zài cǐ chéng de shàng kōng ， yě bù yǒu xiàn zhì fēi xíng fǎ shù de jìn zhì ， gù ér xiū shì men zhǐ néng yòng jiǎo màn màn zǒu zhe 。
在此城的上空，也布有限制飞行法术的禁制，故而修士们只能用脚慢慢走着。
Above the city, there were restrictions on flying spells to prevent unauthorized flight. Thus, cultivators could only walk slowly.
bàn gè shí chén hòu ， lín xuān lái dào le guǐ luó chéng nán qū ， zhè ér yǒu yí gè guī mó bù xiǎo de fāng shì ， qǐ chū ， lín xuān bìng méi yǒu dǎ suàn mǎi shén me dōng xī ， jǐn jǐn shì lái zhè lǐ dǎ tàn yī xiē xiāo xī 。
半个时辰后，林轩来到了鬼罗城南区，这儿有一个规模不小的坊市，起初，林轩并没有打算买什么东西，仅仅是来这里打探一些消息。
After half an hour, Lin Xuan arrived at the southern district of Ghost Web City. There was a bustling market here, but initially, he had no intention of buying anything; he just wanted to gather some information.
rán ér hěn kuài ， tā jiù gǎi biàn le zhǔ yì 。
然而很快，他就改变了主意。
However, his mind changed soon enough.
zhè zuò fāng shì jū rán yǒu xiē yǔ zhòng bù tóng de yàng zi 。
这座坊市居然有些与众不同的样子。
This market seemed somewhat different from others.
guāng zài guǐ luó chéng cháng zhù de xiū shì ， jiù yǒu shù wàn zhī duō ， yuán běn ， zhè zuò fāng shì shì wèi běn chéng de xiū shì men tí gōng yī xiē biàn lì ， rán ér suí zhe lái yīn hún xiá gǔ tàn xiǎn de wài lái rì yì zēng duō ， gāi fāng shì yě jiù zhú jiàn yǒu le yī xiē xiān míng de tè sè 。
光在鬼罗城常住的修士，就有数万之多，原本，这座坊市是为本城的修士们提供一些便利，然而随着来阴魂峡谷探险的外来日益增多，该坊市也就逐渐有了一些鲜明的特色。
With over ten thousand cultivators residing in Ghost Web City, this market originally served the convenience of local cultivators. However, as more outsiders ventured into the Dark Soul Canyon for exploration, the market gradually developed its unique characteristics.
xiān shì guǐ xiū yòng jù de zēng duō 。
先是鬼修用具的增多。
Firstly, there was an increase in ghost tools. Strictly speaking, ghost cultivators were merely a branch of demonic cultivation, and their numbers were extremely limited—so few that even among demons, they constituted only a tiny fraction.
guǐ dào xiū shì ， yán gé shuō lái jǐn jǐn shì xiū mó de yī lǚ fēn zhī ， ér qiě shù liàng xī shǎo yǐ jí ， jí shǐ zài mó xiū lǐ miàn ， yě zhǐ zhàn jí shǎo de bǐ lì 。
鬼道修士，严格说来仅仅是修魔的一缕分支，而且数量稀少以极，即使在魔修里面，也只占极少的比例。
The items used by these cultivators were hard to find in ordinary markets. However, due to its proximity to the Dark Soul Canyon, Ghost Web City gradually became a gathering place for ghost cultivators from Youzhou Province.
zhè bù fèn xiū shì suǒ yòng de wù pǐn ， zài yì bān de fāng shì zhōng kě yǐ shuō hěn nán zhǎo xún 。
这部分修士所用的物品，在一般的坊市中可以说很难找寻。
The main reason was the dark mists. These mists, which should have been found only in the Netherworld, posed a severe threat to anyone who encountered them without proper preparation and protection; they were considered as dangerous as venomous snakes.
