CHAPTER 1022: CHAPTER 64: SENLUO GHOST CITY, YAMA EMPEROR

The Ghost Head Wooden Boat slowly docked at the pier, constructed with massive, dark stone slabs. The collision of the boat and the stone shore made a dull sound, echoing clearly in the deathly silence. Xiao Jie followed behind the Ghost Official Liu Tong as they disembarked. The ghost soldiers waiting at the pier stepped forward to take in and escort the bewildered souls recently retrieved from the Nether River.

Stepping onto the solid stone slabs of the pier, they were immediately blocked by a Ghost General clad in Mysterious Heavy Armor, wearing a Nether Iron Long Saber, and possessing an unusually tall and imposing stature. His eyes swept over the few dozen new souls behind Liu Tong, and his brow furrowed. His tone held an evident impatience: "Liu Xunli, you have been out patrolling for a long time today, so why have you brought back so few wandering souls? The frontline needs more troops, and your efficiency... Hmm? And who is this—" His gaze abruptly landed on Xiao Jie, whose demeanor was markedly different, filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

Liu Tong hurriedly stepped forward, whispering hastily and reverently into the Ghost General’s ear. The impatience on the Ghost General’s face instantly disappeared, replaced by immense astonishment. His gaze toward Xiao Jie immediately altered, full of disbelief and deep reverence, and he subconsciously straightened his posture.

"I... I had no idea it was the Immortal Law personally arriving! There were many offenses just now, and I hope for the Immortal’s forgiveness! I am..." He stammered, seemingly unsure how to express his respect.

Xiao Jie waved a hand, his tone calm yet inherently commanding: "No matter, blame not he who does not know. Just lead the way ahead."

"Yes, yes! Immortal, please follow me!" The Ghost General was like receiving a grand pardon, quickly turning to personally lead the way, disregarding the wandering souls and the perspiring Liu Tong.

Xiao Jie followed behind the Ghost General, walking slowly, his sharp gaze surveying the surroundings. This must be the so-called "Wangchuan Platform". It was no ordinary pier but a large military fortress platform built against the Nether River and atop steep cliffs, strategically important and difficult to attack.

The entire Wangchuan Platform was under extremely tight security! The towering Nether Iron Walls gleamed with a chilling sheen, densely adorned with menacing City Defense Crossbow Cannons atop, their barrels dark, pointing toward the Nether River and the distant, dim wilderness. Behind the merlons, shadows donned with Standard-Legion long spears or Ghost Head Sabers patrolled silently, eyes ablaze with soul flames, exuding a deadly air of seasoned warriors.

The atmosphere was thick with a cold, tense mix of iron and souls, and each breath carried the oppressive feeling of impending war. The patrols passed each other with clanging steps, led by Ghost Generals with fierce auras, their gazes electric, scanning for any suspicious activity.

This war-ready posture indicated that this place was undoubtedly a crucial military site defending the capital. Considering that after the Wangchuan Platform was the core of Yama’s rule—Senluo Ghost City, with such tension at the near throat infrastructure of the capital, it could imply Yama’s current situation is precarious rather than "not good."

Led by the Ghost General, Xiao Jie passed through several heavy city gates marked with prohibition runes. At each checkpoint, the guarding Ghost Soldiers and Ghost Generals saluted the leading Ghost General and cast scrutinizing, reverential glances at Xiao Jie.

Leaving the fortification of Wangchuan Platform, a broad "Yellow Springs Road" paved with black stone slabs unfolded, leading straight to the vast silhouette of a city shrouded in ghostly mist.

On either side of the road, not barren wilds but many ruins of broken buildings, shattered city walls, and huge, grim remnants of siege machines appeared! Charred lands, scattered broken blades, and the lingering aura of bloodshed clearly signified that a fierce battle had recently occurred here, with the fire of war reaching the very foot of the capital!

The closer it got to Senluo Ghost City, the more apparent the scars of war became. Even though the bodies had been cleared, the atmosphere of brutality and despair still lingered heavily.

"Immortal, we have arrived. Up ahead is Senluo Ghost City. Please wait here for a moment while I send someone inside to announce your arrival." The leading Ghost General stopped before a massive Black Iron Gate, seemingly connecting heaven and earth and turned back respectfully to Xiao Jie. The gate was carved with countless grotesque ghostly figures and mysterious runes, exuding a chilling, oppressive aura.

Just as Xiao Jie was about to nod in agreement, a vast clanking sound of mechanisms turning suddenly emanated from within the immensely heavy gate— "Creak-creak-creak..."

Following this, in a rumbling roar, the giant gates, which seemed to have remained closed since ancient times, slowly opened a crack, which gradually widened. Inside the gates, two rows of Ghost Officials in orderly robes, holding ceremonial paddleboards, stood respectfully with bowed heads.

Simultaneously, a loud, authoritative, yet with a touch of urgency and warmth, voice thundered from the depths of Senluo Ghost City, echoing with peculiar resonances throughout the heavens and earth:

"We respectfully invite the Immortal to Senluo Ghost City... Please, Immortal, grace us with your presence... Immortal’s arrival... Immortal’s arrival..."

This voice seemed to contain some Power of Law, penetrating to the soul. Before the voice faded, there were copper gongs, leather drums, horns, and even a mysterious plangent yet grand Netherworld suona made from unknown beast bones, collectively playing a spirited, though inevitably eerie, welcoming melody. This music, ideally solemn and ceremonial, echoed in the Netherworld, Senluo Ghost City, inevitably sounding particularly "otherworldly."