Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 102 Unexpected Harvest

A big event happened!

Ma Hongtu thought to himself as he turned around and saw an old acquaintance not far away.

The temp Yin Messenger, who was used to shifting with the wind, took a glance—dressed in white like a wealthy young master, was a thousand-year-old Snake Demon, seemingly with a significant background; the young lad on the far right, with a look of surprise, was a newly initiated cultivator, likely seeing a Yin Messenger for the first time, his clear yet foolish eyes blatantly exposing his lack of knowledge.

The most mysterious one was still Daoist Friend Jiang, why was it a complete blank, seeing nothing at all?

Compared to the thousand-year Great Demon, with no spiritual energy waves or yin energy disturbances, he just stood there quietly, revealing nothing, making it even more mysterious.

"Daoist Friend Jiang, pleasure to meet you! Pleasure to meet you!" All these thoughts flashed through in an instant, and Ma Hongtu almost immediately plastered a smile over his face, stepping forward with greetings.

Jiang Yuan returned the courtesy, thinking to himself, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. Just the opportunity to inquire about Grandpa Wan’s situation.

If he had already entered the Netherworld, with a Yin Messenger’s attention, more paper money offerings should bring him some comfort.

"This Yin Messenger certainly took his time." Bai Yunqi slightly lifted his chin, reminding, "A little fierce ghost has appeared, it had long devoured all the yin souls. I suppose you should be on duty in Fengdu, has Zhaotian that rascal taken a lazy approach, allowing you all such freedom?"

Hearing this, Ma Hongtu’s originally deathly pale face turned blue.

Inside and outside Fengdu Luoshan are twelve palaces each, forming the twenty-four Yin Palaces, with Three Officials, Nine Mansions, and Twenty-four Prisons. The Ghost General Zhaotian is said to be one of the Ten Great Shadow Generals temporarily overseeing Hell. Why is it said? Because as the lowest of Yin Messengers, he could only hear the Ghost General’s name, thanks to having a broad network and some luck.

As a mere temporary and lowest level minor Yin Messenger, where would he get the chance to meet such figures?

The tone of this thousand-year Snake Demon actually suggested acquaintance with the Ghost General! Not to be trifled with, Daoist Friend Jiang is indeed deep and unfathomable, possessing such connections.

"Supreme Immortal may not know, but chaos reigns in the Netherworld now, and a low-level errand-running Yin Messenger like me is at anyone’s disposal. Furthermore, the ninety-three deceased in Riverfront Village were supposed to head to the Netherworld on their own. As they didn’t show for long, is why I came to collect the souls, and since they were devoured by a fierce ghost, I’ll faithfully record and report it." He hurriedly added with a smile to explain, "Fierce ghosts that have consumed yin souls having some cultivation count as ghost cultivators, thus not under the control of a minor Yin Messenger like me."

As he spoke, Ma Hongtu shook the iron chain, capturing the pillar resting inside a statue after devouring too many yin souls.

"What are you going to do?" The appearance of the pillar changed more visibly, with prominent horns on the forehead, bluish complexion, bulging scarlet eyes, and full of fangs, it was impossible to recognize its original simple and honest appearance.

Discovering it was a soul-collecting Yin Messenger, he exuded a strong yin energy intending to resist.

"Little ghost, want to taste grandpa’s Mourning Stick?" Ma Hongtu widened his eyes and took out the Mourning Stick.

Capable of shattering souls and killing with a blow, the pillar quieted down, lowered its head, and dared not make a sound.

Seeing this, Ma Hongtu slightly frowned and explained, "You have devoured the yin souls that were supposed to go to the Netherworld, so I must record the facts and report them. Also, although you have some skills barely counting as a ghost cultivator, without cultivation techniques, it’s not a long-term plan, and the human world is not suitable for lingering. Once grievances are resolved, it’s best to go to the Netherworld to cultivate."

Facing the goodwill of the Yin Messenger, the pillar’s eyes flickered and it smirked coldly, "Thank you for the reminder, but my grievances are not resolved yet, there are still some who deserve to die breathing out there. Besides..."

He turned back, casting a greedy glance at the high and mighty statue, his voice sinister, "How will so many people live on in Riverfront Village without protection? Since I have devoured those who deserved death, I should contribute to the village."

