Perhaps because the remnant soul was taken away by the Underworld Envoy, the soul beast instantly became much more energetic, pouncing on people with great vigor, but each time it passed right through the opponent, causing absolutely no real damage.
The underworld messenger here was not only unhurried, but also had the leisure to turn around and look at You You, grinning with a smile that was somewhat eerie, but had clearly been deliberately made more friendly, and said in a familiar tone, "By the way, what does Your Excellency want with me? Why don't you come back with me and sit down to talk slowly?"
"No! No need..." You can go back with me!
Youyou glanced at the beast over there, who was desperately trying to bite his arm but could only bite the air, making a grinding sound with its teeth. She coughed to draw his attention back. "It's like this... there's something I'd like to ask you. You should know a lot about ghosts, right? I wonder how much you know about ghost cultivators?"
"A ghost cultivator?" The Underworld Envoy paused for a moment, then blurted out, "You mean that remnant soul of Qiu Zhang, right?"
Youyou was shocked. "You know him?!"
"I know," the Underworld Envoy nodded. "I often collect remnant souls, and I planned to bring this one into the Underworld a long time ago. However, it seems Your Excellency still has a use for him, so I haven't taken him yet. How is he, Your Excellency? Is he still useful?"
"..." No, what kind of weird word is "good or bad"? It turns out that Qiu Zhang is also a soul within his business scope!
Upon closer reflection, Qiu Zhang was indeed a remnant soul on the verge of dissipation. It was only because he later became a ghost cultivator, and with Yuan's father's help in setting up an array, and Feng Rong's assistance in securing his soul, that Qiu Zhang was able to remain in the True Exploration Sect. However, judging from his words, it seemed that he had known about this for a long time, and that he hadn't come to collect his soul out of consideration for her.
You You wanted to ask why, but remembering Qiu Zhang, she had to suppress her doubts and continued, "Qiu Zhang's soul has been almost completely repaired, and his cultivation has returned to the Nascent Soul stage he was in life. But for some reason, his cultivation seems to be stuck, and he can't absorb spiritual energy. Do you know why?"
"Spiritual energy?" The Underworld Envoy paused, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Why would a ghost need to absorb spiritual energy?"
"Naturally, it's to improve cultivation. If you don't absorb spiritual energy, what will you absorb?"
“Of course it’s the energy of ghosts and spirits!” The Underworld Envoy sighed, stepped forward, still with his expressionless face, and patiently explained to her, “All living beings have their own path. Spiritual energy and immortal energy are all part of the energy of living beings. Only those who are alive are called living beings. Your Excellency’s is just a remnant soul. A soul is formed after death, and thus becomes a dead spirit. Dead spirits naturally need to absorb the energy of dead spirits, such as yin energy, ghost energy, and resentment. Every spirit has its own diet; eating the wrong thing is not good!”
He replied with utmost seriousness, and surprisingly, You You and Feng Rong understood him. Qiu Zhang was human in his previous life, so they subconsciously regarded him as such. The Underworld Envoy meant that remnant souls are no longer a species like normal humans. Since they are not the same species, they naturally eat different things. It's like tigers eating meat, while rabbits eat carrots—it's the same thing.
So, it's not that there's anything wrong with Qiu Zhang's soul, but just that the food doesn't suit his taste?
"Wait, what happened before?" You You was still confused. "When Qiu Zhang was still a remnant soul, he could clearly mobilize spiritual energy and practice ghost cultivation techniques!" Although Qiu Zhang's current cultivation level was mostly due to Yuan's father's formation and Feng Rong's soul-soliciting technique, he had also practiced those ghost cultivation techniques before he recovered, and naturally, he had mobilized spiritual energy to cast spells.
“Before he entered the Underworld, his life force wasn’t completely severed. Plus, he was a remnant soul, lingering in the mortal realm to deplete his death energy. Since his life force wasn’t completely gone and his death energy was weak, it was fine,” the Underworld Envoy continued. “But now that his soul has been repaired, his death energy is greater than his remaining life force, so it won’t work!”
So is it because Qiu Zhang has recovered? He's become a normal ghost, and his cultivation level has increased, which is why he can't continue?
Youyou felt the situation was becoming even more complicated and continued to ask, "Then how can this be resolved? Is his cultivation level going to never improve?"
“Naturally, he should switch to absorbing Yin energy for cultivation!” the Underworld Envoy continued. “He is a soul, and Yin energy is more suitable for him than spiritual energy. As long as he works hard to absorb Yin energy, his soul will naturally become stronger and stronger. If his mind is clear and his Yin energy accumulates to a certain amount, he can naturally break through the shackles.”
"And then..." you can ascend to heaven?
"So I can die again!"
Youyou: "..."
Feng Rong: "..."
Are you kidding me?!
(￣△￣；)
What the heck?!
Youyou was so startled by his sudden 180-degree turn that she almost tripped over her own feet, thinking she was hallucinating.
"Die again?!" Her eyes widened in shock. What did that mean? "Isn't it about ascending to immortality?"
"Become an immortal? That's impossible!" The Underworld Envoy shook his head. "The Necromancer is a necromancer, and they are two different kinds of beings. How could he become a living being by absorbing some Yin energy? If that were the case, wouldn't all souls in the Underworld be able to be resurrected?" He had a look on his face that said, "Are you trying to force a rabbit to change its diet?"
"Then what about dying again?" Don't tell me it's because the yin energy is too strong and it will explode!
“Naturally, it is the transformation of the soul into reality, and rebirth after death.” The Underworld Envoy continued to explain, “No matter what kind of ghost it is, a dead spirit is a dead spirit. It naturally has no form of existence within the realm of living beings, but only within the realm of dead spirits.”
"You mean..." Youyou instantly realized, "After a ghost cultivator breaks through, instead of ascending to the Immortal Realm, they go to the Underworld? And become... a ghost messenger?" It's roughly equivalent to passing the Underworld civil service exam?
"Ghost Messenger?" The Underworld Envoy paused for a moment, then his dull eyes suddenly lit up. He nodded and said, "That's a good name. I have to write it down!" With that, he actually summoned a small notebook and started writing and drawing. As he wrote, he pointed to the soul beast that was scratching him and said, "Soul beast, starting today, you are the number one ghost messenger of our Underworld!"
The spirit beast paused, rolled its eyes at him, spat, stopped biting, turned around and turned its back to him, its whole body radiating disdain.
"Are soul beasts also ghost cultivators who went to the underworld after breaking through?" Youyou asked subconsciously.
"Of course!" The Underworld Envoy gave an affirmative answer. "Otherwise, how could it be born in the Underworld? The Underworld only accepts the dead and does not produce new spirits." Just as ascension results in the creation of a new immortal body, ghost cultivators entering the Underworld will naturally also create a new Yin body.
And then it turned into this?!
Youyou glanced at the soul beast, then at the Netherworld Envoy, and suddenly remembered something. She couldn't help but ask, "Um... I have another question."
"Please speak, Your Majesty!"
"Do all ghost cultivators who break through to the underworld need to transform into a different species? Or are they the kind with a weak stomach?"
Underworld Messenger: "..."
Soul Beast: "..."
I feel like you're subtly criticizing me!
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