On the Path to the Great Dao-Chapter 3: The Domain of Ghosts and Gods

The "Domain of Ghosts and Gods" is a term cultivators use to describe inexplicable and mysterious areas.
Such places often operate under bizarre rules. For instance, near the provincial capital of Xinxiang Province, there’s a famous domain known as Huixing Town.
Anyone who enters Huixing Town is doomed to relive the same day repeatedly, caught in an endless cycle until they die.
Another example is a domain in Nanmen County that transforms all who enter into two-dimensional paper figures, rendering even the mightiest magical powers useless.
These well-known domains have become infamous across the land, known as perilous places to be avoided at all costs.
But Huangpo Village? It’s just a small settlement under Xinxiang County in Xinxiang Province. How could such a dangerous domain exist here without anyone knowing?
“Xinxiang’s treacherous scum, shameless little villain!”
The purple-robed woman’s thoughts were interrupted by the growing panic of her accompanying Jin Yiwei.
Some frantically activated spells, attempting to restore their original forms. Others tried running back the way they came, believing that escaping the domain would reverse their transformation. A few, in their panic, stumbled and fell, shattering themselves into pieces.
“Stop running aimlessly!” the purple-robed woman shouted. “Listen to my orders!”
Her voice brought the group back to their senses. Slowly, they regrouped, their eyes turning to her for guidance.
Steadying herself, the purple-robed woman declared, “If this is truly a Domain of Ghosts and Gods, then we’ve come to the right place. This must be the fabled resting place of the True King…”
At that moment, Chen Shi’s voice rang out from ahead:
“Big Sister, why didn’t you keep up? The hideout of those porcelain dolls is right here!”
The purple-robed woman’s sharp gaze darted toward the voice.
Peeking out from behind a large dirt mound was Chen Shi’s small head, his expression pure and innocent, his eyes clear and naive.
He did not resemble the conniving schemer she had suspected.
“He’s just a child,” the purple-robed woman thought, feeling a twinge of guilt. “I must have overthought things, imagining this boy as a calculating manipulator. I forgot—he’s barely ten years old.”
However, as she observed him more closely, she noticed something peculiar: Chen Shi, like them, had also turned into a porcelain doll!
Her heart stirred with realization:
“This boy has clearly been here before. He must know how to reverse the transformation!”
Her eyes lit up as she quickly issued a command: “Catch up to him and seize him!”
The group rushed forward.
The dense forest began to thin, replaced by tall earthen mounds.
These mounds were hollow, their interiors bearing scorch marks, resembling kilns.
Scattered among them were massive ceramic jars, some intact, others shattered. These jars towered over the group, four or five times their height, exuding an imposing presence.
As the group pursued Chen Shi through the jars and kilns, the purple-robed woman trailed behind, scrutinizing their surroundings.
Suddenly, she realized something and froze in her tracks:
“This isn’t the True King’s Tomb!” she exclaimed inwardly. “This is… a porcelain kiln!”
Her mind raced with questions:
Why would a rural kiln become a Domain of Ghosts and Gods?
Where did the kiln’s porcelain figures come from?
And why had Chen Shi brought them here?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Fang He’s voice ahead: “We lost him… but wait, there’s someone there! It’s the porcelain dolls!”
The purple-robed woman hurried to catch up.
Sure enough, the porcelain dolls they had seen earlier by the stream were now cowering in the shadows of a broken kiln, their porcelain faces filled with fear as they stared at the group.
One of the dolls waved its tiny arms frantically, as if pleading for them to stay away.
One of the Jin Yiwei chuckled, “These little things are scared of us…”
The purple-robed woman’s face fell as a realization struck her.
“They’re not afraid of us,” she said urgently. “They’re afraid of something else! Retreat immediately—”
Before she could finish, the ground began to tremble violently.
The sky darkened as if a massive shadow had fallen over the land, and a howling wind whipped through the air.
Out of the gloom emerged three towering figures, dressed in ash-gray garments.
Each of these giants was slender and impossibly tall, standing at one or two zhang (approximately 7–14 meters).
With the group now shrunken to less than a foot in height, the giants loomed even more terrifyingly above them, their colossal forms filling the porcelain dolls and humans alike with dread.
The giants’ long, thin limbs and clay-like faces were devoid of expression, resembling kiln workers molded from the same pottery they once crafted. Moving with mechanical precision, they stirred up gusts of chilling wind as they reached out to grab the intruders.
