Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 172 Behind the Door. (Second Update!)

When Zheng Que opened his eyes again, he found himself in the dilapidated palace.

Black energy continuously surged from between his brows and disappeared into the Book of Life and Death in front of him. The gavel remained as it had always been, placed to the side.

He looked down from the steps, where the seemingly boundless darkness had receded, revealing the original appearance of the palace. The nine gates had vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

Feeling the completely different aura within his body, Zheng Que nodded in satisfaction. He had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining!
Unlike his previous diligent cultivation, this [Yin Yang Harmony Secret Record] allows him to break through without feeling any bottlenecks or barriers; everything happens naturally.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que looked at the Book of Life and Death and called out, "Ku Lan."

Mist rose from the hall, revealing the silhouette of a withered orchid.

Upon realizing where he was, Ku Lan immediately knelt down and respectfully said, "Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Zheng Que didn't waste any time and directly raised his hand to enhance the Yin energy for him.

A chilling wind rose in the hall, swirling around the withered orchid like a pillar, continuously pouring yin energy into its body.

After a while, the pillar of yin energy slowly dissipated, and the aura of the withered orchid had reached the peak of the seventh level of the [Tongue-Pulling Prison].

Zheng Que nodded slightly, then said, "Step back."

The fog rose again, obscuring the withered orchid's silhouette.

Zheng Que then summoned Nian Nu and boosted her Yin energy. After a short while, Nian Nu's Yin energy was still at the sixth level of the [Tongue-Pulling Hell], but it was not far from the seventh level.

Looking at Niannu, who was kneeling respectfully before His Highness, Zheng Que nodded in satisfaction. His own cultivation had, for once, surpassed that of the Ghost Servant.

Next, he dismissed Niannu as well.

After improving the cultivation of the two ghost servants, Zheng Que immediately reached out and touched the tongue-pulling pattern on the first page of the Book of Life and Death.

He ran his fingertips over the undulating patterns and turned to look down at the hall below.

Darkness surged forth, engulfing the vast palace with the red steps as the boundary.

Nine spiraling, descending portals straight into the abyss appeared silently, gleaming faintly in the darkness.

Seeing this scene, Zheng Que did not hesitate. He immediately stood up, grabbed the gavel, stepped down from the steps, and walked towards the door engraved with the punishment of tongue-pulling.

As he stepped off the limping armchair, the black aura between his brows continued to flow into the Book of Life and Death. For a moment, it seemed as if a thin yet long black line connected him to the Book of Life and Death.

Arriving at the imposing gate, Zheng Que pushed it open and looked behind it.

Behind the door, all was still a dark, thick crimson. The sky was like a canopy, a murky red, and the soil and gravel on the ground were a deep crimson, like congealed blood.

The scattered instruments of torture were still covered in dust.

Zheng Que gripped the gavel and stepped inside.

Tap...tap...tap...

He carefully made his way across the somewhat uneven ground, and soon arrived at the entrance of Shujiabao.

Last time, Zheng Que's mind was drawn to the Shu Family Fortress that had suddenly appeared here. This time, as he approached, he saw that on either side of the tightly closed gate of the Shu Family Fortress, there was a ghost with the aura of the ninth level of the [Tongue-Pulling Prison].

The two ghostly figures, each carrying a long staff and dressed in bright servant's attire, with mismatched silk flowers adorning their hair, were slumped over in a deep sleep.

Zheng Que ignored them, walked directly to the door, pushed it open, and went inside. Behind the door was a familiar foyer, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and covered with a red carpet—the kind of setup the ghost bride liked. There were also some ghostly figures dressed as servants, all of whom possessed the aura of the ninth level of the [Tongue-Pulling Hell], and they were all asleep.

This place looks the same as the previous Shujiabao, but there is an inexplicable sense of oppression here.

As he pondered, Zheng Que walked along the corridor into the small round hall. Nothing had changed here; the soul-summoning banner was stuck diagonally into the ground, its black surface hanging down without any sign of curling, exuding a sense of silence.

He stopped here and carefully examined the summoning banner.

In the real world, he could only see the black, soft surface of the banner, but now, in this underworld space, he could directly see the space within the black banner.

It seemed to be a battlefield, with a pitted and uneven ground littered with fragments and remnants of various weapons. Many ghosts lay sprawled about, still holding weapons in their hands, sleeping soundly in place.

In the very center was a long flight of stairs, at the top of which was a black throne, its design ancient and resembling an altar.

Qingli was sitting there with an air of nonchalance, her head drooping, fast asleep.

Zheng Que reached out, grabbed the soul-summoning banner, and pulled it from the ground.

After obtaining the summoning banner, he then headed towards the ghost cellar.

Soon, Zheng Que arrived at the entrance of the ghost cellar. Just like in the real world, ghosts guarded the entrance on both sides, also in a deep sleep.

Zheng Que pushed open the door of the Ghost Cellar and went inside.

The chests and boxes were filled with a dazzling array of items; the ghost bride's dowry was all here.

Just like the Shu family mansion, the ghost bride's vanished dowry was also absorbed into the underworld.

However, we don't know the specific conditions under which the underworld absorbs external things.
Thinking this, Zheng Que looked at the white jade plum vase not far away. The dark gray smoke inside had settled at the bottom of the vase without making a sound, clearly indicating that it was also asleep.

Now the entire Shu Family Fortress has been dragged into the underworld, and all the ghosts in the fortress seem to have fallen into a deep sleep.

Seeing this, Zheng Que walked to a box or cage next to him.

This is a black lacquered cabinet inlaid with a picture of children playing. Two large red silk ribbons are tied together in a cross shape. A silk flower the size of a large bowl is tied at the lock on the side of the cabinet, which is full of the joy of an upcoming wedding.

This is the ghost bride's dowry, protected by a restriction set by her. He couldn't open it when he was in the outside world, but now this is the underworld...

In a flash, Zheng Que raised the gavel in his hand and smashed it directly at the silk flower.

boom!
The silk flowers were smashed into nothingness in an instant, and the bright red silk ribbon also turned into a wisp of black smoke and disappeared. The cabinet lock beneath it was also shattered to pieces, and the restriction completely collapsed.

Zheng Que opened the box very easily.

Inside, there were neatly arranged sets of coral-red glazed blue-and-white porcelain pieces. All of the porcelain exuded a strong sense of gloom, unlike anything intended for the living.

These porcelain pieces are probably meant for ghosts...

Zheng Que shook his head slightly, closed the cabinet again, and was about to open the next chest when he noticed that the black aura between his brows was becoming extremely thin.

Knowing that his time here was running out, he immediately went to the white jade plum vase that sealed Shu Yunying and picked it up.

The next moment, the black aura between his brows quickly faded away. After the last wisp of black aura was drawn away by the Book of Life and Death, the Book of Life and Death did not condense any decrees this time. The surrounding scenery trembled, and Zheng Que returned directly to reality.

(End of this chapter)