Shi Chun knew they would ask about this, Lao Changtai said, "After we went in, we were curious about this matter, and only found out after inquiring that before the Netherworld closed, like the outside world, it was plagued by the issue of the Demon Path creating counterfeit money. At the time, the Netherworld tried to communicate with the Heavenly Court, hoping to use Ancient Coin Mould, claiming that ancient coins couldn't be counterfeited.

But the Heavenly Court and the four Royal Courts it governs all firmly opposed it, the reason being simple: ancient coins can't be counterfeited because they contain a so-called 'quantitative'.

This 'quantitative' is generated once per cycle of one object, for example, after a person dies, the soul returns to the Netherworld and a 'quantitative' is generated.

Therefore, this 'quantitative' cannot be counterfeited. Precisely because of this, the earliest ancient coins were produced by the Netherworld, and the Ancient Coin Mould was also in the hands of the Netherworld. Yet, the Heavenly Court has lost its former power and cannot control the Netherworld. Why would the Heavenly Court and the four Royal Courts under its jurisdiction willingly hand over the coin making rights to the Netherworld?

According to the current notion circulating in the Netherworld, the closure of the Netherworld to outside interactions is one of the reasons for these issues. So upon closing, it naturally started using ancient coins immediately.

Also, there's a smaller denomination than 'quantitative', called 'tribulation', because not everything dying will produce a full 'quantitative'. Some smaller animals can only produce limited 'tribulation' after death, and one thousand tribulations can be exchanged for one quantitative."

Lao Changtai said while taking out some change bills from the Netherworld, which included not only small denominated 'quantitative', but also small denominated 'tribulation', with various designs, for the two to broaden their horizons.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang looked over them, marveling at the sight, and realized that old fellow Jin Zhan really didn't have a bit of change on him.

Lao Changtai pointed to the money in their hands and said, "This money in the Netherworld is not only currency but also consumable goods. For example, if Lao Xi's family wants to invest in a good rebirth, it needs a large amount of 'quantitative tribulation' in these currency bills to enhance it."

Speaking of Lao Xi, Shi Chun asked, "How is Lao Xi as a person, is he reliable?"

Lao Changtai said, "Master, how do I say this? We haven't been in for very many days and haven't had much contact, so it's hard to judge someone's nature. But one thing is certain, stealing souls in the Netherworld is a capital offense, and he took so much money from us privately. Once discovered, it would be hard for him to escape, let alone he doesn't know our depth, so for now, he's probably too afraid to mess with us."

Hearing this, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang felt a little more at ease.

Shi Chun then asked, "What about Chu Jingtang, where did he go?"

Lao Changtai: "Didn't you instruct to find suitable fighters? We actually found someone who seems quite suitable. Hearing is unreliable, so Chu Jingtang went to personally check and verify it, while I stayed here to keep in contact with you."

Since it's still in the stage of inquiry, Shi Chun didn't ask further. He turned the conversation back to the main topic, "Did you find out anything about soul-capturing items?"

"Yes, we've bought it." Lao Changtai said, taking out a small black cloth bag about the size of a handkerchief, "This thing is expensive, costing over ten thousand quantitatives. Once the soul is received in this bag, it can be carried wherever. According to local sayings, in the past, the outside world should also have had this thing, but the only trouble is, ordinary monks can't use this item, like us, who can't see souls; only those Netherworld Cultivators can see."

Regarding this, Shi Chun was also unclear about the situation. When an animal had just died, his right eye superpower couldn't see the soul, but after a trip to the Netherworld with the golden threads generated by Death Refusing Incense, his right eye ability could see them again.

The first time he met Lao Xi, he found that Lao Xi's Netherworld Envoys couldn't actually stop souls from being entangled by the golden threads. He didn't understand the principle.

He flipped through the black cloth bag; though he couldn't ascertain the crafting material, he concluded the item should be alright.

He immediately got up, attached the black cloth bag at his waist, pulled out an Earth Wolf from a large bag beside him, and strangled it on the spot.

Soon, he said to Wu Jinliang, "Burn the incense."

Wu Jinliang naturally understood what it meant and immediately pulled out a small finger-tip of Death Refusing Incense and released it to burn with flame.

