Chen Ping’an departed the confines of Sheep Gut Palace and quickly sheathed his sword essence, landing in a range of towering mountains rife with miasma. Earlier, when surveying the land, he noted that a mere fifty-odd miles southeast of these mountains lay the towering, avarice-filled city of Copper Stink, with the Hemp Robe Sect’s outpost, Azure Hut Town, not far beyond.

Mastering the immortal’s sword flight was an endlessly fascinating pursuit. The ever-changing seas of clouds were a spectacle that never grew old, and they provided ample opportunity for amusement. Upon leaving Sheep Gut Palace, Chen Ping’an had deliberately chosen a section of the cloud sea that was as smooth and level as if it had been sheared off by a blade. He submerged his head into the clouds and slowly glided along, enjoying the sensation. Had any mountain spirits or forest demons chanced to look up from below, they might have thought… was this headless Qi Refiner mad? Besides such childish, laughable self-entertainment, Chen Ping’an also enjoyed completely immersing himself in the clouds, leaving only his head exposed, and then flapping his arms up and down, mimicking swimming.

This was not unlike the scene of Pei Qian, back in Tile Lane, resting her head on the shop counter. Truly, a master and disciple cut from the same cloth.

In these sparsely populated mountains, solitude and desolation reigned. The trees in the forest were mostly gnarled and sickly. Chen Ping’an passed by a cliff face and, looking up, saw a slender plum tree growing from a crack in the rock. Mist swirled around it. At the base of the cliff lay a large pile of scattered white bones, likely belonging to a plant spirit that had shown promise in cultivating its abilities, and had already begun to learn how to hunt birds and small beasts.

Generally speaking, it was hardest for plants to become spirits. The vast majority of these spirits, upon taking human form, found themselves at a dead end on the path of cultivation. The cute little sprites standing on pine and cypress bonsai in Green Penny Ward of Combsilk Country were destined to have no hope of cultivation, merely relying on the inherent longevity of plants to pass their days in vain. They were mostly kept as pets by cultivators, pleasing to the eye and festive.

Therefore, before the Falling Pearl Grotto Heaven descended, the older generation under the locust tree in the town often liked to tell fictitious ghost stories of the mountains, forests, and rivers, deliberately fooling and scaring the young children. However, the elders would usually add a line, saying that being born as humans was already difficult, and we should cherish it. If we didn’t live our lives well, we would be reborn as pigs and dogs in the next life. When Chen Ping’an was young, he liked to squat far away and listen to these stories. Liu Xianyang, fearless as he was, never liked to listen to them, always saying that ghosts, spirits, door gods, and kitchen gods were all lies. Therefore, it was mostly Gu Can who accompanied Chen Ping’an under the locust shade to cool off, and then waited for the woman from Mud Bottle Lane to shout for Gu Can to eat and sleep before getting up and leaving.

Chen Ping’an leapt onto the rocky cliff, his fingers like hooks, digging into the rock face. He hung there in the air and took out three snowflakes of money, clutching them in his palm. Using the Artifact Refining Sutra given by the Buried River Water Goddess, he refined the snowflakes of money and the spiritual energy they contained into droplets of deep green water, which dripped from between his fingers onto the point where the old plum tree and the cliff fissure met. After doing all this, Chen Ping’an gently patted the cliff face and floated down to the ground, continuing on his way.

If a Daoist companion were in dire straits, desperately needing a sum of money almost for survival, they might see this plum tree, showing signs of change, and the first thought that would cross their mind would be to wonder how much it was worth. Finally, they would pluck up their courage and risk climbing the mountain, cutting it down with the sound of axes echoing through the empty mountains. As for whether the plum tree’s own opportunities would be cut off, they wouldn’t care. If their cultivation happened to be slightly higher and they were short on funds, wouldn’t a fight with the two spirits on the iron chain bridge be a fierce battle no less than the Dao’s Great Strife?

Chen Ping’an never resented the fighting and climbing of these cultivators. Even if their methods were somewhat ruthless, Chen Ping’an could understand it. Chen Ping’an only disliked, even loathed, those mountain immortals who were already in high positions, taking up all the advantages, like the flood dragon hidden in the clouds, high above, yet still having no compassion for the human world. As long as their cultivation was inferior to theirs, in their eyes, their lives were like grass, easily suppressed and killed for being an eyesore, and then they could lightly say that the Dao was ruthless and their Dao heart would be as firm as a rock.

What kind of Dao was this being cultivated?

Walking alone in the forest, Chen Ping’an muttered to himself, “Is what I don’t like necessarily wrong? Aren’t you, Chen Ping’an, a little too domineering? Who do you think you are?”

Chen Ping’an then asked himself, “Can’t be benevolent when commanding troops, can’t be righteous when managing wealth?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head.

