Yellow Springs Road, City of Life and Death

Listening Rain Pavilion.

A renowned restaurant in Yujing City, known for its tranquil and elegant ambiance.

The flying eaves and intricate Dougong brackets exuded an ancient charm.

Fang Heng walked along the covered corridor, a gentle breeze stirring.

Yesterday, Shen Qiushui's personal maid had come to deliver a message, arranging for them to meet today.

The quiet, secluded environment gave Fang Heng the strange impression of a secret rendezvous.

He reached the antique-style private room, pushed the door open, and entered.

Shen Qiushui was already waiting inside, dressed in a light blue silk dress, its skirt flowing like water, gracefully spreading across the floor.

Seeing Fang Heng enter, she moved with lotus-like steps, slowly rising and curtsying.

Her movements were elegant and practiced, like a blooming blue lotus.

"This commoner greets Your Highness."

"Miss Shen, you're too polite."

Fang Heng wore a warm smile, waving his hand quickly, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Though Shen Qiushui held no official position, everyone in Yujing City knew the Martial Prime Minister doted on his daughter.

Offending the Martial Prime Minister's eldest or second son might not cause trouble.

But offending Shen Qiushui was like stirring up a hornet's nest.

"Your Highness, today is the opening day of the City of Life and Death," Shen Qiushui said softly, raising her beautiful eyes slightly and getting straight to the point.

Fang Heng's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He was very curious about the mysterious and unpredictable City of Life and Death.

"How do we get to the City of Life and Death?"

"Your Highness, the City of Life and Death is neither in the human realm nor the Nine Netherworld; it lies between the two."

"Legend has it that after death, souls pass through the Yellow Springs Road to enter the Nine Netherworld for reincarnation."

"Later, a powerful being, out of longing for loved ones, built a city on the Yellow Springs Road, allowing relatives to see the deceased one last time."

"This city is now the City of Life and Death."

"The only way to enter the City of Life and Death is to walk the Yellow Springs Road and pass through the Gate of Ghosts."

Fang Heng raised an eyebrow, his expression turning odd.

"This... does that mean I have to turn myself into a dead person?"

"No need for that!" Shen Qiushui's delicate face broke into a playful smile. "As long as you have a Fengdu Pass, even a living person can walk the Yellow Springs Road."

As she spoke, Shen Qiushui flipped her jade hand.

A dark token appeared in her slender hand.

This dark token emanated a chilling aura.

On its front, the characters "Fengdu" were engraved.

On its back, the characters "Pass" were inscribed.

"This Fengdu Pass can guide living people onto the Yellow Springs Road, through the Gate of Ghosts, and into the City of Life and Death."

"Later, Your Highness, you will accompany me."

After explaining, Shen Qiushui activated the Fengdu Pass.

Seeing the token emit a faint glow, Fang Heng's eyes narrowed.

Shen Qiushui held quite a secret.

Her ability to activate the Fengdu Pass clearly indicated she was also a cultivator.

However, her cultivation system was not among the Martial, Daoist, or Buddhist schools, nor was it related to the Path of God Worship.

It seemed to be some extremely niche ancient legacy.

Shen Qiushui trusted him enough to expose her secret in front of him.

Naturally, Fang Heng wouldn't press the matter.

As the faint glow on the Fengdu Pass grew brighter, After about half a cup of tea, a winding path appeared out of thin air within the private room.

One end connected to the present world, while the other disappeared into the void, with no end in sight.

This path was paved with bluestone slabs, their surfaces uneven, bearing the marks of time's erosion.

A desolate, chilling, and ominous aura permeated the air.

It made one feel as if they had stepped into another world.

"Your Highness, this is Yellow Springs Road. Please follow me."

Shen Qiushui called softly, then led Fang Heng onto Yellow Springs Road.

A few breaths later, their figures vanished from the private room.

After walking about a dozen steps, Fang Heng saw the surrounding scenery abruptly transform.

The antique private room was gone, replaced by endless darkness.

It was darker than night, deeper than an abyss.

After another dozen steps, a massive gate appeared before them.

On the gate, three characters, "Gate of Ghosts," were written in bold, flowing strokes, like iron paintings and silver hooks.

