Chapter Seventy-Six: Endless Drizzle

The White Bone True Form released its vast, chilling aura, an astonishing sight witnessed by only a select few. Yet, the true consequences were just beginning. After the eruption, billowing smoke soared into the sky, obscuring the sun and clouds alike; if one looked up, they would see only the thick, inky clouds. With the destruction of the formation and the corpses vanquished, the green zombies outside the city soon perished at the hands of Hou Bocheng.

The sand and wind of the Ghost Valley Earth-Locking Array gradually faded, revealing once more the houses and shops, while countless cracks simultaneously appeared on the hundreds of thousands of coffins. The people within these coffins struggled free, confusion clouding their faces, their memories fragmented and incomplete.

Hangdu appeared unchanged to the casual observer, except for the disappearance of the magistrate’s office; in its place gaped a massive pit, beside which stood a towering, ancient tree. At that moment, a fine, drizzling rain began to fall from the heavens, yet unlike before, the raindrops were black as ink. Had Zhou Bai retained his consciousness, he would have seen through his spirit-seeing eyes that these drops were laced with sinister energies, spreading outwards for hundreds of miles around Hangdu.

The rain lasted but a short while before ceasing, but the cold, eerie chill in the air lingered stubbornly. By now, Zhou Bai had been utterly transformed into a demon—a state more dire even than that of Bai Wanming. His divine consciousness was no match for the malignant will within, which shattered it in an instant. As he was about to be extinguished, the ghostly tree drew Zhou Bai’s spirit into its body with its roots, preserving the last spark of his existence.

When the White Bone True Form relaxed its vigilance, the ghost tree emerged from the skeleton, its roots piercing the skull in an attempt to drive out the evil will and restore Zhou Bai’s consciousness. As the two forces remained deadlocked, Hou Bocheng and Daoist Hou arrived. The former, undefeated and unscathed after facing the green zombies, contrasted sharply with Daoist Hou, who was battered all over, his eyes swollen and bruised.

They were both startled at Zhou Bai’s monstrous state, involuntarily taking a step back. By all appearances, he was unmistakably a demon. Yu Jun, having swallowed a healing pill and forcing herself through the pain, managed to approach. Though her wounds were grave, Bai Wanming had aided her before losing consciousness.

“No matter what, tonight’s events cannot be spoken of. If anyone asks, say only that an unknown force intervened in the battle,” Yu Jun instructed. Hou Bocheng, understanding the gravity of the matter, knew that if Zhou Bai’s loss of control became known, it could threaten the entire city—or worse, attract those who would seek to exploit such power.

The only one still unclear about the situation was Daoist Hou, who, being more gravely injured, had not kept pace with Hou Bocheng and thus missed Zhou Bai’s terrifying slaughter of the corpses. Worried, Hou Bocheng glanced at Zhou Bai’s skeletal form. “Will he be alright like this?”

Yu Jun sighed. Zhou Bai was the most gifted person she had ever met; she could not bear to see such promise snuffed out. “It’s dangerous. Prepare for a fight. Fortunately, most of the sinister aura within him has dissipated, and with dawn soon approaching, he should not be difficult to manage.”

Daoist Hou, being familiar with Zhou Bai, interjected, “Isn’t there anything we can do? Doesn’t the Underworld Bureau’s technique allow one to wield powers of the otherworld?”

Yu Jun shook her head, swallowing a few more pills. “There is nothing more we can do. But becoming a demon does not mean only destruction awaits—several within the Bureau have become demons yet retained their sanity. It all depends on Zhou Bai and Bai Wanming’s fortune.”

She offered a bitter smile. “By comparison, Wen Meng is even worse off. Though his injuries are suppressed, his soul-bound ghost weapon is shattered again...”

Silence fell among them. Though Hangdu had survived this calamity, the cost was steep. Zhou Bai had reached the most critical juncture. The ghost tree strained to reclaim his body, but its position was slowly being lost. Zhou Bai himself could do nothing but watch as the sinister aura crept closer to overtaking the last bones of his skull.

Suddenly, from within Zhou Bai’s heart and ribs, a lotus flower blossomed, emanating a Buddhist glow that instantly suppressed the sinister aura. Against this Buddhist light, the evil energy melted away like ice beneath the sun, visibly dissolving.

Yet even a centipede dies hard—what remained of the sinister aura gathered together, lashing out at the lotus with ferocious intent. At that moment, the lotus spat out a jade-green seed, which slowly cracked open, spreading a coolness throughout Zhou Bai’s entire skeleton.

The ghost tree promptly returned Zhou Bai’s consciousness to his body, and his awareness swiftly recovered. Overjoyed, he realized that the Divine Treasure Lapis Lazuli Elixir—a Buddhist-Daoist miracle—had finally revealed its power.

Zhou Bai now understood the true wonder of this divine gift: whenever his foundation was threatened, the Lapis Lazuli Elixir would consume a lotus seed to restore him fully. He did not know how long it took to regrow a seed, but for a technique that had cost him eighteen points, it was worth every measure.

Under the influence of the Lapis Lazuli Elixir, the sinister aura within him faded to nothing, and flesh quickly regrew over his pale bones.

Suddenly, his throat itched violently, and he coughed hard onto the ground, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. The blood contained wisps of sinister energy and writhed like a living thing, faint screams echoing from within. The lotus, transformed by the Lapis Lazuli Elixir, sent a ray of Buddhist light onto the blood. It sizzled, white smoke rising, and vanished in moments.

Through inner vision, Zhou Bai discovered that not only had the Lapis Lazuli Elixir completely reversed his transformation into a demon, but it had also erased hidden injuries from his cultivation and other divine abilities. These injuries might not be obvious in the short term, but over time, they could have undermined his very foundation.

Zhou Bai’s abrupt turn of fortune left Yu Jun and the others dumbstruck. “What’s happening? Have you ever seen someone return from demonization?” Hou Bocheng murmured, glancing at Yu Jun.

“I’m not sure. Could it be another divine ability?” she replied.

“Better not speak of it... best not,” Daoist Hou muttered, stroking the stubble on his chin.

Within a few breaths, Zhou Bai’s body had fully regenerated, and he had grown noticeably taller. A blessing in disguise, the ghost tree had now absorbed enough sinister energy to be complete, and this time Zhou Bai might be able to master his true form through normal means.

After this near loss of control, Zhou Bai felt lingering dread. Had it not been for the ghost tree and the Lapis Lazuli Elixir, even his spirit would have been utterly consumed.

Hou Bocheng looked around—the people were gradually regaining consciousness. “Let’s leave this place first,” he suggested.

“Agreed,” Yu Jun replied, rising to her feet; though her wounds were only barely contained, now was the time to find a place for quiet recuperation.

Together, carrying the unconscious Wen Meng, they left quickly. As for Bai Wanming, now transformed into a towering tree, he could not move and was left standing beside the great pit.