Chapter 129: Each With Their Own Thoughts
From Eunuch Lin’s introduction to the Nine Netherworlds, Hua Changxi gleaned some information. He was trying his best to downplay the dangers of the Nine Netherworlds, seemingly afraid she would be too scared to enter again.
“What are the rules of the Ghost Market?”
Eunuch Lin: “The first rule is that anyone entering or leaving the Ghost Market must drink the Spirit Sealing Soup.”
Hua Changxi: “Why?”
Eunuch Lin didn’t know either, only saying: “This has been the rule since ancient times.”
Hua Changxi: “Since ancient times? So, the Ghost Market has been open from ancient times to the present?” She paused, “But as far as I know, the Spiritual Energy Revival has only happened in the last few years.”
“If there was no spiritual energy before, there were no cultivators. Without cultivators, who would enter the Ghost Market?”
Eunuch Lin smiled mysteriously: “Spiritual energy has been reviving for a very long time, it’s just that ordinary people don’t know about it.”
Hua Changxi: “A very long time ago, how long ago?”
Eunuch Lin: “As far as I know, it began before the founding of Great Jin.”
Hua Changxi frowned: “There was spiritual energy over a thousand years ago?”
Eunuch Lin nodded affirmatively: “Yes.”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment: “Are there any other rules for the Ghost Market?”
Eunuch Lin: “The second rule is to wear a magic robe that isolates spiritual sense detection, or to wear a corresponding magic treasure.”
“Actually, as long as you follow these two rules when entering or leaving the Ghost Market, most people will be safe.”
“Of course, to prevent being killed for treasure, it’s best to travel in groups.”
Hua Changxi: “What if I don’t have a magic robe or a corresponding magic treasure?”
Eunuch Lin: “That shouldn’t be the case. While magic treasures are hard to come by, as a cultivator, preparing a set of magic robes for oneself should be essential.”
Hua Changxi: “.”
She refused to believe that all cultivators had magic robes.
Eunuch Lin glanced at the silent Hua Changxi: “If you truly don’t have a magic robe, then you must be careful when going to the Ghost Market.”
“After all, the Nine Netherworlds is a place where lonely souls and ghosts gather. What do lonely souls and ghosts like most? Of course, it’s the pure soul bodies of cultivators. If you don’t wear a magic robe that isolates spiritual sense detection, you’ll likely be targeted by them.”
“Furthermore, the nine checkpoints all have a certain order. Ghost Messengers are the officers who maintain order at the checkpoints, and they will apprehend any external cultivators they can detect.”
Hua Changxi: “Who serves as Ghost Messengers?”
Eunuch Lin: “Actually, the Nine Netherworlds is similar to our Human World. The nine checkpoints, you can think of them as nine city gates. Each city gate has a person in charge, and Ghost Messengers are naturally the subordinates of these people in charge.”
Hua Changxi asked again: “Then who decides these checkpoint supervisors?”
Eunuch Lin looked at her: “Strength decides it.”
Hua Changxi: “Do cultivators become checkpoint supervisors?”
Eunuch Lin was somewhat surprised she would ask that: “Probably not. The situation in the Nine Netherworlds is very complicated.” He paused for a moment.
“A few days ago, there was great chaos at Genmen Pass. The two Great Demons from Ox Head Mountain and White Bone Mountain, and the Nether Dragon guarding the river section of Genmen Pass, suffered heavy injuries. The Demon Suppressing Army took advantage of the chaos to occupy Genmen Bridge.”
“It is said that Ox Head Mountain and White Bone Mountain have already been captured. If the Demon Suppressing Army continues to exert force, and captures the territories occupied by other Demonic Beasts in Genmen Pass, Genmen Pass might become the first checkpoint controlled by cultivators.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi’s heart stirred slightly.
The Demon Suppressing Army was indeed good at picking up scraps. Master Longmei sacrificed his life, and she was severely injured, yet they ended up benefiting.
Eunuch Lin looked at the silent Hua Changxi, recalling the whip she had struck him with earlier in the courtyard. He was a Qi Sea Realm cultivator, yet he had no power to dodge. Wanting to probe her strength, he tentatively asked:
“The environment of the Nine Netherworlds is indeed daunting, especially for the first visit. However, Steward Hua, you don’t seem like an ordinary person, and you haven’t been a cultivator for just a day or two. Have you truly never explored the Ghost Market?”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “I don’t have a magic robe.”
