World of Gods and Ghosts

[Ding! Detected Reincarnator No. Gengshen 69, Main God Apostle requests pick-up, authorization passed, access granted!]

The Main God Hall's vast and mysterious voice sounded. Wu Ming's body stiffened, and the black ring on his hand flashed with a ray of light.

[Ding! Detected low-tier magical artifact carried by Reincarnator. Do you wish to spend fifty small merits to enter together?]

"Yes!"

The moment Wu Ming's thought landed, he found himself within the Main God Space. The Black Gold Ring on his left index finger was strikingly visible, and his merits had quietly decreased by fifty, leaving him with six hundred.

"Main God Hall, can you appraise this item? If so, how many small merits would it cost?"

Wu Ming took off the Black Gold Ring, presenting it in his palm, and asked.

[Main God Apostles possess True Sight, exempting appraisal fees!]

The Main God Hall replied swiftly. Another beam of light descended, enveloping the Black Gold Ring. In an instant, a line of data appeared before Wu Ming's eyes:

[Item Name: Black Gold Ring]

[Materials: Iron Soul Elite, Western Black Gold]

[Weight: One tael and four qian]

[Tier: Low-tier magical artifact]

[Effect: Once daily Gold Blade Spell, within a ten-foot radius. Can automatically recover. Requires True Qi or Magical Power to activate.]

[Description: This ring is forged from the essence of iron mixed with black gold. Runes were infused during forging. It can cast a spell once a day to assist. (Note: After casting the Gold Blade Spell once, it needs to be replenished with Magical Power or True Qi, or placed outdoors to be nurtured by the essence of the sun and moon, otherwise the spell will not reset.)]

"It's much simpler and more convenient to view it like this!"

Wu Ming nodded in satisfaction. "Most importantly, it feels great not to spend money..."

Putting on the Black Gold Ring, Wu Ming immediately opened the exchange list and began targeted purchases.

"Ghost Dispelling Pill: Main ingredient is Realgar, mixed with cinnabar powder, blended with wax, sealed with a talisman, and wrapped in a silk pouch. Ordinary ghosts will flee upon seeing it! Exchange requirement: Fifty small merits! Two, please!"

With a flash of light and the deduction of merits, Wu Ming's hand held two pouches with a peculiar scent. A faint shimmer seemed to pass through the silk threads.

"Hundred-Year Peachwood Sword: Main material is the core of a hundred-year-old peach tree, inscribed with runes, and completed through thirteen processes. It can subdue spirits and ghosts! Ancient scriptures say: Peach is the essence of the five woods, and it was used to suppress evil spirits. This immortal wood's essence is in the ghost gate, capable of controlling a hundred ghosts. Thus, the peachwood sword is made to ward off evil. This is an immortal art! Exchange requirement: One hundred small merits! I'll take it!"

After another selection, a peachwood sword with a bronze hue, ancient aura, and pleasant fragrance materialized out of thin air. Wu Ming snatched it into his hand.

Knowing the intelligence and the kind of world he was about to face, Wu Ming was resolute.

These two items possessed spell-like characteristics but were not classified as magical artifacts. They were Daoist items, somewhat similar to his previous thumb ring.

Immediately after, Wu Ming flipped to the talisman section and exchanged a stack of low-tier, one-time-use talismans, such as Vajra Spell Talismans, Demon Subduing, Monster Suppressing, Evil Dispelling, and Sha Expelling talismans.

Finally, gritting his teeth, he exchanged for the supposedly extraordinary Trauma Medicine and a "Beginner Rejuvenation Talisman" with instant recovery effects, spending all his small merits.

"The next mission leans towards the supernatural, a world where gods and ghosts exist. I can't go unprepared!"

Fully armed and ready, Wu Ming flipped to the Daoist magic section and couldn't help but sigh, "What a pity..."

He still greatly desired to learn Daoist and shamanistic magic and become a practitioner of Magical Power.

After all, setting aside killing power and applicability, purely from the perspective of longevity, practicing Daoist and shamanistic magic, or even Gu Art, offered a slightly better chance of achieving immortality than martial arts.

Unfortunately, with his original merits, he couldn't even get close to any orthodox Daoist cultivation methods. At best, he could exchange for one or two sinister and vicious minor spells, which required consuming his own blood and vital energy to practice and couldn't be mastered quickly! How frustrating!

Moreover, even if he learned Daoist magic, he would have to start from the basics and couldn't unleash its full power. To enhance his combat strength, it was more reliable to use disposable items like these.

Not to mention, Wu Qing was still working on getting him into the Daoist Academy, so he couldn't afford any flaws.

Therefore, Wu Ming decisively exchanged all his merits for one-time combat power, preparing to make a big score.

He aspired to become the master of the Main God Hall! How could he not strive and struggle?

"If it were other Reincarnators, I wonder how much preparation time the Main God Hall would give them? It wouldn't be like last time, right? Directly into the dungeon without even a moment to return to the Main God Hall?"

Wu Ming speculated with a touch of wicked humor, then heard the Main God Hall's grand voice in his ear: [Reincarnation mission begins, please prepare, Reincarnators!]

