Record Changes
Hearing this, Zheng Que nodded slightly.
The ability to sense ghosts, view their specific information, and seal one of their abilities, these three were extremely useful.
As for killing living beings and ghosts and causing their souls and Yin Qi to fall into the Underworld, this overlapped with the effect of his Book of Life and Death.
Qing Li was his ghost servant. Even without this ability, the living beings and ghosts she killed would still be recorded by the Book of Life and Death.
The only use of this ability should be that even after he severed the master-servant relationship with Qing Li, she could still have names recorded in his Book of Life and Death.
Thinking this, Zheng Que immediately asked, “Do you have any other new abilities?”
Besides receiving the Edict this time, Qing Li had just absorbed the Yin Qi of seven ghosts. He wondered what abilities she had inherited.
However, upon hearing this question, Qing Li’s previously elated expression instantly vanished. After a long while, she replied indifferently, “No.”
No?
Zheng Que was taken aback. There were a full seven ghosts. Even if each had only one ability, that would be seven abilities.
Had Qing Li not inherited a single one?
Last time, Qing Li hadn’t inherited the water ghosts’ abilities, most likely because their cultivation levels were far below hers. But among this batch of ghosts, there was more than one at the fourth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】.
After pondering seriously for a moment, Zheng Que quickly made a deduction.
Although the Book of Life and Death would record the names and Yin Qi of the ghosts Qing Li killed alone, the Yin Qi recorded might not be complete — only a portion of it.
Only when he was present could the Book of Life and Death record the ghosts’ names and all their Yin Qi.
Only then could Qing Li possibly inherit the abilities of those ghosts.
Just as he was thinking this, Qing Li said coldly, “Little human brat, if there’s nothing else, this lady is going out.”
Zheng Que snapped back to reality. He couldn’t delay his ghost servant’s time. Thinking this, he immediately nodded. “Alright.”
The next moment, the door opened and Qing Li drifted out, floating ethereally.
The room was now left with only Zheng Que. Without hesitation, he immediately began cultivating.
As the cultivation method circulated, Spiritual Qi mixed with Yin Qi slowly flowed into his Qi Sea.
Unconsciously, Zheng Que opened his eyes and once again entered the Underworld.
He glanced at the Book of Life and Death before him. It still recorded forty-nine names.
Just as Zheng Que was about to look away, he suddenly noticed that the entry about Qing Li had completely changed.
Category: Vengeful Spirit.
Type: Hanged Female Ghost.
True Name: Qing Li.
Place of Origin: Town of Lasting Fortune, Great Peace County, Marsh Province, Great Li Dynasty.
“Yin Lifespan: Twenty-two years, five months, and four days.
Underworld Official Position: Underworld Envoy (can be dispatched).
Term of Office: Half a Cycle (thirty years).
Zheng Que was slightly surprised. Previously, Qing Li’s recorded category was “Human Race,” but now it had changed to “Vengeful Spirit.” “Type” had become “Hanged Female Ghost.” Her name and place of origin remained unchanged, but the “Name” field was now labeled “True Name,” “Lifespan” had become “Yin Lifespan,” and there were two additional fields: Underworld Official Position and Term of Office.
After reviewing Qing Li’s entry twice, Zheng Que quickly understood.
Previously, the Book of Life and Death had only recorded Qing Li’s information from when she was alive. Even though she had transformed into a Vengeful Spirit after death, before receiving the official appointment, the Book of Life and Death did not recognize her identity in the Underworld.
To use an analogy from his past life: this was equivalent to Qing Li previously being an undocumented person using an expired identity, a target for arrest by the Underworld’s own envoys. Now that she had received the official appointment, she finally had a formal identity within the Underworld.
Thinking this, Zheng Que’s gaze shifted to the words “can be dispatched” following “Underworld Envoy.”
After pondering for a moment, he tentatively called out, “Qing Li?”
Not long after he uttered her name, a dense black mist suddenly surged from the empty hall below. A familiar figure emerged from within it.
The figure was slender and graceful, dressed in white with black hair neatly tied back. A small token hung at her waist, engraved with the ancient character for “duty,” from which a strand of green silk tassel fluttered. It was indeed Qing Li.
Unlike the previous times she had entered this place, Qing Li was now fully conscious and extremely wary of her surroundings. Upon realizing she had returned to the Underworld, she swiftly knelt and kowtowed. “This common woman… this humble officer pays respects to my lord!”
Zheng Que was immediately delighted. So “can be dispatched” referred to dispatching Underworld Envoys.
Now, he could directly call Qing Li’s name to summon her into the Underworld at any time, no longer needing to repeatedly use the 【Ghost Taming Art】.
This was far more convenient and safer for him.
In a flash of thought, Zheng Que composed himself and spoke earnestly. “You were originally a Wandering Spirit, but now you have received an official appointment as an envoy of the Underworld. This is indeed a stroke of fate.”
“From now on, you must guard against impatience and arrogance, diligently follow orders, and serve the Underworld with dedication. In time, you will be rewarded.”
“If you flatter to my face but criticize behind my back, or feign compliance while acting contrary, I, as your superior, am perceptive and will not show leniency!”
His voice reverberated through the vast hall, like roaring waters mingled with rolling thunder, pressing relentlessly upon Qing Li’s mind.
Qing Li hurriedly kowtowed. “This humble officer will spare no effort and dare not disobey!”
Clang, clatter, bang…
In the empty hall, the female ghost’s kowtowing rang out particularly loud.
Above, Zheng Que nodded slightly, then spoke gravely. “That Human Race cultivator’s tribulation is approaching.”
“This tribulation will be extremely difficult for them.”
“If that Human Race cultivator fails to transcend this tribulation, it will be considered your dereliction of duty. At that time, all offenses will be punished together. You will be stripped of your Underworld Official Position, your appointment revoked, and cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, never to be reincarnated for eternity!”
“I have said all that needs to be said. Dismissed!”
As his words fell, Qing Li was still kneeling and kowtowing on the ground when dense mist suddenly materialized around her, instantly swallowing her up.
Qing Li’s figure quickly vanished within the thick mist, and then the mist dissipated without a trace. The hall below returned to its empty state.
Only Zheng Que’s solitary figure remained in the vast hall.
Observing this, he nodded in satisfaction. The dispatch function of the Underworld Envoy position was truly useful.
No matter where Qing Li went in the future, he could summon her into the Underworld at any time and order her to leave whenever necessary.
Lost in thought, Zheng Que leaned back against the grand armchair with its broken leg, quietly gazing at the Book of Life and Death before him.
Before long, a new name emerged in the Book of Life and Death.
Time passed slowly, and the dark Qi at Zheng Que’s brow gradually thinned.
When all the dark Qi had been absorbed by the Book of Life and Death, he returned to the real world.
A faint white light filtered through the window paper, and the distant clatter of pots and pans came from next door. The sky had brightened, but the beam above was empty. Qing Li had not yet returned.
Zheng Que did not resume his cultivation. He sat quietly in the room, waiting.