Chapter 24: The Magic Silence Monument

Listening to the gatekeeper’s words, Cheng Shan immediately understood that he was talking about Han Luo. However, she wasn’t surprised. If Han Luo fell into Ming Yan’s hands, she would naturally be brought back to the underworld.

The sheep didn’t say much. With the talismans in hand, he took Cheng Shan out of the corner room. They walked along the palace wall for a while, stopped at a side door, and asked Cheng Shan, “Can you hold on?”

Cheng Shan had been continuously refining her energy and now could afford to distract herself a bit. This trip to the underworld was also a kind of training. She nodded calmly.

The sheep said, “Once through this door, you’ll enter the ghost city. Be careful, and if you encounter ghost officials, remember not to reveal your aura.”

Cheng Shan was puzzled. The Thick Virtue Palace seemed like a small palace in the void, so how could the ghost city be inside it? Cheng Shan got her answer after a while when the sheep transformed back into a sheep’s body. It turned out the ghost city wasn’t inside, but beneath the Thick Virtue Palace. The palace seemed more like a kind of teleportation gate.

Apart from the lack of natural light, the ghost city was no different from the mortal world. They landed on a spacious street, surrounded by neatly arranged houses resembling teahouses and taverns. The street was bustling with ghostly figures of all ages, men and women, but with pale, bluish faces, lifeless eyes, and eerie smiles. They walked with floating steps, making their movements seem like a grotesque dance. Cheng Shan felt somewhat out of place.

Without pausing, the sheep, now in human form, carried Cheng Shan through the streets. Cheng Shan could feel many eyes on her, but as the sheep anticipated, there was no tendency for interference.

Just when Cheng Shan was relieved, a man with a wide robe and an ancient look approached, squinted at Cheng Shan for a moment, and said with a soft smile, “Old Yang, it’s been a while. Where did you pick up this female cultivator?”

Cheng Shan had to get off, and the sheep transformed back into its sheep form, taking out a small porcelain bottle from its sleeve and handing it to the man. Familiar with each other, the sheep said, “Accidentally found the orphan of an old friend from the past and brought her over for a stroll.”

The man understood without asking further. If the sheep said it was an old friend, it was probably a demon cultivator. The Ghost Emperor had exterminated demons almost a thousand years ago, and now, whether it was wandering souls or ghost officials, almost everyone in the ghost city knew that the sheep was a demon. Cheng Shan, seeing how adept the sheep were at navigating this place, couldn’t help but harbor some hope for her father’s rescue.

The man didn’t linger. After a few casual words, he walked away. Cheng Shan plucked up the courage and asked in a low voice, “Are there any ghost officials nearby?”

“No,” Yang Taizai looked around for a moment, “it’s not time for inspection right now.”

Cheng Shan breathed a sigh of relief, loosened her shoulders, relaxed her tense muscles, and quietly asked behind Yang Taizai, “Where are we going next?”

“First, let’s meet a friend. With his help, our chances of success are greater.”

Cheng Shan’s heart settled a bit at his words, and she curiously looked around. There were some small stalls on the street selling items Cheng Shan didn’t recognize. The only familiar things were colorful crystal stones, somewhat resembling the refining crystals in the bronze furnace of the Demon King Valley. Cheng Shan didn’t dare to get too close, couldn’t see most of it clearly, withdrew her gaze boredly, and thought for a moment. She then asked Yang Taizai in front of her, “Uncle Yang.” Cheng Shan changed her address casually, “What is it that you give to people you meet?”

Yang Taizai’s mouth twitched, and he turned his mournful face. “Can you not call me ‘uncle’? I haven’t even married yet.”

“Oh,” Cheng Shan blinked, not understanding the connection between the two, but hearing Yang Taizai continue, “What I give is naturally something good.”

Seeing him avoid a direct answer, Cheng Shan didn’t ask further and just smiled. “Isn’t this making you spend money on me? I’m really sorry.”

Yang Taizai grinned. “I’m already in this business, and these are regular customers. Occasionally giving something for free is not a big deal.”

