Volume Twelve: The Infernal Invitation Chapter Forty-Nine: The Mysterious Midnight Ghost Market

Faced with the arrival of the old white-haired man, everyone was already quite surprised, and then he actually spoke up and said what he did. For a moment, Yaoguang didn’t know how to respond. First, she was not familiar with him; back when she was still a cultivator, she often frequented the Ghost Market and had only met him a few times, so she couldn’t grasp his intentions now. Second, he had helped her before. Years ago, when she was a ninth-grade cultivator and had defeated a terrestrial immortal, the disciple of that immortal tried to cause trouble, and it was the old white-haired man who intervened to shield her from the dispute. At the time, Yaoguang didn’t understand why he helped her. Now, in this Dark River Ghost Market, he was clearly protecting her. It would be too embarrassing to flatly refuse him.

He didn’t seem to mind at all and sat down directly on her bed. Everyone fell silent upon seeing the old man’s arrival and his question. Yaoguang was the first to speak: “Greetings, Elder Bai. May I ask what guidance you have for me?”

Elder Bai chuckled warmly and replied, then said to Yaoguang, “Guidance is too much to say. Who would have thought that a young girl like you would now be a revered deity? Truly, appearances can be deceiving. Such a beautiful girl should still be a mere child. I came because I’m a bit worried about you. Qianshou is watching closely. Qianshou is a petty man who never forgets a grudge. You shouldn’t underestimate his influence. Do you understand what I mean? If he dies, his followers will not rest until they’ve settled scores with you. For the sake of a single spot, making enemies of his faction is pointless.”

Yaoguang understood perfectly. Elder Bai was warning her that even though she was a revered deity, offending Qianshou’s faction would make her life difficult in the future. He truly cared for her.

After some thought, Yaoguang decided not to hide anything and briefly explained the matter of the Hell Invitation case: “Elder, I am not afraid personally, but this involves those evil ghost cultivators. The one who knows them best is Shang Liyue, because these ghost cultivators all descend from her lineage. This time, although I don’t have Qianshou’s quota, I still have to enter the Dark Night Ghost Market. This isn’t for myself, but for the mortal world. These ghost cultivators are ticking time bombs in the mortal realm.”

Yaoguang boldly put the matter on the table and said bluntly, “Elder, I really can’t give up this quota. Besides, the faction behind Qianshou has clearly set their sights on me since I stepped into the Ghost Market. Whether it’s Du Ping or Qianshou, they are just being used as pawns. Even if I evade once, it’s uncertain I can survive the second time. It’s better to face it head-on.”

By saying this, Yaoguang was undoubtedly placing herself in a very dangerous position. In the future, it might be her and six others against an entire organization. But what was there to fear? Yaoguang never backed down from those who bullied her.

Everyone smiled faintly at Yaoguang’s response, clearly approving of her approach. Elder Bai looked at her deeply and asked, “In today’s duel, did you use spiritual power or divine power?”

“Spiritual power. That Thunder Punishment was the result of me reporting Qianshou’s crimes to the Heavenly Court,” she answered.

“Your talent is truly remarkable; your spiritual perception is extremely strong! No wonder you advanced from cultivator to revered deity. Among your generation, you are the only one to progress that far; others at most reach the terrestrial immortal level. You are truly a prodigy. But I hope you don’t become overconfident. Since you insist on going to that Dark Night Ghost Market, I can do nothing more. I have given you my advice; please be careful in the future.” Elder Bai stood up, preparing to leave.

Yaoguang had a good impression of the old man. When she saw him off politely to the door, Elder Bai said to her, “The only thing I can do is remind you: the faction behind Qianshou is full of petty, arrogant, and terrifying people who covet you. If you can resolve this trouble thoroughly within this period, that would be a solution. We cultivators of the righteous path are righteous but not soft-hearted. When slaying demons and monsters, should we show mercy? You must not be soft-hearted.”

