Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: The Bai Family’s Benefactor

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo arrives at a crucial moment during the battle and launches more than a dozen Minor Thunder Talismans at the Red-Haired Zombie and White-Bone Skeleton. Although many fail to activate, the remaining talismans stun both monsters.
• Bai Hecheng uses the opening to pierce the Red-Haired Zombie’s skull with his spear, while Xie Yuxin destroys the White-Bone Skeleton with a powerful red seal.
• Shen Luo collapses after exhausting all his Magic Power. Xie Yuxin realizes that he was the one who saved her and the Bai Family, despite his relatively low status as a guest elder.
• Demon Wind escapes after warning the group that the conflict is not over. Soul-Snatching Horse-Face does not pursue him, instead returning to help Shen Luo.
• After the battle, the survivors meditate and recover. The valley’s Yin Baleful Qi dissipates, and the dead Corpse Beetle Ghost Bats burn away.
• Bai Hecheng publicly thanks Shen Luo and treats him as an equal. Shen Luo introduces Soul-Snatching Horse-Face under the alias “Senior Ma Liang,” claiming that he is an old friend who invited Shen Luo to participate in the demon-slaying mission.
• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face confirms that the escaped enemy was Demon Wind, a demonic creature capable of corrupting living beings and evil spirits with demonic qi. He explains that there may be multiple Demon Winds, though only one appears to be active near Jianye City.
• The group collects Whitewater Daoist’s remains and takes the defeated monsters as proof that the Hidden Wind Valley mission was completed before returning toward Jianye City.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo proves his courage and loyalty by risking his remaining strength and valuable talismans to save the others. His actions greatly increase the Bai Family’s respect for him, though he remains concerned about the cost of using his talismans.
• Bai Hecheng becomes genuinely grateful to Shen Luo and recognizes his importance to the Bai Family. He also hopes Shen Luo can help the family establish a relationship with the powerful Senior Ma.
• Xie Yuxin gains a new appreciation for Shen Luo after realizing that he rescued her. Her initial disbelief reflects how unexpected it is for someone of Shen Luo’s apparent rank to possess such influence and courage.
• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face continues to conceal his true identity while acting as Shen Luo’s mysterious protector and ally. He demonstrates considerable knowledge of Demon Wind and the wider demonic threat.
• Demon Wind survives but is seriously injured, leaving open the possibility of future conflict.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated individuals: Shen Luo’s status does not reflect his true abilities or importance, while Soul-Snatching Horse-Face’s concealed identity adds to the theme of hidden power.
• Gratitude and allegiance: Shen Luo’s rescue earns him the Bai Family’s sincere gratitude and strengthens his connection with them.
• Trust and secrecy: Shen Luo must carefully conceal Soul-Snatching Horse-Face’s identity, balancing honesty with the need to protect his ally.
• The continuing demonic threat: The battle is only a temporary victory. Demon Wind’s escape and explanation of his nature suggest that greater dangers remain.
• Righteous duty and cooperation: The characters work together against supernatural enemies, emphasizing the shared responsibility of cultivators to eliminate demons and protect the innocent.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Luo cooperates with Bai Hecheng and Xie Yuxin to defeat the two undead monsters.
• Xie Yuxin and Bai Hecheng both recognize Shen Luo’s role in saving them and the rest of the group.
• Bai Hecheng respectfully questions Shen Luo about Senior Ma and attempts to establish contact with him through Shen Luo.
• Shen Luo gives a deliberately incomplete account of his relationship with Senior Ma, protecting Soul-Snatching Horse-Face’s true identity.
• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face reassures the Bai Family about Demon Wind while maintaining an aloof, mysterious demeanor.
• The chapter ends with Shen Luo and the Bai Family returning together to Jianye City, their relationship strengthened by the battle.

Chapter Summary: “Ghost Market”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle in Hidden Wind Valley, the grateful cultivators thank Shen Luo for saving them.
• Xie Yuxin sincerely apologizes for her earlier hostility and expresses her desire to repay Shen Luo for saving her life. When Shen Luo jokingly suggests marriage as repayment, she unexpectedly answers seriously, briefly flustering him before revealing that she was teasing him.
• The Bai Family returns to Jianye City. Bai Hecheng personally escorts Shen Luo to his quarters and rewards him with twenty Immortal Jade and a bottle of the Bai Family’s valuable Black Jade Paste.
• Shen Luo uses the ointment on his injured leg. Its effects are immediate, and after a night of deep rest, he begins recovering.
• Bai Jiangfeng, Xie Yuxin, and others visit Shen Luo with gifts. Bai Xiaoyun is absent because he has entered secluded cultivation after realizing that his insufficient cultivation prevented him from joining the mission.
• Three days later, Shen Luo’s injury has mostly healed, allowing him to move and resume underwater cultivation.
• Chu Li, who had previously antagonized Shen Luo, apologizes and brings valuable gifts. Shen Luo accepts the apology without resentment, earning Chu Li’s gratitude and loyalty.
• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face visits Shen Luo and reveals that he reported the Hidden Wind Valley incident to the Underworld. Because of Shen Luo’s assistance, he expects to receive significant merit and possibly a promotion.
• Horse-Face announces that a Ghost Market will be held near Jianye City in approximately one month. Since he may be summoned back to the Underworld, he lends Shen Luo a Ghost Market Mask, which conceals his living aura and allows him to enter safely.
• The chapter ends with Shen Luo asking how to enter the Ghost Market.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Recovers from his injuries, continues to act modestly and graciously, and demonstrates both practical judgment and a growing curiosity about supernatural opportunities. His interest in the Ghost Market suggests he is eager to broaden his experience and obtain useful resources.
• Xie Yuxin: Her attitude toward Shen Luo changes completely. She moves from hostility to sincere respect and playful affection, showing greater emotional openness.
• Bai Hecheng: Displays deep gratitude and respect toward Shen Luo by personally caring for him and providing valuable compensation.
• Bai Xiaoyun: Responds to his failure to participate in the mission by committing himself to secluded cultivation, indicating self-awareness and determination to improve.
• Chu Li: Abandons his previous arrogance, apologizes sincerely, and begins treating Shen Luo with respect and loyalty.
• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face: Becomes more informal and friendly with Shen Luo. His successful report strengthens his position in the Underworld, while his willingness to lend Shen Luo the mask shows trust and appreciation.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and repayment: Characters repeatedly acknowledge debts incurred during the Hidden Wind Valley crisis, though Shen Luo tends to minimize his own contributions.
• Personal growth and changing relationships: Former antagonists such as Xie Yuxin and Chu Li change their attitudes after witnessing Shen Luo’s actions.
• Merit and recognition: The Underworld’s response to Horse-Face’s report highlights how righteous actions can bring official rewards and advancement.
• Recovery and perseverance: Shen Luo’s healing and return to cultivation reflect his resilience after severe exertion.
• The boundary between the living and the dead: The Ghost Market introduces a new supernatural realm, while the Ghost Market Mask symbolizes Shen Luo’s temporary ability to cross safely between human and underworld societies.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin share a flirtatious exchange that reverses their previous dynamic.
• Bai Hecheng formally thanks Shen Luo and gives him medical and material compensation.
• Shen Luo accepts Chu Li’s apology without hostility, turning a former conflict into an alliance.
• Horse-Face acts as Shen Luo’s guide to the Ghost Market, rewarding his help by lending him protection and access to the Underworld’s trading venue.

Chapter Summary: Preparation

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face tells Shen Luo that in twenty-eight days, at midnight, he must wear the provided ghost-faced mask and go to Green Pine Forest, fifty li west of the city, to enter the Ghost Market.
• Shen Luo learns that Immortal Jade is the accepted currency there and realizes his current supply—only thirty-six pieces—will likely be insufficient.
• He decides to spend the remaining month earning more Immortal Jade by:
  • Taking ghost-exorcism missions.
  • Selling the Minor Thunder Talismans he has nearly mastered.
• Shen Luo visits Treasure Record Hall and demonstrates a Minor Thunder Talisman to Shopkeeper Ma. Impressed by its power against ghosts, Shopkeeper Ma agrees to buy them at a rate of fifteen talismans for one piece of Immortal Jade.
• Shen Luo purchases a large supply of talisman paper and ink before leaving.
• Afterward, Ma Xiuxiu advises her father to promote the talismans, acquire more materials, and cultivate a closer relationship with Shen Luo because of his growing strength and reputation.
• At the Bai Residence, Shen Luo is greeted with respect after rumors spread that he helped defeat the ghost creatures in Hidden Wind Valley. He reflects that strength, rather than morality or sentiment, determines one’s standing in the cultivation world.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo becomes more strategic and pragmatic. Rather than focusing solely on cultivation, he organizes a concrete plan to accumulate resources before entering the Ghost Market.
• His combat confidence has grown due to his late Qi Refining cultivation, Minor Thunder Talismans, Ghost-Howling Ring, and Slanting Moon Step. He now believes he can handle most ghost creatures without Soul-Snatching Horse-Face’s assistance.
• Shen Luo’s reputation changes dramatically: once treated with contempt, he is now respected by the Bai Family retainers because of his demonstrated power.
• Shopkeeper Ma recognizes the commercial value of Shen Luo’s talismans and begins treating him as an important business partner.
• Ma Xiuxiu reveals a sharp, calculating business sense beneath her earlier bashful appearance. She sees Shen Luo as a valuable ally and urges the Treasure Record Hall to win his favor.

