Three days had passed in a flash.

These three days were blissfully happy ones for Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost, but for Jian Chou, they were torturous like being in a hot oil pot.

During the day, Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost went to the Reception Office for duty.

Perhaps because they had received Judge Chu’s reward of ten pieces of Dark Jade last time, and Grand Judge Cui still hadn’t left, Judge Chu couldn’t be bothered with them. Plus, Jian Chou had begun teaching them to read, so their work at the Reception Office didn’t have so many complications.

Everything went smoothly beyond imagination.

Second, there were their cultivation realms that changed daily.

The lustrous light around their bodies grew brighter each day, like ordinary people who had suddenly opened their meridians and eaten a perfect tonic pill.

Many colleagues at the Reception Office were puzzled in their hearts.

What was the reason?

It was all thanks to Jian Chou!

After finishing their duties at the Reception Office during the day, they absolutely wouldn’t waste any time on the road and would rush straight home.

Why were they in such a hurry?

Because Jian Chou was cultivating almost continuously. Although they couldn’t feel her cultivation had any effect, only fools would refuse something beneficial to them.

According to Little Head Ghost, it would be best if Jian Chou cultivated like this for her entire life.

Enjoying the shade under a big tree – that was comfortable and carefree.

Just sitting there operating their cultivation methods would increase their cultivation – they had encountered such good fortune, feeling wonderful every day.

Now, Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had completely taken to worshipping Jian Chou like their ancestor. They were just short of placing her on the table, polishing her bright, and offering incense daily.

Of course, as the big tree being used for shade, Jian Chou appeared somewhat tragic.

Her natural affinity for earth force and yin essence far exceeded the two little ghosts’ understanding. Extracting large amounts of earth force and yin essence posed no difficulty for her.

The hardest part was transforming it into her own soul power to nourish her souls and spirits.

Each time she absorbed countless power only to watch most of it flow away, leaving just a bit of dregs in her souls and spirits – that feeling was beyond heartbreaking.

After failure upon failure, Jian Chou had long achieved a heart like still water, or rather, stagnant water.

But those two little ghosts couldn’t stand seeing her in such a stagnant state and would constantly mention how much they had progressed that day.

Those smug faces were unspeakably detestable.

When Jian Chou arrived, the two little ghosts had already been in the underworld for several decades, yet they had barely reached the Spirit Condensing realm – just barely crossed over with an unstable foundation.

In just these few days, their cultivation had whooshed up twice, and now they had actually reached the middle stage of Spirit Condensing.

Little Head Ghost’s recent catchphrase, besides “bathing under Great Lord Jian Chou’s benevolent grace,” had added a new one:

“I always feel I’m not far from Orb Formation.”

Even Big Head Ghost was now a mid-stage Spirit Condensing ghost cultivator. Although still at the bottom at the Reception Office, he had made progress nonetheless, going out every day with a smile as if he’d picked up millions of Dark Jade.

And Jian Chou…

Under such frenzied washing of earth force and yin essence, she had only just gotten half a foot into the Spirit Nourishing realm these past few days – meaning she had barely glimpsed the threshold and touched the surface of Extreme Territory cultivation.

Looking at herself, then at those two little ghosts squeezing beside her to cultivate daily, Jian Chou had the urge to spit blood.

When heaven opens a door for you, it will definitely close a window.

However smooth things had been in the Nineteen Continents, that’s how bumpy they were here.

After two days of cultivation and two days of complaining, Jian Chou accepted it calmly.

Slow was slow – she would continue cultivating and exploring.

Diligence could make up for clumsiness, and it would give her opportunities.

As long as she kept thinking, there might not be no solution.

So Jian Chou’s heart was actually quite settled.

In the situation where every step was difficult, she still cultivated day and night, occasionally standing up to look outside through the window.

Besides cultivation, Jian Chou would also indirectly gather the latest news from Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost.

After confirming that Jian Chou was a golden thigh to hold onto, the two little ghosts’ attitudes had completely changed. They would answer whatever Jian Chou asked, even voluntarily returning the Human Emperor Sword and Spirit Beast Bag to her.

So during this period, Jian Chou’s understanding of the Extreme Territory was gradually deepening.

Her main focus was still on the Ghost Axe.

Yesterday Little Head Ghost returned saying the axe was now in Grand Judge Cui Jue’s hands, but Cui Jue still hadn’t left the Reception Office.

