There were many different theories about the origins of charm creatures.
Some said that the character for "charm" could be split into "ghost" and "not yet," making charm creatures strange beings that were neither human nor ghost.
Some said that the mountains, forests, grass, and trees possessed life just like living people, and the essence they gave off bred charm creatures.
Others said that charm creatures came from another world and descended upon the human realm by some unknown means.
Folktales often contained traces of charm creatures. Sometimes they were old crones who abducted children; sometimes seductive women who sucked the essence from strong men; sometimes blue-faced, fanged evil ghosts that ate people.
The countryside beyond the city, remote mountain roads and waterways, and sparsely populated places were often where charm creatures appeared.
Cities had arisen so that humans could live together for protection, resisting the invasions and sneak attacks of charm creatures.
Ordinary people rarely came into contact with charm creatures, because encountering one usually meant certain death.
The authorities concealed the news precisely to prevent widespread panic.
"The Evil Warding Pill is, in the end, merely a clever shortcut."
"Medicine cannot destroy wraiths, but martial arts can. Blood Qi warriors can handle low-level wraiths."
The lowest-level... wraiths?
Zhou You had nearly died at the hands of a wraith, yet Hua Youxing had told him that wraiths were merely the lowest rank among charm creatures.
Wraiths had not even condensed a physical form. They were a wisp of essence drifting with the wind, capable of growing stronger only by attaching themselves to living creatures.
Fang Guiqi had died after being invaded by a wraith while fleeing disaster.
As for those charm creatures that had condensed physical bodies, they were even more savage and powerful. Even Blood Qi warriors faced