Chapter 128: Jiuyou

After Hua Changxi returned to the Medical Bureau, she only then realized it was already the fifteenth day of the sixth month, meaning she had been unconscious for seven days and seven nights; she immediately summoned Yu Gui.

"Sister Changxi, you have finally returned; where have you been these past few days?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and, instead of answering, countered: "During my absence, when I did not hold classes for the laborers, how did you explain it to them?"

Yu Gui replied: "I consulted with Eunuch Jia and the others; we agreed on a single story, claiming you were in secluded cultivation."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression relaxed slightly: "Good. Henceforth, whenever I am absent from the Laborer Hall, you shall all give that same answer."

Seeing his handling of the matter gain Hua Changxi's approval, Yu Gui's face lit with joy, and he continued: "Sister Changxi, will you often be absent from the Laborer Hall in the future?"

Hua Changxi said: "Who knows? By the way, who has been asking about me?"

Yu Gui answered: "Many people have asked—the laborers of the Laborer Hall, and those who frequently attend your lectures. Miss Mu and Young Master Chu, among a few others, even inquired several times."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "What about Lin Sheng? What has Lin Sheng been doing these past few days?"

Yu Gui replied: "Lin Sheng has been somewhat distracted lately; he went out once, but since then has remained inside Qihuang Hall Number Eight, refining his body."

Hua Changxi ordered: "Go fetch him for me."

Noticing Hua Changxi's somewhat ominous expression, Yu Gui dared not ask further and hurried off to summon the man.

Inside Qihuang Hall Number Eight, upon learning that Hua Changxi had returned, Lin Sheng's face instantly brightened with joy: "Brother Yu, you truly did not deceive me; Master has really come back?"

Yu Gui looked at him and said: "Sister Changxi wishes to see you; go to her quickly."

Lin Sheng's demeanor paused briefly: "Very well; I shall go at once."

Soon, Lin Sheng arrived at the courtyard where Hua Changxi resided; he did not enter immediately but lingered at the courtyard gate for a while before stepping inside.

Hua Changxi sat upon the stone steps, toying with the Ghost Market token; seeing Lin Sheng enter, her gaze darkened.

Lin Sheng, looking somewhat apprehensive, said: "Master, you have returned."

Hua Changxi asked: "Did you hope I would return alive?"

Lin Sheng hastily replied: "Of course I wish Master a life of peace and safety." He paused, then added: "Did Master encounter danger in the Ghost Market?"

Hua Changxi snorted coldly, looking at him: "I wish to see Eunuch Lin. If you do not bring him before me today, you need not return to my service ever again."

Lin Sheng grew anxious and wished to speak, but meeting Hua Changxi's cold gaze, he found himself unable to utter a word: "I shall go immediately to invite my godfather."

Watching his retreating figure, Hua Changxi's eyes turned exceedingly gloomy; a Fire Lotus manifested in her hand, directly scorching the Ghost Market token until it hissed loudly.

Not only had Eunuch Lin deliberately concealed the dangers of the Ghost Market from her, but the Ghost Market token he gave her had also been tampered with.

Hua Changxi was currently filled with intense fury; her trip to the Ghost Market had nearly cost her her life, and her prayer bead bracelet had been confiscated by the ghost officers of Niutou Mountain.

The loss of the prayer beads themselves was not the main issue; the critical matter was that, for convenience, she had stored the Totem Golden Alms Bowl and ten wooden tablets within the prayer beads.

Hua Changxi took a deep breath, suppressing her inner agitation; she certainly intended to return to the Ghost Market to retrieve the prayer beads, but her current understanding of the Ghost Market was far too limited to risk entering recklessly again.

As the Fire Lotus burned, the white skull on the Ghost Market token suddenly came to life; with a 'whoosh,' it flew off the token, heading straight for Hua Changxi.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi's expression changed drastically; she rapidly condensed a Fire Lotus, covering her entire body.

The surging flames of the lotus petals blocked the skull.

Unable to attach itself to Hua Changxi, the skull seemed to grow urgent; its two eye sockets blazed with black light, transforming into whirlpools that emitted a powerful suction force.

Watching the flames on the Fire Lotus petals being rapidly sucked into the skull's eye sockets, Hua Changxi trembled; she condensed another Fire Lotus, directly enveloping the skull.

Trapped within the Fire Lotus, the skull was immediately ignited, but this only set its surface ablaze without substantially burning into its interior.

