yǒu le xiān qián liàn zhì hún pò de jīng yàn ， zhè yī cì jiāo hún de liàn zhì shí fēn shùn lì ， zhǐ shì bǐ yù xiān suǒ shè xiǎng de shí jiān duō huā le yī xiē 。
有了先前炼制魂魄的经验，这一次蛟魂的炼制十分顺利，只是比预先所设想的时间多花了一些。
With previous experience in refining souls, the process of refining Jiao Soul this time went smoothly, albeit taking a bit longer than initially planned.
zhěng zhěng sān tiān yǐ hòu ， lín xuān cái cóng zhè lín shí de xiǎo shān dòng lǐ chū lái ， yuè ér de qíng kuàng bù róng lè guān ， qì sè chà dào le jí diǎn 。
整整三天以后，林轩才从这临时的小山洞里出来，月儿的情况不容乐观，气色差到了极点。
Three full days later, Lin Xuan emerged from the small temporary cave. Moon's condition was not optimistic; her complexion had deteriorated to an alarming degree.
lín xuān shuāng méi jǐn suǒ ， fǎng fú zài sī liáng zhe shén me 。
林轩双眉紧锁，仿佛在思量着什么。
Lin Xuan frowned as if pondering something. Soon after, he transformed into a streak of startling light and disappeared into the sky.
shǎo qǐng ， tā huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， xiāo shī zài le tiān kōng 。
少顷，他化为一道惊虹，消失在了天空。
For the next few days, Lin Xuan did not rest, traveling day and night without pause. About half a month later, he finally arrived at Yinhun Canyon.
jiē xià lái de jǐ rì ， lín xuān méi yǒu xiū xī ， bù fēn bái tiān hái shì hēi yè ， jiān chéng gǎn lù ， dà yuē bàn gè yuè hòu ， zhōng yú lái dào le yīn hún xiá gǔ 。
接下来的几日，林轩没有休息，不分白天还是黑夜，兼程赶路，大约半个月后，终于来到了阴魂峡谷。
"Master."
“ shào yé 。”
“少爷。”
"How do you feel, Moon?"
“ yuè ér ， gǎn jué rú hé ？”
“月儿，感觉如何？”
The young woman勉强smiled: "It's still okay."
shào nǚ miǎn qiǎng yī xiào ：“ hái hǎo 。”
少女勉强一笑：“还好。”
Lin Xuan nodded and opened his mouth, expelling a ball of pure Yin essence qi that entered her body to stabilize her injuries. Then, he released his divine sense, discerning the direction before flying towards the southeastern horizon.
lín xuān diǎn diǎn tóu ， zhāng kāi kǒu ， yī tuán jīng chún de yīn líng qì pēn tǔ ér chū ， mò rù shào nǚ de shēn tǐ ， shāo shāo wèi yuè ér wěn dìng le yī xià shāng shì ， rán hòu fàng chū shén shí ， biàn shí le yī xià fāng xiàng zhī hòu ， xiàng zhe dōng nán fāng de tiān jì fēi qù 。
林轩点点头，张开口，一团精纯的阴灵气喷吐而出，没入少女的身体，稍稍为月儿稳定了一下伤势，然后放出神识，辨识了一下方向之后，向着东南方的天际飞去。
Several hours later, an expansive city came into view.
shù gè shí chén yǐ hòu ， yī zuò guī mó huī hóng de chéng shì chū xiàn zài le shì xiàn lǐ 。
数个时辰以后，一座规模恢宏的城市出现在了视线里。
From afar, it covered over a hundred square miles, with walls constructed from massive black stones towering more than ten zhang (about 30 feet) high. Even from a distance, one could feel the awe-inspiring presence that greeted them.
yī yǎn wàng qù ， zhàn dì zú yǒu shàng bǎi píng fāng lǐ ， chéng qiáng yóu jù dà de hēi sè shí tou duī qì ér chéng ， gāo shí yú zhàng ， lí dé shàng yuǎn ， jiù kě yǐ gǎn jué dào nà jīng rén de qì shì pū miàn ér lái 。
一眼望去，占地足有上百平方里，城墙由巨大的黑色石头堆砌而成，高十余丈，离得尚远，就可以感觉到那惊人的气势扑面而来。
Ghost Luo City!
