I wasn’t lying to Zhu Ziyan, nor was I trying to save her.

People say that warlocks are cold and heartless when they obliterate ghosts, scattering their souls.

But from another perspective, you could say that the warlock saved that ghost.

If ghosts were given a choice after experiencing the eighteen levels of hell—to atone for their sins in hell and wait for reincarnation, or to have their souls scattered—nine out of ten would choose the latter.

Although going to hell still offers a chance at reincarnation, the tortures of hell are beyond what ordinary beings can endure.

Ghosts who fall into hell don't simply vanish. Even if they are torn to pieces under torture, their souls will immediately reassemble, waiting to receive the next round of torment.

Moreover, the time a ghost spends in a particular level of hell is often calculated in years.

Take the Oil Cauldron Hell for example: the hell guards throw the ghost into the cauldron, frying them until their skin is torn and their bodies are charred. After being fished out and restored to their original form, they are thrown back into the cauldron to be fried again.

This process repeats for years, making them wish for death but unable to die. It would actually be better to have their souls scattered quickly.

Sending Zhu Ziyan to hell was never about releasing her, but about revenge.

As for my saying that I would bring Zhu Ziyan out of hell to meet my master, I wasn't lying to her either.

With the Black and White Impermanence and the Embroidered Uniform Guard (Xiu Yi Wei) lending their influence, bringing a ghost out of hell for a day or two and then sending them back is just a matter of words, isn't it?

Before Zhu Ziyan could speak, I said, "Zhu Ziyan, don't think I'm trying to trick you."

"Do you think the Reincarnation Department (Lun Hui Si) is unaware of our using you in our spells?"

"The Holy Lord of Reincarnation (Lun Hui Sheng Zhu) will definitely kill you. If you still want a next life, then follow Lao Shang! Maybe King Yama will see that you cooperated with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and reduce your sentence by two years."

Zhu Ziyan said, "I won't go with him! And I don't need you to kill me!"

As Zhu Ziyan spoke, phosphorescent flames began to seep from her seven orifices.

Su Su exclaimed, "She's self-destructing her soul, I can't suppress it anymore."

I raised my hand to stop Su Su, "If you can't suppress it, then don't! It's enough for me to see her die!"

Zhu Ziyan sneered repeatedly, "Li Po, you're watching my soul scatter in front of you, how will you explain this to Qu Mo?"

"I know Qu Mo better than anyone else."

"He values the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues (San Gang Wu Chang) to the core. If you don't save me, he'll see it as utterly rebellious. Just wait to be expelled from the sect!"

I squatted down and looked at Zhu Ziyan at eye level, saying, "Zhu Ziyan, you know you're doomed, so you're willing to risk having your soul scattered to drag me down with you, right?"

Zhu Ziyan laughed sharply, "So what if I am?"

"You can record everything that happens here and show it to Qu Mo!"

"Even if Qu Mo doesn't kill you, he'll cripple your cultivation."

"He can't tolerate having a rebellious disciple."

"That's Qu Mo's character. No one in this world understands him better than I do."

The morbid madness in Zhu Ziyan's eyes had reached its peak, even carrying a hint of vindictive pleasure.

I couldn't help but shake my head and sigh, "Zhu Ziyan, you actually don't understand my master at all."

"My master is indeed stubborn, but he's not pedantic or brainless."

"Since you know about the Nine Ghosts, you should know that each of them is an unyielding, notorious bandit. They are willing to follow my master not only because of his cultivation."

I looked at the stunned Zhu Ziyan and said, "A shrewd man can be fooled by a woman, but that's because he loved that woman. Only love is the reason for repeated tolerance and compromise."

"Zhu Ziyan, I know you don't care about a man's infatuation, because too many men are infatuated with you. You've become numb to people who would give up everything to pursue you."

"Zhu Ziyan, when everyone in the world abandons you, you'll realize who the person who was truly good to you was!"

"But you'll never see him again."

Zhu Ziyan stared blankly into the distance, not knowing what she was thinking.

I deliberately lowered my voice and said, "You're scattering your soul so slowly, you want to use my master to force me to let you go, right? I won't let you get your way."

Zhu Ziyan suddenly shouted like a madwoman, "Li Po, save me quickly, I don't want my soul to scatter! I want to see Qu Mo, I don't want my soul to scatter."

Shang Xingyan looked at me at this moment. Among us, the only one who could stop Zhu Ziyan from scattering her soul was Shang Xingyan.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard specializes in arresting officials from the underworld, so they naturally have means to prevent them from self-destructing their souls.

If Shang Xingyan acted, he would have at least an 80% chance of saving Zhu Ziyan.

But I pretended not to see Shang Xingyan's eyes and deliberately turned my head to the side. Shang Xingyan naturally understood and turned his back, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

Zhu Ziyan shouted desperately, "Li Po, I've agreed to everything you asked for. I've even disregarded the Reincarnation Department and cooperated with you to plot against the Holy Lord, what more do you want?"

"You have the Embroidered Uniform Guard by your side, as long as they act, I can live."

"I want to live, to see Qu Mo, to apologize to him in person."