A wisp of smoke curled up; the pill was coated with a layer of wax beforehand, which would take some time to melt.
Having taken advantage of the time difference, Ling Xiao chuckled softly, the pearls in her delicate hair jingling together, the crisp and melodious sound, though meant to be subtle, reached everyone's ears.
The system moved the loudspeaker even closer.
The emperor cast a questioning look at her, as if asking something.
Although the ghost was laughing, its eyes were full of malice. It looked at everyone in the room one by one, and anyone who came into contact with it felt their scalp tingle and felt extremely terrified.
The scene fell silent for a moment, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over the excited crowd.
Her words, like the spitting tongue of a venomous snake, pierced straight to the heart: "What are these things for when I meet with my master?"
The emperor's heart skipped a beat. Oh no! He had become so complacent that he had forgotten a crucial fact, as the spirits and deities had acted so harmlessly these past few days.
Ghosts are born with malevolent energy. It is often said that infant ghosts are the most difficult to deal with, simply because they are born not long ago and leave before they have even seen the human world.
Blinded by their sight of the gods of the underworld, they excitedly brought people to disturb their aunt's meeting with her master.
Li Yue said without changing his expression, "Aunt, please rest assured. These people are so enamored with the founding emperor that they earnestly requested me to come and offer sacrifices. They will leave after the ceremony and will not disturb you."
The "oh" was drawn out, and Ling Xiao's rosy face uttered a sarcastic remark from her cute lips:
"I already told you, I kicked that damned father to the afterlife. Did you really have to tear off this fig leaf?"
Li Yue gave a wry smile. "Aunt, please give me some face. I'll send someone back right away."
How pitiful.
The ghostly figure's lips curled into a sinister smile, its skin twitching while its flesh remained frozen. "Wouldn't that be too disrespectful to you, Auntie? — How about this, pick a few people to keep."
One moment they were overjoyed, the next they were devastated. They thought they were going to be kicked out, but things took an unexpected turn. Everyone was left with mixed feelings.
He quickly perked up, wanting to know how the gods and spirits choose people, and calculating whether he could stay.
The underworld governs matters after death, so this opportunity to appear is a good chance to have something to rely on after death!
The next second, a sharp pain shot through my finger, my hair flew back rapidly, and a few drops of blood gushed out.
"Ah!" The ministers and relatives were startled by the sudden attack, and the scene became slightly chaotic.
The emperor looked at Ling Xiao, just as a strand of black hair retracted, and a drop of blood could be clearly seen falling from the tip of the hair.
There were hundreds and thousands of strands of hair, and the dripping blood soaked the girl's white butterfly-patterned collar.
"Aunt..." the Emperor called softly.
“Since the separation of the three realms, those with talent have become increasingly rare,” Ling Xiao sighed and explained to Li Yue.
"The path to immortality in the mortal realm is about to disappear. For those who wish to embark on the path to immortality, aptitude is paramount, measured by blood. Yet, only a dozen or so of you can be considered to have the potential for immortality, and most of them are of inferior quality."
The little girl's eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars as she said with disdain, "Never mind, it's better than trash, and it won't offend Master's eyes."
It dropped a bombshell!
Walk into the middle of that group of people, and you'll be met with fiery gazes. If you randomly point to one person, that person will be allowed to stay.
Gradually, even the sound of breathing ceased in the arena. Everyone looked expectantly at the ghosts and gods, silently praying that they would be chosen.
If outsiders saw this scene, they might be frightened away, but people stood still in broad daylight, letting the girls choose for them.
Those who are chosen, even if they were unsuccessful in the past, will feel as if they have ascended to paradise and will be overjoyed. Those who are not chosen, even if they are kings or nobles, will feel as if they have lost their parents and will be dejected.
Wang Fu stood in a rather secluded spot. Despite being the legitimate daughter of a marquis, her husband's family was not prominent.
The reason they can come here is because their parents dote on them so much that they managed to get them a spot, but don't even think about how good the location is.
This time, powerful officials and ministers from all walks of life fought over it. The Marquis's family alone caused several incidents over a single spot, which shows how precious it is.
If she could… The fantasy in her mind was quickly pulled out; a woman marrying five times is really not a good life.
How could she possibly be? Thinking this, Wang Fu was stunned.
Even with this thought, as the ghost's light footsteps drew closer, Wang Fu nervously clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
"Hmm," Ling Xiao circled around the beauty, took her hand and gently stroked it.
Turning back to his nephew with a puzzled look, he asked, "It actually has three spiritual roots; it's barely passable."
The phrase "three spiritual roots" left a deep and significant mark on the emperor's mind.
Spiritual roots are what ghosts and gods refer to as the aptitude for cultivating immortality, but they can be good or bad.
Since it's said that three spiritual roots are better, then the rest must be "inferior and unacceptable." It's just unclear how they are classified, or which spiritual root is the best.
"The beauty's hands are so delicate and white!" Ling Xiao exclaimed to the system in his mind.
After that, a few more people were selected, and the rest of the large group were driven out.
The Chu princess looked at her brother, the emperor, with teary eyes, hoping he would plead for her life.
Brother, you are my only real brother!
Li Yue slowly shook his head. "Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I'm powerless to do anything about it."
The Chu princess rolled her eyes and stormed off, the golden hairpins on her head making an angry thud.
They went through the motions and hastily offered sacrifices to Ling Xiao's cheap father.
The most important moment has arrived!
First, the incense burner suddenly emitted a thick, fragrant mist, mixed with a sweet and dreamlike aroma, which drifted into everyone's nostrils.
"It smells so good!" The cockroach-fearing big man, who thought he was lucky to have been chosen, exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.
That's so girly.
Li Yue glanced at him and focused her attention on Ling Xiao.
The ghost's face was solemn, its clothes fluttering as if they were alive, its hands raised high, its eyes closed like a young white crane that had already shown extraordinary potential.
Soon, a spark appeared in the void, and the surroundings darkened.
More and more sparks appeared, filling the entire sky in the blink of an eye. The emperor quietly reached out his hand, and a spark gently landed on his fingertip, illuminating his features.
The scattered lights quickly converged into a river of light.
“A glimmer of light tricks her into opening the gates of hell,” Ling Xiao murmured, as the river of light, like a galaxy, flowed through her body and merged into the ground.
A faint bronze gate appeared, adorned with auspicious flowers and grasses, and depicting a hundred ghosts suffering.
The emperor was extremely excited, his heart pounding like a drum, staring intently at the door, as were the others.
The emperor was already the supreme ruler of the mortal world, but how could he compare to immortals and gods? Throughout history, too many emperors have pursued the path to immortality.
I will be the one who succeeds.
Ling Xiao was in an awkward position, feeling like her hands were going to go numb. If anyone entered the scene, they would find people lying all over the ground.
The "dear nephew" she mentioned was in a better state than when he fell; at least he wasn't face down with a mouthful of mud.
In everyone's dream, the door remained closed. The ghosts, as if they were being humiliated, shrugged and pouted, and personally went up to slap and bang... knock on the door.
"Ox-Head and Horse-Face, open the door for me right now! Don't play dead!"
Li Yue didn't have time to think about Ox-Head and Horse-Face; a strange sense of pride welled up inside him.
I address the Ghost Goddess as Aunt, and she calls herself Grandma to Ox-Head and Horse-Face. In a way, I've actually gained an advantage.
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