Chen Ping’an felt that the ancients only spoke half-truths, and they were not truly enlightening words. Once certain out-of-context words were regarded as the truth by the world, as golden rules for dealing with people, it could indeed reduce a lot of trouble in life. It’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s still not perfect.

For example, the book also said:

When benevolence commands troops, there must be great benevolence after gaining great power.

When righteousness manages wealth, there must be great righteousness after great wealth and nobility.

Chen Ping’an stopped, leapt onto a high branch, sat on the tree, and took out the carving knife and bamboo slip that he hadn’t touched for a long time, carving these two sentences on the bamboo slip.

After thinking about it, he also carved the words spoken by the Sheep Gut Palace and the little rat spirit about cultivating the mind and cultivating strength on another bamboo slip.

Chen Ping’an put away the carving knife, holding one bamboo slip in each hand, raised them high, and smiled brightly, “Now, it’s truly what the ‘book’ says!”

Good heavens.

It turned out that these were all principles that Chen Ping’an made up casually.

It was estimated that in the whole world, only the flatterers of Fallen Mountain would be willing to take these words seriously, right?

Chen Ping’an carefully put away the two bamboo slips, feeling great.

Then Chen Ping’an didn’t rush to go to Copper Stink City.

Instead, he took a few sips of wine. There was still a lot left in the wine pot he had taken out from Sheep Gut Palace.

Chen Ping’an began to carefully count and calculate his possessions. He had gained a lot from this experience in Ghost Domain Valley after entering from Skeleton Beach.

However, the damage to the Spring Grass robe was not light. To truly repair it as before, it would cost at least five or six thousand snowflakes of money.

Back then, when he was at Earth Surge Mountain escaping from the siege with the scholar, in order to weaken the enemy’s perception, he didn’t dare to reveal the details of the pure martial artist too early, so he had to deliberately suppress the pure true Qi in his body. Relying only on the robe, he solidly took a heavy hammer from the Mountain Moving Ape. Later, on the banks of the Black River, after a battle with the Thunder Decree God General of Accumulation Mountain, he was trapped in a thunder pool, and the Spring Grass robe was even more severely damaged by lightning strikes. This considerable expense made Chen Ping’an’s teeth itch.
Chen Ping’an could only console himself, “Even the smallest merchant stall in the world needs some starting capital. You can’t have this cost-free, high-profit mindset.”

Furthermore, being within the Thunder Pool, feeling his skin and soul being fried like oil, was a true experience of the trials of Ghoul Gorge.

Although it was less intense compared to the tempering at the Bamboo Lodge on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, it was still significantly beneficial. Moreover, the Thunder Pool was essentially the most torturous prison between Heaven and Earth. Enduring such suffering had its own unique advantages. Chen Ping’an had already noticed that his muscles, bones, and soul had become slightly more resilient.

From White Madam of Skindeep City, he had seized a snow-patterned magic robe from Raven Ridge. According to Fan Yunluo’s estimation, it was worth two or three Grain Rain coins on the market.

If sold back to Skindeep City, it could fetch a premium of one or two Grain Rain coins.

However, just thinking about that White Madam who loved to mystify, Chen Ping’an felt gloomy.

Back then, she had conjured a face to bewitch people, which made Chen Ping’an indignant and a little guilty.

Besides having that pair of Lower Five Levels daoists carry out the five sets of white bones from Ghoul Gorge, his ‘Cubit Pouch’ also contained over a dozen jade-like bones of female officials and maids from Skindeep City.

As for how much they could be sold for in Bone Beach after leaving Ghoul Gorge, Chen Ping’an had no idea.

Thinking of this, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but look south, wondering if that pair of daoists had sold them for a good price.

The so-called one-month agreement…

Chen Ping’an never took it seriously from the start. He only wanted them to feel at ease taking the money. Whether that pair of daoists who struggled to make money in Ghoul Gorge would wait for a full month was of no concern to Chen Ping’an.

Because if the daoists sold those five sets of white jade bones from Skindeep City, whether they waited for the month or not, Chen Ping’an would not show his face at the Ghost Gate market. If they fled with the money without waiting, they would have to worry about being held accountable later, which would be a concern for them. If they waited a full month, even better, they could leave with peace of mind, allowing that Fifth Realm female cultivator to break through her bottleneck and reach the Cave Mansion Realm in the Middle Five Levels. That immortal money would likely be more than enough, even helping her solidify her Cave Mansion Realm. As for the remaining surplus, whether the male cultivator could take advantage of the situation to break through his own realm would depend solely on fate.

As for why Chen Ping’an did this…

The reason was simple.

Just like when Chen Ping’an insisted on taking those two sets of bones of those who held hands in death at the Avoidance Summer Palace’s vault, it wasn’t for wealth. Chen Ping’an didn’t covet the bones or dragon robes of the Lord of Longxi Kingdom and the female cultivator from the Qingde lineage. His only thought was to find a place in their former homeland and bury their bones together among the green hills and clear waters.

