From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

Zhang Zhixuan's trip to the Ghost Market was very fruitful. With his treasure-hunting eye activated, he was like a fish in water in the Ghost Market, picking up almost every treasure, big and small, on the stalls.

Meanwhile, the proficiency level of the [Pawnbroker] profession has been continuously improved, and it is almost at the point of being upgraded.

The Ghost Market's rule: "When the ghost lamp shines at three o'clock, you'll return with treasure at dawn."

It was well past midnight and almost dawn; time was running out, and Zhang Zhixuan was considering returning.

Just then, the treasure-hunting eye looked around and inadvertently caught sight of a strange stall. Even though Zhang Zhixuan had traveled all over the ghost market, he had never seen anything like it at this stall.

Out of curiosity, Zhang Zhixuan walked up to the stall.

This stall didn't display any antiques or paintings, nor were they ordinary swords or weapons. Instead, it was filled with Taoist magical artifacts, including a mountain spirit coin engraved with the true forms of the Five Sacred Mountains, a palm-sized peach wood sword, a Five Thunder Command made of jujube wood struck by lightning, a few protective yellow talismans, and several yellowed thread-bound ancient books.

The stall owner, wearing an old mask shaped like the God of Longevity, sat hunched over to one side. When he saw someone arrive, his head remained lowered, not even lifting, as if he had already fallen asleep.

Zhang Zhixuan didn't dare to disturb them rashly. Instead, he bent down and carefully examined them. In his discerning eyes, these Taoist artifacts were almost all surrounded by a faint purple aura. Even ordinary Taoist objects that shimmered with white aura were translucent and auspicious.

"The quality varies, but they are all genuine items. They would be good to wear as protective amulets to ward off evil spirits." Zhang Zhixuan thought to himself, squatted down, and picked out a mountain spirit coin, a small peach wood sword, and a lightning-struck jujube wood plaque.

"Boss, I'll take these."

The stall owner remained the same, not even raising his head, simply extending his hand and whispering in a hoarse voice, "Five silver dollars."

Zhang Zhixuan didn't haggle. He took out five silver dollars from his pocket and put them in the shopkeeper's hand. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he suddenly heard the stall owner yawn lazily and say, "Young man, you have a good eye. You've picked out some genuine treasures."

As they spoke, the stall owner finally raised his face, which was covered by an old mask of the God of Longevity. He casually pocketed the silver coin Zhang Zhixuan had given him, then reached into his coarse cloth bundle and pulled out a blue-covered, thread-bound ancient book, handing it over: "Young man, you know your stuff. I... cough... this old man has a copy of 'Secret Records of Taoist House-Protecting Techniques,' a book passed down from our patriarch. Since you seem to have a connection with it, I'm giving it to you."

Zhang Zhixuan took the blue-bound ancient book. As soon as his fingertips touched the cover, he felt something inside. He was about to speak when the stall owner waved his hand, lowered his head again, and refused to say another word.

The appraiser scanned the ancient book; it was unremarkable, just an ordinary object, and there were no special treasures hidden inside. As for what was tucked inside the cover, he would have to go back and open it himself to find out.

By this time, most of the streetlights had been turned off, and many stall owners were beginning to pack up. Master Zhao also reminded Zhang Zhixuan that he had already collected quite a few treasures today, and since it was getting late, it was time to call it a day and head home.

Zhang Zhixuan nodded, packed everything up, and the three of them walked out of the ghost market.

Lin Shuyao followed beside Zhang Zhixuan, excitedly whispering, "Master, this trip was definitely worthwhile! We found so many hidden gems!"

With the Sun Wukong mask on her face, she looked exactly like a little monkey who had just received a treasure.

Zhang Zhixuan smiled faintly and gestured for silence. Lin Shuyao then suppressed her excitement and followed closely behind with a giggle.

After exiting the Ghost Market Street, we returned to the entrance via the old alleyway we had come from. This time, the two burly men wearing bull-head and horse-face masks went in a different direction.

Zhang Zhixuan was surprised that he had to pay money to enter the market, and he also had to pay money to leave. However, the good thing was that he only had to pay one copper coin to leave the market.

Master Zhao knew the rules, so when the three of them arrived, he handed over the money. The two strong men, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, made way for them, and Zhang Zhixuan and his two companions left.

However, no sooner had Zhang Zhixuan and his two companions left than four burly men wearing beast-face masks chased after them in the direction they had gone.

