Chapter 122: Soul Seizure
Hua Changxi walked on the long path shrouded in mist and dim light, growing more uncertain with every step. The visibility was so low that she couldn’t see the end of the road, and with an unknown future ahead, she felt like turning back.
Whoosh~
A chilling, eerie wind blew past, and Hua Changxi couldn’t help but shiver.
This shiver instantly put her on guard.
She wasn’t afraid of the cold; her trembling wasn’t due to feeling cold, but due to pain, a gnawing pain.
In the cold wind, something seemed to be biting her!
When another gust of eerie wind blew, Hua Changxi immediately circulated her Spiritual Energy, and in an instant, her body was covered in a layer of flames.
“Ah~”
The eerie wind collided with the flames, and a piercing scream immediately echoed from within the wind.
Hearing the sound, Hua Changxi was both shocked and terrified; there really was a living thing in the eerie wind.
The flames on Hua Changxi’s body seemed to enrage the living thing in the eerie wind. ‘Whoosh~’, the surrounding mist began to churn.
Soon, eerie winds blew from all directions, all of them rushing towards Hua Changxi.
Under the fierce impact of the eerie wind, the flames on Hua Changxi’s body showed signs of extinguishing.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi quickly increased her Spiritual Energy output. The fiercely burning flames began to confront the raging eerie wind.
As the eerie wind grew stronger, Hua Changxi became anxious. This was her first time in the Ghost Market, and she knew nothing. She didn’t want to cause too much of a disturbance.
‘Boom~’
A Fire Lotus bloomed on Hua Changxi’s body.
“Ah~”
An even sharper, more piercing sound rang out. Simultaneously, the eerie wind surged, and with a distortion, a skull emitting a green light appeared.
Seeing the skull, Hua Changxi didn’t hesitate. She condensed a Fire Lotus and flung it over.
The skull, enveloped by the Fire Lotus, immediately thrashed about in a frenzy within the flames.
Seeing that the Fire Lotus couldn’t incinerate the skull, Hua Changxi was shaken. Then, a miniature Fire Bird flew out of the Fire Lotus, spitting a wisp of flame that completely incinerated the skull.
The Fire Bird was a Divine Ability she obtained after activating her Vermilion Bird Bloodline. Its power was to incinerate the Primordial Spirit.
What is a Primordial Spirit?
As she understood it, it was a person’s soul.
If that was the case, then the skull in the eerie wind must have been formed from condensed souls!
The pain she felt earlier must have been the skull gnawing at her Soul Body.
“Ghost Market.”
She had originally thought the Ghost Market was just a place where Cultivators gathered to trade. She never expected it to be a place where ‘ghosts’ truly gathered.
After the skull disappeared, the eerie wind dissipated, and silence returned to the surroundings.
Should she continue forward?
Looking at the terrifying and eerie road ahead, Hua Changxi hesitated. After pondering for a while, she decided to press on.
She couldn’t remain stagnant in a safe place forever; she needed to explore the true World of Cultivators.
After that, there were no more eerie winds.
Hua Changxi walked forward with a brave face. After an unknown amount of time, some other colored lights finally appeared in the dim, misty fog.
It was a river shimmering with green light. On the river was an old, dilapidated wooden bridge. In front of the bridge stood a hunched, white-haired old woman, stirring a pot of steaming soup.
Looking at this scene, Hua Changxi truly felt she couldn’t go on.
However, on the other side of the river, dim yellow lanterns were lit. Through the light, she could vaguely see streets, with countless figures moving about.
That must be where Cultivators trade.
Just as Hua Changxi paused in hesitation, five Cultivators appeared behind her.
The five clearly arrived together. They had a common mark: they wore Black Robes, revealing only their eyes.
Perhaps because of their Black Robes, Hua Changxi couldn’t sense their Cultivation.
Seeing Hua Changxi without any disguise, these five were clearly surprised.
Hua Changxi wanted to see how the five Cultivators would cross the bridge, so she cautiously stepped aside, letting them go first.
However, as the five Cultivators brushed past Hua Changxi, they simultaneously launched an attack at her.