Eunuch Lin paused, then thought for a moment, and said apologetically: “It was my oversight that I didn’t remind Steward Hua about the situation in the Ghost Market earlier. If Steward Hua still trusts me, you can visit the Blacksmith Workshop.”
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow: “Is the Blacksmith Workshop, like the Ghost Market, a place that can cost someone their life?”
Eunuch Lin: “Of course not. The Blacksmith Workshop is located southeast of the outer city of the Capital City. The people living there are all artisans who make a living by blacksmithing. Among those artisans are cultivators who can make magic robes.”
As he spoke, he quickly mentioned a few blacksmith shops.
Seeing that he was willing to reveal information about cultivators to her, Hua Changxi became even more vigilant: “Is that so? I’ll definitely have to visit when I have the chance.”
Eunuch Lin added: “If Steward Hua wants to go to the Ghost Market again next time, you can notify me. I can accompany Steward Hua down there.”
Hua Changxi: “How could I possibly impose?”
Eunuch Lin: “You are Lin Sheng’s Master. As long as Lin Sheng can be by your side, everything I do is worthwhile.”
Hua Changxi looked at him with a half-smile: “It’s truly a pity that Eunuch Lin cannot raise his own son.”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Lin’s face twitched slightly. He ignored the mockery in Hua Changxi’s words and continued: “If Steward Hua truly feels bad, next month, some people from the Eastern Depot and I will be going to the Ghost Market to purchase some cultivation resources. Steward Hua can accompany us then.”
After speaking, he looked intently at Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Lin, wondering if this was the reason Eunuch Lin had given her the Ghost Market Token.
“I dare not go to the Ghost Market now, I won’t go.”
A hint of anxiety flashed in Eunuch Lin’s eyes, but he remained outwardly calm: “With people from the Eastern Depot present, Steward Hua can rest assured. They are all cultivators you saved before, and they all wish to thank you in person.”
Hua Changxi did not miss the anxiety in Eunuch Lin’s eyes: “We’ll talk about next month’s matters next month.”
Eunuch Lin suppressed his anxiety. Seeing Hua Changxi pick up her teacup, signaling for him to leave, he took his leave: “Steward Hua is a benefactor of the Eastern Depot. In the future, if Steward Hua needs anything, just have Lin Sheng inform me, and I will do my best to help.”
“Oh, right. The Artifact Refiners of the Eastern Depot have some acquaintance with me. If Steward Hua wants any magic tools, you can also tell me.”
Hua Changxi listened to the benefits Eunuch Lin was offering and glanced at Lin Sheng. She had originally intended to have Eunuch Lin take Lin Sheng away, but now she had changed her mind.
It’s better to be wary of a persistent threat than a sudden one. She wanted to see what Eunuch Lin intended to use her for.
“Lin Sheng, escort your godfather out.”
Lin Sheng, still recovering from the pain of the whip, heard Hua Changxi’s words and walked ahead, leading Eunuch Lin out of the courtyard.
After moving away from the courtyard, Lin Sheng dared to let out a gasp: “Godfather, what is that whip the Master has? Why does it hurt so much when it hits?”
Eunuch Lin’s expression was somewhat grim: “It’s the Soul Slicing Whip, the kind used by Ghost Messengers in the Ghost Market. Hua Changxi has indeed been to the Ghost Market, and she must have encountered danger there. She called me over this time to vent her anger.”
“I underestimated her. To escape from a Ghost Messenger, her cultivation is definitely not below mine, and she also has some life-saving means.”
Lin Sheng looked at Eunuch Lin: “Godfather, do you think the Master truly doesn’t mind that you didn’t warn her about the dangers of the Ghost Market anymore?”
Eunuch Lin: “Whether she minds or not is not important. What’s important is that she still needs me now.”
He realized that Hua Changxi’s information was very limited; she couldn’t even buy a magic robe. This truly surprised him.
“By the way, Master Lu said that the Body Refining Cultivation Method you gave Hua Changxi is very exquisite and very suitable for Artifact Refiners to cultivate. Find a way to copy it down.”
