The old crone cackled, “You’ve damaged my sisters’ cultivation foundations; this debt will be settled. So what if you’re an Earth Immortal sword cultivator wielding divine weapons? You’re still doomed to face retribution.”

Chen Pingan remained silent.

Seeing that the city lord’s carriage was about to arrive, the old crone began to chant, performing a spell. The withered trees seemed to sprout legs, beginning to move, plowing through the mud. Soon, a large open space was cleared. As the carriage slowly descended, two green-clad female ghosts, responsible for clearing the path, landed first, each holding an ivory tablet. They tossed the tablets into the air, and a burst of white light cascaded across the earth like a flowing spring, transforming the dense forest floor into a flawless white jade plaza. As the “water flow” reached his feet, Chen Pingan, unwilling to touch it, lightly leaped up, summoning a nearby waist-high withered branch with a wave of his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he drove it into the ground, standing atop it.

Back in the Great Sui capital, when fighting alongside Mao Xiaodong, Mao Xiaodong had specifically explained the power of a formation master.

The two green-clad, palace-maid-like ghosts exchanged amused glances. This outsider expert, who had caused Bai Niangniang so much trouble, turned out to be such a timid soul.

The old crone sneered, “This young master truly has great courage.”

Chen Pingan retorted, “Old matriarch, you have keen eyes.”

The two pretty green-clad ghosts found it amusing and covered their mouths, giggling.

In Ghost Weep Valley, a place teeming with demons and spirits, living people were already a rare sight. An interesting mortal man was an even greater rarity.

The enormous carriage, resembling a lady’s boudoir, slowly landed. Immediately, two female ghosts clad in magnificent, bestowed-upon robes gently pulled open the curtains. One of them bowed and softly announced, “City Lord, we have arrived.”

Chen Pingan looked up. Inside the carriage sat a little girl adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes. The rouge was applied a bit too heavily, and her eyes were vacant, like a soulless puppet. The hem of her dress spread out like an enormous lotus leaf, occupying most of the carriage, making the little girl appear like a budding lotus flower, quite comical.

The city lord of Funi City, named Fan Yunluo, had occupied a city after death, specifically gathering female ghosts to fulfill various roles. She abhorred men and styled herself the “Rouge Marquis,” as she was naturally petite and graceful. Although of small stature, she was said to possess balanced features and excelled in poetry and song. Countless men had bowed before her pomegranate skirt in life, as she was a favored princess known for her lightness, who even inspired the “Dance on the Palm” story.

The other palace-dressed female ghost sighed, and had to speak up again, “City Lord, wake up, we’re here.”

The little girl startled, shaking her head, still somewhat dazed. Her eyes gradually cleared, and she yawned, covering her mouth with a hand adorned with a silken glove. The glove shimmered with precious light, revealing a glimpse of her jade-like wrist.

Fan Yunluo looked down at the conical-hatted man standing on the withered branch. “Is it you, this boorish fellow, who injured my beloved Bai Qing so severely that she had to slumber in the Soul Cleansing Pool? Do you know that she was under my orders to discuss a lucrative business deal with you? Such kindness wasted is bound to be punished!”

Seeing that the young man showed no sign of speaking, Fan Yunluo wasn’t annoyed. She continued, “Oh right, where is the Snowflake Robe? Where have you hidden it? It’s not as if it was a love token from Bai Qing, why hide it? Take it out, it’s her prized possession, as precious as her life. She’ll be heartbroken without it. Funi City kindly sought to cooperate with you, and you repay us with ill intent. We’ll leave that aside for now, Ghost Weep Valley still relies on strength. You got the Snowflake Robe, good for you, but now name your price, I’ll buy it back.”

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, “In City Lord Fan’s eyes, what is the value of this robe?”

Fan Yunluo said with a straight face, “It should be worth three or five Valley Rain coins at least. And as it is Bai Qing’s favorite thing, I will redeem it for her. At the very least, I should double the price, so let’s say eight Valley Rain coins.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Is City Lord Fan about to ask me how much my little life is worth, then deduct eight Valley Rain coins, return the robe to Funi City, and then offer a large sum of Immortal coins as an apology?”

Fan Yunluo’s eyes lit up. She leaned forward, her young face filled with curiosity. “How are you so clever? Are you perhaps a parasite in my stomach? How do you know everything I’m thinking?”

She flicked her wide sleeves. “Very well, after you apologize and pay the money, I will bestow upon you a sky-high fortune, guaranteeing you will earn a fortune. Rest assured.”