Significant Themes

• Strength as the basis of respect: Shen Luo concludes that power determines how people are treated in the cultivation world, while morality and personal sentiment are easily discarded.
• Preparation and resource management: The upcoming Ghost Market motivates Shen Luo to balance cultivation, combat missions, and trade.
• The commercial value of power: Shen Luo’s talismans become a source of wealth, while his reputation makes him valuable to the Treasure Record Hall and the Bai Family.
• Changing social status: Shen Luo’s improved reputation demonstrates how quickly others’ attitudes shift when someone proves strong or useful.
• Mystery and opportunity: The Ghost Market is introduced as a place containing valuable treasures, but its entrance requirements and high prices create both anticipation and pressure.

Character Interactions

• Soul-Snatching Horse-Face acts as Shen Luo’s guide, giving him the Ghost Market’s location, timing, and currency requirements.
• Shen Luo and Shopkeeper Ma negotiate the purchase of the Minor Thunder Talismans, with Shen Luo insisting on payment in Immortal Jade rather than ordinary currency.
• Ma Xiuxiu and Shopkeeper Ma discuss how to market the talismans and secure Shen Luo’s loyalty, showing their shared recognition of his importance.
• The Bai Family retainers’ reactions to Shen Luo contrast sharply with their former contempt, emphasizing how his achievements have transformed his position.

Chapter Summary

• Shen Luo accepts a ghost-hunting task at Mellow Fragrance Winery after choosing it from the Ghost-Hunting List. With the Bai Family steward now treating him respectfully, he prepares by drawing more than thirty Minor Thunder Talismans in a single day.
• He exorcises the winery’s ghost, using his talismans to overcome a stealthy Early Grain-Bigug Stage ghost. Though he is injured and loses part of his sleeve, he successfully completes the task and obtains a yin-energy bead, earning five Immortal Jade. He reflects that the absence of Senior Horse Face makes such missions considerably more dangerous.
• For the next several weeks, Shen Luo earns Immortal Jade by drawing talismans during the day and completing manageable ghost-hunting missions at night. His daily income often exceeds five Immortal Jade after expenses.
• The citywide extermination campaign succeeds. After nearly two months of efforts by the Bai, Lin, and Du Families, ghostly infestations in Jianye City and the surrounding regions are almost completely eradicated. Residents resume normal life, and the authorities officially announce the restoration of peace at the beginning of winter.
• The Bai Family is named Jianye City’s “Number One Demon-Exorcising Family.” Its superior contribution brings it prestige, authority, and promised benefits that will strengthen it beyond the Lin and Du Families.
• The Bai Family discusses rewards and future precautions. Patriarch Bai Hecheng announces that contributors will be rewarded, including ten Immortal Jade for guest elders involved in the Hidden Wind Valley mission. He also warns the family not to become complacent, urging them to stockpile supplies and remain wary of future upheavals and rivalry with the Lin and Du Families.
• Shen Luo receives his reward from Bai Jiangfeng: ten Immortal Jade. With ghost-hunting tasks no longer available, his income declines, so he focuses on drawing Minor Thunder Talismans. Although demand has fallen, Shopkeeper Ma continues paying him the same price.
• A troubling development arises at Treasure Record Hall. Shen Luo finds the shop closed and dimly lit, but learns from Shopkeeper Ma that a shipment was robbed by river bandits on the Lishui River. The authorities have found no clues, leaving Shen Luo concerned and curious about the incident.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Shen Luo demonstrates improved talisman-making ability, practical judgment, and growing combat competence, though the winery mission reminds him of his vulnerability when fighting alone. His dependence on talisman sales becomes more important after the ghost crisis ends.
• Bai Hecheng emerges as a proud but cautious patriarch, celebrating the Bai Family’s victory while preparing for future threats.
• Bai Jiangfeng acts courteously toward Shen Luo and personally delivers his reward, reflecting Shen Luo’s increased standing within the Bai Family.
• Shopkeeper Ma remains reliable in business dealings but appears unusually grave and strained while explaining the robbery, suggesting that the loss may involve more than an ordinary bandit attack.
• Major themes include the rewards and dangers of demon-extermination, the rise of family power through public service, preparation against future calamity, commercial dependence, and the uncertainty surrounding the unexplained river-bandit robbery.

Chapter Summary: “Green Pine Forest”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo learns from Shopkeeper Ma that a shipment of Double-Tipped Scarlet Snake Herb was stolen by river bandits. Unlike ordinary Scarlet Snake Herb, this rare variant contains both deadly poison and powerful vitality, making it a key ingredient for refining Essence Condensation Pills.
• Essence Condensation Pills can increase a cultivator’s chances of breaking through from the Qi Refining Stage to the Fasting Stage by ten to twenty percent. Shen Luo becomes deeply interested because he is determined to advance his cultivation despite his mediocre real-world aptitude.
• Shopkeeper Ma admits that such pills are essentially unavailable in Jianye City. Only the government and the city’s three major families possess limited supplies, and one pill previously sold for eighty pieces of Immortal Jade.
• Shen Luo realizes he must obtain one through the Ghost Market, which Soul-Snatching Horse-Face had claimed could provide nearly anything.
• Over the following month, Shen Luo works constantly, drawing talismans and taking on jobs until he accumulates exactly eighty pieces of Immortal Jade. He also places all his other valuable possessions into the Stone Casket to use as potential trade goods.
• When the Ghost Market’s opening day arrives, Shen Luo leaves the White Residence after dark and travels west along a branch of the Lishui River to the Green Pine Forest.
• The forest is actually a cemetery filled with burial mounds. Shen Luo wears his ghost-faced mask and searches the area, but finds nothing unusual. He concludes that the Ghost Market will not appear until midnight and settles down to wait.
• After half an hour, he detects someone approaching: a tall, completely covered figure wearing the same kind of ghost-faced mask. Shen Luo hides behind a pine tree and prepares to observe the newcomer, who challenges him by asking who is lurking nearby.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: His ambitions expand beyond merely improving his current cultivation. Learning about the Essence Condensation Pill strengthens his resolve to reach the Fasting Stage, gain a longer lifespan, and acquire greater power. He demonstrates determination and resourcefulness by working for an entire month to gather the required eighty Immortal Jade and preparing additional valuables for trade.
• Shopkeeper Ma: He reveals resentment and helplessness over the stolen shipment, especially because of the valuable Double-Tipped Scarlet Snake Herb. His knowledge confirms the pill’s rarity and price, but he cannot help Shen Luo obtain one.
• Ma Xiuxiu: She acts as a practical and calming presence, comforting her father and correcting his exaggerated implication that he might have access to pill-refining connections.
• The masked newcomer: This figure is introduced as a possible participant in or threat connected to the Ghost Market. Their identical ghost-faced mask creates immediate mystery and tension.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and perseverance: Shen Luo refuses to accept the limitations of his aptitude and works relentlessly toward a difficult breakthrough.
• Scarcity and value: The chapter emphasizes how rare spiritual resources are and how cultivation advancement depends on wealth, connections, and opportunity.
• The gap between knowledge and access: Shen Luo understands the value and function of Essence Condensation Pills, but possessing the necessary Immortal Jade does not guarantee that he can obtain one.
• Mystery and danger: The nighttime cemetery, the anticipated Ghost Market, and the arrival of an unknown masked figure create an ominous atmosphere.
• Reality versus dream experience: Shen Luo’s previous breakthrough in his dreams gives him confidence, but he remains uncertain whether that experience can compensate for his weaker real-world aptitude.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo questions Shopkeeper Ma about the stolen herbs and the Essence Condensation Pill, gradually revealing his interest in breaking through to the Fasting Stage.
• Shopkeeper Ma explains the pill’s effects and price, while Ma Xiuxiu interrupts to clarify that her father has no real means of obtaining one.
• Shen Luo politely thanks the Ma family before leaving to pursue his own preparations.
• At the end of the chapter, Shen Luo encounters the hooded masked figure in the Green Pine Forest. Their first interaction begins with suspicion, as the stranger directly calls out whoever is hiding nearby.

