On the way back to the Dao Seeking Sect, Meng Jingzhou suddenly asked, “By the way, the item in the wooden box is something left by Qin Haoran. Shouldn’t Junior Brother Li keep it?”

Lu Yang was silent for a moment, then sincerely replied, “Trust me, Junior Brother Li definitely wouldn’t want that thing.”

After the seal on the wooden box was broken, Lu Yang had intended to open it and take a look, but Everlasting Fairy hurriedly stopped him.

“The box contains an IOU involving the power of karma. Qin Haoran used the box to isolate the IOU and himself from its karma.”

“If the person opening the box is related to Qin Haoran, then that person will establish a karmic link with the IOU and be responsible for repaying the debt on Qin Haoran’s behalf!”

“This IOU cannot be destroyed. If someone with a karmic link to it tries to destroy it, they will suffer an attack equivalent to a full strike from a Tribulation Crossing stage cultivator!”

“Presumably, Qin Haoran was unable to repay the debt and hid the IOU. Whoever digs up the box thinking it’s a treasure will be unlucky!” Everlasting Fairy warned with rare seriousness.

Lu Yang took a sharp breath. Qin Haoran truly lived up to his reputation as a demonic sect leader, acting with ruthless cunning.

Whoever was unlucky enough to establish a karmic link with the IOU would be in serious trouble.

Moreover, Lu Yang realized why the seal on the box was a blood seal.

Qin Haoran never intended for his reincarnation to open the seal.

He wasn’t stupid; why would he want his next life to bear a massive debt?

……

At the Nine Nether Sect headquarters, dark clouds loomed low, and a rare lightning tribulation brewed in the sky.

Suddenly, a massive purple lightning bolt illuminated the entire sky, like a giant electric ball bursting and spreading outwards.

Under its light, everything appeared abnormally clear, as if time had paused.

Then another massive lightning bolt streaked across the sky, followed by a second, a third…

As time passed, Petrified Bone, bombarded by wave after wave of lightning, had turned into a piece of charcoal.

After the lightning and thunder ceased, Petrified Bone opened his eyes.

“Cough, cough—”

He spat out a mouthful of black smoke mixed with the smell of roasted meat.

“Damn it, I almost thought I was going to die,” Petrified Bone cursed, still shaken with fear.

For a yin attribute cultivator like him, yang lightning was his greatest fear. If not for his solid foundation, he would have been dead for sure.

Strangely, despite the lightning being so intense it was almost liquid, the area was a mess, and Petrified Bone’s clothes were burned to a crisp. Yet the IOU remained untouched by the lightning.

Seeing the IOU made Petrified Bone furious, and he wished he could crush it into powder.

But he knew the power of the IOU. If he dared to destroy it, even stronger lightning would descend upon him.

That would be a situation of certain death.

If he didn’t repay the debt, the IOU would summon a lightning strike every month.

Who could withstand that?

There were two options now: either break through to the Tribulation Crossing stage or repay the debt.

One billion spirit stones—he didn’t have that much wealth even if he gathered all his assets.

“Karma transfer—truly fitting for Sect Leader Qin who knew how to rob Peter to pay Paul,” Petrified Bone’s eyes were cold and frightening.

He had thought about transferring the IOU again, but unfortunately, the IOU had already established a karmic link with him. It couldn’t be transferred until the karmic link was severed.

“Heavenly Court Sect, huh? Good, very good. This is your way of giving me a warning!” Petrified Bone gritted his teeth. The other side was indeed cunning and calculating.

When Master Mi and the Spirit Transformation stage cultivator returned and saw Petrified Bone looking like a piece of charcoal, they cautiously asked, “Deputy Sect Leader, are you alright?”

Petrified Bone’s face was black with anger: “Do I look alright to you?”

The Spirit Transformation stage cultivator understood the meaning behind Petrified Bone’s words and carefully asked:

“Deputy Sect Leader, are you not alright?”

Petrified Bone struggled to suppress his murderous intent.