Chen Pingan asked, “What kind of business?”

She extended both hands, smiling. “Return the Snowflake Robe and the Valley Rain coins, and then we can discuss this business that will allow your descendants to enjoy wealth for generations.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Why doesn’t City Lord Fan seek out a Bima Sect cultivator or other wandering experts to do this business?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Those old-fashioned people who only want to slay demons and exterminate evil never covet wealth and look down on this business. Ordinary Qi cultivators are too weak and can’t handle it, wasting Funi City’s energy. Those of higher realms are difficult to negotiate with regarding profit sharing, and they might even double-cross us. All these things are troublesome. That’s why Bai Qing and the others searched for over a century, and you seem to be the most suitable.”

After saying these words, Fan Yunluo still kept her hands outstretched, not retracting them, a hint of anger on her face. “Are you trying to make me hold this pose? It’s tiring, you know?”

Chen Pingan fell into thought.
Within the Ghost Domain Valley, the numerous cities, large and small, south of Skin-Grease City, maintained a delicate peace with the Hemp-Clad Sect cultivators. However, communicating with the Bone-Piled Shore cultivators was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Thus, many city lords would rely on their own resources and foresight to seek out one or more cultivators to act as intermediaries, facilitating trade with the outside world for mutual benefit. Otherwise, the Yin objects of the Ghost Domain Valley would inevitably face the bleak prospect of depleting their resources. No matter how abundant, the Yin energy of the Ghost Domain Valley was a finite “one.” If the Yin objects of the Ghost Domain Valley possessed sufficient cultivation and vision, they could discern traces of the flow of fortune from a high vantage point. Therefore, the rise of every powerful wraith meant the attrition of other Yin spirits and ghosts. It was a game of territory where one’s gain was another’s loss, with no possibility of amicable prosperity for both sides. The northern territory of the Ghost Domain Valley was largely encompassed by the City of Bone Watchtowers, which frequently launched incursions southward, returning with spoils after each raid. Therefore, “expanding revenue streams” became the pressing priority for the southern city lords.

The Hemp-Clad Sect guarded the official gatehouse, seemingly besieging the cities, but in reality, it did not prohibit the southern city lords from cultivating puppets to trade with the outside world. This was not without its own intentions, as they did not want the southern forces to become too weak, lest the old saying of “the strong possess strong fortune” be fulfilled, allowing the City of Bone Watchtowers to successfully unify the Ghost Domain Valley.

The old crone rebuked harshly, “Bold one, how dare you daydream when the City Lord is addressing you?”

She was identical to the White Consort with half her face painted, one of Van Yunluo’s, the City Lord of Skin-Grease City, four trusted ghost generals. In her former life, she was a teaching matron in the imperial palace and a royal enshrinement. Although a Qi cultivator, she was also skilled in close combat. That was why Skin-Grease City dared to send her to greet Chen Ping’an, even after the White Consort had suffered heavy injuries. Otherwise, the Skin-Grease City, with its modest resources, would be in a precarious situation if it lost two ghost generals at once, as the surrounding cities were not benevolent.

Van Yunluo suddenly raised a hand, signaling the old crone to cease her urging.

A trace of wariness appeared on her face.

The young rogue slowly raised his head and removed his bamboo hat.

The bamboo hat vanished into thin air.

This caused the old crone and the two palace-dressed young ladies on the carriage to feel a slight tension in their hearts.

As expected, this fellow carried celestial treasures such as a Pocket Tomb or a Minor Armory.

Chen Ping’an casually stowed the bamboo hat into his personal dimension.

The bamboo hat was merely an ordinary item, a suggestion from Wei Bo and Zhu Lian, reminding Chen Ping’an to be mindful of his aura while traversing the pugilistic world. When wearing the hat, he should avoid leaking too much of his Qi, lest he attract too much attention and stir up trouble, especially in the deep mountains and marshes where ghosts roamed. Otherwise, it would be like carrying a lantern and banging drums while walking among the graves in the wilderness, akin to Pei Qian sticking talismans on her forehead, and he could not blame the small ghosts for cowering in fear or the big ghosts for angrily seeking him out.

Chen Ping’an had already noticed this in the mountains south of the Book-Brief Lake. At the time, Chen Ping’an could not understand it. His golden literary heart had been shattered, and logically, the aura of “righteousness in one’s body, all evil repelled” should have collapsed and dissipated with it.