rán ér guǐ luó chéng yóu yú kào jìn yīn hún xiá gǔ ， què zhú jiàn chéng le yōu zhōu guǐ xiū de yí gè jù jí zhī dì 。
然而鬼罗城由于靠近阴魂峡谷，却逐渐成了幽州鬼修的一个聚集之地。
But for ghost cultivators, these dark mists served as a great source of nourishment, like a spiritual vein. Hence, they flocked here like moths to a flame.
zhì yú yuán yīn ， yǒu zhe duō fāng miàn ， qí zhōng zuì zhǔ yào yì diǎn ， jiù shì nà yīn wù 。
至于原因，有着多方面，其中最主要一点，就是那阴雾。
Despite being ghosts, these individuals still retained their human form initially, making them fundamentally different from the true ghosts in the Dark Soul Canyon. Thus, when they met, there was often violent conflict.
yīn wù zhè dōng xī ， běn lái bú shì rén jiān jiè gāi yǒu de ， ér yīng gāi cún yú yōu míng zhī guó ， bié shuō yì bān rén lèi ， jiù suàn shì xiū xiān ， jiē chù le ， rú guǒ méi yǒu zhǔn bèi yǔ fáng hù ， yě huì shēn zhōng jù dú ， suǒ yǐ shì zhī wèi shé xiē zhī wù 。
阴雾这东西，本来不是人间界该有的，而应该存于幽冥之国，别说一般人类，就算是修仙，接触了，如果没有准备与防护，也会身中剧毒，所以视之为蛇蝎之物。
Lin Xuan had heard this information casually at a tea house within the market. He became interested; could there be something here that might help Moon's injuries?
rán ér guǐ xiū bù tóng 。 zhè yīn wù duì tā men lái shuō 。 jiù xiàng líng mài yī yàng 。 nǎi shì dà bǔ 。 gù ér qū zhī ruò wù 。
然而鬼修不同。这阴雾对他们来说。就像灵脉一样。乃是大补。故而趋之若鹜。
If such luck were to come his way, he would gladly spend more crystal stones. After all, money was just an external matter, and unless absolutely necessary, he did not wish to face monsters like the Demon King.
dāng rán 。 zhè xiē rén suī shì guǐ xiū 。 dàn xiān hái shì rén lèi 。 yǔ yīn wù zhōng dì nà xiē zhēn zhèng guǐ wù 。 yǒu zhe běn zhì dì bù tóng 。 gù ér shuāng fāng jiàn le 。 yě miǎn bù liǎo dà dǎ chū shǒu 。
当然。这些人虽是鬼修。但先还是人类。与阴雾中地那些真正鬼物。有着本质地不同。故而双方见了。也免不了大打出手。
With this thought in mind, Lin Xuan began searching purposefully through the market.
zhè xiē qíng bào dōu shì lín xuān zài fāng shì jiān dì chá lóu ǒu rán tīng lái dì 。 tā duì cǐ dì yě jiù yǒu le xìng qù 。 guǐ xiū dì yòng jù 。 huì bú huì yǒu néng gòu huǎn jiě yuè ér shāng shì dì dōng xī 。
这些情报都是林轩在坊市间地茶楼偶然听来地。他对此地也就有了兴趣。鬼修地用具。会不会有能够缓解月儿伤势地东西。
The market covered about two thousand acres, with nine streets crisscrossing it.
rú guǒ zhēn yǒu nà yàng dì hǎo yùn qì 。 jí biàn duō huā yī xiē jīng shí 。 lín xuān yě zài suǒ bù xī 。 qián cái nǎi shēn wài wù 。 ruò fēi wàn bù dé yǐ 。 tā bìng bù xiàng zhí miàn guǐ wáng zhè zhǒng guài wù 。
如果真有那样地好运气。即便多花一些晶石。林轩也在所不惜。钱财乃身外物。若非万不得已。他并不像直面鬼王这种怪物。
Ignoring other streets for now, Lin Xuan headed to the westernmost alley. Here, each shop exuded an eerie atmosphere.
niàn jí zhì cǐ 。 lín xuān jiù kāi shǐ yǒu mù dì dì zài fāng shì lǐ xún zhǎo qǐ lái le 。
念及至此。林轩就开始有目地地在坊市里寻找起来了。
After a thorough search, he arrived at the "Ghost Spirit Temple" in the middle of the street.
