Chapter 9

In the numerous ghost breeding grounds of the Stacked Peaks, the terrain of Lone Spirit Ridge is considered relatively high. Generally speaking, ghosts prefer damp, cold, and humid places. The lower the terrain, the more suitable it is for breeding ghosts. Even in the Soul-Breaking Mountain Range, which is rich in yin energy and never dissipates, this is still the case.

However, although Lone Spirit Ridge has a higher elevation, it is a natural yin-gathering place. Due to the natural shapes of the several small hills within Lone Spirit Ridge, they form a small yin-gathering array, making it a suitable place for raising yin spirits and ghosts.

Every registered ghost breeding ground of the Yin Soul Sect has a small-scale outpost. The main task of this small outpost is to monitor the number of ghosts in the breeding ground and mediate conflicts among the disciples in the breeding ground.

Upon arriving outside Lone Spirit Ridge, Hu Donghan dismounted and entered the outpost first. Lone Spirit Ridge is mainly suitable for late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners to hunt ghosts. However, due to the task issued by the Stacked Peaks, many ghosts have been cleared out. Now, the number of disciples hunting ghosts here has drastically decreased. There are only a dozen or so people in the entire Lone Spirit Ridge outpost. Among these dozen people, five or six are selling items, and these items are mostly medicinal pills and tools used for ghost hunting.

This is Hu Donghan's first visit to Lone Spirit Ridge, so he naturally went to pay respects to the cultivators guarding the Lone Spirit Ridge outpost. After asking a Yin Soul Sect disciple for directions, Hu Donghan quickly arrived at the location of the outpost guards.

Lone Spirit Ridge is not small, and the outpost is guarded by three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Hu Donghan stood in front of them, respectfully saluted the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and said, "I am Hu Donghan, an outer sect disciple of the Stacked Peaks. I greet the three uncles."

One of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators opened his eyes, glanced at Hu Donghan, and exclaimed in surprise, "Just at the first level of Qi Cultivation, and you've come to Lone Spirit Ridge? You sure have some guts!"

After saying this, the Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed to recall something and nodded, saying, "Right, Lone Spirit Ridge was just cleaned out a few days ago, and the more powerful yin spirits and ghosts have been cleared. Now, there are only a few left. The newly released ghosts haven't grown yet, so it is indeed suitable for you to train here. Am I right?"

Hu Donghan's expression remained respectful, and he nodded, saying, "Uncle, you are absolutely right. I am indeed thinking this way. I have just advanced to the first level of Qi Cultivation, and I came here to complete the entry trial task."

"Entry trial task? This place is indeed quite suitable now. Since that's the case, go and complete your task quickly! However, with your current strength, you must pay attention to your safety. Remember to only wander around the outer perimeter of Lone Spirit Ridge and do not venture deep inside. When you encounter solitary yin spirits, pay attention to their strength and decide whether to hunt them. If you encounter a group of yin spirits, try to avoid them; even if you can't avoid them, don't provoke them, to avoid being surrounded and killed by yin spirits. Lone Spirit Ridge is currently in a period of yin spirit and ghost proliferation. In about half a month, the number and strength of ghosts will surge. Try to complete your task within half a month and leave Lone Spirit Ridge."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator gave Hu Donghan some routine advice and then tossed him a jade token, saying, "This jade token is a rescue token. If you encounter any danger, you can crush the token, and one of us will come to your rescue. However, remember, the rescue is not free. Each rescue costs 500 spirit stones. If you don't have spirit stones, you will have to repay it with your future monthly salary. Understand?"

Such rescue services are not official rules of the Yin Soul Sect; they are just a way for these Foundation Establishment cultivators to make extra money. However, the Yin Soul Sect does not prohibit this—whether to crush the token is entirely up to the disciples. Five hundred spirit stones for a life is a matter of mutual consent. If you are not willing, you can just throw the token away.

"I understand, thank you, Uncle." Hu Donghan knew that this jade token, to some extent, is a means of saving his life, so he carefully put it in his chest.

Spirit stones are important, but life is even more important, especially for Hu Donghan, who has already died once. If he really encounters danger and can survive, paying 500 spirit stones is not a big deal.

After bidding farewell to the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, Hu Donghan got back on his bone horse, holding the map of Lone Spirit Ridge, and slowly headed into the ridge.

The bone horse moved slowly, and Hu Donghan studied the map of Lone Spirit Ridge. After carefully examining it for about fifteen minutes, he put the map away when the number of wandering spirits around him increased.

"Now that the number of wandering spirits around me has increased, I must have entered the outer perimeter of Lone Spirit Ridge. The outer perimeter of Lone Spirit Ridge is filled with a large number of wandering spirits and a few weak yin spirits."

"Yin spirits are formed when wandering spirits absorb enough yin energy. The difference between wandering spirits and yin spirits is like the difference between mortals and cultivators. These wandering spirits pose no real threat to cultivators."

"The distribution of yin spirits in Lone Spirit Ridge is such that there are only a few solitary yin spirits in the outer perimeter, and they are very rare and the weakest. Even at the first level of Qi Cultivation, I can handle them. The deeper you go into the inner perimeter and core, the stronger the yin spirits and ghosts become. As long as I stay in the outer perimeter, I won't be in any real danger..."

Hu Donghan thought to himself and rode the bone horse a bit further into Lone Spirit Ridge.

As he went deeper, the number of wandering spirits around him increased. Within a hundred meters, there were already more than ten wandering spirits! And within Hu Donghan's line of sight, he finally saw a yin spirit!

The difference between a yin spirit and a wandering spirit lies in whether it has enough yin energy in its body!

Wandering spirits are merely a collection of a soul and a wisp of yin energy, with no specific shape. Because their yin energy is too thin, mortals cannot see them. The yin energy of yin spirits, however, can be seen by mortals and begins to form a certain shape—some yin spirits are human-shaped, some are animal-shaped, and some are bizarre and indescribable.

Now, within three hundred meters in front of Hu Donghan, there is a yin spirit.

This yin spirit is clearly a newly formed one, having just absorbed enough yin energy. The yin energy in its body is gathered in a messy manner, as if it might dissipate at any moment. The concentration of its yin energy is only slightly stronger than that of a wandering spirit.