Steward Wu

Ghost Ridge Palace, Command Hall.

Su Jie and the other two entered the mountain gate and went straight to the Command Hall for task handover.

This was a hundred-meter-tall tower, with black smoke swirling around its peak, like a dark behemoth swallowing clouds and spitting mist.

A plaque carved with blood hung at the entrance of the tower, bearing the three characters "Command Hall." The fresh blood on the plaque seemed to be continuously flowing.

"You two watch the goods here. I'll go in to complete the task."

Su Jie instructed Gu Weinan and Chen Yun, then walked into the Command Hall.

Upon entering, it was a deep and dark great hall, with the temperature dropping several degrees.

There were very few disciples in the hall. Besides those at the counter handling task handovers and assignments, ordinary disciples wouldn't wander around here for no reason.

Su Jie walked up to a counter.

"What is it?"

Behind the counter, a man in a black uniform, about thirty years old, looked over.

This was Steward Wu of the Command Hall. Su Jie had been here before. His cultivation was only at the third level of the Spirit Nurturing Realm, but one shouldn't underestimate him.

The Command Hall was specifically responsible for the task allocation of Ghost Ridge Palace's inner and outer disciples. Those who became stewards here might not have strong strength, but they were definitely trusted confidants of the Sect Master.

For example, the Steward Wu before him had no distant blood relation to the Sect Master of Ghost Ridge Palace.

"Outer disciple Su Jie, here to submit my rest mission."

Su Jie handed over his mission token and the letter of approval for returning to rest.

Steward Wu took them, then looked through the archives and said faintly:

"Why did so many of you die?"

"Attacked by Strange Ghosts. Out of twelve, only the three of us survived. We were lucky."

Su Jie reported truthfully. All evidence and traces of the crime had been eliminated. Moreover, since they were only outer disciples, the Command Hall wouldn't go to great lengths to investigate for outer disciples.

As expected, Steward Wu didn't have any doubts.

After a brief check, he had Su Jie and the other two press their handprints, confirming the task handover.

"By the way, did you kill any Strange Ghosts?"

As if remembering something, Steward Wu asked.

"Yes, we brought back the bodies of the Strange Ghosts."

Su Jie nodded. This couldn't be hidden anyway; the bodies were meant to be sold.

"Have you found a buyer? I do know a few good merchants who offer fair prices."

Steward Wu immediately became enthusiastic, his attitude changing 180 degrees.

"Thank you for your concern, Steward Wu. We were just about to head to the Black Market for bidding. If it's convenient for you, could you lead the way and act as a notary for us?"

Su Jie said smoothly. These stewards stationed at the Command Hall were well-informed and knew many people, and they liked to get involved in business.

For ordinary outer disciples, when making large transactions, they would also ask a steward to act as a notary to ensure the normal progress of the transaction between both parties.

While speaking, Su Jie took out a few Blood Marrow Crystals from his pocket and handed them over: "Steward Wu, this is for your tea."

Steward Wu quickly put the Blood Marrow Crystals into his sleeve and said with a smile: "No problem, no problem. The price of Strange Ghosts in the Black Market has gone up again. One head is at least six hundred and fifty Blood Marrow Crystals. Don't sell it cheap. I know many merchants in the Black Market, and I definitely won't let you suffer a loss."

Steward Wu made a solemn promise and then got up to leave his post.

The other stewards pretended not to see anything. After all, they were all on the same side; slacking off a little was nothing.

The two of them walked out of the Command Hall together and soon met up with Chen Yun and Gu Weinan, who were watching the goods outside.

"This is Steward Wu from the Command Hall. These are the Fellow Daoist Gu Weinan and Fellow Daoist Chen Yun I mentioned earlier."

Su Jie introduced them to each other.

"My name is Wu Bin. No need to be so polite. Fellow Daoist Su, let's first check the condition of the bodies. The prices of Strange Ghost bodies of different sizes have slight differences."

Wu Bin's gaze fell on the flatbed cart guarded by Gu Weinan and Chen Yun. "Are they on top?"

Su Jie gave a look. Chen Yun stepped forward, grabbed the covering tarp, and lifted a corner, revealing the true appearance of the Strange Ghosts inside.

"You've come at a good time. In the past, a Strange Ghost was worth only about three hundred Blood Marrow Crystals. The price has only recently skyrocketed. It's already not easy for you to hunt one. It's best to seize the opportunity..."

Wu Bin was still lecturing, but his words suddenly got stuck. His eyes widened, and he stared in shock at the three Strange Ghost corpses piled on the flatbed cart.

It wasn't one as he had expected, but a total of three Strange Ghost corpses piled together. This scene stunned Wu Bin on the spot.

"Why are there three bodies? You killed three Strange Ghosts?"

His voice was filled with disbelief. Wu Bin wasn't inexperienced; he had handled goods of higher value.

But for just a few outer disciples to bring back three Strange Ghosts, he had truly never seen that before.

"It was just luck. We stumbled upon a bargain."

Su Jie recounted the original encounter 'honestly and diligently,' but the version had been slightly modified. The death of Meng Dongge was changed to being killed by Strange Ghosts, making it seem more reasonable.