guǐ luó chéng ！
鬼罗城！
In the cultivation world of Youzhou, this city was renowned. It was the second-largest city entirely composed of cultivators after Heavenly Demon City.
zài yōu zhōu dì xiū zhēn jiè 。 zhè yī zuò chéng shì kě shì dà míng dǐng dǐng 。 shì chú le tiān mó chéng yǐ wài 。 dì èr zuò quán shì xiū shì dì chéng shì 。
在幽州地修真界。这一座城市可是大名鼎鼎。是除了天魔城以外。第二座全是修士地城市。
Over these countless years, ghostly creatures in Yinhun Canyon dared not venture out to cause mischief due to the intimidating presence of this city. A senior from the Separation and Union stage had once self-destructed, opening a passage between Yin and Yang realms, allowing numerous ghosts to flood into Youzhou, causing unprecedented devastation. Although they were eventually driven back by joint efforts of orthodox and demonic cultivators, leaving them in temporary truce, humans and ghosts remained distrustful.
zhè shù wàn nián lái 。 yīn hún xiá gǔ dì guǐ wù bù gǎn suí yì wài chū zuò è 。 jiù dé yì yú zhè zuò xiū shì zhī chéng dì zhèn shè 。 dāng nián 。 nà wèi lí hé qī qián bèi zì bào pò kāi yīn yáng liǎng jiè dì tōng dào 。 dà liàng dì yīn hún guǐ wù yǒng rù le yōu zhōu 。 shēng líng tú tàn 。 zào chéng dì hào jié kě wèi kōng qián 。 suī rán zài zhèng mó liǎng dào xiū shì dì lián shǒu jiǎo shā xià 。 tuì huí le yīn hún xiá gǔ 。 shuāng fāng zàn shí zhǐ xiē gān gē 。 dàn rén guǐ shū tú 。 xiāng hù zhī jiān kěn dìng shì hù bù xìn rèn dì 。 xiū shì men bú shì méi yǒu xiǎng guò yì láo yǒng yì 。 rán ér zài yīn wù zhī zhōng 。 bù lùn guǐ wáng hái shì guǐ zú 。 jiē shí lì dà zēng 。 xiū shì men gōng dǎ le jǐ cì 。 jiē dà bài ér huí 。 wú nài zhī xià 。 zhǐ hǎo tuì ér qiú qí cì 。 zài zhè yīn hún xiá gǔ dì bù yuǎn zhī chù 。 shī zhǎn dà shén tōng 。 xiū jiàn le yī zuò chéng shì 。 gè mén pài lún fān pài chū dì zǐ 。 zài zhè lǐ zhù zhā 。 jiān shì guǐ wù 。
这数万年来。阴魂峡谷地鬼物不敢随意外出做恶。就得益于这座修士之城地震慑。当年。那位离合期前辈自爆破开阴阳两界地通道。大量地阴魂鬼物涌入了幽州。生灵涂炭。造成地浩劫可谓空前。虽然在正魔两道修士地联手剿杀下。退回了阴魂峡谷。双方暂时止歇干戈。但人鬼殊途。相互之间肯定是互不信任地。修士们不是没有想过一劳永逸。然而在阴雾之中。不论鬼王还是鬼卒。皆实力大增。修士们攻打了几次。皆大败而回。无奈之下。只好退而求其次。在这阴魂峡谷地不远之处。施展大神通。修建了一座城市。各门派轮番派出弟子。在这里驻扎。监视鬼物。
Many sects had considered a permanent solution but found that, under the veil of darkness, both ghost kings and soldiers significantly increased their strength. Multiple attempts to attack ended in failure, leading them to settle for constructing this city near Yinhun Canyon. Various sects rotated sending disciples to monitor the ghostly creatures.
shì yí shí yì 。 rú jīn dì xíng shì yǔ wàn nián qián xiāng bǐ 。 zì rán yǐ jīng dà bù xiāng tóng 。 wú shù mén pài qǐ qǐ luò luò 。 biàn shì zhèng mó liǎng dào dì lì liàng duì bǐ 。 yě shēng le fān tiān fù dì dì biàn huà 。 rán ér guǐ luó chéng lì jīng fēng yǔ 。 què yī rú dāng chū 。
事移时易。如今地形势与万年前相比。自然已经大不相同。无数门派起起落落。便是正魔两道地力量对比。也生了翻天覆地地变化。然而鬼罗城历经风雨。却一如当初。
Times changed, and the current situation was vastly different from ten thousand years ago. Countless sects rose and fell, and the balance of power between orthodox and demonic forces had undergone a complete transformation. However, Ghost Luo City remained unchanged through the storms.
