Chapter 149: The Art of Corpse Liberation, Yellow Springs Astral Qi

The man's face was indigo-blue, with two clusters of gloomy green ghostly fire burning within his eyes.

His body looked as bright and smooth as if it had been brushed with cyan lacquer, and as he sat in the primary seat, he resembled a divine idol.

His hair was scarlet and drifted upward, flickering like a burning candle.

His features made it impossible to determine his exact age, exuding a sense of profound dignity.

"Greetings, Candle Ghost King."

The crowd stood up one after another, cupping their hands in formal bows.

Lu Qian secretly sized up the Ghost King before him.

The Candle Ghost King was the leader of the three Ghost Markets.

His origins were mysterious, and his cultivation was rumored to be at least at the mid-stage of the Dao Foundation. He practiced the Azure Flame Candle Fire Dharma Body Dao Foundation, and with a single flick of his eighteen netherfire flying daggers, he could take an enemy's life from a thousand miles away.

No one had ever witnessed the Candle Ghost King make a move, which was why the reputation of the three Ghost Markets was not widely broadcasted.

In reality, his strength ranked among the top three on Myriad Manifestation Island, far surpassing the Lingbo Tower.

It was simply that he usually maintained a low profile, and his fame was not as resounding as Fubo's.

"Please be seated, everyone." A faint smile broke across the Candle Ghost King's icy face as he addressed the assembly.

"Someone, bring out the spiritual food."

The Candle Ghost King clapped his hands, and a group of maidservants dressed in pitch-black sheer gauze walked forward, carrying trays in their hands.

Upon opening the trays, silver bowls were revealed, filled with soup that shimmered with an emerald-green light.

"This is the Eight Treasures Nourishing Spirit Soup. Even for those who are not ghost cultivators, drinking it provides immense benefits to the Yin Spirit," Ghost Qi introduced.

At the tables lining both sides, there were not only cultivators of the ghost clan but also invited guests. Once the dishes were served, they began to partake.

Lu Qian picked up a silver spoon and took a gentle sip. Instantly, his Yin Spirit felt clear and refreshed.

Aside from the soup, there were various other exquisite delicacies.

Yin candles, human soul incense, cold nine-headed pork, earth-core elixir… most of them were medicinal pills beneficial to the Yin Spirit.

Unlike mortals who devoured their food hungrily, most of the ghost cultivators did not actually consume anything.

For instance, Ghost Qi beside him would take a deep breath toward each dish as it was served, after which the maidservants would take it away.

Lu Qian noticed a wisp of clear Qi fly out from the dishes, leaving them completely devoid of aroma, luster, and flavor.

A group of people knelt and waited along the sides of the grand hall, devouring the food voraciously the moment the dishes were brought out.

These were the ghost servants of the ghost clan.

If members of the ghost clan died before mastering secret techniques, they would also enter the nethersoil to live another life.

If they remained continually in the nethersoil, they could live for at least sixty years.

Consuming spiritual food could also extend their lifespan.

Yet, not everyone was entitled to eat the leftovers; without a certain level of contribution, one was not even qualified to consume the scraps.

At that moment, a Daoist priest in white next to Lu Qian spoke up, "You seem somewhat unfamiliar, Friend. I am Haifeng, an elder of the Concealing Sun Hall. May I ask your esteemed surname?"

"I dare not claim esteemed; my surname is Lu. People call me the Lord of Black Mountain. You may simply address me as Mountain Lord."

Seeing how enthusiastic the other party was, Lu Qian felt it would be impolite to give him the cold shoulder.

"Oh? You are the Lord of Black Mountain who recently slew the Hall Master of Longfeng? A pleasure to meet you!"

"So it is you, sir. Indeed, hearing your name is not as impressive as meeting you in person."

Gaze after gaze from the tables on both sides turned toward him.

Those seated here were all old acquaintances, and the sudden arrival of such a stranger—especially one representing Black Mountain, who had been creating quite a stir lately—inevitably piqued their curiosity.

"I hear Black Mountain abounds in Yin materials. If the Mountain Lord has time in the future, do patronize our business..." Haifeng said, passing over a peach-wood talisman.

"Certainly, and thank you all for your kindness." Lu Qian also exchanged communication talismans with them.

He was currently fretting over how to launder more than nine hundred thousand pieces of black money without a proper channel.

Lu Qian had no fear of his identity being exposed.

There were plenty of swaggering traitors on Myriad Manifestation Island.

He merely wished to avoid unnecessary trouble.

As the people in the grand hall partook in the Spirit Food Festival, their clansmen back in the nethersoil would also receive a share of the incense and candles.

A clepsydra stood on the right side of the grand hall, its water clock continuously dripping droplets to measure time.

Clang!
Suddenly, the clepsydra emitted a crisp, resonant sound.

"The auspicious hour has arrived! The Corpse-Dissolution Ceremony begins!"

A blue-skinned malevolent ghost stepped out from beside the Candle Ghost King.

In an instant, the expressions of everyone present turned solemn.

This was the true highlight of the day.

Taptaptap...
Crisp footsteps echoed from outside the doors.

Roughly fifteen people—men and women, old and young—walked into the grand hall.

"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, a total of fifteen mortal clansmen have successfully completed the secret technique this year."

A black-robed deacon, whose facial features bore a slight resemblance to Ghost Qi, reported.

"Good, let us begin." The Candle Ghost King waved his hand.

Dozens of ghosts wielding various ritual items suddenly darted out from both sides.

In the center of the grand hall, various apparatuses were swiftly erected.

Steel sabers, water barrels, oil vats, blazing fires, metal ores, wooden ropes...
There were over a dozen different items in total.

"It's starting. This is the ghost clan's method of corpse-dissolution," Ghost Qi said softly.