The “Book of Heavenly Fate” matter had concluded, yet Cui Jue still wouldn’t leave, which made people rather suspicious.

It was a new day again.

Jian Chou withdrew from her contemplation and roughly summarized the past few days’ situation. She couldn’t help but sigh: “What sin did I commit…”

“What incredible luck we struck!”

Almost as her low sigh settled, an excited voice suppressing excitement came from behind.

Jian Chou’s expression immediately became expressionless.

Without turning around, she knew it must be Little Head Ghost discovering another breakthrough in his cultivation.

Sure enough, Little Head Ghost’s next words came in a voice of worship mixed with emotion: “Bathing under Great Lord Jian Chou’s benevolent grace is truly wonderful…”

The title “Great Lord” was naturally an exaggeration.

But since Little Head Ghost called her that for fun, Jian Chou just listened for fun.

She couldn’t be bothered arguing with Little Head Ghost, so she simply stood up, walked to the window, and casually took out a pill to put in her mouth.

Through her careful calculations, although the earth force and yin essence absorbed daily was pitifully little, there was still some.

So after each night passed, “spirit” power would exceed “soul” power by a large margin. To balance these two, Jian Chou would take a soul-nourishing pill after each cultivation session to increase her “soul” power.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost gradually learned to do the same.

Previously allowing “spirit” power to grow freely was because they simply didn’t have this option. In fact, the more balanced the soul and spirit powers, the higher the success rate of Orb Formation.

Now with some pills from Jian Chou and Dark Jade previously rewarded by Judge Chu, they could afford to be “extravagant.”

Seeing Jian Chou get up and end cultivation while the sky hadn’t fully brightened, Little Head Ghost silently regretted it.

Once Jian Chou stopped cultivating, the earth force and yin essence in the room would gradually thin out, naturally leaving no space for their cultivation.

As if guessing Little Head Ghost’s thoughts, Jian Chou looked at the distant menacing mountains hidden in the remaining night, a dark mass, and said: “Taking shortcuts is only temporary after all. I’m still here now, but when I leave someday, won’t you still have to cultivate on your own…”

“Wouldn’t you be a fool not to take shortcuts when available?”

Little Head Ghost was completely unconcerned, even having his own theory.

“Besides, before you came, Big Head and I survived several decades, didn’t we? Great Lord Jian Chou, you needn’t worry. We’re just taking temporary shortcuts – when there’s no other way, we’ll still cultivate on our own.”

Worry?

Jian Chou laughed.

Actually, Little Head Ghost wasn’t wrong. She didn’t need to remind them of anything. When circumstances arose and there was no way out, wouldn’t there only be one path?

So she agreed: “Not taking shortcuts when available makes you a fool – that’s very true.”

“That’s what makes us heroes! How did that saying go?”

Little Head Ghost couldn’t help but start putting gold on his own face.

“Great minds think alike!”

“Amazing, amazing!”

Big Head Ghost applauded beside them, really giving his brother face.

This was a phrase Jian Chou had just taught them a few days ago, and Little Head Ghost could already use it – remarkable!

Great.

She didn’t want to talk anymore.

The sky gradually brightened.

Seeing this, Jian Chou reminded them: “You’d better hurry to the Reception Office – time for duty.”

Most importantly, if you don’t go out soon, I’ll want to kick you out.

The subtext was right there – how could Little Head Ghost not understand?

Having cultivated all night, he was very satisfied with his progress and casually pulled Big Head Ghost along, waving: “Then we’ll go first.”

Jian Chou watched them leave. Seeing the figures disappear from the door crack, she turned back to sit at the table.

On the table she had wiped clean lay the page of cultivation methods. She had been reading it daily for several days now, and Jian Chou could almost recite it backwards.

However, where she should be stuck, she was still stuck.

Her cultivation hadn’t made any substantial progress, and her spiritual power “sealed” by the Extreme Territory remained unsealed.

She had roughly deduced the reason why spiritual power and spiritual consciousness couldn’t be used.

The Nineteen Continents and the Extreme Territory seemed to be two different “realms.” Just from the different parts nourished by pills and earth force and yin essence, one could deduce this.

To remove this pressure naturally imposed by the rules, she had even used talismans from her Qiankun Bag, but still gained nothing.

