130: demon

Mount Yulan.

It stood majestically, towering into the sky.

White clouds encircled its mid-slope, a churning sea of clouds.

At the summit, a dilapidated wooden pavilion swayed precariously.

On a nearby stone tablet, the characters 'Fengbo Pavilion' were faintly carved.

Inside the pavilion, a Daoist priest, clad in a yellow talisman robe and with a face as common as an old farmer's, sat cross-legged. Before him, a small red clay stove simmered, tea water gurgling and bubbling.

Pouring tea into a cup, Zhang Liang blew away the white steam, took a sip, and gazed thoughtfully at the horizon: "Counting the days, that person should be arriving soon..."

No sooner had he spoken than a five-colored streak of light appeared in the sky. A figure pierced through the dark clouds and floated gracefully down.

"Fellow Daoist has such fine taste, boiling tea by the stove, accompanied by the clear breeze."

Gu Changsheng, as if an old acquaintance, took a nearby teacup and took a sip. Immediately, his tongue was bitter, as if he had swallowed the heart of aged coptis. After a difficult swallow, a hint of sweetness emerged in his throat, and the aroma of tea filled his mouth.

Zhang Liang smiled and said, "This tea is called Bitter Tea.

It is cultivated using the The Way of Peace's secret method.

Its aroma lingers, and its taste is mellow.

Upon first taste, it is bitter and hard to swallow.

Only after enduring does one find a wisp of sweetness.

Just like our lives.

Does it meet the Island Master's Dharma Eye?"

Gu Changsheng put down the teacup, not taking up the conversation, and went straight to the point: "Years ago, Fellow Daoist invited me here, saying that this Ghost Domain contained an Opportunity to condense a Peerless Grade True Core.

Is this true?"

"Naturally, it is true.

To tell you the truth, Island Master, the Ancestral Master who founded my Yellow Heaven The Way of Peace achieved Dao through a Peerless Grade True Core.

Once this core is formed, it can spontaneously increase the chance of Breakthrough to the Dongxuan Realm by thirty percent.

Besides that, it will also Awaken an innate Divine Ability.

Its power is even three points stronger than that of the descendants of demon saints."

'Thirty percent chance of Dongxuan... innate Divine Ability...'

Suddenly, Gu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat.

Regardless of which one, it made his determination to condense a Peerless Grade True Core even firmer.

"As long as Fellow Daoist is willing to reveal the method for condensing a Peerless Grade True Core, just name your price."

"The method cannot be lightly transmitted.

Once you and I work together to obtain that Opportunity, I will naturally reveal the secret method in its entirety.

That Opportunity... is also a necessary item for condensing a Peerless Grade True Core."

"May I ask what that Opportunity is?"

"It is precisely... the essence of the Yellow Springs Great Emperor's dao karma..."

Zhang Liang spoke these words lightly.

A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Changsheng's eyes, but on his face, he feigned a puzzled expression: "dao karma essence... can essence be extracted from dao karma?"

"Naturally, it can.

At that time, I will give the Island Master the secret art for extracting dao karma essence, along with the Peerless Grade True Core method."

Zhang Liang revealed a profound smile.

With a Peerless Grade True Core at hand, almost no True Dan Cultivator could resist such temptation.

A thirty percent chance of Breakthrough to the Dongxuan Realm.

An innate Divine Ability.

Any one of these was enough to drive a Cultivator mad.

At this moment, the Yin Qi grew denser, swirling to form a gigantic bronze gate spanning heaven and earth.

Countless images of malevolent spirits and ghosts were carved upon it.

As a crack opened, a bone-chilling coldness assailed them.

Whoosh—

The Gate of Hell opened, and countless malevolent spirits and ghosts poured out like wild horses, occupying the entire sky.

A look of delight appeared on Zhang Liang's face: "The Gate of Hell has opened, Island Master, please follow me through the gate and enter the deeper Ghost Domain."

Saying this, he took out a gray spiritual pill, swallowed it, and a mass of Yin Qi seeped from his Dantian, enveloping his entire body. His aura became identical to that of malevolent spirits and ghosts.

"This is a secret medicine from my The Way of Peace; after consuming it, one can conceal their Life Qi.

Even if a Dongxuan Realm Ghost King were present, as long as one doesn't make a move, they can deceive them."

Gu Changsheng nodded, his body trembled, and his aura became as eerie as a malevolent ghost.

"Fellow Daoist has excellent methods."

Zhang Liang praised him, then transformed into a talisman, floating gracefully into the Gate of Hell.

Gu Changsheng followed closely behind him.

Over several centuries, he had accumulated countless methods for concealing his aura and simulating Yin Qi.