"Here it comes. I wonder if there is any genius this year who will choose the trial of a thousand cuts."

"Unlikely. Someone only managed that over fifty years ago; it won't happen so soon."

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

The harsher the punishment endured during corpse-dissolution, the higher the aptitude upon transforming into a ghost cultivator.

A young woman in her early twenties stepped out from the crowd.

The Candle Ghost King smiled and asked, "How do you wish to dissolve?"

"Water dissolution," the young woman answered timidly.

Among the methods of corpse-dissolution, weapon dissolution was the simplest, while water dissolution was slightly inferior, possessing the lowest upper limit.

"Very well, Ghost One, open the altar and perform the ritual."

Rumble!
The water barrel was pushed to the center of the grand hall.

Splash!
The woman leaped directly into the water.

Ghost One circled the water barrel and began chanting incantations.

"The Heavenly Dao is clear and bright, the Earthly Dao is tranquil and serene, the Human Dao is void and peaceful; the Three Powers are as one, blending Yin and Yang; the cosmic breath nourishes, water and fire flow unimpeded..."

The woman in the water struggled and twitched incessantly before her lifeless body floated to the surface.

Splash!
A pitch-black, murky mist flew out from the corpse's nose and mouth,

forming a shadowy phantom.

"Your mortal journey has ended. I confer upon you the name Ghost Qing."

"Thank you, Old Ancestor."

The ceremony continued. Some underwent weapon dissolution, some swallowed molten gold, and others died before the incantation could be completed—those who failed were reduced to ghost servants.

Roughly nine individuals successfully transformed into ghost cultivators at the initial stage of Qi Condensation. This year, no one dared to attempt the legendary trial of a thousand cuts.

"After becoming a ghost cultivator, until one reaches the Spirit-Nourishing realm, one can only leave the nethersoil through possession, otherwise, one will be reduced to ashes,"

Ghost Qi explained.

He said no more; to delve deeper would involve sect secrets that could not be shared with outsiders.

"By the way, I heard that your three Ghost Markets also trade in information?" Lu Qian suddenly recalled something.

"Naturally. The three Ghost Markets are spread across the entire island, and our intelligence network is more sensitive than most."

"Do you have any news regarding Yin-attribute Gang Qi? Preferably related to the Yellow Springs." Lu Qian asked.

There were tens of thousands of Gang Qi in the world, with the finest totaling thirty-six supreme strands.

The success rate of breaking through to the Dao Foundation depended not only on the compatibility between cultivation methods and Gang-Sha, but also heavily on the quality of the Gang-Sha itself.

"Related to the Yellow Springs? That might be somewhat difficult to find. Let me inquire."

Ghost Qi produced a scarlet jade plaque and inputted a string of information.

"Yellow Springs-type Gang Qi... There is no precise news at the moment, but the Old Ancestor has previously dealt with individuals in this domain. You can ask him after the gathering concludes."

"That is wonderful. Thank you, Brother Qi." Lu Qian cupped his fists in gratitude. Since the man was already fifty or sixty years old, calling him Brother Qi was no loss.

"Think nothing of it, merely a trivial effort."

Ghost Qi waved his hand dismissively.

Soon, the Spirit Food Festival concluded.

A number of individuals remained behind to discuss matters with the Candle Ghost King.

In truth, this grand gathering also served as a marketplace for transactions.

Before long, it was Lu Qian's turn.

He was led into a side hall.

The hall was pitch-black, illuminated only by the flames flickering above the Candle Ghost King's head. Two pools of ghostly fire within his eyes stared fixedly at Lu Qian.

Standing beside him were two respectful living humans, who appeared to be the heads of the other two clans.

"Mountain Lord of Black Mountain... I have heard much about you." The Candle Ghost King's voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of dignity without inducing oppressive pressure.

It seems this person is not as brimming with hostility as he appears on the surface, a thought flashed through Lu Qian's mind.

"Greetings, Candle Ghost King." Lu Qian offered a formal salute.

"Please sit. Serve tea."

A maidservant stepped forward and poured a cup of tea.

The Candle Ghost King remained silent, and the atmosphere instantly grew somewhat heavy.

Even the other clansmen felt a wave of pressure.

Lu Qian sat up straight, neither servile nor overbearing, his expression as calm as usual, seemingly entirely unaffected.

The Candle Ghost King smiled strangely and said, "You must be Lu Qian of the Tongyou Temple, correct?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was startled, and even Ghost Qi looked at Lu Qian in disbelief.

Lu Qian's reputation had been extremely prominent during the previous period.

The Candle Ghost King, who had hoped to see Lu Qian break his composure, was left disappointed.

With his expression unchanged, Lu Qian smiled and said, "The Ghost King truly has discerning eyes. I am indeed Lu Qian."

In truth, Lu Qian knew it could not be kept hidden for long.

The connection between the Rare Goods Firm and Lu Qian, as well as his dealings with Black Mountain, could all be investigated.

If Fubo had not died this time and eventually regained his wits, he too would have discovered the anomaly.

"Aren't you afraid I will turn you in for the bounty?" the Candle Ghost King asked with a smile.

"I cannot speak for others, but given the Ghost King's stature, you certainly wouldn't deign to care about a bounty of three or five hundred thousand."

"Good. You truly are a man who accomplishes great things; your temperament is commendable."

The Candle Ghost King praised approvingly.

This was precisely why he had agreed to see Lu Qian; he wanted to see what kind of person it was who had turned the Tongyou Temple and Lingbo Tower upside down.

Seeing him today, the result was indeed satisfactory.

"I can help you erase your tracks and provide information on the Yellow Springs Gang Qi... but you must do something for me in return." The Candle Ghost King stood up, the flames in his eyes trembling.