Qingyang was utterly confused. He had no idea what Wang Yu was talking about.
"Let me think. I'll need your help with something soon."
Hearing this, Qingyang could only hold back his questions and wait for Wang Yu to finish planning.
Whether or not He Valley Master had truly planted the demonic seed in Luo Chen, Wang Yu needed to act now. Ideally, he'd turn the tables and make Jinlin choke on his own scheme.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
After a long moment, Wang Yu had a plan. He really only had two options:
One—turn hostile and kill He Valley Master, ending the plan immediately.
Two—play along, pretend ignorance, and let Jinlin's scheme unfold… only to strike at the critical moment.
The key was timing—he had to anticipate when Master Tianshui would arrive.
It would be after three months, when Wang Yu was away from Spiritridge.
Once he'd thought it through, Wang Yu explained the plan to Qingyang, who listened in stunned silence.
"So that's what you were thinking about earlier…"
"No choice. The tall tree catches the wind. And this is Jin Miaoshan's mess. Spiritridge is just collateral damage. I'll be billing her for it."
"Hah…"
Qingyang gave an awkward laugh and went off to make preparations.
The Yanluo Ghost Market was a must.
A Nascent Soul-tier auction—even if he didn't buy anything, it would be an eye-opening experience. And Wang Yu did have rare items he desired. He couldn't miss this chance.
Spiritridge had many cultivators. The City Lord's forces numbered over two thousand. But they couldn't act prematurely and alert the enemy.
So Qingyang took the command token and quietly notified the most trusted commanders.
When the time came, they'd be ready.
With that settled, Wang Yu resumed his usual routine, as if nothing had happened.
Three months passed.
The Yanluo Ghost Market auction was about to begin.
—
Southwest of Spiritridge, beyond 3,000 li of reed marshes, lay the Ghost Market.
Five black mountains encircled the area. No trees, no stone—just black, sandy soil, soft and cold as the underworld. Black winds howled. Wailing spirits echoed.
A true ghostly realm.
In truth, it was the result of a powerful formation. Demonic cultivators weren't picky, but no one liked living in a cursed wasteland. That was human nature.
The formation was laid by Yanluo and Yanfeng, a pair of Nascent Soul cultivators.
The surrounding region was a no-man's-land. Neither the Blood Reversal Sect nor Yellow Spring Temple claimed it—out of respect for the couple.
But since the Dead Silence Desert was nearby, Yellow Spring Temple had closer ties to the market.
The five black mountains formed the core of the Ghost Market.
It only manifested at midnight each night—another effect of the formation.
As planned—
Wang Yu and Qingyang arrived in secret, led by the head of the Purplegold Chamber of Commerce.
"City Lord, since it's your first time here, I'll have someone show you around. When the auction begins, I'll come find you."
Wang Yu nodded and gave Qingyang a glance before stepping into what looked like a barren wasteland.
After three steps, the world changed.
The Ghost Market revealed its true face.
Everyone wore black robes and ghost masks. Mist swirled. Even Wang Yu's tier-three divine sense couldn't pierce the disguises.
Another marvel of the formation.
Without such powerful concealment, the Ghost Market wouldn't have survived on the border of two great sects.
Even Qi Refining cultivators could enter. As for leaving—that depended on one's skill. If all else failed, one could settle in the market.
For outsiders, lodging was expensive. But if you were being hunted with nowhere to run, selling yourself to the market was an option.
While Wang Yu explored, Qingyang followed the Purplegold Chamber's people to Spiritridge's outpost in the market.
Yes—Spiritridge had a base here. Proximity and sect backing made it easy to negotiate. Just pay the spirit stones.
They weren't the only ones. Many cities had shops here.
After Wang Yu left, Qingyang studied the Chamber's leader carefully. After learning of Jinlin's plot to use the City Lord's Manor to destroy Jin Miaoshan, this man was added to the blacklist.
The Chamber had entered Spiritridge after Wang Yu's bloody purge of the City Lord's Manor. They weren't founded by him—they came from outside. Their cooperation had always been smooth.
At first, Wang Yu only suspected them.
But think about it—a Foundation cultivator running a chamber that could consistently procure tier-three treasures without issue?
Such a person could thrive anywhere. Why serve Wang Yu?
After suspecting He Valley Master, Wang Yu began to doubt the Chamber too. The leader's final words before entering the market confirmed it.
Qingyang refused to leave his side.
"Daoist Qingyang, we both serve the City Lord. I've prepared a small gift—perhaps you'll find a bargain at the auction."
"Heh—Brother Luo is thoughtful. I'll accept it. But let's head to the Spiritridge outpost first."
"Of course, of course."
Seeing he couldn't shake Qingyang, Luo Huzhou secretly activated a jade button in his sleeve—signaling that the plan was proceeding. But he couldn't speak or send a message.
He could only lead Qingyang to the outpost.
—
Inside the Ghost Market—
Seventy-two streets. Over ten thousand cultivators. Ghost slaves and wandering spirits filled the skies.
