This was Jian Zhen’s first time leaving the Demon Realm’s great hall.
Sitting on the Demon Venerable’s shoulder, his mount was a fire phoenix bird. This bird was bathed entirely in flames; when it flapped its wings, it was as though it could cover the sky. When it shuttled through the clouds and mist, golden light flowed. Jian Zhen mustered his courage to look downward, and ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains entered his sight. The towns spreading outward from the Demon City in all directions were like winding rivers dispersing everywhere.
Most of the buildings in the Demon Realm were in dark tones. The solemn and austere Demon City was vast and magnificent, inspiring awe.
Even though the terrain and mountains could only be seen as outlines, it did not diminish Jian Zhen’s curious and excited heart at all. It craned its head curiously to look below, and with a jolt in the clouds, its center of gravity became unsteady and it almost fell down!
It was precisely caught by a pair of hands.
Jian Zhen was also startled. When it looked up, it met Ye Jisheng’s cool, deep eyes. Following his line of sight were the collarbones faintly visible beneath his broad robes as they were stirred by the wind, and his pale skin. He looked at it slowly and said: “Don’t be afraid. If you fall from here, you won’t be smashed to death.”
The grass-wood spirit secretly let out a sigh of relief, the whole little lump relaxing and collapsing in his palm.
Ye Jisheng said lightly: “At most, you’ll become a vegetable pancake.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
What’s the difference, hey!!
The little lump that had just been scared out of its wits now puffed up angrily, bristling with energy.
Ye Jisheng propped his chin with one hand, black hair lightly lifted by the wind, and said lazily: “If you don’t behave, this venerable can’t guarantee I’ll catch you next time.”
The little lump that was about to get angry instantly became obedient.
It just didn’t stay obedient for long. Someone who had never set foot in this world had curiosity that simply couldn’t be contained. Nestled on Ye Jisheng’s leg, it secretly looked downward with its eyes. However, the black bird suddenly rose higher, and apart from clouds and mist, nothing could be seen.
Jian Zhen: “……”
Big bad guy!!!
Until the afternoon sun gradually moved lower, when the black bird landed along the coastline, Jian Zhen almost fell asleep in Ye Jisheng’s arms.
What reached its ears was the lively, noisy sound of streets and towns. Beneath the dark-colored sky, people flowed endlessly through the town. Yet most of them wore cloaks and masks, coming and going in haste without showing their true faces. Not far away, a brown plaque hung high on the city tower, with the flamboyant characters “Ghost City” written upon it.
Ghost Domain City.
Ye Jisheng walked slowly into the city. The ghost soldier guarding the gate raised his hand to stop him and called out loudly: “Tonight is the Evil Spirit Tower Market Auction. All who enter the city must be searched.”
The people around all looked over.
Ye Jisheng halted his steps and lifted his crimson eyes. The ghost soldier who met his gaze instantly stiffened; a bone-chilling sense of danger arose from behind. With the many people coming and going through the Ghost Domain every day, this was the first person to give him such a feeling.
Jian Zhen also became a bit nervous.
The little spirit standing on Ye Jisheng’s shoulder trembled its leaves and sighed somewhat as it looked at the ghost soldier. Really, why did you have to provoke him for no reason?
Just when it thought trouble was about to happen again.
Ye Jisheng took out a token from his sleeve. The ghost soldier, as if relieved of a heavy burden, stepped back to make way and said respectfully: “I did not know an honored guest had arrived. Please enter.”
The city gates opened, revealing even more prosperous streets within.
Jian Zhen looked at Ye Jisheng, somewhat surprised.
Ye Jisheng said: “What, very curious why this venerable would cooperate with them?”
The little grass spirit nodded its head, the small leaf on its spirit body swaying back and forth.
Ye Jisheng strolled along the street, looking at the endless flow of people, and said casually: “If I were to act, my identity would inevitably be exposed. Everyone who sees this venerable would only think of fleeing for their lives and begging for mercy. That would truly be very boring.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
It knew it, how could the Demon God suddenly have a kind heart.
