Infinite Professions

Chapter 311 - 166: Analysis

As for others, let’s put that aside for now.

Shen Hex returned home, still enveloped in silence, without a hint of sound.

Looking at the neighboring houses, there was similar quietness, no sound, no movement.

Shen Hex frowned deeply, pondering silently in his heart.

If people can become ghosts after dying, then logically, there should be some ghosts around, living beside him as neighbors.

Also, there’s the Song Family, where Song Xiang was born in an academic setting. Although his position was not high, only a Junior Eighth Grade County School Instructor, he was still an official, different from common folk, and he placed great importance on family heritage and was meticulous about clan memorials.

Logically, the ancestors of the Song Clan, and the already deceased parents of Song Xiang, should be ghosts now, but why is there not one to be seen?

Could it be that this world operates under a mechanism of "Yin-Yang separation"?

Shen Hex fell into deep thought.

In the Taiyuan Realm of the cultivation system, although there are ghosts, there’s no concept of mortal world and underworld; both living people and ghosts exist in the same world, influencing and interacting with each other.

But in this Ghost God World, Yin and Yang seem to be separated.

The current Song Residence is proof; though identical to the Song Residence in the mortal world, no Song family could be seen here, as Song Xiang’s wives, concubines, and children had vanished.

If both resided in one world, that would be illogical.

So, this world likely separates into Yin and Yang realms, and the mortal world would exert influence over the underworld; if there’s a residence in the mortal world, then there’s one in the underworld, like the current Song Residence.

"As for why no person is seen..."

"There seems to be sayings in folk legends that people in the mortal world cannot see ghosts, while ghosts cannot see people in the underworld!"

"Song Xiang just died, and his soul has freshly left the body, becoming a newborn ghost. Though he arrived in the underworld, he hasn’t wholly merged into it, with remaining traces of human Yang Qi, forming a separation between Yin and Yang."

"This is why, when taking the exam earlier, those travelers seen on the road were shadowy and unclear; I could not see them clearly, nor could they see me clearly."

"And that junior clerk who invited me to the exam, along with those officials in the prefecture office, are likely not ordinary Yin Souls, but rather... Ghost Gods?"

"Ghost Gods possess magical power, allowing them to penetrate Yin and Yang, interacting with Yin Souls like me who have just died?"

"As for the neighboring houses, due to my recent death, with Yin Qi insufficient and Yang Qi not fully dissipated, they find it difficult to contact me, so it’s understandable that greetings are sparse."

"Lastly..."

Shen Hex sat in the room, only to see wisps of blue smoke carrying a refreshing aroma, bringing him comfort and peace.

"Is this... incense?"

Shen Hex’s eyes sharpened, discerning the source of this strange energy.

People eat grains; ghosts consume candle flame and incense.

Though he heard of such sayings, Shen Hex didn’t have much contact with them.

He rarely interacted with ghosts, with only a little experience in the Taiyuan Realm.

Yet, ghosts in the Taiyuan Realm do not consume incense.

Ghosts can essentially be explained as souls detached from the physical body, representing the divine splendor among the Essence, Qi, and Spirit of the human form. When separated from the physical body, their nature turns Yin, becoming Yin Souls.

Although Yin Souls, seeking to cultivate still relies on Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit, rather than incense and candles.

It’s logical, as cultivation is fundamentally about acquiring power and enhancing oneself, and ordinary incense candles hold no real power; Yin Souls must absorb Yin-attribute Primordial Qi and Spiritual Energy to strengthen.

But the incense in this world is clearly not ordinary; shockingly, it contains power comparable to Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits. Upon absorption, it greatly benefits the Soul Body of Yin Souls, even allowing cultivation, producing magical powers and divine techniques.

Therefore, it’s quite normal for Shen Hex to not see "neighbors."

If nothing peculiar happens, the Ghost Gods in this world might have some "homebody" traits.

Just like how Cultivators in the Cultivation Realm prefer hiding in spirit-rich Cave Mansions, the Ghost Gods in this world like residing in incense-rich Yin Residences, seldom going out unless necessary, not even visiting others.

Thus, weak neighborly affection is normal.

As a ghost, lots of social interaction is unnecessary, at least for ordinary ghosts.

"So, does this world have nature’s spiritual energy?"

Shen Hex’s eyes gleamed sharply, employing ghost cultivation techniques to sense nature’s spiritual energy.

The Taiyuan Realm has demons and monsters, naturally having corresponding cultivation techniques.

Although Shadow Yin Spirits are rarely sanctified, making Ghost Cultivation inferior, Shen Hex has always been cautious and prepared, learning whatever possible, integrating various teachings to innovate.

Thus, he had studied ghost cultivation methods from various Taiyuan Realm sects, now wielding them fluidly.

However...

Like a mud cow entering the sea, there was no response.

Shen Hex opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowing.

The spiritual energy in this world is astonishingly sparse, lower by hundreds of times compared to the Taiyuan Realm’s mortal realm.

That surprised Shen Hex considerably.

Currently, he had traversed two and a half Middle Thousand Worlds: the present Ghost God World, the prior Taiyuan World, and half of an elevation-level Spirit Control World.

The Spirit Control World during elevation, though its spiritual energy isn’t particularly abundant, can support Tier Six Emperor-level Spirit Masters.

There’s no need to mention the Taiyuan Realm; although due to the ancient Immortal-Demon War, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirits had become dormant, leading to some mundane Absolute Spirit areas, the Four Seas Spiritual Energy remained abundant; without the restraints laid for recuperation by Ancient Immortals and Demons, it could nearly facilitate Cultivators reaching Ninth-rank Unity Realm.