Chapter 376: Settling Karma

What the tiger demon hadn’t anticipated was that, from the stands, he could clearly see the white-robed man’s position despite the sea of dark, densely packed ghosts.

But the moment he leaped into the arena, he completely lost his sense of direction and instantly became like a headless fly!

With vengeful spirits swarming toward him from all directions, he couldn’t afford to stop for even a moment. He had no choice but to keep running, using techniques to reinforce himself while blindly searching for Gu Ning’an and the others.

From Gu Ning’an’s perspective, a tiger-headed, human-bodied demon cultivator had just charged into the arena, recklessly plowing through the ghost tide in a bizarre zigzag pattern—sometimes spinning in circles, sometimes slithering like a snake. No matter how one looked at it, it was a comical sight.

The Void Emperor blinked and asked,
“Isn’t that the tiger demon who was standing next to me earlier?”

Gu Ning’an nodded. “That’s him.”

The Void Emperor gave an acknowledging “Oh” before continuing,
“What’s he doing down there? Judging by his strength, I’d say he won’t last longer than a cup of tea’s time before he collapses from exhaustion. When that happens, he’ll definitely be swallowed by the ghost tide.”

Gu Ning’an chuckled. “It seems he’s looking for you.”

“For me?” The Void Emperor paused. “What for?”

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

“Old brother! Where are you?!”

“It’s me, your little tiger brother!”

A desperate wail rang out from within the ghost tide. After searching for what felt like an eternity without success, the tiger demon felt his legs go weak. He feared his end was near.

“Old brother! Have you forgotten your little tiger brother?!”

“I came here specifically to seek refuge with you!”

“Say something—anything—so I can find you!”

Just as he was shouting, two green-faced, sharp-fanged vengeful spirits lunged at him from both sides, grabbing his arms!

In a moment of distraction, the tiger demon’s movements stalled. In the very next second, he was completely surrounded by an array of grotesque spirits.

Sensing his dwindling spiritual energy, the tiger demon realized that there was little chance of him breaking through. Just as he was about to resign himself to fate, his vision blurred.

When it cleared, he found himself face-to-face with an elderly man with black hair, his brows furrowed deeply.

“Old brother, you finally saved me!” The tiger demon cupped his hands and bowed toward the two men before him.

The Void Emperor frowned and asked,
“What are you doing down here? I am not your ‘old brother.’”

The tiger demon gave a sheepish grin. “With all these vengeful spirits running wild, I couldn’t decide whether to run or stay. So I figured… why not just seek refuge with you, old brother?”

“Stand aside.”

Not bothering to entertain him any further, the Void Emperor turned to Gu Ning’an and said,
“Mr. Gu, perhaps I should just wipe out these wandering souls. If we let this go on, Eternal Slumber City will be thrown into chaos.”

Gu Ning’an remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
“These wandering souls were once pitiful people in life. In death, they were used and turned into vengeful ghosts who know nothing but slaughter. To now completely erase their souls… it is indeed a cruel fate.”

The Void Emperor replied, “But they have already lost their humanity. If we follow the proper path, their three souls should return to the heavens, but that is nearly impossible now.”

Gu Ning’an said calmly, “Let me try.”

As he spoke, Gu Ning’an stood up and addressed the spirits surrounding him.

“All of you came from the mortal world, endured endless suffering, and now, turned into vengeful ghosts, this is surely not what you wished for.”

“Today, I shall grant you passage…”

As his words fell, countless strands of Worldly Qi flowed from his Hongchen Sword, transforming into thousands of red threads that passed through the bodies of the spirits.

An incense stick’s time later, the once-turbulent ghost tide had completely quieted.

No longer did the spirits have their previous grotesque, sharp-fanged appearances or blood-red tongues. Instead, they had reverted to their original human forms.

If not for their translucent bodies and the fact that some of them still hovered in midair, it would have been difficult to tell whether they were living people or wandering souls.

