[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have shattered the Gates of the Netherworld. You've earned one draw. Use it now?]
At that moment, the system's voice chimed in, echoing in Lucian's mind.
"Draw!" Lucian responded without hesitation.
The familiar wheel of fate materialized once more, its radiant glow spinning with power.
[Draw successful. Congratulations, Host. You've obtained: Ghost Deities—Black and White Wardens.]
[Black and White Wardens: Legendary guides of the Netherworld. Envoys of death, ranked among the Ten Great Commanders of the Underworld.]
"Black and White Wardens..."Lucian murmured the names under his breath.
Back in his previous life, these names were known far and wide.
White Warden—Xie Qiye, also known as Xie Bi'an.Black Warden—Fan Wujie, known as Fan Baye.
Wherever they walked, souls trembled. Even the fiercest of evil spirits dared not cross their path. In the old myths, their names alone symbolized the very authority of the underworld.
[Would you like to summon the Black and White Wardens?]
"Summon." Lucian willed it silently.
In an instant, the dimly-lit City God Temple erupted with flame. But not the typical red-orange hue—no. It was a stark, ghostly white fire that burned bright, almost sacred in its eerie glow.
From the mist emerged two figures.
One tall, one short.
One in white, one in black.
The White Warden stood tall, dressed in pristine robes and a white cap. His pale face bore an unsettling smile, a mourning staff dangling loosely from one hand, chains wrapped lazily around his waist.
The Black Warden was shorter, stockier, dressed in inky garments and a pitch-black hat. In one hand, he raised a dark mourning staff; in the other, he clutched a chain that shimmered coldly under the ghostly firelight.
With his six-fold Ghostsense, Lucian could clearly see the overwhelming spectral energy coiling around them—far denser than anything the demons from the Gates had ever displayed. And yet... that power felt divine, not malevolent.
The two ghosts solidified fully and opened their eyes in unison, gazing directly at Lucian.
Then, they bowed.
"Xie Bi'an, Fan Wujie—at your command, my Lord!"
Their voices echoed with reverence and unwavering loyalty.
Judging by their aura alone, these two could rival—even surpass—the army of three thousand Nether Soldiers. But then again, they weren't just any ghosts. They were gods. Officially recognized emissaries of the Underworld.
"Rise," Lucian said coolly, glancing over them.
"From tomorrow onward, the two of you will patrol the city each night. Should you encounter any malicious spirits preying on the living, destroy them on sight. No need to report back."
He paused, then added,"If a ghost has merely taken residence within a human host, leave them be."
"Yes, my Lord."
The Wardens responded in unison, rising and taking silent positions behind Lucian.
At their arrival, the Nether Soldiers that had been guarding the temple faded quietly into the mist—dismissed without a sound.
One in black, one in white.One tall, one short.The two stood like divine sentinels behind Lucian.
A faint golden glow of merit shimmered across Lucian's body.
And then, strangely, the once-blurred features of the City God statue in the temple began to take shape...Vague, hazy outlines... eerily resembling Lucian himself.
Imperial Capital
National Headquarters of Spirit Tamers
Around a round table, a dozen figures sat in dead silence, their eyes locked on the screen before them—watching the impossible unfold.
Men and women alike, each radiating terrifying spiritual pressure. These were the top Spirit Tamers of all Huaxia.
Even through the screen, the oppressive aura of the three thousand Nether Soldiers seemed to seep into the room, curling around their hearts like a cold hand.
No one spoke for a long while. Only the sound of heavy breathing filled the chamber.
"Nether Soldiers, march..."
"Mortals, make way..."
That chilling, rasped voice echoed from the screen again—like a dirge whispered directly into their ears.
No one dared imagine what devastation such a ghostly army could bring if loosed upon a city.
An elder with knotted fingers gripped the table and slowly stood.
"Colleagues," he said solemnly. "What you've just seen is the incident at the Gates of the Netherworld in Huadu."
"This army... calling itself 'Nether Soldiers'... showed no hostility toward Spirit Tamers. In fact, they annihilated the demons that escaped."
"Thoughts?"
Another elderly man, hair like snow, rose shakily and murmured at the screen:
"'Nether Soldiers march… Mortals make way'... Are they truly from the Underworld? Could it be that the legends of the nether realm—of gods and ghosts—are real after all?"
"I don't buy it!"A man in a Zhongshan suit slammed the table, eyes wide.
"Ghosts have been terrorizing the world for over a century. In all that time, we tried everything—Taoist rituals, Buddhist chants, exorcists. None of it worked!"
"My ancestors spent their lives searching for Heaven, for Hell, for even a shred of our ancient mythology to be real—and they found nothing."
"If gods truly exist, then where were they when the world was drowning in blood? Where were they when entire cities fell to the dead?"
His voice rang through the room, bitter and furious.