“Elder Bai, why do you help me?” Yaoguang finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

“Go back and ask Dao Xuzi; you’ll understand,” Elder Bai said, then left. Yaoguang stood frozen. The old white-haired man? What connection did he have with that old fellow?

Turning to Huangquan, she saw him shake his head, indicating he didn’t know either. Yaoguang was speechless. She would have to go ask the old fellow herself.

Elder Bai’s arrival was just a small episode, and no one discussed it much. Tonight at midnight, there would be another Ghost Market, but also at midnight, the main gate would open for departure. By around eleven o’clock, many had packed their belongings, waiting for the gate to open. The cost to attend the Ghost Market was considerable, so only a few attended all three times, leading many to choose leaving then.

Shortly past midnight, the once lively camp grew quiet. Those who needed to leave had gone, and the rest prepared for the final Ghost Market. Only a few scattered people remained, making the recent bustle seem like a fleeting dream.

Yaoguang discussed with the group and decided she would attend the final Dark Night Ghost Market alone. If anything happened, she could escape by herself. The others would wait at the resting place. Everyone nodded in agreement.

Bored, Yaoguang stood at the gate, looking around, pondering the last Dark Night Ghost Market at two in the morning. Qianshou had lost a quota to her, yet no one had explained how to participate in this last event. She had never been to the Dark Night Ghost Market before. A wave of melancholy swept over her.

As she contemplated, she saw a man in black approaching. He stopped before her and politely asked, “Phoenix, you have obtained a secret market quota. Will you attend in person, or...?”

“I will attend in person,” Yaoguang interrupted.

“Very well, please follow me now,” the man said courteously. Yaoguang was surprised—setting off for the Ghost Market at two in the morning? But she didn’t ask further and followed him.

They traveled in silence. The man only led the way, and Yaoguang followed. According to Three Hands, the Dark Night Ghost Market was deep within this valley, yet the man kept to the valley’s edge. This route was undoubtedly the most time-consuming, but Yaoguang didn’t press him. After over an hour of silent walking, the man said, “We have arrived.”

Arrived? Yaoguang was puzzled. There was no sign of any man-made structure, only a slope covered in darkness. How could this be the place?

She held back her questions and looked around. The man took out a walkie-talkie and said, “Come out to receive the guest.” Then he told Yaoguang, “I have no authority to stay here. I wish you a smooth transaction.”

With that, he turned and left. Yaoguang didn’t ask more. From his use of the walkie-talkie, she knew the mysterious Dark Night Ghost Market must be hidden nearby. But the phrase “come out to receive the guest” left her speechless—is this a ghost market or a bathhouse?

Waiting there for a few minutes, Yaoguang heard rustling from the hillside. When she turned, another man in black suddenly appeared from nowhere.

This man was taciturn. Finding Yaoguang, he immediately led her up the slope. Following behind, Yaoguang finally saw the entrance to a cave—this was where the Dark Night Ghost Market was!

It turned out the secret Dark Night Ghost Market was within a natural karst cave. At night, a large black cloth hung over the cave’s mouth, camouflaged with climbing ivy. It was truly hard to detect.

The man in black walked ahead with a flashlight; Yaoguang followed. The cave had no forks, just a straight path. After a few minutes, the man said, “Guest, we have arrived,” then retreated to the entrance.

The place he brought her to was probably the largest chamber in the cave, artificially expanded to resemble a hall.

All seemed ordinary at first glance, but Yaoguang couldn’t help but strongly suspect she was in the wrong place!

Why? Because there was no sign of any trading. Instead, there were mats spread on the ground and rows of simple chairs. Many were lying or sitting on them. An uninformed observer might think this was a concentration camp.

What kind of Dark Night Ghost Market was this? Yaoguang was puzzled. She took a step forward but immediately felt an intense fluctuation of a formation—a powerful magnetic field so strong it nearly overwhelmed her senses. Was this still the mortal world? How strange.