Hua Changxi’s expression changed, and she unleashed her Spiritual Energy to resist the attack.
As someone in the Nascent Soul Realm, how could her Spiritual Energy be resisted by Cultivators in the Qi Sea Realm? She didn’t even need to attack the five; they were sent flying by the Spiritual Energy she unleashed, crashing heavily more than ten meters away. Two of them even spat blood upon landing.
“Not good, quickly!”
The five clearly hadn’t expected such a young Young Woman to have such high Cultivation. Knowing they were no match for Hua Changxi, they fled towards the wooden bridge as if pursued.
Upon reaching the wooden bridge, the five unhesitatingly took the soup offered by the white-haired old woman, drank it down, and then quickly crossed the river.
Seeing them drink the soup so naturally, Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised. Could the soup brewed by the white-haired old woman be harmless to Cultivators?
Repelling those five Cultivators gave Hua Changxi some confidence. If they dared to venture into the Ghost Market, she, with her higher Cultivation, had even less to fear.
Moreover, she had already come this far. To return empty-handed without investigating anything would be a waste. After a moment’s hesitation, she took out a lucky charm mask she had bought from her Storage Prayer Beads and put it on.
Although it wasn’t as good as their Black Robes, it was a form of disguise, not completely exposing herself.
Hua Changxi, wearing the lucky charm mask, walked to the edge of the wooden bridge.
The white-haired old woman had witnessed the entire confrontation between Hua Changxi and the five Cultivators. Seeing the ‘lucky charm’ before her, a smile appeared on her wrinkled face: “Little girl, this is your first time in the Ghost Market, isn’t it?”
Hua Changxi looked at the boiling soup in the pot and recognized it as a soup that sealed Spiritual Energy. She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief: “Why does Grandma ask?”
The white-haired old woman smiled: “Even if it were your second time in the Ghost Market, you wouldn’t have let those five Cultivators go just now.”
Hua Changxi: “They didn’t do anything to me, so why be so ruthless?”
Hearing this, the white-haired old woman laughed heartily: “It’s been a long time since this old woman has seen someone as broad-minded as you.” Saying this, she scooped a bowl of soup and handed it to Hua Changxi with a smile.
Hua Changxi could hear the mockery in the white-haired old woman’s words. She looked at her, took the soup bowl, and drank it down in one gulp.
Seeing this, the white-haired old woman smiled again: “People visiting the Ghost Market for the first time dare not drink the soup this old woman brews. You, however, are so straightforward.”
Hua Changxi: “The Cultivators ahead dared to drink it, so I assume this soup is harmless.”
The white-haired old woman tutted twice, thinking how naive someone could be in this world. Looking at the lucky charm mask Hua Changxi was wearing, she said playfully: “The mask you’re wearing is useless; it’s no different from not wearing one.”
Hua Changxi was confused: “How so?”
The white-haired old woman: “Did you see the Black Robes those five were wearing? Those aren’t ordinary clothes; they are Magic Robes that can block Spiritual Sense probes. Your mask, however, is just a mundane item, lacking even the most basic defensive capabilities.”
Seeing the surprise in Hua Changxi’s eyes, the white-haired old woman smiled and asked: “How is it, do you regret letting those five go just now? Even if you had killed just one of them, you could have obtained their Magic Robes.”
Hua Changxi didn’t dwell on the matter of killing but asked the most crucial question: “To come to the Ghost Market, must one wear Magic Robes that block Spiritual Sense probes?”
The white-haired old woman tapped the pot in front of her: “What’s simmering in the pot is Seal Spirit Soup. After drinking it, you won’t be able to use your Spiritual Energy.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi pretended to try and mobilize her Spiritual Energy. Finding it sealed, she immediately put on a panicked and helpless expression.
Seeing this, the white-haired old woman smiled: “Little girl, you lack experience. Think about it: since everyone who comes here has sealed their Spiritual Energy, there’s no danger from each other. Then why do they still wear Magic Robes that block Spiritual Sense?”
