Great Harvest

Xiao Ran picked up the old man's head and looked at his astonished expression. He originally intended to throw it into Micheng Space.

However, he received a notification that conscious objects could not be thrown in.

This result left Xiao Ran feeling helpless. He could only tie a knot in the old man's hair, hang him from his waist, and throw the body into the space.

After dealing with the old man, he turned back to look.

Zhao Jiguang and the Beggar were currently locked in a fierce battle.

The Beggar's body had completely deformed. Its flesh had expanded, making it look like a ball. Behind its massive body, pairs of eyes were hidden within its shadow.

Zhao Jiguang might not have been able to see them, but Xiao Ran could clearly see that those pairs of eyes were hundreds of ghosts standing behind the Beggar, constantly opening their mouths and blowing hard at Zhao Jiguang.

With every breath they took, a layer of black mist would envelop Zhao Jiguang.

"This guy is truly amazing!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ran silently gave a thumbs-up. People often heard that humans light lamps and ghosts blow candles, but they didn't know that ghosts not only blew candles but could also blow people to death.

It was said that death is like a lamp extinguished.

This was because there were three fires on each person's shoulders and head. Ghosts were Yin entities, and blowing on these fires was like pouring water on them.

Once the fires were extinguished, the person would perish.

Last time, in the pavilion at Cuiyun Park, Xiao Ran had summoned so many wandering spirits and ghosts, and he had been freezing cold.

But those wandering spirits and ghosts were not on the same level as what he was seeing now.

With so many Yin spirits blowing behind him, if it were him, he would probably be completely chilled by now. The fact that this person could hold on until now was truly incredible.

However, Zhao Jiguang was clearly at a disadvantage now.

Even with his strong vitality, he couldn't withstand so many ghosts constantly blowing on him.

His body swayed precariously, and his face grew paler and paler. Xiao Ran weighed his options: "No, I can't let this guy die here. Otherwise, this Beggar will most likely come looking for trouble with me later."

"It's just... this Beggar is so strong, I might not be able to make much of a difference if I go up."

Thinking this, Xiao Ran took out the white banner he had casually picked up earlier from his space. He thought, "This thing seems to be the Beggar's treasure. Maybe it can be useful."

[Detected F-class Cursed Object [Soul Summoning Banner]. Activate!]

When the Beggar had grabbed the gourd earlier, its hands were open, and Xiao Ran had conveniently pocketed the banner. He then quickly threw it into Micheng Space to prevent the Beggar from noticing. He hadn't expected it to be a Cursed Object.

"Activate!"

Xiao Ran deactivated the Ghost Cloak and instead combined the [Trainee] Curse Mark with the [Soul Summoning Banner].

[Soul Summoning Banner · Trainee]

Soul Power: 73

If you don't study hard today, you'll be brothers in the Soul Summoning Banner.

Privilege 1: Soul Summoning Use Soul Summoning on a target to collect their soul. For each additional soul in the Soul Summoning Banner, 1 Soul Power can be gained. The stronger the Soul Power, the better the effect. (Note: The stronger the target's spirit, the worse the effect.)

Privilege 2: Mournful Demise Allow the souls within the Soul Summoning Banner to launch a soul attack on the target. The stronger the Soul Power, the higher the lethality. Each use will consume half of the souls in the banner as a price. (Note: Damage to Yin and evil spirits is halved.)

Feeling the information transmitted from the Soul Summoning Banner, Xiao Ran nodded: "Not bad, a bit stronger than I expected."

Although it was only an F-class Cursed Object, theoretically, as long as enough souls were collected, its lethality would be almost limitless.

At the same time, Xiao Ran also noticed a problem. Although the [Trainee] Curse Mark was very weak, it was more like a universal tool. Except for some specific Cursed Objects, it could handle most other Cursed Objects.

On the other hand, Curse Marks like [Corpse Stitcher] were very strong but had a strong occupational bias. Any Cursed Object combined with the Corpse Stitcher, no matter how powerful its original nature, would be influenced by the [Corpse Stitcher].

To put it bluntly, even if this [Cursed Object] was a toilet, after combining it with the [Corpse Stitcher], it would at least require you to sit on a corpse to unleash its true potential.

Therefore, when Xiao Ran obtained a [Cursed Object], he would usually activate it with [Trainee] first.

If [Trainee] was not suitable, he would then use [Corpse Stitcher].

Weighing the banner in his hand, Xiao Ran immediately figured out a plan.

Glancing sideways, he saw that the Beggar had completely suppressed Zhao Jiguang. Its huge body, covered in fat, seemed impervious to Zhao Jiguang's knife attacks, which only managed to cut through layers of thick fat.