May lovers in this world always be together and become a couple, may those who have passed away but did not betray their love, be together in life and death.

The Great Path is long, and the path to immortality is far. In cultivation, besides diligently practicing swordsmanship and fists, and not being afraid of facing powerful opponents, doing these small things that others are unwilling to do but I insist on stopping to do, isn’t that a great joy in life?

At the Stripped Mountain’s Cold Moon Hall, there were gains from both the Avoidance Summer Palace’s boudoir and treasury.

He received over a thousand Snowflake coins from the Scholar.

However, Chen Ping’an felt that the most valuable thing was still the cold iron used as a “door,” meticulously crafted by a Mohist craftsman into a Cold Moon Palace.

As for those jars and bottles in the Moon Palace’s boudoir, Chen Ping’an still cared about them a lot. After leaving Bone Beach and continuing his northward journey, who knew if he would encounter a few wealthy young ladies or mountain fairies who had money to burn? Maybe they would be blinded by desire and buy them at a high price? Zhu Lian had confidently said that there was no woman in the world who didn’t want to look better. If there were any, it was only because they hadn’t met a desirable man worth “adorning oneself for.”

As for the large chest of military books treasured by the Demon-Slaying Immortal at the end of the Sheep Intestine Palace’s tunnel…

Chen Ping’an hadn’t had time to carefully browse through them. He planned to read them one by one after settling down in Green Reed Town. They should all be books left behind in Bone Beach by the two great dynasties and dozens of vassal states. After being preserved in the Sheep Intestine Palace for a thousand years, they also happened to be part of the capital of Chen Ping’an’s small merchant stall. However, he still needed to carefully select the best ones and put them in his own library on Fallen Phoenix Mountain in the future.

Just imagining that in the future, Fallen Phoenix Mountain disciples would enter the library to borrow and read books, and hear the old man in the library say that these were the Mountain Lord’s gains from his journey to Bone Beach in Northern Reed Continent, and the old man would embellish the story with some tall tales, saying that when reading these books, one must be careful because they were treasures retrieved from the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair…

Wouldn’t those disciples feel that they must be more careful and attentive when reading, and then, when tired of reading under the lamp, feel some admiration for that young “Mountain Lord” who had traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers?

Chen Ping’an sat on a high branch and couldn’t help but smile.

Continuing to keep accounts.

The same accountant dressed in blue could only think about minimizing losses in Book Brief Lake.

In this Ghoul Gorge, he could think about earning more and profiting more.

Life was really getting better and better.

In Accumulation Peak, the territory of the Thunder-Commanding Divine General, he excavated five sections of golden thunder whips of varying sizes.

The true value of these heavenly treasures was currently unknown.

However, why did that demon with two golden eagle heads say that he was a thief who stole from the Thunder Pool?

Because of this, Chen Ping’an was worried that something big would happen in Accumulation Peak. After leaving Black River, he deliberately avoided Accumulation Peak.

In fact, Accumulation Peak, like Old Dragon Cave, might have unexpected gains if one wasn’t afraid of death and investigated thoroughly.

Of course, doing so would be like those low-level daoists, tying their heads to their belts to make money, gambling with their lives.

In the shrine on the banks of Black River, he and the Scholar sat down to divide the loot, jointly sharing the Scholar’s gains from the treasury of the underwater cave built by the Overturning Sea Primordial Lord.

Six spiritual artifacts.

And in the Little Turtle’s Water Palace, the Scholar casually swept a pile of “junk” similar to the Moon Palace’s boudoir treasures into his ‘Cubit Pouch’.

Even after returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain from Book Brief Lake and learning that he had an affinity with water, Chen Ping’an still refused that magical treasure that would particularly benefit water-aligned cultivators.

Indeed, pies occasionally fell from the sky and landed on his head.

However, Chen Ping’an didn’t trust that Chongxuan Office’s Yang Ningxing, who used mysterious Daoist techniques to condense all the evil in his heart into a pure “mustard seed,” the “Scholar.”

But Chen Ping’an was very curious about how this unique Daoist technique of the Cloud Firmament Palace’s Feather-Clad Minister was able to refine the mind like refining objects.
After settling his accounts, Chen Ping’an realized the sheer extent of his gains from this trip to Ghostveil Valley.

While en route, he had discovered the collapse of the landscape around Treasure Mirror Mountain, likely indicating Yang Chongxuan had finally obtained the mirror opportunity. Furthermore, the secret removal of the Thunder Pool from Mount Accumulated Snow was an immense stroke of fortune.

However, Chen Ping’an felt no envy or covetousness for these benefits acquired by others.

In truth, the scholar who was constantly scheming and invariably losing to Chen Ping’an, even without considering the Three Mountains Realm Yang Ningzhen had painstakingly prepared for him, had gained immensely upon leaving Ghostveil Valley. The golden Loach fish raised in the small water basin within the Old Dragon’s Lair, and the ancestral coin personally cast by a Hidden Immortal of the Qingde Sect, were enough to consider his trip a resounding success.