Instead, quite by chance, when she used that weak bit of soul power to impact her brow chakra from above, a wisp of spiritual power actually leaked out from her brow chakra.

Although only a wisp, it was like a drop of sweet spring suddenly emerging from a dried well in the desert.

The shock in Jian Chou’s heart was indescribable.

She was certain that soul power flowing into the brow chakra was a way to solve the spiritual power blockade problem.

But how much soul power opened how big a “door” – insufficient soul power meant that even if spiritual power overflowed, it was just a little bit, basically useless. She couldn’t even draw the Human Emperor Sword, making it completely useless.

With the Ghost Axe’s whereabouts unknown, no way to access the Book of Life and Death, and leaving the Extreme Territory basically impossible to discuss, this suddenly appearing glimmer of hope was like a lifeline.

Except it was broken partway through.

“Sigh…”

Jian Chou couldn’t help tapping her forehead with her finger.

How could the problem of incomplete souls and spirits affecting cultivation be solved?

“Spirit Nourishing, Spirit Condensing, Orb Formation… three realms, only reaching ‘Orb Formation’ is a qualitative change…”

Jian Chou looked at the cultivation method on the paper while murmuring thoughtfully.

“Orb Formation means condensing the power of three souls and seven spirits into a soul orb. After having a soul orb, all earth force and yin essence cultivation centers around the soul orb, equivalent to changing the foundation…”

Speaking to herself up to this point, Jian Chou suddenly froze, her gaze falling on the line of text under her finger.

“Changing the foundation…”

In her mind, it was as if lightning suddenly struck, and the world in her consciousness went completely white.

Even Jian Chou herself was somewhat frightened by this suddenly emerging thought.

If she could directly condense a soul orb, would future cultivation’s relationship with the three souls and seven spirits not be so significant?

After all, cultivation would have changed its “foundation.”

She immediately fell into an almost impossible line of thinking.

However, this impossible notion became increasingly clear and increasingly crazy, difficult to extract herself from, and new reasons continuously automatically separated from her knowledge and learning, encouraging and tempting her…

The sky of the Extreme Territory was very high. No matter where you walked, once you looked up at the sky, you would feel desolate.

Ghost cultivators in bad moods might even feel melancholy upon seeing it.

But for Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost, that was all nonsense.

Their current mood was so good that even seeing the sky made them feel the weather was particularly nice – although the Extreme Territory’s weather might not change once in three to five years.

As usual, they entered the Reception Office with faces full of smiles. Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost immediately saw Zhang Tang, who was unhurriedly flipping through a register in his hands, seemingly concentrating on examining it.

Their positions were right next to Zhang Tang’s, so they walked directly over.

The Reception Office wasn’t busy at all, but just like the government offices in the human world’s isolated islands, there was no shortage of miscellaneous tasks here either.

When not receiving new ghosts at Ghost Gate Pass, ghost officials mostly handled daily miscellaneous matters in the inner hall. They didn’t have to come when it wasn’t their turn for duty.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had recently been obsessed with cultivation and had no heart for work, but they still had to come because it was their turn for duty these days.

After walking to their seats and sitting down, Little Head Ghost felt comfortable all over and greeted Zhang Tang: “Old Zhang, what are you reading so early in the morning?”

Speaking, he leaned over to look.

With this glance, Little Head Ghost was frightened and gasped: “Isn’t this—”

Zhang Tang moved his gaze from the open register, looked at Little Head Ghost neither coldly nor warmly, casually “hmm-ed,” and directly said: “Judge Chu instructed that the new ghost register you recorded yesterday should be delivered to him shortly.”

After speaking, he solemnly stood up, withdrew his hand to take the register, tucked it under his arm, and with his other hand lifted the corner of his official robe, walking out from behind the long table.

Having been an official before, even this simple standing up could be called flowing like clouds and water, quite graceful.

Little Head Ghost secretly wondered when he could have such natural official dignity – that would show real ability.

However, he didn’t forget to respond.

“The register is already recorded. We’ll check it once and then deliver it. Thanks, Old Zhang.”

Zhang Tang nodded without saying much, directly crossed this row of long tables, went out the door, around two corridors, and walked toward the back.

The entire Reception Office, and even the underworld’s various offices, were mostly built in the same style as the human world’s isolated islands.

So after turning around the corridor and walking two steps, he reached the back of the Reception Office, which was the embrace building position.