The secret art he was now employing was called 'Ghost Unaware'.

Not only did malevolent spirits and ghosts perceive him as one of their own, but they also developed an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if they had met somewhere before but couldn't recall where.

It was practically a built-in favorability boost.

Stepping through the Gate of Hell, the world spun.

When Gu Changsheng opened his eyes, he found himself in a city.

At this moment, the scorching sun hung in the sky, and the streets, paved with blue bricks, were filled with vendors, porters, and Mortals hawking food along the street. Occasionally, there were constables patrolling with simple sabers.

It looked no different from a Mortal city in the outside world.

Gu Changsheng observed silently. Upon introspection, he found that his internal magical power was covered by a layer of Yin Qi, as if shackled, and his cultivation had significantly decreased.

However, the demon image in his ear was unaffected.

As his magical power circulated, a subtle sense of repulsion gradually emerged from the Void Realm.

'Indeed, this Ghost Domain repels beings above the True Core Realm.

As long as I wish, with the demon image circulating magical power, I can leave.'

Before entering the Ghost Domain, Gu Changsheng had considered this.

Although Dongxuan Ghost Kings were born in the Ghost Domain, such beings were rare.

As for Yang Spirit Realm Ghost Cultivators, that was even more fantastical.

He truly didn't care much for ordinary Dongxuan Ghost Kings.

'When in Rome, do as the Romans do... For now, it's best to follow the rules of the ghost city and observe in secret...'

Gu Changsheng strolled along the street and soon arrived at a noodle stall.

In front of the stall, a white-haired old woman, hunched over, was cooking soup noodles. Water in the pot gurgled and bubbled, and a fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

"Granny, how much for these noodles?" Gu Changsheng asked.

"A bowl of plain noodles, one copper coin."

Gu Changsheng rummaged through his pockets, which were empty.

"Granny, can I eat for free?"

"Eat for free?

You look like an idiot!

Young and with good hands and feet, you could carry heavy loads at the dock and earn dozens of copper coins a day.

Yet you want to eat and run?"

Suddenly, Gu Changsheng smiled and released a trace of his 'Ghost Unaware' aura. Immediately, the old woman's cheeks twitched rapidly, and her old face creased into a chrysanthemum-like smile.

"What a handsome young man.

You look just like my son, who passed away many years ago.

Come, today's noodles are on Granny, eat as much as you want."

Clatter—

A bowl of tea-colored porcelain noodles was placed before him, fragrant white noodles nestled inside, sprinkled with a few tender green scallions.

Gu Changsheng, who was initially happy to get something for free, twitched his old face upon hearing the latter half of her words.

'She's cursing me, isn't she.'

He took a pair of wooden chopsticks from the chopstick holder, wiped them on his sleeve, and secretly scanned the noodle bowl with his spiritual eye secret art.

There was no abnormality whatsoever.

It really was noodles!

And it was chewy, hand-pulled noodles made from pure white flour!

This was a ghost city, after all.

Slurp—he finished a bowl of noodles.

"It tastes good, thank you, Granny."

"Don't mention it, come again next time."

Gu Changsheng then began his journey of free meals.

The 'Ghost Unaware' secret art was equivalent to having an innate favorability bonus.

By dusk, he had eaten from the south end of the city to the north, without spending a single copper coin.

'Could it be that inside the Gate of Hell is another Mortal kingdom?'

Gu Changsheng secretly wondered.

Suddenly, a plea for mercy came from afar.

"Master Huang, please let my father go.

I will repay the money my father owes you, even if I have to work like an ox or a horse."

A vibrant girl with braided pigtails knelt over an unconscious old man, her eyes filled with tears.

The pockmarked, richly dressed Fat Man picked his teeth dismissively: "Let your father go?

Debts must be paid, it's only right and proper.

It's all written clearly in black and white.

Even if you take it to the authorities, you'll still lose the case."

Suddenly, the Fat Man's tone changed, and a lecherous gaze appeared in his eyes: "Hehe, how about a daughter repaying her father's debt... as long as you spend one night with me, the interest can be extended..."

At this moment, the lingering glow of the setting sun fell upon the girl's face. Her face was filled with humiliation, tears welled in her eyes, and her fair hand reached out, slowly unbuttoning her clothes.

'Yes, just like that...'

The villainous Fat Man's eyes almost popped out.

Splash—

Her clothes came undone.

A disheveled head suddenly sprang from her embrace, instantly biting off the Fat Man's neck. Blood flowed, and his money pouch fell to the ground, scattering copper coins everywhere.

One copper coin rolled right to Gu Changsheng's feet.