The green smoke drifted and coalesced in midair, finally forming the shape of an arrowhead.

The arrow pointed in one direction before vanishing.

Seeing Shen Bai staring intently, Elder Mu explained, "Yin Incense. It’s made by roasting with Corpse Oil and can be used to locate Yin Posts."

"Corpse Oil? That doesn’t sound like a good thing," Shen Bai remarked.

Elder Mu shook his head. "Legitimate Yin Walkers buy it with their own money. It’s considered a normal transaction—a willing buyer and a willing seller, after all."

Shen Bai asked, "And the illegitimate ones?"

Elder Mu chuckled. "The illegitimate ones have long been registered by the Observatory. We take them down the moment we get a chance."

"The Yin Incense can find the most suitable location for a Yin Post. Just watch. Consider it a learning experience."

Shen Bai nodded and fell silent.

Just then, the Yin Walker stirred. He waved the Yin Incense in his hand for a moment, pointed in a certain direction, and said, "Sirs, a Yin Post can be established at that location."

Elder Mu looked at several members of the Jia Division. "You go with him. Ensure his safety."

The members who had been singled out acknowledged the order and stepped forward.

The Yin Walker walked toward the location indicated by the Yin Incense. He stopped before he had gone a hundred meters.

After stopping, the Yin Walker raised the oil lamp in his hand.

The oil lamp was unlit, and the Yin Walker seemed to treasure it, handling it with extreme care in every movement.

"That’s a Yin Walker’s bread and butter," Elder Mu said. "Once the lamp is lit and placed at the coordinates, other Yin Walkers can see it. That’s how they avoid getting lost when walking the Yin road."

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "So is it the Yin road, or the Life and Death Road?"

He had heard Elder Mu use both "Life and Death Road" and "Yin road," and found it a bit confusing.

Elder Mu chuckled. "The Yin road is what us old-timers call it. ’Life and Death Road’ is actually more fitting, since you’re hovering between life and death. We’re just set in our ways and don’t really like the new term."

Shen Bai asked in surprise, "They bother changing the names?"

Elder Mu nodded. "We must keep up with the times. When a more suitable name comes along, it’s natural to use it."

While the two were talking, the Yin Walker had already lit the oil lamp.

A dim yellow light illuminated the surroundings. Shen Bai looked closely and saw that it seemed no different from an ordinary oil lamp.

But upon closer inspection, there were some differences.

The Space around the oil lamp was distorted, constantly shifting.

"The Yin Post is open. Everyone, please turn your backs."

The Yin Walker set down the lamp and said slowly, "Looking at the Life and Death Road will affect your state of mind and is detrimental to your cultivation."

Elder Mu nodded. "Turn your backs."

Shen Bai turned around with the others and asked, "Why do we have to turn our backs?"

Elder Mu said, "There are strange things that wander the Life and Death Road, but they cannot cross its boundary. However, if a cultivator looks at them, I’m afraid they’ll be affected, generating resentful Qi that is detrimental to their cultivation."

Shen Bai understood. "So the Yin Walkers are fine?"

"Them? This is how they make their living. The lamp keeps their minds clear, so they have nothing to fear," said Elder Mu.

Just then, Elder Mu suddenly froze.

He whipped his head around, looking toward the Yin Walker.

One wasn’t supposed to look back after the Life and Death Road was opened, but at that moment, Elder Mu couldn’t care less.

When Elder Mu saw the scene behind him, his eyes widened. "What is happening?! Everyone, turn around!"

Shen Bai, along with the other members of the Observatory, turned to see what was happening behind them.

In the empty field, the Yin Walker’s condition was extremely unnatural.

A cold, sinister Qi swirled around the Yin Walker.

Below him, the oil lamp was flickering erratically.

The swirling, sinister Qi, combined with the flickering light, created a particularly terrifying scene.

The Yin Walker gritted his teeth. "Sirs, a powerful expert is nearby, interfering!"

"They want to destroy the Life and Death Road! They’re a Yin Walker too!"

Destroy the Life and Death Road?

Elder Mu’s expression turned cold. "Tell me, where is this so-called expert? Can you sense them?"

The Yin Walker pointed in a direction, but just as he was about to speak, he cried out in pain.

Beads of sweat broke out all over the Yin Walker’s forehead, dripping to the ground like rain.

Under Elder Mu’s gaze, the Yin Walker stiffly turned his head and said in a trembling voice, "They’re dead."

Dead?

Elder Mu strode in front of the Yin Walker, his face grim. "What do you mean, ’dead’?"

"Your Majesty’s plan must have been discovered. They sent a Yin Walker to destroy the Life and Death Road, sacrificing their life to do so," the Yin Walker said.

Elder Mu asked, "You mean it’s not just Fenglin State? That the Yin Walkers in other places might be having problems too?"

This time, it wasn’t just Fenglin State. Armies in various cities were supposed to be passing through the Yin Posts.

If that were true, then the problem was likely far bigger than just Fenglin State.

A trickle of fresh blood appeared at the corner of the Yin Walker’s mouth. "Landlord Mu, we can’t worry about other places right now. We need to handle the situation in Fenglin State first."

Elder Mu snapped back to reality and frowned. "If something goes wrong with the Life and Death Road, what are the consequences?"

The Yin Walker gave a bitter smile. "The Yin Post loses its coordinates. The army heading to this post will be completely lost in the Life and Death Road. As far as I know, no one has ever made it out alive after getting lost on the road."

Elder Mu’s hand tightened slightly on his Longsword. "Then how do we resolve this situation?"

As he spoke, Elder Mu looked over at Shen Bai.

After the Yin Walker had spoken about getting lost in the Life and Death Road, Shen Bai’s expression had changed subtly.

A terrifying killing intent was surging from him, and the nearby members of the Observatory all subconsciously took a step back.