Chapter Summary: “Traveling Together”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo waits in a pine forest for the Ghost Market to open, concealing his scent and holding his breath to avoid detection.
• A gray-robed, masked man nevertheless senses Shen Luo from more than ten zhang away. Shen Luo reveals himself, and they realize they are both heading to the Ghost Market.
• The two men wait separately until the Hour of the Rat approaches. Shen Luo determines the time by observing the flow of his qi and blood through his meridians, demonstrating his medical knowledge and precision.
• At midnight, both masks trigger transformations, disguising Shen Luo as a brown-haired, dark-skinned ghost and the other man as a dark-red ghost. Their auras become indistinguishable from those of genuine ghosts.
• A strange gray mist envelops the area and transports them from the pine forest to a barren, black-stone Gobi. This desolate landscape appears to be the Ghost Market, though no buildings, ghosts, or signs of a market are visible.
• Both men remain wary and arm themselves, but no immediate attack occurs.
• Shen Luo proposes that they cooperate since they entered from the same place. The gray-robed man agrees, and they exchange names: Shen Luo adopts the alias “Tian Tiesheng,” while the other man gives only the surname “Hong.”
• Neither has visited the Ghost Market before. They begin exploring, following Hong’s chosen direction because Shen Luo suspects he possesses an exceptional scouting ability.
• Shen Luo secretly marks the ground as they travel to prevent becoming lost.
• After moving through the silent, mist-covered wilderness for some time, they finally notice a tall shadow resembling a mountain. At the same moment, Shen Luo hears a strange rustling sound from the left, suggesting that something may be approaching.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Remains cautious and observant but becomes more willing to cooperate when faced with an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environment. His medical expertise allows him to keep track of time without external clues. He also demonstrates strategic thinking by concealing his identity, preparing talismans, evaluating Hong’s abilities, and leaving trail markers.
• The gray-robed man/Hong: Is introduced as highly perceptive, capable of detecting Shen Luo despite his precautions. He is suspicious, guarded, and economical with words, but accepts Shen Luo’s proposal after assessing the situation. His ability to identify a direction and apparently notice the distant mountain hints at powerful senses or scouting techniques.
• Their relationship: The initial tension between strangers gradually shifts into a cautious partnership based on shared circumstances rather than trust.

Significant Themes

• Caution and self-preservation: Both characters conceal their identities, remain armed, and carefully assess one another before cooperating.
• Trust between strangers: Shen Luo and Hong form a temporary alliance because the unknown Ghost Market makes solitary exploration more dangerous.
• Transformation and disguise: The masks alter their appearances and auras, emphasizing the Ghost Market’s supernatural nature and the need to blend in.
• The unknown and disorientation: The sudden transition into a featureless, mist-filled wasteland creates an atmosphere of isolation and danger. Shen Luo’s markings symbolize his effort to maintain control in an environment designed to confuse and conceal.
• Knowledge as power: Shen Luo’s mastery of medicine and meridian theory gives him an advantage in determining the exact time for the Ghost Market’s opening.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Hong begin with mutual suspicion after Hong detects Shen Luo.
• Their conversation establishes that both are headed to the Ghost Market and have no prior experience there.
• Shen Luo proposes cooperation, and Hong accepts after briefly considering the offer.
• They exchange aliases, easing the tension enough to travel together.
• Hong leads the way, while Shen Luo follows but quietly prepares safeguards.
• The chapter ends with both reacting to new signs of danger: a mysterious mountain-like shadow ahead and unexplained rustling to the left.

Chapter Summary: “Child Yuguan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo and the gray-robed man hear a strange rumbling sound while searching for the Ghost Market. They cautiously investigate, approaching a large boulder from opposite sides.
• They discover that the sound comes from a young bald boy named Yuguan, who is peacefully sleeping and snoring. Despite his innocent appearance, his presence in the desolate region seems suspicious.
• Yuguan awakens without fear upon seeing the two men in ghostly forms. He identifies himself and correctly guesses that they are searching for the Ghost Market.
• He explains that the Ghost Market lies in a valley ahead and mentions that they should have been guided by a Guide-Lamp Soul, suggesting that the patrol soldiers responsible for guiding visitors have neglected their duties.
• When Shen Luo tells him that it is past midnight, Yuguan panics, realizing that he has overslept. He fears that his master will punish him and hurriedly runs away.
• Yuguan soon returns to thank Shen Luo for waking him. He gives Shen Luo a mysterious token from his bundle and advises him to visit the Nameless Wild Inn if he wants to achieve his purpose at the Ghost Market.
• Shen Luo and the gray-robed man continue to the valley, which initially appears empty. Once they enter, however, the Ghost Market materializes through a powerful supernatural transformation.
• A plaque marked “Ghost Market,” a huge magical light curtain, and numerous grand shops and buildings appear. The market is populated by many different kinds of intelligent ghosts, including skeletal, mummified, wraith-like, and monstrous figures.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo remains cautious and observant, immediately recognizing that Yuguan’s presence is unusual. He nevertheless speaks gently to the boy and gains valuable information from him.
• The gray-robed man continues to act carefully and pragmatically, signaling Shen Luo to flank the boulder and remaining alert during their interaction with Yuguan. His quiet, reserved nature is emphasized.
• Yuguan initially appears to be an ordinary, harmless child, but several details suggest he is far more mysterious and capable than he looks. He knows the Ghost Market’s location, understands Shen Luo’s objective, and claims to have “taken a look” at what Shen Luo needs. His great speed and unexplained knowledge hint at supernatural abilities.
• Yuguan’s fear of his master and his concern with repaying kindness reveal that, despite his unusual nature, he possesses childlike emotions and has been taught a clear moral code.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Yuguan looks like a harmless child, yet he appears in an impossible location, moves unnaturally fast, and possesses knowledge beyond what an ordinary child should have. Likewise, the empty valley conceals a magnificent supernatural marketplace.
• The hidden nature of the supernatural world: The Ghost Market is not visible until Shen Luo and his companion cross into the valley, suggesting that the spirit world operates behind concealed magical boundaries.
• Trust and caution: Shen Luo must balance suspicion with cooperation. His willingness to question Yuguan rather than attack him leads to crucial guidance and a valuable token.
• Order within the ghost realm: Unlike the mindless, violent ghosts Shen Luo has previously encountered, the beings in the Ghost Market are intelligent and organized, suggesting a more complex society among the dead.
• Obligation and gratitude: Yuguan’s return to thank Shen Luo reflects the importance of repaying kindness, a principle taught by his master.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and the gray-robed man coordinate silently while investigating the strange sound, demonstrating mutual awareness and caution.
• Shen Luo takes the lead in questioning Yuguan because the gray-robed man remains silent.
• Yuguan interacts openly with Shen Luo, answering his questions and giving him directions, while showing no fear of either man’s ghostly appearance.
• Yuguan’s gift and warning create a personal connection with Shen Luo and provide the pair with their first important lead inside the Ghost Market.
• The chapter ends with Shen Luo and the gray-robed man entering the newly revealed market, surrounded by an immense variety of intelligent ghosts and mysterious establishments.

Chapter Summary: Impermanence Pavilion

Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo enters a hidden Ghost Market located in a valley concealed by a powerful restriction. The market is spread across a vast blue-brick plaza illuminated by glowing inscriptions and filled with ghostly cultivators, stalls, and shops.
• He is struck by the market’s scale and the strength of its inhabitants, realizing how insignificant Jianye City and Spring Autumn Temple are by comparison.
• The gray-robed man who accompanied him leaves immediately, while Shen Luo remains cautious, observing the area before entering.
• After confirming that the ghostly residents do not recognize him as a living human, Shen Luo begins browsing the market stalls.
• He examines numerous high-quality, mostly yin-attributed cultivation materials, talismans, Talisman Artifacts, and medicines. Although fascinated by the unfamiliar talismans, he cannot afford to buy them because he must reserve his Immortal Jade for Essence Condensation Pills.
• Shen Luo learns that the Ghost Market only operates from midnight until dawn, prompting him to stop browsing and focus on his objective.
• He searches several pill shops for Essence Condensation Pills, which he needs to break through to the Fasting Stage. None of the shops carry them, and most shopkeepers have never even heard of the pills.
• An elderly ghost shopkeeper tells him that Impermanence Pavilion is the only place in the Ghost Market known to sell such a breakthrough pill.
• Shen Luo’s hopes revive when he sees the large white Impermanence Pavilion in the distance, though he is warned that its goods are the finest—and its prices the highest.

Character Development

• Shen Luo: His awe at the Ghost Market broadens his understanding of the cultivation world, but his amazement is balanced by strong caution. He carefully hides his living identity, avoids unnecessary risks, and prioritizes obtaining the pill needed for his advancement over satisfying his curiosity.
• Gray-robed man: He shows little interest in accompanying Shen Luo and quickly disappears into the market, leaving Shen Luo to act independently.
• Ghost shopkeepers: Their interactions reveal the limitations and specialties of different market vendors. The elderly shopkeeper proves more helpful by directing Shen Luo toward Impermanence Pavilion.