Like a fireball, the skull rammed wildly within the Fire Lotus, attempting to break through the lotus petals and escape, causing the petals to vibrate continuously and scatter.

Soon, Zhu Que flew out from within the Fire Lotus; Zhu Que exhaled Zhu Que Flame, and once the skull was coated by this flame, it was no longer merely surface-ignited—the fire penetrated deep into its eye sockets, nostrils, and oral cavity.

It took more than a quarter of an hour of burning before the skull completely vanished.

Witnessing this scene, Hua Changxi's expression remained extremely grave.

"Clang~"

The Ghost Market token fell to the ground; Hua Changxi condensed another Fire Lotus to burn it. After a quarter of an hour, with no further anomalies, she stepped forward to pick it up.

At that moment, she discovered the skull on the token was still present, merely no longer as vivid and lifelike as before.

Hua Changxi reasoned that this must be the Ghost Market token's true appearance; the one Eunuch Lin had given her had been reprocessed.

Yet, she could not comprehend it; she bore no grudges against Eunuch Lin, so why would he wish to harm her?

Perhaps Eunuch Lin did not intend to harm her.

Hua Changxi recalled the moment the skull burst from the token and immediately attempted to possess her.

The skull's suction power was so immense that it clearly could not be easily reprocessed; having gone to such great lengths and taken such a circuitous route to deliver the token into her hands, it was highly probable that Eunuch Lin did not intend for her to die.

Eunuch Lin must have intended to use her; he absolutely harbored some ulterior motive behind this.

When Hua Changxi sent Lin Sheng to summon Eunuch Lin, she had intended to call him over merely to vent her anger, but now, she had changed her mind.

Since Eunuch Lin wished to use her, she would turn the tables and exploit his familiarity with the Ghost Market.

Eastern Depot.

In the steaming hot weapon-forging chamber, a tall, muscular middle-aged man stood before a furnace, wielding an iron hammer as he continuously hammered a blade.

Beside him, Eunuch Lin stood respectfully with hands hanging at his sides: "Master Lu, twelve tokens have already been distributed."

The middle-aged man, Master Lu, did not cease his hammering: "Not enough; continue distributing them. At least eighteen must be sent out."

Eunuch Lin respectfully replied: "This slave obeys your command."

Only then did Master Lu lower his iron hammer, a trace of worry appearing on his face: "The recent chaos at Gen Gate means the other checkpoints of Jiuyou will surely tighten security; let us hope this does not hinder our plans."

Upon hearing of the chaos at Gen Gate, Eunuch Lin's expression shifted.

Seeing this, Master Lu asked: "What is wrong?"

Eunuch Lin hurriedly recounted the matter of Hua Changxi going to Jiuyou.

Master Lu said: "Is that the female laborer from the Medical Bureau who healed the injured cultivators of the Eastern Depot?"

Eunuch Lin nodded: "Yes, that is the one. Lin Sheng sent word back saying she has not been to the Medical Bureau for several days; could it be that she encountered the chaos at Gen Gate and perished in Jiuyou?"

Master Lu frowned: "Among the batch of cultivators injured at the Eastern Depot previously, the highest cultivation realm reached was the late Qi Sea stage. The fact that she could heal them indicates her own cultivation is either also at the late Qi Sea stage or above it. If such an excellent vessel has died, it would be a tremendous pity."

Although the revival of spiritual energy began long ago, most cultivation resources remain in the hands of the imperial family, the nobility, and various major powers; thus, most cultivators above the Qi Sea realm who have recently emerged were trained by these factions.

Cultivators backed by major powers know much and are not easily deceived, yet their objectives cannot be revealed to outsiders, forcing them to seek out those wild-path cultivators instead.

However, wild-path cultivators, lacking cultivation resources, cannot improve their cultivation bases, rendering their utility limited.

Eunuch Lin also felt some regret: "Who could have known she was so unlucky as to go straight to Gen Gate?"

He had already planned that once Lin Sheng and Hua Changxi became somewhat familiar, he would slowly reveal matters concerning the Nine Netherworlds to her, thereby naturally becoming her guide into that realm.

Who would have expected Hua Changxi to be so impatient that, the very day after receiving the Ghost Market token, she rushed off to the Nine Netherworlds?

He had never seen anyone so eager to seek their own death.

Just then, Master Lu's apprentice, Lu Wang, entered: "Eunuch Lin, Lin Sheng has arrived."

Eunuch Lin looked surprised: "Why has he come at this hour? Did Lin Sheng say what he wanted from me?"