Instantly, a dizzying sensation violently assaulted him, and Wu Ming's vision went black.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in another world.

In a secluded valley with beautiful mountains and clear waters, a group of people lay scattered about.

The morning dew coated the green leaves, and a thick mountain mist rose around them, carrying a chilling cold.

Wu Ming's eyes swept across the scene and he saw a few people standing up, exchanging wary glances. His heart tightened: "Veterans?"

"Achoo!"

Lying on the ground on a cold morning was clearly unpleasant. Before long, several newcomers who had fallen also began to stir, their faces filled with panic.

No matter who it was, being suddenly transported to another vast world would not elicit a pleasant expression.

"However..."

Wu Ming felt himself over and a smile played on his lips. "Is it truly a soul body? Why does it feel so real to me?"

He glanced around briefly, noticing Huang Ying was absent, and felt a flicker of disappointment. "It seems we can't always be together..."

"Everyone, please be quiet!"

At this moment, among the veteran Reincarnators who had regained their senses first, a tall man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a rather honest and forthright appearance stepped forward. "I am Tu Yanghao! I am from Great Zhou, just like all of you... I can only tell you now that everything that is happening is absolutely not a joke. It is a wondrous grotto-heaven created by a powerful being—a God, Buddha, Mo, Six Paths Yama, or even someone who has transcended the world—using immense Magical Power and supreme Spiritual Power... Think back carefully about the specific circumstances, and you will understand..."

As expected, the moment he spoke, the newly arrived novices were dumbfounded.

For people from ancient times, accepting the concepts of the Main God Hall and infinite worlds was indeed asking too much.

Tu Yanghao clearly didn't hold out much hope and directly approached Wu Ming and a few others who had woken up earlier and had subtly distanced themselves, clearly experienced individuals.

"These few must have already experienced one world, so they should understand my words..."

Tu Yanghao's expression was sincere. "We should also know that the Main God Hall's tasks are incredibly difficult, and if we don't work together, our chances of success are quite slim..."

"Stop!"

Before Tu Yanghao could approach, a young swordsman on Wu Ming's right, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying an ancient sword, exuding an aura of a martial arts master who kept others at a distance, spoke coldly.

"What? Do you not trust me, brother? My Blood Oath Alliance is a large faction famous throughout the Main God Hall. If you wish to join us, I can certainly recommend you..."

Tu Yanghao's expression became even more sincere, but Wu Ming took another step back, feeling as if a terrifying beast was hidden beneath the man's humble and kind exterior.

"Heh heh... Those words only fool new suckers. Anyone who has survived a few missions in the Main God Hall knows that your Blood Oath Alliance is tyrannical and arrogant, and you particularly like to recruit new members to exploit them!"

On Wu Ming's right, a woman in a simple cloth skirt and wooden hairpin, with an ordinary appearance, chuckled and glanced at Wu Ming, as if intentionally or unintentionally.

"Blood Oath Alliance?!"

Wu Ming acted as if he hadn't heard, and asked, "Can you form alliances in the Main God Hall?"

This question immediately exposed his novice status. Tu Yanghao's expression became even more sincere, and he smiled, "Not in the Main God Hall, of course, but in the Great Zhou world?"

"It's in Great Zhou?"

Wu Ming was shocked inwardly, then somewhat understood. The Main God Hall prohibits Reincarnators from leaking secrets to others, but among fellow Reincarnators, there were naturally no such restrictions.

"That's right, my Blood Oath Alliance brothers swear by blood to form an alliance, watch each other's backs, and are all valiant heroes who share life and death!"

Tu Yanghao patted his chest. "If you trust me, brother, let's join forces for this mission! Of course, as the Blood Oath Alliance has grown, there are a few bad apples among us, and there are bound to be criticisms. If you don't wish to join, we won't force you!"

As he spoke, two other Reincarnators stood behind Tu Yanghao, instantly forming a small group, appearing quite influential.

Moreover, by honestly admitting his flaws, he indeed left a sincere good impression.

At least, Wu Ming saw several novices' eyes gleaming, clearly tempted.

"No need... I'm used to being alone!"

Wu Ming stopped midway through his sentence, his expression freezing. Almost all the Reincarnators did the same.

Because information from the Main God Hall had arrived:

[All Reincarnators confirmed! World commencing!]
[Branch Mission Issued: Arrive!]
[Mission Description: This is a world where Gods and ghosts, fox spirits and monsters coexist, with an incomplete Three Realms and Six Paths, prone to intersections. Beneath the Black Mountain Range, in Black Platform County, an anomaly seems to have occurred. The county magistrate has issued a public notice seeking help. At this moment, a group of extraordinary individuals has arrived...]
[Mission Requirements: Arrive at Black Platform County town and claim the notice. Success will initiate the next mission. Failure will result in a deduction of one thousand Merit Points. Those with insufficient Merit Points will be erased!]
[Scene Size: Medium Dungeon!]
[Mission Difficulty: Hong!]

"Damn it, it's a world with Gods and monsters!"

Tu Yanghao's face changed drastically, and he shouted, "Does anyone have talismans to restrain ghosts and monsters, or practice Daoist magic, or possess Daoist magical items? I am willing to pay a high price to acquire them..."