One day later.

Morning.

Duang~Duang~ sounds echoed throughout Spirit Manor.

Ning Zheng was startled awake from her dreams.

Have those who forge iron come down the mountain?

Upon careful listening, she realized it was the sound of gongs and drums outside, very lively, and someone was setting off firecrackers.

Yes, there were firecrackers.

For a hundred years, people maintain their behaviors and daily living habits from when they were alive, and they can farm, raise pigs, weave, so why shouldn't they be allowed to make firecrackers?

"It's New Year's, it's New Year's!"

Early in the morning, Ning Jiaojiao was knocking at the door, "Aunt Li next door told me that the New Year Market has opened, let's go to the market like last year."

Ning Zheng was in a daze for a moment.

She had aged another year since coming to this world.

The group of blacksmiths came over a week ago, a fierce bunch who swiftly dealt with the big menace of the crow, so now she could have a prosperous year.

The blacksmiths had been causing non-stop trouble these past days!

Thankfully, today was a day off, a day to enjoy and relax one's mind.

After pondering for a moment, Ning Zheng nodded, got dressed, and washed up, "Let's go, we'll have fun at the New Year Market today."

Ning Jiaojiao, being an Earth-bound Spirit, couldn't go far because she was connected to the roots.

But the New Year Market was in the neighboring village, so Ning Jiaojiao could move around there.

"Jiaojiao, let's go out."

As soon as his words fell, Ning Zheng checked her fortune for the day.

The Qi Fortune Value suddenly increased from 500 to 527, and Ning Jiaojiao's value skyrocketed from 105 to an extravagant 251.

"Celebrating the New Year with a good start, what a great omen!"

Ning Zheng understood that this trip to the New Year Market posed no danger; instead, it held some kind of opportunity.

Who knew which elder or community member was being so hospitable?

With 500 fortune, having small fortunate events constantly happening was quite normal.

Several years ago, when she first went to the New Year Market, she managed to find a basic cultivation method and began her cultivation path.

To outsiders, it was like a grand Night Parade of Hundred Demons! Yin Soldiers passing through!

Travelers who stumbled upon this deep in the mountains faced near-certain death!

But Ning Zheng was different. Having mingled as a dead person among the elders and folks for so long, she had developed a fondness for the Ghost Market.

Near-certain death?

As long as it's not certain death, my luck keeps me safe.

In fact, she found the elders and folks, with their fierce appearances, to be both fierce and adorably cute, giving her a significant 200,000 starting capital in fortune.

She packed her bags, strapped on the Copper Sword, and called Ning Jiaojiao to head out.

The village was busier than usual, with people coming and going.

They carried large and small bags, seemingly also preparing to head to the New Year Market for some excitement.

What may seem terrifying to outsiders, with its consistently twisted tongues, bulging eyes, and popped-off heads, was quite commonplace to Ning Zheng.

"Aunt Li, off to sell dried earthworms, huh?"

Ning Zheng greeted and walked on.

The mountain road was pretty easy to navigate.

Ning Zheng and Ning Jiaojiao, having nothing much else to do, enjoyed the scenery as they walked, reaching the New Year Market.

Upon reaching the street, they found themselves in the midst of shops on both sides and a lively atmosphere all around.

The ground was filled with stalls.

Many people wore ethnic costumes, with some men and women having cultivation, sporting golden wheat braid hair, and occasionally, people performed lion dances or sang folk songs.

Ning Jiaojiao was very happy, using Magic Coins to buy things everywhere. After all, regular folks rarely used Magic Coins, but that didn't mean they wouldn't accept them.

Live pigs, chickens, and ducks were calling out in their cages too.

"Candied hawthorn, big and sweet candied hawthorn."

"Would you like to try our rice flower wine, brewed from our daughter's wheat braid, with each spirit rice grain full and round."

"Fortune-telling, choosing auspicious days..."

...

The surrounding sounds were very lively.

As for the goods they sold?

They looked wonderful, but that's just an illusion for the eyes.

Cultivators, using Spiritual Qi to cover their eyes, would know what exactly those candied hawthorn and flatbreads were all about.

Of course, some of the products were genuine as well.

For instance, clay pots, cloth, these goods were genuinely produced from daily life routines when alive, brought out here to sell.

But items tainted with Yin Qi for the deceased are not good for the health.

"I want to buy a chicken," Ning Jiaojiao said.

"If you want to, go ahead, just remember to exchange the Magic Coins for silver," Ning Zheng casually agreed from behind. One Magic Coin could be exchanged for quite a bit of silver, with high purchasing power.

The pigs, chickens, and ducks that were brought back were found to be just like the villagers—ghosts, mere husks filled with Yin Qi, livestock that died alongside the villagers.

