The Underworld, Reception Office

On the bridge, new ghosts were constantly being escorted and transported by ghost officers. The central bridge was much wider than the others, specifically built for the ghost officials and ghost officers who worked in the Reception Office to travel upon.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had just entered that layer of mist when they hurriedly walked up the bridge.

At this moment, inside the Reception Office’s inner hall.

More than a dozen ghost officials had mostly all arrived, with familiar faces gathering in groups of three or four, discussing their respective situations.

“Hey, have you finished your calculations?”

“Don’t mention it. I did finish the calculations, but I haven’t had time to double-check them. Who knows if there are any errors? Really…”

“Yes, the time was too tight. I haven’t been able to sleep well for two nights.”

…

Most of the ghost officials were sighing and complaining, clearly exhausted by the “Book of Heavenly Fate” affair, regardless of whether they had finished or not.

The only quiet spot was probably the corner on the far right side of the inner hall.

A long desk was arranged perfectly neat, with thick stacks of registers piled on the desk surface, looking somewhat crowded.

Sitting behind the long desk was none other than Zhang Tang, who had only been a ghost official for a few days.

While others were discussing endlessly, more or less worried about their own situations, those discussions all reached Zhang Tang’s ears. However, he had both eyes half-closed, as if resting with his eyes closed, seemingly completely unconcerned with others’ situations.

Unmoved by the eight winds.

Quite a few ghost officials occasionally caught sight of him, and couldn’t help but feel a certain indescribable taste in their hearts: Look at that attitude – so arrogant and self-satisfied!

After all, he came from the City of Wrongful Deaths, a ruthless character they couldn’t afford to provoke.

Zhang Tang had been an official in life, and not just any official but a Court Justice, one of the emperor’s trusted confidants. Who knew how many people had died at his hands?

They had heard that when this man was first sent to the City of Wrongful Deaths, he carried such intense malevolent energy around him, thick and persistent, that none of the ghost cultivators dared approach him.

For cultivators from the Nineteen Continents, “malevolent energy” was more often a figure of speech rather than someone truly “carrying malevolence,” but Zhang Tang’s “malevolent energy” was absolutely real.

Those who had committed killings in life would carry malevolence after death.

As for Zhang Tang…

How many people must he have killed, how much blood must he have been stained with, to have such intense malevolent energy?

After some people secretly inquired about this, they quietly gave this cruel official from the human world various nicknames – some called him “Human Butcher,” others “Knife-and-Brush Official” – none of them were complimentary.

“Hmph.”

Xing Wu, the White Impermanence from the Wuchang Clan, the same ghost official who had shown Little Head Ghost no face yesterday, saw Zhang Tang sitting quietly in the distance. An inexplicable anger rose in his heart, making him quite uncomfortable, and he couldn’t help but snort coldly.

Xing Wu had a handsome face and wore white robes. Among the many oddly-shaped ghost cultivators in the underworld, he could be considered both dashing and elegant.

After his cold snort, several ghost officials standing beside him couldn’t help but look over as well.

“He doesn’t seem worried at all,” someone said sourly.

“He has Judge Chu protecting him. I heard he’s already been marked by the Palace of Lord Qin Guang and is being prepared to participate in the Cauldron Contest. He might well be the next Cui Jue.”

“Cui Jue… Speaking of which, I heard Judge Cui came the other day. How did that matter turn out?”

That matter referred to the axe that had suddenly appeared at Ghost Gate Pass a few days ago.

This axe had appeared so mysteriously that even though Judge Chu had instructed not to spread word of it, with so many people involved, the news couldn’t be contained for more than a few days.

So even the ghost officials who hadn’t witnessed the situation that day had later heard bits and pieces of the story.

All the major Yama Palaces had sent people to patrol around Ghost Gate Pass.

However, no matter how capable others were, they couldn’t compete with Lord Qin Guang directly dispatching Cui Jue – this was the only person in over a hundred years to be promoted to Grand Judge.

They heard that as soon as Cui Jue arrived, he collected the axe, but for unknown reasons, he had been lingering in this area without leaving.

Now that a ghost official suddenly brought up this matter, Xing Wu frowned, and his cold eyes, carrying a hint of wariness and disgust, fell upon Zhang Tang again.