The streets were eerie, lit by green ghostfire.
Wang Yu strolled through, wide-eyed. Shops were run by nearby powers. Many had side services. Street stalls were run by rogue cultivators or disciples selling loot.
Unlike proper markets, many sellers didn't even know what they were selling.
So bargains were common. But there were tricks to finding them.
As the saying goes: "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand li."
Wang Yu had read many ancient tomes—but lacked field experience. His days holed up in Spiritridge hadn't helped.
"Fellow Daoist, how much for this?"
"Ghost Beard Mushroom. Four thousand spirit stones."
The exchange caught Wang Yu's attention. He stepped closer and chuckled.
"Boss, that's not Ghost Beard Mushroom."
The buyer froze mid-payment.
The stall owner scowled.
"What's it to you? You say it's not, so it's not? Don't ruin my sale!"
"Relax~"
Wang Yu picked up the mushroom and sniffed.
"This is Nightcurse Toadstool, a rare tier-two poison. It can kill Foundation cultivators. At this rarity, four thousand is too cheap. I'd say thirty thousand is fair."
Now the buyer was stunned. He'd thought it was a bargain—turns out he almost got scammed.
The stall owner was speechless. He hadn't expected Wang Yu to help him avoid a loss. His tone changed immediately.
"Friend, your knowledge is impressive. I was mistaken. Please forgive my rudeness."
He bowed to Wang Yu, then turned to the buyer.
"Hahaha~ I nearly sold this treasure for a pittance. Still interested? Thirty thousand spirit stones, as this friend suggests."
"Uh… I'll pass."
Wang Yu grinned and stepped forward.
"If he won't take it, I will. I need this for poison refining."
"Of course! Thirty thousand?"
"Gladly."
He paid without hesitation and took the Nightcurse Toadstool.
It was indeed genuine—black cap with green speckles, white stalk with yellow-tipped dots. Highly toxic. Rare.
But Wang Yu hadn't spoken up just to help.
First, he thought the buyer recognized it and was trying to trick the seller. Turns out it was just a misunderstanding.
Second, the mushroom's true value wasn't in its poison—but in a rare insect that laid eggs on it.
The mushroom was rare enough—likely only found in the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest. But the insect was even rarer.
It was non-toxic—but fed on poison.
Its name: Immaculate Jade Toad.
Despite the name, it resembled a small toad—no larger than a palm. Its sole ability: devouring poison.
By consuming countless toxins, it grew stronger. Once matured, a cultivator who refined it could gain immunity to all poisons.
If another rare insect devoured it, it could evolve—transcending its bloodline.
Wang Yu had read about it in the sect's Scripture Hall.
It ranked 62nd on the Ancient Strange Insect Registry, which listed 99 entries. Who compiled it, and by what criteria—no one knew.
From his earlier observation, Wang Yu was certain:
One of the white dots on the mushroom's stalk was an Immaculate Jade Toad egg—slender, white, with a yellow speck.
To find such a treasure on his first day—Wang Yu was thrilled.
It made him even more eager for the auction.
He wandered a few more streets, but found nothing else. His alchemy knowledge made him sharp with herbs and fruits—but less so with other items.
That was normal.
Once the initial excitement wore off, boredom crept in. No one on the streets mentioned the Nascent Soul-tier auction—likely because they lacked the status.
But the crowd was growing.
—
Qingyang's expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"I sealed Luo Huzhou inside a scroll painting. Just in case they have a method to detect whether he's alive."
"Smart move," Wang Yu nodded. "Let's head to the auction."
"Let's."
The two walked side by side, blending into the crowd of masked cultivators as they made their way toward the heart of the Ghost Market.
The auction venue was hidden beneath the central black mountain. At midnight, the formation activated fully, revealing a vast subterranean hall carved from obsidian and bone.
The air was thick with spiritual pressure.
Dozens of masked cultivators had already gathered, each seated in a shadowed alcove. No names, no sects—only silent anticipation.
At the center stood a raised platform, flanked by two thrones.
Moments later, two figures emerged—one male, one female—both exuding the unmistakable aura of Nascent Soul cultivators.
Yanluo and Yanfeng, the ghostly couple who ruled this market.
Their robes shimmered with soul patterns. Their eyes glowed faintly with yin light.
Yanluo raised a hand. The hall fell silent.
"Welcome, honored guests. Tonight's auction will feature twenty-seven items. All rare. All dangerous. All real."
Yanfeng continued, her voice like drifting mist.
"Rules are simple. No names. No sects. No questions. Bid with spirit stones, artifacts, or equivalent value. If you win, you pay. If you lose, you leave."
The crowd nodded.
Wang Yu leaned slightly toward Qingyang.
"Let's see what kind of monsters crawl out of the shadows tonight."
Qingyang's lips curled.
"I'm hoping for something venomous."
Wang Yu chuckled softly, his thoughts drifting back to the Immaculate Jade Toad egg nestled in his storage pouch.
If tonight's auction offered anything even half as rare, it would be worth every risk.
(End of Chapter)