A Token for the Nine Nether Ghost Domain?
Several hours later.
The void passage before them suddenly shattered, and a blinding light dispelled the darkness.
Chen Changqing stepped out of the teleportation platform, a chilling gust of wind rushed towards him.
This is Xuanming City, a major border city in the Northern Territory of Central Province.
In stark contrast to the bustling and warm Separation Fire City, Xuanming City is shrouded in thick, dark clouds year-round, with a pungent smell of sulfur and a faint Yin Baleful Intent of death permeating the air.
The city was built against the mountain, and the city walls were made entirely of black Xuanming Stone, reaching a height of a hundred feet, and covered with various runes and formations to resist the impact of ghosts.
Most of the Cultivators passing by on the street had gloomy faces and carried a chilling Sha Qi.
Many people carry Yin-attribute magical Law Artifacts such as Soul Banners and soul-gathering jars on their waists.
This is the closest gathering place of Ghost Cultivators to the Nine Nether Ghost Domain in the entire Nine Provinces Continent.
Three thousand miles north of Xuanming City lies the Nine Nether Ghost Domain, Living Person Forbidden Zone.
The streets of Xuanming City were more bustling than Chen Changqing had imagined.
Although the air was filled with a chilling, Sha Qi, the shops lining the street were one after another, selling a wide variety of goods. Soul-locking chains, Soul Devour banners, yin-gathering flags... all sorts of yin-attribute magical Law Artifacts were on display, and many shops specialized in selling various Yin Spirit materials.
The Cultivator coming and going were of all kinds.
There were Ghost Cultivators with pale faces and black auras surrounding them, as well as condensed spirits with intact bodies but eyes that glowed with an eerie green light. Most of them were Human Race Cultivators who practiced ghost Cultivation Method. They mingled with the pure Ghost Cultivators and lived peacefully together.
Chen Changqing walked down the street, trying to keep his breath down, without attracting much attention.
Xuanming City is located next to the Nine Nether Ghost Domain, and Cultivators from all walks of life come and go all year round, having seen all sorts of strange characters. A white-robed Cultivator looks quite young is not unusual in this city.
Chen Changqing himself was quite curious.
He had heard rumors about Ghost Cultivators in Mount Shu before, but this was the first time he had ever seen a gathering place of Ghost Cultivators of this scale. Those Cultivator were formed from ghosts looked no different from living people from a distance, but only when you got closer could you tell that they lacked the Qi and Blood fluctuations unique to the living.
"This has certainly broadened my horizons."
Chen Changqing muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the street before finally settling on a three-story building with a sign that read "Yama Restaurant".
The name is straightforward enough.
He stepped inside.
The restaurant's decor was surprisingly normal, unlike the Yin Qi magical Law Artifact shops outside. Dozens of square tables were set up in the lobby on the first floor, most of which were occupied. The air was filled with the aroma of wine and the smoky smell of spirit beast meat.
Chen Changqing found a corner by the window and sat down.
The waiter was a semi-transparent Ghost Cultivator servant; the patterns on the wall behind him could be vaguely seen through his body.
"Sir, what would you like to eat?"
"Give me a few of our signature dishes, and a pot of spirit wine."
"Okay!"
The servant floated away.
Chen Changqing rested his chin on one hand, his gaze casually sweeping over the diners in the hall.
Most of the Cultivators who come here to eat are at the Golden Core to the Purple Mansion Realm, with a few Nascent Soul Realm Rogue Cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm sitting in the private rooms on the second floor. To Chen Changqing, these people's cultivation levels are no different from ants, but he is not here to fight.
He needs intelligence.
Xiaoqian disappeared in the direction of the Nine Nether Ghost Domain, so he must first figure out how to enter that area.
The Nine Nether Ghost Domain is not a place that just anyone can venture into. It is shrouded in dense Yin Baleful Intent and death energy year-round, and without special methods, it is impossible to cross the outer barrier of death energy. Forcing your way in is not impossible, but it is easy to alert the enemy.