These past few days, Judge Chu had frequently called Zhang Tang for conversations – they weren’t unaware of this.

As for the content of those conversations, aside from that axe, what else could it be?

Not everyone was a fool; they could guess half of it.

Zhang Tang, who had the opportunity to be involved in such matters, definitely knew things they didn’t.

Just thinking about this made Xing Wu’s heart feel increasingly blocked, a breath of anger stuck inside him, suffocating him to death.

When he had returned to the Wuchang Clan a few days ago, his clan members had also mentioned this Zhang Tang, saying that this year’s recommendation from Lord Qin Guang’s Palace would very likely be this fellow.

Others had to work hard and struggle, but this one was about to ascend to heaven in a single step.

Ultimately, people said he might be the next Cui Jue, and it wasn’t without reason.

The difference was that Cui Jue had been an upright and honest official in life, while Zhang Tang had been a cruel official in life – one who skinned people, extracted their tendons, and crushed their bones. A corrupt official!

Unconsciously, Xing Wu’s gaze gradually became unfriendly.

Zhang Tang, sitting behind the long desk in the distance, somehow seemed to sense this gaze. His eyelids lifted and he opened his eyes.

A calm gaze poured out, meeting Xing Wu’s directly.

In that instant, Xing Wu’s hair stood on end, and he felt a terrifying sensation.

It was like talking behind someone’s back only to have the person you were discussing suddenly appear behind you.

Across the spacious inner hall, Zhang Tang’s gaze was indifferent, and his presence carried a heavy, profound weight.

This was his most habitual gaze: looking at everyone as if they were prisoners in the dock.

“Old Zhang, Old Zhang!”

Just as Zhang Tang was contemplating this Xing Wu, several rather enthusiastic shouts came from behind him.

The voice was somewhat familiar.

In the entire underworld, there were probably only two who would call him this way.

Zhang Tang withdrew his gaze, acting as if he had never made eye contact with Xing Wu at all, and turned to look.

At the main entrance, the late-arriving Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had just crossed the threshold. Each held a copy of the “Book of Heavenly Fate,” both faces showing a kind of exhaustion, with large dark circles under their eyes that could only be achieved by staying up all night.

Especially Big Head Ghost, who was following behind Little Head Ghost, looked like he was about to fall asleep while walking.

Zhang Tang had heard that when he went to Judge Chu’s place yesterday, these two little ghosts had been anxiously looking for him, but apparently hadn’t found him later, so they had directly requested leave to go back.

For them, the “Book of Heavenly Fate” was definitely a thorny issue.

Zhang Tang didn’t need to guess to know that they had definitely come looking for him yesterday about this matter.

Seeing the two walking over, Zhang Tang glanced at the thick registers they were carrying and said, “I heard you came looking for me yesterday. Was it about the ‘Book of Heavenly Fate’?”

“Haha, originally we came for this matter, but since you weren’t there, we had to go back and handle it ourselves.” Little Head Ghost didn’t hide anything.

Although everyone said Zhang Tang carried heavy malevolent energy, Little Head Ghost had once asked him about character recognition, and this person had answered meticulously without any trace of impatience.

At that time, Little Head Ghost had keenly discovered a way to get close to Zhang Tang.

You had to know that Zhang Tang might very well become a Grand Judge in the future, so establishing a relationship with him had no downside.

Therefore, from that point on, Little Head Ghost would run to ask Zhang Tang questions whenever he had any problems, and Zhang Tang showed particularly human warmth in this matter, basically answering every question asked.

Coming and going, Little Head Ghost had really managed to become familiar with him.

Now, he took a few steps while dragging Big Head Ghost to Zhang Tang’s front, his face beaming with joy as he waved the “Book of Heavenly Fate” in his hand.

“Old Zhang, look, all done!”

They had actually finished the calculations?

Zhang Tang was somewhat surprised. His two hands were tucked together, both hidden in his sleeves, giving him a steady and composed appearance.

Hearing Little Head Ghost’s words now, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow, seemingly finding it somewhat unlikely. He extended his hand to take Little Head Ghost’s “Book of Heavenly Fate” and opened it to look.

