The Lord of Void and Real

Chapter 253: Chapter 251: Chance Encounter

“What do you think this Yinling Pill is? Giving you just one is already costing me several months of heartache, and you still want more? No way.” The muscles on Soul Hook Horse Face twitched slightly upon hearing this, he rebuked.

“I didn’t say I was asking for it for free. If you’re willing to sell it, I’m willing to sell everything I have to buy it.” Shen Luo still insisted.

“Giving you one for free this time already broke the rules. As for more, you can forget it.” Soul Hook Horse Face waved his sleeve and said.

“Is this really for free? Isn’t going to Hidden Wind Valley with you the price?” Shen Luo didn’t speak again and muttered in his heart.

However, deep down, he was really grateful to Soul Hook Horse Face.

“Elder, is there really no other way to get this Yinling Pill?” Shen Luo asked seriously.

...

“It’s not that there are absolutely no other ways.” Soul Hook Horse Face hesitated for a moment and then said.

“Please enlighten me, Elder.” Shen Luo was delighted and quickly said.

“Do you remember the special task for cultivators at the Soul Condensation stage or above that the Underworld needs, which I mentioned to you last time?” Soul Hook Horse Face asked.

“Of course, you said that these cultivators can get some special benefits by completing tasks. Is the Yinling Pill one of them?” Shen Luo asked.

“You can indeed exchange elixirs by accomplishing tasks, and there are not only Yinling Pills, but also other higher-level elixirs. In fact, besides this, there are many other benefits. For example, the use of consumable Soul Contracts that I mentioned earlier can summon other Ghost Soldiers from the Underworld to help. Also, they can be allowed to enter some places that the Underworld controls…” Soul Hook Horse Face said.

“These treatments are only available to Soul condensing cultivators. I am far from this stage.” Shen Luo was first overjoyed and then somewhat lost.

“Have you ever heard of the Ghost Market?” Soul Hook Horse Face asked in return.

“Ghost Market, I’ve read about it in ancient books. It said that at certain specific times, in certain special places, there would be places where the Yin and Yang worlds converge. Ghost Markets will appear here, it’s a place where ghosts from the underworld trade. If a human from the Yang realm mistakenly enters it, they often get deceived by the ghosts, buying a bunch of useless things in exchange for worthless underworld coins.” Shen Luo thought for a while and said.

“These are all random guesses of the worldly people. Some people even wrote ridiculous stories about spitting at a ghost and turning it into a goat to sell in the Ghost Market. The real Ghost Market is a place where cultivators from the Yang realm trade with ghosts from the underworld. I can’t directly give you the Yinling Pill you want, but there might be a way to get it there.” Soul Hook Horse Face said slowly.

“I wonder where and when the Ghost Market will open?” Shen Luo felt a stir in his heart and quickly asked.

“Hold on! Whether I can tell you about the Ghost Market depends on your performance in Hidden Wind Valley.” Soul Hook Horse Face held up a palm to Shen Luo and said indifferently.

“Rest assured, Elder! Even without the matter of the Ghost Market, I will give it my all. My cultivation level has improved by two small realms this time. I have to say, my mana has indeed increased. I should be able to use the Thunderfall Talisman twice, which should be enough to deal with some unexpected situations.” Shen Luo laughed and said.

“That’s good, let’s not delay, let’s go.” Soul Hook Horse Face’s expression eased a bit, and he nodded.

Having said that, he plucked a talisman in his hand, grabbed Shen Luo’s shoulder again, and executed the Escape Ground Technique, quickly leaving the underground cave.

By the time the two of them emerged from the ground, their figures had already appeared in front of a valley.

Shen Luo looked up at the sun and found that it was midday when the Yang energy was most vigorous. However, a cool wind kept blowing from the valley in front of him, and it felt chilling.

His gaze moved to the entrance of the valley, where a layer of pale mist was enveloping it, slowly dissipating towards the outside of the valley. Looking into the deeper parts of the valley, the mist became denser, and nothing could be seen clearly.

“The Yin Sha Qi here is a bit heavier than when I came last time. Look at the sky above the valley, it’s also affected by the Yin Sha Qi, something’s not quite right.” Soul Hook Horse Face said slowly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Luo looked up at the high sky, and only then noticed that there was a black, oval-shaped cloud floating in the air directly above the valley. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing unusual, but upon closer inspection, one would find that the mist inside was surging, and ghostly faces were faintly emerging, looking horrendous.

“Dark clouds overhead, Yin Sha Qi contained, it indeed looks like a treacherous place.” Shen Luo retracted his gaze and agreed.

As the two of them were about to enter the valley, they heard a commotion from afar.

Soul Hook Horse Face immediately pulled Shen Luo and hid behind a huge rock in the distance.

Soon, a group of people came along the road from a distance. Shen Luo spotted Bai Hecheng, the Family Head of the Bai family, who was dressed in a scholarly robe and looked handsome and sophisticated, leading the group.

Following him closely was a small figure in a gray robe, with a thin face and gray hair, it was Bai Jiangfeng.

Besides the two of them, there were four or five shadows following them. Judging by their attire, they were all members of the Bai family. Among them, the most eye-catching was naturally the woman cultivator Xie Yuxin in a red dress.

The White Water Daoist in a gray and white Taoist robe and Feng Ling with a folding fan in hand were also in the team. Wu Tong and Chu Li were nowhere to be seen, however.

In addition, Shen Luo spotted another familiar person. She was thin with silver hair tied up behind her head, looking spry. It was the Fifth Grandma who was stationed at the bottom of the lake in Bai family’s secret chamber.

“Not only has the Family Head personally led the team, but even Fifth Grandma has also come out. It seems that the Bai family is determined to seize the top task of the Ghost-catching List. This way, you are relieved.” Shen Luo swallowed and said with a smile to Horse Face.

“If they don’t have any special means prepared, it’s probably more bad than good to go into this valley. However, it’s also good to have someone leading the way.” Soul Hook Horse Face said indifferently.

Shen Luo’s heart tightened, and hesitation flashed in his eyes. Next, he lifted his foot, and was about to step out.

“What are you doing?” Soul Hook Horse Face stopped him with one hand and asked in a low voice.

“Since they’re not up to this, I should stop them of course. I don’t care about others, but the Bai family has a special relationship with me. I can’t sit idly by and watch Bai Hecheng and Bai Jiangfeng go to their death.” Shen Luo said.

“Who says we’re letting them go to their death? Haven’t you figured out the purpose of our trip?” Soul Hook Horse Face said.

“Does elder mean to let them clear the way and attract the attention of the ghosts in the valley, while we go after the root of Yin Sha?” Shen Luo was stunned for a moment, then asked.