Chapter 876: The Pangolin Spirit and the Evil-Suppressing Incantation

Chen Changsheng and the Fox Demon walked over.

The Fox Demon said, "The Demon Market generally relies on bartering. Spirit fruits are the standard currency, but other items are acceptable, provided the value matches."

Yu Hongjin understood. She looked at the monkey and asked, "Can I trade with other things?"

The monkey selling the wine nodded.

Yu Hongjin thought for a moment, then began rummaging through her pockets.

She searched for a long while, but her pockets were as empty as ever, holding nothing of value.

Finally, she reached into her Brocade Pouch. Looking up, she asked, "Can I trade the wine I brewed for the wine you brewed?"

The monkeys exchanged glances. "May we see it?"

Yu Hongjin's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled a jug of wine from the Brocade Pouch.

She broke the seal, and a rich fragrance of wine instantly wafted out.

The two monkeys paused in surprise, then nodded eagerly.

"Deal?"

"Deal!"

Overjoyed, Yu Hongjin traded one jug of her homemade wine for a whole jar of their Monkey Wine. The monkeys seemed to want to give her a bit more, but Yu Hongjin said it was plenty and declined the extra.

The two monkey demons thanked her profusely and even gifted her a few spirit fruits.

Yu Hongjin unsealed the Monkey Wine and took a sip. The flavor was incredibly unique. Her eyes sparkled instantly, and after taking two massive gulps, she cried out how delicious it was.

She wanted to take a few more mouthfuls.

But Yunxiang stopped her. "If you get drunk again, you'll be spanked."

Hearing this, Yu Hongjin didn't dare drink anymore. She quickly tucked the wine away, planning to sneak a few drinks once they were back.

Aside from the wine, there were many other novelties in the Demon Market.

For instance, some stalls sold various trinkets. Some displayed items like the porcelain vases and bowls found in ordinary street markets, while others featured chaotic, disorganized piles of objects. There was no telling where these things had been scrounged up, and it was quite possible the stall owners didn't even know their uses.

"Lord Fox, care to take a look?"

The stall owner was dressed rather plainly. Having already taken human form, he possessed a handsome appearance akin to a fair-skinned scholar.

The Fox Demon looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Immortal Master?"

Chen Changsheng approached the stall and crouched down to examine the wares.

Most were ancient items from the Mortal World.

Chen Changsheng said, "These are all things used by humans. What made you decide to get into this business?"

The demon stall owner replied, "People only buy novelties. Besides, these things are worth quite a bit in the Mortal World. I paid a hefty price for them."

Chen Changsheng shot him a glance and asked with a smile, "Did you truly pay a hefty price?"

The stall owner chuckled. "Aren't your words calling me out, my lord?"

He paused, then added, "I did employ a few minor tricks, true."

Glancing at the Fox Demon, he continued, "Of course, I haven't hurt anyone, much less killed anyone."

Chen Changsheng nodded, having a rough idea of what was going on.

So he remarked, "You possess the Divine Abilities to burrow and drill through the earth, so it's only natural you can run a business like this. However, try to do less of it in the future. Since you know so much about the affairs of ordinary folk, you should understand that such things always carry risks."

The stall owner stared blankly for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you for the warning, my lord. I will try my best to avoid it in the future."

"Mhm."

Chen Changsheng nodded and turned his attention back to the stall.

He had originally planned to buy a random trinket just as a gesture, but his gaze fell upon a Glazed Box.

The craftsmanship of the box was extraordinary, its carvings incredibly meticulous.

It was a rare find indeed.

Colored glaze and ordinary glass were worlds apart. In the Mortal World, crafting something of this caliber was undoubtedly a monumentally difficult task.

"This Glazed Box, what is its price?" Chen Changsheng asked.

The stall owner replied, "My lord, this item is quite expensive. I couldn't find many objects this beautiful even after scouring the entire Mortal World. To tell you the truth, quite a few people have asked about this box before, but they were all scared off by the price."

"What is the price?" Chen Changsheng asked.

He immediately stated, "I want two Red Fire Fruits."

The Fox Demon was taken aback. "That expensive?!"

Red Fire Fruits were incredibly rare spiritual items!

The stall owner smiled sheepishly. "Lord Fox, my business..."

"...is just a small operation."

The Fox Demon didn't say anything more, merely looking over at Mister Chen.

Chen Changsheng thought about it and could only shake his head. Clearly, this Glazed Box was not worth the price.

But as he held it, he suddenly noticed what appeared to be an inscription engraved on the bottom of the box.

Pausing, he turned the box over to take a look.

It read:

[As my brush falls, ten thousand ghosts shall hide. The Big Dipper shines high, shifting the heavenly stars. Striking the mountain, the mountain shatters; striking the water, the water gleams. Let disasters and faults be eradicated, let calamities and plagues be destroyed...]

Seeing this incantation, Chen Changsheng froze for a second.

When he looked at the box again, it felt entirely different.

Could this box have once been used to suppress evil?

Chen Changsheng paused, then tried silently circulating the incantation in his mind.

Immediately, he felt a force capable of expelling evil and suppressing malevolence surge within his body.

He quickly pulled back his energy. After examining the box for a moment longer, he looked up at the stall owner. "I will help resolve the injury on your body, and we'll forget about the two Red Fire Fruits. How about it?"

The stall owner froze. "How did you know..."

Chen Changsheng smiled but offered no explanation.

The stall owner smiled as well. "Deal."

Chen Changsheng tapped the center of the stall owner's brow with a surge of Magical Power. Immediately, a wretched shriek rang out.

A soul, tangled with sinister energy, drifted up and tried to flee.

Chen Changsheng raised his hand, flipped open the box, and ran two fingers over its inscription...

He silently chanted in his mind, 'As my brush falls, ten thousand ghosts shall hide. The Big Dipper shines high, shifting the heavenly stars...'

"Come!"

As his voice fell, the soul of the malevolent ghost was immediately sucked into the Glazed Box.

Yu Hongjin jumped in fright, hurriedly taking two steps back.

"Snap."

The box shut, and the sinister energy from just a moment ago dissipated completely.

The stall owner's complexion instantly improved by several degrees. He hurriedly cupped his hands. "Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "This Chen will accept this box, then."

The stall owner nodded repeatedly. Now that the box contained a malevolent ghost, he didn't want it in the slightest.

As the group walked away, the stall owner offered a continuous stream of thanks.

After walking for a short while, Yunxiang finally asked, "Mister, was that stall owner a tomb robber?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "That stall owner is a lingli spirit. He naturally burrows and drills through the earth every day, so he's bound to bump into a few tombs. It's not strange for him to run a business like this."

"What kind of fish is a lingli?" Yu Hongjin asked curiously.

"A lingli isn't a fish," Chen Changsheng said. "It merely has scales on its body, which is why it's referred to as a fish. In reality, it lives in the mountains. You can also call it a pangolin."