Chapter 146: Ghost Space

"The head of the family wanted to investigate it back then, but since he didn't stay here for long, there weren't many clues left. Besides, we didn't live here, so as time passed, it simply slipped our minds."

"It's fine. Since this place has fallen into our hands anyway, we can just investigate it ourselves," Ou Xiaolu said with certainty. "Roadside Ghost, don't you know every road in New Town? Do you know where the exact center of the crossroads used to be?"

Roadside Ghost nodded affirmatively, gesturing for Ou Xiaolu to follow him downward.

Soon, Ou Xiaolu and the others reached the second basement level of the apartment building. Just as Lawrence had mentioned, this floor served the entire building. It housed the temporary generator sets, the central air conditioning radiators, and the main units of the central water supply system.

However, Lawrence himself probably didn't know that on this second basement level, there was also a small room used as a chapel.

At first glance, the style of the small chapel clearly belonged to the former Grand Archbishop, as most of the utensils within it exuded a heavy, steampunk aesthetic.

Upon entering the chapel, which spanned only twenty square meters, Ou Xiaolu was quite surprised to see a cross-shaped mark on the floor.

Pointing at the mark, Roadside Ghost said, "This is the exact center of the crossroads. I can guarantee there is no mistake."

Ou Xiaolu squatted down and touched the mark with his hand. "These are pieced together from human skull fragments, aren't they?"

"Yes, it seems they are skull fragments from some of the people who died in those numerous car accidents back then."

"What on earth were they thinking? Did they do this just in case the place wasn't terrifying enough?" Ou Xiaolu couldn't help but complain.

Yet he also knew this was purely a psychological effect. If souls could truly use the Yin energy here to transform into ghosts, this building would have turned into a haunted house long ago.

Ou Xiaolu glanced at the spot but couldn't discern anything unusual. As for Emilia, her eyes were practically spinning into mosquito-coil patterns.

Only Ah Luo paced in circles around the cross mark before finally shaking its head. "They looked in the wrong place."

"This is the right place! This is the center of the crossroads," Roadside Ghost said loudly.

"I didn't say this isn't the center of the crossroads. I mean this isn't the crucial spot. The crucial spot is right here." Ah Luo patted one of the chairs in the front row of the chapel.

Ou Xiaolu glanced at Emilia. "What do you think?"

"Stepmom said there are many good things in the Underworld, so I want to go too."

Ou Xiaolu nodded at Ah Luo. "Since we have nothing better to do, we might as well go take a look together. Who knows, it might just be a miniature space."

Ah Luo also nodded affirmatively. "That works too. Let's go in and take a look together."

At this, Emilia grew thoroughly excited. She hopped around on the spot and produced her round shield and long spear.

Ou Xiaolu was somewhat speechless, but Emilia's personality was not entirely bad; as long as she didn't pick any fights with him, he would just let her do as she pleased.

Ah Luo quickly made preparations. It had Ou Xiaolu sit down in the chair first, and then simply said, "Close your eyes."

Ou Xiaolu closed his eyes and opened them again to find himself still in the exact same spot, but Ah Luo and Emilia had vanished.

Ou Xiaolu stood up and took a look, a faint smile appearing on his face. It seemed Ah Luo had chosen the correct location; this was no longer the mortal realm, but rather a place resembling the Bardo.

No sooner had he extended his right hand than his palm was covered in a thick layer of black ash. This was the residue left behind by burned spirit money, though this ash was weak and feeble, completely devoid of any power to make ghosts grind millstones.

Shortly after, Emilia materialized on the chair Ou Xiaolu had just vacated. Leaping up from the chair, she shouted excitedly, "Where is Hela?"

Ou Xiaolu smiled helplessly. "This place probably doesn't fall under Norse jurisdiction, so Hela doesn't manage things here."

"Oh well," Emilia pouted and said, "I thought I'd get to run into Hela. Stepmom said her relationship with Hela is pretty decent, and every time they meet, they beat each other up for half a day."

I really don't want to know how you Valkyries judge whether a relationship is good or bad. You beat each other up for half a day when things are going well, and you beat each other up for half a day when things are bad—is there seriously no other way?

Ou Xiaolu slapped his forehead, thinking this in speechlessness.

Right at that moment, Ah Luo arrived as well. By now, Ah Luo had already released all five ghosts left behind by Zhong Kui, and pointing at the space, it said, "I told you so, the spot you picked was wrong."

Roadside Ghost looked at Ah Luo with complete admiration. "Grandpa Ah Luo, how did you figure it out?"

"Please call me Lord Mountain God. Actually, it's very simple. You only sensed the Yin energy, but you didn't catch even a whiff of incense offerings."

"Incense? Is this territory controlled by the Boxing Association?" Ou Xiaolu was stunned.

"No, this incense doesn't carry the murderous intent typical of the Boxing Association; it's not the kind of method used to invite deities to possess mortals," Ah Luo shook its head and said.

"Then what is this place?"

Ah Luo slapped its front paw against the ground, causing a large amount of black ash to appear on the floor. "If I'm not mistaken, these should be uncollected offerings, and the people who made those offerings didn't even put any genuine thought or sincerity into them."

Ou Xiaolu shook his head. "I suppose it's also possible that the intent wasn't lacking, but rather blocked by the chapel. Regardless, this is a very good place. I think the few of you must have felt it by now."

Upon hearing this, the Five Ghosts nodded repeatedly. They could all sense that their presences had stabilized considerably by simply staying here.

"After I went into that space today, although I didn't examine it in detail, I made a few discoveries. The former Grand Archbishop was able to anchor a space in place, and I suppose I have no reason not to be able to do the same. My idea is to preserve this place and use it as a residence for you and Zhong Kui. Martial Dao Ghost, I guess Zhong Kui asked you to stand guard while he was in seclusion. You can call him over and ask if he'd be willing to go into seclusion here."

Martial Dao Ghost glanced at Ou Xiaolu and nodded silently.

"Roadside Ghost," Ou Xiaolu commanded next, "find out how large this space is and whether there are any other entrances or exits. I imagine this is your specialty, so you should be able to handle it."

Roadside Ghost replied with certainty, "There won't be any problems this time."

"Then, Cowardly Ghost, what about that person I asked you to find last time? Have you not tracked him down yet? His reinforcements have already arrived."

"Reinforcements? What reinforcements? Are we going to war? I'll come help you out!" Upon hearing that there was a fight to be had, Emilia immediately grew excited.

"Two women and a man. I'm not sure how strong they are, but we'll have the Cowardly Ghost track them down, and then we can all go fight them together."

"Awesome, awesome! How will the spoils be divided when the time comes?"

"How about I help you fight one of them?" At that moment, a voice rang out from behind Ou Xiaolu.