This question indeed stumped Hua Changxi, but she quickly figured it out: “Wearing Magic Robes that block Spiritual Sense isn’t to guard against other Cultivators, but against the people of the Ghost Market.”
The white-haired old woman finally gave Hua Changxi an approving look: “Not too stupid after all.”
Seeing that the white-haired old woman affirmed her answer, Hua Changxi’s heart sank.
Spiritual Sense probe
For a Cultivator to project their Spiritual Sense, they must advance to the Spiritual Platform Realm.
Does this mean the operators of the Ghost Market are all Spiritual Platform Realm powerhouses?
Hua Changxi’s mood became heavy. She had thought her rapid advancement to the Nascent Soul Realm was rare enough, but she hadn’t expected there to be Spiritual Platform Realm powerhouses in the Ghost Market.
“Grandma, where should I go to buy Magic Robes that block Spiritual Sense?”
The white-haired old woman was truly surprised, looking at Hua Changxi with astonishment: “Have you and your sect always lived in seclusion?”
Any Cultivator with some connections would know a few Magic Robe artisans.
Hua Changxi fell silent. She hadn’t lived in seclusion, she just had never entered the circle of Cultivators.
At this moment, two more groups of Cultivators arrived not far away.
One group had three people, all wearing cloaks and uniform green robes. Hua Changxi couldn’t discern their Cultivation, guessing that their green robes were also Magic Robes.
The other group was larger, with over ten people. Their attire varied, and their faces were not covered, but Hua Changxi still couldn’t discern their Cultivation. These people either wore Magic Robes or possessed other Magic Treasures.
Both groups of Cultivators were quite strong, with Core Formation Realm Cultivators among them.
Seeing Hua Changxi’s continued hesitation to cross the river, the white-haired old woman smiled and reminded her: “Little girl, you can’t use your Spiritual Energy now. If you don’t want to die, hurry across the bridge.”
Hua Changxi knew there might be Spiritual Platform Realm Cultivators in the Ghost Market. Unprepared, she actually didn’t want to go any further. However, upon hearing the white-haired old woman’s reminder and noticing that both groups of Cultivators were quickening their pace towards the wooden bridge, and not wanting to take a Spirit-Breaking Pill in front of the white-haired old woman, she quickly stepped onto the wooden bridge.
The white-haired old woman watched Hua Changxi cross the river, a strange smile appearing on her face. Then, she shook her head as if in pity, sighed, and continued to stir the soup in the pot.
Once Hua Changxi reached the other side of the river, she immediately took out a Spirit-Breaking Pill and swallowed it. Confirming she could use her Spiritual Energy again, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The next moment, she heard sounds of fighting from the other side of the river. Turning her head, she saw the two groups of Cultivators fighting.
After a fierce battle, the larger group of Cultivators won, while the other three Cultivators fell in a pool of blood.
Then, their green robes were stripped off, and all their belongings were confiscated. Finally, the bodies of the three were kicked into the green river by the Cultivators from the other side.
As soon as the bodies entered the green river, the river began to churn.
Faintly, Hua Changxi seemed to hear sounds of gnawing.
Watching those Cultivators calmly begin to divide the spoils on the spot, Hua Changxi took a deep breath, warning herself inwardly to act cautiously and never become prey for others!
After dividing the spoils, the more than ten Cultivators began to drink the soup brewed by the white-haired old woman. However, after drinking the soup, they didn’t immediately cross the river.
This struck Hua Changxi as odd; they seemed to be waiting for something.
“What a fragrant Soul Body.”
A hoarse voice that sent chills down her spine suddenly sounded next to Hua Changxi’s ear. Then, she heard the sound of iron chains dragging on the ground.
Hua Changxi’s expression changed drastically. The chilling eerie wind had, at some unknown time, begun to blow again, and the gray mist in the air grew thicker, reducing visibility once more.
In just a few seconds, she couldn’t even see the other side of the river.
Realizing something was wrong, Hua Changxi didn’t say a word and turned to run back onto the wooden bridge, intending to return to the other side of the river.