Significant Themes

• The vastness of the cultivation world: The Ghost Market demonstrates that the wider cultivation world is far more powerful and sophisticated than the places Shen Luo previously knew.
• Caution and concealment: Shen Luo must disguise his living nature among powerful ghosts, emphasizing the dangers of unfamiliar environments.
• Resource scarcity and advancement: Even a major supernatural marketplace may not have the specific pill Shen Luo needs, highlighting how difficult cultivation breakthroughs can be.
• Knowledge versus resources: Shen Luo possesses considerable knowledge from his studies, especially regarding herbs and cultivation materials, but lacks the wealth necessary to take advantage of what he finds.
• Time and impermanence: The market’s limited opening hours create urgency and reinforce the chapter’s focus on fleeting opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo briefly parts ways with the gray-robed man upon entering the market.
• He cautiously observes the ghostly shoppers, who notice him but do not detect that he is alive.
• He questions several pill-shop owners about Essence Condensation Pills; most cannot help him.
• A one-horned female ghost explains that her shop only carries pills for minor Qi Refining breakthroughs.
• An elderly ghost finally provides the crucial information about Impermanence Pavilion, giving Shen Luo a possible route to obtain the pill he needs.

Chapter Summary: Nameless Wild Ghost

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo arrives at the Impermanence Pavilion, a large and prosperous shop marked by statues resembling the Black and White Impermanence Lords. He learns that the shop may sell valuable items but is warned not to cause trouble there.
• Realizing that his limited supply of Immortal Jade will not be enough to purchase the pills he needs, Shen Luo decides to sell one of his Magical Artifacts.
• He notices the Nameless Wild Inn, the shop that the mysterious child Yuguan previously directed him to visit. Although suspicious that the child might have arranged a scam, Shen Luo enters.
• The shop is disorderly and poorly maintained. Its proprietor, a blue-black ghost calling himself Nameless Wild Ghost, appears to be a weak and eccentric cultivator engrossed in reading the Book of Songs.
• Shen Luo offers to sell the Demon-Subduing Pestle, a powerful Magical Artifact formerly belonging to the Asura Puppet Ghost.
• When Shen Luo removes the pestle from his Stone Casket, a green bamboo tube accidentally falls out with it. The tube had been stored alongside the Nameless Heavenly Scripture.
• Nameless Wild Ghost becomes intensely interested in the bamboo tube and asks to examine it. Shen Luo agrees, partly because he hopes the ghost can identify its origin.
• Using black energy, Nameless Wild Ghost transforms the tube from emerald green into black bamboo marked with red spots. He excitedly identifies it as Yellow Springs Bamboo.
• The bamboo suddenly reacts, drawing an enormous amount of black aura from the ghost. Nameless Wild Ghost is forced to throw it away. The red markings fade, and the tube returns to its original green color.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates caution and practicality. He carefully investigates the Ghost Market, evaluates his finances, and is willing to sacrifice a valuable weapon to obtain needed cultivation pills.
• His suspicions remain active: he questions Yuguan’s motives and observes Nameless Wild Ghost closely for signs of deception or danger.
• Shen Luo also shows confidence by allowing the ghost to handle the mysterious bamboo tube, trusting the Ghost Market’s rules against violence while still monitoring the situation.
• Nameless Wild Ghost initially appears harmless, absent-minded, and scholarly, but his reaction to the bamboo tube reveals specialized knowledge and strong curiosity.
• His identification of the tube as Yellow Springs Bamboo suggests that he may possess unusual expertise or hidden significance despite his weak apparent cultivation.
• The bamboo tube itself is shown to possess mysterious powers, absorbing energy and resisting the ghost’s attempt to examine it.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and concealed power: The Impermanence Pavilion, the mysterious Yuguan, and the seemingly ordinary shopkeeper all suggest that appearances in the Ghost Market are deceptive.
• Risk and trust: Shen Luo must rely on strangers while remaining alert to possible traps. The Ghost Market’s rules provide limited security but do not eliminate danger.
• Value and sacrifice: Shen Luo’s need for cultivation resources forces him to consider selling powerful treasures, while the bamboo tube proves potentially more valuable and mysterious than expected.
• The unknown nature of artifacts: The bamboo tube’s transformation and reaction to spiritual energy establish that it is not an ordinary object and may be connected to the Yellow Springs or other underworld powers.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo questions an elderly ghost about the Impermanence Pavilion and receives a warning to behave carefully.
• He meets Nameless Wild Ghost, who apologizes for being distracted by his reading and offers to buy Shen Luo’s Magical Artifacts.
• Their interaction shifts when Nameless Wild Ghost notices the bamboo tube. His eagerness and careful examination contrast with Shen Luo’s cautious observation.
• The chapter ends with the bamboo tube overwhelming Nameless Wild Ghost’s energy, leaving both its true nature and its connection to Shen Luo’s journey unresolved.

Summary of “Yellow Springs Bamboo”

Key plot points and events

• Shen Luo examines the emerald bamboo tube after it violently absorbs yin energy. The Nameless Wild Ghost explains that it is Yellow Springs Bamboo, a rare Ghost Realm material capable of absorbing yin energy and devouring souls.
• Because the bamboo is young, Shen Luo survives touching it; older Yellow Springs Bamboo could have drained him completely. The Nameless Wild Ghost offers 350 Immortal Jade, but Shen Luo refuses, recognizing the tube’s potential usefulness against ghostly beings.
• Shen Luo sells his Demon-Subduing Pestle, an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact with seven Restrictions, for 130 Immortal Jade—slightly more than he expected. Part of the payment appears to be a rare Mid-Grade Immortal Jade, worth roughly one hundred Lower-Grade pieces.
• After leaving the shop, Shen Luo buys a detailed book on Ghost Realm plant materials. He learns that Yellow Springs Bamboo becomes thinner as it ages, confirming why the shopkeeper identified his tube as young.
• His research reveals something important, prompting him to leave the bookstore with a knowing smile. While heading toward Impermanence Pavilion, he encounters a crowd gathered around a dispute involving the familiar gray-robed man.

Character developments

• Shen Luo becomes more cautious and economically savvy. Although tempted by the high offer, he chooses to retain the Yellow Springs Bamboo because of its strategic value. He also demonstrates initiative by researching the item rather than relying solely on the shopkeeper’s explanation.
• Nameless Wild Ghost is revealed to be knowledgeable about rare Ghost Realm materials and eager to acquire them. He respects Shen Luo’s decision but repeatedly urges him to return if he changes his mind.
• The gray-robed man reappears in a confrontation, suggesting that his activities or dealings may soon become relevant to Shen Luo.

Significant themes

• Knowledge increases power and bargaining strength: Shen Luo’s decision to investigate the bamboo allows him to understand its rarity and potential value.
• Practical judgment over immediate profit: He refuses a large payment because the bamboo may be more useful than the Immortal Jade it could bring.
• Commerce and cultivation are closely linked: Magical Artifacts, spirit materials, and Immortal Jade are all evaluated strategically, with rarity and quality determining enormous differences in value.
• Uncertainty and hidden potential: The bamboo’s true usefulness remains undisclosed, while Shen Luo’s reaction to his research implies he has discovered an important secret.

Character interactions

• The Nameless Wild Ghost explains the Yellow Springs Bamboo’s properties and attempts to purchase it.
• Shen Luo and the shopkeeper negotiate the sale of the Demon-Subduing Pestle, with the shopkeeper offering a favorable price.
• Shen Luo later observes an argument between the gray-robed man and another stall-associated figure over an item that was allegedly promised to the gray-robed man but sold to someone else before payment.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ox Head and a gray-robed man engage in an intense bidding war over an ordinary-looking gray stone at the old ghost Black Robe’s stall.
• The price rises rapidly, eventually reaching forty Immortal Jade. Ox Head offers forty and appears to have won, but the gray-robed man tries to make up a shortfall with two talismans.
• Black Robe refuses the barter because his stall accepts Immortal Jade only. The gray-robed man attempts to sell the talismans to nearby ghosts, but no one is willing to buy them.
• Recognizing Shen Luo among the spectators, the gray-robed man asks him for assistance. Shen Luo lends him nine Immortal Jade, allowing him to complete the purchase.
• The gray-robed man obtains the stone, while Ox Head angrily withdraws and leaves. The watching ghosts disperse, intrigued and suspicious that someone would spend enough money to buy a Middle-Grade Magical Artifact on an apparently worthless rock.
• Shen Luo and the gray-robed man evade anyone following them and meet in a secluded alley. The gray-robed man promises to sell the two talismans and repay Shen Luo’s nine Immortal Jade.
• When Shen Luo asks about the stone, the man reveals that it is called Shadowless Jade, a rare Ghost Realm treasure with immense value and no regular market.
• He demonstrates its unusual property: despite the surrounding light, the stone casts no shadow. Shen Luo suspects that it possesses abilities beyond this strange visual effect.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates generosity and practical judgment by helping the gray-robed man despite having only recently encountered him. His aid strengthens their relationship.
• The gray-robed man is revealed to be determined and willing to spend heavily to obtain the Shadowless Jade. Although initially guarded about its nature, he becomes more open after Shen Luo assists him.
• Ox Head shows a proud, competitive, and easily provoked temperament. His confidence falters when the price reaches his financial limit, and he leaves in frustration after losing the stone.
• Black Robe, the stall owner, appears cautious but visibly greedy. He strictly enforces his “Immortal Jade Only” rule while taking pleasure in the high price paid for the stone.
• The surrounding ghosts are portrayed as observant and suspicious, recognizing that the stone may be far more valuable than it appears.