Yet, even knowing the truth, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t dwell on it.

“You walk your broad highway, I tread my precarious path. You take your great fortunes, I pick up my little scraps.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly grinned, an irrepressible, radiant smile spreading across his face. “Such scraps, the more the merrier!”

Then, he flicked his sleeves, “Besides, you’re not scraps. You are heaps and heaps of immortal coins!”

Moreover, hidden within the hundred-eyed gluttonous sleeves of the robe pilfered from Yang Ningxing, were three talismans that looked incredibly valuable.

Chen Ping’an hopped down from the high branch, his steps lively, mimicking Cui Dongshan’s swinging sleeves and even Pei Qian’s gait, achieving a remarkable likeness.

Chen Ping’an felt he was indeed becoming somewhat carried away.

“But so what? I’m happy right now!”

Chen Ping’an lifted the wine gourd, took a swig, and even kept the gourd, storing it within his personal dimension, somewhat regretful that he hadn’t encountered any spirits or demons along the way, much like Copper Official Mountain. However, as he was about to leave the hilltop, he suddenly noticed a dispute brewing at the foot of a distant mountain, with two factions confronting each other, blades drawn.

Chen Ping’an swiftly and expertly snuck over, concealing his presence, and found a hidden spot to observe.

Upon a crude and enormous chariot, which was more like a raft with a throne, sat a hulking man, muscles bulging, easily two-zhang tall, with fists like bowls. He was draining a giant custom-made wine bowl, the liquor splashing freely, drenching his thick, forest-like chest hair. Empty wine gourds lay scattered at his feet. Beside the throne, a petite, alluring demon woman with pointed ears sat curled up, holding a large bowl of wine. She occasionally stole glances at someone in the “enemy camp”, her eyes filled with allure.

The chariot was carried by eight small goblin lackeys.

Nearby, dozens of goblin lackeys, clad in iron armor and wielding swords and spears, were yelling incessantly.

Opposing this band of mountain spirits were a dozen elite soldiers clad in the attire of formidable ghosts, armed with sabers and crossbows, resembling battle-hardened veterans from the mortal realm.

Leading the ghosts was a general, adorned in silver armor, his face filled with rage. Standing beside him was a living man, shorter than the general, but equally haughty despite being in the company of ghosts and demons. He wore a scarlet official’s robe with a white crane embroidered on the chest, a white silk undergarment, black shoes with white socks, and a jade belt. This young “official” pointed a finger at the chariot, cursing loudly.

The robust man, sitting like a small mountain, listened to the incessant tirade, lightly kicking the woman at his feet. “What’s he yammering about?”

The alluring woman giggled. “He’s saying you’re not a person, Master.”

The strongman paused. “When was I ever a person? Which one of us and those skeletons from Goldrot City are human? Only this pale-faced scholar is a human, right?”

The woman lowered her head, stifling her laughter. When the strongman tossed his wine bowl aside, she quickly caught it and refilled it. While massaging his legs, she said, “Master, the scholars from Goldrot City always talk nonsense. It’s better you don’t understand. If you did, would you want to become an official in Goldrot City?”

The strongman grinned. “I’d like to be a petty official under that Lady Prime Minister, sharing scholarly nonsense during the day, and engaging in a soul-stirring battle at night, listening to her moan like a song. Just thinking about it is captivating.”

The ghost general, hearing this clearly, gripped his saber hilt, his face darkening. “My Lady Prime Minister is like a fairy. How dare a beast like you, still wet behind the ears, utter such disrespectful words?!”

The strongman was unfazed. After drinking half a bowl of wine, spilling the other half, he tossed the bowl aside, wiped his mouth, leaned forward, picked his teeth with a finger, and chuckled. “I’m sworn brothers with the Great Fairy Catcher’s page, and one of the adopted sons of the Mountain Moving Sage. What’s a few woodcutters on your Lord Tang’s territory?”

The civilian official shouted, “You old dog, stop playing dumb! We’re here to demand the return of that new scholar! He’s the Prime Minister’s most valued scholar. Return him now, or Goldrot City will send in the troops, showing no neighborly consideration! Consider carefully, is your dog life more important than the swords of Goldrot City’s army?!”

Chen Ping’an vaguely saw a hound-like form coiled behind the strongman on the chariot.

However, the image was blurry, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

“The Great Fairy Catcher’s page?” Could it be that rat spirit who hid a dagger at the Lamb Gut Palace gates, only to be flicked to death by me?

Chen Ping’an glanced at the chariot. Compared to Fan Yunluo’s treasure chariot from Fleshgloss City, it was indeed too shabby. No wonder he would become sworn brothers with that Lamb Gut Palace rat spirit.

