Torches blazed with fierce crimson flames, burning brightly in the winter night like sinister red snakes, illuminating the slightly stiff and horrified faces of the crowd, as well as the white-robed man with a bushy beard at the front.

Tie Sha was frowning and gazing solemnly at the distant Lake Heart Island, with the slender Ah Da standing behind him.

"Sect Leader, what should we do now?" An Inner Sect Disciple's voice trembled, "This doesn't seem like an enemy attack, but rather..."

As he spoke, he dared not continue, as if that word was a taboo in the night.

Tie Sha raised his voice, "What are you afraid of? What is there not to say? Just evil spirits!"

His voice was steady and confident, and along with his usual prestige, the fear in the hearts of the disciples was instantly suppressed, and the surrounding chaos and panic gradually subsided.

Tie Sha suddenly said, "There should be prisoners about to be executed in the County Government Prison, right?"

A disciple responded, "Yes, Sect Leader, there are still a few..."

Tie Sha said, "Bring them all here."

"Yes."

Soon, five death row prisoners were brought over.

Tie Sha didn't even look at them and said, "I'm giving you a chance to live now."

The prisoners were still in a daze, and a disciple beside them kicked them, saying, "This is Sect Leader Tie!"

The five prisoners then realized, hurriedly bowed, and said repeatedly, "Thank you, Sect Leader, thank you, Sect Leader!"

Tie Sha pointed to the distance and said, "Do you see that island? There are evil spirits on the island... Normally, they are on the island and won't come out.

Now you draw lots, and the one who draws it will take a boat over.

After going over, you don't need to land on the island, just wait at the edge of the island for half an incense stick's time. Once time is up, you can return, and upon returning... you can go free."

A prisoner asked, "Then... what about those who didn't draw the lot?"

Tie Sha said, "Then return to the prison and wait for execution.

But if the first person who draws it dies, then you still have a chance..."

The prisoners were silent but understood that they had no other choice.

Tie Sha naturally knew about the "Ghost Realm" and "Ghost Gate."

He didn't understand why the Ghost Realm in Central City would erupt, as Elder Ding also didn't comprehend it.

What Elder Ding knew was only not to enter the Ghost Realm, not to feed it, then everything would be okay.

But such a sudden eruption was beyond his knowledge.

However, one thing that Elder Ding was certain of was that... regardless of where, Ghost Realms always have boundaries.

Tie Sha was now testing the new boundary of this "Ghost Realm."

The five prisoners, one by one, took a boat over.

The first one reached the edge of the island, didn't land, then suddenly screamed in terror and stumbled into the water, never to resurface.

The second one went a little further, with the same result.

The third one went even farther, but still died. This time Tie Sha saw clearly, it was a ghostly pale hand emerging from the water...

The fourth one also died, Tie Sha saw a swollen half-face, which completely confirmed for him... the entire Black Market had turned into a Ghost Realm.

The fifth one barely managed to return alive, the prisoner, overjoyed, returned to the shore, and Tie Sha waved his hand, "You can go."

After the prisoner left, Tie Sha pulled aside a disciple and softly instructed, "Kill him in the wilderness."

The disciple quietly left.

Tie Sha looked at that boundary, still manageable in distance.

He then dispatched Inner Sect Disciples to the Inner City to fetch five Puppets, and also had people bring back a lot of kerosene.

He intended to burn the Black Market.

Ghosts, unsolvable.

But he wanted to try anyway.

By the time dawn was about to break, four of the five Puppets were already carrying barrels of kerosene onto the island, headed toward the Black Market.

The route was set on a straight line, so the puppets quickly reached the destination.

The fifth Puppet, holding a torch and a knife.

Such a crude operation, yet it succeeded.

Perhaps because Puppets are not human, or maybe because they have no soul, they were not attacked...

Tie Sha didn't use fire arrows because the lakeside was humid, and with the snow not yet melted, fire arrows wouldn't ignite the Black Market.

He measured the boundary not for archery proximity but merely to measure the Ghost Realm's boundary, so he could later determine if it expanded...

In White Sparrow's eyes, the entire Black Market was ablaze.

Sitting by the bed, Li Yuan sighed deeply, his eyes somewhat moist.

He knew... Master Li was gone.

In the Ghost Realm, let alone Master Li, even he might not survive.

...

Much later...

Morning broke.

Then it was midday.

Under the warm sun, the Black Market burned for most of the day and gradually subsided.

The crowd in the distance had expected to see a wasteland of ruins, and even if there were evil spirits, they'd be in the ruins.

But the next moment, they were all stunned because... the Black Market was still there.

Not only that, the houses that were previously burned down by the fire had been restored, ghostly Yin Qi hovering at the edge of their vision, giving off an indescribable eeriness.

And within the Black Market, they could vaguely see strange white spots...

At this moment, everyone felt nothing but a chilling creep, goosebumps rising in waves.

Tie Sha stared for a long time, his Adam's apple moved, and he said, "This place is now a forbidden land, no one is allowed to approach!"

He hadn't slept all night, but Perimeter Shadow Blood filled him, so he didn't feel tired. At this moment... Elder Ding had already silently stood by his side.

Elder Ding gently nudged Tie Sha, saying, "Elder Li is here."

Tie Sha nodded, glanced around, and walked toward a pavilion.

Li Yuan dismounted, tossing the reins to a nearby assistant, and also walked toward the pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, he paused, greeted Tie Sha within, and Tie Sha's heart was pounding, but he had to cooperate, knowing that this Ancestor didn't want to reveal his identity.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.