“Find the Sect Leader!” Petrified Bone used a spell to clean his body and changed into new clothes, putting on a wig since his hair had been burned off by the lightning and wouldn’t grow back anytime soon.

Master Mi and the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator tacitly agreed not to mention what had happened before coming to the sect.

Master Mi, being neutral, had initially intended to hand the wooden box directly to the Sect Leader, but the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator, being Petrified Bone’s confidant, wouldn’t allow it.

Under the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator’s strong insistence, the wooden box was successfully opened by Petrified Bone.

If Petrified Bone knew this, he would undoubtedly kill the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator in a fit of rage.

Master Mi now had leverage over the Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator.

…

The current Sect Leader of the Nine Nether Sect was a handsome young man, whose appearance seemed out of place with the sect’s dark atmosphere.

“Heavenly Court?”

The Sect Leader pondered, thinking for a long time before slowly asking, “Do you think this Heavenly Court Sect has money? Can they lend us some?”

“What?” Petrified Bone thought his lightning-struck head must be malfunctioning.

“Oh, nothing. I mean, so it’s the Heavenly Court.” The Sect Leader quickly corrected himself.

When he became Sect Leader, he saw the monthly deficit reports and realized how difficult the previous Sect Leader’s life must have been.

He worked hard, learning finance from scratch, conducting market surveys, and finding business opportunities, opening new industries to make money and sustain the Nine Nether Sect.

Unfortunately, no matter how much spirit stone he earned, it was never enough to fill the bottomless pit of constructing Fengdu.

(TL Note: Fengdu Ghost City a large complex of shrines, temples and monasteries dedicated to the afterlife located on the Ming mountain, in Fengdu County, Chongqing municipality, China. It is situated about 170 kilometres downstream from Chongqing on the north bank of the Yangtze River. The city consists of buildings, structures, dioramas, and statues related to Diyu and Naraka, concepts from Chinese mythology and Buddhism that signify the underworld or hell. It is modeled to resemble Youdu, the capital of Diyu. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fengdu_Ghost_City)

Such matters couldn’t be discussed with others as it would cause panic.

Facing the pressure from the righteous path was already challenging enough. If the followers knew about the sect’s financial troubles, they might even consider surrendering.

So, he admired Qin Haoran, who managed to keep the Nine Nether Sect running despite such deficits.

If he knew that Qin Haoran also managed to start a family in such circumstances, his admiration would probably grow even more.

“The reincarnation of Qin Haoran…”

Previously, he thought the story of Qin Haoran’s reincarnation was fabricated by the three deputy Sect Leaders to fight over Qin Haoran’s legacy. Although the Nine Nether Sect’s teachings mentioned [Reincarnation] and theoretically it was possible, in the long history of the Nine Nether Sect, no one had ever achieved it.

Now, an ancient Heavenly Court Sect appeared, claiming to have found Qin Haoran’s reincarnation, who turned out to be a woman.

It sounded strange but made sense upon reflection.

“Are you sure it’s Qin Haoran’s item?”

Petrified Bone silently took out the IOU.

Petrified Bone didn’t know about the sect’s financial issues; he thought the IOU was left by Qin Haoran to intentionally deceive someone.

Seeing the IOU, the Sect Leader instantly knew it was undoubtedly Qin Haoran’s, as it couldn’t be faked.

He remembered Qin Haoran was skilled in karma and formations, capable of blocking and transferring karma.

“In that case, the Heavenly Court Sect and Qin Haoran’s reincarnation seem quite credible.”

“Call the other two deputy Sect Leaders for a meeting.”

“But can we get the one billion spirit stones from the treasury?” Petrified Bone didn’t want to be struck by lightning every month.

The Sect Leader replied seriously, “Accepting Qin Haoran’s legacy is your personal matter. You can’t use public funds. Public and private matters must be distinguished!”

“However, I have a small suggestion.”

“Please go ahead, Sect Leader.”

“The next time you’re struck by lightning, please stay far from the headquarters. Repairing the headquarters costs money.”

(End of the chapter)