zhè lǐ dì xiū shì 。 gòng fēn wéi sān gǔ shì lì 。
这里地修士。共分为三股势力。
The city's cultivators were divided into three factions:
dì yī shì zhèng dào 。 dì èr shì mó dào 。 shèng xià dì lìng wài yī gǔ 。 zé shì sàn xiū 。
第一是正道。第二是魔道。剩下地另外一股。则是散修。
Firstly, there was the orthodox path, secondly, the demonic path, with the third being lone practitioners.
zhěng gè guǐ luó chéng de guǎn lǐ jī gòu ， zé shì yóu gāo jiē xiū shì zǔ chéng de yuán lǎo huì ， shè yī míng dà zhǎng lǎo 。 mù qián shì yóu hóng lǎo zǔ dān rèn cǐ zhí 。
整个鬼罗城的管理机构，则是由高阶修士组成的元老会，设一名大长老。目前是由红老祖担任此职。
The management body of Ghost Luo City consisted of high-ranking cultivators forming an Elder Council, headed by a Grandmaster. Currently, it was Red Ancestor who held this position.
hóng lǎo zǔ ， sàn xiū de jiāo ào ， cǐ rén yě shì yōu zhōu chú le zhèng dào sān jù tóu de jǐ wèi tài shàng zhǎng lǎo yǐ jí jí è mó zūn yǐ wài ， dì liù wèi tà rù yuán yīng qī dì lǎo guài 。
红老祖，散修的骄傲，此人也是幽州除了正道三巨头的几位太上长老以及极恶魔尊以外，第六位踏入元婴期地老怪。
Red Ancestor was the pride of lone practitioners; he was one of only six seniors to have entered the Immortal Stage in Youzhou, alongside the three top elders of orthodox sects and Extreme Demon Sovereign.
rú jīn yōu zhōu yǐ shì luàn zuò yī tuán ， zhèng mó liǎng dào zhèng shì kāi zhàn ， zhè lǐ de qì fēn yě biàn dé jǐn zhāng qǐ lái ， guǐ luó chéng de sān gǔ shì lì ， zhèng dào yǔ mó dào suī rán xiāng hù kè zhì ， méi yǒu xiàng wài jiān yī yàng dà dǎ chū shǒu 。 dàn ǒu ěr yě huì yǒu líng xīng de dòu ōu 。
如今幽州已是乱作一团，正魔两道正式开战，这里的气氛也变得紧张起来，鬼罗城的三股势力，正道与魔道虽然相互克制，没有像外间一样大打出手。但偶尔也会有零星的斗殴。
With Youzhou now in chaos, with the orthodox and demonic paths officially at war, the atmosphere here had become tense. Although the three factions within Ghost Luo City mutually checked each other's power, they did not engage in open conflict like those outside. However, sporadic brawls were not uncommon.
shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu ！
山雨欲来风满楼！
The winds of change were brewing!
lín xuān zhī suǒ yǐ lái dào zhè lǐ ， ér méi yǒu zhí jiē qián wǎng yīn hún xiá gǔ yě shì yǒu zì jǐ de kǎo liáng ， guǐ hún zài rén jiān jiè de shèng dì qǐ shì nà me hǎo chuǎng ？
林轩之所以来到这里，而没有直接前往阴魂峡谷也是有自己的考量，鬼魂在人间界的圣地岂是那么好闯？
Lin Xuan came to this city for a reason; he didn't go directly to Yinhun Canyon because the ghostly sanctuaries in the mortal world weren’t easy to enter.
bié shuō zì jǐ ， jiù suàn yǐ jí è mó zūn zhī néng ， gū shēn shēn rù nà lǐ ， néng fǒu zhuō zhù guǐ wáng píng ān guī lái yě hái shì liǎng shuō zhī shì 。
别说自己，就算以极恶魔尊之能，孤身深入那里，能否捉住鬼王平安归来也还是两说之事。
Even with his abilities, it was uncertain if he could safely capture a ghost king and return alive. While Moon needed saving, Lin Xuan wouldn't risk himself unnecessarily.