Zeng Ye, Ma Duyi, and Gu Can at the time were even more puzzled, not knowing the reason.

Returning to his hometown, to the Bamboo Lodge on Falling Mountain, as Chen Ping’an’s cultivation increased and he became a sixth-realm martial artist, he could skillfully restrain his Qi. But as a precaution, Chen Ping’an still wore this bamboo hat as a self-reflection during his travels in the central part of Treasure Bottle Continent.

After removing the bamboo hat, Chen Ping’an still intentionally suppressed his aura, smiled, and said, “Due to circumstances in the past, I have been forced to do business with people I hated. I don’t have any major grudges with your Skin-Grease City now, so we should discuss things properly. At the very least, we can try to see if we can do business without being benevolent. However, I just figured it out. Of course, we can do business. I am now half of a Rucksack Shop and do want to make money, but it cannot interfere with my main business.”

Chen Ping’an retrieved the snow-white silk scarf-like snow flower robe, “The robe can be returned to Skin-Grease City. In exchange, you tell me the whereabouts of that Earth Immortal ghost. I’ll do this deal, and nothing else.”

Van Yunluo slowly rose to her feet, even though she was standing in the carriage, she was only as tall as the two palace-dressed young female ghosts below the steps outside the carriage.

Van Yunluo asked with a stern face, “You have been babbling so much. You don’t look like someone who has the courage to fight to the death. I hate people haggling the most in my life. Since you don’t appreciate my kindness, then I will strip one of your souls and one of your spirits to keep in Skin-Grease City to light lamps. Then we can do business. You brought this trouble upon yourself, forsaking a lot of immortal money to earn only a meager amount to survive.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I am enlightened.”

Therefore, one must do as the locals do. In this Northern Ju Continent, arguing and reasoning is the worst approach.

Didn’t the sage of the academy personally take action and make three grand cultivators admit their mistakes?

Chen Ping’an glanced at the sky.

He had originally intended to proceed step by step, starting with the relatively weak Golden Core ghost.

Now it seemed that he needed to change his strategy.

Fighting against the entire Skin-Grease City alone was also a rare opportunity for training.

Moreover, since Skin-Grease City was located in the southernmost part of the Ghost Domain Valley, not far from Musk Orchid Town, Chen Ping’an could retreat and advance at will.

However, Chen Ping’an had already made up his mind that once he started fighting, he would not leave any hidden dangers.

Even if every retreat was for the next battle with the ghosts of Skin-Grease City.

Otherwise, traveling north alone, while constantly worrying about sneak attacks from behind, would be truly dragging his feet.

Moreover, in this way, he might be able to save a golden shrinking ground talisman.

Chen Ping’an had been traveling north and felt that the Yin-Yang barrier of the Ghost Domain Valley, after careful consideration, could be briefly cleaved open with a sword immortal’s full-strength strike. However, once a path was created, and he was exhausted, it would still be difficult to leave if he was too far from that small door. Therefore, Chen Ping’an planned to draw another golden shrinking ground talisman. With two in hand, even if he was far from the barrier between heaven and earth, and even if he was surrounded by strong enemies, he would still have a chance to escape the Ghost Domain Valley and reach the Bone-Piled Shore.

However, this matter could not be rushed. He had to draw the talisman in a secluded place. Otherwise, once his secrets were revealed, twenty golden shrinking ground talismans would be useless.
Within the Ghost Domain Valley, numerous Earth Immortal experts resided, not to mention the Jingguan City Lord, whose cultivation had reached the Jade Purity Realm. It shouldn’t be difficult for it to leave the Ghost Domain Valley. The worry, however, was that the Hemp Robe Sect cultivators were occupying the advantageous terrain of the Skeleton Beach, waiting to ambush. Yet, perhaps the Hemp Robe Sect even hoped that this Jade Purity Realm ghost would depart the Ghost Domain Valley. Without a leader, the Ghost Domain Valley, always rife with infighting, had seen thousands of years of brutal killings and deeply rooted grudges. Once the backbone was gone, it would become a scattered mess?

Fan Yunluo conveyed to her subordinates through mental voice transmission, “Be cautious of the sword on his back. It’s highly likely to be a magical treasure that only an Earth Immortal Sword Cultivator could possess.”

Fan Yunluo’s eyes burned with fervor as she rubbed her palms together, the gauntlets on her hands surging with light. This was one of the reasons why she, the “Rouge Marquis,” could establish and maintain her city in the southern part of the Ghost Domain Valley.

