“An axe?”

Little Head Ghost was stunned for a moment, always feeling something was off, but immediately became excited and sat up straight: “Hey, you’re asking the right person! Let me tell you, I witnessed it with my own eyes that day!”

“Witnessed it yourself?”

Jian Chou felt uneasy in her heart.

Perhaps finally having a chance to boast to someone, Little Head Ghost spoke with animated gestures: “Just two days ago, Big Head and I were with Old Zhang outside Ghost Gate Pass receiving new ghosts. We were asking Old Zhang how to read a character when suddenly a huge axe came flying down from the sky! It was really huge – my goodness, a full ten feet long! It looked ghostly and menacing, completely black all over, but when it struck the Ghost Gate Pass, tsk, it turned completely red!”

Thinking back to that scene, Little Head Ghost still felt lingering fear.

Crimson cast patterns, ferocious evil spirits, the heavy axe body, and those incomplete dents…

Ghost Gate Pass had nearly been split apart!

When Little Head Ghost got going, he was really thorough, talking about how many people were frightened, how Old Zhang’s head almost got chopped off, and so on.

But Jian Chou, upon hearing his description of the axe’s appearance, had already confirmed: that was her Ghost Axe!

Her heart truly erupted in tumultuous waves.

Jian Chou forcibly suppressed this, concentrating on listening carefully.

“…In any case, this axe has quite a strange origin. Don’t know which powerful ghost cultivator left it behind – too frightening. Maybe it’s some extraordinary treasure that’s emerged? Anyway, now quite a few people from the Eight Directions City have come to Ghost Gate Pass. The Grand Judge Cui Jue I mentioned earlier came because of this matter.”

Actually, Little Head Ghost was also curious about just how important this axe was.

He muttered: “When I left, I heard Grand Judge Cui talking with our Judge Chu, saying that Old Ni under Song Emperor’s command had also come – he’s also a Grand Judge. Anyway, recently around our Reception Office and Ghost Gate Pass area, judges are everywhere – it’s quite chaotic. You’d better not go out.”

Judges everywhere…

Jian Chou smiled bitterly: “When you put it that way, I feel like I’m in some danger.”

With so many capable people here, what if she was discovered?

“There’s definitely danger. At a time like this, if you, a living person, appeared here, people might think you’re somehow related to that axe.”

Little Head Ghost was actually quite anxious inside, thinking as he spoke.

But as these words left his mouth, he suddenly froze.

People might think she was related to that axe?

Little Head Ghost’s body suddenly stiffened. He raised his head and looked at Jian Chou with a strange gaze for a long time, watching the subtle expressions on her face, his hesitation carrying a hint of probing: “…You wouldn’t really be related to that thing, would you…”

The day Jian Chou was lying on that road – wasn’t that the same day the axe appeared?

A huge axe falling from the sky, a living person falling from the sky?

Thinking about it this way, it really had a rather terrifying flavor.

Little Head Ghost couldn’t help but start trembling.

Jian Chou remained composed and said: “A treasure descending from heaven – what relationship would that have with me? Even if it were related to me, you’re realizing this too late now.”

“…”

Little Head Ghost opened his mouth wide, no longer knowing what to say.

It really was as Jian Chou said.

He was already on the pirate ship – where could he get off?

Now he and Jian Chou were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If anyone jumped ship, they’d immediately capsize and everyone would die.

“But…” Little Head Ghost’s gaze still held suspicion, “What exactly is your background?”

Background…

Of course, she was a cultivator from Yashan.

However, Jian Chou didn’t plan to tell the truth honestly, because sixty years ago, cultivators from the Nineteen Continents had fought a great battle with ghost cultivators from the Extreme Territory. This battle was called the “Yin-Yang Realm War” by the Extreme Territory.

Yashan was hardly insignificant in this battle.

In fact, Jian Chou’s Ghost Axe had earned its name by slaying countless evil spirits on the Extreme Territory battlefield.

To speak of it would be somewhat suicidal.

Jian Chou said casually: “Just an ordinary cultivator from the Nineteen Continents. My cultivation is probably equivalent to your Orb Formation realm here.”

“Just…”

Little Head Ghost’s mouth twitched violently, and he didn’t want to say another word.

