Chapter 365: Temporary Commander

Through conversing with the ghost, Jiang Li learned much about the Netherworld. The Netherworld had ten rulers collectively known as the Ten Yama Kings, who decided all affairs. Below them were ghost officials like Black and White Impermanence and Ox-Head and Horse-Face, all being ghost immortals. 

The Netherworld contained countless ghost immortals, capable of rivaling the Celestial Realm. 

The Netherworld managed deceased spirits and had no interest in the living world. 

It possessed many immortal artifacts related to reincarnation – losing any could disrupt the cycle’s order. 

These details matched what Immortal Elder Changcun had described. 

Jiang Li pondered – whether attacked by external enemies or internal strife, the Netherworld’s situation seemed unfavorable. Perhaps its chaos explained why Black and White Impermanence hadn’t reclaimed the Book of Life and Death from him. 

If external enemies, he suspected Outer Realm Demons or Celestial Realm experts. If internal conflict, the root cause must be the imbalance from Outer Realm Demons destroying worlds. 

Either way, Outer Realm Demons were likely involved. 

“What were you doing near the tavern last night?” Du Ping asked curiously. 

Xiaofang’s eyes grew distant. “I don’t know… The street felt familiar, like I’d been there before. Maybe in my past life…” 

“Last night I went there hoping to recall my past. But when I appeared, you charged at me.” 

“Your yang energy terrified me – so dangerous I fled immediately.” 

Du Ping was speechless. By Xiaofang’s account, he was the scary one. 

“How should we handle these ghosts?” 

“No rush. First we’ll help Xiaofang find her family.” Jiang Li’s spiritual sense had spotted a household portrait in Anyang City showing a couple with their daughter – identical to Xiaofang. 

…

Qi Ming returned home, collapsing onto a wooden chair. Gazing at the portrait on the table, tears streamed down her face. 

For years she’d lived in grief, only waiting for her daughter’s next memorial day after each anniversary. 

Her Golden Core cultivation’s 200-year lifespan tormented her. She’d often considered ending it but couldn’t. 

Somehow she felt she’d see her daughter again. 

Her husband couldn’t bear Anyang City’s painful memories and relocated. 

Alone in the empty house, Qi Ming wandered like a living corpse, unrecognizable from the vibrant Golden Core cultivator of fifty years prior. 

“My child… Mommy failed you.” She clutched the portrait, sobbing uncontrollably. 

Through blurred vision, Qi Ming glimpsed her daughter standing before her. 

Rubbing her eyes, she realized it wasn’t an illusion. 

“Xiaofang… is that you?” 

Trembling, she reached to touch that familiar face – only for her hands to pass through empty air. 

Xiaofang hesitated. She remembered nothing, only that Qi Ming seemed familiar. 

This was their first meeting in her memory, yet Qi Ming’s name came unbidden to her lips, stuck there unspoken. 

Who was she? 

Xiaofang couldn’t recall Qi Ming’s identity or their relationship. 

Noticing the portrait of her mirror image still brought no memories. 

She stood lost. 

Jiang Li shook his head slightly. Granny Meng’s Soup couldn’t be overcome by willpower or emotion. 

“This is your mother Qi Ming. You’re Qi Gufang, who died fifty years ago.” 

“Hu-human Sovereign?” Qi Ming finally noticed Jiang Li’s trio besides Xiaofang. 

“We happened upon this ghost named Xiaofang. I believe she’s your daughter.” 

After Jiang Li briefly explained, Qi Ming realized this wasn’t a dream. 

Her daughter stood before her. 

Yet no effort could bridge the intangible gap between them. 

“Sorry… I don’t remember you.” Xiaofang whispered. Even knowing this was her mother, she recalled nothing, uneasy with Qi Ming’s gestures. 

“It’s alright… Just having you here is enough…” Qi Ming wept. Her daughter’s appearance already surpassed all expectations. 

“Thank you, Human Sovereign.” Qi Ming kowtowed, only to be lifted by invisible force. 

Jiang Li smiled gently. “You’ve thanked me daily by cleaning my statue and praying for blessings.” 

The statue in Qi Ming’s home radiated thick faith energy Jiang Li could sense. 

“I plan to build a city near the Human Sovereign Hall to gather all wandering ghosts across the Nine Provinces – including Xiaofang. I hope you understand.” 

Having understood ghosts’ origins, Jiang Li wanted them centralized. Though harmless, their scattered presence might cause issues. 

“May I live in that city?” 

“Of course.” 

Qi Ming sighed in relief. Just another place to reside. 

“Du Ping, the Human Sovereign Hall lacks manpower. I know your nature – not bad, just fond of drink.” 

“I appoint you Temporary Commander with a ten-year probation. Cause no trouble, and you’ll become full Commander.” 

“Any objections?” 

Du Ping beamed. “Greetings, Hall Master!” 

He never expected his fifty-year candidacy would shorten to ten years as acting Commander. 

“Your first task: assist Commander Liu in building the city and gather all Nine Provinces’ ghosts there.” 

“Mission accepted!” 

Du Ping vowed to excel in this debut assignment. 

“Kongkong, still afraid of ghosts?” Jiang Li teased. 

Ji Kongkong flushed crimson. Her fear had greatly diminished. Remembering her earlier behavior made her want to vanish. 

She’d been scaring herself all along. 

No – her father had deliberately frightened her with ghost stories! 

She recalled his exact words: 

“Kongkong, tired of Uncle Jiang’s bedtime stories? Let Daddy tell something different.” 

Jiang Li nearly cried laughing. “He said that?” 

Back in their student days, Jiang Li had used identical phrasing when terrifying Ji Zhi with ghost stories: 

“Ji Zhi, study break! Let me tell you a story to relax. Oh, don’t use your Double Pupils – the mystery’s essential!” 

Jiang Li remembered Ji Zhi later using his Double Pupils even for bathroom trips – checking for ceiling ghosts, floor ghouls, or red embroidered shoes at the door. 

Ji Kongkong glared accusingly at Jiang Li. 

So Uncle Jiang was the original culprit!