Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Thunder God's Incantation

After Li Yunfei uttered those words, the wandering spirit showed no reaction. He infused a trace of spiritual energy into the Bagua mirror, and the ancient bronze-framed mirror immediately radiated a bright golden light; a pure, righteous, and yang aura spread outward.

The spirits clearly dreaded the mirror’s aura—those lingering by the roadside hurriedly drifted backward a considerable distance. The spirit blocking the road also retreated a dozen meters, yet stubbornly remained in the center. It seemed to know that Master Yang’s car carried many incense sticks and paper offerings, and would not leave without claiming a share.

“Hah, so you’re playing hardball with me, eh? If I don’t show you some real power, you’ll think I’m—”

Li Yunfei, annoyed, reached for his peachwood sword, intending to teach the spirit a lesson. Master Yang quickly stopped him, “Let it go, Brother Fei, there’s no need to waste your magic on these minor ghosts. Leave it to me!”

Li Yunfei withdrew, curious to witness the methods of a yin-yang master.

He watched as Master Yang turned back to the car, fetched a talisman, and lit it with a lighter. After it burned away, he bowed toward the east.

Having finished his prayer, Master Yang formed a hand seal and chanted aloud: “Thunder Lord of Heaven, lightning strikes the void, commanding thirty million troops, dark clouds shining bright, striking the spring wind above, and the rain below; if any strong spirits defy, let the Five Thunders take them, never to return.”

Completing the chant, Master Yang raised his left foot and stomped down forcefully. The effect was immediate, much like the “urgently as decreed” incantation Li Yunfei had recited.

A thunderclap resounded overhead. The spirit at the center of the road finally dared not block their way any longer, shooting off toward the roadside, vanishing quickly into a burial mound. The other spirits on the roadside also darted into the earth, afraid to emerge again.

Li Yunfei looked up in astonishment, but saw only a patch of black cloud—no lightning, not even a spark—just thunder. Yet a strong surge of yang energy pressed down from the sky.

Master Yang saw Li Yunfei’s reaction and chuckled wryly, “Stop looking—there won’t be any lightning.”

“Our folk ‘Thunder Lord Charm’ is derived from the Daoist ‘Heavenly Thunder Lord Incantation,’ but its power doesn’t compare. It’s really just to frighten wandering ghosts.”

Li Yunfei lowered his head, smiling awkwardly. “Well, it’s more than just a scare. If a wandering spirit is touched by that concentrated yang energy, it’ll suffer damage at best, or be utterly destroyed at worst. It’s not weak.”

Master Yang nodded, “That’s true—but its main purpose is intimidation. As long as wandering spirits retreat, it’s fine. Against vengeful ghosts or fierce spirits, it’s not much use.”

“The resentment of vengeful ghosts and the baleful aura of fierce spirits are strong enough to dilute or even disperse this yang energy. We’d better hurry—soon the yang energy will dissipate.”

Li Yunfei agreed, and the two got back in the car, continuing toward Daping Village.

…

Ghosts are divided into three main categories. The first is ordinary spirits—wandering souls, essentially harmless to the living.

The second consists of vengeful ghosts, those who died with unresolved hatred or obsessive thoughts.

The third is fierce spirits, those imbued with baleful energy—violent and malevolent.

Newly deceased souls are called phantoms or spirits, not true ghosts. During the first seven days after death, the soul has no autonomy; it drifts aimlessly, unstable. If a living person encounters such a spirit, someone with strong yang energy might disperse it entirely. Those with weak constitutions and insufficient yang energy may simply fall ill—this is what people call being “struck by evil.”

Of course, even the minor illnesses caused by colliding with wandering spirits fall into the category of mysterious ailments. Modern medicine cannot resolve them; no matter how thoroughly examined, nothing is found, but the body remains unwell. Traditional summer medicine is more effective, and if one seeks a yin-yang master or Daoist priest for exorcism, the cure is even easier.