“Whoosh~”
As soon as one foot touched the wooden bridge, Hua Changxi heard the sound of an object breaking through the air towards her. However, she felt no fluctuation of Spiritual Energy and could only dodge the attack by sound.
Through the swirling mist, she saw two iron claws emitting a sinister cold light, attacking her simultaneously from left and right.
She dodged one but couldn’t avoid the other, and her left shoulder was caught by an iron claw.
This wasn’t a fatal wound, and Hua Changxi was confident she could break free from the iron claw. However, the next moment, she was horrified to find that she couldn’t control her own body and stood frozen on the wooden bridge.
After she was immobilized, the gray mist in the air began to dissipate, and soon, she could see everything on the other side of the river again.
She saw the white-haired old woman still smiling at her, and the more than ten Cultivators looking at her with the eyes of fools.
Then, she heard the sound of iron chains dragging on the ground again.
Next, Hua Changxi’s peripheral vision caught sight of two burly, fierce-looking men emerging from the darkness. Both held an iron claw chain emitting a sinister aura. One of the iron chains had an iron claw hooked onto her left shoulder.
The two burly men walked up to Hua Changxi, removed her mask, and examined her from head to toe, their faces showing satisfaction: “Venerable Ox Head likes pretty Female Cultivators the most.”
Then, under the watchful eyes of the white-haired old woman and the more than ten Cultivators, Hua Changxi was dragged away by the two burly men as if she were a walking corpse.
“Alas~”
The leading Core Formation Cultivator sighed: “To dare come to the Ghost Market without even carrying a Magic Tool that isolates Soul Body aura, isn’t that courting death?”
At this moment, Hua Changxi, unable to control her body, was truly terrified.
What exactly was this iron claw?
Why couldn’t she control her own body?
At this moment, Hua Changxi not only realized how shallow her understanding of the Cultivator World was but also discovered that she was too much of a lone wolf.
Only Lin Sheng knew she was coming to the Ghost Market, and Lin Sheng had only known her for two days. If she disappeared, he wouldn’t search for her with all his might, let alone find someone to rescue her.
Moreover, she didn’t know any powerful experts, so she had no one to turn to for help.
Amidst anxiety and fear, Hua Changxi was dragged by the two burly men towards the brightest area.
Along the way, at intervals, they would see a dim, skull-shaped lantern. From a distance, they looked somewhat like the lanterns used for illumination at night in the Human World.
Before long, a Giant Mountain shaped like an ox head appeared in their sight.
From the outside, it was a Giant Mountain; from the inside, it was a stone palace. Hua Changxi was pulled into the mountain and brought to a spacious hall.
On a stone bed above the hall, a massive yellow ox was lying down.
The two burly men knelt on one knee: “Venerable, we have a gift to present.”
The yellow ox slowly opened its eyes. Upon seeing Hua Changxi, who was hooked by the Soul Hooking Claw, its ox eyes lit up, and it quickly got up.
As the yellow ox stood up, a white light emanated from its body. Amidst the surging white light, it transformed into a tall, muscular man wearing a white vest.
Huang Mang walked up to Hua Changxi with a smile, circling her twice: “So beautiful, I like it, especially the lotus pattern between her brows. It truly captures my heart.”
“It’s a pity it’s red. If it were a green lotus pattern, it would be even better.”
The two burly men were Huang Mang’s confidants and knew his thoughts. They immediately laughed: “Venerable, are you thinking of Venerable Bi Lian of Lotus Mountain again?”
Huang Mang sighed, looking like a jilted lover: “What’s the point of thinking about it? She wouldn’t even let me touch her hand. Forget it, finding a human female Cultivator to pass the time isn’t bad either.”
Saying this, under Hua Changxi’s cold gaze, he reached out and touched the lotus pattern between her brows.
However, the moment Huang Mang’s hand touched the lotus pattern, flames began to flow from it.
“Ah.”
Huang Mang’s hand began to emit white smoke, causing him to quickly retract it. He looked at Hua Changxi in surprise, then his expression darkened: “This human female Cultivator’s scent, this Venerable dislikes it. Throw her into the Soul Well.”