Each page had twenty names. Zhang Tang examined them one by one, finding no errors.

He then randomly checked several pages and flipped to the end, only to discover that the entire “Book of Heavenly Fate” was indeed completely finished, and there weren’t even any errors anywhere.

This was truly…

Rather hard to imagine.

Little Head Ghost saw Zhang Tang flip to the end, his finger pressed on the page as if deep in thought, and couldn’t help but become proud: “How about it, can’t believe it, right? Haha haha…”

It was indeed hard to believe.

Zhang Tang’s gaze remained indifferent, but concealed a hint of inquiry.

The ghost officer at the gate had said that Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had requested leave to return near noon yesterday, when they were still at a loss with nowhere to turn for help, and the two complete “Books of Heavenly Fate” had barely been touched.

At most, the time left for the two little ghosts to determine punishments would not exceed nine hours.

In nine hours, for ordinary ghost officials, being able to handle one book would already be considered very fast.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had actually managed to process two books in such a short time, with almost no errors or omissions – this was truly not very logical.

Even if Zhang Tang himself had done it, he would probably have barely managed one and a half books.

Especially since he knew better than anyone that these two could count the characters they recognized on their fingers.

Was it possible?

If it was real, what method had they used?

Unbidden, the scene from that day when he went to look for the two little ghosts and encountered the white-haired ghost at the village entrance floated in his mind.

The two impoverished individuals had suddenly borrowed a pile of firewood from the white-haired ghost.

This was also abnormal.

Having decided countless criminal cases and determined countless life-and-death matters, Zhang Tang’s perceptiveness far exceeded Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost’s imagination.

He connected all the clues together.

But who didn’t have secrets?

These two little ghosts hadn’t blocked his path in any way, so there was no need to investigate too deeply.

Therefore, Zhang Tang slowly closed the “Book of Heavenly Fate” and handed it back to Little Head Ghost, but didn’t speak.

Little Head Ghost hadn’t yet noticed anything wrong, and his whole being felt somewhat light and airy, as if he might fly up to the sky at any moment.

He looked around and immediately noticed that quite a few people were looking at him.

Little Head Ghost immediately became even more proud, shrugged his shoulders, and waved the “Book of Heavenly Fate” in his hand again, putting on a relaxed appearance.

At that moment, quite a few ghost officials felt a knot in their hearts.

In the past, Little Head Ghost had been submissive and humble, like a dog that anyone could bully a bit, and he would still respond with a fawning smile. How had he become like a different person today, even provoking them?

So, he thought his “Book of Heavenly Fate” was well done?

“Let him be proud for now. When Judge Chu arrives, he’ll show his true colors.”

Xing Wu, who had mocked Little Head Ghost just yesterday, found his smile irritating and simply looked away, no longer watching.

The inner hall still had whispered conversations, but they quickly quieted down.

A figure appeared outside the great hall.

Judge Chu walked over with steady steps, holding a gleaming jade tablet in his hand. He wore a reddish-brown long robe with a crown on his head secured by a jade hairpin. His face was like a red date, with a short, black stubble of beard. His eyes drooped at the corners, giving him a very stern appearance.

All the ghost officials in the inner hall, regardless of where they were, basically stood up. Those already standing also straightened their backs to appear more solemn.

Everyone waited for Judge Chu to step into the great hall before paying their respects.

Unexpectedly, Judge Chu actually stopped at the entrance today and turned back to gesture, as if there was someone behind him.

At that moment, everyone’s hearts jolted: this meant a great personage had arrived!

Zhang Tang remained calm, clearly already knowing who was coming.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost, however, nervously looked around.

After Judge Chu made a “please” gesture, the person behind him slowly walked forward.

It was a young man in blue robes, though traces of weathered experience could be seen between his brows. His face carried a smile and had quite a clear, bright air about him.

As soon as he appeared at the entrance, he seemed to bring entire expanses of blue sky with him, utterly transparent.

When had such a bright and refreshing moment ever occurred in the entire gloomy underworld?

Everyone was somewhat stunned, even momentarily forgetting to wonder about this person’s identity.

“Lord Chu is too kind.”

He slightly bowed to Judge Chu and didn’t decline, walking in first and quickly scanning the room.