But Jian Chou was quite perceptive and noticed the two little ghosts’ speechlessness. Not wanting to take back her words, she simply pretended she hadn’t said anything at all.

She had already asked about the Ghost Axe matter and gained an understanding of the current situation, so she redirected her attention back to the Qiankun Bag.

The bag’s opening had been open for a while now, and Big Head Ghost, who hadn’t spoken, was staring straight at it with some curiosity and anticipation.

Under their gaze, Jian Chou reached into the bag.

The small Qiankun Bag could accommodate her palm, making the two little ghosts marvel in amazement.

Her consciousness completely immersed in the Qiankun Bag, the items inside almost instantly appeared in her mind.

She selected for a while and took out several things.

Two jade bottles – one white, one azure – and boxes that were all made of hundred-year-old red sandalwood, carrying a rich, fragrant aroma.

The two little ghosts’ eyes were about to pop out, wishing they could press up close to look.

Big Head Ghost swallowed, and his stomach made thunderous rumbling sounds again.

Little Head Ghost rubbed his hands together, making conversation where there was none, asking knowingly: “These are the pills?”

Jian Chou nodded and first opened the white jade bottle. Immediately, a clear, fragrant scent wafted out.

She poured out two pills and placed them in her palm – they were like snow pellets, clean and transparent.

“I’ve selected three types of pills that nourish the soul. The ones in this white jade bottle are called Heart-Containing Pills. There should be eighteen in the bottle. For cultivators, they only gently nourish the soul with mild medicinal properties. If these two pills are effective for you, there are still these two other types of pills.”

Jian Chou estimated that both their cultivation levels weren’t high, so she put the two pills back in the bottle and handed it to Little Head Ghost instead.

Then she picked up the azure jade bottle.

“Inside here is the second type of pill, called Jade Spirit Pills. There are eight in the bottle. They can repair damaged spiritual consciousness in cultivators while nourishing and strengthening the soul. Their efficacy should be considerably stronger than the Heart-Containing Pills.”

In the azure jade bottle were two sky-blue pills, each about the size of a thumb pad, instantly beautiful to behold.

The scent was very much like green grass fragrance.

After Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost looked at both types of pills, just smelling the pill fragrance made them feel floating, actually feeling like a clear stream was washing over their souls.

Now, without even eating them, just based on this alone, they already believed: the pills Jian Chou gave them were absolutely all high-quality goods!

“Then, then what about this one?”

The first two types of pills were already so amazing – who knew what the remaining two boxes contained?

Little Head Ghost’s eyes lit up, quite impatient.

Jian Chou then pushed aside the azure jade bottle and moved the two boxes over, opening them toward the two little ghosts.

Exquisite small boxes with circles of cloud patterns on top, refracting flowing light.

Each box contained only one pill, placed properly inside, about the size of a pigeon egg, but presenting an alluring red color throughout. They didn’t look like pills at all – they actually looked like gemstones!

As soon as these pills appeared, intense pill fragrance surged out.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost both showed some bewilderment in their eyes, feeling like a huge waterfall was washing down from above, cleansing their entire beings.

With mouths agape, neither could speak.

Even fools knew that these last ones were definitely the finest of fine goods!

Jian Chou didn’t keep them in suspense. Remembering that these pills were casually given to her by Fudao Shanren, she couldn’t help but think of her master’s hidden treasure vault.

A smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of her lips, though with a slightly bitter taste, but her eyes held complete calm. She said: “This last type has very strong medicinal power. Even if given to Golden Core stage cultivators from the Nineteen Continents, it would increase most of their soul power. I don’t recommend you eat them for now – waiting until your cultivation is sufficient might be more appropriate.”

“Good, good, good, then we won’t be polite.”

Little Head Ghost had been unable to wait. As soon as Jian Chou finished introducing the three types of pills, he immediately wanted to pounce over and gather all the pills into his arms.

Unexpectedly, Jian Chou reached out to stop him: “Wait.”

“Hm?”

Little Head Ghost was confused.

Jian Chou’s expression was calm as she looked at him, simultaneously opening her palm with a light smile: “The cultivation method.”

“…”

This female cultivator was really…

Obsessed with cultivation methods!

Looking at that pale palm, Little Head Ghost almost choked. He pursed his lips: “Really, I never said I wouldn’t give it to you. Why are you being so careful? Here, this is it!”