On the other hand, when the Beggar threw a punch, Zhao Jiguang had to dodge with all his might.

The situation was becoming increasingly dire. Sweat beaded on Zhao Jiguang's forehead. He wanted to run, but the Beggar seemed to have learned from past experiences. It blocked the staircase with its massive body like a wall.

At the same time, it was pushing Zhao Jiguang into a dead end.

Seeing that Zhao Jiguang was about to collapse, Xiao Ran, who had been hiding around the corner, no longer concealed himself. He raised his hand and activated the [Mourning Ring], which began to flash with a dazzling red light.

The Red Skeleton was once again summoned by Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran pointed in the direction of the Beggar and said, "Go!"

The Red Skeleton looked up at the dense mass of ghosts behind the Beggar, tilted its head towards Xiao Ran, and though its face was expressionless, Xiao Ran could clearly feel the confusion and helplessness emanating from the Red Skeleton.

It was obvious that this Beggar's abilities far surpassed the Embroidered Shoes, and the Red Skeleton didn't want to take the risk of provoking it.

Xiao Ran could only say helplessly, "Just go and keep him busy, leave the rest to me."

This time, the Red Skeleton didn't hesitate. Red light flashed around its body as it charged towards the Beggar.

The Beggar had been about to suffocate Zhao Jiguang, but just then, an unexpected obstacle appeared. A flash of crimson filled its vision, and its body was caught off guard, struck by the Red Skeleton's punch. It stumbled and crashed into the corridor wall.

When it turned its head and saw the Red Skeleton before it, a hint of confusion appeared on its face, but it quickly got up, let out a piercing roar, and swung its arms, ready to fight the Red Skeleton to the death.

However, it was clear that while the Red Skeleton's strength might not match the Beggar's, its mind was not foolish. It didn't engage in a head-on confrontation, instead darting left and right around the Beggar, landing a punch now and then before quickly retreating.

Seeing that the Red Skeleton had made its move, Xiao Ran wasted no more time. He raised the Soul Summoning Banner in his hand, and a faint blue light flickered around his body.

He opened his mouth and muttered a tongue-twisting chant. As he chanted, his will spread throughout the corridor.

This was the awakened ability of a Night Ghost: [Ghost Language].

The spirits on the Beggar's back suddenly became dazed. Then, six or seven spirits, as if being pulled by something, detached from the Beggar's back and drifted towards Xiao Ran.

They were all spirits, and Xiao Ran's Ghost Language was extremely effective, able to control quite a few spirits at once.

As soon as these spirits approached Xiao Ran, he raised the [Soul Summoning Banner] in his hand and waved it at the spirits before him, absorbing them.

"The effect is quite good!"

With the abilities of a Night Ghost and this [Soul Summoning Banner], it was easy to lure the spirits from behind the Beggar.

Using the Beggar's own abilities against it, Xiao Ran felt a sense of cosmic shift.

While the Beggar was entangled with the Red Skeleton, Xiao Ran began to hide behind, continuously using Ghost Language in conjunction with the [Soul Summoning Banner] to lure the spirits from the Beggar's back.

The Beggar seemed to sense that something was wrong, but it was constantly provoked by the Red Skeleton and didn't have time to ponder the reason. And at this moment, Zhao Jiguang had also recovered his breath.

Seeing the Red Skeleton attacking the Beggar, Zhao Jiguang realized someone was helping him.

He immediately took out a plastic packaging bag from the Micheng Space. After tearing it open, he revealed a dark red oil, as vibrant as chili oil.

Zhao Jiguang drank it down in one gulp and soon felt a flame ignite in his abdomen, the chill in his body rapidly receding.

"You have consumed a special ingredient, Chao Tian La. For the next five minutes, you will be immune to pain and gain the special buff [Boiling Blood]."

After finishing the chili oil in one go, Zhao Jiguang finally felt his body warm up.

However, he felt a pang of regret.

This was a condiment specially made by a D-class Initiate [Hundred Flavors Chef]. He had spent thirty spirit coins to buy it.

He had originally intended to save it for himself, as a material to prepare for his advancement to [Iron Body]. Consuming it now was not only a waste, but the after-effects were terrifying.

But he couldn't afford to worry about that now.

Soon, the chill in his body was completely dispelled. Zhao Jiguang picked up his great saber and slashed at the Beggar.

His blood surged, and his blade flashed with firelight. The power was completely different from before. With one strike, it was like cutting tofu, opening a huge gash in the Beggar's body.

