Since the Future is Before You, Why Not Pay Respect

With a "thud," Nine Nether Venerable felt his knees give way, collapsing to the ground.

It was an overwhelming pressure—one that brooked no refusal. Far surpassing even the two ghostly leaders he had encountered earlier in the Red-White Collision of Misfortune.

Black death energy, thick as substance, erupted from the Ghost Buddha's body. In his centuries of traversing the soul path, he had never witnessed such terrifying death energy.

Since you’ve seen the future, why not bow?

Nine Nether Venerable couldn’t help but recall the vision he had glimpsed mere seconds ago—himself trembling on his knees before the Ghost Buddha, forehead pressed to the ground, begging for a sliver of life.

Was this truly his future?

Was he going to die?

Was this the only way to survive?

Countless thoughts swirled in Nine Nether Venerable’s mind. At this moment, he nearly forgot he was trapped in an illusion, his mind consumed by a single word—

Survive.

Driven by instinct, he slowly bent forward, his body trembling uncontrollably.

His sanity plummeted rapidly.

30…

20…

10…

0!

The moment it hit zero, the barrage of comments reappeared—but in an eerily sinister manner.

Whispers, ghostly and mournful, echoed incessantly in his ears.

[He knelt! The old man actually knelt!]

[Is he submitting to the Ghost Buddha?]

[Heavens… this illusion is driving people mad!!]

[What an embarrassment!]

[Will anyone dare attempt the Ghost Immortal difficulty after this?]

……

These hallucinatory murmurs, paradoxically, jolted Nine Nether Venerable back to clarity.

His half-bent posture froze mid-motion.

"This is an illusion… I’m in an illusion!"

Like waking from a dream, Nine Nether Venerable fought to suppress his terror.

"It’s all fake… all fake! You’re trying to deceive me!!!"

He raised his voice, as if shouting could dispel his fear.

"This immortal… has no need to deceive you."

The Ghost Buddha narrowed its eyes, lifting a palm mockingly.

"You can’t kill me! This is all that brat’s trickery… trying to ruin my reputation! Hah, hahaha! I’ve seen through it!!!"

Nine Nether Venerable laughed hysterically, his expression bordering on madness.

The Ghost Buddha’s lips stretched to its ears in a sinister grin.

Its body suddenly expanded to monstrous proportions, seizing Nine Nether Venerable in its palm.

No matter how he struggled, escape was impossible.

With the cruel amusement of a predator toying with prey, the Ghost Buddha crushed Nine Nether Venerable’s limbs one by one.

The latter howled in agony, yet still roared:

"Kill me! Just kill me!! You’re nothing but a phantom in this illusion!!!"

"Hahaha… I get it now! You’re not the drowned ghost, not the ghost bride…"

"You’re a vengeful spirit! You must be a vengeful spirit!!"

"I’ve found the answer… I’ve won, I’ve won!"

"You can’t kill me, you can’t kill me!!"

……

Hearing Nine Nether Venerable—now reduced to just a head—still defiant, the Ghost Buddha’s smile grew even more grotesque.

"What if…"

"I can kill you?"

The next instant, beneath Nine Nether Venerable’s despairing gaze, colossal fingers crushed his skull.

……

[Round Summary:]

[Entity Type: Vengeful Spirit (+1000)]

[Evade a ghostly hunt (Failed)]

[Witness a supernatural perspective and survive (Failed)]

……

Nine Nether Venerable stared at the summary screen, then at the brightly lit safe room around him, tears streaming down his aged face.

At last, the long-absent barrage of comments flooded his vision.

[Nine Nether Venerable is a legend!]

[This master is incredible!]

[As expected of the top soul cultivator!]

[My apologies, I take back my words]

[Lu Ze! Come out and apologize to Elder Liu!]

[Too strong, truly worthy of a Venerable!]

……

The tone was a far cry from when the stream began.

The flood of praise filled Nine Nether Venerable with pride.

"Hah, hahaha! This old man has walked the soul path for centuries—how could such an illusion possibly confound me?"

"What does it matter if I misjudged the ghost? I know these malevolent entities like the back of my hand!"

"That shameless brat better come out and grovel for forgiveness!"

The memory of the torment in the illusion made his teeth itch with fury.

Hands clasped behind his back, he exited the illusion with haughty dignity.

Nine Nether Venerable slowly opened his eyes, shuddering as he examined his hands before circulating his spiritual energy.

The comforting surge of qi finally eased his nerves.

Despite his bold words, he had been utterly terrified.

Several times, he had even tried to forcibly break the illusion tower’s restraints with his cultivation—though for some reason, it hadn’t worked.

Just then, a strange sensation prickled at him.

The air…

Was thick with the scent of blood.

Though he stood within the Lingxiao Sect, an eerie and familiar death energy permeated the space.

Bang.

His door burst open.

Nangong Yuan staggered in, his expression hollow, body riddled with wounds.

"Elder Nangong? What’s…?"

Nine Nether Venerable’s heart lurched.

"Run…"

Nangong Yuan stretched out a trembling hand, his voice thick with despair.

The next moment,

He was pulverized into gory fragments by the death energy looming behind him.

"!!!"

Nine Nether Venerable’s breath froze.

Drip…

Drip…

Drip…

Footsteps, wet with blood, drew nearer.

Nine Nether Venerable’s teeth chattered violently, his widened eyes streaming tears.

Because…

The figure emerging from the doorway was none other than the Ghost Buddha from the illusion!

Here and now, despite possessing his full cultivation—unlike his powerless state in the illusion—

He felt more afraid than ever.

This was an oppressive force that shattered reason.

He didn’t understand how the Ghost Buddha had escaped the illusion to reach the Lingxiao Sect…

But he had no doubt it was possible.

Because this pressure…

Was too vast! Too overwhelming!

Nine Nether Venerable suddenly realized.

What he had seen beneath the ancestral hall wasn’t an illusion…

But the future.

A real, unalterable future!

No wonder he had knelt amidst the carnage, prostrating before the Ghost Buddha…

It was real!

All of it was real!

The Ghost Buddha’s grin widened, its crimson eyes gleaming with malice.

Its lips parted.

Uttering the same haunting line:

"Since you’ve seen the future…"

"Why not bow?"

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