With that, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out another crumpled piece of paper, directly slapping it into Jian Chou’s palm.

Jian Chou looked at the paper that had been crumpled countless times, with handwriting that had been smudged by something, making it somewhat blurry and unclear.

This was even more tattered than the last one!

“I only have the first three realms of the cultivation method – that’s the Spirit Nourishing, Spirit Condensing, and Orb Formation realms. This is everything – quite generous of me.”

Little Head Ghost didn’t forget to promote his own righteousness, then directly gathered up the pills with Big Head Ghost.

“We’ve struck it rich!”

Big Head Ghost was also extremely happy, huddling beside Little Head Ghost.

The two didn’t mind Jian Chou, who was completely stiff beside them, and chattered for a while before directly running behind the stove – a place where Jian Chou couldn’t see them – and sat down on the ground.

However, Jian Chou could still hear their excited discussions.

“Quick, count them – are there eighteen?”

“One, two, three, four…”

“Should we eat one tonight to try it?”

“Great, just three levels of cultivation methods exchanged for so many pills. Maybe it’s enough for me to break through to the Orb Formation realm and condense a soul orb.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Let’s try eating one, just one – no more allowed.”

“Okay.”

…

These weren’t just hungry ghosts – they were two poor ghosts.

Listening to those voices, Jian Chou didn’t even have the energy to sigh. She forced herself to unfold the paper page that Little Head Ghost had crumpled into a mess and concentrated on reading it carefully.

As she had expected, the Spirit Nourishing realm only gently nourished the soul until smooth radiance emanated from within the soul – then it was considered successful.

The subsequent “Spirit Condensing” realm required going one step further. After nourishing the soul, one had to refine soul power, making the soul appear to have preliminary jade quality – truly “smooth and gentle like jade.”

This process was like forging iron – first heating it red over fire, then hammering it into shape.

The third level, Orb Formation realm, was similar to the “Golden Core stage” among cultivators, also condensing power into a more pure collection like a pill.

It was just that the Golden Core stage was a qualitative change of spiritual power, while the Orb Formation realm was a qualitative change of soul power.

Once she understood the principles, the remaining question was how to cultivate.

Little Head Ghost’s page didn’t contain much, but these issues were quite detailed. Jian Chou painstakingly deciphered character by character and quickly understood.

Earth force and yin essence.

This was a term Little Head Ghost had mentioned before.

If the spiritual power that cultivators from the Nineteen Continents absorbed came from the void, from plants and trees, from everything above the earth’s surface, then the soul power that ghost cultivators from the Extreme Territory cultivated and absorbed was earth force and yin essence, coming from the earth, from thick soil.

One in heaven, one on earth.

Relatively born, but in the end, both required the unity of soul and body, moving toward the “Reaching Heaven” realm.

Speaking this way, so-called ghost cultivators and normal cultivators were merely different in their cultivation starting points, which consequently led to differences in their selection of various techniques and arts.

Though it was only a thin page of paper, Jian Chou glimpsed many things she had never considered before.

Her eyes gradually brightened. After contemplating for a moment, she suddenly raised her head again.

While she was reading the cultivation methods for the first through third levels, the two little ghosts behind the stove had fallen silent.

She couldn’t help but worry a bit. Setting down the paper, she stood up and peered over there.

On the ground were the pills Jian Chou had given them earlier, but the white jade bottle was open.

Both little ghosts sat cross-legged on the ground with ten points of light floating above their heads like ten spirit flames.

Three were azure, seven were dark red.

Three souls and seven spirits – souls were azure, spirits were red.

This point was already mentioned in the cultivation method she had just read. Jian Chou remembered it clearly, even recalling that soul azure was because souls were good, while spirit red was because spirits were evil.

The reason humans were complex was because souls and spirits were one body, having both good and evil.

At this moment, both little ghosts had their hands pressed against the ground. Perhaps because the cultivation method had already begun operating, an extremely murky aura rose from beneath the ground, extremely subtle.

It climbed up their fingers, then up their arms, and finally reached their heads.

Thus, those ten points of light all brightened momentarily.

But…

Jian Chou suddenly frowned, because among the ten points of light, those seven bright red spirit lights were obviously much brighter, while the three pale azure soul lights were rather dim.