Fan Yunluo curled the corners of her lips. As long as she could capture that young man, it would undoubtedly be an extremely considerable windfall! The azure robe he wore wasn’t bad to begin with, and the wine pot at his waist might even be a glamour cast by an expert, with an even higher quality. Adding that sword, this year’s tribute to White Cage City would not only be secured – choosing between the azure robe and the vermilion wine pot was enough – but Funi City would also have a significant surplus. As long as she could expand her army by a thousand, perhaps she wouldn’t have to rely on others and eke out a living in such a humiliating manner.

In the end, dispatching White Maiden, whose battle prowess wasn’t high but excelled at illusions, to probe this place was a contingency plan. If the hard bone was too difficult to chew, then she would retreat a step and do a long-term business. But if this person possessed great treasures but lacked ability, then she couldn’t blame Funi City for seizing the opportunity and taking a great advantage.

In the Ghost Domain Valley, it wasn’t just humans that were eaten; even ghosts were consumed!

Chen Ping’an reached behind his shoulder. “Go have fun yourself. Remember to strive for a single, fatal blow, and don’t damage their skeletons. I want to collect these female ghosts’ bones as capital. If they’re shattered, they won’t sell for a good price.”

Then, Chen Ping’an patted his Sword Nurturing Gourd. “Same principle.”

A golden streak shot out from Chen Ping’an’s back.

The Sword Nurturing Gourd at his waist also released two streaks of snow-white and emerald-green light.

On this white jade plaza, the dozens of Funi City female ghosts, who had already formed an encirclement, only felt a golden light flash past. Their eyes burned unbearably, as if seeing the scorching sun. The next moment, they perished, their fragrant souls gone.

Even a sliver of light pierced through their foreheads.

Chen Ping’an unhurriedly rolled up the sleeves of his azure robe and lightly leaped down from the section of withered wood beneath his feet, heading straight for the carriage.

Pity for the fairer sex?

In the dilapidated ancient temple of the Combing Water Kingdom, the straw-sandaled youth had rained punches upon the head of a female ghost, directly smashing the voluptuous and alluring specter into pieces.

In the City God Pavilion of the Colorful Clothes Kingdom, his battle against Shi Rou, who was then still a skeletal ghost, was even more swift and decisive.

In the earliest days, Cai Jinjian of Cloud Glow Mountain had also taken a sudden shard of porcelain to the neck in a dilapidated alleyway.

The old crone trembled, seemingly hesitating whether to protect the city lord and block this person’s path with her life.

Fan Yunluo’s face was as cold as frost, but the next moment it suddenly bloomed like spring flowers, her smile captivating. She smiled and said, “This Sword Immortal, why don’t we sit down and have a good chat? The price is negotiable, and in any case, it’s all up to the Sword Immortal to decide.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly exerted force under his feet, cracking the ground into a spiderweb. The white jade plaza, created from the two jade tablets, spiritual artifacts of the female ghosts who cleared the path, shattered like porcelain, fragments scattering in all directions.

Chen Ping’an shot straight forward, charging directly towards the carriage.

Two female ghosts attempted to block him, but they were directly blasted away by the immense fist energy on Chen Ping’an’s sides.

Fan Yunluo’s expression changed slightly. She waved her sleeves, and the hem of her skirt, as large as lotus leaves and occupying a large portion of the carriage, rippled. She giggled, but the resentment in her eyes was clearly visible as she spoke sweetly, “I’m afraid of you, goodbye, goodbye. If you have the ability, come to Funi City and be intimate with me.”

The carriage swayed, throwing two confidante palace maids directly from the carriage to the ground.

Chen Ping’an leaped high and reached out. With a telepathic connection, Sword Immortal shot over and was grasped in Chen Ping’an’s hand. He slashed down with the sword.

The huge carriage rolled nimbly, barely dodging the sword, and then instantly disappeared into the depths of the forest floor, accompanied by a dull sound, fleeing underground.

Chen Ping’an tapped his toes, stepping on the arriving flying sword Beginning One, his figure rising tens of feet. Following the underground sound and movement, he finally focused his gaze on one spot. The Sword Immortal in his hand flew out, like an arrow from a ballista, shooting away.

The carriage hurriedly changed its trajectory, dodging the Sword Immortal’s thrust.

This slight delay inevitably slowed Fan Yunluo’s escape speed by a fraction.

Chen Ping’an stepped on Beginning One and Fifteen, skimming the ground like a dragonfly touching water, repeatedly raising his arm and smashing a fist into the ground.