Even though it's not the first time seeing it, Lao Changtai still marveled at the sight. It was the first time he saw the Five Elements Technique where one person could cultivate two different attributes.

He could understand Wu Jinliang's actions, but Shi Chun's gestures in the void to perform the technique truly baffled him.

However, Shi Chun this time didn't make the black hole appear again. He didn't go to the Netherworld this time to take charge, keeping the black hole channel open to the Netherworld might easily expose the channel in case those Netherworld Envoys like Lao Xi chased after as last time.

He merely directed the smoke from Death Refusing Incense onto the Earth Wolf's body, and once he saw the golden threads spring up, he had Wu Jinliang cease burning the incense, saving where he could.

After waiting for quite a while, those scattered golden threads began to twitch, Shi Chun knew the soul should be coming back, so he immediately pulled the black cloth bag from his waist with one hand and grabbed a knife out of thin air with the other hand.

Upon seeing the silk thread retracting with spots of white light, he quickly used the No Demon Blade to cut it off, simultaneously swinging the black cloth bag to catch these spots of white light.

As a result, once the golden thread was severed, those spots of white light disappeared from his right eye superpower.

Not only one spot of white light, but several continued like this.

He ended up busy for nothing.

Watching him standing silently in place, Lao Changtai turned to look at Wu Jinliang beside him, the latter shook his head, indicating he also didn't know what was going on.

The incense could be burned again to try, but Shi Chun, after considering, felt it was not necessary for the time being. Trying repeatedly like this in a short duration, would make it difficult to not alert the upper echelons of the Netherworld Envoys. Even Lao Xi might find it hard to cover it up. By then, the mountain tops associated with the Netherworld in that area would definitely attract heavy armed attention.

So he pulled another Earth Wolf from the large bag and threw it along with the black cloth bag for soul-capturing to Lao Changtai, "You go back and find a way to capture the Earth Wolf's soul into the bag for me, retain the Earth Wolf's body in the Netherworld, understand what I mean?"

Lao Changtai nodded, "Got it, I'll burn Death Refusing Incense and fumigate the Earth Wolf's corpse over there, see if I can open an interdimensional channel in the Netherworld."

Shi Chun nodded, "That's the idea."

Lao Changtai thought for a moment and said, "It might be a bit troublesome, fire is hard to light over there in the Netherworld, plus I've heard the scent of Death Refusing Incense has a wide range of spread..."

Shi Chun pointed to Wu Jinliang, "He can solve this. Let Jinliang go in too."

Wu Jinliang patted his chest, "Leave it to me."

Multiple attempts have been made at entry and exit; he knows as long as Shi Chun is outside, he'll be able to come out once he goes in, without any issues.

Shi Chun reminded again, "There's a point to be careful about. The Earth Wolf is an external creature, so when capturing souls, don't let it be seen."

"Got it." Lao Changtai nodded in agreement, also understanding the stakes involved.

Shi Chun said, "We have agreed with Lao Xi to meet in three two-hours' time, just enough for you to go out for a breath of fresh air. This Netherworld environment is definitely tough for ordinary people to endure for long; go out and take a stroll in the nearby city to see if there's anything you need to take to the Netherworld."

Lao Changtai rushed to respond, "Food, we must bring some food inside. It's hard to start a fire in the Netherworld, so all food there is cold. I lacked experience before, this time I must bring more inside."

So the three of them emerged from the ground, and Wu Jinliang wanted to go with them, but was stopped by Shi Chun, for the same reason as before: if he went into the city, he would be easily discovered.

In the end, Wu Jinliang could only gaze forlornly, watching the two depart, all his discontent transforming into a long sigh towards the sky...

The western setting sun cast its light on the window of the Octagonal Tower, and the hazy light that entered was not far from the desk where Dong Liangyu had set up her work on the second floor.

Seated at the desk, Dong Liangyu let one hand hang down, while the other pressed a book, gazing at its contents as if an old monk in meditation, her lips slightly moving, murmuring soft words barely audible.

She seemed to be reciting the content of the pages, as if touched by the words, having a moment of sentiment.