Significant Themes

• Hidden value and appearances: The ordinary-looking stone conceals a rare treasure, reinforcing the danger of judging objects solely by appearance.
• Trust and mutual assistance: Shen Luo’s willingness to lend the Immortal Jade creates a stronger bond with the gray-robed man and leads to greater honesty between them.
• Greed and competition: The bidding war highlights how desire for rare treasures can provoke hostility and reckless spending.
• Mystery and foreshadowing: The Shadowless Jade’s lack of a shadow is only its visible feature, suggesting more important powers that will likely become relevant later.
• Commerce and power: The scene emphasizes the importance of wealth, bargaining, and access to rare resources in the Ghost Realm.

Character Interactions

• Ox Head and the gray-robed man clash through escalating bids, each attempting to overpower the other financially and psychologically.
• The gray-robed man appeals to Shen Luo after failing to convert his talismans into enough Immortal Jade.
• Shen Luo assists him without demanding immediate repayment, creating gratitude and trust.
• In the alley, the two discuss repayment and the identity of the stone. The gray-robed man responds to Shen Luo’s curiosity by revealing the Shadowless Jade’s name and demonstrating its strange property.

Chapter Summary: “It Was You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A gray-robed Ghost Market cultivator explains that the Shadowless Jade is a rare treasure capable of breaking Restrictions. Soul-reaping envoys supposedly use it to pass through barriers and seize souls.
• The jade is contaminated with yin energy, preventing it from functioning properly. Shen Luo offers to purify it using a segment of Yellow Springs Bamboo.
• The bamboo initially shows no reaction, so Shen Luo realizes it must first absorb yin energy to activate its power.
• The gray-robed cultivator supplies yin energy through a black bone sword. The Yellow Springs Bamboo absorbs it, turns black, and releases red light that draws the yin energy out of the Shadowless Jade.
• After fifteen minutes, the jade is completely purified and regains its milky-white appearance.
• When the gray-robed cultivator picks up the restored jade, it activates and creates a huge sphere of white light. The light dispels both cultivators’ ghostly disguises and partially reveals their true appearances.
• Shen Luo discovers that the gray-robed cultivator is actually Xie Yuxin. The Shadowless Jade also renders her robe and clothing transparent, causing an embarrassing and awkward moment before she quickly dismisses the light.
• Xie Yuxin realizes that the Ghost Market Masks’ disguises are Restriction-based secret arts, which explains why the jade broke through them.
• The chapter ends with Xie Yuxin asking about the mysterious Yellow Springs Bamboo.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo demonstrates knowledge, caution, and resourcefulness by recognizing the Yellow Springs Bamboo’s potential and safely splitting it beforehand to preserve part of it.
• He remains observant and wary, stopping the infusion of yin energy once the bamboo becomes activated because he fears its power could harm him.
• Shen Luo’s composed exterior falters when his identity is exposed and when Xie Yuxin’s disguise is accidentally stripped away.
• Xie Yuxin is revealed to be the mysterious gray-robed cultivator. Her disguise skills are shown to be extremely effective, since even Shen Luo initially failed to recognize her.
• Xie Yuxin experiences embarrassment and anger after the Shadowless Jade exposes her, but she quickly regains her composure and analyzes the artifact rationally.
• Their mutual recognition reveals that both had been operating secretly and independently in the Ghost Market.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and deception: Both characters rely on powerful disguises, emphasizing the secrecy and mistrust of the Ghost Market.
• Unexpected revelation: A magical artifact intended to purify the jade instead exposes the true identities of both cultivators.
• Knowledge and adaptability: Shen Luo’s understanding of spiritual materials allows him to solve the jade’s problem despite lacking yin energy himself.
• Awkward intimacy and vulnerability: The artifact’s ability to break Restrictions creates an embarrassing situation, temporarily stripping away both physical and magical concealment.
• Dangerous treasures: The Shadowless Jade and Yellow Springs Bamboo possess powerful abilities that can produce unforeseen consequences.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and the gray-robed cultivator cooperate to purify the Shadowless Jade, with the latter providing the yin-aspected bone sword.
• Their successful collaboration initially creates mutual gratitude and excitement.
• The jade’s activation exposes both identities, revealing that Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin already know one another.
• After the embarrassing incident, Shen Luo attempts to ease the tension by complimenting Xie Yuxin’s disguise.
• Xie Yuxin responds by shifting the conversation toward the Yellow Springs Bamboo, showing renewed composure and curiosity while leaving the full nature of the treasure unexplained.

Chapter Summary: “Qualification”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo identifies the exchanged item as Yellow Springs Bamboo, a rare Spirit Bamboo from the Ghost Realm, and stores it openly.
• Xie Yuxin thanks Shen Luo for helping her obtain a complete piece of Shadowless Jade, promising to let him use it whenever necessary.
• Shen Luo reveals that he has come to the Ghost Market seeking pills to help him advance to the Fasting Stage. Xie explains that such pills are extremely rare and are most likely available at the Impermanence Pavilion.
• Xie offers to accompany Shen Luo there as repayment for his assistance. Before leaving, she sells two talismans at the general store for fifteen Immortal Jades and insists on giving all of them to Shen Luo, despite his intention to take back only the nine he had lent her.
• At Impermanence Pavilion, they discover a vast, luxurious marketplace containing superior spiritual materials, magical artifacts, talismans, and pills.
• Xie explains that the pavilion has four floors:
  • First: spiritual materials
  • Second: talismans and magical artifacts
  • Third: pills
  • Fourth: auctions and cultivator exchange meetings
• While heading to the third floor, they notice that an event is being held on the fourth floor. Access is restricted by qualification, and two powerful black-armored ghost guards stand watch.
• A gigantic dark-skinned ghost arrives and releases an overwhelming spiritual pressure with a single glance. Shen Luo realizes that the stranger is a Soul Condensation Stage cultivator.
• The ghost presents a small white token to the guards, apparently proving his qualification to enter the fourth floor. Shen Luo is shocked by what he sees, though the chapter ends before the token’s significance is revealed.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo becomes increasingly determined to reach the Fasting Stage after observing how common powerful cultivators are in the Ghost Market compared with Jianye City.
• He shows growing trust in Xie Yuxin by openly sharing his purpose and accepting her assistance, while remaining observant of her behavior.
• Shen Luo notices that Xie is more lively and relaxed around him than her usual cold demeanor, suggesting a developing personal rapport.
• Xie Yuxin demonstrates gratitude, generosity, and initiative by giving Shen Luo the Immortal Jades and guiding him through the Ghost Market.
• Her excitement about the fourth-floor event reveals a less restrained, more curious side of her personality.
• The appearance of the dark-skinned ghost emphasizes the vast gap between Shen Luo’s current cultivation and the highest powers present in the Ghost Market.

Significant Themes

• Mutual aid and repayment: Xie’s efforts to repay Shen Luo establish a relationship based on trust and balanced favors.
• Cultivation hierarchy: The Ghost Market exposes Shen Luo to numerous Fasting Stage experts and a Soul Condensation Stage powerhouse, reinforcing the vastness of the cultivation world.
• Opportunity and advancement: Shen Luo’s search for breakthrough pills and his interest in the exchange meeting reflect his pursuit of greater strength.
• Hidden privilege and qualification: Entry to the fourth floor depends on status or credentials, suggesting that rare treasures and powerful opportunities are reserved for those with sufficient standing.
• Contrasts in personality: Xie’s relaxed interactions with Shen Luo contrast with her normally distant behavior, hinting at increasing familiarity between them.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Xie exchange the Yellow Springs Bamboo and Shadowless Jade, with Xie promising future assistance.
• Xie offers to guide Shen Luo to Impermanence Pavilion, and they travel there together.
• Their conversation includes playful teasing about Shen Luo’s lucky roadside purchase, showing increased ease and familiarity.
• Xie’s insistence that Shen Luo accept all fifteen Immortal Jades demonstrates her sincerity, while Shen Luo’s observations reveal his growing awareness of her emotional changes.
• Both characters react with alarm to the dark-skinned ghost’s spiritual pressure, sharing a moment of recognition regarding the immense power present in the Ghost Market.