Turning its head to look at Ye Jisheng, he was now wearing a silver mask, which set off his handsome profile to be even colder and sharper. In the past, he often had a smile on his face, making it hard to read his emotions. Now, with his face hidden by the mask, the killing intent and icy aura around him became even more obvious. He indeed looked very frightening. If he were to reveal his identity, this entire street would probably be emptied of people.
As it analyzed, it nodded.
Ye Jisheng’s tone was lightly cool: “What are you muttering about me in your heart?”
Jian Zhen instinctively wanted to nod. Fortunately, its rationality hit the brakes in time, and the somewhat flustered little lump hurriedly shook its head.
The corner of Ye Jisheng’s cold lips curved into a faint sneer: “You really were muttering?”
“……”
Waaah, why is this person so smart!!
The frightened little grass, with a strong desire to survive, cowered and flexed as needed, hopping down from his shoulder into his arms, rubbing against Ye Jisheng’s hand. Don’t argue with a grass!
Ye Jisheng curved his lips in a smile, as if just now he truly had only been teasing a little grass for fun. He said: “This venerable advises you not to move around too much. If you accidentally fall down and get picked up by someone, the people here love to eat newly transformed spirits like you, pan-fried, deep-fried, endless methods.”
The tender green, soft spirit lump froze in terror, trembling into a ball, secretly looking at Ye Jisheng.
Ye Jisheng’s crimson eyes held a smile.
Jian Zhen: “……”
Teasing it again!
In the ghost domain, red silk was hung high, and beneath the pitch-dark canopy of the sky, bright red lanterns were strung in rows from afar, stretching endlessly, truly an eerie yet gorgeous sight.
Walking along the street for who knew how long, Ye Jisheng stopped in front of a wall. The entire wall was tall, imposing, and solid, carved with some complex and intricate patterns, and covered everywhere with incantations that Jian Zhen simply could not understand. Plant spirits were the most sensitive to auras, and Jian Zhen subconsciously felt that this wall was anything but simple, carrying a strange feeling. What exactly it was like, though, it couldn’t quite say. Just as it was thinking this, the Demon Venerable had already raised his hand and lightly waved it.
Profound demonic power swept across the wall, producing a powerful muffled boom.
The demonic power was completely absorbed by the wall. A moment later, the entire wall began to slowly emit a heavy, rumbling sound, revealing the tall buildings concealed behind it.
A green-robed little boy carrying a ghost lantern and wearing a fox mask came out from inside: “We welcome honored guests to the tower market, to participate in the auction.”
Ye Jisheng’s gaze was indifferent: “Lead the way.”
The ghost-lantern boy respectfully lifted his lamp and flew through the air, entering the tower market.
From the outside, the building looked to have only three stories, but once inside it was mysteriously boundless. The interior was arranged in a circular layout with countless guest seats. Everyone already seated wore a mask without exception, some chatted in small groups of three or five, while others were lone wanderers dressed in all-black night attire, sitting alone in corners. Jian Zhen began secretly guessing where they would be seated.
But the ghost-lantern boy went straight up to the top floor, stopping in front of a private room: “This is the room with the best view and location here. The master said you are an honored guest, so naturally it has been reserved for you.”
Ye Jisheng stepped inside, the bead curtain brushing past his dark robes, a cool breeze falling.
Jian Zhen had been curled up on his shoulder the entire way, and only now dared to boldly observe the surroundings. The private room was very large. In the very center, a large red banner hung on the wall, painted with a skull of the ghost market, it looked terrifying. It trembled slightly.
Shadows flickered outside.
The green-lantern ghost boy left and returned, stood at the doorway and said: “Honored guest, the master has instructed us to deliver items to you.”
Ye Jisheng: “Enter.”