fāng shì zhàn dì yuē yǒu liǎng qiān mǔ 。 qián hòu yī gòng yǒu jiǔ tiáo jiē zòng héng jiāo cuò 。
坊市占地约有两千亩。前后一共有九条街纵横交错。
He chose this store not only because of its prominent location but also due to its size. The sign was bold and boastful; even if it was exaggerated, there should be plenty of items here!
qí tā dì jiē dào zàn qiě bù tí ， lín xuān lái dào le zuì kào xī de yī tiáo piān jiē ， zhè ér yī yàng diàn pù lín lì ， rán ér měi yī zuò dōu xiǎn de guǐ qì sēn sēn de yàng zi 。
其他地街道暂且不提，林轩来到了最靠西的一条偏街，这儿一样店铺林立，然而每一座都显得鬼气森森的样子。
"Senior, is there anything I can help you with?"
dà gài zhuàn le yī quān zhī hòu ， lín xuān jiù lái dào le jiē dào zhōng yāng de “ guǐ líng diàn ”。
大概赚了一圈之后，林轩就来到了街道中央的“鬼灵殿”。
The shopkeeper greeted him warmly as he entered, ignoring the two other cultivators who had arrived before him. These two were clearly furious but fell silent upon seeing Lin Xuan's cultivation level. In the world of cultivators, might was right; true fairness did not exist.
zhī suǒ yǐ xuǎn zé zhè jiā diàn pù ， yī lái gù rán shì yóu yú de wèi zhì xiǎn yǎn ， èr lái zé shì yóu yú zhè jiā diàn gòu dà 。 yóu qí shì zhāo pái ， yǔ qì hěn kuáng ， jiù suàn yǒu kuā dà 。 xiǎng bì lǐ miàn de dōng xī yě yīng gāi shí fēn fēng fù a ！
之所以选择这家店铺，一来固然是由于的位置显眼，二来则是由于这家店够大。尤其是招牌，语气很狂，就算有夸大。想必里面的东西也应该十分丰富啊！
"Someone injured my ghost servant. Do you have any spiritual herbs that could help her?" Lin Xuan did not hide his intentions and hinted at a glimmer of hope, though he knew it was unlikely.
“ qián bèi ， yǒu shén me xū yào bāng zhù nǐ dì ？”
“前辈，有什么需要帮助你地？”
The shopkeeper's face showed signs of difficulty: "Senior, I'm sorry. While we do sell some medicines here, they are for human ghost cultivators. We don't have anything suitable for the Dark Souls. Perhaps you should check elsewhere."
lín xuān yī jìn mén ， nà diàn xiǎo èr jiù rè qíng de yíng le shàng lái ， jiāng lìng wài liǎng gè xiān dào de xiū zhēn diū dào yī biān ， nà liǎng rén zì rán shì shí fēn de fèn nù ， bù guò zài kàn qīng chǔ lín xuān de xiū wèi hòu yě jiù jìn ruò hán chán le ， xiū zhēn jiè lì lái jiù shì qiáng wèi zūn ， méi yǒu shén me zhēn zhèng de gōng píng 。
林轩一进门，那店小二就热情的迎了上来，将另外两个先到的修真丢到一边，那两人自然是十分的愤怒，不过在看清楚林轩的修为后也就噤若寒蝉了，修真界历来就是强为尊，没有什么真正的公平。
"Alright, then."