The group scattered in panic.
One of them was quickly seized by a kiln worker, who casually snapped the victim's neck. The porcelain head shattered into fragments, spilling from the giant's fingers like powder.
Witnessing this, the others ran even faster.
However, the giants’ strides spanned tens of their steps, allowing them to easily catch another and pluck them from the ground like a twig.
The purple-clad woman, despite being a cultivator who had forged her spiritual embryo, was stricken with terror. Her powers were severely diminished within this mysterious Realm of Ghosts and Gods, rendering her helpless against the kiln workers.
Even a single step from one of the giants would be enough to crush her to bits.
She ran desperately through the kiln yard, weaving between the scattered pottery. Yet, one by one, her companions fell, leaving her alone in her flight.
The others had all been captured by the three kiln workers.
The purple-clad woman suddenly remembered the porcelain dolls hiding in the kiln earlier.
A flash of insight struck her, and she quickly ducked into a dilapidated kiln for cover.
Inside, a few of the porcelain dolls were already huddled in fear. Upon seeing her enter, they frantically waved their tiny hands, signaling her to stay silent.
Outside, the three kiln workers crouched low, scanning the area with their hollow, soulless eyes.
One of them leaned down, its massive clay face blocking the entrance to the kiln.
The woman held her breath, remaining utterly still.
The kiln worker’s blank eyes, resembling unfinished ceramic orbs, scanned the interior, emitting a faint scraping sound as they moved. Finding nothing amiss, it rose and walked away.
The other two giants also ceased their search and followed suit.
After a tense moment, the porcelain dolls cautiously peeked out. Confirming the coast was clear, they breathed a collective sigh of relief and beckoned the woman to follow.
She bent low and crept along with them.
Ahead, a massive kiln roared with flames, its fiery glow illuminating the kiln yard. The three workers tossed the captured porcelain dolls into the inferno without hesitation.
The dolls writhed and screamed, melting into misshapen globs amidst the blazing heat.
The purple-clad woman’s heart ached at the sight. Those porcelain dolls had once been her subordinates—elite guards from the Zhao family of Xinxiang. Now, they had perished in this wretched countryside!
Following the porcelain dolls, she stealthily slipped away from the kiln yard.
"Miss, were you also tricked by that little brat from Huangpo Village?" one of the porcelain dolls asked.
The woman replied, "I don’t understand your language… Wait, what?"
To her astonishment, she realized that after transforming into a porcelain doll, she had somehow gained the ability to understand their birdlike chirps.
She briefly recounted her story and added bitterly, "He calls himself ‘Honest,’ but he’s full of deceit! And you?"
One of the dolls sighed. "We came here seeking treasure, only to be tricked into this fate by him."
"And us," another doll chimed in.
"And us as well."
More porcelain dolls emerged from outside the kiln yard, their faces grim and solemn.
"We’d heard rumors that the True King’s Tomb was nearby and hoped to gain fortune from it. Who could’ve guessed that this seemingly honest countryside would harbor such a devilish child!"
An elderly porcelain doll pounded his staff against the ground in fury. "That little demon lured us here and turned us into porcelain! Over the past two years, more and more have fallen victim to him!"
Someone shouted indignantly, "Down with the scoundrel!"
The crowd echoed, "Down with the scoundrel!"
The purple-clad woman joined their cries but thought inwardly:
"These people came for the True King’s Tomb just like me. Clearly, they also intended to silence any witnesses. The brat must’ve realized this and trapped them here. That boy…"
Recalling Chen Shi, she gritted her teeth.
"Is he really only ten years old? And how does he transform back into a human?"
"Miss, are you…"
A middle-aged porcelain doll stepped forward, scrutinizing her. Suddenly, his voice trembled with recognition. "You’re the second daughter of the Zhao family in Xinxiang, aren’t you?"
Startled, the woman nodded. "You are…?"
"I’m Li Xian of Quanzhou," the doll replied. "Miss Zhao, we met last year."
Her heart skipped a beat. Li Xian of Quanzhou was a renowned figure known for his heroic deeds, including his daring solo ventures into Longyuan to root out notorious bandits.
When he visited Xinxiang Province, her father had personally introduced her to him. Yet now, he too had fallen into this backwater trap!
"Greetings, Lady Zhao," another doll stepped forward. "I’m He Qinghe from Danjiang."
