"One hour of ghost lifespan is worth one hell coin," Song Huaihua explained. "You must be newly deceased? You should still have plenty of ghost lifespan, and this is when you'll need to spend the most. I recommend buying a third-grade ingot—it's portable, and 100,000 hell coins should be enough to settle you in Fengdu City."
"But it costs 10,000 hell coins… I only have a little over 200 years of ghost lifespan…" The flat-headed ghost hesitated.
Even without seeing his expression clearly, Song Miaozhu could tell he was reluctant to spend so much.
"I think a first- or second-grade ingot would suit you better," she suggested smoothly. "We have plenty of those in stock. You can buy one or two, fill them with ghost lifespan to use as hell coins, and come back for more when you run out. It's always better to keep your ghost lifespan under your own control."
Then, she shook her head at her great-grandmother and whispered (loudly enough for the ghost to hear),
"Great-Grandma, we don't have many third-grade ingots left. Once they're gone, they're gone! You're about to reincarnate, and who knows how long it'll take me to learn how to make them? We should keep a few as the shop's treasures!"
The flat-headed ghost immediately felt like he'd miss out if he didn't buy now.
"If the shopkeeper wants to keep them, they must be the best!"
Without further hesitation, he placed his hand on the third-grade ingot sample. "I'll take this one!"
"Huh?" Song Miaozhu frowned disapprovingly. "This denomination is too large. It'll take over twenty years of ghost lifespan just to fill it!"
Hearing that it only required twenty years to fully charge, the ghost became even more determined. "I want this one."
After several rounds of persuasion, Song Miaozhu finally sighed, looking as if she were making a huge sacrifice. "Fine, this one then. That'll be 10,000 hell coins."
"The money my family burned for me is too bulky to carry, so I absorbed it all as ghost lifespan. How do I pay if I don't have hell coins?" the ghost asked.
"If you buy a second-grade ingot as well, we'll throw in a first-grade ingot for free. Then you'll have something to pay with," Song Miaozhu offered.
"That sounds perfect!" the ghost said happily.
So she handed him all three ingots and announced, "Your total is 11,000 hell coins."
The ghost filled all three ingots with his ghost lifespan, then realized—the first- and second-grade ones combined were exactly 11,000 hell coins. Hesitantly, he placed them back on the counter.
Song Miaozhu collected the ingots, her expression even more pained than his. "Thank you for your patronage. Please come again!"
The flat-headed ghost left Anshou Hall in confusion, unable to shake the feeling that something was off—but he couldn't pinpoint what.
"Could I have been scammed? No, the shopkeeper looked like she was the one losing out! Maybe it's just because my head got flattened by a tire…"
As the brass bell chimed and the ghost exited, Song Miaozhu's mournful expression vanished instantly. A slow clap came from behind her. She turned to see her great-grandmother.
"Seems I don't have to worry about you running this shop poorly," Song Huaihua said, eyes gleaming with approval.
"Great-Grandma, I gave away a first-grade ingot to sell a second-grade one. Was that a bad move?" Song Miaozhu asked.
Song Huaihua shook her head. "Normally, we'd give ghosts like him—ones without hell coins—a money mold to pay with. For a third-grade purchase, we'd give a second-grade one. But you went further and gave a first-grade one, making this sale more profitable than usual."
Relieved, Song Miaozhu grinned. "Great-Grandma, if I put these ingots in the treasure bowl, will they convert to RMB?"
"Yes, but don't rush that yet." Song Huaihua guided her to the chair behind the counter, then pressed a jade tablet to her forehead.
A sudden pressure filled Song Miaozhu's mind—a book had been imprinted into her consciousness.
"This is our Song family's ancestral papercraft art—likely the most complete surviving tradition from the last spiritual tide. Even back then, it wasn't considered extraordinary, but in this era, it's priceless. It may not be useful in the coming spiritual tide, but it aligns perfectly with netherworld laws. At the very least, you'll have skills for the afterlife. Study it well."
Song Miaozhu nodded. "Great-Grandma, what is the spiritual tide?"
"It's no secret in the underworld. Earlier, I said ghosts would linger longer in the living world—that's because of the spiritual tide. Spiritual energy (Reiki) is the essence of heaven and earth. When concentrated, it grants immense power. The greatest cultivators can even achieve immortality.
In the living world, spiritual energy surges in cycles.
First comes the testing phase—Spiritual Energy Revival (Reiki Revival)—which never lasts long.
Then comes the spiritual energy tide, where energy erupts most intensely. This is when immortality is most attainable.
After the tide ends, spiritual energy is consumed by all living things and gradually dwindles, ushering in the Dharma Ending Era, when it's nearly nonexistent. The living world is now at the tail end of that era. In a few days, months, or years, the revival will begin.
In the underworld, wealth and ghost lifespan can grant a form of longevity, but it's restrictive. True freedom lies in becoming an immortal in the living world. So capable and ambitious ghosts are all scrambling to reincarnate and catch this once-in-an-era event.
I've already sent your parents off. After today, I'll be going too. No one knows what the rules for cultivation will be this time. I just hope this little ghost shop can help you live better in the world of the living."
Her great-grandmother's heartfelt speech hit Song Miaozhu like a thunderbolt.
Spiritual energy tide, cultivation, immortality—each one sounded like something out of a fantasy.
But then again, before today, ghosts and the underworld were just as much fantasy to her.
That thought calmed her down.
The revival hadn't even begun, let alone the tide. And since no one knew the new rules, everyone would start on equal footing.
Her goal remained the same: Run the shop well.
Even if she couldn't compete in the spiritual tide, she could still amass hell coins for a luxurious afterlife. At its core, it all came down to making money—just switching currencies from yuan to hell coins.
And hell coins were better—exchangeable for living-world cash, convertible to ghost lifespan, and usable as ghostly nourishment.
Just as she was about to discuss importing living-world goods to the underworld, Song Huaihua stood.
"Time's up. I must go to the magistrate's office to finalize my reincarnation."