The Scholar-Official Jia, setting aside his usual nonchalance, addressed the group with grave seriousness. “I was not mistaken. There is indeed a massive artificial structure below us. If my guess is correct, this subterranean city is only the beginning.”
The others looked at him with astonishment. Young Master Liu finally couldn't contain himself and asked, “Senior Jia, are you suggesting that a city like this is merely the precursor to an even larger subterranean complex? Are there more cities or other structures yet to appear?”
A strange, knowing smile played on Scholar-Official Jia’s lips. He did not answer Young Master Liu directly, but instead spoke with a mix of excitement and mystery. “If reaching our destination were this simple, do you truly believe that would be possible? I suspect this Boundless Daoist Repository is beyond your wildest imaginings. To witness it even once in this lifetime should be satisfaction enough for you.”
With that, he shone his flashlight onto the ground beneath his feet, beginning to search for a route downward.
Scholar-Official Jia’s words stirred strange ripples in everyone’s hearts, especially Young Master Liu’s. A colossal city, built a hundred meters beneath the earth—who built it? And how? Could mere mortals possess such wisdom and power?
While he was lost in thought, Fan Debiao, standing behind him, nudged him. “What are you thinking about? Everyone else is already descending.”
Young Master Liu snapped back to attention and saw that Scholar-Official Jia was leading the way, with several others carefully following him down. Liu quickly fell in behind them and started moving forward.
The steep slope leading to the pit bottom offered no discernible path, consisting entirely of jumbled, solid rock. The flashlight beams sweeping the ground made it seem as if these scattered stones were fused together, predominantly black and grayish-brown in color, resembling igneous rock formed after a volcanic eruption.
As the saying goes, ascending is easier than descending. The loose, uneven stones made finding footing difficult, and the group progressed painfully slowly. In this vast, cavernous space, the lights from their few headlamps seemed pitifully small and dim.
Fortunately, they encountered no disturbances from strange subterranean creatures along the way. After about five minutes, they finally reached a relatively level surface.
The colossal underground city stood silently not far from them, but their perspective had shifted from viewing it at eye level from the pit’s edge to now looking up at it from below.
It was then that they noticed a truly bizarre phenomenon. Whenever their flashlights accidentally swept across the city walls, the entire structure emitted a dazzling black radiance.
Scholar-Official Jia fixed his beam steadily onto the city wall. An unusual light flickered in his eyes. He suddenly darted his small eyes back and forth, his throat working as he swallowed repeatedly, the hand gripping the flashlight beginning to tremble slightly.
Observing his odd behavior, the others felt a pang of surprise. Scholar-Official Jia then took a long, deep breath before turning back to face them. His expression had instantly smoothed, becoming almost heavy with apprehension and worry.
He slowly spoke to the group. “If I am not mistaken, this subterranean city we see… it is the entrance to the legendary Ghost City of Fengdu—the Yellow Springs Road.”
Young Master Liu stepped forward immediately, demanding urgently, “Senior Jia, what did you say? The Ghost City of Fengdu? Are you certain you aren’t mistaken?”
Scholar-Official Jia nodded slowly, offering no further words.
Young Master Liu’s expression suddenly became taut and serious. He stared silently ahead, murmuring to himself, “Fengdu Ghost City, Fengdu Ghost City.”
He abruptly turned his head toward Scholar-Official Jia, gazing deeply at him. “Could the legends be true? Does the Ghost City of Fengdu truly exist in this world? Does it really lead to that place…?”
Scholar-Official Jia looked up at him quietly and spoke each word with low intensity. “I have a feeling that the legends are entirely true. The path we are taking leads directly to that place.”
The exchange confused everyone. Fan Debiao quickly interjected, “Young Master, what are you two talking about? What Ghost City of Fengdu, and what place are you going to?”
Young Master Liu sighed deeply. “Few people likely know the legends of Fengdu Ghost City. Let’s rest here for a moment. I will tell you the tale of Fengdu. Whether we should continue forward or find a new route—I think we should discuss it before deciding.”
Fan Debiao felt a strange sensation wash over him; the reactions of Scholar-Official Jia and Young Master Liu suggested the situation was graver than he had anticipated.