Under the earth, rumbling sounds echoed, like spring thunder in the Underworld.

Underground, bursts of treasured light flickered, along with the frustrated curses of the Funi City Lord. Eventually, her voice grew fainter and fainter, as if the carriage had plunged deeper into the earth in one go.

Chen Ping’an knew that this was the carriage’s earth-burrowing secret technique, which must also have its limitations. The more it “floated” near the surface, the faster the carriage moved. The deeper it burrowed, the more resistance it encountered in this Ghost Domain Valley’s strange soil and water. Initially, Fan Yunluo had taken a chance, but now that she had suffered a great loss, she had no choice but to choose the lesser of two evils, preferring to return to Funi City more slowly to avoid his fist energy and the Sword Immortal’s assassination.

Sword Immortal and Chen Ping’an shared a mutual understanding. He stood upon it, not rising too high into the sky, sticking as close to the ground as possible, and then controlled the sword to head towards Funi City.

As for the flying swords Beginning One and Fifteen, they pursued the carriage underground.

No matter what, he couldn’t allow Fan Yunluo to easily hide in Funi City.

Moreover, Chen Ping’an wanted to test whether Funi City’s city-protecting grand formation could withstand his full-force sword strike.

Atop a small hilltop, Chen Ping’an suspended Sword Immortal.

There stood a skeletal ghost wearing a Confucian robe but lacking any flesh, a sword at its waist.
He smiled, “Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Why must you pursue Fan Yunluo to the point of utter annihilation? She’s always been one to bully the weak and fear the strong, adept at judging situations. You needn’t worry about her endlessly pestering you. Over the years, her cleverness has backfired more than once. She’s swallowed enough bitter medicine to be used to it. Having been scared witless, she’ll only grovel and apologize. Besides, if you truly kill Fan Yunluo, you’ll be breaking some unspoken rule established by Zhuquan and the City Lord of Jingguan City, inviting a swarm of city lords to attack you. An army of ants can bring down an elephant, and you’ll be forced to withdraw from Ghost Domain Valley. Just a friendly reminder, if you head further north, even if you stick close to the ground while riding your sword, you’ll still be detected by a nearby city lord.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Who are you?”

The skeletal swordsman in Confucian robes smiled, “That Golden Core ghost that Fan Yunluo happened to use as a shield against disaster, he’s nominally registered in my city, but that’s all it is. I advise you to return to that Crow Ridge posthaste, or you’ll likely have wasted your efforts, and that Golden Core ghost will seize all your spoils. Let me state this in advance, the talk of lords and subjects, masters and servants in Ghost Domain Valley, it’s all a joke. No one takes it seriously. Profit is the only thing that matters, they wouldn’t even acknowledge the Heavenly King. Believe it or not, that’s up to you.”

Chen Pingan chuckled, “So you’re the City Lord of White Cage City.”

The skeletal frame draped in Confucian robes, with a long sword hanging at its side, looked almost comical, yet didn’t give off even the slightest sense of absurdity. It nodded and smiled, “A pleasure to meet you.”

Chen Pingan pondered for a moment.

Chen Pingan smiled and patted his Sword-Nurturing Gourd. The flying swords First and Fifteenth flashed back into the gourd.

Chen Pingan clasped his hands in his sleeves, his left hand holding a golden shrink-earth talisman, his right hand clutching the walnut prayer beads, “Does the City Lord have any further advice?”

The strongest Yin spirit in the southern Ghost Domain Valley shook its head, “None.”

Chen Pingan rode the Sword Immortal and arc’d away.

The City Lord of White Cage City lightly stamped its foot. “Come out.”

A carriage rolled out from the foot of the hillside. This treasure of Skin-Smooth City was badly damaged, a testament to the power of the previous sword and fist.

Fan Yunluo sat in the carriage, her hands covering her face, sobbing and weeping. At this moment, she truly resembled a naive and innocent young girl.

The skeletal City Lord, dressed in green robes and carrying a sword, smiled, “Ah, you, when will you ever make a trade that doesn’t result in a loss? Didn’t you think it through? A young man so cautious and prudent, yet dares to head directly to Green Reed Town, would he be walking to his death?”

Fan Yunluo, like a pear blossom bathed in rain, lay prone in the carriage, lamenting and wailing.

Back at Crow Ridge, Chen Pingan breathed a sigh of relief.

Except for the old crone who was gone, the corpses of the slain female ghosts and Yin spirits remained. Their bones scattered about.

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