Judge Chu followed him in and said to the blue-robed young man, “Lord Cui, this is the inner hall where my Reception Office conducts business.”

The blue-robed young man nodded and spoke kindly: “Today I’m merely following orders to supervise the ‘Book of Heavenly Fate’ matter. Lord Chu needn’t mind me – please proceed as usual.”

“Then please rest for a moment, Lord Cui. This subordinate will first organize the office affairs.”

Judge Chu gestured again, treating this “Lord Cui” with complete respect and not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

Lord Cui.

Who else in the underworld had a higher position than Judge Chu and happened to be surnamed Cui?

After hearing just a few sentences, everyone in the inner hall collectively gasped: This gentle and steady blue-robed young man – who else could it be but Cui Jue?!

“Gulp.”

Little Head Ghost stared at Cui Jue walking through the hall, feeling no ease or kindness – only an inexplicable suffocation.

This was a Grand Judge under Lord Qin Guang!

Having been in the underworld for so long, he had never seen such a formidable figure.

Little Head Ghost didn’t even dare breathe loudly, and along with everyone else, watched Cui Jue as he walked to the front of the hall and chose a chair to the right of Judge Chu’s position.

Big Head Ghost’s drowsiness had somewhat lifted by now, and he was rather trembling with fear.

The entire inner hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The atmosphere wasn’t tense – this Cui Jue wasn’t the least bit disagreeable – but everyone was extremely nervous.

Of course, as always—

Zhang Tang was the exception.

He tucked his left hand into his right sleeve and his right hand into his left sleeve, both hands hidden by his sleeves, his face completely impassive.

His gaze observing Cui Jue didn’t linger long before he withdrew it.

One was a cruel and unscrupulous harsh official, the other a kind official who loved the people like his own children.

They were ultimately not the same type of people. If not outright dislike, then at least they didn’t get along well.

The most stubborn honest official, once in his prison, could be transformed from innocent to guilty – it all depended on whether the Son of Heaven wanted you to be an honest official or a corrupt one.

Therefore, regarding this Grand Judge Cui Jue, Zhang Tang had no interest whatsoever, and only began thinking about that axe matter.

The Reception Office backed against the underworld and faced Ghost Gate Pass and the tens of thousands of miles of evil territory beyond.

Outside, the sky remained gloomy and overcast.

The sky gradually brightened, then gradually darkened again.

Little ghosts without much ability, like homeless wanderers, didn’t reside within the underworld’s city walls, but lived in the many villages surrounding the city, just like Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost.

They would have to wait until their cultivation progressed before gaining the qualification to live within the city.

The small village where Jian Chou was currently located was quite far from Ghost Gate Pass. Looking out through the window cracks, one could see the distant, menacing and dangerous mountain ranges.

However, Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost hadn’t returned yet.

No one had discovered that there was still another person in this small house.

She had stood quietly by the window boarded up with wooden strips for a long time, the silver lock in her palm now the same temperature as her body.

Slowly turning around, Jian Chou saw the Human Emperor Sword leaning against the door again, along with the Qiankun Bag and Spirit Beast Bag.

The plan she had been brewing for an entire day gradually took shape in her mind.

After seeing the page Little Head Ghost had left for her, Jian Chou suddenly wasn’t in such a hurry to leave the Extreme Territory.

Even though this place was dangerous for her.

As the sky grew darker, sounds gradually emerged from the village – the voices of little ghosts greeting each other as they returned from their duties.

From far away, Jian Chou heard several excited shouts coming from the other end of the village.

“White Hair, White Hair! This is the money we owe you for the firewood – is one piece of Dark Jade enough?”

“Ah… Dark Jade? You two struck it rich?”

“Hehe, Judge Chu gave it to us today. Thank you!”

“…Given today… you’ve really made it big…”

…

From the few exchanges, one voice was Little Head Ghost’s, and the other should be the “White Hair Ghost” they had mentioned before.

Hearing these voices, Jian Chou knew they had returned.

Sure enough, after a while, footsteps approached the door, sounding quite light and cheerful.

“What a wonderful day!”

As he opened the door, Little Head Ghost shouted happily.