Lu Wang replied: "Lin Sheng said his master has returned."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin's expression brightened; he immediately turned to Master Lu and said joyfully, "Master Lu, Hua Changxi is not dead."

Master Lu narrowed his eyes slightly: "The Demon-Suppressing Army has secured Gen Gate Bridge, but the Nether Crone's chosen representative has not yet been decided, so the bridge is currently closed to traffic; how did that female laborer exit the Nine Netherworlds?"

Eunuch Lin suggested: "Perhaps she exited through another checkpoint?"

Master Lu looked at him: "Let alone that this female laborer was descending into the Nine Netherworlds for the first time; even if she were already familiar with it, attempting to cross from one checkpoint to another is a venture with nine chances of death and one of survival. I once made such a crossing and nearly lost my life; if she truly managed to traverse the checkpoints, her cultivation base must absolutely surpass mine."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin hastily said: "This servant was merely guessing blindly; perhaps she was frightened back on the very day she first descended, and Lin Sheng simply does not know of it."

Master Lu said: "...Regardless, since that female laborer is still alive, it proves she possesses some measure of fortune; go quickly and see her, investigate exactly what is going on."

After agreeing, Eunuch Lin hurried out of the artifact refining room to meet Lin Sheng.

Watching Eunuch Lin depart, Master Lu's expression did not improve; seeing this, Lu Wang asked: "Master, are you worried that the Ghost Market token cannot be delivered?"

Master Lu shook his head: "Time waits for no one; I fear we will fall behind others."

Lu Wang asked: "How could that be? We were the first to discover the secrets of Soul-Breaking Mountain."

Master Lu looked at his apprentice: "That is merely what we believe; in fact, several families at the Blacksmith Workshop have never lost their artifact-refining inheritances, and they may know even more than we do."

Saying this, he sighed again.

"These are not even what worries me most; what I fear most are those individuals born in response to destiny; even if we wished to snatch their opportunities, we could not compete with them."

Lu Wang asked: "Master, do 'Children of Fortune' truly exist in this world?"

Master Lu himself did not know for certain: "Perhaps; did not a Hall of Lingguang appear in Nanxiang County? It is said that Prince Fu went there in person, yet the hall still fell into another's hands."

"Those daring to contend with the imperial family, even if they are not Children of Fortune, are disruptors capable of stirring great trends."

Master Lu looked at his apprentice: "Tell our people below to hurry; we must deliver the Ghost Market token immediately, for if we delay too long, unforeseen changes may occur."

Lu Wang replied: "Yes."

Meanwhile, Eunuch Lin followed Lin Sheng to the Medical Bureau.

Along the way, Lin Sheng told Eunuch Lin: "Godfather, my master appears very angry; when you meet her shortly, I fear you will suffer some grievance."

Eunuch Lin did not believe Hua Changxi would dare do anything to him; not that he cared, but he asked again: "Are you certain Hua Changxi only returned to the Medical Bureau today?"

Lin Sheng nodded affirmatively: "Certain; although Yu Gui, Eunuch Jia, and the others claim my master is in closed-door cultivation, I know they are lying."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin's expression grew grave; if Hua Changxi had only returned today and Gen Gate Pass remained closed, then she must have returned through another checkpoint; if so, could her cultivation base truly surpass Master Lu's?

Master Lu is a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator!

Lin Sheng looked at Eunuch Lin: "Godfather, I feel my master is not someone who can be easily fooled; I am truly worried about you..."

Eunuch Lin glanced at the worried Lin Sheng and patted his shoulder: "Rest assured, Godfather will be fine."

The worry in Lin Sheng's eyes did not diminish; his master's return today, her attitude, and the expression she revealed all made him feel somewhat afraid.

Just then, they arrived at Hua Changxi's courtyard.

Lin Sheng stepped forward first and knocked on the door; soon, the door opened of its own accord without any wind; seeing this, Lin Sheng led Eunuch Lin into the courtyard.

The moment the two entered, the door immediately shut behind them.

Eunuch Lin paused briefly in his demeanor but remained relatively calm; smiling, he walked to the center of the courtyard, and just as he was about to call out Hua Changxi's name, a silver-white iron whip cracked loudly, striking him heavily.

"Ah~"

Eunuch Lin was knocked straight to the ground, the agonizing pain assaulting his soul twisting his features into distortion.

Lin Sheng had not expected Hua Changxi to attack without saying a single word; he immediately stepped in front of Eunuch Lin to shield him.

