Zhongkui’s expression grew even more solemn. In her eyes, she seemed to glimpse a blended... “thing”! Yes—it could only be called a thing. It had the body of an immortal yet pulsing with ghost qi, the two perfectly fused without any rejection by the Heavenly Realm. What on earth was happening?
“You still look so delicious after all this time apart that I can’t stop my mouth from watering!” The voice of Ting Yu, eldest of the Three Extreme Hungers, issued from Shan Ting’s lips. His tone was deep and oily. After speaking, he wiped the drool at his mouth with his sleeve—disgusting beyond belief!
A flash of revulsion crossed Zhongkui’s mind. “You’re supposed to be a Ghost King–realm powerhouse of the Netherworld, yet here you are in the Heavenly Realm skulking in an immortal’s skin. How exactly did you cram him in there?” Ting Yu grinned smugly. “Like putting on clothes! And wearing an immortal’s skin lets me do so much. I can gorge myself every time—an experience I never had before. I owe you thanks; without your guidance, my brothers and I might still be stuck in the Netherworld. Eating an immortal was once a pipe dream, but with the Great Era coming, everything will return to the old ways!”
Zhongkui’s curiosity flared. “What do you mean by ‘Great Era’?” Ting Yu covered his mouth, chuckling. “Oops, maybe I said too much. If you really want to know, just let me eat you. Then I’ll explain everything from inside my belly—how about that?”
“Perhaps I should beat you half to death first?” Zhongkui swept her sleeve; a barrier sprang up, enclosing them both—to prevent Ting Yu from fleeing and to hide her ghost qi from other immortals. Her Yan Tianji was cracked and could not sustain a lengthy fight, but within the barrier she was free to unleash her full power. She clenched her fists; black thunder coiled around her wrists like dragons, crackling furiously. A savage aura swept the area—thunder was the bane of ghosts, especially black lightning! At equal realms, Zhongkui feared no one. Yet Ting Yu only sneered. “What have you been doing in the Heavenly Realm all this time? Still no progress—truly disappointing!”
He tapped his stomach; it rumbled dully. His gaunt frame seemed even leaner. Zhongkui ignored his taunts and struck with lightning. Countless bolts of black thunder cascaded like a tidal wave. But Ting Yu didn’t bother to dodge; he let the heavenly thunder rain down. Only when an incense stick’s worth of time passed did the lightning relent. Even mighty Zhongkui panted, yet when the dust cleared, Ting Yu stood unscathed, his mad grin more deranged than ever.
“I told you, you’ve made no progress—why should you think you can defeat me?” he mocked. A surge of ghost qi, almost tangible, burst forth. The force nearly unbalanced Zhongkui. This wasn’t just Ghost King–peak—it was half a step into Ghost Emperor! Zhongkui’s eyes widened in disbelief. Though he wore Shan Ting’s form, behind him loomed a vast phantom—the true Ting Yu—vast as a mountain, immovable! How many immortals had he devoured to reach this level? Zhongkui could scarcely imagine.
“Devour Heaven, Consume Earth!” Ting Yu roared. A gargantuan demonic head, as tall as the sky, materialized, its maw gaping and tusks bared. Zhongkui tried to dodge but realized countless threads of ghost qi had ensnared her. They dragged her toward the gaping mouth. She tried to summon black lightning to break free but to no effect. As Ting Yu formed a hand seal, she lost all control of her body; not even her fingers moved. The invisible threads continued dragging her. Should she fall into that maw, death was inevitable. In that moment, Zhongkui forced herself not to think of Ye Yu. Between Ghost King and half-step Ghost Emperor lay a chasm as vast as heaven and earth. Summoning Ye Yu now would be sending him to his death. She would not commit such cruelty. And once she died, Ye Yu might even rejoice. Resigned, Zhongkui closed her eyes.
Just as she was about to be swallowed, the barrier shattered. Black flames flared up and incinerated the demonic head. The ghost-qi threads burned away. Zhongkui regained control. Opening her eyes, she saw Ye Yu standing before her. “You fool! If I hadn’t sensed that horrifying ghost qi, you’d be gone now. Why didn’t you ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) think of me?” His reproach warmed her heart—until she saw a mark on his left cheek. The warmth vanished. “Think of me? I was afraid I’d spoil your fun!” Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. Zhongkui pointed to her cheek; he pinched it, his expression stiffening. Jiang Yumo’s imprint remained. Tsk, awkward indeed.
“Ah, let’s ignore these trivialities. First, tell me what this creature really is.”