Big Head Ghost also chuckled foolishly, nodding vigorously as he followed inside.

Seeing their condition, Jian Chou could easily guess that today’s events had gone very smoothly.

This was perfect – good moods were suitable for discussing business.

She smiled and asked, “No one suspected anything?”

“Uh…” Little Head Ghost scratched his head and said, “Suspicion – of course some people suspected, but it’s not a big deal. At most they’d think Big Head and I found someone literate to help. But Judge Chu’s expression today, haha haha…”

It was indescribably satisfying!

Actually, how could Judge Chu not know that these two were originally ignorant and unlearned?

But with Judge Cui present at the time, even if he had suspicions, he couldn’t grab the two little ghosts by the ears and question them in front of everyone. After all, they were his own subordinates – how embarrassing would it be if they made a fool of themselves?

So Judge Chu was like a mute eating bitter herbs – he had grievances but couldn’t voice them.

Not only did he not pursue the matter, but he also commended the two properly, giving them a full ten pieces of Dark Jade.

“Ten pieces of Dark Jade – that’s ten whole pieces!”

Little Head Ghost sat at the table and took out a small pouch from his sleeve, opening it up.

Inside were stones that looked like black jade, but when examined closely, they appeared semi-transparent, with thick, cotton-like substances inside that made them appear black.

There were nine pieces in the pouch, which Little Head Ghost took out one by one.

He arranged the nine pieces of Dark Jade on the broken table one by one, almost showing off: “How about it, beautiful? Amazing?”

Jian Chou thought for a moment and sincerely praised: “Beautiful and amazing.”

“I just—bah!”

Halfway through his agreement, Little Head Ghost suddenly realized something was wrong and spat.

“No wonder you’re so sincere.”

She was praising herself.

Big Head Ghost laughed honestly and good-naturedly beside them.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but smile as well. Seeing Little Head Ghost’s indignant expression, she casually changed the topic, asking: “What exactly is Dark Jade? Why are you so happy?”

“Dark Jade is our currency here, but it can also be used for cultivation. In your Nineteen Continents, this is called… called…”

He couldn’t remember again.

Jian Chou understood: “Spirit Stones?”

“Right.”

Little Head Ghost slapped his forehead and explained: “Same thing. It’s just that Dark Jade contains sealed earth force and yin essence – we cultivate using this type. It’s just that absorbing it ourselves is too slow, so having Dark Jade is much better.”

With these nine pieces of Dark Jade, if their cultivation didn’t jump up a big level, at least entering the Second Spirit Condensation realm would be no problem.

With improved cultivation, wouldn’t everything else follow?

Little Head Ghost now felt that picking up Jian Chou was the right choice.

He touched the pieces of Dark Jade one by one, unable to put them down.

Seeing this, Jian Chou’s heart stirred: “Do you also have cultivation methods here?”

“Of course. Earth force and yin essence can nourish souls and strengthen spiritual power. Different methods have different absorption techniques. But Big Head and I, we definitely use the worst methods.”

Little Head Ghost answered casually without thinking.

But after answering, he realized that Jian Chou’s question was somewhat unusual.

The relaxed expression from before was almost immediately withdrawn.

Little Head Ghost’s eyes showed that wariness again as he looked back at the sword and two bags leaning against the door.

He had actually left a small trick – if Jian Chou had touched them, he would definitely know.

After seeing that there were no abnormalities whatsoever, Little Head Ghost breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to ask Jian Chou: “You’re asking so many questions – what do you want to do?”

She was quite alert indeed.

However, when Jian Chou was exposed, she felt no discomfort at all. She then asked another question: “What I want to do isn’t very important, but what you just said – is it true? Earth force and yin essence are for nourishing souls? Then if there were pills that could nourish souls, but they came from the Nineteen Continents, I wonder if they would be useful for you?”

In that instant, Little Head Ghost’s heart suddenly jumped.

He clutched those few small pieces of Dark Jade, trembling slightly because of Jian Chou’s suddenly thrown-out words.

Jian Chou’s words seemed to hide other meanings.

Little Head Ghost thought a bit deeper and actually felt a sense of enormous hope. He knew he should stay calm at this moment, but how could he stay calm?