yuè ér gù rán yào jiù ， dàn méi yǒu bǎ wò ， lín xuān yě bú huì mào rán jiāng zì jǐ zhì shēn yú xiǎn jìng zhī zhōng 。
月儿固然要救，但没有把握，林轩也不会贸然将自己置身于险境之中。
Originally, Ghost Luo City had only served as a monitoring point for ghosts in Yinhun Canyon. Now, its role extended beyond that.
zhè guǐ luó chéng zài wàn nián zhī qián ， què shí jǐn jǐn shì qǐ jiān shì yīn hún xiá gǔ zhōng guǐ wù de zuò yòng 。 rán ér rú jīn 。 què bù jǐn zhǐ yú cǐ le 。
这鬼罗城在万年之前，确实仅仅是起监视阴魂峡谷中鬼物的作用。然而如今。却不仅止于此了。
Every year, many outsiders came to this city out of curiosity or with the hope of capturing ghostly creatures from the canyon. In the cultivation world, a ghost servant was far more valuable than a beast pet!
měi nián chú le běn yǒu de sān gǔ shì lì ， hái yǒu dà liàng wài lái de xiū shì mù míng dào cǐ 。 tā men dì mù dì hěn jiǎn dān ， jiù shì bǔ zhuō xiá gǔ zhōng de yīn hún guǐ wù 。
每年除了本有的三股势力，还有大量外来的修士慕名到此。他们地目的很简单，就是捕捉峡谷中的阴魂鬼物。
After all, only a few magical beasts could advance in rank, while ghosts above the厉鬼level possessed intelligence and could cultivate demonic techniques like humans.
yào zhī dào zài xiū zhēn jiè ， yí gè guǐ pū kě shì yuǎn bǐ yāo shòu chǒng wù gèng jiā dì zhí qián ó ！
要知道在修真界，一个鬼仆可是远比妖兽宠物更加地值钱哦！
Cultivators naturally flocked here to see if their luck would shine on them. Some kept captured ghosts for themselves, while others sold them at high prices for crystal stones. Unfortunately, no ghost king had appeared yet.
bì jìng néng gòu shēng jí jìn jiē de yāo shòu fèng máo lín jiǎo ， ér lì guǐ yǐ shàng de yīn hún ， dōu yōng yǒu líng zhì ， kě yǐ xiàng rén yī yàng de xiū liàn guǐ dào shén tōng 。
毕竟能够升级进阶的妖兽凤毛麟角，而厉鬼以上的阴魂，都拥有灵智，可以像人一样的修炼鬼道神通。
However, in Ghost Luo City, one might find valuable information about the Yinhun Canyon. Knowing oneself and the enemy was key to victory; thus, Lin Xuan decided to take his chances here.
xiū shì men zì rán shì qū zhī rú wù ， lái zhè lǐ kàn zì jǐ yǒu méi yǒu hǎo yùn qì le 。
修士们自然是趋之如骛，来这里看自己有没有好运气了。
Several miles from Ghost Luo City, Lin Xuan stopped his遁光. Beyond this point, there were restrictions on flying to manage incoming cultivators better.
yǒu de xiū shì zhuō le yīn hún ， liú zuò zì yòng ， yǒu de zé gāo jià chū shòu ， huàn qǔ jīng shí ， bù guò hěn kě xī ， dào mù qián wéi zhǐ ， hái méi yǒu chū xiàn guǐ wáng zhè zhǒng děng jí de guài wù 。
有的修士捉了阴魂，留作自用，有的则高价出售，换取晶石，不过很可惜，到目前为止，还没有出现鬼王这种等级的怪物。
Lin Xuan removed any marks related to Spirit Herb Mountain and donned a plain outfit of a lone practitioner before confidently walking in.
dàn zài guǐ luó chéng zhōng ， yīng gāi kě yǐ dé dào bù shǎo guān yú yōu míng xiá gǔ de xiāo xī ， zhī jǐ zhī bǐ bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng ， gù ér lín xuān jué dìng zài zhè lǐ pèng pèng yùn qì 。
但在鬼罗城中，应该可以得到不少关于幽冥峡谷的消息，知己知彼百战百胜，故而林轩决定在这里碰碰运气。
At the entrance stood several guards, whose cultivation levels were naturally low—just enough for one to barely succeed in Foundation Establishment. The rest were low-ranking disciples at the Flexible Spirit stage.
