surface, and two-inch-wide black borders appeared on the collar and cuffs. The entire white dress seemed to transform from casual wear into official attire, becoming much more dignified.

In addition, a green silk cord now hung from her waist, bearing a small token. The token was entirely black, exuding a cold and eerie aura, with an ancient character for “duty” engraved on it.

After a long while, Qing Li gradually regained her senses. The insect-bird pattern between her brows slowly faded.

Now, the female ghost was no longer a translucent spirit. Even up close, she appeared full-fleshed, with hair like a waterfall neatly tied atop her head by a white ribbon, secured with a wooden hairpin. Dressed in a white satin-like gown, she stood with her sleeves gathered, tall and serene. The sinister, cold aura typical of long-standing ghosts had vanished entirely. Apart from her pale complexion and still-crimson eyes, she was indistinguishable from a living person.

Feeling the dramatic change in her own strength, Qing Li immediately laughed triumphantly. She spread her arms, admiring her current attire and accessories. “Human brat, well done.”

“Your grandmother is very satisfied this time!”

Watching Qing Li play the master appraising her servant, Zheng Que smiled slightly, already planning to make this ghost servant kowtow a few hundred more times the next time she entered the Underworld.

He then asked, “What’s different now that you’ve become an Underworld Envoy?”

“Do you have any new abilities?”

Qing Li, still elated, replied without hesitation, “The Underworld Envoy’s position allows your grandmother to sense all other ghosts in the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】, no matter what methods they use to conceal their presence.”

“Moreover, your grandmother can directly see these ghosts’ abilities and seal one of them.”

“Furthermore, from now on, the souls of all beings slain by this lady will directly fall into the Underworld. The Yin Qi of the ghosts slain by this lady will be the same.”