This definitely wasn’t picking up trouble – this was picking up a tremendous opportunity!

Unprecedented!

Absolutely a wealthy benefactor.

Forcibly suppressing his inner excitement, Little Head Ghost’s voice trembled: “You, you have some?”

Seeing his reaction, Jian Chou knew she had bet correctly.

It really was the same.

The final three realms of cultivation in the Nineteen Continents were “Returning to Void,” “Bounded Realm,” and “Reaching Heaven.” The final three realms of cultivation for ghost cultivators in the Extreme Territory were also “Returning to Void,” “Bounded Realm,” and “Reaching Heaven.”

Even if she didn’t know whether their definitions of these three realms were different, having the same names already explained many things.

All paths lead to the same destination.

All the Ways under heaven ultimately led to the same result.

It was because of this that Jian Chou had thought of using pills as an entry point.

After confirming that this type of pill was also effective for ghost cultivators, Jian Chou felt reassured.

She said: “I have these pills, and quite a few of them, right in the Qiankun Bag hanging on the sword. If you’re willing, we can make another trade. You return that Qiankun Bag, and I’ll take out pills for you to try. Right now I’m still completely in the dark about the Extreme Territory, so you don’t need to worry about me harming anyone.”

The so-called “New Ghost Guide” really contained nothing substantial.

For a living person like Jian Chou to walk around outside, every step would be dangerous.

So when Jian Chou said she was “completely in the dark,” it really wasn’t false.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost looked at each other, neither objecting, and nodded to indicate that Jian Chou should continue.

Jian Chou knew these two little ghosts were already tempted and continued: “If it’s confirmed that the pills are useful for you, I can continue to provide some for your cultivation. But in exchange, you need to explain some things about the Extreme Territory to me, and also… give me cultivation methods.”

“What?”

Everything before could be understood, but cultivation methods – this was simply unbelievable.

Little Head Ghost opened his eyes wide: “Aren’t you a cultivator from the Nineteen Continents? What do you want cultivation methods for? Besides… you have incomplete three souls and seven spirits – cultivation methods are useless to you. Ghosts with incomplete souls can’t even cultivate.”

Simply put, a complete waste.

Little Head Ghost was so direct that Jian Chou hadn’t quite expected it.

But his words didn’t reveal any unwillingness, so she felt much more at ease.

As for incomplete three souls and seven spirits…

This was one of the questions she wanted to ask.

“The Extreme Territory governs the Six Paths of Reincarnation. When mortals from the human world’s isolated islands die, their souls are escorted through Ghost Gate Pass, then registered and catalogued, correct?”

Little Head Ghost nodded but still didn’t know what she wanted to ask.

“Generally speaking, after mortals die, their souls automatically enter the City God temples of the human world’s isolated islands, then enter reincarnation.”

“But not everyone is accepted. Those with incomplete souls, like you, definitely aren’t accepted. And those who became cultivators – when they became cultivators, they already automatically jumped out of the underworld’s reincarnation. Even if they die, their souls only dissipate between heaven and earth.”

“As for registration and cataloguing, that’s the Book of Life and Death – everything can be checked.”

Those with incomplete souls weren’t accepted, meaning her soul’s incompleteness was unrelated to the underworld.

Then…

Jian Chou’s voice suddenly became somewhat hoarse. She blinked, holding back the moist, bitter feeling in her eyes, and only asked with forced calm: “What about infants still in their mothers’ wombs, not yet full-term?”

Something was wrong.

Although he had only known Jian Chou for two days, Little Head Ghost felt that she should be a strong person who wouldn’t change expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before her.

Now, this expression gave people a sense of hidden restraint and suppression.

As if she had desperately hidden something in her heart, almost suffocating herself.

Inexplicably hesitating, Little Head Ghost finally spoke: “Once an infant appears in its mother’s womb, it already has life. Having life means the underworld has already arranged for a new soul to reincarnate – no different from ordinary mortals.”

“…”

Jian Chou was completely stunned.

Two tears suddenly rolled down from her eyes, so unexpected.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost were instantly frightened, mouths agape, unable to react for a long time: “You, you’re okay, right?”

Those two tears came so suddenly.

