Chapter 425: Chapter 295: Someone’s Coming from Below!
“Old senior, why are you visiting me?”
Xu Yang took the teapot from Wan Qian’s hands and personally poured tea for the lord of Xi Xia Ghost Market.
The lord of the Ghost Market took the teacup, took a sip, and couldn’t help but say, “Great tea! This should be Special Grade Pre-Ming Lion Peak Longjing from those eighteen ancient tea trees… The real thing is not so common on the market.”
Most young people like Xu Yang didn’t understand tea.
They couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.
Adding more sugar to the tea every time was sufficient.
Xu Yang had never even heard of Special Grade Pre-Ming Lion Peak Longjing tea before.
The tea was given by Feng Zhaoqing.
Today was also Xu Yang’s first time opening it.
Hearing the lord of the Ghost Market say it was delicious, Xu Yang laughed, “We young people don’t understand tea. If senior likes it, I’ll bring some back for you later.”
He glanced back at Wan Qian, who then quickly packed the remaining tea leaves into an exquisite gift box and handed it over.
The lord of the Ghost Market took the tea leaves and chuckled, “After all, you young people don’t understand tea. So I’ll have it without hesitation.”
Xu Yang twitched the corner of his mouth.
Damn!
Indeed, that was the fact.
But could you please be more tactful!
Not dwelling too much on the “tea” topic, Xu Yang asked, “Old senior, I heard that the Ghost Market isn’t peaceful these days. Among the nine Ghost Markets in Da Xia, four have already fallen. Is the Xi Xia Ghost Market safe?”
“On the night of Lunar July 15th, a few blind Ghost Immortals, along with their subordinates, tried to attack my Xi Xia Ghost Market. But I sent them back to the underworld,” said the lord of the Ghost Market, enjoying his tea and speaking indifferently.
However, this casual comment shook Xu Yang deeply!
A few blind Ghost Immortals?
How many exactly were there?
Three or five?
No matter what, the Xi Xia Ghost Market lord said it so casually, indicating he didn’t take those Ghost Immortals seriously. How powerful is he, exactly?
Xu Yang asked again, “Senior, what do you think of Wang Hou?”
This question was clearly probing.
The lord of the Ghost Market glanced at Xu Yang, showing no concern, and commented, “The Son of Da Xia’s Fortune is no bluff… The concept of fortune, though abstract, is the most important thing for cultivators. Even a useless person with strong fortune can constantly experience extraordinary encounters, and it’s difficult for those with great fortune to die. Sooner or later, they’ll become top talents in their region.”
“On the other hand, if you have strong aptitude and talent, and your cultivation progress is a thousand miles a day, far surpassing your peers by ten or even a hundred times, so what?”
“If your fortune is bad, you may encounter stronger opponents while wandering in the martial world and get killed…”
Regarding the “fortune” concept, the lord of the Ghost Market had a lot to say.
Then he returned to the topic: “Borrowing the power of national fortune, Wang Hou is currently the strongest person in the human world, almost invincible within Da Xia. This is by no means an empty statement. At least within Da Xia, I can’t suppress him without using some means.”
Xu Yang’s heart raced.
Wang Hou, borrowing the power of national fortune, is regarded as invincible in the human world within Da Xia!
What does it mean to be invincible in the human world?
No one can deal with him unless an ‘immortal’ appears!
What level of power does the lord of the Xi Xia Ghost Market possess then?
Is he above the level of Ghost Immortal?
Why would such a powerful person take the initiative to approach him twice?
He even gave him a promise that he could come to him whenever he encountered difficulties in the future?
Various thoughts raced through Xu Yang’s mind. Before he could figure out anything, the lord of the Xi Xia Ghost Market finished his cup of tea, put down his cup, and said, “Okay, I’ve had tea. Let’s talk about the important matter.”
He looked at Xu Yang and said, “I came to Wu City to find you today because there is something I want to ask for your help.”
Xu Yang sat up straighter and said, “Please tell me, senior.”
He couldn’t help but feel perplexed in his heart.
