109. Huang Er: Could it be that I am the clone?

As the cold words of the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp fell, a drop of eerie, chilling lamp oil appeared out of thin air. The drop of oil ignited, fueled by the Nether Flame. Then, the burning oil, aflame with the Nether Fire, disregarded the conical hat it wore and directly sank into the center of its brow.

The brow twitched. The clay figure seemed to come to life, swiftly transforming into flesh and blood. The flesh in the brow quivered, quickly forming strange, tadpole-shaped characters—Nether Script. Many layers of Nether Script overlapped, forming a bizarre symbol.

Huang Twenty-Four had been successfully enlightened.

The other shadow spirits gathered around, seemingly overwhelmed with excitement as such an event had not occurred for a long time. They even danced and gestured wildly.

Chen Huangpi muttered as he gazed at the Nether Script, “The Taoist history spans seventeen thousand four hundred years. In the Yellow Springs’ Nether Land, one shadow spirit has been enlightened and pardoned as a day-and-night roaming spirit, totaling one million three hundred forty-nine thousand seven hundred twenty-four, with only one hundred and three remaining.”

Now, he fully understood.

The Yellow Springs’ Nether Land indeed existed to forge shadow spirits.

Regardless of how Huang Twenty-Four suddenly qualified to be enlightened into a shadow spirit and was pardoned as a day-and-night roaming spirit, nearly one and a half million such spirits had already been pardoned before him.

Yet, including Huang Twenty-Four, only one hundred and three remained.

Meanwhile, there were nearly eight million defective spirits in this place that had not been enlightened.

In other words, for a long time before Huang Twenty-Four, these defective shadow spirits kept creating their kind and made many, but for unknown reasons, none met the criteria, so the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp did not approve them.

Perhaps the Yellow Heaven was not yet born.

Perhaps the Taoist Master had not arrived.

Or maybe the person forging the shadow spirits was wrong.

“Perhaps the Taoist Master refers to Master,” Chen Huangpi whispered. “The celestial upheaval is not over, so Yellow Heaven is unborn. Whether Master creates deities or shadow spirits, he must have his purpose. But this Nine Nether Spirit Lamp...”

“Huang Er, if it is the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp, then who are you?” This question immediately stunned the bronze oil lamp.

In fact, ever since the voice behind the Ghost Gate changed its tone, the bronze oil lamp had been somewhat fearful.

When the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp appeared, the bronze lamp was struck as if by lightning.

The verdigris on the bronze, coupled with the Nether Fire, and except for the lack of bite marks on the lamp’s body, this Nine Nether Spirit Lamp was exactly like its original form.

Or rather, the other was the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp.

Looking at the current Nine Nether Spirit Lamp, Chen Huangpi maliciously speculated, “Huang Er, you wouldn’t be a fake, would you?”

“How could I be!” the bronze oil lamp anxiously replied. “I am the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp, personally crafted by the Taoist Master. How could there be a fake? Maybe it’s my clone? But I don’t remember having a clone...”

“Who’s a clone of whom is uncertain,” the Death Reaper said quietly. “It can enlighten shadow spirits, but you can’t. It’s strong, you’re weak. Usually, a clone is the stronger one splitting into the weaker. I’ve never heard of the opposite.”

Earlier, the bronze oil lamp’s remark, “If you really miss your father, just breathe more air,” had not been forgotten by the Death Reaper.

Now, with the chance to disparage placed before it, it refrained from mocking only out of courtesy.

Chen Huangpi said, “Huang Er, no wonder you can’t enlighten shadow spirits; turns out you’re just a clone.”

“Impossible!” The bronze oil lamp stomped in frustration. “I’m definitely not a clone. If I were, why would the Taoist Master treat me this way?”

“Maybe it’s your delusion,” Chen Huangpi mused. “I recall when Master awakened you, there were many of your clones in the temple. Either you’re mentally unstable, or you’re not really the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp; you’re just a bronze oil lamp.”

“I’m not crazy!” the bronze oil lamp roared. “I am the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp.”

“Then why do you usually appear like this?”

“My true form is too terrifying. I’m afraid it would scare you.”

“Then why don’t you turn black or white, but instead this bronze color?”

“Because...” The bronze oil lamp hesitated miserably, “I... I...”

Because the Golden Top Heaven Lamp, or Huang One, was golden in color, it had deliberately chosen to appear bronze—a color closest to Huang One—due to some psychological entanglement. But it could never bring itself to say this.

“Chen Huangpi, you and I are as close as brothers,” the bronze oil lamp wailed. “Believe me, I am truly the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp. That thing must be my clone, just placed in the Yellow Springs’ Nether Land. Surely, the Taoist Master did this. I’ll ask when we return.”

Yet its tone was full of doubt.

Because it itself questioned whether it really was the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp.

Memories can deceive.