Ghost cultivators absorbed earth force and yin essence to nourish souls and spirits.

So once earth force and yin essence were drawn out, the ten points of light representing souls and spirits would also react accordingly.

But judging from the current reaction, the seven spirits’ light was obviously brighter…

Within the two little ghosts’ bodies, there was also a faint white qi circulating – this should be the Heart-Containing Pills they had just consumed, with their nourishing power circulating round and round, not yet completely absorbed.

However, whenever a wisp of power reached their heads, those three azure lights would brighten momentarily.

What did this represent?

Jian Chou harbored a doubt in her heart.

She didn’t walk over, just stood in place watching for a while before sitting back down.

Presumably after the two little ghosts ate the pills, they had begun meditating and cultivating, which was why they hadn’t spoken. At least on the surface, they seemed fine.

As for what specific effects the pills had, she would have to wait until they finished cultivating to find out.

From Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost’s current condition, both fellows seemed to still be in the first Spirit Nourishing level, close to breaking through.

This was equivalent to the peak of the Qi Refining stage in the Nineteen Continents.

But it was still just the Qi Refining stage.

No wonder they were doing so poorly.

Jian Chou muttered to herself, then said: “Being able to help them is quite good.”

The rest was her own business.

She had information about the Ghost Axe’s whereabouts and traces, but new crises had also arrived.

The Reception Office and Ghost Gate Pass were both unstable. According to Little Head Ghost, there were “judges everywhere,” and who knew what dangers might arise.

She wanted to retrieve the Ghost Axe, explore the secrets of the Extreme Territory’s reincarnation, and safely leave the Extreme Territory to return to the Nineteen Continents.

Without cultivation, without battle power, everything was just empty talk.

Steadying her mind, determination appeared in Jian Chou’s eyes.

She read through the Spirit Nourishing realm cultivation method once more, and after confirming there were no errors, she also sat cross-legged beside the table.

The ground was thickly covered with dust, but she didn’t mind much.

Ghost cultivators were originally in soul-spirit states, but she was not.

Her soul and spirit were still within her physical body, almost as one. Jian Chou faced a difficult problem: before cultivating, she had to sense her souls and spirits.

You must know that back then, Fudao Shanren had expended great effort to illuminate her souls and spirits.

So Jian Chou naturally assumed this attempt wouldn’t go smoothly either, even preparing for multiple failures.

Unexpectedly, the Extreme Territory gave her a harsh surprise.

When she completely immersed her consciousness into her body for internal observation, wanting to glimpse where her souls and spirits resided, there was suddenly a light “hum” in her mind, like a layer of mist being instantly dispersed, and everything became clear.

The “Spirit Platform” that had only existed in imagination and never truly appeared actually materialized in her mind.

Above the Spirit Platform appeared ten points of spirit light similar to those of Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost.

Three azure, seven red.

But among the three azure lights, the first azure light looked like someone had taken a bite out of it, missing a small piece and appearing extremely dim.

The third azure light was also slightly smaller and dimmer than the second azure light.

The remaining seven red lights were relatively complete, with only the last seventh point being dim, also looking like someone had bitten off a small piece.

Jian Chou had incomplete three souls and seven spirits.

Among the three souls, the Heavenly Soul was missing three parts, the Life Soul was missing one part; among the seven spirits, the Heroic Spirit was missing three parts.

Fudao Shanren had mentioned this to her before. Now Jian Chou compared them one by one, finding they matched exactly.

In the tomb, dead and then revived.

This was the price.

Feeling these ten points of light floating and swaying in her mind, she immediately thought of something else.

“Below Soul Separation, difficult to meet an enemy; once reaching Heart Questioning, certain death…”

A smile appeared at the corner of her lips, though with a slightly bitter taste, but her eyes held complete calm.

Even if the end was a dead end, wasn’t the scenery on the cliff face also quite beautiful?

Jian Chou’s lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn’t open her eyes.

The appearance of the ten spirit lights was too easy. Though she was puzzled, she didn’t understand the principle behind it. She only knew that since they had appeared, it was an opportunity – she should just continue cultivating.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Chou’s hands resting on her knees both dropped down.

Her warm fingertips touched the cold ground.

At the same time, she began operating the cultivation method in her consciousness. Silver light like a vortex flashed at her fingertips, and the tens of thousands of miles of evil territory in the Extreme Territory immediately responded to her.