Chapter Summary: “Big Shop, Bullying Customers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin witness a dark-skinned youth gain access to the fourth floor of the Ghost Market by presenting a distinctive white token.
• Shen Luo realizes that he possesses an identical token, which the youth previously gave him. The token bears a black-and-white cross pattern on one side and a skull on the other, suggesting that Shen Luo may also be qualified to enter the restricted upper floor.
• Before going upstairs, Shen Luo enters the Impermanence Pavilion on the third floor to search for pills that can aid his breakthrough to the Fasting Stage.
• A red-haired ghost shopkeeper shows them two high-level pills:
  • Five-Dragon Pill: Helps open the Magic Meridians.
  • Liquid Condensation Pill: Helps condense Magic Power into liquid form.
• Both pills can increase the chance of breaking through to the Fasting Stage by approximately twenty to thirty percent, but they cannot be taken together because their ingredients conflict.
• The pills are extremely expensive: the Five-Dragon Pill costs 150 Immortal Jade, while the Liquid Condensation Pill costs 170.
• Shen Luo hesitates, recognizing that the pills are effective but overpriced. Xie Yuxin agrees that the shop is exploiting its monopoly.
• Xie Yuxin suggests that they search the fourth floor before making a purchase. Shen Luo accepts this plan and leaves without buying anything.
• The shopkeeper reacts with concealed anger and mocks him, claiming that he will not find comparable pills elsewhere in the Ghost Market.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Demonstrates caution, financial awareness, and knowledge of pharmacology. Although he urgently needs a breakthrough pill, he resists being pressured into an immediate purchase. His possession of the mysterious token also hints at a deeper connection to the restricted fourth floor and the Ghost Market’s powerful figures.
• Xie Yuxin: Acts as a practical and supportive companion. She reminds Shen Luo not to rush and helps him avoid making an expensive decision before exploring better options.
• Red-haired ghost shopkeeper: Reveals herself to be confident, calculating, and accustomed to controlling customers through scarcity and intimidation. Her polite sales manner quickly turns hostile when Shen Luo refuses to buy.
• Dark-skinned youth: Remains mysterious, but his identical token implies that he may belong to or have access to the same hidden circle connected to the fourth floor.

Significant Themes

• Monopoly and exploitation: The Impermanence Pavilion charges exorbitant prices because it is reportedly the only shop in the Ghost Market selling Fasting Stage breakthrough pills.
• Caution versus urgency: Shen Luo desperately needs to advance, but the chapter emphasizes the importance of weighing options rather than allowing necessity to make him reckless.
• Hidden status and access: The white token functions as a symbol of secret authority or membership, suggesting that the Ghost Market contains concealed hierarchies and restricted privileges.
• Power and commerce: The shopkeeper uses exclusivity, scarcity, and social pressure as weapons, showing that commercial transactions in the cultivation world are closely tied to power.
• Progress through cultivation: Shen Luo’s desire to reach the Fasting Stage remains a major motivation, and the pills represent both an opportunity for advancement and a significant financial burden.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin discuss the significance of the youth’s token, with Xie Yuxin encouraging him not to dwell on the mystery.
• Shen Luo consults Xie Yuxin about the pills and their price, showing mutual trust and cooperation.
• The red-haired shopkeeper initially treats Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin warmly, explaining the pills’ effects and attempting to secure a sale.
• When Shen Luo decides to continue searching, the shopkeeper’s attitude changes sharply, exposing the coercive and arrogant nature behind her professional façade.

Chapter Summary: “First-Class Token”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin learn that the Impermanence Pavilion’s fourth floor hosts exchange meetings for high-ranking cultivators and requires an Impermanence Pavilion Guest Minister Token.
• Shen Luo reveals the white token he previously obtained. The guards recognize it and allow both him and Xie Yuxin to enter, shocking the red-haired ghost shopkeeper who had mocked them.
• On the fourth floor, they meet Bai Yan, a powerful ghost and steward of the Impermanence Pavilion. He verifies their identities and insists on inspecting their tokens again.
• Bai Yan reacts with surprise upon examining Shen Luo’s token and asks where it came from, suggesting that the token may be unusually important. Xie Yuxin challenges the question, invoking the Pavilion’s policy of not investigating guests’ origins.
• Bai Yan leads them through a hidden passage into a private exchange hall, where numerous powerful ghost cultivators are gathered.
• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin are seated among the participants, but a black-scaled young man immediately objects to their presence after recognizing them as cultivators from the mortal world.
• Bai Yan defends their admission, explaining that the Ghost Market does not forbid living cultivators from entering and that Shen Luo possesses a valid first-class Guest Minister Token.
• The black-scaled young man remains suspicious, claiming he knows nearly every holder of such a token. Xie Yuxin responds sarcastically, provoking his anger.
• To defuse the conflict, Bai Yan introduces the important figures attending the meeting, including the black-scaled youth’s powerful lineage and several prominent ghost cultivators.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Displays calmness and restraint despite being mocked and scrutinized. He becomes more aware that his white token is rare and carries significant authority, though its origin may attract unwanted attention.
• Xie Yuxin: Shows her usual bold and confrontational personality. She quickly defends Shen Luo and refuses to tolerate the black-scaled youth’s arrogance.
• Bai Yan: Emerges as a powerful, formal, and tactful steward. He recognizes the significance of Shen Luo’s token but avoids openly questioning him after Xie Yuxin objects. He also works to prevent the situation from escalating.
• Black Pattern: The arrogant black-scaled young man is introduced as the direct grandson of Senior Black Mountain of Netherworld Mountain. He is proud of his status, suspicious of outsiders, and easily angered when challenged.
• Red-haired ghost shopkeeper: Her earlier mockery is undermined when Shen Luo’s token grants him access, leaving her stunned.

Significant Themes

• Status and authority: The first-class token grants Shen Luo access and legitimacy despite his unfamiliarity and low apparent cultivation.
• Prejudice and social hierarchy: The gathered ghosts look down on Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin because they are living cultivators from the mortal world, revealing tensions between the mortal and ghost realms.
• Hidden identity and mystery: Shen Luo’s unexplained token appears to have a deeper connection to the Impermanence Pavilion, especially given Bai Yan’s unusual reaction.
• Restraint versus provocation: Shen Luo chooses caution to avoid trouble, while Xie Yuxin openly challenges those who insult them.
• Powerful factions and lineage: The introductions establish the importance of bloodlines, sects, and reputations within the Ghost Market.

Character Interactions

• The red-haired shopkeeper mocks Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin, but Shen Luo silently disproves her by using the token to enter the restricted floor.
• Bai Yan formally welcomes them, while Xie Yuxin pushes back against his attempt to question the token’s origin.
• The black-scaled young man confronts them publicly, questioning their right to attend.
• Bai Yan protects their position by affirming the validity of Shen Luo’s first-class token.
• Xie Yuxin verbally counters the black-scaled youth, escalating tensions until Bai Yan interrupts with introductions designed both to restore order and warn Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin about the influential people present.

Chapter Summary: “Auction”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo, Xie Yuxin, and the other ghosts gather for a trade meeting hosted by Bai Yan. Li Shuang pointedly ignores Shen Luo, Xie Yuxin, and Bai Yan, while the other attendees greet Shen Luo respectfully because of his First-Rank Token.
• Bai Yan announces that the meeting has been delayed because Lord Yuguan has not yet arrived. Yuguan is revealed to be the mysterious child who previously gave Shen Luo the Guest Minister Token.
• Yuguan enters the hall in childish formality, licking a candied snack, and receives the reverence of every ghost present. Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin initially react too slowly but quickly join the others in bowing.
• Yuguan recognizes Xie Yuxin and Shen Luo, proudly claiming that his Wheel-Viewing Technique allowed him to foresee their arrival. Shen Luo thanks him for the token and for guiding them to the Nameless Wild Inn, where they obtained valuable treasures, including the Yellow Springs Bamboo.
• Yuguan predicts that Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin will gain significantly from the trade meeting. His familiarity with them causes the other ghosts, especially Li Shuang and Black Pattern, to reassess Shen Luo’s status.
• The masked hosts explain the meeting’s two stages:
  • The first half is an auction, with bids made using Immortal Jade or valuable collateral.
  • The second half will allow participants to trade freely, with item appraisals costing five Immortal Jade.
• The first auction item, an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact called the Raging Flame Blade, sells to Gui Qi for 160 Immortal Jade after fierce bidding.
• The second item is a complete set of Formation Artifacts for the powerful Yinfire Chain Formation. Shen Luo recognizes its great value and notes that it surpasses the Sixfold Fire Formation he has previously encountered, but he cannot bid because he must conserve his limited Immortal Jade.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo remains composed and cautious. He demonstrates social awareness by greeting the ghosts respectfully and avoids wasting resources on items that are not his main objective. His growing expertise in formations becomes evident as he evaluates the Yinfire Chain Formation.
• Xie Yuxin appears surprised and momentarily unsettled by Yuguan’s arrival, suggesting that she may understand more about him or his abilities than Shen Luo does.
• Yuguan is established as a mysterious and influential figure despite his childlike appearance. His Wheel-Viewing Technique apparently enables him to perceive or predict events, and his special relationship with Shen Luo draws considerable attention.
• Li Shuang continues to display hostility or deliberate indifference toward Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin, though she begins watching Shen Luo after Yuguan’s recognition of him.
• Black Pattern remains openly disdainful of Shen Luo, reacting coldly to the respect Shen Luo receives.
• Bai Yan acts as the courteous organizer and intermediary, while the two masked figures manage and explain the auction.