“ běn rén de guǐ pū shòu le shāng ， bù zhī dào nǐ zhè ér yǒu méi yǒu kě yǐ zhì yù tā de líng yào ？” lín xuān bìng méi yǒu yǐn mán de yì si 。 yǔ qì zhī zhōng yǐn yǐn dài yǒu yì diǎn xī yì ， suī rán zì jǐ yě jué de kě néng xìng bù dà ， dàn xiā māo tóng yàng kě néng pèng jiàn sǐ hào zi a 。
“本人的鬼仆受了伤，不知道你这儿有没有可以治愈她的灵药？”林轩并没有隐瞒的意思。语气之中隐隐带有一点希翼，虽然自己也觉得可能性不大，但瞎猫同样可能碰见死耗子啊。
Lin Xuan did not press his point further; this outcome was expected. Still, he felt a bit disappointed as he left.
diàn xiǎo èr yī jīng ， qí tā jǐ rén yě dōu liú lù chū xiàn mù fēi cháng dì biǎo qíng ， guǐ pū ， nà kě shì xiū shì men mèng mèi yǐ qiú zhī wù ， bù guò lín xuān de xiū wèi bǎi zài nà lǐ ， dào yě méi yǒu shén me rén gǎn dǎ wāi zhǔ yì 。
店小二一惊，其他几人也都流露出羡慕非常地表情，鬼仆，那可是修士们梦寐以求之物，不过林轩的修为摆在那里，倒也没有什么人敢打歪主意。
For the rest of the day, Lin Xuan visited every shop on that street but came back empty-handed. It seemed like all that time had been wasted, yet there was still some gain.
“ zhè ge ……” xiǎo èr de liǎn shàng lù chū yī fù wéi nán zhī sè ：“ qián bèi ， duì bù qǐ le 。 běn diàn suī rán yě mài yǒu yī xiē yào wù ， dàn nà zhēn duì dì ， dōu shì wǒ men rén lèi de guǐ xiū ， zhè yīn hún suǒ yòng de dōng xī ， běn diàn zhēn hái shì méi yǒu ， yào bù ， nín qù bié chù kàn kàn 。”
“这个……”小二的脸上露出一副为难之色：“前辈，对不起了。本店虽然也卖有一些药物，但那针对地，都是我们人类的鬼修，这阴魂所用的东西，本店真还是没有，要不，您去别处看看。”
By chance, Lin Xuan's divine sense was much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. This not only helped him in combat but also allowed him to detect low-grade隔音禁制 (soundproofing restrictions) easily.
“ ń ， hǎo ba 1”
“嗯，好吧1”
During his walk, he overheard two cultivators whispering about a secret auction happening tonight at the outskirts of Ghost Web City.
yán jǐn yú cǐ ， lín xuān dào yě méi yǒu wéi nán tā de yì si 。 cǐ jié guǒ yě zài yì liào zhī zhōng 。 dāng rán ， xīn zhōng duō shǎo hái shì yǒu xiē shī wàng 。 lín xuān jiǎo bù chén zhòng de zǒu chū qù le 。
言尽于此，林轩倒也没有为难他的意思。此结果也在意料之中。当然，心中多少还是有些失望。林轩脚步沉重的走出去了。
At this auction, several Dark Souls would be sold as ghost servants.
jiē xià lái de bàn tiān ， lín xuān jiāng zhè tiáo jiē de měi gè diàn pù quán dōu guàng le yī biàn ， yī rán shì liǎng shǒu kōng kōng ， sì hū bái bái hào fèi le nà me duō shí jiān ， rán ér nà jǐn jǐn shì biǎo miàn ， suī rán yào què shí méi yǒu mǎi dào ， bù guò lín xuān de shōu huò hái shì yǒu yì diǎn 。
接下来的半天，林轩将这条街的每个店铺全都逛了一遍，依然是两手空空，似乎白白耗费了那么多时间，然而那仅仅是表面，虽然药确实没有买到，不过林轩的收获还是有一点。
Logically, more participants meant higher bids. So why was this auction being held in secret?
shuō lái yě shì ǒu rán ， lín xuān de shén shí bǐ yì bān dì xiū shì qiáng dà dé duō ， zhè bù jǐn zài duì dí de shí hòu dà yǒu yòng chǔ ， jiù suàn shì píng shí ， néng qǐ dào de zuò yòng yě fēi xiǎo ó ， bǐ rú shuō ， yī xiē dī jiē xiū shì suǒ bù shè xià de gé yīn jìn zhì ， duì tā ér yán jiù gēn bǎi shè xiāng sì 。
说来也是偶然，林轩的神识比一般地修士强大得多，这不仅在对敌的时候大有用处，就算是平时，能起到的作用也非小哦，比如说，一些低阶修士所布设下的隔音禁制，对他而言就跟摆设相似。
The reason lay in the Dark Soul Canyon's inhabitants. Ten thousand years ago, after multiple battles, the demons and humans united to drive out the fierce ghosts. However, their strength should not be underestimated; otherwise, humans would not have built a city here to monitor them.