"Your Highness, after we pass through the Gate of Ghosts, all the Yellow Springs Roads from different places will converge."

"At that point, we'll not only see others but also spirits and ghosts."

"The City of Life and Death is a chaotic place, so it's best not to reveal our identities. Everyone wears masks there."

As she spoke, Shen Qiushui produced two masks she had prepared earlier.

Fang Heng took a mask, his fingertips brushing against its surface. It was cool to the touch, and he couldn't tell what material it was made from.

The mask Shen Qiushui gave Fang Heng was Black Impermanence, while she wore White Impermanence.

Standing side by side, they truly looked like the Black and White Impermanence.

Fang Heng looked at Shen Qiushui, and a quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed that the masks also had the ability to block spiritual probing.

Clearly, they were treasures specially crafted by the City of Life and Death to protect everyone's identities.

Stepping through the Gate of Ghosts.

Instantly, Fang Heng felt a huge change.

A dense aura of yin and death permeated the void, causing Fang Heng to frown involuntarily.

Aside from the Yellow Springs Road beneath their feet, Looking around, he could see countless other Yellow Springs Roads, densely packed, converging here.

It was like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

Some Yellow Springs Roads were traversed by spirits and ghosts.

Other Yellow Springs Roads, like theirs, were for cultivators heading to the City of Life and Death.

As Fang Heng observed Yellow Springs Road, Shen Qiushui took Fang Heng's right hand, her touch soft and delicate.

The boneless sensation made Fang Heng instinctively rub her hand with his thumb.

Noticing Fang Heng's small gesture, Shen Qiushui's pretty face beneath the White Impermanence mask flushed slightly, as radiant as a peach blossom in February.

"Your Highness, the spirits and ghosts on Yellow Springs Road will attack living people."

"The Fengdu Pass can shield the aura of living people on us. Later, you absolutely must not leave the protection of the pass."

A soft, slightly trembling voice reached Fang Heng's ears.

Fang Heng immediately saw the halo emitted by the Fengdu Pass, which had protective and shielding functions.

However, the halo of the pass wasn't large.

It was originally meant for one person. With both of them walking side by side, it felt a bit cramped.

Shen Qiushui had to press close to Fang Heng to avoid being exposed.

Her soft hair brushed past his nose, carrying the faint, sweet scent of a young woman.

Fang Heng lowered his head slightly, looking at the delicate girl so close to him.

Though he couldn't see her face, her shoulders were gracefully sloped, and she swayed like a gentle willow in the breeze, exuding the unique delicate charm of a well-bred young lady, a girl from Jiangnan, and a scholarly talent.

Her vulnerable, captivating beauty made one yearn to hold her close.

"Your Highness, let's hurry. It's a long way."

Shen Qiushui's voice trembled with nervousness.

Her slender, jade-like hands were glistening with sweat.

As they walked forward, they soon encountered spirits and ghosts.

Most of these spirits and ghosts were ordinary people; Fang Heng could make their souls scatter with a flick of his finger.

However, there were also some formidable spirits and ghosts mixed in.

These spirits and ghosts were once accomplished cultivators in their lives.

Even though their strength as spirits and ghosts after death was not as great as when they were alive, it far surpassed that of ordinary ghosts.

Besides spirits and ghosts on Yellow Springs Road, Fang Heng also saw many masked cultivators, just like them, heading to the City of Life and Death.

Neither party had any intention of approaching the other when they saw each other. Instead, they widened the distance between them, each wary of the other.

An hour later, A massive city appeared before Fang Heng.

The City of Life and Death.

It stood majestically by the Yellow Springs Road.

If not for the pervasive aura of deathly silence and chill in the air, there would be no discernible difference between the City of Life and Death and any city in the mortal realm.

At the city gates, two guards from the City Lord's Mansion stood watch.

They didn't inspect or charge money from those entering the city, acting merely as decorations.

"They used to charge Soul Pearls as an entry fee," Shen Qiushui whispered.

"But since the new City Lord took office, the entry fee has been abolished."

"I heard that after the entry fee was canceled, the number of cultivators trading in the City of Life and Death has increased tenfold over these past few years."

Fang Heng chuckled after hearing this.

"This new City Lord is quite the businessman."