The stern-faced Judge Chu was sitting with Cui Jue from Lord Qin Guang’s Palace, talking.

Cui Jue still wore his blue robe, the clear aura around him making people very comfortable, his face also carrying a gentle feeling.

It seemed Judge Chu had just said something, and he smiled lightly: “Judge Liu’s matter still has no conclusion to this day. It’s hard to say what exactly happened, and it’s not convenient for us to say much. As for this Ghost Axe, it’s even more crucial…”

Halfway through his words, Cui Jue looked up and saw Zhang Tang walking toward them.

The dark black robe was really too simple, but it fit Zhang Tang perfectly.

Simple, mature, and rigid.

Clearly someone who didn’t look very old, yet his every move was frighteningly steady.

This “cruel official” who came from the City of Wrongful Deaths – Cui Jue had heard about him too.

When he came to the Reception Office on business from Lord Qin Guang’s Palace a few days ago, he had interacted with Zhang Tang, though only superficially.

Superficial contact was enough. Cui Jue felt in his heart that he and Zhang Tang weren’t the same type of people, and Zhang Tang probably thought the same.

“Lord Zhang has arrived.”

Cui Jue politely greeted.

Scholarly honest officials were all like this. Zhang Tang remained unmoved by the eight winds, only bowing: “Lord Cui flatters me.”

Then he handed the register in his hand to Judge Chu, saying: “Judge Chu, you previously asked me to verify the new ghost list from the City of Wrongful Deaths. It’s now completely verified – please review it.”

Judge Chu took the register, flipped through it, nodded satisfactedly, then handed it back to Zhang Tang: “The reception of all new ghosts from the City of Wrongful Deaths will be entrusted to you. Please sit down too – I was just discussing matters related to that axe with Lord Cui.”

So Zhang Tang nodded in agreement and sat in the seat below Judge Chu’s.

Cui Jue glanced at him once more, then continued the previous topic: “I’m sure Judge Chu is also aware that during the Yin-Yang Realm War sixty years ago, although our Extreme Territory was victorious, we also suffered heavy casualties. That cultivator from Yashan, wielding this axe, slaughtered countless evil spirits, but later died in battle on the evil soil. The Ghost Axe thus fell into the Yellow Springs, and despite extensive searches, it was nowhere to be found. At that time, the eight Yama Kings all concluded that the Ghost Axe had automatically broken through the realm barrier and returned to Yashan’s weapon vault.”

Speaking in detail, the Extreme Territory and the Ghost Axe had quite a deep connection.

The Ghost Axe had a Two-Element Pearl on it, thus it could communicate between the yin and yang realms. It had once shone brilliantly in that Yashan cultivator’s hands, slaying countless evil spirits, and the axe naturally carried a murderous aura.

Even though the Two-Element Pearl was gone, the Ghost Axe’s nearly iconic size and cast patterns remained.

Cui Jue hadn’t experienced the Yin-Yang Realm War, but after seeing the Ghost Axe, he had consulted many underworld records and easily connected this heavenly axe with that Ghost Axe.

But this way, questions arose.

“This axe should originally be in Yashan’s weapon vault, but now it appears here – what does this represent?”

Cui Jue spoke thus, his expression becoming more serious.

Judge Chu couldn’t help but worry: “Are you concerned that this Ghost Axe was sent ahead by others? Could there be another great war?”

Whether there would be a great war, no one knew for sure.

Anyway, Cui Jue had heard that the Nineteen Continents wouldn’t let this go.

Of course, internal strife within the Nineteen Continents was also quite severe.

Cui Jue smiled slightly: “Even if there’s a great war, we can’t predict it. Rather, both Lord Qin Guang and I are very curious about this Ghost Axe’s master.”

“Master?”

This was the first time Cui Jue had mentioned this, so Judge Chu was quite surprised.

Zhang Tang, sitting beside them, somehow felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing this.

Others didn’t know, but he was clear: the Ghost Axe’s master was none other than the Third Young Master of the Xie Marquisate’s confidante!

After the Killing Red Small Realm incident, he had ordered people to investigate and found that Xie Buchen had gone into hiding under a false name and married Jian Chou.

Now hearing Cui Jue mention the Ghost Axe’s master, he listened carefully.