Young Master Liu signaled for everyone to take a short break and assigned Yang Weidong to maintain watch over their surroundings.
They sat down on the ground. Scholar-Official Jia quietly moved a short distance away from the group, silently switched off his flashlight, and let his small frame be swallowed by the darkness, seemingly indicating he refused to utter another word.
Young Master Liu glanced at him, his mouth twitching as if he wanted to say something, but he eventually sat down too. Head bowed, he seemed to ponder how to explain the matter of the Ghost City to the others.
Everyone focused their gaze on Young Master Liu, hoping he would soon resolve their mounting confusion.
After a long period of contemplation, Young Master Liu finally looked up and began to address them. “The legends say that within Fengdu City lies Mount Pingdu, which is the forty-fifth of the seventy-two Grotto-Heavens of Daoism. According to the Biographies of Immortals from the Eastern Han Dynasty and Ge Hong’s Biographies of Celestial Beings from the Jin Dynasty, during the Han period, figures like Wang Fangping and Yin Changsheng abandoned their official posts to cultivate the Dao here, eventually achieving immortality and ascending to heaven. As the fame of the two immortals, Wang and Yin, grew, many other immortals came to visit them. For instance, the legendary Immortal Maiden Ma once came to see Wang Fangping, though unfortunately, she missed him. Relics such as ‘Immortal Maiden Rock’ and ‘Ma’s Grotto’ are said to remain to this day. Furthermore, Lü Dongbin also visited Wang Fangping and Yin Changsheng. Later, the two immortals were referred to as the ‘Yin-Wang’ (Yin-King), which was then mistakenly interpreted as the ‘King of the Underworld,’ causing the place they resided—Fengdu—to evolve into the netherworld ruled by Yama, the King of Hell. In the late Eastern Han period, the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice faith was prevalent in Sichuan, and Fengdu, then part of Ba Commandery, was one of the major centers of early Daoism. Because the Five Pecks of Rice sect incorporated many shamanistic elements, it was called the ‘Ghost Way,’ and its shamans were referred to as ‘Ghost Officials.’ Thus, this syncretic Daoist belief system, mixing immortals and ghosts, contributed to the formation of the ‘Ghost City.’ Gradually, the once ethereal Mount Pingdu became shrouded in ghostly miasma, and a host of underworld deities flooded into the capital of the ghost kingdom—Fengdu—transforming this location into the earthly manifestation of the Underworld. That is the overt Fengdu. But where the true Fengdu lies, no one knows; it is only recorded in texts as the true Gate of Hell.”
Finishing this long account, Young Master Liu took the water flask offered by Fan Debiao, took a few sips, and continued. “What I just described is the history of the Ghost City of Fengdu. Whether it’s true or false, and how much exaggeration is involved, only those who recorded it in Daoist classics truly know.”
As he spoke, a strange ‘crackle-snap’ sound suddenly echoed through the vast, silent subterranean space, sounding utterly bizarre and chilling.
Everyone instantly sprang to their feet, sweeping their eyes around in alarm, trying to pinpoint the source of the uncanny noise. Only Scholar-Official Jia remained calmly seated, stating coolly, “That is the sound of the Higanbana growing. They have been dormant for a thousand years, just waiting for us to awaken them.”
“Higanbana?” Cai Qingchong asked Jia in surprise. “Aren’t they rumored to grow along the banks of the Bridge of Helplessness leading into the netherworld?”
Scholar-Official Jia murmured darkly, “Do you assume Fengdu is not the Underworld?”
Cai Qingchong stared at him in disbelief, his shock impossible to articulate.
As the eerie ‘crackle-snap’ of the Higanbana growth persisted, coupled with Young Master Liu’s low narration, waves of fear and racing heartbeats washed over the group.
Just as Young Master Liu finished speaking, another strange creak echoed. Scholar-Official Jia shouted, “Not good! The city gates are opening!”
With a colossal clang, a bizarre yellow light shot out from the opening gates. For a moment, everyone felt their blood freeze; the scene was too unbelievable, too uncanny!