"Well, I was just kindly reminding." Ma Hongtu took out a brush, licked it with his long scarlet tongue, scribbled on his document, and quickly finished his task, releasing the pillar.

This time on a mission, he didn’t catch a single yin soul to bring back, but he wasn’t in a hurry, instead eager to foster ties with the two bigwigs, he started a conversation from nowhere, "Riverfront Village is strange indeed. Initially regarding the ghost cultivator as a deity offering worship, the ghost cultivator died, and now another unreliable ghost cultivator has continued, not sure if it’s good or bad."

Jiang Yuan found it curious and pursued, "They originally worshipped a ghost cultivator; why collect incense instead of grains? A ghost cultivator shouldn’t need such things, right?"

"Daoist Friend may not know, receiving incense is not something everyone can easily withstand."

Ma Hongtu, having opened the conversation, smiled even wider as he gossiped, "Chaos reigns in the Netherworld, big ghosts devour little ghosts fighting for territory, it’s a mess everywhere, some of little cultivation yet cannot bear the incense and instead find magical artifacts and treasures to deceive ordinary humans for worship, collecting some grains to trade with other ghost cultivators and make bits of silver coins to spend."

According to the Yin Messenger’s explanation, due to the ghost’s proximity to divinity and the raging wars in the Netherworld involving many factors, humans turn into ghosts, and ghosts into specters heading to deeper layers, until completely perished into nothingness, hence ghosts also fear death, wishing to live as comfortably as possible in the Netherworld.

Some of little cultivation, yet through fortunate coincidences, gain treasures to fool humans into worshiping them, they collect grains for exchange with ghost cultivators enjoying incense offerings, who need to provide food for their believers, or with ghost cultivators in the human world who still have descendants to take care of, acquiring universal Netherworld currency to spend.

Summarizing, the world is tough, cats have their paths, dogs have their paths, all have to find ways to live, those who can’t, just accept fate as slaves in the Netherworld or be killed, heading to even harsher lower levels.

"Daoist Friend Ma, since you manage this area, can I trouble you with a favor?" Jiang Yuan, hearing the gossip, noticing his disciple growing more worried, felt he couldn’t delay any longer.

Grandpa Wan had been burned alive some time ago, and if his existence in the Netherworld wasn’t good, the longer it dragged, the more he’d suffer.

He brought out a string of paper ingots from the storage bag, burning it for Ma Hongtu, requested, "My disciple’s grandfather was harmed by a Flame Rat when wildfires descended, and now we don’t know where his soul has gone, kindly trouble Daoist Friend to inquire in the Netherworld."

Ma Hongtu, holding the high-quality money, had his dead fish eyes light up, such a fortunate event?!

Ever since receiving those excellent paper ingots, Ma Hongtu had been thinking of finding opportunities to associate with mysterious bigwigs, therefore even revealing how he could be summoned truthfully, while dreaming eagerly for news yet hadn’t received any.

On this trip to collect souls, to unexpectedly gain this!

As long as that old man was still in the Netherworld and not in hell, he would do his utmost to find him. Establishing connections through kinship, letting the little disciple occasionally meet grandpa, a bit of bribery up and down, where isn’t money needed?

As a Yin Messenger facilitating, taking care of the old man, where would he not have money to spend?

Of course, if the other had descended to hell, it shouldn’t be too problematic, just bring back the news.

With Daoist Friend Jiang having by his side a Great Demon who could directly address a Ghost General, if truly seeking someone in hell for the disciple, he might even gain favor and recognition before the Ghost General.

With both money and benefits, Ma Hongtu was internally ecstatic, yet he wore an urgent look, righteously saying, "No time to lose, everyone please wait a moment, I will check now! If the soul is still wandering the wilderness, or in a dangerous place in the Netherworld, it needs urgent rescue! Little friend, quickly state your grandfather’s birth date and name so I can return soon!"

Wan Mingchuan felt deeply grateful towards his master, never daring to dream of seeing his grandpa’s spirit again, and his master being so powerful, was familiar with the Yin Messenger and even willing to ask for assistance for his matter.

With rising emotions and a nose tingling with tears welling, he held back his excitement, awkwardly stated, "I’m an orphan adopted by Grandpa, he never told me his birth date, I only know his name is Wan An, the An in Safe, he’s about sixty-five or sixty-six..."