Significant Themes

• Status and hidden identity: The respect shown toward Yuguan and Shen Luo’s First-Rank Token reveals a hierarchy in which symbols of authority strongly influence social interactions.
• Appearances versus true power: Yuguan looks like a child but commands absolute respect, emphasizing that appearance does not reflect cultivation, authority, or danger.
• Wealth and resource management: The auction highlights the enormous cost of high-level magical treasures. Shen Luo must balance his desire for powerful artifacts against the need to preserve his limited Immortal Jade.
• Knowledge and preparation: Shen Luo’s previous experience with formations allows him to recognize the value of the Yinfire Chain Formation, showing how past experiences continue to strengthen his judgment.
• Social suspicion and alliances: Yuguan’s familiarity with Shen Luo causes the surrounding ghosts to speculate about their relationship, increasing Shen Luo’s visibility and potentially placing him under greater scrutiny.

Character Interactions

• Shen Luo respectfully greets the other ghosts despite Li Shuang’s deliberate refusal to acknowledge him.
• He exchanges courteous words with Bai Yan and repeatedly thanks Yuguan for the token and his guidance.
• Yuguan directly praises Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin for following his instructions, publicly linking them to him and elevating their perceived importance.
• Shen Luo’s interaction with Yuguan provokes curiosity from the other ghosts and hostility from Black Pattern.
• The auction participants compete aggressively for the Raging Flame Blade, while Shen Luo remains an observer and evaluates the later formation set without bidding.

Chapter Summary: “Everyone Was Stunned”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The auction begins with the Yinfire Chain Formation, a powerful formation capable of threatening even Mid Grain-Bigug Stage cultivators. After intense bidding, Black Pattern acquires it for 120 Immortal Jade by intimidating the other bidders.
• Shen Luo learns from Bai Yan that Black Pattern is the direct grandson of Black Mountain Old Demon, the notorious ruler of Netherworld Mountain. Bai Yan warns Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin not to provoke him.
• Several rare treasures are auctioned, but Shen Luo continues waiting for a Fasting Stage breakthrough pill. Neither he nor Xie Yuxin bids, while Li Shuang also remains inactive.
• The auction presents a bottle of Three-Origin True Water, a precious water-element cultivation resource refined by a Soul Condensation Stage cultivator. It can accelerate water-element cultivation, nourish the meridians, and also assist in artifact and pill refinement.
• Shen Luo realizes the True Water is extremely compatible with his Nameless Art, a pure water-element technique. Obtaining it could greatly accelerate his progress toward the Fasting Stage, which he considers essential for surviving future dangers.
• Black Pattern also becomes interested in the True Water. After the bidding reaches 120 Immortal Jade, Shen Luo enters the competition.
• Black Pattern repeatedly raises the price, apparently intending to overpower Shen Luo through both wealth and intimidation. Shen Luo eventually makes a dramatic bid of 230 Immortal Jade, increasing the price by fifty at once and leaving the entire auction stunned.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Becomes increasingly determined to strengthen himself rather than remain complacent under the Bai Family’s protection. He weighs the risk of spending his resources before the breakthrough pill appears, but ultimately prioritizes the rare Three-Origin True Water. His bold final bid shows growing confidence and decisiveness.
• Black Pattern: Is established as arrogant, influential, and accustomed to intimidating others because of his relationship to Black Mountain Old Demon. His desire to obtain both the formation and the True Water suggests he is powerful and resource-rich, but also easily provoked when challenged.
• Xie Yuxin: Continues to observe and support Shen Luo without interfering in his decisions. She recognizes the value of the True Water and understands the difficulty of his choice.
• Bai Yan: Acts cautiously, warning Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin about Black Pattern’s dangerous background.
• Yuguan: Quietly encourages Shen Luo through an almost imperceptible nod, apparently approving of his decision to bid aggressively.
• Li Shuang: Shows interest in higher-grade cultivation resources but remains dissatisfied when the auction offers only Three-Origin True Water rather than the rarer One-Origin or Two-Origin varieties.

Significant Themes

• Strength and survival: Shen Luo’s memories and experiences, including the destruction of Spring Autumn Temple and events from his dreams, make him aware that safety is temporary. Cultivation and personal strength are his true protection.
• Power and intimidation: Black Pattern’s status allows him to silence competitors without openly attacking them, demonstrating how social influence and reputation function as forms of power.
• Risk versus opportunity: Shen Luo must choose between saving his Immortal Jade for a possible breakthrough pill and securing a rare resource that can directly accelerate his cultivation.
• Courage in the face of authority: By challenging Black Pattern, Shen Luo rejects the auction’s atmosphere of fear and shows that he will not automatically submit to powerful figures.
• Hidden support and strategy: Yuguan’s subtle encouragement suggests that Shen Luo may have allies or a broader plan, even when his actions appear reckless to others.

Character Interactions

• Bai Yan privately warns Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin about Black Pattern’s identity and influence.
• Black Pattern uses his threatening presence to force a gaunt bidder to withdraw from the formation auction.
• The auctioneer demonstrates the True Water’s value by comparing a single drop to a rare Fragrance-Origin Pill.
• Black Pattern and Shen Luo engage in an escalating bidding confrontation, with Black Pattern relying on aggression and Shen Luo responding with calm, increasingly decisive bids.
• Yuguan silently signals approval to Shen Luo before Shen Luo commits to purchasing the True Water, while the surrounding ghosts react with shock to his enormous final bid.

Summary of “Exchanging Pills”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo wins the auction for a bottle of Three-Origin True Water by bidding all the Immortal Jade he has left. Though Black Pattern threatens him, Shen Luo refuses to back down because the item may aid his cultivation and could be impossible to find again.
• Black Pattern ultimately stops bidding because he must preserve his remaining funds to obtain another important item from Li Shuang. He warns Shen Luo that he will remember him.
• After purchasing the True Water, Shen Luo discovers that the small jade bottle is unusually heavy and contains dense water-attributed spiritual energy.
• The formal auction ends without offering the Fasting Stage breakthrough pill Shen Luo needs. Xie Yuxin advises him to seek one during the upcoming free-trade portion and to offer something valuable in return.
• During the free trade:
  • An elderly ghost offers Five-Leaf Insect Grass and Yellow Origin Stones in exchange for specific items, but no one accepts.
  • A green-haired female ghost offers three Soul Condensation Stage Burrowing Ghost bones for a concealment-type Magical Artifact.
  • Li Shuang exchanges her Middle-Grade Smoke Cloud Banner for the bones, demonstrating the artifact’s powerful ability to conceal both the user and her aura.
  • Shen Luo then presents a section of Yellow Springs Bamboo, offering it for a Fasting Stage breakthrough pill that can raise the success rate by at least thirty percent.
• Black Pattern reacts with surprise, suggesting that the Yellow Springs Bamboo is rare or valuable and may change the balance of the negotiations.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo remains calm and strategically focused despite financial pressure and Black Pattern’s intimidation. His willingness to spend all his resources shows his determination to improve his cultivation. He also demonstrates increasing confidence by offering the rare Yellow Springs Bamboo.
• Black Pattern is revealed to have limited resources and a larger objective involving Li Shuang. He is cautious and calculating, choosing not to overspend, but his resentment toward Shen Luo grows.
• Xie Yuxin acts as a practical adviser, helping Shen Luo recognize that the free-trade session is his best chance to obtain the breakthrough pill.
• Li Shuang displays considerable wealth and composure. Her successful exchange for the ghost bones suggests she possesses valuable and uncommon Magical Artifacts, while her connection to Black Pattern makes her strategically important.
• The green-haired female ghost is firm about her requirements and refuses a merely adequate offer, showing that she understands the rarity and value of her ghost bones.