As they entered the City of Life and Death, they were immediately met with the sounds of hawking.

"Huge sale! Huge sale! Second-tier ghosts, only ten Soul Pearls, only..."

"Eastern Sea Dragon Species, two hundred Soul Pearls! Absolutely pure bloodline, with impressive potential!"

"Stunning female slave, noble status, she's a Northern Barbarian noble's mistress, only fifty Soul Pearls!"

"Buying Profound Bone Pills, the more the better!"

"Trading rare items, only bartering accepted!"

The continuous cries of vendors opened Fang Heng's eyes.

Eastern Sea Dragon Pearls, Northern Barbarian mistresses, and even rare items were being peddled.

Fang Heng glanced at the Northern Barbarian mistress being sold; she had a fiery figure and an exotic charm.

Her stall also drew the largest crowd.

Fang Heng's gaze swept across the area, his eyes narrowing as he quickly made a discovery.

He detected Destiny/Luck within a chess piece.

Indeed, I didn't come to the wrong place.

Fang Heng was very familiar with this black chess piece.

It was Emperor Yuling's personal chess piece.

He hadn't expected to find his target as soon as he arrived in the City of Life and Death.

"The City of Life and Death uses Soul Pearls for transactions and doesn't accept gold or silver."

"I still have quite a few Soul Pearls here..."

"Cough, cough—that's not necessary!"

"There should be a place to exchange Soul Pearls in the City of Life and Death, right?"

Fang Heng quickly interrupted Shen Qiushui.

Taking a free ride was one thing.

But to keep relying on Shen Qiushui would make him feel uneasy.

"You can exchange Soul Pearls at the moneychanger."

"Moreover, the moneychanger is run by the City Lord, so the prices are fair."

"Besides exchanging Soul Pearls, the moneychanger also sells Fengdu Passes."

Shen Qiushui spoke as they walked side-by-side, arriving in front of a moneychanger.

The moneychanger occupied a vast area and was grand and imposing, with two pixiu statues at the entrance exuding an astonishing aura.

Once inside the moneychanger, it was no different from a moneychanger in the mortal world.

"How may I help you, customer?"

"I'd like to exchange some Soul Pearls."

With that, Fang Heng took out cultivation pills and other cultivation resources.

He exchanged them for five hundred Soul Pearls at the moneychanger and also bought a Fengdu Pass.

Looking at the translucent, completely transparent Soul Pearl in his hand, like a glass marble, Fang Heng felt a very strong spiritual energy within the Soul Pearl.

Soul Pearls are elixirs refined from the souls of yin spirits and ghostly creatures.

They have the effect of nourishing the soul.

Besides healing injuries, they can also advance cultivation.

This is especially true for Daoist cultivators in the Object Manipulation Realm.

The Object Manipulation Realm, as its name suggests, involves manipulating treasures from a distance.

The primary cultivation in the Object Manipulation Realm is to strengthen the soul.

Soul Pearls are a top-tier cultivation resource for the Object Manipulation Realm.

"It's only because the City of Life and Death is located on the Yellow Springs Road that there are so many yin spirits and ghostly creatures to refine into Soul Pearls. Otherwise, where would they come from?"

Although Fang Heng hadn't been in the City of Life and Death for long, he immediately understood its foundation.

They encircle and suppress the yin spirits and ghostly creatures on the Yellow Springs Road, refine them into Soul Pearls, and attract cultivators to trade here.

This is the very basis of the City of Life and Death's existence.

Carrying the Soul Pearls, he walked out of the money exchange.

He saw Shen Qiushui, wearing a White Impermanence mask, discussing something with a man wearing a Horse-Face mask.

After waiting for a moment, Shen Qiushui finished her discussion, walked over, and spoke softly, with a hint of apology in her tone.

"I had an appointment with a friend to attend a trade fair."

"I wanted to recommend you, but they were wary of you and didn't agree."

"It's fine, you go ahead. I've already found my target in the market."

"This is my communication talisman. You can contact me if you need anything."

"Got it!"

Shen Qiushui breathed a sigh of relief, gave Fang Heng another apologetic look, and then went to attend the trade fair.

After bidding farewell to Shen Qiushui, Fang Heng returned to the stall where he had previously seen Emperor Yuling's chess piece.

