Chapter 72

Chapter 71: The Ghost Tower (Part 1)

"Have you heard that there are ghosts there?" Nan Huairen said mysteriously to Li Qiyi.

"Since it's called the Ghost Tower, it's normal for there to be ghosts. If there were no ghosts, how could it be called the Ghost Tower?" Li Qiyi said with a calm smile.

Seeing that Li Qiyi wasn't at all worried, Nan Huairen was so anxious that he almost jumped. He hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, I'm not joking with you. There really are ghosts there. If you don't believe me, ask my master."

Mahuofa was also present. Hearing Nan Huairen's words, he pondered for a moment and said, "The Ghost Tower is indeed ominous. It's best to be cautious. Although I haven't heard of anyone dying there, it's said that even the Great Elder was left in a terrible state, suffering a significant loss. Whether there are ghosts or not is still uncertain, but there is definitely something ominous there."

"Ghosts, huh." Li Qiyi gazed into the distance, his eyes far away. Finally, he smiled and said, "If there really are ghosts, I might actually like it. I'm not afraid of ghosts." As he said this, he couldn't help but curl his lips and laugh.

Nan Huairen was speechless at his senior brother's "heavy taste." While others would try to avoid such ominous things, his senior brother actually said he liked them.

Nan Huairen was genuinely concerned about Li Qiyi and wanted to persuade him, but his master, Mahuofa, shook his head lightly, and he had no choice but to keep quiet.

Mahuofa didn't try to persuade Li Qiyi. He could see that Li Qiyi had already made up his mind and believed that Li Qiyi didn't need their worry.

"Let's go, let's take a look at the Ghost Tower!" Finally, Li Qiyi said with a smile to Nan Huairen and the others.

Nan Huairen had no choice but to resign himself to it and follow Li Qiyi to the Ghost Tower. However, he still muttered, "Senior Brother, if you encounter a ghost, don't blame me for not warning you. There really are ghosts there."

Li Qiyi just smiled at Nan Huairen's nagging, which sounded like a woman's chatter.

In fact, all the disciples of the Xianyan Ancient Sect had heard about Li Qiyi going to the Ghost Tower to face the wall. When the Ghost Tower was mentioned, the disciples of the Xianyan Ancient Sect couldn't help but shudder.

"Stay in the Ghost Tower for half a year? I wouldn't even stay for a day. I'd rather be punished in the ice cave than stay in the Ghost Tower!" one disciple said with a pale face.

"Even the ice cave, I'd rather go to the Yin Gan Valley. I definitely don't want to go to the Ghost Tower," another disciple said, shaking his head.

"Speaking of the Ghost Tower, even our bold Uncle was scared." A disciple said, "Uncle Bold, who is probably the bravest person in our Xianyan Ancient Sect, didn't believe in the superstition and bet with us that he would stay in the Ghost Tower for a night. The next day, he fled in terror before dawn."

"You little brat, exposing my weakness. Do you want a beating?" A middle-aged man glared and shouted. This man was rough and looked like a brute.

Despite the man's glare, a disciple couldn't help but ask curiously, "Uncle, what happened that night? What was it like?"

The uncle, being questioned by his disciples, fell silent for a moment and then shook his head, saying, "There are ghosts in the Ghost Tower, very terrifying ghosts. It might not be just one ghost, but many, many ghosts."

"How long do you think Li Qiyi can stay in the Ghost Tower?" a disciple asked curiously.

"I bet he won't last a night," a disciple said, making a bet.

Another disciple snorted, "A night? I think he'll be scared out of his wits as soon as it gets dark. The Ghost Tower isn't just a name; there are definitely ghosts there!"

For a moment, many disciples of the Xianyan Ancient Sect discussed the matter, all agreeing that the Ghost Tower was haunted, but no one could describe the exact nature of the ghosts.

In fact, even the protectors of the sect were wary of the Ghost Tower. The Great Elder had once gone there, intending to suppress the ominous presence with his imperial arts, but the next day, he retreated from the Ghost Tower in a terrible state, unable to suppress the ominous presence.

Since then, no protector or disciple dared to try to suppress the ghosts of the Ghost Tower, not even the Great Elder, let alone anyone else.

The Ghost Tower stood on one of the main peaks of the Xianyan Ancient Sect. Originally, the spiritual energy of this peak was quite good, but after the Ghost Tower became haunted, not only did the Ghost Tower become uninhabitable, but no disciple of the Xianyan Ancient Sect was willing to cultivate there.

Now, the area around the peak was in a state of decline. Even within a few dozen miles of the main peak, everything was desolate, and the plants and trees looked sickly, as if affected by the ominous presence.