Significant Themes

• Resource management and sacrifice: Shen Luo risks exhausting all his Immortal Jade to secure a rare cultivation resource, while Black Pattern must balance immediate opportunities against future goals.
• Value beyond appearance: Several treasures, including the seemingly ordinary Yellow Springs Bamboo, possess hidden significance that only knowledgeable cultivators recognize.
• Negotiation and strategic exchange: The free-trade portion emphasizes that rare treasures are valuable only when matched with the right buyer and desired item.
• Cultivation advancement: The characters’ decisions are driven by the pursuit of stronger cultivation, breakthrough opportunities, and rare materials.
• Hidden alliances and rivalries: Black Pattern’s interest in Li Shuang, his hostility toward Shen Luo, and the masked organizers’ recognition of the bamboo hint at deeper relationships and future conflict.

Character Interactions

• Black Pattern threatens Shen Luo after losing the bid, but Shen Luo ignores him.
• Black Pattern consults his blood-robed attendant about their remaining funds and the reliability of information concerning Li Shuang.
• Xie Yuxin privately advises Shen Luo on how to obtain the breakthrough pill.
• Qing Ao attempts to trade for the green-haired ghost’s bones but is rejected because his offer does not meet her conditions.
• Li Shuang successfully negotiates with the green-haired ghost by offering the Smoke Cloud Banner.
• Shen Luo enters the free-trade negotiations by offering Yellow Springs Bamboo, immediately drawing Black Pattern’s attention and surprise.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Luo offers a stalk of Yellow Springs Bamboo, a rare spirit material, in exchange for pills that can significantly improve his chances of breaking through to the Fasting Stage.
• Although the ghosts recognize the bamboo’s value, none initially possess the pills he needs. Shen Luo prepares to withdraw the offer.
• Li Shuang examines the bamboo and confirms that it is genuine Yellow Springs Bamboo by allowing it to absorb his yin qi. He offers three Earth Spirit Pills, rare pills refined by the Underworld and reputed to increase breakthrough chances by more than thirty percent.
• Black Pattern interrupts the nearly completed exchange and attempts to buy the pills from Li Shuang for 360 Immortal Jades. Li Shuang refuses, stating that he is not short of money, and gives the pills to Shen Luo.
• Shen Luo inspects the pills and realizes that their medicinal power is highly concentrated. He is delighted because they give him a meaningful chance of reaching the Fasting Stage despite his poor aptitude.
• Black Pattern suppresses his anger after being warned that violence is forbidden within the Impermanence Pavilion, but he reveals clear murderous intent toward Shen Luo and Li Shuang.
• Xie Yuxin explains that everyone must return to the location where they entered the Ghost Market; once the market closes, its restrictions will teleport them back to Jianye City.
• The exchange meeting concludes. Most later trades are unremarkable, while Black Pattern leaves arrogantly without bowing to Yuguan.
• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin thank the Impermanence Pavilion officials for enforcing the rules. Yuguan then dismisses the masked attendants and privately retains Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin for a discussion.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Gains three exceptionally valuable Earth Spirit Pills, greatly improving his prospects of breaking through to the Fasting Stage. He also becomes more alert to Black Pattern’s hostility and learns the procedure for returning to the Human Realm.
• Li Shuang: Demonstrates his authority and wealth by refusing Black Pattern’s superior monetary offer. His willingness to honor the exchange establishes him as reliable and principled, while his ability to verify the bamboo suggests considerable knowledge and cultivation.
• Black Pattern: His arrogance and possessiveness become more evident. Though he obeys the pavilion’s rules, his suppressed rage and killing intent show that he may seek revenge later.
• Xie Yuxin: Continues to act as a helpful companion, providing Shen Luo with important information and offering congratulations on his successful trade.
• Yuguan and the masked officials: Reinforce the Impermanence Pavilion’s reputation for fairness and strict enforcement of its rules.

3. Significant Themes

• Value beyond wealth: The exchange shows that rare cultivation resources cannot always be obtained with money; Li Shuang values the agreed trade more than Black Pattern’s monetary offer.
• Fairness and order: The Impermanence Pavilion maintains strict neutrality, preventing Black Pattern from using intimidation or violence to seize the pills.
• Cultivation and opportunity: The Earth Spirit Pills represent Shen Luo’s hope of overcoming his natural limitations and advancing his cultivation.
• Hidden danger beneath civility: Although the gathering remains orderly, Black Pattern’s resentment creates an undercurrent of threat.
• Trust and reliability: Li Shuang’s fulfillment of the exchange contrasts with Soul-Snatching Horse-Face’s failure to provide Shen Luo with basic information about leaving the Ghost Market.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen Luo negotiates with the assembled ghosts, then directly exchanges the Yellow Springs Bamboo with Li Shuang.
• Black Pattern attempts to disrupt the deal by offering Li Shuang a large amount of Immortal Jade, but Li Shuang rejects him and gives the pills to Shen Luo.
• The pavilion officials intervene when Black Pattern appears ready to act violently, reminding him that fighting is prohibited.
• Xie Yuxin congratulates Shen Luo and later explains the return mechanism of the Ghost Market.
• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin thank Yuguan and the masked officials for protecting the fairness of the exchange.
• At the chapter’s end, Yuguan separates himself from the other officials and prepares to discuss something privately with Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin.

Chapter Summary: “Yuguan’s Warning”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yuguan receives a message from his master but then reveals that Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin are in danger.
• Using a magical wheel of light, Yuguan shows them a conversation between Black Pattern and his blood-robed attendant. Black Pattern plans to ambush and kill Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin after they leave the Ghost Market, reclaiming the three Earth Spirit Pills and taking revenge for his humiliation.
• The attendant warns that Li Shuang may be a Soul Condensation Stage cultivator and an Underworld Yin Deity, making it dangerous to attack him. Black Pattern reluctantly agrees to spare Li Shuang but insists that the two human cultivators be killed.
• Yuguan explains that the Ghost Market’s prohibition against fighting ends once they leave the valley. He then hints at a secret passage near Azure Moon Cliff that may allow them to escape.
• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin hurry into the valley’s depths to find the passage. They learn that dawn is approaching and that the Ghost Market will soon disappear. If they fail to leave in time, they may become trapped between the Mortal Realm and the Netherworld.
• They locate Azure Moon Cliff, identified by its bluish Azure Moon Stone. Shen Luo uses his self-developed Treasure-Seeking Talisman to see through the rock and discovers a concealed opening, apparently marking the secret passage.

Character Developments

• Shen Luo: Remains calm and resourceful despite the assassination threat. His invention and use of the Treasure-Seeking Talisman demonstrate his ingenuity and preparation. He also takes responsibility for finding a way out.
• Xie Yuxin: Shows increasing urgency and practical knowledge, explaining the Ghost Market’s connection to the yin-yang boundary and the danger of missing dawn. She works closely with Shen Luo and recognizes the significance of Azure Moon Stone.
• Yuguan: Acts as a helpful but enigmatic ally. He warns Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin out of personal interest and gives them crucial information about the hidden passage, though he makes clear that their survival depends on their own abilities.
• Black Pattern: Becomes increasingly vindictive and reckless after losing face. Although intimidated by Li Shuang’s status and power, he directs his hatred toward Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin.
• Blood-robed attendant: Serves as the voice of caution, reminding Black Pattern of the political and supernatural consequences of attacking Li Shuang.
• Masked figures: Their questioning of Yuguan suggests that his interest in Shen Luo is unusual, adding mystery to Yuguan’s motives.

Significant Themes

• Danger beyond formal rules: The Ghost Market provides protection only within its boundaries; once outside, violence and betrayal become possible.
• Revenge and pride: Black Pattern’s wounded pride drives him to abandon restraint and order a murderous ambush.
• Mutual aid and indebtedness: Yuguan helps Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin because they are acquainted, while Shen Luo immediately asks how he can repay the favor.
• Time and survival: The approaching dawn creates a strict deadline, intensifying the urgency of the escape.
• Ingenuity versus force: Rather than confronting Black Pattern’s forces directly, Shen Luo relies on specialized knowledge and magical tools to find a hidden route.

Character Interactions

• Yuguan warns Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin by showing them Black Pattern’s plan, earning their gratitude.
• Black Pattern argues with his attendant over whether Li Shuang should be attacked, revealing the conflict between personal revenge and political caution.
• Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin cooperate closely while searching for the secret passage, with Xie providing knowledge about the Ghost Market and Shen Luo using his talisman to locate the entrance.
• Yuguan’s conversation with the masked figures hints that Shen Luo may possess qualities or potential that make him especially interesting to Yuguan.