Black Mountain

"World of Gods and Ghosts?"

Wu Ming looked utterly bewildered and innocent. Naturally, he wasn't foolish enough to admit that he'd been prepared for this all along.

"How is this possible? A medium-sized instance for a Flood-level mission—and in a world where gods and ghosts both exist..."

On the other side, Tu Yanghao's expression had changed completely. Even the cold-faced swordsman and the woman in the cloth skirt beside Wu Ming looked troubled.

"May I ask, Sister, are Flood-level missions from the Main God Hall very difficult?"

Wu Ming approached the woman and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Hehe... Little brother, you do know how to flatter a woman. My name is Shan Lan. And you?"

Wu Ming's looks were apparently quite appealing. At the very least, his Innate Charm attribute was high enough that people found it hard to dislike him. Shan Lan laughed, her whole body trembling like a flower in the wind, her smile adding a touch of bewitching allure.

"This little brother is Nameless!"

Since she'd given him a nickname, Wu Ming naturally followed suit.

"Nameless little brother, not bad!"

Shan Lan chuckled. "Sister likes clever young men like you! I'll share something with you today. Of the Main God Hall's missions, Desolate-level ones are the easiest, followed by Flood-level ones. By past convention, those should only involve small-scale scenarios, and the difficulty should be relatively low. The enemies would be no stronger than Innate experts or those at the External Gang level, and ghost-related scenarios are extremely rare... But this time, the difficulty has clearly increased..."

As she spoke, even a trace of worry appeared on her face.

No wonder Tu Yanghao had looked so pleased with himself earlier, only to turn into an ant on a hot pan now. It makes sense. He'd gone fishing expecting a leisurely vacation, then wound up with a great white shark on the line. This must be what that feels like...

Wu Ming felt a bead of sweat form in his heart. "This change... Could it have something to do with me?"

He had a vague suspicion. Perhaps the jade pendant he'd brought had filled in part of the Main God Hall, making the world more real—and the mission far more difficult.

Then... what exactly is the Main God Hall's purpose? It can't be doing all this just for amusement, can it?

A thoughtful glint passed through Wu Ming's eyes, but he raised his voice and said, "Everyone... The mission tells us to reach Black Platform County, but gives us no deadline. Does that mean there must be dangers along the way, forcing us to move forward?"

"That makes sense!"

Tu Yanghao said, "Now... we have no choice but to work together!"

At that, even Shan Lan and the cold-faced swordsman seemed tempted. Wu Ming, however, shook his head. "Thank you for the kind offer, but I'm used to traveling alone!"

He refused without the slightest hesitation!

At this, Tu Yanghao's face suddenly darkened.

"Friend..."

Tu Yanghao was about to say more when the shadows of the trees swayed all around them. A mournful wail drifted through the air, like the cries of ghosts!

Wuuuu!

In the dim light of early morning, heavy fog shrouded them, and wails rose from every direction. The sound was enough to make their scalps crawl.

In the white fog, a hazy black figure even appeared, blood flowing from all seven orifices. Its death had been gruesome.

"Wandering Ghosts?!"

The name surfaced in Wu Ming's mind, but he wasn't particularly afraid.

After all, the Great Zhou World had no shortage of such things. True wandering spirits and wild ghosts could do little more than make eerie noises to frighten people. They were also restrained by yang energy and filth. Unless they'd become Vengeful Ghosts or Evil Ghosts, they weren't much of a threat.

"Hey!"

Among the newcomers who had just gotten to their feet, a young man dressed in a scholar's robe and wearing a square scholar's cap stepped forward. He looked like a man of letters. Facing the ghosts, he shouted, "It is broad daylight beneath a bright and boundless sky! You ghosts—withdraw at once!"

Crackle!

His words rang out with force, every syllable striking like a stone, and an invisible field seemed to expand around him.

The ghost came into contact with it and reacted like cold water poured into boiling oil. Its body sizzled, and with a shriek, it vanished into the darkness.

"Oh? I didn't expect there to be a scholar here who cultivates Righteous Qi!"

Wu Ming's eyes lit up.

A martial artist's roar—or even an ordinary person biting their tongue to draw blood—could also drive off this kind of ghost. But it would never be as effective as that scholar's shout!

The Confucian school taught: "I am skilled at cultivating Righteous Qi!"

This Righteous Qi was a divine power unique to the Confucian tradition. A Great Confucian whose name resounded throughout the land could scatter even Ghost Kings with a casual shout. It could even unsettle evil practitioners who cultivated wicked arts, greatly weakening their demonic techniques!

Of course, this scholar was nowhere near that level. Still, he had some righteousness in his heart and had gotten somewhere with his studies. He would have more than enough learning to pass the Child Scholar examination in the Great Zhou.

"Young Master..."

Tu Yanghao curled his lip, and a man beside him immediately stepped forward, clearly intending to recruit the scholar.

One way or another, a Confucian scholar who cultivated Righteous Qi would be quite useful in this world of gods and ghosts.

"Something's wrong..."

Wu Ming suddenly felt his scalp tighten and his back go cold. "Why are there Wandering Ghosts just about everywhere? Aren't such things supposed to be met by ghost soldiers, Earth Gods, City Gods, and other Yin Gods as soon as they appear? Or is this place... actually some kind of land of yin?"

"Look!"

Shan Lan cried out. More and more figures were appearing in the fog, all with deathly pale faces and empty space beneath their feet: Wandering Ghosts.