Even Jian Chou herself didn’t quite react. Hearing Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost’s voices, she belatedly raised her hand and touched her cheek, feeling that patch of wetness.

“I’m fine…”

Fine?

This was called fine?

Little Head Ghost didn’t know what to say. He wanted to speak but was afraid of saying the wrong thing and stimulating Jian Chou. He coughed for a long time before gathering courage to say: “The Book of Life and Death is mainly managed in the Eight Directions City, all in the hands of the various Yama Kings and Grand Judges. If you want Big Head and me to help, I’m afraid we can’t do anything.”

Jian Chou never intended to ask these two little ghosts for help.

Her state of mind actually wasn’t chaotic at all – she was just feeling somewhat low, that’s all. As for the tears…

Wasn’t that a perfectly normal thing?

Though she could barely remember what this feeling was like anymore, she just found it somewhat strange.

“No matter.”

She would find a way herself.

Jian Chou paused, then said: “Give me the Qiankun Bag. It contains some pills, and there should be quite a few for nourishing souls.”

After all, when her three souls and seven spirits were incomplete, Fudao Shanren had found many pills for her. It was just that eating them didn’t do her much good – at most they provided nourishment – so she hadn’t continued using them.

Unexpectedly, today they would prove very useful.

Little Head Ghost was so excited he rubbed his hands together, feeling like he had been having incredible luck these past few days.

If others knew he was harboring a living person, who knew what trouble might arise?

Wealth and honor were found in danger – this saying was truly accurate.

Hearing Jian Chou’s words, he hurriedly went to the door, took down the Qiankun Bag, and handed it to Jian Chou, asking: “Don’t you want the remaining sword and the other bag?”

“Trades should be done one by one. I can only help you with one thing – I shouldn’t ask for too much.”

What Jian Chou said seemed very reasonable, but thinking carefully, it wasn’t quite right: these things were originally hers.

Not taking back all her possessions at once had its reasons.

Right now Jian Chou’s understanding of the Extreme Territory was still very superficial, and she would need these two little ghosts’ help many more times.

Leaving two items in their hands was equivalent to deliberately leaving leverage in their hands. This way, when facing her, the two little ghosts would have much more confidence and wouldn’t be timid or hesitant, while also making them feel she was easier to control.

At the end of the day, it was all calculation.

Little Head Ghost’s scheming wasn’t shallow, but he couldn’t think this deeply yet. He still thought he had encountered a kind person, so he cheerfully hung the sword and Spirit Beast Bag back on his waist.

“You’re right – this is pretty good. If you want to stay in the Extreme Territory, that’s not a problem, but you still need to find a way to disguise yourself. A living person is too conspicuous. To say you’re pretending to be a Golden Body ghost cultivator would be a bit too exaggerated.”

Jian Chou had just taken the Qiankun Bag and was settling her mind to summon her spiritual consciousness to open it.

Hearing Little Head Ghost’s words, she paused and looked up to ask: “Pretend?”

“Right. Actually, only we know you’re a living person, because when we first asked, you didn’t contradict us. Actually, if your cultivation isn’t low, when people see your physical body, they’ll just think you’ve already formed your own physical body. Hehe, I’m clever, right?”

Little Head Ghost became proud.

This was indeed a good idea.

It was just…

She had incomplete three souls and seven spirits. Although she wanted to try the Extreme Territory’s cultivation methods, she wasn’t certain it would work.

The Golden Body realm of the Extreme Territory was equivalent to the “Soul Separation” stage of the Nineteen Continents – how could it be so easy?

She thought about it and could only sigh in her heart, not responding to his words.

Little Head Ghost was still chattering, remembering Judge Cui still at the Reception Office, and hurriedly added: “Even if you could miraculously find a way to disguise yourself now, it’s better not to go out walking around recently. Because of that axe matter, Grand Judge Cui still hasn’t left the Reception Office. If you go out, you’ll definitely be caught red-handed…”

Her finger pressed against the Qiankun Bag’s opening, spiritual consciousness surging out. In almost an instant, the bag’s opening loosened.

It opened.

But at the same time, Jian Chou also froze, a strange glint flashing in her eyes. She slowly raised her head: “You just said, an axe?”