Cheng Shan chuckled. “You’re a businessman, or rather, a business sheep.”

Yang Taizai said, “Just take advantage. Ordinary ghosts are forbidden to leave the Netherworld. Thick Virtue Palace has barriers, and there aren’t many.

ghosts with enough cultivation to freely travel between the Netherworld and the mortal realm. I occasionally go to the mortal realm to get some yang energy, come back, and sell it to them to help with their cultivation.”

“Yang energy?” Cheng Shan widened her eyes. “Is it the essence of mortal humans?”

Yang Taizai calmly said, “Exactly.”

Cheng Shan tilted her head, looking puzzled. After a moment, she spoke, “Isn’t this smuggling yang energy? Your business seems a bit unethical.”

Yang Taizai blushed a bit, smiling bitterly. “You’re quite righteous. Just now, someone was thinking of bribing the Department of Reincarnation with some silver.”

“Ah?” Cheng Shan awkwardly chuckled, unable to refute for a moment. Yang Taizai continued, “Moreover, I, old Yang, never harm people. I always emphasize voluntary participation, and I know how to measure. Those people at most get a minor illness, soak up some sun, and they’re fine.”

Cheng Shan sighed inwardly at his words. She had never heard of people voluntarily selling yang energy in the mortal realm. She couldn’t help but think of the refugees who came to the Cheng family seeking help, willing to sell their children into servitude. In times of desperation, one could only risk their own life. In a way, she and Han Luo were no different. In the end, she had no right to complain about the knowledge that she had willingly pursued, given her commitment at the time of her apprenticeship and her relentless pursuit of Taiyin True Water.

Cheng Shan was lost in thought for a moment, absentmindedly smiling. Unaware, she bumped into Yang Taizai in front of her. Looking up, she saw that Yang Taizai had stopped at some kind of square-like place to the east.

On both sides of the street, there were originally densely packed shops and stalls. However, a space suddenly cleared out in front, and a group of ghosts, big and small, gathered there. Cheng Shan followed Yang Taizai, getting closer. Only then did she notice that the street was by the river, and all the ghosts were crowded along the railing, looking into the river.

It was a black river, surging without making a sound. In the center of the river stood a huge stone stele, estimated to be about ten zhang high. The stele was densely covered with words, faintly glowing red. “What is that?” Cheng Shan asked curiously.

“The Silent Demon Stele,” Yang Taizai furrowed his brows, a bit strange, but still patiently explained to Cheng Shan, “This river connects to the Demon Transformation Abyss under the ghost city, and in the Abyss, there are the demon kings captured by the Ghost Emperor. When one dies, a name appears on this stele. Now, all the names recorded on it are the demon heads swallowed by the Demon Transformation Abyss.”

While Yang Taizai spoke, he couldn’t help but shudder. He thought the Ghost Emperor was quite lenient to the various demon races. At least, when they were captured, they could have a quick death. Unlike the demonic entities, such as the Demonic Emissary, who were imprisoned in the Demon Transformation Abyss, attacked by vengeful ghosts day and night, eroded by resentment, tortured until their souls scattered, and completely disappeared,.

“But this silent demon statue has been standing here for a thousand years,” Yang Taizai continued. “Everyone has long taken it for granted. Why are so many people suddenly gathering to watch today?”

Cheng Shan didn’t know the reason, so Yang Taizai asked a male ghost for information: “May I ask, brother, what are you all paying attention to?”

The male ghost eagerly said, “Are you just here? Have you heard of Han Bushang?”

Yang Taizai subconsciously glanced at Cheng Shan. Sure enough, Cheng Shan was also leaning closer with interest. The male ghost said, “He was thrown into the Demon Transformation Abyss recently. I heard that his name flashed on this Silent Demon Stele twice yesterday, but it disappeared again. Everyone is waiting here, betting on how long he can hold on. Brother, do you want to place a bet too?”

Cheng Shan: “So many people were hoping for his demise?