The new scholar that Goldrot City had come to retrieve must be Yang Ningxing, whom the “gentleman” with the fan had captured to claim credit at Peeling Mountain.

Chen Ping’an’s interest lay more in the civilian official.
It was evident that his departure from Copper Stink City was on official business, yet a subtle hint of schadenfreude betrayed his inner desire for his rival, who might compete for favor in the city lord’s harem, to be devoured by the Mountain-Chasing Hounds and turned into fertilizer for the hills.

To expose someone’s shortcomings is impolite, so the burly man, his true nature revealed, flew into a rage, spewing spittle as he cursed the Copper Stink City official, wishing him a short life devoid of blessings.

The two exchanged insults for a good while.

Chen Pingan never saw anyone draw a blade.

In the end, they simply turned around and went their separate ways.

Chen Pingan was somewhat impressed.

He patted his Sword-Nourishing Gourd, leaped down from the tree branch, and stealthily followed the group of Copper Stink City specters.

On the carriage, the burly man sat unmoving, seemingly overcome by the alcohol, dozing off.

Upon returning to their dwelling, the carriage gently touched down, and the alluring woman suddenly screamed.

It turned out that her seemingly invincible master had inexplicably died, this Mountain-Chasing Hound spirit transformed into a burly man, a single bead of blood oozing from between his eyebrows.

As Chen Pingan neared Copper Stink City, he retrieved the Hemp Robe Sect token and hung it at his waist.

He also carried a large package, filled with various bottles and jars obtained from Yue Gong’s boudoir on Stripped Mountain and the Black River Water Mansion.

As for whether trading these items would expose him, Chen Pingan was unconcerned. He almost wished the demons would follow the clues and seek revenge.

However, the Demon-Subduing Grand Immortal wouldn’t even linger in his own Sheep Intestine Palace, let alone dare to come to Copper Stink City to court death.

Earlier, within the Sword-Nourishing Gourd, Initial One seemed unwilling to appear and slay demons.

It was Flying Sword Fifteen that killed the spirit.

Chen Pingan adjusted his bamboo hat and donned the old man’s mask.

Previously, at the waterside shrine by the Black River, the scholar had expressed a desire to keep the young man’s mask as a small memento.

Chen Pingan had refused.

The scholar then offered to buy it for a hefty sum.

Chen Pingan said that purchase was possible, at a price of ten Grain Rain coins. Since they were brothers who had shared hardship, talking about money would hurt their bond, so he would offer an eleven percent discount.

Only then did the scholar reluctantly return the mask.

He praised Chen Pingan as a righteous and benevolent brother, a rare find in this world.

Among the cities south of Ghost Domain Valley, Copper Stink City was a city of considerable size. Its walls were tall, and it had three city gates. A large section in the north had been developed into a palace resembling those of human monarchs, and many generals, ministers, and officials appointed by the city lord resided nearby. Over a dozen large and small markets had been established within the city, making it a bustling hub of commerce. The Hemp Robe Sect’s “Collection of Reassurance” contained detailed records, including the fact that hanging a Hemp Robe Sect jade token granted free passage into and out of Copper Stink City, as well as additional preferential treatment in all transactions within the city.

From this, it was clear that the Copper Stink City Lord, who had taken root near Green Latticetown but expanded his business ever outward, was a shrewd individual… as far as ghosts go.

Indeed, the armored and sword-wielding gate guardians, upon seeing the jade token at Chen Pingan’s waist, not only waived the entrance fee and questioning, but also adopted a humble demeanor, bowing and smiling obsequiously. They even congratulated him in unison, “May the Immortal Master’s wealth flourish!” Catching Chen Pingan off guard, he pondered for a moment before adopting the air of a visiting grandee from Green Latticetown and flicked a Snow Coin to a centurion in charge of the gate. The centurion quickly caught the coin with both hands and bit it gently, his smile widening from ear to ear.

Within Copper Stink City, three major markets were renowned throughout Ghost Domain Valley. One was the Daughters’ Market, filled with numerous brothels and pleasure houses reeking of rouge and powder. After all, the human women of Copper Stink City were particularly beautiful. Besides the flesh trade, the Daughters’ Market also trafficked in people, selecting girls who appeared intelligent and selling them at clearly marked prices. Historically, there had been foreign immortal masters who took a liking to the talent of young girls from Copper Stink City, taking them away from Ghost Domain Valley. Legend had it that one of these girls, possessing a perfectly yin constitution, joined the ranks of Earth Immortals alongside the benefactor who saved her from her plight. When mountain sects and immortal abodes descended to the mortal realm to select disciples, they each had their own strengths and weaknesses in assessing talent, making it extremely difficult to truly see and understand. Moreover, the bizarre opportunities and inherent talents varied wildly; one man’s treasure was another’s poison, one man’s gem was another’s pebble. Such occurrences were countless.