The young lady with a crimson beauty mark at her brow, nestled in the shadows, was silhouetted against the dim light, creating an indescribably illusory feeling.

The book she was reading was not from the book collection, but from her third sister Dongliang Ying, or more precisely, a book given to Dongliang Ying by Li Hongjiu.

The book was titled "Borrowed Realm," the very Cultivation Technique Li Hongjiu passed on to Dongliang Ying.

Though the master did not elaborate much to the disciple, once confirming the basic cultivation knowledge was present, he tossed the cultivation technique to Dongliang Ying, giving little explanation, saying if one understands, they naturally understand; if they don't, no amount of talking will make it clear. It was the typical scenario where the master leads the pupil to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual, leaving it largely unattended thereafter.

Dongliang Ying was eager; whenever she had time, she would hug the book to study and understand it.

Dong Liangyu, being the elder sister, couldn't help but ask what she was reading with such attentiveness, curious to see it herself. On learning it was a teaching from Li Hongjiu, Dong Liangyu intended to step back respectfully.

However, Dongliang Ying was very generous and said she once considered it a treasured possession, but Li Hongjiu mentioned it wasn't necessary; whoever wants to read it can, and it's no problem if it's lost since he has more copies, and losing one wouldn't be a big deal. He also noted that it's not a secret within the Yanbao Sect.

Moreover, if desired, putting a copy in the Book Collection Pavilion to enrich its collection wouldn't be inappropriate.

Such is the case? Out of curiosity, Dong Liangyu casually flipped through it and immediately felt enlightened.

Dongliang Ying had work at the hall during the day, and carrying it on her person was inconvenient, so she let her sister read it first.

By mid-afternoon, with fewer visitors coming in, Dong Liangyu took it out once more to savor its meaning, and as she read, there she remained in contemplation.

Though she was unable to cultivate, she had read many related books on cultivation. The more she couldn't cultivate, the more she wanted to delve into them, hoping to find a lifeline. Her family also had handed-down cultivation methods she practiced, but only cultivated a breath of energy. Her meridians and bone structure were insufficient, so the energy flow within was blocked everywhere, failing to circulate smoothly, thereby making cultivation impossible.

Yet now, upon examining this cultivation method, she discerned some unique significance.

After understanding, she instinctively tried to mobilize that breath of energy within.

"Those who perceive the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are constrained by the seven orifices; those who sense the heavens and earth are connected by a million apertures..."

She repeatedly murmured this sentence, seemingly entwined by it, and her hand below the desk unconsciously formed the Flower Picking Finger gesture, gently touching the void.

She did not see that her finger stirred a faint ripple in the void under the desk.

She only felt as if her fingertip had touched something, as though her entire being was obstructed by something, seemingly caught in an inescapable bind.

Thus, her fingertip instinctively stirred another ripple.

At the moment she touched the first ripple, Li Hongjiu, who was reading on the third floor, suddenly lifted his head in astonishment, deeply perceptive of changes in the world.

With the emergence of the second ripple, the red-clothed woman reclining behind the counter downstairs suddenly opened her eyes and sat up, and next, the Sword Saint Fu Que, also on the third floor, lifted his head.

Li Hongjiu had already flickered to the second floor, following the direction of the faint ripple.

Fu Que subsequently descended the stairs.

The red-clothed woman downstairs gestured to Dongliang Ying, handing out tasks, then also went upstairs.

Li Hongjiu approached the desk, finding Dong Liangyu engrossed in muttering with a flushed face, struggling as if in a nightmare. His gaze fell on the book she was reading, revealing unmasked astonishment.

Fu Que's expression changed dramatically upon seeing it, glancing at the red-clothed woman who approached gracefully, saying, "Not good, she is about to become possessed."

With that, he moved forward to intervene.

Yet, unexpectedly, Li Hongjiu suddenly reached out to stop him, "It's not like that, don't disturb her."

He then stepped near the desk, repeating a phrase clearly and briskly to Dong Liangyu, who appeared trapped in a nightmare, "Intentionally is the body, unintentionally is the corpse, consistency is the life, without life, without consistency, intentionally without intentionally, heavens lend the path..."

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