Character Summoning

As a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, whenever one needed to hunt soul beasts and attach soul rings, they could apply to the academy for assistance and ask teachers or teaching assistants to help hunt soul beasts.

Although Prince Xue Xing had brought him to the Royal Academy, the school had not officially started yet. He had been assigned to a class, but he did not even know who his teacher was. So, he had come to ask about the academy's arrangements, allowing him to adjust his cultivation plan accordingly.

"These next few days, many new students will be arriving one after another, so everyone is busy and we can't spare anyone for the time being. You've only just awakened your martial soul, so it would be best for you to spend some time adapting to it. That will also make it easier to absorb a soul ring later. How about this? One week from now is the day before school starts. I'll arrange for a teacher to take you to Sunset Forest to hunt soul beasts. For now, practice meditation properly and familiarize yourself with your martial soul." Meng Shenji stroked his beard, considered for a moment, and spoke to Ye Zhou.

One week from now was not too late.

"Alright, then thank you, three Education Committee members." Ye Zhou bowed to the three of them.

"Mm. Also, regarding that martial soul of yours, after the three of us old fellows discussed it, we felt that the name 'Sun Moon Halberd' suits it very well. What do you think?"

"Sun Moon Halberd?" Thinking of the halberd blade of his first martial soul, Ye Zhou replied, "This student thinks it is an excellent name. Thank you, three Education Committee members, for bestowing it."

"Mm, alright. Go back and cultivate. Come find me here in seven days, and I'll arrange a teacher for you."

"Yes, this student will take his leave." Ye Zhou bowed to the three men again, then turned and left the Education Committee office.

After Ye Zhou left, Meng Shenji took another sip of the Cola in his hand and said to Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, "He's a good child. This drink is good too. It's a pity Prince Xue Xing was the one who brought him into the academy. Otherwise, he might have become a capable aide to the Crown Prince in the future."

"Yes." The two nodded, agreeing with Meng Shenji's words.

After leaving the Education Committee office, Ye Zhou did not return to his dormitory. Instead, he headed straight out of the academy and returned to his home in Heaven Dou City.

Looking at the small house with its little courtyard, Ye Zhou hesitated for a long time before deciding to sacrifice it.

His cheat was the Myriad Worlds Summoning System. If he wanted to use it to grow stronger, he had to provide sacrifices.

On Blue Star, plenty of students took out loans to pursue their education. Now that he had come to a fantasy world, there was no reason for him to be unwilling to part with a mere small courtyard in the imperial capital.

Besides, he now had a dormitory at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so he would not end up on the streets.

With that thought, Ye Zhou nodded and confirmed the sacrifice to the system.

[ Ding, sacrifice received. Beginning summoning. ]

As the system's voice sounded, an irresistible force descended upon Ye Zhou, instantly teleporting him outside the small courtyard.

Then, the surrounding environment changed again. A majestic Altar appeared, waves of energy gathering at its center. Countless images flashed by, finally stopping on the figure of a bearded swordsman.

[ Ding, congratulations, Host. You have summoned an A-rank character card from the world of A Chinese Ghost Story: Yan Chixia. ]

[ Hold the character card and silently think the word "use" to summon Yan Chixia into this world. ]

Once the words ended, the Altar vanished, and a card appeared in Ye Zhou's hand.

"People can be summoned too?" Ye Zhou was stunned.

Looking at the card in his hand, then turning back to look at the home he could no longer return to, he did not stand there in a daze for long. After glancing around and confirming that no one was nearby, he silently thought, Use.

"Buzz—" The card in his hand immediately transformed into a beam of light that shot outward, landing before him and condensing into a figure. It was Yan Chixia, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, dressed in a scruffy manner and carrying a treasured sword on his back.

Yan Chixia resembled Zhong Kui in appearance and possessed the air of a wine god. Highly skilled in Daoist arts, uninhibited by nature, and somewhat childlike at heart, he regarded demons and monsters as enemies and would occasionally even bicker with them. He had once been a magistrate renowned throughout the twenty-six provinces of Guandong and Guangxi, but after corrupt officials took power, he withdrew from the world and secluded himself in Lanruo Temple. He had rescued Ning Caichen many times, helping him escape danger, and his achievements included sealing away the thousand-year tree demon, killing the Black Mountain Old Demon, and slaying the centipede demon.

Information about Yan Chixia flooded into Ye Zhou's mind.

Ye Zhou felt there was no need for that. He had watched A Chinese Ghost Story countless times—how could he not know what kind of person Yan Chixia was?

A warm smile immediately appeared on his face. He cupped his hands toward the swordsman before him and said, "Swordsman Yan, this junior greets—"

"Greets what?" Before Ye Zhou could finish, Yan Chixia grabbed him by the collar and demanded in a booming voice, "Kid, why did you summon me here? To exterminate demons? Where are the demons?"

"Uh, there are no demons here." Ye Zhou wiped the saliva sprayed across his face and answered.

"No demons? Then are you in some kind of danger?"

"Uh, not for the time being."

"Then why did you summon me here?"

"..."

"Speak! Answer me."

"This was a random summoning. I summoned your character card. Wouldn't it be a waste if I didn't use it?"

Yan Chixia: "..."

What this kid says makes so much sense that I can't even refute him.

After hesitating for a while, Yan Chixia released Ye Zhou with a snort. He then swept his gaze around the area and asked, "Is the imperial court of this world corrupt? How are the common people faring?"

"It should be alright. Most people have surplus grain at home. It's much more peaceful than the world you came from, Swordsman Yan." Ye Zhou straightened his collar as he answered.

"Then it seems like this is a pretty good world. Fine, since I'm already here, I might as well have a good look around. Grrr~" As he spoke, Yan Chixia's stomach suddenly made a strange sound.

He was neither embarrassed nor reserved, directly saying to Ye Zhou, "Kid, I'm hungry. Let's eat first. We can talk about everything else later."

"Of course, Swordsman Yan, please." Ye Zhou smiled and gestured for him to proceed.

"Mm." Yan Chixia nodded vigorously and strode forward with exaggeratedly large steps.

Seeing this, Ye Zhou smiled and followed behind him.

He had already communicated with the system. Characters summoned by it would retain their original personalities, but they would all obey his commands. Their loyalty—or rather, reliability—was beyond doubt.

At a roadside Noodle Shop.

Ye Zhou had not even finished his bowl of noodles when Yan Chixia, sitting opposite him, had already reached his tenth bowl. Ye Zhou stared in astonishment.

"Kid, you have money to pay, right?" Yan Chixia asked Ye Zhou as he ate.

"I do. Swordsman Yan, there's no need to worry. I can afford to support you," Ye Zhou said seriously.

Although the cultivation systems of the two worlds differed, he estimated that Yan Chixia should possess strength at least on the level of a Soul Fighting Luo, perhaps even that of a Titled Douluo. He would certainly do his best to support such a formidable expert.

"Hmph, that won't be necessary. I'm only without money at the moment. I'm a grown man; once I familiarize myself with this place, I can support myself. Just tell me how I can make money," Yan Chixia said with great pride.

"How to make money..." Ye Zhou stroked his chin and thought seriously.

Clever as he was, he soon came up with an idea.

He leaned a little closer to Yan Chixia and said, "Swordsman Yan, I think that with your strength, you could teach at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Since it's a royal academy, the pay surely won't be low. And I study there as well, so if you teach there, you can also protect me at close range. What do you think?"

"Teach at the Royal Academy?" Yan Chixia froze. He wanted to say, What could a Daoist priest who catches ghosts and subdues demons possibly teach there?

"Classical prose and poetry? I don't know that stuff."