Chen Pingan had personally experienced this. During his trip north from Book Brief Lake, he had inadvertently passed by a gold and silver shop in a county town. Two young shop assistants, unaware of their good fortune, were being observed by two old immortals in disguise. The elder, more accomplished cultivator, chose the seemingly simple and uninspired youth as the object of his teachings, while the cultivator of lesser attainment chose the clever and quick-witted shop assistant as his disciple.

There was also the Roving Market, which focused on bartering, where jade ores, spiritual flowers, exotic herbs, white jade bones, and various inadvertently obtained relics of past dynasties from within Ghost Domain Valley were traded, each party getting what they needed. After all, ghost cultivation also had its many requirements, and each advancement in realm meant a longer lifespan.

Finally, there was the Golden Powder Market, which specialized in trading the treasures collected by that Reviewing Chancellor. Of course, visiting immortal masters could also bring their own treasures to sell to the city lord’s sister.

This was Chen Pingan’s destination in Copper Stink City. To open a pawnshop, he needed to first practice and learn to thicken his skin.

Along the way, ghosts roamed freely in broad daylight, while living men, women, and children showed no fear, enjoying shopping and strolling as they pleased.

It seemed that the little world of Ghost Domain Valley had refined the sun and moon’s light of the Grand Brightness World, especially the sunlight, so that it no longer harmed ghosts.

The Golden Powder Market was not large. Besides a street of shops, many scholars who had yet to pass the imperial examinations but were known for their literary talent resided there.

The Reviewing Chancellor’s idea was indeed wildly imaginative.

Chen Pingan arrived at the first shop at the corner of the street. The owner was a beautifully dressed young female ghost, with two pale-faced child ghosts, a boy and a girl.

Upon seeing Chen Pingan with the Hemp Robe Sect token hanging at his waist, the two little ones showed some fear.

Throughout Copper Stink City’s history, many disasters had been caused by these foreign immortals, who had slaughtered countless beings within the city.
The ghostly maiden remained composed, politely asking, “Venerable Immortal Master, are you here to buy or sell? Since my shop is located on this street, the quality of the goods is assured, and none are fake.”

Chen Pingan changed his voice, chuckling hoarsely, “If I came from that direction, wouldn’t this be the end of the street?”

The maiden smiled sweetly, unconcerned. Ultimately, the business of this shop was always up to the customers’ discretion, whether they wanted to buy or sell.

The two previously timid little fellows exchanged smiles. This old immortal with the bamboo hat was actually quite humorous.

Chen Pingan examined the antique treasures displayed on the shop’s shelves. Very few emanated spiritual energy; most were relics from the ancient battlefields of the Bone Beach, similar to the armor and weapons from Crow Ridge. The difference was that these were well-maintained, bright and new, while those were left in the wilderness, covered in rust. Moreover, just because a treasure on the mountain possessed some spiritual energy didn’t make it a spiritual artifact. Only items refined and forged by cultivators that could benefit Qi refiners and nourish the Qi reservoirs could be considered rudimentary spiritual artifacts. Furthermore, they needed to be able to absorb spiritual energy from the heavens and earth and refine it, a difficult feat. This was the so-called “heavenly endowment, giving objects a spirit.” Many royal treasures, priceless in the eyes of ordinary scholars, were dismissed as worthless by mountain experts precisely for this reason.

However, the shop’s centerpiece was undoubtedly a genuine spiritual artifact: a featherless heavy iron arrow. Its owner must have been incredibly strong in life, a valiant general on the battlefield. The arrowhead was stained with blood that had not faded even now, having permeated the arrow itself.

Seeing the man staring intently at the arrow, the female ghost shopkeeper smiled and said, “Venerable Immortal Master has a discerning eye. This item is called ‘Mountain Breaker Arrow.’ It once belonged to a general of the Longxi Kingdom, a match for ten thousand men on the battlefield. That general was a military cultivator whose natal treasure was a Mountain Breaker Bow, used with twelve Mountain Breaker Arrows. A single arrow could shatter mountains, its power truly astonishing. This Mountain Breaker Arrow is especially rare because its tip is stained with blood from piercing the eye of an enemy military general. Therefore, the blood has not dissipated for thousands of years, and my master has named it ‘Eye Piercer Arrow.’ Ordinary copper-stinking city ghosts and mountain demons will feel pain in their eyes just by looking at it. If the Venerable Immortal Master buys it and carries it while traversing mountains and rivers, it will ward off evil spirits and protect against ghostly influences.”

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, “Where is the Mountain Breaker Bow now?”

The female ghost shopkeeper sighed, “It was broken directly by its owner on the battlefield during the earth-shattering battle at Bone Beach. Not only did the bowstring snap, but the bow itself broke as well.”

Chen Pingan lamented, “What a fierce battle.”

The female ghost smiled, “If it weren’t for that, how would we ghosts have the chance to be reborn? We should thank those battlefield warriors who didn’t value their lives.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “I’ll look around some more.”