For someone as powerful as the lord of the Ghost Market, his own cultivation and strength were not worth mentioning. What kind of task would he need Xu Yang’s help?
The lord of the Ghost Market started, “I have an urgent matter and need to go to the Underworld Palace. I’m afraid I might not be able to return within three years… So I want you to help take care of the Xi Xia Ghost Market.”
“What?”
Xu Yang almost jumped up.
Seeing the lord of the Ghost Market nod, he asked with some confusion, “Old senior, are you joking? With your status and power, you must have countless experts under your command. Why choose me?”
“Your philosophy is similar to mine,” said the Xi Xia Ghost Market lord. “Both humans and ghosts have good and bad characters. They should get along harmoniously. I’ve seen how the Xi Xia Ghost Market has developed under your watch, and I’m confident in handing it over to you.”
Xu Yang’s thoughts raced.
A Ghost Market, for anyone, would be a massive treasure trove!
If controlled, the benefits would be endless!
Especially for himself… If he had another Ghost Market, would he still need to worry about accumulating merit points?
He wondered if there were any calculations or schemes behind this.
However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out what would possibly make the lord of the Xia Ghost Market want to manipulate him… For such a strong character, if he really wanted to deal with Xu Yang, a single slap would suffice. There was no need to go to such lengths.
He pondered for a few seconds and said, “Since senior has a request, in principle, I should not refuse… but the Xi Xia Ghost Market is so far from the Fengdu Ghost Market, and I have to cultivate and work. I’m afraid I won’t be able to manage both.”
The lord of the Ghost Market smiled, “That’s easy. After I return, I’ll arrange a passage between the two Ghost Markets, allowing you to travel at will between them.”
He fetched a token from his sleeve.
The token was as white as jade, with complex patterns on it and no writing. He said, “This is my decree. With it, you can enter the Fengdu Ghost Market and command the various experts and underworld soldiers there.”
After that, he stood up and said, “Once I’ve connected the two Ghost Markets, I’ll head to the Underworld. Next time the Ghost Market opens, you’ll be able to open the passage with this decree.”
Whoosh!
He transformed into a gust of wind and disappeared right in the office.
Within the wind, there was no hint of cold or sinister energy, only a warm sensation.
This scene was all too familiar to Xu Yang!
When he first cultivated his Daoist primordial spirit, it was accompanied by a Yin wind when it left his body. However, now that his primordial spirit is pure Yang, a warm wind follows whenever it leaves his body!
Xu Yang was startled: “It’s clear that the master of the Fengdu Ghost Market is a ghost, an underworld being… Can an underworld being also cultivate to the realm of pure Yang?”
…
Mountain City, Fengdu County.
Perhaps many people have never heard of Fengdu County, but when it comes to Fengdu Ghost City, quite a few people would know about it.
Fengdu Ghost City, originally known as Fengdu City of Ghosts, also has the nicknames “Netherworld” and “Ghost Capital”. It is built on the famous mountains of Fengdu and is home to well-known scenic spots such as Ghost Divine Palace, Confucius Temple, Luming Temple, Sugong Shrine, Huguo Pavilion, and Good Fate Pavilion, where the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian cultures coexist harmoniously.
During the “Great Steel War” era, some of the steel statues and antiques on the mountain were smashed into scrap metal for “steelmaking”.
Later, another wave of mass movements caused all the statues on the mountain to be demolished.
By 1981, at the beginning of the spiritual aura’s recovery, Fengdu Ghost City was reconstructed. Based on the story of “Tang King’s Visit to the Underworld”, the nearly 200 ghost stories of Fengdu’s “Ghost City” were vividly displayed using modern means such as sound, light, motion, electricity, sculpture, and lasers.
In the same year, Fengdu Ghost City’s name reverted to “Fengdu City of Ghosts”.
The following year, Fengdu City of Ghosts was officially announced as the first batch of national scenic spots.
Up to now.
Fengdu Ghost City no longer accepts tourists, and even the surrounding temples have ceased operations.
