Wu Shattered Star River

A colossal city suspended in the air, a supreme-grade spiritual artifact forged from the bodies and Dao principles of dozens of Dao Harmonization Realm experts.

Jiang Han beheld one of the most wondrous existences in this world. Seeing this city made him feel the trip was worthwhile. He didn't rush into the city but stood on the cliffside, gazing at it for a long time.

"Let's go!"

After a moment, he waved his hand, and he and Qing Xuzi flew down, heading towards the city gate.

This city had only four gates, with no defensive formations above and no soldiers guarding the entrances. It seemed entrance was free for all.

As they flew, Qing Xuzi explained, "This city can be entered freely. You can purchase anything from the shops inside."

"However, if you want to sell treasures, you can only sell them to the shops. You can't set up your own stall. If you're caught, you'll be severely punished, even killed."

"Also, fighting is forbidden within the city. Anyone who dares to fight will trigger the Ghost City's restrictions, which will automatically attack, even Dao Harmonization Realm experts. There's no leniency."

Jiang Han nodded slightly, observing his surroundings as he flew. He noticed many martial artists flying towards the city, and he could hear the sound of air being torn apart in the distance, indicating more were approaching.

The two flew in through the south gate. Once inside, they saw even more martial artists, from various races, a surging crowd.

Jiang Han saw many races he was encountering for the first time, such as the Ice Race, Chaos Race, Rhinoceros Race, Space Race, Fox Race, and so on.

The streets were wide, with shops on both sides, and it was clear that there were courtyards behind the shops, all integrated.

The shops weren't just for selling things; there were also teahouses, restaurants, brothels, gambling dens, and so on, but no inns.

Martial artists from various races walked in and out of the shops. Jiang Han even saw a few humans, but they didn't acknowledge them.

"Why are there no inns?"

Jiang Han asked, and Qing Xuzi whispered, "In Ghost City, those without ghost houses aren't allowed to stay overnight in the city. Each ghost house can only accommodate five or ten people."

"After acquiring a ghost house, a Ghost City token is issued. If the number of people residing in a ghost house at night exceeds the limit, they will also be attacked by the Ghost City's restrictions..."

Jiang Han understood why there were no inns in Ghost City. If there were inns, it would be the same as having a ghost house, and people could spend divine crystals to stay there.

Jiang Han turned his gaze to the shops on both sides of the street and asked, "How many shops are there in the city in total?"

Qing Xuzi explained, "There are 333 shops in total, and 999 ghost houses on the lowest level. Only 30% of the ghost houses come with a shop."

"Therefore, ghost houses with shops are very valuable, and those who occupy them are relatively powerful martial artists."

"Some ghost houses don't come with shops?"

Jiang Han frowned slightly, his eyes scanning the shops one by one.

He was here to help the North Desolate Realm expand its territory, so he naturally needed to capture a ghost house with a shop.

He strolled slowly down the street, surveying the surroundings. He asked, "If I want to capture a shop, how do I do it? Do I directly challenge them and fight outside the city?"

"No!"

"If the enemy forfeits, or you win against the ghost house owner, you become the new owner of the ghost house. The duels take place in the city's four plazas, where divine formations will be activated."

"I see!"

Jiang Han understood. He scanned the shops one by one and asked, "Do you have any information on the owners of these ghost houses with shops? Are there any that are relatively weaker?"

"No!"

Qing Xuzi said with a wry smile, "The martial artists who can occupy ghost houses with shops are all Half-Step Dao Entry Realm experts. There are strong individuals from every race."

"Of course… Heavenly Chaos Sovereign can choose a martial artist you can suppress. I've already collected information on most of the owners of ghost houses with shops."

"Good!"

Jiang Han nodded and walked forward. Suddenly, a stone staircase leading upwards appeared on the left, extending all the way to the base of the massive palace at the very top.

Jiang Han was curious and asked, "Can I go up and take a look?"

"Of course!"

Qing Xuzi nodded, saying, "The top floor is the palace where the city lord resides, but the previous city lord disappeared more than ten years ago, and no new city lord has appeared. It's currently empty."

"No new city lord?"

A look of astonishment appeared on Jiang Han's face. Didn't this Ghost City have several Dao Harmonization Realm experts? Why didn't they elect one?

Or were they constantly fighting each other, with no one willing to submit, so a new city lord couldn't be produced?

Qing Xuzi thought for a moment and transmitted his voice, "The city lord isn't elected but needs to be recognized by Ghost City. Without Ghost City's recognition, even if your combat power is comparable to King Qin Guang, it's useless."

"I see!"

Jiang Han frowned slightly and transmitted his voice, "Has this Ghost City developed intelligence? Otherwise, how could it automatically recognize a master?"

"Yes!"

Qing Xuzi transmitted his voice, "Supreme-grade spiritual artifacts all have artifact spirits, and artifact spirits have high intelligence. If the artifact spirit doesn't recognize you, you can't control Ghost City and naturally can't become the new city lord."

"Supreme-grade spiritual artifacts all have artifact spirits?"

Jiang Han's eyes flashed. He had deduced that the Heavenly Beast Cauldron was a supreme-grade spiritual artifact, but he hadn't discovered an artifact spirit.

Or perhaps his strength wasn't high enough to detect the artifact spirit, or maybe the artifact spirit didn't want to bother with him?

Of course… it was also possible that his deduction was wrong and the Heavenly Beast Cauldron wasn't a supreme-grade spiritual artifact at all.

"Let's go, let's go up and take a look!"

Jiang Han raised his leg and walked up the stone steps. Qing Xuzi instructed via voice transmission, "Heavenly Chaos Sovereign can go up and take a look, but don't be too rash. The second floor is inhabited by Dao Entry Realm experts, and the third floor is inhabited by even stronger Dao Harmonization Realm experts. If you anger them, we'll both die."

"I understand!"

Jiang Han wasn't stupid. He followed the stone steps and quickly reached the second floor, which also had shops, but far fewer, and the martial artists buying things in the shops were also relatively fewer.

He didn't wander around the second floor but followed the stone steps to the third floor. This floor had even fewer buildings, only nine palaces, with martial artists guarding in front of the palaces.

Jiang Han didn't dare to approach. Dao Harmonization Realm experts lived here. He led Qing Xuzi further up, finally reaching the top floor, below the massive palace.

This palace was truly large, magnificent and imposing. Two martial artists also guarded the palace gate. There were also dozens of martial artists from various races outside the palace, probably there to broaden their horizons.

"Huh?"

Jiang Han saw many statues erected in the plazas around the palace, and several martial artists were bowing to the statues.

He glanced at them and asked via voice transmission, "Are these the statues of the past city lords?"

"Yes!"

Qing Xuzi said, "There are 187 in total. Since the establishment of Ghost City, there have been 187 city lords. Now, the 188th city lord hasn't been born yet."

"Mm!"

Jiang Han's gaze swept over the statues, his eyes showing respect. These were all Dao Harmonization Realm experts.

Many experts had even fused their bodies and Dao principles into the city beneath their feet.

"Huh…"

After a moment, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He saw that the face of one statue was blurred.

Moreover, this statue seemed to be a human?

Most importantly, an old man with a huge tortoise shell on his back was sitting cross-legged beneath this statue...