The female ghost didn’t press him, allowing the old man with the bamboo hat to leave the shop.

Chen Pingan visited all the shops on the street and found similar situations: each shop had a single spiritual artifact as its treasure. For example, the shop at the end of the street had a well-preserved iron-plated pipa.

The remaining scattered antiques and treasures were not worth much. Even if Chen Pingan wanted to buy them at a low price and resell them elsewhere, he couldn’t find one or two pieces. The truly good items must have been collected by that woman, the scholar-official prime minister, in that “palace city.”

Chen Pingan had learned some basic skills in spotting treasures from Ma Duyi and that old ghost of Shujian Lake.

After seeing many good items, Chen Pingan had some confidence in judging whether an object was good or bad, but he still lacked the experience and cultivation to determine how good it was.

Finally, Chen Pingan returned to the first shop he had entered. The two little fellows were no longer afraid of him, sitting on the doorstep basking in the sun, only shifting their bottoms to make way for him.

The female ghost shopkeeper smiled and asked, “Venerable Immortal Master, have you had any unexpected gains in our Golden Powder Lane?”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “I couldn’t find anything that was reasonably priced and caught my eye.”

She glanced at the large package Chen Pingan was carrying and asked, “Does the Venerable Immortal Master want to part with a treasure for sale?”

Chen Pingan nodded, “I’ll try my luck. I wonder if the shopkeeper will be interested.”

She smiled, “Let’s take a look first. If there’s truly something that catches my eye, my shop isn’t afraid to spend money.”

Chen Pingan removed the package and gently placed it on the counter, taking out the items one by one.

These were only thirty percent of the items from the Boudoir of the Avoiding-Heat Consort and the Underwater Abode of the Overturning-Sea Lord.

This showed Chen Pingan’s ability to scour the land clean. No grass grew wherever he passed.

The female ghost’s expression was strange at first.

Because the first few items were all female boudoir items: powder jars, makeup mirrors, silver boxes with mandarin duck patterns and inscriptions, and women’s hair ornaments. They were only the size of a fist, yet exquisitely carved with a cluster of scarlet peonies, hundreds of them…

This foreign old immortal master was truly a shameless old lecher!

The one wearing the bamboo hat seemed to sense that something was amiss. He stopped taking things out so quickly and began to rummage through the package, taking out a few slightly more normal wealthy items.

The female ghost shopkeeper’s angry and embarrassed expression finally improved slightly.

When Chen Pingan took out a pair of golden chopsticks, her eyes changed slightly.

She was even more moved than when she saw the exquisitely crafted golden flower hair ornament.

Finally, Chen Pingan only took out half of the items in the package, sparsely and densely filling the counter, and asked, “Does the shopkeeper find anything to your liking?”

The female ghost shopkeeper casually scanned all the items, pausing only slightly on a water powder porcelain bottle. She seemed only slightly interested, and more disappointed overall.

Chen Pingan sighed, “Since neither of us can find anything that catches our eye, I guess I’ve made a wasted trip to Copper Stink City.”

Seeing that the old wretch was about to pack up, the female ghost gently extended a finger, lightly pressing down on the water powder porcelain bottle, and said, “Venerable Immortal Master, I wonder how much this little porcelain bottle costs? I think it’s small and cute, and I’d like to buy it myself.”

Chen Pingan glanced at the pink glazed porcelain bottle, deliberately revealing a hint of mockery, and smiled, “Ah, that? It’s the least valuable of all my treasures. I’ll just give it to the shopkeeper.”
Chen Ping’an was certain it was truly worthless. Young ladies of noble families and wealthy women might like it, but it would only fetch a few dozen, perhaps a hundred taels of silver. The reason that female ghost shopkeeper had singled it out was simply as part of a series of price-cutting tactics. Even if Chen Ping’an was inept at business, he wasn’t lacking in perception. When it came to cunning and depth of guile, could this female ghost shopkeeper from the City of Avarice really compare to that scholar?

So, Chen Ping’an began stuffing the items on the counter back into his bundle, acting as if he thought the shopkeeper was blind and he was determined to leave.

Sure enough.

The female ghost couldn’t quite conceal the urgency in her eyes. She asked again, “Revered Immortal Master, my shop hasn’t made a sale in ages. How about this, I’ll buy everything in your bundle for ninety snowflake coins?!”

Chen Ping’an once again glanced sideways at the female ghost’s pained expression at the mention of snowflake coins. He reached out and nudged the famille rose porcelain vase, then continued packing, saying grumpily, “I’m not some beggar looking for scraps. You can have this vase. The real treasures, I’ll take them elsewhere to find buyers with real money in their pockets. I refuse to believe that in this vast City of Avarice, there isn’t a single person with good taste.”