The vast ghost city was desolate, revealing a gloomy and eerie atmosphere everywhere.
It was said that two months ago, an outdoor live-streamer went to Fengdu Ghost City for a live broadcast. But during the day, there was not a soul in sight, while at night, the city was brightly lit, with people coming and going on the streets; it was very lively.
That live-streamer didn’t give it much thought at the time, and even naively went up to greet passers-by.
It wasn’t until he interviewed a girl and asked her to perform a talent that the girl performed a “tossing embroidered ball” on the spot, taking off her own head and tossing it around …
As for the outcome of that live-streamer, some say he went mad and is currently recuperating in a mental hospital in Mountain City – whether this is true or false, it is hard to tell.
However, not everything he saw was true.
Fengdu Ghost City, on ordinary days, remains desolate at night.
Only on the first and fifteenth days when the Ghost Market opens, does it become lively!
This is where the Fengdu Ghost Market is located!
This is also the biggest difference between the Fengdu Ghost Market and other ghost markets!
Other ghost markets are neither in the human world nor in the underworld, while the Fengdu Ghost Market is built in the human world.
One day, Fengdu Ghost City trembled.
The entire mountain trembled.
In the ghost city, dark clouds rose and covered the sky. Above the clouds, the Yin wind howled, and ghosts wailed and wolves howled!
This calamity lasted for a day and a night, even attracting Wang Hou’s attention.
Wang Hou personally went to investigate. He flew into the dark clouds, but was faced with a fog so thick he could hardly see his hands. He was trapped and lost direction!
It wasn’t until two days later that the dark clouds dispersed, and Wang Hou finally emerged.
However, the Fengdu Ghost City that once stood on the famous mountains of Fengdu had vanished!
…
2023, September 7th, Lunar July 20th.
Five days had passed since the opening of the Ghost Gate.
During these five days, subtle changes had emerged in the human world!
The “three-day limit” for the opening of the Ghost Gate had passed, and most of the ghosts had finished their “home visits” and returned to the Underworld Palace. Wang Kui and other fierce ghosts, who came to the human world with Master Xu, also returned.
Furthermore, many ghosts from the human world took this opportunity to enter the Underworld Palace.
Those who stayed in the human world either hid themselves or would come out to cause trouble under the cover of darkness.
Rumors were spreading all over the place.
Some claimed that at midnight, they saw the “Black and White Impermanence” on the streets, one black and one white, wielding mourning staffs and wearing soul-binding chains around their waists, followed by a group of ghosts.
As for these.
Xu Yang didn’t pay any heed.
He lived his daily life very fulfilled.
During the day, he worked at the academy, practiced talismans, and cultivated Daoism in his office, occasionally engaging in an “office drama” with Wan Qian.
In the afternoon after returning home, he would live a harmonious life with his wives.
All the ladies at home didn’t resent Long Xiaoxue, the “flood dragon” for joining them. Instead, they were grateful to her for saving Xu Yang in the hands of Revered Daoist Lingxiao.
After two days of acquaintance, the ladies had already regarded Long Xiaoxue as their younger sister.
When it was evening.
After dinner, Xu Yang came to Yue Qiluo’s room.
Yue Yuluo was also present.
The two sisters had a close relationship, and although the villa was spacious, they usually slept in the same room.
“My dear Madams, the night is long, why don’t we play some landlord together?”
As all of them were in such a close relationship, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Thus, the three of them began to play landlord.
By midnight, Xu Yang’s phone rang.
He picked it up and found that it was Ma Xiaotiao who called, so he answered immediately.
“Hello.”
“Master.”
From the other side of the phone, Ma Xiaotiao whispered, “Master, are you asleep? Two strange people have come to the shop and want to see you.”
“Who would be so inconsiderate to look for me in the middle of the night?”
Xu Yang naturally felt some resentment for being interrupted while playing cards. As for Ma Xiaotiao, he said, “The two of them did say that they came from below and were here to deliver something to you.”
“Oh?”
Xu Yang’s eyes flickered and said, “Ask them to wait a moment, I’ll be right there!”