The hundreds of thousands of spirits turned to face Gu Ning’an. After a brief moment of silence, they all bowed in unison.

Gu Ning’an returned the bow solemnly and said, “Please, take your time everyone.”

A short while later, the hundreds of thousands of souls dissolved into wisps of gentle breeze, vanishing into the heavens and earth.

Watching the scene before him, the Void Emperor murmured to himself, “Mr. Gu’s methods truly transcend heaven and earth…”

“What was that, old brother?” The tiger demon leaned in toward the Void Emperor with a cheeky grin.

The Void Emperor, lost in thought, turned to find a tiger-headed face smirking at him. His mouth twitched uncontrollably. “What are you even here for?”

“Old brother, do you need a mount?” The tiger demon asked with utmost seriousness.

The Void Emperor rolled his eyes. “No, but I am in the mood for a snack. What do you think?”

“Gulp.” The tiger demon swallowed hard and immediately took several steps back. “I was wrong! I’ll shut up! Don’t eat me…”

“Tch… With that kind of cowardice, you actually thought about offering yourself as a mount?” The Void Emperor sneered before turning his gaze toward the last remaining spirit in the arena.

Duan Chen, now stripped of all his cultivation, looked utterly defeated—a stray dog with nowhere to run. He stood frozen, his expression blank as he stared at Gu Ning’an. After a bitter chuckle, he muttered, “Mr. Gu… I never expected… never expected that you would be the one hiding the deepest.”

“With just a few words, you sent hundreds of thousands of vengeful spirits to their rest.”

“Such means… truly unfathomable.”

“There’s no way you’re merely the Fifth Prince’s subordinate!”

“Who are you?”

Gu Ning’an responded calmly, “I am who I am. Nothing more… You have no one to blame for your downfall but yourself—the seeds of evil you sowed have merely borne their fruit.”

“Evil seeds…” Duan Chen let out a cold laugh before turning to the black-haired elder. With a bitter smile, he asked, “Old sir, then what of your identity? Could you at least tell me that?”

“Me?” Void Emperor chuckled. “I am worshiped by the entire city. Who do you think I am?”

Worshiped by the entire city!

Void Emperor!

Duan Chen’s eyes widened in shock, and he roared, “Impossible! You can’t be the Void Emperor!”

“The Void Emperor hasn’t been seen for untold ages!”

“There’s no way the Void Emperor would appear here! And definitely not show such deference to that Mr. Gu!”

Seeing Duan Chen’s hysterical state, the Void Emperor had no interest in proving anything. Instead, he turned to the dazed Hua Erniang and reminded her, “Little girl, it’s time to settle your karmic debt. Mr. Gu left this chance for you.”

“Ah… right!” Snapping back to her senses, Hua Erniang turned to Gu Ning’an and bowed. “Many thanks, Mr. Gu. I’ll be going now.”

Gu Ning’an, who had just refilled his teacup, simply waved his hand with a smile, acknowledging her gratitude.

With that, Hua Erniang gripped her Free Wanderer Sword and strode toward Duan Chen.

Duan Chen, who had been too consumed by disbelief, suddenly felt the imminent threat of death. Staggering backward, he pleaded desperately, “L-Lady Hua!”

“We… we grew up together!”

“Since childhood, all the way until now—I swear, aside from killing your husband, I’ve never done anything else to wrong you!”

“Spare me! Just this once! I swear I’ll never appear before you again—”

Shing!

A flash of sword light.

Duan Chen’s voice was abruptly cut off.

With vengeance fulfilled, the Free Wanderer Sword let out a crisp, satisfied hum as it hovered above the Hunter’s Arena.

Gu Ning’an, still holding his teacup, felt a shift within. He guided a wisp of Worldly Qi from Hua Erniang into his Hongchen Sword…

The thirty-sixth strand.

It’s time to settle my student’s karma as well.

With that thought, Gu Ning’an drained the last of his tea in one swift motion.