After seven days, wandering souls stabilize and regain autonomy; they can drift about at will, know how to seek fortune and avoid harm, and actively avoid those with strong yang energy. These are the so-called lonely ghosts.

Once they gradually absorb enough yin energy, they acquire minor abilities to affect the perceptions of the living—such as causing people to lose their way, obscuring their vision, or dragging their feet. Stronger spirits can use their soul power to move small objects.

Wandering spirits are a type of ghost, but not necessarily the weakest. Those who become wandering spirits are usually people whose lifespan was not yet exhausted but died unexpectedly, without developing resentment or baleful energy. They can be weak or strong, depending on their opportunities.

Generally, those who die of old age are recorded in the Book of Life and Death; underworld messengers come to escort them to the netherworld. If someone dies unexpectedly before their allotted lifespan, and is properly guided, they reside temporarily in the City of Wrongful Death, awaiting reincarnation when the time comes. Without guidance, the underworld does not know they have died, and no messengers come—they become wandering ghosts. If they survive until their lifespan ends without being destroyed, the underworld messengers will eventually escort them.

During the period from accidental death to the end of their lifespan, if a wandering spirit gains an opportunity and learns the method of cultivation, they have a chance to grow stronger, even to become a ghost king or ghost immortal. Of course, this chance is exceedingly rare; most simply drift about until their lifespan ends and are escorted away.

Thus, powerful wandering spirits are rare—unless they were cultivators in life. If such a person dies unexpectedly, their soul can continue to refine itself, growing stronger. Perhaps before their lifespan ends, they’ve already become a ghost king or immortal; even in the netherworld, they are respected.

As for vengeful ghosts, it is straightforward—those who die with hatred or obsession have a high chance of becoming vengeful spirits.

They also lack autonomy, possessing only deep resentment and obsession toward certain people or events. If their grievances and obsessions are resolved, they regain their intelligence, revert to wandering spirits, and can be guided to the City of Wrongful Death for reincarnation.

Thus, vengeful spirits do not always need to be destroyed; if their wishes are fulfilled, their resentment dissipates.

If their hatred and obsession are unresolved and grow extreme, they become fierce ghosts.

Fierce ghosts are the ultimate manifestation of resentment and obsession; at this point, they cannot be resolved and can only be destroyed.

Beyond fierce ghosts are evil spirits.

Evil spirits regain autonomy, but are utterly malignant; encounters with the living are almost always fatal unless the person possesses great magical power.

Fierce spirits are a different breed—either they were cruel and violent in life, or their corpse was exposed to a baleful place after death, causing their soul to absorb baleful energy.

If the former died of old age, they are destined for hell in the netherworld. If they died unexpectedly before their lifespan ended, they invariably become fierce spirits, continuing to harm the living after death.

These beings need not be considered for guidance or redemption; they should be destroyed on sight—not only does it not harm one's karma, it actually accrues merit.

For the latter, whose corpse absorbed baleful energy and changed their nature, redemption is possible—one can resolve their baleful aura, awaken their conscience, and guide them.

Fierce spirits advance to evil entities, then to Rakshasas, which are equivalent to evil spirits, though slightly different in nature.

Rakshasas embody pure evil—bloodthirsty, murderous, slaughtering all beings.

Evil spirits are more deranged, preferring to torment people to death; their methods depend on their obsessions as vengeful spirits.

In summary:

Wandering spirit → Underworld soldier → Ghost general → Ghost marshal → Ghost king → Ghost immortal

Vengeful spirit → Fierce ghost → Evil spirit → Evil Yaksha → Evil demon

Fierce spirit → Evil entity → Rakshasa → Evil Asura → Demon king

Of these three types of ghosts, only wandering spirits can advance step by step through cultivation.

The other two progress entirely by accumulating resentment or baleful energy, advancing much faster than the methodical cultivation of wandering spirits.

The difference is that wandering spirits retain their selfhood and are acknowledged by the heavenly order.

The other two are devoid of self, like zombies, and are forsaken by heaven.