lín xuān zài guàng jiē de shí hòu ， ǒu rán tīng liǎng gè xiū shì guǐ guǐ suì suì de tán jí ， jiù zài jīn wǎn ， zhè guǐ luó chéng de jiāo qū ， mǒu gè shì lì ， jiāng jǔ xíng yī cháng pāi mài huì 。
林轩在逛街的时候，偶然听两个修士鬼鬼祟祟的谈及，就在今晚，这鬼罗城的郊区，某个势力，将举行一场拍卖会。
Over time, both sides maintained a delicate balance due to mutual concerns. Due to profit motives, many outsiders ventured into the Dark Soul Canyon to capture ghost servants.
zhè pāi mài huì shàng ， jiāng yǒu shù míng yīn hún bèi dàng zuò guǐ pū chū shòu 。
这拍卖会上，将有数名阴魂被当做鬼仆出售。
Most of these captured souls had low cultivation levels and posed no threat to the canyon's essence. However, high-ranking ghosts like the Demon King or Ghost Emperor, equivalent to元婴期 (Incubation Stage) cultivators, could not tolerate this; it was an affront to their dignity. They had negotiated with human cultivators multiple times.
yuán běn àn zhào cháng lǐ ， jì rán shì pāi mài huì ， nà cān jiā de xiū shì zì rán shì yuè duō yuè hǎo ， rén qì wàng shèng ， cái róng yì pāi chū lìng rén mǎn yì de gāo jià ， zhè ge pāi mài huì ， wèi shén me yào tōu tōu dì jǔ xíng ne ？
原本按照常理，既然是拍卖会，那参加的修士自然是越多越好，人气旺盛，才容易拍出令人满意的高价，这个拍卖会，为什么要偷偷地举行呢？
The Incubation Stage experts did not want a new war but capturing ghost servants involved too many parties—large sects, families, and individual practitioners. Even if they wanted to ban such activities, they couldn't enforce it.
yuán yīn hái zài yú yīn hún xiá gǔ zhōng de guǐ wù ， wàn nián yǐ qián ， jīng guò shù cì dà zhàn ， zài zhèng mó lián shǒu ， rén lèi xiū shì tóng xīn tóng dé de qíng kuàng xià ， nà xiē xiōng hún lì guǐ ， bèi gǎn le huí qù ， rán ér men de shí lì ， tóng yàng bù kě xiǎo shì ， fǒu zé rén lèi xiū shì yě bú huì zài zhè lǐ jiàn yī zuò dà chéng ， zhèn shè jiān shì 。
原因还在于阴魂峡谷中的鬼物，万年以前，经过数次大战，在正魔联手，人类修士同心同德的情况下，那些凶魂厉鬼，被赶了回去，然而们的实力，同样不可小视，否则人类修士也不会在这里建一座大城，震慑监视。
When money was involved, it would attract envy. Even Incubation Stage cultivators didn't wish to become targets of public hatred!
suí hòu de suì yuè lǐ ， shuāng fāng hù yǒu gù jì ， wéi chí le yī zhǒng wēi miào de píng héng ， yīn wèi lì yì suǒ shǐ ， bù duàn de yǒu wài lái de xiū shì dào yīn hún xiá gǔ mào xiǎn ， zhuā huò guǐ pū 。
随后的岁月里，双方互有顾忌，维持了一种微妙的平衡，因为利益所使，不断的有外来的修士到阴魂峡谷冒险，抓获鬼仆。
The Demon King and Ghost Emperor possessed intelligence comparable to humans and knew the truth. Fine, you can capture ghost servants, but we will exterminate any humans near the Dark Soul Canyon without mercy.