Being personally created by the Taoist Master, memories of its birth, the celestial upheaval before and after, and waking up were all clear.

Only two to three thousand years of memory were missing—during which it had been dormant.

“What if I wasn’t sleeping?” The bronze oil lamp felt an inexplicable unease. “Then am I a clone? Or am I mad, mistaking myself for the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp? So I’m not Huang Er? Then who am I?”

“Wait, if I’m not Huang Er... I never flattered the Nine Departures Bell only to be chased away, nor kowtowed to that sword and nearly got struck down, nor bowed to Huang One and called him big brother in apology...”

“But why would I pretend to be Huang Er? Am I a scoundrel?”

Staring at its bright yellow color, the bronze oil lamp suddenly said, “Huang One’s color is close to mine. If I’m not Huang Er, maybe I am Huang One? But if I am it, then who is it? Am I truly mad?”

“But in the Pure Immortal Temple, I’m clearly the sanest one here...”

“Chen Huangpi, between truth and falsehood, I can’t tell.”

Hearing this, Chen Huangpi pointed at the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp. “Why not communicate with it? Then you’ll know what’s true and what’s fake.”

“I won’t...” The bronze oil lamp clutched Chen Huangpi’s clothes tightly, refusing to communicate with the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp.

Its name had already been taken away.

If even its last shred of dignity was stripped, it might as well die.

“Look, your true form is leaving,” Chen Huangpi said. “Right. Since it enlightened Huang Twenty-Four as a day-and-night roaming spirit, it naturally should return to the world behind the Ghost Gate.”

As he spoke, the bronze oil lamp noticed the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp slipping into the Ghost Gate.

The gate, covered in verdigris, seemed to fade, gradually emitting golden light.

Countless hands, grasping the threshold from the darkness beyond, retracted one by one.

Even the darkness grew dimmer.

Golden Horn couldn’t help but shout, “Father Huangpi, the path back to the mortal world is disappearing! Hurry, go in!”

“This...” Chen Huangpi’s expression flickered.

The world beyond the Ghost Gate felt as eerie and terrifying as the old temple.

Besides, there was a Yama Palace.

If he entered and encountered great danger, what then?

Moreover, it was said that the Yellow Springs’ Nether Land had transformed, filled with malevolent spirits. Yet, apart from Luopo Mountain, he hadn’t seen any.

Who knew if they were all inside that world beyond the gate?

But...

Less than two hours remained before nightfall.

If he didn’t enter now, there would be no time to find another way back.

“Go!” Chen Huangpi no longer hesitated.

Summoning swirling black smoke around him, while the shadow spirits below still celebrated the successful enlightenment of a day-and-night roaming spirit, he soared upward and plunged into the world beyond the gate.

Below, countless shadow spirits were startled.

Once they realized Chen Huangpi’s intent, they all grew furious.

Countless shadow spirit forms flickered, densely blocking the gate.

Some shouted fiercely at Chen Huangpi, their howls chilling like the roars of fiends.

Chen Huangpi staggered from the shock of their voices.

But the next moment, an even more furious roar sounded.

It was like a demonic melody piercing the ears.

The shadow spirits blocking Chen Huangpi all suddenly faltered and fell like dumplings.

Huang Twenty-Four radiated a ghostly aura, his brow’s strange symbol emitting jet-black light, exuding a solemn and oppressive presence.

A day-and-night roaming spirit naturally held a higher innate rank than these unqualified defective spirits.

The shadow spirits were at a loss.

Huang Twenty-Four gave Chen Huangpi an expectant look, as if waiting for praise.

But Chen Huangpi had already slipped through the Ghost Gate and did not notice.

Huang Twenty-Four was a little disappointed, then walked toward the gate.

The darkness beyond the gate was like a mirror, a barrier.

Huang Twenty-Four passed through the gate but found himself on the same side.

No matter how many times he tried, he could not enter the world beyond.

This distressed him greatly.

He wailed toward Chen Huangpi’s figure reflected in the mirror.

This time, Chen Huangpi felt it and turned back, shouting loudly, “Stay here in the Yellow Springs’ Nether Land and guard my legacy. If there’s a chance, I will return for you.”

Huang Twenty-Four was bewildered.

He didn’t understand why Chen Huangpi, who created him, would abandon him.

Nor could he grasp what legacy Chen Huangpi meant.

He stood there in confusion, recalling everything that had happened.

Then, he began to pay homage to the golden gate.

Because Chen Huangpi instructed him to perform the ritual.

However, the batch of enlightened shadow spirits’ ritual had ended, and the Nine Nether Spirit Lamp would not appear again.

So Huang Twenty-Four stood up.

He still remembered one phrase.

It was said by the bronze oil lamp beside Chen Huangpi: “If people won’t give, then take by force!”

Not knowing what legacy was, then take what you want by force.

(End of chapter)