zài jù lí guǐ luó chéng hái yǒu shù lǐ zhī yáo de dì fāng ， lín xuān jiù tíng xià le dùn guāng ， zài wǎng qián ， jiù yǒu jìn fēi dì jìn zhì ， zhè yě shì wèi le biàn yú guǎn lǐ wài lái de xiū shì 。
在距离鬼罗城还有数里之遥的地方，林轩就停下了遁光，再往前，就有禁飞地禁制，这也是为了便于管理外来的修士。
Lin Xuan did not conceal his essence qi; as he was spotted, the cultivators' faces showed a mix of reverence and envy, though they made no overt reactions since high-level cultivators often came here.
lín xuān jiāng yǔ líng yào shān yǒu guān de biāo jì chú qù ， huàn le yī shēn pǔ tōng sàn xiū de yī fú ， dà yáo dà bǎi de wǎng lǐ zǒu 。
林轩将与灵药山有关的标记除去，换了一身普通散修的衣服，大摇大摆的往里走。
"Welcome, Senior, to Ghost Luo City. You only need to pay ten crystal stones to enter," said the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator, bowing respectfully.
mén kǒu zhàn zhe jǐ gè kān mén de xiū shì ， gàn zhè zhǒng huó jì de ， xiū wèi zì rán bù gāo ， chú le wèi de yī rén miǎn qiǎng zhù jī chéng gōng ， qí tā de ， dōu shì líng dòng qī dì dī jiē dì zǐ 。
门口站着几个看门的修士，干这种活计的，修为自然不高，除了为的一人勉强筑基成功，其他的，都是灵动期地低阶弟子。
"Ten crystal stones? That's quite expensive?" Lin Xuan, with his wealth, wasn't bothered by it but was still surprised, showing a look of surprise.
lín xuān bìng méi yǒu yǎn cáng zì jǐ shēn shàng de líng qì ， kàn jiàn tā yǐ hòu ， zhòng xiū shì de liǎn shàng ， dōu lù chū yī fù jìng wèi jiāo jiā de biǎo qíng ， yǎn dǐ shēn chù ， yǐn yǐn hái yǒu yī sī xiàn mù 。
林轩并没有掩藏自己身上的灵气，看见他以后，众修士的脸上，都露出一副敬畏交加的表情，眼底深处，隐隐还有一丝羡慕。
"The senior is unaware that we are close to Yinhun Canyon. The essence qi here is extremely thin, requiring much more crystal stones for cultivation compared to other places. To meet the daily needs of fellow cultivators, the Elder Council established this entry fee," explained the middle-aged man.
bù guò dào yě méi yǒu shén me yì wài de biǎo shì ， bì jìng gǎn lái guǐ luó chéng dǎ yīn hún zhǔ yì de ， xiū wèi zì rán bù dī ， cháng cháng kě yǐ kàn jiàn zhè zhǒng gāo jiē xiū shì 。
不过倒也没有什么意外的表示，毕竟敢来鬼罗城打阴魂主意的，修为自然不低，常常可以看见这种高阶修士。
Lin Xuan nodded and took out a pile of crystal stones from his storage bag. The guard accepted them with respect before handing over a small ring: "Senior, this is your token; you can stay in Ghost Luo City for three months."
“ huān yíng qián bèi guāng lín guǐ luó chéng ， nín zhǐ yào jiāo nà shí kuài jīng shí jiù kě yǐ rù nèi 。” wèi de nà míng zhù jī qī de zhōng nián rén ， shàng qián xíng le yī lǐ ， gōng jìng de kāi kǒu dào 。
“欢迎前辈光临鬼罗城，您只要交纳十块晶石就可以入内。”为的那名筑基期的中年人，上前行了一礼，恭敬的开口道。
Lin Xuan entered the city.