zhè xiē bèi huó zhuō de guǐ hún ， yì bān ér yán ， xiū wèi dōu hěn dī ， shāng bù liǎo yīn hún xiá gǔ dì yuán qì ， rán ér nà xiē gāo jiē dì lì guǐ ， bǐ rú shuō guǐ wáng ， hái yǒu xiāng dāng yú yuán yīng qī xiū shì de guǐ dì ， què bù néng róng rěn ， jué duì shì duì men zūn yán dì yī zhǒng mào fàn ， yǔ rén lèi xiū shì jiāo shè guò duō cì 。
这些被活捉的鬼魂，一般而言，修为都很低，伤不了阴魂峡谷地元气，然而那些高阶地厉鬼，比如说鬼王，还有相当于元婴期修士的鬼帝，却不能容忍，绝对是对们尊严地一种冒犯，与人类修士交涉过多次。
This tacit agreement allowed for sporadic killings; neither side would trigger a full-scale conflict.
nà xiē yuán yīng qī de lǎo guài ， zì rán yě bù xiǎng yǔ yīn hún xiá gǔ chóng qǐ zhàn duān ， dàn qù bǔ zhuō guǐ pū de ， qiān shè fàn wéi yě tài guǎng le yì diǎn ， dà xiǎo zōng mén ， jiā zú sàn xiū ， wú bù qiān chě qí zhōng ， ér qiě qí zhōng de dà bù fèn ， dōu shì yǐ gè rén míng yì ， tā men jiù suàn xiǎng yào jìn zhǐ ， yě shì bù kě néng zuò dào de 。
那些元婴期的老怪，自然也不想与阴魂峡谷重启战端，但去捕捉鬼仆的，牵涉范围也太广了一点，大小宗门，家族散修，无不牵扯其中，而且其中的大部分，都是以个人名义，他们就算想要禁止，也是不可能做到的。
However, the secret auction was canceled.
dāng rén cái lù ， kěn dìng huì zhāo rén jí hèn ， jiù suàn shì yuán yīng xiū shì ， yě bù xiǎng chéng wéi zhòng shǐ zhī dì a ！
当人财路，肯定会招人嫉恨，就算是元婴修士，也不想成为众矢之的啊！
You are free to sell, but only privately. Public auctions would provoke the wrath of the canyon's inhabitants.
guǐ wáng yǔ guǐ dì de líng zhì ， bìng bù bǐ rén dī ， yě zhī dào duì fāng shuō de shì shí huà ， nà me hǎo ba ， nǐ men lái zhuō guǐ pū ， men tóng yàng duì yóu dàng zài yōu hún xiá gǔ fù jìn de rén lèi shā wú shè 。
鬼王与鬼帝的灵智，并不比人低，也知道对方说的是实话，那么好吧，你们来捉鬼仆，们同样对游荡在幽魂峡谷附近的人类杀无赦。
The Incubation Stage experts and three Ghost Emperors had signed an agreement early on.
Above the city, there were restrictions on flying spells to prevent unauthorized flight. Thus, cultivators could only walk slowly.
After half an hour, Lin Xuan arrived at the southern district of Ghost Web City. There was a bustling market here, but initially, he had no intention of buying anything; he just wanted to gather some information.
However, his mind changed soon enough.
This market seemed somewhat different from others.
With over ten thousand cultivators residing in Ghost Web City, this market originally served the convenience of local cultivators. However, as more outsiders ventured into the Dark Soul Canyon for exploration, the market gradually developed its unique characteristics.
Firstly, there was an increase in ghost tools. Strictly speaking, ghost cultivators were merely a branch of demonic cultivation, and their numbers were extremely limited—so few that even among demons, they constituted only a tiny fraction.
The items used by these cultivators were hard to find in ordinary markets. However, due to its proximity to the Dark Soul Canyon, Ghost Web City gradually became a gathering place for ghost cultivators from Youzhou Province.
