A Life Bought, A Soul Claimed

In this chaotic world, vengeful spirits were everywhere.

And this voice—

Belonged to the most powerful among them.

Although Mu Ning was only a mortal, it didn’t mean his knowledge was shallow.

He knew that among the Ten Ghost Kings of this age, the foremost one bore the title Zhenyan.

If he followed her…

Then perhaps he could one day reach the strength he desired.

Revenge—or any other goal—would become much easier.

At least, that was what he thought now.

“Hehe, since you’ve made up your mind, then let’s begin your cultivation properly~”

“Oh, wait.”

“You should probably take revenge first.”

The mysterious figure in the black conical hat suddenly changed her words midway, sounding rather unreliable.

“Get stronger first… then take revenge?”

Even if her logic was unclear, Mu Ning still grasped her meaning.

“No, no.”

The black-clad female Daoist shook her head seriously.

“You can take revenge right now.”

As she spoke, a small bottle appeared in her hand as if conjured from thin air.

“If you drink this…”

“You’ll become stronger.”

“You’ll be able to kill anyone you want—right now.”

“If you rely on normal methods, it might take years to see results.”

“And by then, your enemies may already be dead, punished by the great cycle of reincarnation.”

“You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

“This little bottle can help you.”

“As long as you drink it…”

“You can kill them all today.”

Mu Ning stared at the bottle.

Without hesitation, he took it.

Then he swallowed everything inside.

Nothing in this world came without a price.

He knew this choice would cost him dearly.

Perhaps even his life.

And if he paid with his life and still gained no power…

Then so be it.

At least, that woman would have given him the courage to end it all.

The sky darkened, as if even the laws of heaven were unsettled by his decision.

But Mu Ning knew his place.

Someone like him wouldn’t cause such changes in the heavens.

Only those favored by destiny—true prodigies—could do that.

He recalled the rumors in the county.

A gifted young cultivator was about to undergo his ascension tribulation in these very days.

And yet that person still wandered outside instead of cultivating in seclusion.

What recklessness.

“You’re impressive…”

“But we probably won’t meet again.”

Mu Ning murmured, preparing to face the end that came with his newfound power.

Or perhaps—

A beginning.

The medicine worked.

Under a torrential rain, Mu Ning broke into house after house.

One by one…

He killed every person he wanted dead.

In the end, he didn’t even know how he died.

Was it exhaustion from overexertion?

Or was it the blows of blades, clubs, and weapons from those who resisted?

After all, this was just a small county.

Those local tyrants seemed powerful only because their victims were weaker.

Their arrogance came not from true strength,

But from the absence of justice.

Still—

Mu Ning succeeded.

Even if he collapsed in the end,

He had killed them all.

But then—

He opened his eyes again.

That was the real mystery.

After achieving revenge, what was he supposed to do next?

Mu Ning had not completely dissipated.

There was only one explanation.

The mysterious female Daoist had never intended to let him die.

She had saved him.

And clearly…

Not out of pure kindness.

“Am I… a ghost now?”

Mu Ning asked calmly.

It was a careful question—

Not too ignorant, not too probing.

Just enough.

“Don’t rush, don’t rush.”

“There’s plenty of time to explain on the way.”

The woman in black spoke lightly.

Before taking him away, she handed him something wrapped up.

It was a white oil-paper umbrella.

Mu Ning recognized it instantly.

It was the same umbrella someone had once given him on a rainy street.

Now, after being “reborn,”

He realized—

That person might not have been a person at all.

Perhaps…

It had been a ray of light.

Through wind and rain, across mountains and towns,

The woman calling herself Zhenyan eventually brought Mu Ning to a mountain.

His new “body” allowed him to keep up with her pace.

Notably, he still held the oil-paper umbrella tightly in his hands.

There was a cave in the mountain.

And within it, a pool of dark water.

“Xiao Ningzi.”

The woman finally spoke again as they arrived before the pool.

Her voice always carried a faint trace of laughter.

Yet no one could ever tell what she truly meant.

“Your revenge is complete.”

“So now…”

“It’s time to repay your debt.”

As she spoke, she pointed to the black pool before them.

“This is the Soul Cleansing Pool.”

“As your benefactor…”

“I want you to jump in.”