The yellow light emanating from the gates was intensely dazzling and bright. Slowly, the scene unfolded like something out of a science fiction film: the entire Ghost City of Fengdu began to illuminate, piece by piece. Golden radiance instantly flooded the entire underground space.
Simultaneously, they saw countless massive, vibrant blood-red flowers blooming all around the city walls, filling the passage opened by the gates. These huge red blossoms were incomparably gorgeous and beautiful, yet they possessed no stems or leaves, lending an air of unsettling, unreal eeriness.
Watching this spectacle, every person was too stunned to speak. After a long pause, Scholar-Official Jia slowly said, “The Ghost City, the Higanbana, the Path to the Underworld—we have seen it all. What happens next? No one knows. The Bridge of Helplessness? Or the Eighteen Levels of Hell?”
His single sentence seemed to jolt everyone back to reality. What should they do? This was the true state of mind for every person present.
All eyes turned toward Young Master Liu and Scholar-Official Jia. Scholar-Official Jia spread his hands and gave a wry smile. “Don’t look at me, everyone. Frankly, what I know about the Ghost City of Fengdu is no more than what this young man, Liu, knows.”
Young Master Liu’s face was grim. “Now, I believe we have no choice. The blooming of the Higanbana means we have been inscribed on the Register of the Underworld; no one has a chance to leave here anymore. Moving forward, perhaps there is still a chance to leave alive.”
Fan Debiao finally couldn’t hold back and asked Young Master Liu, “Why? What does the blooming of the Higanbana signify? Why is there no chance for us to leave? I was hoping we could all leave this terrible place and find another way out.”
Young Master Liu offered a bitter smile. “The Higanbana is also called the Flower of Hell. In Daoist belief, the moment you see it, you have already arrived in hell. What you see might resemble what we saw before, but in truth, this is hell. No one can escape. Furthermore, the Higanbana has another name: Manjusaka. It is the only guiding flower of the netherworld. When you see this flower, you are already dead. Though you retain memories of your past life, the moment you step onto the Path to the Underworld, you will forget everything from your previous existence.”
Cai Qingchong interjected, “Young Master Liu, your explanation sounds too far-fetched. Aren’t we alive and well right now? And we haven’t lost our memories. If we leave now, there shouldn't be any problem, right?”
Young Master Liu suddenly sat down on the spot, closed his eyes, and became utterly still, as if in deep meditation, refusing to speak further. Scholar-Official Jia glanced at him, sighed softly, and sat down as well.
Fan Debiao looked visibly anxious now. He looked between Young Master Liu and Scholar-Official Jia, appearing utterly helpless.
Cai Qingchong suddenly formed a plan. He said to Fan Debiao, “Debiao, how about this: I will try to go back the way we came. If I can walk out of this valley floor, then surely everyone else can too. Then we can look for another route.”
The hesitating and unsettled group agreed; after all, they weren’t entirely convinced by Young Master Liu’s dire words. A simple test would clarify everything.
Cai Qingchong nodded to the others, then turned to head back toward the path they descended. At that moment, Scholar-Official Jia and Young Master Liu both shouted in unison, “Don’t!”
Cai Qingchong froze and turned back to look at them. Young Master Liu stood up and addressed the group. “I know none of you believe what I’ve said, and I won’t stop Cai Qingchong from testing it, but I refuse to watch him become a lonely lost spirit. Does anyone have a sturdy rope? Give it to me.”
Fan Debiao responded immediately, pulling the remaining climbing rope from his backpack and handing it to Young Master Liu. Everyone watched, perplexed, as Liu walked over to Cai Qingchong and tied the rope around his waist with two secure knots. He then said to Cai Qingchong, “Qingchong, some things must be proven to be accepted. I will be blunt: you can only walk slowly, step by step. Absolutely no running. If anything changes, remember to pull hard on the rope tied to your waist.”
Cai Qingchong nodded blankly, indicating he understood. Young Master Liu then took a yellow, triangular talisman from his own pack and placed it in Cai Qingchong’s tunic, saying, “This talisman will ensure your life remains secure and your soul intact.”
Afterward, Young Master Liu handed the rope to Fan Debiao and told the others, “Please hold this rope together. This is the cord meant to preserve Qingchong’s life.”