The spirit wine and dishes were served quickly.
Chen Changqing slowly poured himself a glass of wine, intending to find an opportunity to strike up a conversation with the people at the next table, when he heard a commotion coming from the table next to him.
Have you heard?
A tall, thin Ghost Cultivator, dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt and with a deathly pale face, lowered his voice and whispered in his companion's ear.
Across from him sat a burly, red-haired man, chewing on a piece of spirit beast rib, who snorted dismissively.
"What did you hear?"
"The Nine Provinces Auction House is going to hold an auction in Xuanming City!"
The red-haired giant rolled his eyes. "Auction houses hold events every now and then, what's the big deal?"
The tall, Ghost Cultivator got impatient and slammed his hand on the table.
"This is different! This time, the auction items include Domain-Entry Token for the Nine Nether Ghost Domain!"
The red-haired man abruptly stopped chewing his meat.
"What did you say? Token from the Nine Nether Ghost Domain?"
"Absolutely true! A friend of mine who works odd jobs at an auction house told me that there are only five Tokens in total, and they were unearthed from a High Antiquity ruin on the edge of the Ghost Domain Realm."
Five? Won't that cause a frenzy of competition?
The tall, Ghost Cultivator nodded repeatedly.
"Absolutely! What kind of place is the Nine Nether Ghost Domain? It's Sacred Ground for Ghost Cultivators! Legend has it that it contains the inheritance of High Antiquity Ghost Emperor, as well as countless Yin-attribute rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. For countless years, the number of people who have wanted to enter has been innumerable, but that barrier of deathly aura has kept everyone outside."
"Now that Domain-Entry Token has suddenly appeared, do you think people wouldn't go crazy?"
The red-haired man put down the ribs in his hand, his expression turning serious.
"But the dangers of the Nine Nether Ghost Domain are no joke. Legend has it that several High Antiquity Fierce Ghosts at the Tribulation Immortal level reside deep within the Ghost Domain; it's easy to go in, but difficult to come out."
"What's there to be afraid of? Fortune favors the bold!"
How many Spirit Stones do you need?
"I don't know, the auction house hasn't announced the reserve price yet. But knowing the Nine Provinces Auction House's track record, an item of this caliber would have a reserve price of at least tens of millions of Top-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Damn, this is robbery!"
The two continued their whispered discussion.
Chen Changqing paused slightly in his hand holding the wine glass, a smile appearing on his lips.
It came without any effort.
He was still worried about how to find a way into the Nine Nether Ghost Domain, but before he even finished his meal, the news came to him on its own.
Nine Provinces Auction House.
He knew that name all too well. Mount Shu and Nine Provinces Auction House had a long-standing cooperative relationship, and he even possessed Supreme VIP Token issued by the auction house. This Token was personally delivered to Mount Shu by the auction house's head manager after he spent over 100 million Spirit Stones at Nine Provinces Auction House in one go.
With this Token, buying things is very convenient.
Chen Changqing finished the dishes on the table in a few bites, threw the Spirit Stones on the table, and got up to walk out of the restaurant.
After leaving the Yama Restaurant, we walked eastward for about fifteen minutes.
A sprawling black skyscraper came into view. Nine stories high, it was entirely forged from rare Netherworld Darksteel, its surface shimmering with a faint purplish-gold luster. On either side of the main entrance hung a three-person-tall ghost fire lantern, its eerie blue flames flickering in the cold wind.
Above the lintel, the large characters "Nine Provinces Auction House - Xuanming Branch" stood out prominently in the glow of the will-o'-the-wisps.
Eight fully armed guards stood at the entrance, all of them at the Purple Mansion Realm cultivation level, their magical Law Artifacts slung at their waists radiating a chilling aura.
Chen Changqing walked to the door.
Two guards immediately stepped forward to stop them.
"Distinguished guest, please stop here. Please present your invitation or membership Token."