If one calculated based on three thousand Wish Power Beads, then the price of dining on the third floor was nothing short of astronomical—a true sky-high price. A simple decorative dish cost a full three thousand Wish Power Beads. Just how many Eternal Coins could that forge? A single white Wish Power Bead could be refined into a hundred Eternal Coins. Three thousand meant three hundred thousand Eternal Coins. What kind of madness was this? A single dish of food sold for a fortune—utterly incredible.
Even someone as composed as Yi Tianxing couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
Expensive. This wasn't just regular expensive—it was absurd.
"I don't have Wish Power Beads,"Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and pulled out some Eternal Coins. "But, waiter, see if these can be used instead."
Paying with Wish Power Beads would be a complete loss—the cost-benefit ratio was completely off. Eternal Coins could be infinitely recycled, recharged, and reprocessed. But Wish Power Beads were non-renewable—once spent, they were gone forever. Only a fool wouldn't know which currency to use. Using Eternal Coins meant profit; using Wish Power Beads was a loss.
He would never use Wish Power Beads unless absolutely necessary.
Trading with them was a huge waste.
"Eternal Coins!!"
The little waiter—the Witty Ghost—visibly reacted, his tone laced with surprise. He clearly recognized this currency.
Eternal Coins were the most premium form of currency on the Eternal Continent—refined and valuable. Over the years, they had become not only the official currency of the Great Yi Dynasty, but also used in transactions with foreign races. Eternal Coins had spread far and wide. Many of these races, after obtaining them, would rather use them for trade than for cultivation.
And so Eternal Coins had steadily circulated across surrounding regions.
Yi Tianxing wasn't the first to use them in Ghost Market, and certainly wouldn't be the last.
"Eternal Coins are definitely accepted. They're a favorite here in Ghost Market. The coin shares the name with the Eternal Continent itself—it's a naturally advantageous currency. However, the exchange rate is ten to one: ten Eternal Coins for one Wish Power Bead. If you're willing, you can use Eternal Coins anytime in our inn."
The Witty Ghost quickly explained.
This rate wasn't just the policy of Yin-Yang Inn, but also the standard rate throughout the Ghost Market.
"Ten to one? Fine!!"
Yi Tianxing nodded after brief thought.
This ratio—when compared to the actual one-hundred-to-one cost of forging Eternal Coins from Wish Power Beads—was a huge gain for him. Of course, only Yi Tianxing himself knew the true forging ratio. Others had no idea. By controlling the source, he held all the advantage.
Naturally, it brought him significant benefit.
The Snake Empress said nothing. As the sovereign of the Great Yi Dynasty, Yi Tianxing lacked nothing—least of all Eternal Coins.
"Very well. I'll have the Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, Eight Immortals' Bird's Nest Soup, and Twenty-Four Bridges Under Moonlight,"Yi Tianxing ordered three dishes, then handed the menu to the Snake Empress. "You choose a few too."
This was a rare opportunity. Who knew when they might return?
"Seven Stars Accompany the Moon, and Mandarin Duck Five-Treasure Sashimi,"the Snake Empress didn't hold back, selecting two elegant dishes from the menu.
"Excellent! I'll go place your orders right away. Please wait a moment—your delicacies will be here soon!"
The Witty Ghost grinned. These were major customers. Some of their choices ranked among the top-priced dishes. No matter what, this was a big win. Naturally, he was delighted.
Just then, from a nearby private booth, a man in black fitted clothes, wearing a cloak, and with a black short spear strapped to his leg, stood up. He had a hint of mischief about him and calmly walked toward their booth.
This sudden action made Yi Tianxing and the Snake Empress raise their eyes.
But they didn't speak, merely watched in silence, curious about what this man would do.
"Excuse me, may I sit here?"the man in black asked.
"Looks like you already have,"Yi Tianxing replied evenly. "Then may I ask if I can invite you to leave?"
"Haha, just messing around. Let's introduce ourselves—I'm Zhao Li. It's rare to meet such intriguing people. Thought I'd come chat a bit."Zhao Li looked at Yi Tianxing with interest. "Your eyes… are quite special."
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Yi Tianxing's eyes, as if he could see something hidden within them.