The Beggar seemed not to have expected Zhao Jiguang to suddenly regain his peak state as if he had been injected with adrenaline. It let out a low, painful cry and was forced to retreat repeatedly by Zhao Jiguang's great saber.

At the same time, Xiao Ran had already drawn quite a few spirits from the Beggar with the [Soul Summoning Banner]. These absorbed spirits were converted into soul power, gradually strengthening the power of the Soul Summoning Banner. The soul power quickly increased from the original 73 to 130.

Moreover, he was becoming more adept with it. Now, he didn't need the assistance of [Ghost Language]; he could continuously draw spirits from the Beggar by simply waving the [Soul Summoning Banner] from a distance.

As the spirits grew fewer, the Beggar's body began to show signs of abnormality. Its skin was no longer as oily and slick as before, and its taut flesh began to loosen.

Even the Red Skeleton could sense the Beggar's power rapidly declining. Its pupils flickered with scarlet bloodlight, and it accelerated its attacks, constantly harassing the Beggar.

"Die!"

Zhao Jiguang's blade this time pierced directly through the Beggar's abdomen, spilling blood and oil mixed together. The wound was extremely severe.

The Beggar let out a heart-wrenching scream. It tried to retaliate, but with the Red Skeleton's interference, its movements became sluggish.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ran continuously absorbed spirits from the Beggar with the Soul Summoning Banner, gradually weakening its strength.

The Beggar's body continued to shrink, and the expanding ominous energy began to dissipate.

Zhao Jiguang seized the opportunity and plunged his saber into the Beggar's heart once more. This time, the Beggar's massive body deflated like a leaky balloon, collapsing completely. It fell to the ground and rapidly contracted, shrinking in moments back to its original emaciated Beggar form.

Seeing this, Zhao Jiguang breathed a sigh of relief, but his eyes remained wary as he looked at the Red Skeleton before him.

Although it had helped him, it was hard to say whether it was friend or foe. Even among Initiates, there were countless cases of backstabbing.

At this moment, the Red Skeleton seemed to receive an order. It turned and its gaze fixed on the corner where Xiao Ran was hiding, adopting a defensive posture.

Zhao Jiguang was stunned. He turned back and saw Xiao Ran emerge, holding a white banner and with an old man's head hanging from his waist.

Zhao Jiguang's scalp tingled.

Dealing with the Beggar had already drained him significantly. Now, a Night Ghost, suspected to be of Tier 3 or higher, had appeared. Even he had lost the courage to continue fighting.

He instinctively reached for his walkie-talkie, only to remember that he didn't know where it had fallen.

At this moment, the Red Skeleton stepped in front of Zhao Jiguang and waved at him.

"Let me go?"

Zhao Jiguang was taken aback, but quickly understood the Red Skeleton's meaning. After a moment of hesitation, he clasped his hands in a salute towards the Red Skeleton: "Thank you, brother. If you ever need anything, just come find me on the sixth floor. I owe you a big favor for this."

After finishing, Zhao Jiguang didn't dare to linger and turned to run.

The Red Skeleton was clearly a summoned creature, and there was no telling how long it could hold out. If he ran any slower now, he might lose his life here.

Watching Zhao Jiguang's disappearing back, Xiao Ran smiled knowingly, quickly collected the Beggar's corpse from the ground, and recalled the Red Skeleton into his ring. After confirming nothing was left behind, he swiftly departed and returned to his second-floor dormitory.

He closed the door, locked it, and lay back down in the Coffin.

After about several minutes passed, Xiao Ran sat up from the Coffin again, his body having returned to its original appearance.

"This haul is rich enough. Never mind the [Soul Summoning Banner], the corpses of the Beggar and the old man alone are enough to boost my strength considerably."

With that thought, Xiao Ran began to take out all his gains from the night.

This naturally included the walkie-talkie that Zhao Jiguang had lost.

First, he placed the old man's head and body together. Xiao Ran took out a sesame seed cake he had casually tossed into the Micheng Space earlier and began to chew on it. He had to admit that entering the Micheng Space this time was rather sudden, and he hadn't had time to prepare more food.

Learning from this lesson, once he returned to reality, he would definitely go on a supermarket raid first, no matter what.

After eating the sesame seed cake to restore some stamina, Xiao Ran turned his head with a smile, looking at the two corpses lying on the bed, his smile gradually widening...

This chapter is nearly 4000 words. Although it's a bit late, the word count is sufficient. Also, someone reminded me not to turn it into a shallow, simplistic novel as I write. Mmm, I will keep that in mind. This instance is large, so the early stages need to be a more pleasant transition. As the instance's plot progresses, it will gradually become more tense.