Lin Sheng looked troubled: “Godfather, I’ve taken a Heart Demon Oath, I cannot leak the cultivation method.”
Eunuch Lin was silent for a moment after hearing this: “Then hurry up and cultivate, and quickly obtain the later Body Refining Cultivation Methods.”
Lin Sheng nodded in agreement.
As they walked towards the back door of the Medical Affairs Department, Hua Changxi called Yu Hui again and told him directly: “Lin Sheng is an informant planted by the Eastern Depot. Keep a closer eye on him from now on.”
Yu Hui was anxious when he heard this: “Should we try to get rid of him?”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “Eunuch Lin is from the Eastern Depot. Even if I get rid of Lin Sheng, he can still arrange for someone else to come in.”
The Eastern Depot is a confidant of the Emperor, and they have great authority. If they really wanted to do something, they wouldn’t be able to stop them.
Yu Hui: “Then should we avoid him when we practice body refining?”
Hua Changxi shook her head: “No need. Without the cultivation method, no matter how smart he is, he won’t be able to understand it.”
Yu Hui asked again: “Then should we avoid him when brewing medicinal soup?”
Hua Changxi: “No need either. Without the corresponding cultivation method, if anyone dares to take the medicinal soup, they’ll be waiting for a self-detonation. What you need to pay attention to is, when he’s inquiring about my news, don’t say anything carelessly.” She paused, “Not just him, but from now on, if anyone comes to inquire about my news, you must not reveal anything casually.”
Yu Hui nodded: “I understand.”
Afterward, Hua Changxi dismissed Yu Hui, was silent for a moment, took out Master Longmei’s Kasaya and Bodhi Beads, wrapped them in a bundle, and set off for Xiangguo Temple.
At Xiangguo Temple, in the Arhat Hall, the Abbot Master Wuxiang knelt on a cushion, devoutly chanting the sutra for rebirth towards a statue of a monk with long eyebrows.
Behind Master Wuxiang, two others were kneeling: one was the Abbot of Di Xiu Temple, Master Guiyi, and the other was Master Guiyi’s disciple, Monk Jing Le.
After Master Wuxiang finished chanting the sutra for rebirth, he stood up and turned to see the self-blaming Monk Jing Le: “Jing Le, you don’t need to blame yourself too much. Senior Brother Longmei achieved what he desired.”
Jing Le’s mind was still replaying the scene of Master Longmei burning his Golden Core and his soul body being scattered by the demons: “Uncle-Master Longmei did it for me…”
Master Wuxiang interrupted him: “Jing Le, Senior Brother Longmei did not do it for you. He did it for countless common people. As long as you successfully brought the Talisman Brush out of the Nine Netherworlds and bear the heavy responsibility of suppressing the Demon Prison, his sacrifice will not be in vain.”
Jing Le looked at the statue of Master Longmei and solemnly said: “This disciple will definitely guard the Talisman Saint Pavilion well and not let demons wreak havoc on the Human World.”
Master Guiyi knew that his disciple’s self-blame would not disappear easily, so he let him stay in the main hall to chant the sutra for rebirth for Master Longmei a few more times. He then left the hall with Master Wuxiang.
After leaving the hall, Master Wuxiang looked at Master Guiyi: “Have you seen the Lingguang Hall that appeared in Nanxiang County, Junior Brother?”
Master Guiyi shook his head: “Jing Le had a lot of his Soul Power absorbed by the Soul Devouring Tree, and he also forcefully used the Talisman Brush to stabilize the Talisman Saint Pavilion. I’ve been busy taking care of him these past few days.”
Master Wuxiang: “The day Lingguang Hall appeared was the same day Jing Le and the others escaped from the Nine Netherworlds.”
Master Guiyi: “Does Senior Brother mean that the person who opened Lingguang Hall is that female Daoist friend who assisted Senior Brother Longmei in escorting Jing Le and the others out of the Nine Netherworlds?”
Master Wuxiang nodded: “Most likely it is her.”
Master Guiyi: “Jing Le said that Senior Brother Longmei’s Kasaya and Bodhi Beads are in the hands of that female Daoist friend. I wonder if she will come to return Senior Longmei’s relics?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a young monk hurried over.
“Abbot, a female benefactor is seeking an audience outside the temple, saying she was entrusted by Uncle-Master Longmei.”
