Chapter 1404: The Wraith Selection

The ghostly being stood in the darkness and lowered its body, gazing upon Gu Qing Shan and Zhao Xiao Seng.

Its entire body was covered in black fog, leaving only its head exposed, its pair of glowing green eyes with its double pupils stared at Gu Qing Shan, closely approaching him.

「 This clear fluctuation, I can sense the power of Life Talismans emanating from your body 」

「 …Another wraith who wishes to participate in the Samsara Clash for Supremacy. Did you manage to avoid those stronger ones, risk everything to come here in hope that I grant you the Chosen Saint[1] position? 」

Usually, in this situation, when someone faces this question, they would most likely follow up positively in hope of prolonging the conversation and discerning the situation.

However, Gu Qing Shan didn’t answer and silently held the black thread in his hand.

The other end of this thread is attached to that ghostly being.

A faint sensation could be felt from the thread that reached all the way to Gu Qing Shan’s heart.

—–relying on some sort of mystical sensation that the thread was transmitting, he could sense the other party’s anger and killing intent.

There are numerous reasons for this anger.

But only a single explanation for killing intent.

Gu Qing Shan naturally understood the subtleties.

At this point, he had gone through numerous answers in his mind, as well as gained a deeper understanding of the Fate-type Ability, [Longing].

I don’t know this monster.

I have no information.

However, this doesn’t matter, as I am able to directly sense the other party’s attitude and emotions.

This Fate-type Ability truly is the greatest tool for survival.

“That’s not it” Gu Qing Shan casually replied, “I’m not a wraith, I’m the Huang Quan realm’s Lord of War who entered this place to get rid of the wraiths. I only awakened you due to a moment of carelessness”

The ghostly being’s head pulled back, then abruptly jerked forward again with its pair of glowing green eyes opening even bigger.

「 Huang Quan realm? You said that you’re a being of the Huang Quan realm? 」

It shouted, its voice full of surprise.

The killing intent that came from the ghostly being faded somewhat, from what Gu Qing Shan felt from the black thread.

That’s good, it seems my thoughts were correct.

Most likely, this monster is an entity that granted certain things to the wraiths, but for some reason, it had gotten hostile towards the wraiths.

“I am indeed from Huang Quan” Gu Qing Shan replied.

He took out the Devil King Warden Rod, held it in his hand, then circulated his power through it.

A faint yellow glow representing the power of Huang Quan appeared on his body, illuminating everything in the darkness.

The monster quickly spoke: 「 How strange, how very strange. You are a Chosen Saint of Huang Quan realm, yet you came into the Wraith realm and summoned me——- what exactly are you planning? 」

A sense of expectation and restlessness could be felt from the black thread.

Gu Qing Shan was able to sense it.

He went silent for a short moment, pondered numerous answers in his mind, then finally gave one: “The Samsara Clash for Supremacy is about to begin, I’m here to learn about my enemies”

The ghostly being suddenly looked up at the sky and laughed out loud.

「 Ahahaha, what a great Huang Quan Lord of War indeed, so you intended to defeat the Chosen Saint of the Wraith realm before the Samsara Clash for Supremacy even began—— that is certainly quite the idea 」

It stopped laughing and continued with a sarcastic tone: 「 Unfortunately, the wraiths could even wield the power of Great Flood, they’ve already selected three Chosen Saints among themselves, each with their own Title, who are respectively the Fate Obstruction Wraith, Giant Frame Wraith, and Karmic Fire Wraith 」

「 Little one from Huang Quan, while you might have reached the Star River Saint realm as they did, you are still alone, unable to fight against three Wraith Chosen Saints at the same time, nor could you oppose the Great Flood 」

「 Even if I granted you a Chosen Saint status, it would still be meaningless 」

「 Return 」

After saying so, it shook its head and turned around, preparing to go back into the darkness.

The black thread trembled slightly as Gu Qing Shan felt the other party’s regret and disappointment.

Following that, the black thread snapped.

This meant that the other party had given up on talking to him, no longer wishing to have anything to do with him.

Recalling all of its words until now, Gu Qing Shan had numerous thoughts running through his mind.

This ghostly being could grant me the Chosen Saint status for the Wraith realm!

If that’s the case, it was similar to the one-horned demon that granted me the Huang Quan Chosen Saint status.

Perhaps they are the same kind of entities.

——however, this ghostly being believes that I can’t oppose the Great Flood or the wraiths, so it is about to leave with disappointment.

Then, what should I do now?

If I let this opportunity go, I would most likely not be able to see this entity again.

From its tone, it could be inferred that it has a certain level of influence to the Wraith realm. Even if it can’t make me a Wraith Chosen Saint, it would still be able to aid me in other ways.

I can’t let this chance slip by!

Countless thoughts were quickly moving through Gu Qing Shan’s mind.

The Great Flood.

An Unlivable Apocalypse.

How exactly would I be able to win against the Great Flood?

The big shots of Void City couldn’t even stop the omens leading to this Apocalypse.

I wouldn’t be able to stop this Apocalypse either.

—-it’s impossible.

For the current me, Great Flood is true despair, a gap that I cannot cross.

Gu Qing Shan’s heart felt heavy.

The ghostly being was gradually moving into the shadow, disappearing from Gu Qing Shan’s sight.

Gu Qing Shan forced himself to calm down and continued to think.

——I have no way to oppose Great Flood.

Then what other means do I have to convince this ghostly being to remain?