The main reason was the dark mists. These mists, which should have been found only in the Netherworld, posed a severe threat to anyone who encountered them without proper preparation and protection; they were considered as dangerous as venomous snakes.
But for ghost cultivators, these dark mists served as a great source of nourishment, like a spiritual vein. Hence, they flocked here like moths to a flame.
Despite being ghosts, these individuals still retained their human form initially, making them fundamentally different from the true ghosts in the Dark Soul Canyon. Thus, when they met, there was often violent conflict.
Lin Xuan had heard this information casually at a tea house within the market. He became interested; could there be something here that might help Moon's injuries?
If such luck were to come his way, he would gladly spend more crystal stones. After all, money was just an external matter, and unless absolutely necessary, he did not wish to face monsters like the Demon King.
With this thought in mind, Lin Xuan began searching purposefully through the market.
The market covered about two thousand acres, with nine streets crisscrossing it.
Ignoring other streets for now, Lin Xuan headed to the westernmost alley. Here, each shop exuded an eerie atmosphere.
After a thorough search, he arrived at the "Ghost Spirit Temple" in the middle of the street.
He chose this store not only because of its prominent location but also due to its size. The sign was bold and boastful; even if it was exaggerated, there should be plenty of items here!
"Senior, is there anything I can help you with?"
The shopkeeper greeted him warmly as he entered, ignoring the two other cultivators who had arrived before him. These two were clearly furious but fell silent upon seeing Lin Xuan's cultivation level. In the world of cultivators, might was right; true fairness did not exist.
"Someone injured my ghost servant. Do you have any spiritual herbs that could help her?" Lin Xuan did not hide his intentions and hinted at a glimmer of hope, though he knew it was unlikely.
The shopkeeper's face showed signs of difficulty: "Senior, I'm sorry. While we do sell some medicines here, they are for human ghost cultivators. We don't have anything suitable for the Dark Souls. Perhaps you should check elsewhere."
"Alright, then."
Lin Xuan did not press his point further; this outcome was expected. Still, he felt a bit disappointed as he left.
For the rest of the day, Lin Xuan visited every shop on that street but came back empty-handed. It seemed like all that time had been wasted, yet there was still some gain.
By chance, Lin Xuan's divine sense was much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. This not only helped him in combat but also allowed him to detect low-grade隔音禁制 (soundproofing restrictions) easily.
During his walk, he overheard two cultivators whispering about a secret auction happening tonight at the outskirts of Ghost Web City.
At this auction, several Dark Souls would be sold as ghost servants.
Logically, more participants meant higher bids. So why was this auction being held in secret?
The reason lay in the Dark Soul Canyon's inhabitants. Ten thousand years ago, after multiple battles, the demons and humans united to drive out the fierce ghosts. However, their strength should not be underestimated; otherwise, humans would not have built a city here to monitor them.
Over time, both sides maintained a delicate balance due to mutual concerns. Due to profit motives, many outsiders ventured into the Dark Soul Canyon to capture ghost servants.
Most of these captured souls had low cultivation levels and posed no threat to the canyon's essence. However, high-ranking ghosts like the Demon King or Ghost Emperor, equivalent to元婴期 (Incubation Stage) cultivators, could not tolerate this; it was an affront to their dignity. They had negotiated with human cultivators multiple times.
The Incubation Stage experts did not want a new war but capturing ghost servants involved too many parties—large sects, families, and individual practitioners. Even if they wanted to ban such activities, they couldn't enforce it.
When money was involved, it would attract envy. Even Incubation Stage cultivators didn't wish to become targets of public hatred!
The Demon King and Ghost Emperor possessed intelligence comparable to humans and knew the truth. Fine, you can capture ghost servants, but we will exterminate any humans near the Dark Soul Canyon without mercy.
This tacit agreement allowed for sporadic killings; neither side would trigger a full-scale conflict.
However, the secret auction was canceled.
You are free to sell, but only privately. Public auctions would provoke the wrath of the canyon's inhabitants.
The Incubation Stage experts and three Ghost Emperors had signed an agreement early on.