“ shí kuài jīng shí ， zhè me guì ？” yǐ lín xuān dì shēn jiā ， zì rán bú huì xīn téng ， bù guò rù chéng rú cǐ zhī guì ， hái shì ràng tā yǒu xiē yì wài ， bù yóu de miàn lù chà yì zhī sè dì kāi kǒu le 。
“十块晶石，这么贵？”以林轩地身家，自然不会心疼，不过入城如此之贵，还是让他有些意外，不由得面露诧异之色地开口了。
At first glance, it seemed like any other cultivation hub—wide streets lined with houses made of massive stones, each with unique shapes. Some were shops, while others were small courtyards where cultivators lived, akin to cave dwellings, interwoven and varied.
“ qián bèi yǒu suǒ bù zhī ， wǒ men zhè ér jiē jìn yīn hún xiá gǔ ， líng qì shí fēn xī bó ， xiū shì xiū xíng yào bǐ zài qí tā dì fāng duō hào fèi shù bèi de jīng shí ， wèi le mǎn zú gè wèi tóng dào rì cháng dì xū yào ， yuán lǎo huì cái zhì dìng le zhè ge rù chéng de biāo zhǔn ， qǐng qián bèi liàng jiě 。”
“前辈有所不知，我们这儿接近阴魂峡谷，灵气十分稀薄，修士修行要比在其他地方多耗费数倍的晶石，为了满足各位同道日常地需要，元老会才制定了这个入城的标准，请前辈谅解。”
The street was not crowded, everything appeared orderly and peaceful.
lín xuān méi yǒu shuō shén me ， zhí jiē cóng yāo jiān de chǔ wù dài zhōng qǔ chū yī xiǎo duī jīng shí ， duì fāng gōng jìng de jiē guò ， rán hòu jiāng yī xiǎo méi zhǐ huán jiāo dào lín xuān de shǒu zhōng ， dào ：“ qián bèi ， zhè shì xìn wù ， yǒu le ， nín kě yǐ zài guǐ luó chéng zhì liú sān yuè zhī jiǔ ……”
林轩没有说什么，直接从腰间的储物袋中取出一小堆晶石，对方恭敬的接过，然后将一小枚指环交到林轩的手中，道：“前辈，这是信物，有了，您可以在鬼罗城滞留三月之久……”
However, closer inspection revealed subtle details: all buildings were constructed from ironstone and reinforced by magical spells, making them incredibly sturdy. Additionally, any release of divine sense would reveal abnormal essence qi fluctuations due to the presence of arrays, clearly designed for defense against those ghostly creatures.
lín xuān diǎn diǎn tóu ， jìn rù le chéng zhōng 。
林轩点点头，进入了城中。
PS: Sorry, something came up today; that's it for now.
With previous experience in refining souls, the process of refining Jiao Soul this time went smoothly, albeit taking a bit longer than initially planned.
Three full days later, Lin Xuan emerged from the small temporary cave. Moon's condition was not optimistic; her complexion had deteriorated to an alarming degree.
Lin Xuan frowned as if pondering something. Soon after, he transformed into a streak of startling light and disappeared into the sky.
For the next few days, Lin Xuan did not rest, traveling day and night without pause. About half a month later, he finally arrived at Yinhun Canyon.
"Master."
"How do you feel, Moon?"
The young woman勉强smiled: "It's still okay."
Lin Xuan nodded and opened his mouth, expelling a ball of pure Yin essence qi that entered her body to stabilize her injuries. Then, he released his divine sense, discerning the direction before flying towards the southeastern horizon.
Several hours later, an expansive city came into view.
From afar, it covered over a hundred square miles, with walls constructed from massive black stones towering more than ten zhang (about 30 feet) high. Even from a distance, one could feel the awe-inspiring presence that greeted them.
Ghost Luo City!
In the cultivation world of Youzhou, this city was renowned. It was the second-largest city entirely composed of cultivators after Heavenly Demon City.
Over these countless years, ghostly creatures in Yinhun Canyon dared not venture out to cause mischief due to the intimidating presence of this city. A senior from the Separation and Union stage had once self-destructed, opening a passage between Yin and Yang realms, allowing numerous ghosts to flood into Youzhou, causing unprecedented devastation. Although they were eventually driven back by joint efforts of orthodox and demonic cultivators, leaving them in temporary truce, humans and ghosts remained distrustful.