The Earth-bound Spirits of chickens and ducks that lived for a hundred years would dissipate if they strayed too far.

Ning Zheng wouldn't eat them.

But Ning Jiaojiao ate with great relish, thinking she was alive, and the pigs thought they were alive too... They could actually be eaten!

But ultimately, they were just air.

No nourishment, just a craving for taste.

As ghosts, they still need to eat living things, the kind with blood and flesh; it's instinctual, which is why they harm the living.

Even though Ning Zheng exchanged greetings with the villagers peacefully, it was because they were old acquaintances. If anyone else accidentally wandered into this Ghost Market, things would get interesting—danger lurked everywhere!

It's very easy to anger them.

For instance, buying a pig could mean offering yourself as payment.

If you refuse, they might stuff all your flesh and blood into that pig's husk, turning it into a real pig, leading it home to slaughter it for meat.

However, in all these years, Ning Zheng hasn't seen many people stray in by accident.

The only few were slaves and blacksmiths from the mountain who offended the old steward and were thrown down the mountain. Thinking they were free, they happily wandered around, only to be stuffed into pigs by pig sellers and led away.

As for why Ning Zheng didn't save them?

He was bullied on the mountain, and he certainly wasn't a fool who repays malice with goodwill.

This place is so dangerous; what if saving an enemy brings trouble or deliberate harm to him?

Besides, he couldn't even catch enough fish to eat himself, carrying a burden?

In Spirit Manor, it's best to be the only living person.

"Let's go, let's take a walk over there," Ning Jiaojiao bought a beautiful hairpin at a stall, stood up, and headed to another stall.

...

At Sword Casting Manor.

"Look, fireworks!"

In front of the blacksmith shop, a few blacksmiths' eyes lit up.

They had sensed before that it was becoming more lively and festive down the mountain, indicating that a festival might be approaching, and judging by the situation, it really was going to be the New Year.

A focus on joy!

"The market is starting, and we don't have much time left!"

In the open space, Su Yuniang told everyone: "After days of study, I believe each of you scholars must have gained considerable insight. Today, we will illuminate our true selves, open the Three Flowers, and transform into hidden professions, Enchanters!"

"They launch fireworks down the mountain, while we open the Three Flowers above our heads!"

"They are dizzy, already reserving a stall spot in the market down the mountain. Those other blacksmiths who wish to set up street stalls for business, follow me!"

"Don't fear death; after dying, you can just log in again and choose a new race, the Human Race!"

...

Soon.

The first batch of over thirty Money Children and Money Lolitas sat cross-legged, their eyes half-closed.

In their calm heart and quiet mind, they began planting their Spiritual Root, unlocking the Bridge of Heaven and Earth, comprehending Spiritual Qi, aspiring to become cultivators.

Boom!!

In no time, they connected to heaven and earth, and vast amounts of information from the world surged into their brain's three windows.

They had to grit their teeth, holding firm to their true selves.

Ancient residual Muddy Qi from the air, laden with remnants of heaven and earth, flooded into their minds, driving them mad and shaking their resolve.

"Hahaha, so that's it, so that's it!"

Someone shouted, and a delicate, ethereal Spirit Flower blossomed atop their head, soon followed by a second Flower of Nothingness.

As the third blossomed, the whole head rapidly melted away, revealing a gentle and serene smile, as if possessed by something, speaking in a deep and maniacal old voice:

"The head is a shackle of will."

"Reason is a prisoner's soul cage; only madness brings true freedom!!"

He threw his head back and let out a hoarse, mad howl, echoing through the manor, as if to unleash all his pent-up madness this way.

"I, Daoist, have realized! I'm free!"

Swish.

The whole body went limp, and the head bloomed like a rose, and he staggered forward a few steps before falling dead on the ground.

Next to him, another sat cross-legged as strands of Qi from heaven and earth surged into the Three Flowers above his head, readying to condense the three personal fate flowers of essence, Qi, and spirit.

The first flower succeeded,

The second flower succeeded...

The third flower, abruptly collapsed, its petals shattered, a withered flame erupted!

This blacksmith, at that moment, seemed possessed by something of the world, exuding the aura of a destitute ancient scholar taking an examine,

"Hahaha, I, Fan Zhijin, have studied for thirty years, succeeded, finally opened, the Immortal Sect is finally open!!"

"With the Spiritual Root planted, enjoy freedom, break the head cage, return to freedom!!"

He tore at his scholar's visage twisted with laughter, suddenly ripped open his head, falling dead, muttering before dying, "Head cage~!! Head cage!!~"

Nearby, a few quietly recorded, their brows furrowing deeper and deeper:

"They don't even know who they are anymore... Three flowers in bloom, not knowing 'I am who I am.'

The first step into the Immortal Sect in this world is more eerie and perilous than one could imagine.