"What's the price for this chess piece?"

"Ten Soul Pearls!"

"That's too much! Three at most!"

"Nine!"

After some bargaining, Fang Heng bought the chess piece from the stall owner for five Soul Pearls.

As soon as he took the chess piece, it immediately absorbed the Destiny/Luck within it.

Destiny/Luck +20!

Nice!

Fang Heng's eyebrows rose, and a joyful expression appeared on his face.

Then, he began to wander around the City of Life and Death.

He had originally thought that Emperor Yuling's chess pieces would be difficult to acquire.

But things went much more smoothly than he had imagined.

In the City of Life and Death, many people possessed Emperor Yuling's chess pieces, which greatly surprised Fang Heng.

In less than half an hour, Fang Heng had acquired ten chess pieces.

This increased his Destiny/Luck by 200 points.

At the same time, a sensational piece of news spread throughout the City of Life and Death.

There was a big fool buying Emperor Yuling's chess pieces.

"Did you hear? Someone is buying Emperor Yuling's chess pieces."

"Tsk tsk, someone's gone crazy. If the Great Yu Treasure Vault were that easy to find, it wouldn't be his turn, would it?"

"They say the map to the Great Yu Treasure Vault is hidden in Emperor Yuling's personal Go set."

"But after all these years, let alone a map, there hasn't even been a single clue!"

"Heh—a map, you say?"

"It's clearly a trap targeting the remnants of Great Yu."

"Back then, Emperor Taizong of Great Qian used this rumor to trick countless remnants of Great Yu."

"There's such a saying? No wonder no one has found the Great Yu Treasure Vault after all these years."

"Now that there's a fool buying chess pieces, sell them quickly."

"Once this opportunity passes, it won't come again."

Initially, Fang Heng had to acquire the pieces himself.

But gradually, to his surprise, people started coming to him, offering to sell Emperor Yuling's pieces.

This immediately changed Fang Heng's strategy.

He'd drive down the price!

With the tables turned, it was only natural to demand a steep discount.

He managed to drop the price of each piece from five Soul Pearls to just two.

He also heard news about the Great Yu Treasure Vault from others.

Fang Heng wasn't particularly concerned about the Great Yu Treasure Vault.

If he found it, great; if not, he wouldn't force it.

But the Destiny/Luck within the pieces was real.

Fang Heng simply paid a fee to set up a stall in the City of Life and Death, disguised as an old man, to acquire Emperor Yuling's pieces.

In just half a day, he collected forty-five pieces.

"I hear you're collecting Emperor Yuling's pieces?" a person wearing a rabbit-faced mask asked, lowering their voice.

"That's right!"

"Three Soul Pearls per piece."

"Do you also buy the boards?"

"You have Emperor Yuling's boards?"

Fang Heng was stunned for a moment, looking at the other person in surprise.

He forcibly suppressed the joy bubbling up inside him.

"My master was obsessed with the Great Yu Treasure Vault back then and collected quite a few pieces and boards."

"How many pieces?"

"One hundred and fifty!"

Hearing the number one hundred and fifty, Fang Heng's eyebrows couldn't help but rise under his mask.

A Go board has a total of three hundred and sixty-one pieces, and this rabbit-faced individual had nearly half of them alone.

This surprised Fang Heng for quite some time.

"I'll take them all, including the board and pieces. How many Soul Pearls?" A slightly aged voice came from Fang Heng's mouth.

"I don't want Soul Pearls!" The rabbit-face shook their head. "I only accept bartering."

"A rare item of the evasion type."

An evasion-type rare item?

Fang Heng frowned deeply, forming a furrowed brow.

The preciousness of rare items needed no further explanation.

And the rabbit-face specifically requested an evasion-type rare item.

Evasion-type rare items were life-saving artifacts, even more valuable than other types of rare items.

However, he remembered that Evergreen Temple had an evasion-type rare item.

If he paid a sufficient price, it wasn't impossible to exchange for it with Evergreen Temple.

After a moment of hesitation, Fang Heng nodded.

"Deal!"

"However, I didn't bring the evasion-type rare item with me. We'll trade next time."

"Alright!"

The rabbit-face nodded, then left in a hurry.