Chen Xu used the Spirit Manipulation Technique to lift the Tray Ghost into the air, striding through the bustling Ghost Market.

Through his conversation with the Tray Ghost, he gradually gained a more comprehensive understanding of the mysterious Yellow Springs Ghost Market.

First is the matter of lifespan trade—

In the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, lifespans can indeed be bought and sold!

But such trade can only occur within the Yellow Springs Ghost Market; outside of it, in other realms, such dealings are impossible.

The Tray Ghost said, "At the very center of our Ghost Market is a Yin Yang Infinite Scale. Anyone wishing to trade lifespans can go there to weigh and transact, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

That Yin Yang Infinite Scale can even measure the maximum lifespan of spirits.

It is said that if the Yin Yang Infinite Scale could be brought to the Mortal World, it might even weigh the lifespans of living beings.

Tut tut... if it truly could measure lifespans of the living, how would the people of the Mortal World react? I dare not imagine, dare not think..."

Though he claimed not to dare imagine, the spinning of the Tray Ghost's body clearly showed he had endlessly fantasized the possible outcomes.

Everyone knows that human lifespans have limits.

Thus, there are sayings like 'At forty, one is no longer perplexed, at fifty, one knows the will of Heaven, at sixty, one approaches the cycle of life, and at seventy, one is rare.'

But knowing that lifespans have limits is entirely different from witnessing your precise lifespan firsthand.

Who can calmly accept such a clear countdown of life?

If ghosts cannot manage, how could humans do so?

The Tray Ghost's voice dropped slightly, using an indefinable enticing tone, it said to Chen Xu:

"Dear friend, would you like to have your lifespan weighed on the Yin Yang Infinite Scale? Hehe, knowing your limit might be helpful to cope..."

Before the words fell, Chen Xu suddenly reached out with a phantom grasp.

With the Spirit Manipulation Technique, the Tray Ghost let out a painful yell.

It turned out that Chen Xu's phantom grasp had twisted the Tray Ghost, distorting its ghostly form.

He said nothing, but the intimidation brought by this grasp was more powerful than any harsh words.

The overwhelming pressure was like a divine hand from beyond the heavens, controlling the ghostly entity before him entirely from soul to body.

The Tray Ghost was shocked to its core, finally becoming obedient, urgently whispering:

"Dear friend, please be gentle, spare this little ghost. I don't even know which of my words offended you... Ah, no, I understand now, I won't speak nonsense again, spare me!"

Chen Xu finally released his hold, uttering hoarsely: "Speak properly."

The Tray Ghost trembled like a quail, yet forced out a pleasing emphasis: "Yes, dear friend, listen well."

It then began to quickly introduce the various other rules of the Yellow Springs Ghost Market.

With a good command of speech, a fast pace, and thorough introductions, it turned out to be an excellent guide.

"Our Yellow Springs Ghost Market opens naturally every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, when lamps are lit in the Mortal World. Ghosts and spirits entering, if they wish to set up stalls, must offer various Netherworld Spiritual Objects to the Yin Yang Infinite Scale.

The higher the value of the offered spiritual objects, the better the location they can obtain for their stall.

If one offers enough lifespan, they can choose any position within the inner three circles."

It seemed that across the entire Yellow Springs Ghost Market, lifespan was the highest-grade commodity.

Then the conversation turned to the administrators of the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, where the Tray Ghost had even more to say.

As it turned out, despite the sizable scale of today's Yellow Springs Ghost Market, there was no clear administrator.

This was different from the Cangyuan Ghost Market, which was under the control of the Workshop Master.

But in the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, usually no ghosts dare to cause trouble lightly.

The Tray Ghost chuckled, "If there's any injustice, one only needs to shout 'Request Infinite Judgment,' and the Yin Yang Infinite Scale at the market center will project itself.

Troublemakers are banished at a minimum, or have their lifespans stripped at worst."

This seemed to have deeper implications, as if to say: don't be too aggressive, for we too can call for Infinite Judgment if pushed.

Chen Xu suddenly said coldly: "Requesting Infinite Judgment comes at a price, doesn't it?"

The Tray Ghost was immediately at a loss for words.

Chen Xu continued: "At least a year of lifespan, right?"

The Tray Ghost's voice grew even softer, speaking slowly and gently: "At least a year, up to five years."

Chen Xu chuckled softly.

The Tray Ghost hurriedly added: "If there are grievances between us ghosts, we often can request the Yin Yang Infinite Scale to judge as well, likewise just needing to pay lifespan.

The judgments of the Yin Yang Infinite Scale are fair, everyone respects them."

Chen Xu listened quietly, without any comment or objection.

Overall, he believed sixty percent of the Tray Ghost's words, withholding belief in forty percent.

The conversation then shifted to the origin of the Yin Yang Infinite Scale, something even the Tray Ghost was unaware of.

It mumbled, "The Yin Yang Infinite Scale has always existed, what origin does it have? As long as it exists, the Yellow Springs Ghost Market exists, if it ceases to exist, so does the Yellow Springs Ghost Market.

Why even ask about its origin?"

Even though the Tray Ghost was a century-old ghost, its knowledge was actually quite limited.

Afterwards, Chen Xu casually inquired about the matters of ghosts and reincarnation.

It seemed that this world didn't have a completely perfect reincarnation system.

When people die, they don't necessarily turn into ghosts. Most of them simply die, their souls dissipating directly, their True Spirits automatically cast into the Netherworld River, eventually returning to the Mortal World at some time or another.

As for whether they become human again, or a pig, or a demon, it all depends on fate.

Those who can turn into ghosts usually harbor great resentment or obsession.

A considerable portion of such vengeful ghosts will be absorbed into the City of Wrongful Death upon becoming ghosts, though some will linger in the Mortal World.

Those that linger in the Mortal World are responsible for various ghostly happenings, which is why there are always ghost stories among the populace.

As for the ghosts in the Netherworld, they do not typically interact with the Mortal World.

Unless it's the Ghost Festival on the fifteenth of July, when the ghost gate opens, allowing the Netherworld and the Mortal World to briefly intersect. Some ghosts, drawn by incense, may luckily visit the Mortal World for a taste of incense offerings.

At this point, the Tray Ghost smacked its lips:

"On the day of the Ghost Festival, some ghosts have filial descendants in the Mortal World. Heh, those fellows return with full bellies, and if there are offerings for sale, we can have a taste too..."

Chen Xu immediately understood; this Tray Ghost must be a lonely ghost without anyone to offer incense.

He suddenly raised his hand and flicked a Red Vermilion Robe into the Tray Ghost's mouth.

The Tray Ghost immediately shut its mouth, its entire form bewildered.

Chen Xu had previously given it a sweet treat and had struck it several times.

Now giving it another treat, the Tray Ghost perked up, shivering with excitement: "Dear friend, what are you buying or selling at the Ghost Market this visit?

Hey, leave it all to me..."

Before it could finish, Chen Xu suddenly halted at a stall.

Earlier, as Chen Xu walked past row after row of stalls in the Ghost Market, he never lingered at any stall for more than three to five seconds.

Now, having suddenly stopped, he saw the stall before him was about three feet high, with a vendor sitting behind it, belly large as a cauldron, yet a black, gaping hole under its mouth.

On the stall's objects floated an astonishing inscription.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.