Many sects had considered a permanent solution but found that, under the veil of darkness, both ghost kings and soldiers significantly increased their strength. Multiple attempts to attack ended in failure, leading them to settle for constructing this city near Yinhun Canyon. Various sects rotated sending disciples to monitor the ghostly creatures.
Times changed, and the current situation was vastly different from ten thousand years ago. Countless sects rose and fell, and the balance of power between orthodox and demonic forces had undergone a complete transformation. However, Ghost Luo City remained unchanged through the storms.
The city's cultivators were divided into three factions:
Firstly, there was the orthodox path, secondly, the demonic path, with the third being lone practitioners.
The management body of Ghost Luo City consisted of high-ranking cultivators forming an Elder Council, headed by a Grandmaster. Currently, it was Red Ancestor who held this position.
Red Ancestor was the pride of lone practitioners; he was one of only six seniors to have entered the Immortal Stage in Youzhou, alongside the three top elders of orthodox sects and Extreme Demon Sovereign.
With Youzhou now in chaos, with the orthodox and demonic paths officially at war, the atmosphere here had become tense. Although the three factions within Ghost Luo City mutually checked each other's power, they did not engage in open conflict like those outside. However, sporadic brawls were not uncommon.
The winds of change were brewing!
Lin Xuan came to this city for a reason; he didn't go directly to Yinhun Canyon because the ghostly sanctuaries in the mortal world weren’t easy to enter.
Even with his abilities, it was uncertain if he could safely capture a ghost king and return alive. While Moon needed saving, Lin Xuan wouldn't risk himself unnecessarily.
Originally, Ghost Luo City had only served as a monitoring point for ghosts in Yinhun Canyon. Now, its role extended beyond that.
Every year, many outsiders came to this city out of curiosity or with the hope of capturing ghostly creatures from the canyon. In the cultivation world, a ghost servant was far more valuable than a beast pet!
After all, only a few magical beasts could advance in rank, while ghosts above the厉鬼level possessed intelligence and could cultivate demonic techniques like humans.
Cultivators naturally flocked here to see if their luck would shine on them. Some kept captured ghosts for themselves, while others sold them at high prices for crystal stones. Unfortunately, no ghost king had appeared yet.
However, in Ghost Luo City, one might find valuable information about the Yinhun Canyon. Knowing oneself and the enemy was key to victory; thus, Lin Xuan decided to take his chances here.
Several miles from Ghost Luo City, Lin Xuan stopped his遁光. Beyond this point, there were restrictions on flying to manage incoming cultivators better.
Lin Xuan removed any marks related to Spirit Herb Mountain and donned a plain outfit of a lone practitioner before confidently walking in.
At the entrance stood several guards, whose cultivation levels were naturally low—just enough for one to barely succeed in Foundation Establishment. The rest were low-ranking disciples at the Flexible Spirit stage.
Lin Xuan did not conceal his essence qi; as he was spotted, the cultivators' faces showed a mix of reverence and envy, though they made no overt reactions since high-level cultivators often came here.
"Welcome, Senior, to Ghost Luo City. You only need to pay ten crystal stones to enter," said the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator, bowing respectfully.
"Ten crystal stones? That's quite expensive?" Lin Xuan, with his wealth, wasn't bothered by it but was still surprised, showing a look of surprise.
"The senior is unaware that we are close to Yinhun Canyon. The essence qi here is extremely thin, requiring much more crystal stones for cultivation compared to other places. To meet the daily needs of fellow cultivators, the Elder Council established this entry fee," explained the middle-aged man.
Lin Xuan nodded and took out a pile of crystal stones from his storage bag. The guard accepted them with respect before handing over a small ring: "Senior, this is your token; you can stay in Ghost Luo City for three months."
Lin Xuan entered the city.
At first glance, it seemed like any other cultivation hub—wide streets lined with houses made of massive stones, each with unique shapes. Some were shops, while others were small courtyards where cultivators lived, akin to cave dwellings, interwoven and varied.
The street was not crowded, everything appeared orderly and peaceful.
However, closer inspection revealed subtle details: all buildings were constructed from ironstone and reinforced by magical spells, making them incredibly sturdy. Additionally, any release of divine sense would reveal abnormal essence qi fluctuations due to the presence of arrays, clearly designed for defense against those ghostly creatures.
PS: Sorry, something came up today; that's it for now.