In the air, there was a faint sound of wind flowing.

Jian Chou only felt her fingertips suddenly grow cold, and a grayish-black aura shot up from beneath the ground, absorbed by the vortex Jian Chou had pressed against the ground, immediately entering her body.

It was the feeling of having her soul stuffed with ice blocks.

Jian Chou’s whole body nearly shuddered, almost being startled out of her cultivation state. Fortunately, she forcibly steadied herself and wasn’t interrupted by this sudden sensation.

Earth force and yin essence only affected souls and spirits, so she would have this feeling.

Spiritual power, on the other hand, first affected the physical body.

Jian Chou relaxed her body and slowly adapted.

Soon, all the earth force and yin essence coiled up, flowing through Jian Chou’s body and finally gathering in her mind, ascending to the Spirit Platform and surging toward the ten spirit lights.

However, the expected flash of spirit light didn’t appear.

The scene was exactly like pouring flowing sand into a sieve – the sand would trickle right through.

The ten spirit lights only flickered slightly, then had no further movement. As much earth force and yin essence entered, that much leaked out.

In that instant, Jian Chou’s heart still sank.

Having incomplete three souls and seven spirits was like a perfect container having a breach – earth force and yin essence would enter and immediately exit through the breach. Perhaps a little would stick to the container walls, but the vast majority simply couldn’t be retained.

Frowning deeply, Jian Chou opened her eyes.

There were no lights in the room, only the few spirit flames above Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost’s heads providing illumination. She knew that when she cultivated, three spirit flames should have appeared above her head as well.

Dim and dark, with thick blackness outside as well.

From when she began cultivating to her first failed attempt, only half an hour had passed.

She hadn’t encountered difficulties in absorbing earth force and yin essence from start to finish, hadn’t met the problems ordinary ghost cultivators faced – one could say she had considerable talent for cultivation.

But specifically in the area of souls and spirits, where almost everyone had no problems, she had big problems.

Previously, the soul-nourishing pills Fudao Shanren had given her had basically no effect. She had found it strange at the time, only guessing it was related to her incomplete souls and spirits.

Not until this moment, having tried the cultivation method of Extreme Territory cultivators, did Jian Chou finally understand the principle behind it.

With such damaged souls and spirits, pills were useless, earth force and yin essence couldn’t be retained – like a child who would never grow up.

No wonder they had said “certain death at Heart Questioning.”

After Soul Separation, cultivators also cultivated the “heart,” meaning the “soul and spirit.” How could she withstand the Heart Questioning tribulation after Soul Separation?

Everything weighed on her heart like a heavy stone.

For the first time, Jian Chou felt a suffocating pressure.

She had entered a predicament and couldn’t find a solution for the time being. After thinking for a moment, she closed her eyes again.

Know yourself and your enemy to win every battle.

She still didn’t understand enough about the Extreme Territory’s cultivation methods – better to try a few more times and see if there were any opportunities.

Thus, Jian Chou began cultivating again.

Strand after strand of earth force and yin essence was extracted by her, flowing into her soul and spirit, then scattering away time and time again.

The night gradually deepened, and there was no sound in the entire room.

However, the two little ghosts cultivating behind the stove discovered something was increasingly wrong the more they cultivated.

Why did it seem like the earth force and yin essence they extracted was getting thinner and less each time?

After a while, what had originally been like a thick rope of aura quickly became only like a thin silk thread, as if just blowing a breath could snap it!

This…

What was happening?

Little Head Ghost opened his eyes in puzzled suspicion, thinking there was some problem with his cultivation. But when he clearly saw the situation in the room, his scalp exploded!

With Jian Chou sitting at the table as the center, countless thick streams of earth force and yin essence had gathered on the ground, one after another.

Like a huge waterfall rising from the ground, pouring down on the sitting Jian Chou like a baptism!

Little Head Ghost opened his mouth wide, heartbroken.

No wonder the earth force and yin essence they extracted was getting less and less – it was all being seized by this damn freak sitting nearby!

Too excessive…

Too excessive!

Eating meat without even leaving soup for others?!!

“Freak… spit out other people’s earth force and yin essence! Spit it out!”

Little Head Ghost roared in grief and indignation.

He really wanted to grab her neck!