A chill ran down everyone’s spine. What did that mean? Cai Qingchong, who was just about to step forward, also felt a cold dread. Could even a few steps lead to danger?
Half-believing, half-doubting, they each grabbed the rope trailing behind Cai Qingchong. Cai Qingchong began to walk forward slowly, while Fan Debiao and Yang Weidong carefully let out the rope behind him.
Taking the first step, Cai Qingchong quickly looked around. Nothing seemed to have changed, and a small measure of calm settled over him. He slowly took the second step. Then, he suddenly felt the surrounding environment begin to shift. The light radiating from the Ghost City of Fengdu grew intensely brilliant, and he felt a wind rise around him—a distinctly cold and chilling sensation.
Cai Qingchong’s heart began to flutter nervously. He hesitated for a moment, then resolutely took the third step. Suddenly, Cai Qingchong felt his head spin, and his consciousness seemed to grow muddled. He looked around vaguely. A faint, dark mist slowly began to rise, enveloping him, and the icy wind grew noticeably stronger.
Cai Qingchong bit the tip of his tongue hard; a jolt of pain shot from his mouth straight to his brain. Despite the unpleasantness, he forced himself to take the fourth step.
Instantly, Cai Qingchong saw the surrounding scenery change completely in horror! He was standing in a world of blinding white snow and ice. An agonizingly cold wind pierced through to his very bones, and his consciousness rapidly faded. His final memory was of suddenly seeing countless black specters whirling wildly, shrieking, and lunging toward him with bared claws and teeth...
When Cai Qingchong next opened his eyes, he saw the anxious faces of everyone staring at him. He felt terribly weak, drained of all strength, and his head throbbed painfully.
Seeing that Cai Qingchong had awakened, Young Master Liu knelt beside him, took his left wrist, and felt for his pulse. He asked, “How do you feel?”
Cai Qingchong managed a weak smile. “Nothing much, just no strength and a bad headache.”
Young Master Liu nodded. “It’s fortunate you only took four steps. Do you know? If you had taken nine steps, not even the greatest Celestial Being could have saved you. I told you the Higanbana is the guiding flower of the netherworld. The moment you saw it, your soul was locked by it. Every person has three souls and seven animal spirits. If you forcibly leave this place, your soul is fractured with every step you take. By the ninth step, all your spiritual essence would be lost.”
Cai Qingchong shook his head helplessly. “I never imagined such a flower existed in this world.”
Scholar-Official Jia walked over, chuckled dryly, and said, “It’s a good thing I saw something was wrong and had them pull you back. Otherwise, you would be in hell right now. Did you think the legends were false? Did you think ghosts and deities were fabricated? Young man, you must always listen to your elders, understand?”
Everyone silently accepted his mockery; the harsh reality left them speechless.
After checking Cai Qingchong’s pulse, Young Master Liu stated, “It’s a blessing we pulled Qingchong back in time. I see his soul hasn’t been lost, only invaded by malignant energy. He needs rest and one of my ‘Dragon-Tiger Golden Pills’; he’ll be fully recovered within half an hour. Everyone, take a break. It seems we have no choice now but to brave the Ghost City of Fengdu.”
Seeing Cai Qingchong’s state, everyone reluctantly accepted the reality presented by Young Master Liu: entering the Ghost City of Fengdu now meant their fate was entirely in the hands of providence.
After resting for half an hour, Cai Qingchong stood up and stretched, feeling nearly recovered. He confirmed this to Young Master Liu.
Seeing that Cai Qingchong was fine, everyone stood up, preparing to enter the Ghost City of Fengdu. Scholar-Official Jia addressed them solemnly. “The situation now needs no further explanation; we must enter the Ghost City of Fengdu. I hope everyone summons their courage to face whatever is about to happen. Let’s go!” Having experienced what they just had, everyone understood there was no retreat. Thus, a spirit of facing death with equanimity quietly permeated them all. No superfluous words were spoken. Young Master Liu called Fan Debiao, and they walked to the front.
The Ghost City of Fengdu gradually drew near. Its gates were now open, and the group could see a bizarre main street inside, entirely colored indigo blue.