Li Ang, being lost in this unfamiliar place, looked around for his next destination.
Having noticed a city 3 miles away, Li Ang began his journey towards it.
While traveling, he came across an herb.
The Lifebloom herb, rare in his previous world and priced at 100 taels, equal to Li Ang's two-month income, made him feel blessed during his journey.
However, Li Ang doesn't intend to use the herb because it's essential for strengthening the blood, which will help him become a second-rate warrior.
After walking for about an hour and a half, Li Ang arrived at the gate of the city.
Entering the city, he notices the city is less lively than expected. Almost no one was on the streets, the shops and restaurants were empty, and the few pedestrians hurried along.
"Excuse me, why is this city so quiet?" Li Ang asked an old man passing by.
The old man waved his hand dismissively, as if to indicate that Li Ang was being too loud.
Assuming Li Ang was new to the city, he explained in a hushed voice.
"It's dangerous when it's dark. Follow me to my home, and I'll explain there."
Although Li Ang felt suspicious, the old man's serious face convinced him to follow.
Arriving at the old man's house, the old man immediately closed the door.
Lanterns illuminated the room, with one of them seemed out of place. It was a small red lantern hanging on the wall near the window, but Li Ang ignored it.
A girl, aged either 18 or 19, came up to them after hearing the door open. Though wary of Li Ang, she stayed silent.
"Even if something happens outside, keep your voice down." The old man said, then started introducing himself.
"My name is Lu Han, and she is my daughter-in-law, Yin Yu."
Li Ang then introduced himself and sat down with Lu Han.
Yin Yu prepared tea and placed it on the table.
"Uncle Han, is there a lot of danger in the city?"
"This city is being haunted by a ghost. No one goes outside after the sun goes down. The merchants close their shops, and the restaurant closes its doors. If you go outside at night, you might die from getting your life sucked by the ghost."
Li Ang, hearing this, became disappointed in this new world. He thought he could finally live a peaceful life, no longer worrying about strange anomalies. Now you are telling me that there are ghosts living in this world?
"If this city is so dangerous, why do you still live in this city? Why don't you go to a safer city?"
"It's because my house is here, and why should I, an old man who doesn't have long to live, risk my life to travel to another city 50 miles away, where there are beasts that ordinary Qi Refining cultivators can't face?"
Wait, Qi Refining cultivators? Is he talking about the same cultivators I read about in Xianxia novels? The ones that cultivate immortality?
"Can people in this world... I mean, can everyone cultivate immortality?"
"Of course not. Only those who have spiritual roots can cultivate immortality. Only 1 in 1000 have a spiritual roots, and the rest have no qualification."
The odd of 1 in 1000 are too slim, but I wonder if people from my previous world have spiritual roots?
Li Ang shook his head, dismissing that thought, and continued asking questions.
"So, how do you know if you have spiritual roots?"
"I'm unsure. Only the sects can determine if someone has a spiritual root. The closest sect to this location, the Holy palace sect, is hundreds of miles away, young man. If you're set on joining a sect, you should wait six months until the recruitment period. Every five years, they dispatch disciples to recruit individuals who meet the criteria for joining their sect."
Li Ang sipped his tea before suddenly the red lantern starts flickering.
Uncle Han, frowning, gestured for Li Ang to stay silent by placing a finger on his lips.
Li Ang and Uncle Han glance outside the window and see an eerie being with a pale blue complexion and a white robe. She was a female ghost holding a flute and making strange noises.
For some reason, Li Ang's body is becoming cold, but his reactions seem less severe than Uncle Han and Yin Yu, whose faces were paler than usual and they are shaking as if they are about to freeze to death.
The ghost stopped moving and playing her flute. She looked around for a moment, as if she was looking for something, but continued on her way.
After the ghost was out of sight and the red lantern stopped, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Young man, why haven't you been affected by the ghost? Are you actually an immortal cultivator?"
"No, I'm just a martial artist who refines the body."
"I think I've figured out why you are fine. It's rumoured that warriors are filled with yang energy, associated with life and vitality, that acts as a counter to the yin energy of ghosts and evil spirits, linked to death and decay. That doesn't mean warriors can do harm to ghost in combat."
"For how long was this ghost haunting the city?"
"This is the second week."
"Why doesn't the government or a sect send a cultivator to kill the ghost?"
"the government can't deal with the ghost and the sect probably don't care if the few mortals die. They only care what they gain after people beg them to kill the ghost. Instead of getting rid of the ghost, they gave us this red lantern that warns us about the ghost and let the ghost do as they please."
"It's best to stay here tonight, as all the inns close at night."
"what about your son? Is he not coming tonight?"
"He was killed by the ghost. He didn't believe that ghosts exist and went out at night. The next day he became a withered corpse."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"You should rest."
after guiding Li Ang to the guest room, Lu Han and Yin Yu went to their rooms, leaving Li Ang alone in the guest room.
Despite being in bed, Li Ang's thoughts continued to replay what happened today.
he couldn't fall asleep, so he summoned the mirror.