"Zhao Li?"Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed with interest. "My eyes… I was born with them."
"Of course they are. But you should be careful. If others find out, some will lose their minds over it."Zhao Li chuckled.
"And among those people, would you be one of them, Soul Ferryman Zhao Li?"Yi Tianxing said calmly.
"Definitely not. I wouldn't dare covet your eyes. I'm a ghost warden. If I crossed the line, my superiors wouldn't let it slide. I'm here just to chat... and maybe do a little business."
Zhao Li smiled casually.
"What business?"
Yi Tianxing was intrigued.
"The Heavenly Dao Seal is failing—loosening. So many demons and ghosts once sealed away are now loose. Most demons are manageable, but the malevolent spirits and ghosts—those are our department. Problem is, we can't easily intervene in the mortal world right now. But you… your eyes are the bane of most evil spirits. If you agree to become a Ghost Warden for the Living, you'll earn a salary and even acquire merit. Interested?"
Zhao Li made his offer with a smile.
Yi Tianxing's Innate Yin-Yang Eyes were a natural counter to most ghostly beings. If he accepted, he could suppress malevolent spirits, relieving the pressure on the underworld. Plus, he'd earn merit—truly a rare opportunity.
"No. I refuse."
Yi Tianxing shook his head.
Becoming a Ghost Warden of the underworld? What a joke. He was the ruler of the Great Yi Dynasty, the master of a national fortune. How could he submit to another? That would shatter his destiny as an emperor.
An emperor who walks the path of a fortune dynasty cannot afford to serve beneath anyone.
Such a move would crack his very fate.
Being a ghost warden? Did Zhao Li think he was a fool?
Of course, this was only because Zhao Li didn't know Yi Tianxing's true identity. Otherwise, he would never have made such a suggestion.
Zhao Li clearly hadn't expected a refusal. Becoming a ghost warden was considered a dream job. The benefits were tremendous, and it offered access to immense resources to quickly grow in power.
"Fine. If you're not interested, so be it. Since you're obviously wealthy enough to dine on the third floor, I've got a treasure—let's see if you're interested."
Zhao Li didn't insist. There were plenty of people willing to become ghost wardens. The position was always highly sought after.
"Oh? What kind of treasure? Let's hear it."
Yi Tianxing's curiosity was piqued.
"Heh, take a look."
Zhao Li didn't explain further. He pulled out a jade box.
There were interwoven runes on the box—clearly a form of seal.
With a wave, he opened it.
Inside the box was a milky white liquid, radiating dense spiritual energy. Floating in the liquid was an oval-shaped fleshy mass, gently pulsing—as if it were alive, beating like a heart.
"Millennium Stalactite… Taisui!!"
The moment he saw it, Yi Tianxing couldn't help but exclaim softly.
His eyes gleamed with light.
"That's right. Taisui—Meat Ganoderma. But this one is special. It formed when a meteor crashed from the heavens. It was born on the meteor, making it far more miraculous than an ordinary Taisui."
Zhao Li explained slowly.
Taisui, also known as Meat Ganoderma, was recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen under the vegetable section as a type of spiritual mushroom, edible and medicinal, listed among the "supreme grade" items. Its effects included: prolonged consumption leads to lightness of body, delayed aging, and even longevity.
As per the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica:
"Meat Ganoderma, non-toxic. Nourishes the center, replenishes vital essence, increases wisdom, treats chest stagnation. Prolonged use grants longevity and youth."
It also appeared in Classic of Mountains and Seas under various names such as "Living Flesh," "Congealed Flesh," "Taisui," and "Sealed." In ancient times, it was considered an imperial delicacy.
Taisui was exceedingly rare—among the highest grade of medicinal substances. It was said to have a neutral nature, bitter flavor, and was non-toxic. It replenished the spleen, moistened the lungs, and nourished the kidneys and liver.
Taoist alchemist Ge Hong mentioned in his Baopuzi that consuming powdered or liquefied Ganoderma varieties could grant immortality.
In short, Taisui was steeped in legend and mystery.
This particular specimen was even more extraordinary. It had a flesh-like hue, appearing as though it were made of living meat, pulsing like a beating heart—utterly unique.