The ghost boys outside entered one by one, each holding a tray. Countless delicacies were placed on the table like flowing water, all served in golden vessels, exquisitely beautiful. Finally, a delicate stone emitting a faint red glow was placed on the table.
The ghost boy’s voice was cool and clear: “This is the bidding stone used for our auction. If the honored guest later has an item you fancy, you need only inject demonic power into the stone to participate in the bidding.”
Ye Jisheng’s gaze fell lightly on the stone.
The ghost boy was very tactful and bowed deeply: “All items have been delivered. We take our leave.”
Several masked ghost boys floated in the room. When they withdrew, there was not a sound, neat and uniform like wandering souls, all departing. Some even vanished without a trace the moment they left the room. An ordinary person might feel fear upon seeing such a scene.
But Jian Zhen…
From the moment the food was brought out, a certain plant spirit had its entire attention completely captured.
Roast duck, fried meatballs, fragrant crispy soft cakes…
The round, soft green little spirit laid on Ye Jisheng’s shoulder, saliva practically about to drip. You had to know that in that flowerpot for a hundred years, it couldn’t go anywhere, it had not eaten anything delicious for a very, very long time!!!
Just as the drooling little one was about to slide down, it was stopped by a cold finger.
Ye Jisheng glanced sideways and said: “Stop looking. You’re just a spirit body, you can’t eat food.”
Hearing this, the little grass froze completely.
If spirit bodies could shed tears, it would have already let out an “aowu” and cried.
Ye Jisheng sat lazily in the chair and said: “Oh, but there is something you can eat.”
The little grass perked up instantly, brimming with vitality again, looking at him expectantly.
Ye Jisheng gestured toward the table and said languidly: “That pot of clear water on the table, you can drink a few mouthfuls. It can be considered a fine brew.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
It wanted to perish together with him!!!
Just as the bristling little spirit was about to throw a tantrum, footsteps sounded from outside.
The window outside reflected the figures of green-robed ghost boys carrying lanterns floating in the air to guide the way, and the owner of the footsteps slowly ascended the stairs. It was not unusual for guests to come to the top-floor private rooms to attend an auction; what was unusual was that although the visitor’s footsteps were very light, they felt somewhat familiar.
The footsteps paused slightly at the door of their private room, then continued forward.
From not far away, the green-robed ghost boy’s voice sounded softly: “Master did not expect that today there would be successive honored guests arriving at the tower market. Please take temporary residence in this small private room.”
Outside the window, red lanterns swayed.
The man standing before the door of the adjacent private room nodded, his voice gentle and cool: “No matter. Please convey my thanks to your master.”
The ghost boy opened the door of the neighboring private room, and the sounds gradually settled into silence.
The sounds outside were gone, but Jian Zhen’s heart was not calm. If one were to ask what it had been doing every day during these hundred years of having consciousness, then the closest presence was undoubtedly its daily-seen caretakers. The Demon Venerable Ye Jisheng and the Immortal Venerable Fu Changhuan, there was no way it could fail to recognize their auras even if beaten to death!!!
But…
Why would the Immortal Venerable appear here?
It had never imagined, even in its dreams, that on the very first day it had just taken form, its two caretakers would run into each other. Heaven help them, would they fight?!!
Just as the little grass’s mind was spinning wildly, a very light, cold laugh suddenly sounded in the silent private room.
Ye Jisheng wore a silver mask. When he no longer maintained his relaxed posture, his entire body would be wrapped in a layer of killing intent. His long, pale hands tapped lightly on the armrest, unhurriedly, as he said: “Well now, truly, one meets acquaintances everywhere in life.”
The Demon God’s temperament was mercurial, making it impossible to guess joy or anger.
The little plant spirit that had been looking toward the neighboring private room suddenly felt a chill down its back.
When Jian Zhen snapped back to its senses, it met a pair of red eyes. Ye Jisheng narrowed his eyes dangerously, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile, his tone lazy: “What, you know him?”
