I transformed into the sickly ghost I had been before, stepping over patches of black moss, and returned to Exile Town. Waves of mouthwatering aroma drifted toward me.
The scent came from the center of town, where a house had been removed and the area cleaned. When Noah Grimm and I arrived, The Dragon greeted us cheerfully.
"Ah, Noah Grimm, you’re finally back! We’ve been waiting for your special ingredients. Ha! Boys, wash these mosses clean and bring them over, quick!"
I swallowed, even though I knew this meal was meant for ghosts. High-level ghosts could eat or abstain without issue, but I’d tasted The Dragon’s cooking before—it was delicious.
Several makeshift stoves built from stones held large, blackened pots. The Dragon stood in the center, wielding long spatulas, constantly stirring. Little ghosts obeyed his commands, lifting lids, covering pots, and adding spices.
I swallowed hard—it looked like there’d be food tonight.
Noah Grimm led me into the crowd of ghosts. Under his direction, we began moving tables and chairs. Dusk was falling when I saw Vivian Maple supporting an utterly exhausted Rufina Howard. She staggered as she walked, clearly worn out.
"So, little girl, have you figured anything out yet?"
Rufina Howard shook her head, replying weakly.
"No clue at all. This formation is incredible—I’ve never seen anything like it."
Redmond burst out laughing, placing a hand on her head.
"Eat up. Once you’re full, we’ll keep going."
As night fell, the sound of clinking glasses filled the air. Tiny green particles slowly rose from the ground—a sight unique to Exile Town. Redmond and his group sat around a large table in the center of town, looking cheerful.
But at that moment, my mind was entirely occupied with Zhang Qingyuan. The power he wielded had certain clues, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Yet I was very familiar with this strength—it was Deathbane Aura.
The lively atmosphere lasted until morning, when us low-level ghosts began cleaning up.
Rufina Howard had been taken away by Vivian Maple in the middle of the night—she’s probably still asleep now.
We’d have to stay here for several more months. That alone made me restless.
Low-level ghosts barely got any rest. After cleaning up last night’s banquet, we were immediately sent with some higher-ranking ghosts to Shadowbane Mountain for logging.
Redmond was determined to build his own palace here. According to him, it was just something to do to pass the time.
Now, I was swinging an axe at a thick tree, chopping away with all my strength. Every ghost who could adapt to the Yin energy here was assigned a tree. We had to cut it down today, trim it, and haul it back tomorrow.
A message from my distant future self, relayed through Hongmao and the others, was cryptic—it told me not to enter Yunmei’s Jiuchen space again.
I’m not good at handling such complicated matters—the best thing would be to go back and consult Mr. Luban directly.
At noon, when it was time to rest, Wuming found an excuse to send away the ghosts and took me deep into the forest.
"Go ahead, what is it you want to talk about?"
It was my suggestion to come into the forest.
"I won’t be heading to Exile Town for the time being, Mr. Wuming. I’ll leave things over there to you."
"Are you planning to train for something here?"
I nodded.
This place is somewhat similar to the Underworld I’ve visited before, and what I want most right now is to move like the Empyreans do.
"Don’t worry, Zhang Qingyuan. I’ll keep an eye on things over there—old chief and Zifeng won’t notice a thing."