The Ox-Head and Horse-Face guards at the Ghost Market exchanged a glance, and a sneer came from behind the Horse-Face mask: "Those guys have their eyes on fat sheep again."

The bull-headed man said coldly, "Once you leave this door, we will not be responsible for your life or death."

On the other side, Zhang Zhixuan and his two companions left the Ghost Market. The sky was already beginning to lighten. Master Zhao was pulling a small cart, happily talking about how he was going to take Zhang Zhixuan and Lin Shuyao out for a sumptuous breakfast. Suddenly, Zhang Zhixuan slowed down and his eyes turned cold.

He lowered his voice and whispered in their ears, "Don't turn around, we're being watched."

Master Zhao froze, his face turning pale instantly. He instinctively tried to turn around, but Zhang Zhixuan grabbed him and held him down.

"Don't panic."

Zhang Zhixuan's voice remained calm. As he spoke, he took the cart from Zhao Erye and said in a low voice, "There's a fork in the road ahead, turn left. Uncle, take Shuyao and turn in there. Hide in the alley next to the houses. I'll distract those people. They're probably after money. We exposed ourselves in the ghost market and they think we're easy prey, so they want to fleece us."

"How can that be! It's too dangerous for you to be alone!" Master Zhao said urgently. Lin Shuyao, who was standing next to him, was also frightened when she heard the situation and hurriedly echoed him.

"Listen to me, I have my own way, but following me will only be a burden to me." Zhang Zhixuan's tone left no room for argument.

"Just do as I say, hide well and protect yourselves. I'll be back for you soon. A few petty thieves won't take much time."

Seeing Zhang Zhixuan's calm and composed demeanor, and having witnessed his nephew's abilities firsthand, Master Zhao knew he wasn't just boasting. He quickly pulled Lin Shuyao aside and nodded emphatically.

Reaching the fork in the road, Zhang Zhixuan pushed the cart and used his body to shield the view: "Now."

Upon hearing Zhang Zhixuan's command, Second Master Zhao and Lin Shuyao darted into a nearby alley of houses and ran away, quickly disappearing from sight.

Zhang Zhixuan and the two men took different paths, walking without stopping, heading straight towards a quiet alley in another direction.

He deliberately slowed his pace while keeping an eye on what was happening behind him. Sure enough, the footsteps behind him quickened instantly, and four men wearing beast-face masks caught up quickly.

Zhang Zhixuan reached the end of the alley, which was a dead end, and had to stop.

"Run! Why aren't you running anymore?"

Seeing Zhang Zhixuan cornered in a dead end, the four men let out a few triumphant sneers, like wolves cornering a lamb, waiting to see how terrified their prey would be, how it would beg, how it would be so scared that it would wet its pants. They had seen this scene many times before, and it always worked.

"Boss, the other two ran away."

"Let them run away, catching this one is enough." After a brief exchange, the group simultaneously drew their daggers and glared at Zhang Zhixuan with hostile expressions.

Zhang Zhixuan chuckled awkwardly from behind his mask, slowly put down the cart, took a few steps back, and said in a trembling voice, "Brothers, you've been following me all this way just to make money, haven't you? Everything on this cart is yours now. How about you spare my life?"

"Let you live? Fine, but this cartload of stuff isn't enough. Weren't you spending money like water in the ghost market? Hand over all the money you have!" The leader, a man wearing a wolf-head mask, pulled out a dagger and threatened Zhang Zhixuan.

Zhang Zhixuan shook his clothes, a forced smile on his face: "Brothers, look at me, I'm actually penniless. All my savings are here. This trip to the ghost market was purely a gamble. If you don't believe me, feel free to search me!"

"Search me if you want! If you dare to play any tricks on us grandpas, this knife isn't for nothing!" the wolf-faced man said fiercely, then gestured for the deer-faced man next to him to search them.

"Even if you brothers gave me the guts, I wouldn't dare to play any tricks!" Zhang Zhixuan said with a forced smile, raising his hands and stepping forward to cooperate with the body search.

The man in the deer-faced mask walked up to Zhang Zhixuan, brandishing a dagger and threatening, "Behave yourself, or I'll stab you..."

Before the man could finish speaking, his voice abruptly stopped. The eyes behind the mask widened in disbelief as he slowly lowered his head. He saw that Zhang Zhixuan's raised hands remained motionless, while his other pale arm held a pale paper knife, which was piercing right through his chest.