Hua Changxi walked out from the house; seeing Lin Sheng act thus, she mercilessly lashed him with her whip as well, knocking him straight to the ground.

"Does this taste of pain so unbearable it makes one wish for death feel good?"

Hua Changxi looked at the two lying prone on the ground, their faces pale from agony, then released a surge of spiritual energy to lift them up, watching them with a smile.

"Eunuch Lin, speaking of which, I really must thank you; had I not gone to the Ghost Market, I would never have known that this pain so unbearable it makes one wish for death is so difficult to endure."

"I thought, since you gave me the Ghost Market token, and now that I have experienced this sensation, I should invite you both to experience it as well; you wouldn't hold it against me, would you?"

Looking at the smiling Hua Changxi, Eunuch Lin suddenly felt a chill run down his spine; recalling Master Lu's instructions, he endured the pain and forced himself to ask: "Manager Hua, why do you attack the moment we meet? What is this all about?"

Seeing his reaction, Hua Changxi became even more convinced they had given her the Ghost Market token for some ulterior motive; she smiled and said: "Eunuch Lin, I am very curious; why did you not warn me that the Ghost Market is dangerous? Did you intend for me to die there?"

Hearing this, Eunuch Lin immediately put on an aggrieved expression: "You never asked me about the Ghost Market?"

Hua Changxi knew he would say exactly that: "It was my first time visiting the Ghost Market; if you truly wished to build goodwill, how could you not offer me a few words of warning?"

Eunuch Lin explained indignantly: "In interactions between cultivators, both parties maintain a certain distance; I thought that once we became gradually more familiar, I would then inform you of the Ghost Market's situation; who could have known you would rush there so urgently?"

Hua Changxi waved her hand, summoning two chairs from inside the house for them to sit: "Eunuch Lin, surely we are familiar enough now; tell me about the situation at the Ghost Market."

Eunuch Lin looked at Hua Changxi in surprise: "Has Manager Hua not already visited the Ghost Market?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "I did go, but I returned the same day; I am a timid person and do not easily venture into anything unknown."

Eunuch Lin's expression shifted slightly: "Then where was Manager Hua during those few days?"

Hua Changxi glanced at Lin Sheng: "Eunuch Lin seems very concerned about my whereabouts?"

Eunuch Lin said: "...Lin Sheng was worried for your safety; seeing you had not returned for so long, he came to find me, hoping I would go to the Ghost Market to rescue you; that was how I learned Manager Hua had gone there."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Did Eunuch Lin ever consider going to the Ghost Market to save me?"

Eunuch Lin stated with absolute certainty: "You are Lin Sheng's master; if something happened to you, how could this old one sit idly by? Of course, I intended to save you. However, by the time I reached the Ghost Market, the Demon-Suppressing Army had already sealed off Kunmen Pass, making it impossible for us to enter."

Hua Changxi's eyes flashed: "Kunmen Pass? Are there many checkpoints in the Ghost Market? And why would the Demon-Suppressing Army seal off Kunmen Pass?"

Eunuch Lin observed Hua Changxi's expression. Seeing she knew nothing about the Nine Netherworlds, he felt relieved. It seemed she had not returned through any other checkpoint; she must truly have gone that day and been scared back immediately, just as she claimed.

"The Ghost Market is merely a name cultivators use for a trading bazaar. Because it is located in the Nine Netherworlds, which gather countless wandering spirits and lonely ghosts, it was named the Ghost Market."

Hua Changxi's demeanor brightened: "The Nine Netherworlds?" She paused, then immediately asked, "Do the Nine Netherworlds constitute a separate realm?"

Eunuch Lin was stumped by the question. While he knew slightly more about the Nine Netherworlds than Hua Changxi, he was ignorant of their origins and full history.

"This old one does not know that."

Hua Changxi said: "Then explain this Nine Netherworlds you speak of."

Eunuch Lin replied: "The Nine Netherworlds have nine checkpoints: Qianmen, Kunmen, Zhenmen, Genmen, Limen, Kanmen, Duimen, Xunmen, and Zhongmen. A Ghost Market is established at each of these passes."

"These nine checkpoints are interconnected by the River of Souls. Cultivators descending into the Nine Netherworlds can only enter the Ghost Market by crossing the wooden bridges over the River of Souls."

"Beside the wooden bridges stand the Soul Grandmothers, who are responsible for serving Sealing Spirit Soup to cultivators entering and exiting."

"As long as one abides by the rules of the Ghost Market, cultivators are quite safe. Otherwise, so many cultivators would not go there to trade."