The specter's head was severed from its body, and with a wave of Bai Ming's sleeve, the body turned to ashes and scattered. Rong Wan calmed herself and then emerged from behind Bai Ming. Jingheng furrowed his brows, realizing that Rong Wan's first glance wasn't at the specter's remains but at him. Something seemed off.
As he pondered, the beauty reached out and touched his cheek. "Ah Jing, are you alright?" Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with worry, soft and gentle. Despite his suspicions, Jingheng heard her say, "We should thank Lord Bai Ming for arriving in time; otherwise, who knows what trouble might have ensued."
Bai Ming was the guardian of the Heavenly Gate, tasked with overseeing it day and night. Why would he suddenly show up at Rong Wan's place without any warning? Jingheng thought about this and then thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Lord Bai Ming."
He then turned his attention to the ashes. The specter seemed to have hesitated, as if it wanted to say something. Jingheng suddenly recalled the skin the specter had shed and turned back toward the stone table. The skin that resembled "Rong Wan" had already melted like early snow, emitting a peculiar fragrance. As the scent grew stronger, he reached out to touch it, but a powerful force suddenly pushed him toward the pile of remains.
The skin, upon contact with living flesh, came alive, turning into countless tendrils that wrapped around him. A golden lotus fire flickered in his hand, but as it touched the skin, a burst of thick smoke arose. Jingheng felt a chill spreading through his body; his primal energy was weakening, the lotus fire dimming, and his arm was gradually covered in black, snake-like scales—an obvious sign of falling into the ghostly path.
He dared not attack the skin anymore, but he suddenly realized that everything was a trap! The Celestial Realm's gods were forbidden from harming each other, or they would fall into the ghostly path. Whoever pushed him, the goal was to force him into this dark path!
As for that beautiful skin, he had thought it was familiar. It appeared to be made from the remnants of a celestial god who had already succumbed to chaos. The fact that someone in the Celestial Realm would perform such vile acts was beyond shocking.
How could they claim to be gods while engaging in such depravity?
Such filth, how could it claim to be the righteous path?
Jingheng felt a fire burning in his heart, ready to consume him entirely. He turned around and heard Rong Wan's panicked scream, "Ghostly path! That's the ghostly path!"
"Is my sister saying that Jingheng has fallen into the ghostly path?" Even though he knew Rong Wan was not a good person, Jingheng felt a chill run down his spine. He shivered, not knowing why he wanted to laugh.
"Is my sister going to restore righteousness by her own hand?" He tightened his lips, watching Rong Wan hesitate, but then Bai Ming pointed a silver spear directly at Jingheng.
"Why make it difficult for the flower master?" Bai Ming asked.
"Oh, is Lord Bai Ming enforcing the heavenly law? But isn't leaving your post at the Heavenly Gate during a critical time creating trouble for the gate's guards?" Jingheng's lips curled, but his eyes held no humor. He now understood that the beautiful skin was not intended to kill him, but to force him to destroy it, so he would bear the blame for harming a celestial being.
The beautiful skin wouldn't kill him, but every inch that touched his flesh felt like needles piercing his skin.
Bai Ming's silver spear was imposing, but he didn't strike. He understood the implications of Jingheng's words, but what did it matter? In the Celestial Realm, he had more influence than Jingheng.
A shimmering light heralded the arrival of the acting ruler of the Celestial Realm. "Foul creature, cease your rampage!" The voice came before the person—a god named Bai Zhi, not the ruler but his younger brother who controlled thunder and lightning.
He was the first to arrive, glancing at the ashes with a hawk-like gaze before focusing on Jingheng, labeling him a "foul creature."
Jingheng realized this was all premeditated. In his past life, Bai Zhi's calm demeanor had been comforting, but now, his arrogance was evident in his expression.
To be born as a god and disregard human life—such gods, how could they be worthy of the praise from the mortal realm?