It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, the disciples of this main peak formed their own lineage, and this peak had been prosperous for several generations. However, after it became haunted, it began to decline and eventually no disciple was willing to set foot there.

When Li Qiyi stood on the main peak and looked out at the surrounding mountains and rivers, he couldn't help but fall silent. The desolate scene here was not just due to the lack of disciples cultivating. Standing on the main peak, one could faintly sense an unease, as if evil energy was about to surge from beneath the peak.

For tens of thousands of years, the disciples of the Xianyan Ancient Sect believed this place to be ominous, and it seemed they had good reason.

Standing on the main peak, Nan Huairen felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being watched by a ghost, making his scalp tingle. If it weren't for Li Qiyi and the others, he wouldn't have wanted to stay in this ghostly place.

Regaining his composure, he looked at the building standing on the main peak, now in a state of decline. The building, known as the Ghost Tower, seemed to be decaying. Li Qiyi couldn't help but sigh softly.

The Ghost Tower, though called a ghost tower, was actually built very intricately and tastefully. It stood on the main peak as if it were a natural part of it, blending seamlessly with the peak.

From the decoration of the Ghost Tower, it was clear that the Xianyan Ancient Sect had once placed great importance on it. Unfortunately, after the ominous events, the sect abandoned the Ghost Tower.

Although the Ghost Tower wasn't large, it was very delicate and could be described as exquisite. However, it was now covered in dust, spider webs, and overgrown with wild grass, and even squirrels and wild birds had made their homes there.

Stepping into the Ghost Tower, the sound of the floorboards, made from ten-thousand-year-old jade pines, creaked underfoot. In the eerie atmosphere, even the bravest would be scared out of their wits, especially when the sound of bats flapping their wings and flying around added to the ghostly atmosphere.

"This was once one of the important places of the Xianyan Ancient Sect, but now it's completely abandoned," Mahuofa said with a sigh.

Not only did Mahuofa sigh, but Li Qiyi also sighed softly in his heart. Recalling the past, when the path of cultivation was long and arduous, and Emperor Mingren had not yet carried the mandate of heaven or dominated the nine heavens and ten earths, he had once taught the young Mingren the art of the zither in this very building.

Speaking of which, back then, as Yin Ya, he had even mocked young Mingren's poor zither skills, saying that if he were to learn the zither and perform, he would starve to death.

Recalling those days, Emperor Mingren had laughed heartily at such mockery.

Without Li Qiyi's instruction, Mahuofa and Nan Huairen quickly tidied up the Ghost Tower. After they cleaned and organized it, the Ghost Tower became much brighter, and the eerie atmosphere was somewhat dispelled. Despite this, the Ghost Tower still had an eerie feel.

After Mahuofa and Nan Huairen had arranged everything Li Qiyi needed, they reported to him.

Li Qiyi nodded after looking at their arrangements and said, "Not bad, but I'll sleep in the hall, no need to prepare a separate room for me. Also, Huairen, get me a zither."

"A zither? Why do you need a zither?" Nan Huairen was taken aback. Generally, few cultivators had the refined taste to play the zither and admire the moon.

Li Qiyi smiled and said, "Since this was once a zither tower and the scenery here is beautiful, playing the zither and admiring the moon at night would be quite delightful."

"Uh—" Nan Huairen couldn't help but say softly, "Senior Brother, this is the Ghost Tower, and it's haunted at night. You, you, you still have the mood to play the zither?"

"Brat, don't ruin my mood, go quickly!" Li Qiyi, a teenager of thirteen or fourteen, scolded Nan Huairen, sounding a bit old-fashioned, while Nan Huairen ran off with a smile.

While Nan Huairen and his master were busy, Li Shuangyan, who had come with them, seemed particularly interested in the Ghost Tower. She carefully observed it, not missing any detail.

At that moment, Li Shuangyan was examining the four large pillars in the hall, completely engrossed. The four massive pillars, made from ten-thousand-year-old jade pines, had withstood the test of time without any decay. Each pillar was covered with intricate patterns. In fact, these patterns were not only on the four pillars but were found throughout the entire zither tower, though they were very faint and hard to notice unless one looked closely.

Li Shuangyan, a genius with a saintly imperial body, was a pride of heaven wherever she went. Upon seeing these patterns, she immediately felt they were extraordinary. As a genius, she began to study them carefully, trying to understand their profound mysteries. However, as she delved deeper, she realized that these patterns were neither Dao patterns nor talismans, but she felt that they contained some indescribable profundity.

"Have you discovered any profound mysteries?" Li Qiyi walked up to her, smiled contentedly, and asked Li Shuangyan, who was studying the patterns.

The third update is here, classmates, where are your votes? ^_^

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