Even in the middle of the ghostly crowd, where the mountain fog was thickest, wisps of black Qi appeared, accompanied by a strange, cackling laugh.

"Vengeful Ghosts!"

Wu Ming murmured.

If Wandering Ghosts were on the level of ordinary people, then Vengeful Ghosts were at least as dangerous as elite soldiers.

"T-there are so many!"

The scholar's face had gone pale. He knew that with his cultivation of Qi, his clear mind and righteous heart could ward off evil; ordinary Wandering Ghosts—ten, even eight of them—wouldn't dare approach. But Vengeful Ghosts were different! They carried Yin Qi. If they kept attacking without regard for their own losses, three or five of them could exhaust him. Then the rest would swarm him.

Even a martial artist with vigorous, yang-charged Qi and Blood could be haunted by a Vengeful Ghost. At best, they'd suffer a serious illness. At worst, they could lose their life.

The mountain fog thickened, and the ghosts drew closer and closer.

"Everyone, gather together! Don't let fear enter your hearts. We're full of human vitality. If we stand as one, united in purpose, the ghosts won't dare attack. Then we'll charge out together!"

Tu Yanghao spoke in a deep voice, naturally commanding authority.

Wu Ming, however, said nothing. He suddenly charged into the fog.

Could that man be an idiot?

Shan Lan and the others exchanged glances, then their eyes widened.

For after Wu Ming plunged into the fog, the ghosts clearly gave way. Even the wisps of black Qi retreated from him.

"A cultivator? No, it's a Ghost Dispelling Pill!"

Tu Yanghao cried out in shock, envy and regret mingling in his voice.

With his resources, a Ghost Dispelling Pill would be nothing. But was he supposed to spend every mission buying one?

Did he still need to improve his martial arts and cultivation method? Prepare medicine and supplies? Buy items to guard against witchcraft, Gu Art, and Daoist magic? And set aside merit points in case of emergencies?

After exchanging for all the essentials, he'd be doing well if he could get a few Evil Dispelling talismans to counter ghosts.

There was no way he could compare to Wu Ming, who had the specific information and had tailored his purchases accordingly. The effect was naturally extraordinary.

Still... Could this newcomer have exchanged for nothing but things that specifically counter ghosts? With such carelessness, he'll pay for it sooner or later!

Tu Yanghao sneered inwardly. Then he put on a righteous expression and quickly arranged the group into formation. The scholar who cultivated Righteous Qi took the front without hesitation, followed by several members of the Blood Oath Alliance. Shan Lan and the cold-faced swordsman took either side, and together they braced themselves and charged into the fog.

"Quite interesting!"

With a sachet containing a Ghost Dispelling Pill hanging from his arm, Wu Ming watched the gray-white spirits retreat from him as he ventured deeper. A thoughtful look came over his face.

In the Great Zhou, the system of Yin Gods was complete, and the realms of humans and ghosts were separate. He'd never had so many wandering spirits to feast his eyes on.

At that moment, seeing the blank, ashen faces of the old and the young, the women and the children, an ordinary person would have been trembling in terror and ready to flee.

"Vengeful Ghosts?"

Wu Ming looked at the wisps of black Qi before him. They were only somewhat wary of the Ghost Dispelling Pill on his person, and seemed eager to make a move. He smiled, then tapped the long bundle on his back.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the Peach wood sword, gleaming with a purplish-bronze sheen, was in his hand. With a cold laugh, he thrust it straight at them.

The Peach wood sword could ward off ghosts and gods. And with his Body Refinement Realm cultivation already at the peak of the fifth stage, he possessed nearly half the power of an Innate expert. His sword flashed, carrying a streak of dazzling light.

"Ah!"

The Vengeful Ghost shrieked as Sword Qi pierced through it and scattered its form. Wisps of gray-black Qi emerged, but could not re-form.

At the sight of this, the surrounding ghosts retreated even farther, keeping well away from Wu Ming.

"Pity... No merit points."

Wu Ming sheathed his sword and pursed his lips without expression. He looked behind him and realized that he'd left the others far behind.

"I wonder how many copies of that notice there are in Black Platform County?"

Wu Ming kept pressing forward. Once he emerged from the thick fog, a path appeared faintly in the mountains. After walking downhill for another half hour, he began to see signs of habitation.

"So this is the only path down the mountain..."

Wu Ming glanced back. Hidden in the fog, the mountain range loomed as a vast black shadow, like some beast that devoured living creatures. He couldn't help sighing.

After descending the mountain, he found a dilapidated little town before him.

There wasn't a single able-bodied man in sight. Most of the people were white-haired elders, their faces marked by numbness and the pallor of death.

Yet when they saw Wu Ming, they looked at him as if they'd seen a ghost.

"Did you come from Black Mountain, honored guest?"

Wu Ming had reached the center of town before an old man came forward, leaning shakily on his cane. His deeply wrinkled face was tense as he studied Wu Ming.

"That's right... Where are we? And where is Black Platform County?"

Wu Ming cupped his hands and asked.

"This is Black Water Town. Leave town and head east for another twenty li, and you'll reach the county seat..."

The old man turned to the side, not daring to accept Wu Ming's salute. "Since you came from Black Mountain, you must either be the Black Mountain Emissary or a gifted adept with extraordinary arts. How could you show such respect to an old man like me?"

"Black Mountain?!"

Wu Ming looked back at the mountain range, wreathed in Yin Qi as if it had never seen daylight, yet stretching on without end, its Earth Qi deep and enduring. His pupils contracted slightly. "It seems this mountain is considered a forbidden land around here..."