Upon hearing that Meng Dongge had led the team and achieved most of the results, Wu Bin reluctantly accepted this reality.

"Meng Dongge, I've heard of him. He's at the fifth level of the Spirit Nurturing Realm, a very formidable outer disciple. He even had a chance to be promoted to inner disciple, what a shame."

Wu Bin sighed, then couldn't help but glance at Su Jie.

"Looking at you, Fellow Daoist Su, so young, yet you've achieved such great results. I wouldn't have known if I didn't see it, but now I'm shocked. Truly, heroes emerge from youth!"

Regardless of whether Su Jie had gotten lucky or not, the fact that he managed to acquire three Strange Ghosts meant Su Jie definitely had his own merits. He might even rise to prominence in the future. Wu Bin immediately felt the desire to befriend him.

"Steward Wu flatters me. This is nothing."

Su Jie waved his hands repeatedly, but Wu Bin grasped one of them.

"Why call me Steward Wu? I'm a few years older than you, just call me Brother Wu."

"Brother Wu."

"Ah, my dear brother."

The two of them started addressing each other so familiarly, without any of the awkwardness of newly acquainted people.

The central street of the Black Market.

At the Gathering Immortals Tower, two men of extraordinary bearing were seated, facing a chessboard. They had been playing for a long time.

One of them was an old man in a purple robe, with black pythons coiled around his hands. His emaciated face and deep eyes exuded a chilling aura that deterred direct gazes.

Opposite him sat a short, middle-aged man. Beneath his unremarkable face, he wore a string of black prayer beads around his neck. Faint wails and cries emanated from the beads, as if people were undergoing torture within, sending shivers down one's spine.

These two were both Elders of Ghost Ridge Palace at the Secret Treasure Realm: Old Daoist Qiu and Yi Jinggong.

Beside them, a maid was pouring tea for them. She was the inner disciple Yu Wenxian.

"It's a dead end. Do you still want to play?"

Holding a white piece, Old Daoist Qiu placed it on the board and spoke slowly.

Yi Jinggong put down his piece, his gaze cold and fierce, shifting to the window. "I lost today's game, but the bet between us is far from decided."

Before his words even finished, Yi Jinggong yanked off a black prayer bead from his neck and flung it out the window. The bead flew automatically towards a certain location.

"Then let's see who's disciple is superior and hunts more Strange Ghosts."

Old Daoist Qiu plucked a hair from his head. The strand transformed into a colorful little snake, flicking its tongue as its sinuous body quickly disappeared from view.

Soon, disciples from both sides, having received the message, hurried towards the Gathering Immortals Tower.

Pei Haibing rode a tall horse, followed closely by two disciples.

Behind their group, four tall horses pulled a high platform. On the platform stood a long pole from which two pale corpses of Strange Ghosts dangled.

Such an eye-catching sight immediately caused a stir in the Black Market.

More than half the merchants on the street surrounded Pei Haibing, vying to bid.

"Young Master Pei, one thousand two hundred, twelve hundred Blood Marrow Crystals. Our Bright Moon Hall is willing to buy these two Strange Ghosts."

"I represent the Zhang Clan Merchant Team and offer one thousand three hundred Blood Marrow Crystals, along with a piece of Blood God Wood for Young Master Pei's cultivation, in exchange for these two Strange Ghost corpses."

"Our Taixu Pavilion..."

Among these merchants was a plump young woman also bidding. This person was none other than Steward Cai Chun'e of Taixu Pavilion.

In front of everyone, Pei Haibing's expression was cold, his arms crossed. Seemingly finding the noise too much, he said sternly, "All of you, be quiet. These Strange Ghosts will only be auctioned after Master has inspected them."

"Junior Brother Pei, hunting two Strange Ghosts at once. It seems the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword will be yours."

Yu Wenxian stood waiting below the Gathering Immortals Tower. She raised her beautiful eyes to look at the two Strange Ghost corpses and said with a charming smile.

"It took some effort, but at least I didn't shame Master. Senior Sister Yu, what did Master say?"

"I don't know. Elder Yi's side also seems very confident."

As Yu Wenxian was speaking, a commotion arose from the other end of the street.

Several Ghost Ridge Palace disciples were pushing a large tower vehicle, on which two Strange Ghost corpses were placed.

The man at the head, dressed in a blue long gown with a face like jade, courteously cupped his hands towards them. He was Feng Wenjin, an inner disciple from Yi Jinggong's lineage.

"Two Strange Ghosts as well."

Yu Wenxian covered her cherry lips, her face full of surprise.

"He's lucky. If Strange Ghosts weren't so hard to find and didn't flee when they sensed danger, I could have killed ten of them."

Pei Haibing snorted coldly, believing he was purely unlucky. He wasn't afraid of the Strange Ghosts that outer disciples feared; it was just bad luck that he didn't encounter more of them.

Fortunately, he could barely accept this outcome. At least he wasn't surpassed, otherwise, Old Daoist Qiu might not even be willing to bestow the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword upon him in his anger.