The Search

Wang Ye still stood in place, without moving.

If this spirit tablet could really be so simple to resolve, then this Ancient Domain would not be so dangerous as legend says.

Just not knowing, with Xiao Si's name appearing on the spirit tablet, what effect it would bring about.

Luo Ping's appearance had obviously changed, but his original name still appeared.

And for himself with this human skin mask on, he didn't know if it could block the spirit tablet's aura, or if the name of the Wailing Ghost would appear.

If it was the Wailing Ghost...

Things would get interesting then.

While Wang Ye was pondering, the chanting voices unknowingly grew louder by a few degrees.

That young man whose mental defenses had collapsed also gradually calmed down, reaching out to grab one of the zafu cushions and clutching it tightly in his hand.

Zafu cushions, only one left.

Wang Ye still did not move, but the others were not too surprised, after all...this was a ghost.

Outside the door, footsteps sounded.

A figure with stiff strides and cold expression walked in.

Wang Ye's tranquil heart couldn't help but pound violently the moment he saw the person.

This person...

Had his own face!

And looked identical to himself, even his expression was uncannily lifelike. Aside from the slightly stiff gait, he was no different than Wang Ye.

After the figure entered, the killing intent in Luo Ping's eyes as he sat on the zafu suddenly erupted as he stared fixedly at the figure.

And at this time...

The third wooden fish sounded.

Skipping over the spirit tablet with Luo Ping's name written on it earlier, the name on the third memorial tablet started fluctuating into view.

The character Wang appeared first.

Is it me?

Wang Ye's brows furrowed slightly.

But very quickly, as the second character emerged, Wang Ye let out a breath in relief, still maintaining his composure.

Wang Xue'an

The middle-aged woman subconsciously looked towards the kindly old man.

The old man remained fairly calm, following Luo Ping's lead and sitting on the zafu.

Sure enough, the words on the spirit tablet flickered slightly, then slowly disappeared, returning to a blank state.

The old man let out a subtle sigh of relief.

But at this time, Luo Ping's expression suddenly changed dramatically, as a sharp pain transmitted from his buttocks.

He abruptly stood up, only to discover that the zafu had somehow completely fused with the skin of his buttocks at some unknown point.

Luo Ping forcefully pulled at the zafu, but veins extended out from within the cushion, completely bonding with his buttocks.

The blood within his body was continuously being siphoned by the zafu, causing his complexion to become exceptionally pale.

Clenching his teeth, Luo Ping decisively wielded the knife at his waist, chopping off half his buttock along with the veins.

One could vaguely see white bone beneath.

Blood continuously dripped from Luo Ping's buttocks, vanishing as it hit the floor.

The flesh stuck to the zafu rapidly withered at an extremely fast pace, becoming like dried meat, eventually turning to ash that floated into the air.

After the bizarre occurrence ended, the veins retracted back into the zafu, as if nothing had happened.

In the space of just a few seconds, Luo Ping had brushed past the gates of hell, and if not for his decisive daring to mutilate himself, he likely would have become a corpse already.

But even so, he had become extremely weak, his complexion deathly pale.

The young man and middle-aged woman's expressions changed dramatically, decisively throwing their zafus onto the ground.

Sweat continuously streamed down the old man's forehead.

He stood up to discover that, same as Luo Ping, veins had somehow burrowed into his buttocks at some point.

Brother, lend me your knife for a moment!

The old man did not have such a large blade on him, so looking at Luo Ping he shouted.

Luo Ping's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not speak.

In your current state, killing you would not be difficult!

The old man grit his teeth, his body emanating faint killing intent. The middle-aged woman at the old man's side glared at Luo Ping, her gaze very unfriendly.

Luo Ping did not speak, only tossing his knife far away to the old man.

Even this simple action aggravated his wound again, paining Luo Ping into a slight wince.

The old man caught the knife, grit his teeth and fiercely swung down.

The knife rose and fell, the zafu dropping to the ground.

The middle-aged woman hurriedly took two steps forward, supporting the somewhat feeble old man.

Amidst the constant bizarreness, the idea of leaving this place had arisen in everyone's minds.

The figure with Wang Ye's visage was instead looking at the spirit tablet somewhat curiously, taking two steps forward.

Having been shocked twice in succession, the young man grit his teeth as he walked towards the door.

He had just set his foot outside the door of the hall when the chanting inside the ancestral hall suddenly grew louder. The young man let out a miserable shriek, clutching his head as he retreated back in, collapsing right at Wang Ye's feet.

Sensing the cold, ghostly aura Wang Ye's body emanated, the young man swiftly scrambled back another two steps, keeping his distance from Wang Ye.

Sensing the changes in the young man's emotions, Wang Ye found it rather amusing.

Through the phone call with Zhang Ziliang, he was already clear that these few youths should all be people from the Buddhist clan.

It's just that the Buddhist clan now seemed to be living rather luxuriously. The energy fluctuations this guy gave off were not weak, yet it appeared he had no experience in dealing with paranormal events at all - too green.

In this Ancient Domain, even if he lived, he probably wouldn't survive much longer.

Can't leave, huh...

But with the young man's probing attempt, Wang Ye vaguely grasped one of the rules of this ancestral hall - no casually leaving after entering.

Pondering, Wang Ye strode stiffly, deliberately passing by the figure wearing his face. Amidst everyone's vigilant stares, he entered the back hall.

That old man had been able to come out safely, which meant the back hall should be safe for now at least.

The back hall was covered in dust, appearing very simple. There was only one gilded Buddha statue, reclining to one side with a smiling expression.

In front of the desk before the Buddha statue, judging by the dust, there seemed to have been something placed there previously that had been taken away.

Was it that old man?

After carefully searching around and confirming there was nothing that could be taken from the back hall, Wang Ye suppressed his urge to chisel off some of the Buddha statue's gold lacquer and returned to the main hall.

Sure enough, despite his fear of death, Luo Ping's mind was still working properly.

He had not stayed in place waiting to die, but was continuously searching for something in the main hall.

Supporting the middle-aged woman, the old man was also groping around.

Wang Ye noticed the old man's coat pocket was slightly bulging.

As expected...

The item was on him.

Not knowing when the wooden fish would sound again, everyone frantically searched for a solution while also scavenging for anything that could be taken from the house.

After all, no one had come here just for sightseeing.

In the corner of the floor, Luo Ping inconspicuously clutched a prayer bead in his hand.

This should have been part of a strand, but was broken for some reason, and he had only found this single bead.

Carefully checking the surroundings, there were no other similar prayer beads.

In the distance, the middle-aged woman gently tucked an extinguished bronze oil lamp into her bosom.

The other Wang Ye was still blankly looking at the spirit tablet, a hint of recollection on his face.

As for the young man, he sat on the floor motionless, terror filling his eyes.