Cui Jue’s clear, transparent eyes held quite a bit of calm light, smiling lightly and nodding: “There are still spiritual consciousness imprints left by others on the Ghost Axe. I’ve tried – even with Golden Body cultivation, I can’t command this Ghost Axe in the slightest. The Ghost Axe master’s spiritual consciousness hasn’t dissipated, proving the person is still alive, just don’t know why they haven’t recalled the Ghost Axe.”

Right.

There were also spiritual consciousness imprints and even soul imprints.

The Ghost Axe was already a master-recognized Ghost Axe – others naturally couldn’t use it.

Judge Chu understood, but then came the problem: “If so, isn’t this Ghost Axe something you can see but not use?”

“More or less.”

Cui Jue didn’t deny it.

“However, I’ve already reported this matter to the Yama King, who replied that the spiritual consciousness master shouldn’t be far from the Ghost Axe. That is to say, once the Ghost Axe’s master begins summoning the Ghost Axe, we can follow the vine to find the melon and locate this person.”

Hearing this, Zhang Tang lifted his eyelids and glanced at Cui Jue.

Though a person like the bright moon and clear breeze, he ultimately couldn’t escape convention.

The so-called “following the vine to find the melon and locate this person” was nothing more than killing the person to eliminate future troubles, so they could use the Ghost Axe from then on.

Zhang Tang had heard plenty of such official rhetoric, especially since he often spoke in half-sentences himself, so he reacted when he heard it.

However…

Zhang Tang suddenly frowned secretly: Lord Qin Guang’s side actually felt the Ghost Axe’s master wasn’t far from the Ghost Axe?

Where was Jian Chou then?

A series of questions all surfaced in his mind.

“The person is nearby… no wonder Lord Cui wanted to stay here. You must be planning to investigate?” Judge Chu asked probingly.

“Exactly.”

The conversation had reached this point. It was basically to let Judge Chu be prepared here to avoid causing too much commotion later and causing chaos.

After all, this was closest to Ghost Gate Pass.

Cui Jue thought this way and looked up, planning to discuss the upcoming “Cauldron Contest” with Zhang Tang, but unexpectedly saw a little ghost with a pointed head standing outside.

Looking at him, somewhat familiar?

Little Head Ghost had been standing outside for a while. Seeing Cui Jue notice him, he quickly stepped forward, somewhat trembling, bowing and scraping: “This humble one was ordered to deliver yesterday’s recorded new ghost list. I’ve been standing outside for about an hour. Seeing the lords talking, I didn’t dare interrupt, so I didn’t dare come in.”

Speaking, he buried his head low and handed up the new register.

Judge Chu took it without flipping through it, seeing that Little Head Ghost’s cultivation had improved again, he was quite surprised: “Your cultivation is progressing remarkably. Put the register aside – I’ll look at it later. I’ve already assigned the new ghost reception from the City of Wrongful Deaths to Zhang Tang. You two help out and take responsibility for these matters too.”

“Yes, this humble one accepts the order.”

Oh my, this good assignment had fallen to him?

Little Head Ghost’s face lit up with joy, like being hit by a meat pie, and he quickly agreed, then bowed again: “If the lords have no other instructions, this humble one will take his leave.”

“Go on.”

Judge Chu waved his hand dismissively, indicating Little Head Ghost could leave.

Cui Jue also paid little attention, using this gap to sip some tea.

But Zhang Tang looked at Little Head Ghost several more times, seeming to feel something was off.

Little Head Ghost didn’t care about any of that. As soon as Judge Chu waved, he quickly left.

Walking quickly back the same way, seeing no ghost officers along the path, he finally wiped away sweat in shock, patted his chest, with a face full of fear.

Standing outside just now, he had heard the most crucial sentences clearly.

This was going to be trouble!

He never would have thought that such a big shot as Cui Jue staying here was actually to catch the Ghost Axe’s original owner and kill them!

Little Head Ghost couldn’t help but remember the half-joking words he’d exchanged with Jian Chou before.

Related to the Ghost Axe?

Not related?

He didn’t know.

He only knew that if he didn’t hurry back to tip off Jian Chou, they might all end up dead!

Thinking this, Little Head Ghost didn’t even ask for leave and quietly slipped out of the Reception Office via the main bridge. After confirming no one was tailing him, he returned to the house, pushed open the door, and said breathlessly: “Something’s wrong! Something’s very wrong!”