Her shock deepened. He Qinghe, a famed cultivator, had even achieved the Golden Core stage!
More dolls introduced themselves one by one, some of them venerable figures who would command respect even from the Zhao family.
The woman felt both awe and unease.
"Many of these individuals are powerful and influential," she thought, "yet they were all ensnared by that little devil and reduced to this humiliating state!"
Within the kiln yard, the flames roared brighter.
Meanwhile, Chen Shi quietly withdrew into a shadowy corner, avoiding the wandering gaze of the three towering kiln workers.
Nearby, a group of large jar-shaped vessels huddled together, seemingly alive.
As Chen Shi squeezed into their hiding spot, the jars shuffled uncomfortably, trying to give him space.
Suddenly, one jar sprouted a leg with a
pop
, startling the workers.
The workers turned their blank stares toward the noise.
Realizing the danger, the jar sprouted two arms and another leg, fleeing with its lid rattling.
The workers gave chase, leaving the remaining jars—and Chen Shi—momentarily safe.
As the workers departed, Chen Shi and the jars slipped away into the shadows.
Once out of danger, the jars turned on Chen Shi, but he had already vanished into the darkness.
Li Xian of Quanzhou spoke: "I am Li Xian from Quanzhou. Second Lady Zhao, we met just last year!"
The purple-clad woman was taken aback.
Li Xian hailed from a prominent family and was renowned for his exploits. It was said that he single-handedly ventured into Longyuan, a stronghold of vicious bandits, seven times without being stopped or harmed.
When he had visited Xinxiang Province, her father had insisted she greet him personally as "Uncle Li." Yet now, even he had fallen victim to this desolate place!
Another porcelain doll stepped forward. "I am He Qinghe of Danjiang. Greetings, Second Lady Zhao."
Her surprise deepened.
He Qinghe, another illustrious figure, had achieved the Golden Core stage and was considered a rising star among his generation.
Now, he too was trapped here!
A doll with the appearance of a young woman added, "I am Lin Feishuang. Greetings, Second Lady Zhao and everyone else."
"I am Long Gang of Xinxiang. Greetings to the Second Lady and all present!"
"I am Hua Qingchi of Yu City’s Huaqing Baths. Greetings, Second Lady Zhao."
One by one, the porcelain dolls introduced themselves. To her astonishment, they included respected figures and even an elder who had achieved the Nascent Soul stage.
The purple-clad woman was both amazed and horrified.
"Some of these people command immense respect—even my Zhao family treats them with honor," she thought. "Yet all of them fell victim to that little rascal and ended up as porcelain dolls, powerless and vulnerable!"
"But my status in the Zhao family is high," she reassured herself. "If I don't return in a few days, my father will undoubtedly send people to search for me. Once they find Huangpo Village, they'll track us down and rescue us!"
Meanwhile, within the kiln yard, flames roared high into the sky.
Chen Shi stealthily retreated into the shadows of a corner, avoiding the gaze of the three towering kiln workers.
The corner was occupied by several large, jar-like vessels. As Chen Shi approached, they instinctively shrank back, tucking in their stubby appendages to leave no room for the porcelain boy.
However, the gaps between them were too wide, allowing Chen Shi to squeeze in anyway.
The three kiln workers strode by, their elongated limbs moving stiffly. One glanced at the jars in the corner.
Startled, one of the jars let out a faint "pop" as it sprouted a single leg.
The other two kiln workers immediately turned to investigate. Realizing the danger, the jar quickly grew two arms and another leg before bolting away, its lid rattling noisily.
The three kiln workers gave chase.
After a short while, two kiln workers returned, crouching down to examine the remaining jars in the corner. Their lifeless faces moved close to each jar, scrutinizing them as if to determine whether any had also come to life.
Hidden among the jars, Chen Shi peeked out cautiously. The kiln workers’ eyes were dull and gray, resembling failed pottery glazes.
After a moment of inspection, the two workers determined that none of the jars had acted up and left.
A little later, the third kiln worker returned, dragging the fleeing jar along. Without hesitation, it flung the jar into the fiery kiln, where it was reduced to molten remains.
From the shadows, Chen Shi and a few remaining jars tiptoed away silently.
Once the kiln workers were out of sight, the surviving jars turned on Chen Shi, attempting to settle a score. However, as they moved to confront him, they found nothing but empty space—Chen Shi had already vanished without a trace.