The female ghost seemed somewhat angered and embarrassed. She didn’t pick up the famille rose vase, nor did she try to persuade the old man to stay. She allowed him to gather all his wares, put them back in his bundle, and sling it over his back. Seeing that she didn’t take the vase, the old man didn’t stand on ceremony, taking it in his hand. If she didn’t want it, fine. He then stepped over the threshold and strode away.

Once the ill-tempered old man had left the shop, the female ghost shopkeeper muttered to herself a dozen times before quickly beckoning a little ghost girl to the counter, saying, “Go follow that person. If he turns around and comes back to our shop, leave him be. But if he continues on his way and doesn’t seem like he’s going back to Golden Powder Lane, go up to him and tell him that our shop is willing to discuss the price properly.”

About a quarter of an hour later, the little ghost girl came running back to the shop with a tearful face, her small features crumpled with distress. She said, “Sister Zhenguan, I followed that old gentleman secretly the whole way, and he really didn’t notice me. I followed him for a long time. But near Maiden Lane, he turned into a small alley. I didn’t dare follow too quickly, fearing he’d see me if he turned around. But when I peeked, after he had left the alley, and then ran in and out, I saw that he had vanished! Sister Zhenguan, that old gentleman just disappeared! I ran back and forth on that street several times, but I still couldn’t find him anywhere…”

The little ghost girl covered her face with her hands, beginning to sob at her frustration.

The female ghost shopkeeper was both worried and sympathetic. She quickly came out from behind the counter, crouched down, and stroked the little one’s head, saying softly, “It’s alright, it’s alright. It’s not a big deal. Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

A little ghost boy standing nearby made faces, gloating, saying, “Sister Zhenguan, if you had let me follow him just now, that old man definitely wouldn’t have gotten away! Sparrow is so clumsy. Sister Zhenguan knows that.”

The little girl had finally stopped crying, but at this, she burst into wails again.

The female ghost shopkeeper glared fiercely at the little ghost boy, then went behind the counter, took out a silver bell, and tossed it to the little ghost. “I can’t leave the shop. You take this token, and remember not to lose it. Then hurry to the northern gate and tell General Chu, the gatekeeper, that an out-of-town old immortal master came to Golden Powder Lane earlier, with many treasures on his person. Tell the Chancellor Madam not to miss him, and that she should preferably meet with that immortal master in person.”

The little ghost boy nodded vigorously. “Okay, Sister Zhenguan, don’t worry, I’m much more reliable than Sparrow!”

The little girl cried even harder.

The female ghost shopkeeper pointed to the door, glaring at the little troublemaker who kept adding fuel to the fire. “Get out of here!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The little boy immediately ran out.

A moment later, the shopkeeper, who was kneeling on the ground, coaxing the little girl, turned her head and stared in astonishment.

Outside the shop, a tall woman was holding the motionless little boy in her hand, walking into the shop with a smile. She said, “Zhenguan, you don’t need to look for me. The City of Avarice has been on high alert lately. Our city lord has ordered everyone to keep a close watch on the movements of all suspicious people. So, as soon as that out-of-town old immortal master walked into Golden Powder Lane, I received the news.”

The woman placed the little ghost boy on the ground. She sniffed, her face filled with delight, and chuckled. “Oh, the aura of treasure is so strong! Zhenguan, you’ve missed out on a huge deal.”

The beautiful young female ghost said guiltily, “This servant wanted to help the Chancellor Madam to lower the price, but I didn’t expect the old man to have such a bad temper that he left in anger.”

The woman waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. As long as he’s still in our City of Avarice, we can find him. I’ve already sent people to invite him over.”

This woman was none other than Tang Jinxiao, the younger sister of the City Lord of Avarice, Tang Jingqi. Over the long years, she had been playing house, creating a court in the city and even organizing imperial examinations, acting as the Chancellor.

The City Lord Tang Jingqi was an old Golden Core ghost, but he had almost never fought anyone. This was not surprising. Among the ten cities in the south, Pu Rang was the strongest in combat. If he hadn’t brought misfortune upon himself, he would have long been a shocking Jade Purity Realm ghost cultivator. The other city lords, except for the heroic spirit of Taifu City near Lanshe Town, had not reached the Nascent Soul Realm, and none of them could be said to “have hope” of doing so. Further north, there was a Nascent Soul city lord, the hidden backer of the Summer Avoidance Matron, the powerful heroic spirit of that unyielding city, the pillar general of the former Divine Strategy Kingdom who died on the battlefield, one of his three ghost marshals, and also the owner of the Mountain Breaker Bow in the City of Avarice. He had once visited Golden Powder Lane, but after only glancing at the Mountain Breaker Arrow displayed in the shop, he had not only not directly snatched it away, but the City of Avarice wanted to return it on their own initiative, but the Golden Core ghost marshal did not accept it.

Tang Jinxiao smiled. “When he comes, tell him that I am the Mistress of Golden Powder Lane. It’s really…”