Ghost cultivators were different from ordinary people, after all. Whether fighting or cultivating, they no longer needed spiritual qi. Instead, yin energy was the foundation of their survival.
"Everyone here, human or ghost, seems to deliberately keep their voices down?"
Yin Yin and A-Yu were not particularly surprised by Su Jiu's sudden question.
"The city lord of Huayin City doesn't like people or ghosts speaking too loudly."
Su Jiu raised an eyebrow. "He even regulates that?"
Yin Yin lowered her voice further. "They say he was mute when he was alive, and even after becoming a ghost, he still couldn't speak aloud. He can only communicate through divine sense. So after he became city lord, he added a rule forbidding anyone from making a loud commotion in the streets. Otherwise, the enforcers will take them away and pull their tongues out by the roots before releasing them."
Su Jiu frowned, feeling that this city lord was far too domineering. "They're all cultivators. Even if their tongues are pulled out, wouldn't they grow back very quickly?"
Yin Yin shook her head. "It's not that easy. I once met someone whose tongue the city lord had pulled out. That person told me the tool he uses is a spirit treasure steeped in a special poison. Any tongue removed with it will never grow back, whether it belongs to a human or a ghost."
They chatted as they walked, until Su Jiu suddenly stopped at a rather unusual stall. It sold neither magic treasures nor pills, but black cards.
"Hey, you must be fellow Daoists from elsewhere! You've arrived at just the right time. There's an auction in the western part of the city in two days, and all the invitation letters I have here are valid. Why not take a look?"
Su