Suddenly, Gu Qing Shan recalled the one-horned demon’s words when he was facing the Star River Tribulation:

…

「 So it was the Huang Quan Devil King and Lord of the Samsara Divine Mountain. For you to obtain the [Ethereal] inheritance, you must have gone through numerous arduous battles 」

「 The status you’ve obtained and the feats you’ve managed to achieve are almost unheard of 」

「 ——–It seems the Saint Selection of the Huang Quan realm can now end 」

…

A certain thought flashed through Gu Qing Shan’s mind.

He shouted towards the figure in the darkness:

“Your grace, I can definitely kill all of those wraiths, they are all no match for me”

“Even Great Flood cannot compare to the power that I’ve obtained!”

Gu Qing Shan circulated the Huang Quan Origin power throughout his entire body, then abruptly unleashed four consecutive fist strikes into the void of space!

While they were all attacking nothing, each of them exuded a completely different aura and power.

[Grand Mountain]

[No Pardon]

[Myriad Shadows]

——[Null Tribulation]!

The first three strikes were no issues, but Gu Qing Shan could not unleash [Null Tribulation].

Even only for show, even as a mere casual strike, the fourth fist strike had still far surpassed his capabilities.

As soon as he raised his fist, this fist strike instantly sucked dry the Huang Quan Origin power in his entire body.

Supernatural phenomena suddenly manifested.

The empty world of darkness disappeared in front of Gu Qing Shan’s eyes, turning into innumerable arcs and sprites of light.

Every kind of form had disappeared.

All living beings and all things, the representation of everything no longer existed, Gu Qing Shan’s gaze could only see the Laws, as well as the Origin power that made it all.

After that short moment.

Everything returned to normal.

Gu Qing Shan’s legs became like jelly as he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.

His stamina and Huang Quan Origin power had all been fully consumed.

Originally, Huang Quan Origin power was a kind of force within the Samsara, capable of exerting the power of [Null Tribulation], but was limited by Gu Qing Shan’s strength, only the very beginning of this strike was unleashed.

——-did it accomplish its goal?

The black thread reappeared, one end coiled around Gu Qing Shan’s hand, the other hand reaching into the empty darkness.

Gu Qing Shan looked towards the darkness.

The pair of glowing green eyes with double pupils once again appeared.

The ghostly being had directly bypassed a large distance in order to appear in front of Gu Qing Shan.

「 So you were the inheritor of [Ethereal], how unimaginable, for someone of your strength to obtain [Ethereal], it is completely outside of my expectations 」the ghostly being judged him and commented.

“I didn’t either, I only killed a monster” Gu Qing Shan admitted.

“What kind of monster was it?” the ghostly being asked interestedly.

Gu Qing Shan described it.

「 Impossible, even 10,000 of you wouldn’t be able to kill it 」the ghostly being resolutely denied his words.

Gu Qing Shan could only explain the entire process.

The ghostly being looked at him, completely speechless for a while.

「 A firefly was able to destroy the scorching sun, no wonder… 」it muttered emotionally.

Gu Qing Shan tried asking: “Your grace, you seem to understand [Ethereal] very well”

「 [Ethereal] is a core fist technique passed down within the Samsara, each Deity of the Samsara is able to utilize [Ethereal] to re-manifest the sufferings of the Samsara’s past 」the ghostly being appeared reminiscent and commented.

“Comparing this technique to Great Flood, which one does your grace think is stronger?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

The ghostly being recalled its senses and spoke as it looked at him: 「 Naturally, [Null Tribulation] is stronger, this was power capable of crushing the Grand Tie Wei Mountain—— then most likely, your Deific Authority was ‘Samsara Mountain God’, because only the Grand Tie Wei Mountain would record the power of [Null Tribulation] as preparation for the Samsara’s future evolution 」

“Since I have a chance to defeat the other wraiths, I ask that your grace grant me a Wraith Chosen Saint status” Gu Qing Shan sincerely spoke.

The ghostly being’s eyes suddenly became even brighter as it spoke solemnly:

「 Cultivator, I want to see your Six Paths Great Mountain sword 」

Gu Qing Shan swiped his hand through the void of space.

An autumn-water like blue steel sword suddenly appeared and hovered next to him.

The ghostly being stared closely at the Six Paths Great Mountain sword for a while, then suddenly spoke with a weeping voice: 「 That is good… although she had forgotten everything of the past, her spirit remained the same, still retaining her presence in the past 」

The black fog around its body completely faded, revealing a body full of shocking wounds.

Over half of this ghostly being’s body was already gone, leaving only pieces of scrap flesh sticking to the frame of its skeleton.

From the looks of it, it had gone through quite an intense battle.

「 My last power… shall be used to manifest your Chosen Saint power, but this power will temporarily be hidden, otherwise it would surely draw the attention of the other Wraith Chosen Saints 」

A yaksha mask slowly descended from the darkness, hovering in front of Gu Qing Shan.

The ghostly being’s two eyes became dim, its entire body crumbling into dust, fading away within the darkness of the void of space.

「 As my power has been used up, I shall completely disappear, the rest shall depend on yourself—– of course, on this sword of yours as well, you will have to take good care of her 」the ghostly being told him.

Gu Qing Shan couldn’t help but ask: “Do you know the Six Paths Great Mountain sword? Why did you immediately recognize me after you saw the Six Paths Great Mountain sword?”

The ghostly being smiled gently.

It completely scattered away in the wind, leaving one last statement:

「 You must be a true cultivator in order to receive this sword’s recognition 」

「 That is enough 」

[1] I neglected this before, but when Gu Qing Shan passed the Huang Quan Saint Selection, he became a Chosen Saint for Huang Quan, which is the official title