Black Mountain

"World of Gods and Ghosts?"

Wu Ming looked bewildered and innocent, naturally not foolish enough to admit he had been prepared.

"How is this possible? A Hong-level difficulty yields a medium-sized instance, and it's a world where both gods and ghosts exist..."

On the other side, Tu Yanghao's expression had completely changed. Even the cold-faced swordsman and the young woman in the cloth skirt next to Wu Ming didn't look too good.

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

Wu Ming approached the young woman and asked with a cupped fist salute.

"Heh heh... Young master, you sure know how to talk. My name is Shan Lan, and yours?"

Clearly, Wu Ming's appearance was quite good. At least his Innate Charm attribute was high, making it difficult for people to dislike him. Shan Lan giggled, her body shaking, adding a touch of alluring charm.

"This junior is nameless!"

Since the other party had given a nickname, Wu Ming naturally went along with it.

"Nameless junior, that's good!"

Shan Lan chuckled, "Sister likes smart young masters like you! I'll give you some news today! The Main God Hall's missions, the Desolate level is the easiest, followed by the Hong level. According to past practice, it should only be a small scene with low difficulty. The enemies would be at most Innate, External Gang level one, and ghost-type scenes are extremely rare... But now, the difficulty has clearly increased..."

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

No wonder Tu Yanghao looked so smug earlier, and now he's like an ant on a hot pan. It's understandable. Going fishing with a leisurely vacation mindset and then catching a great white shark, that's the feeling...

Wu Ming broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. "This change... could it have something to do with me?"

He had a vague guess. Perhaps it was because the Jade Pendant he brought had completed a part of the Main God Hall, making the world more realistic and increasing the difficulty.

So... what is the Main God Hall's ultimate goal? It can't be just for fun, right?

A thoughtful glint flashed in Wu Ming's eyes, and he shouted loudly, "Everyone... this mission requires us to rush to Black Platform County, but there's no time limit. Does this mean that there will inevitably be danger along the way, forcing us to go?"

"That makes a lot of sense!"

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

As soon as he said this, even Shan Lan and the other cold-faced swordsman seemed moved. Wu Ming shook his head, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I'm used to being alone!"

He refused without hesitation!

Upon hearing this, Tu Yanghao's face suddenly turned grim.

"This friend..."

Tu Yanghao wanted to say something more, but the surrounding trees rustled, and a whimpering sound, like a ghost's cry, could be heard!

Wuwuwu!

The early morning was dim, and in the thick fog, the whimpering cries coming from all directions could make one's scalp tingle.

Even within the white mist, a vague black shadow appeared, bleeding from its seven orifices, having died a tragic death.

"Wandering Ghost?!"

Wu Ming thought of a name, but he wasn't particularly afraid.

After all, there was no shortage of such things in the Great Zhou world. Real wandering ghosts could at most make eerie noises to scare people. They were also restrained by Yang energy and filth. As long as they hadn't reached the level of Fierce Ghosts or Evil Ghosts, they wouldn't cause major trouble.

"Halt!"

At this moment, among the newcomers who had just gotten up, a young man wearing a Confucian robe and a scholar's square cap, looking like a scholar, stepped forward and shouted at the ghostly creature, "In broad daylight, under the vast sky, you spirits, why do you not retreat?!"

Chila!

His words were sonorous and powerful, striking the ground with force, as if an invisible force field had expanded.

When the ghost encountered this, it immediately reacted like cold water hitting boiling oil, sizzling and letting out a miserable cry before disappearing into the darkness.

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

Wu Ming's eyes lit up.

These kinds of ghosts could be repelled by a Martial Artist's roar, or even by an ordinary person biting their tongue to draw blood. However, the effect would definitely not be as good as this scholar's!

The Confucian school says: I am good at cultivating Righteous Qi!

This Righteous Qi was a unique Spiritual Power of the Confucian school! If one reached the stage of a renowned Great Confucian, their casual shout could make even Ghost Kings retreat, and those who practiced evil arts would become restless, their demonic techniques greatly weakened!

Of course, this scholar had not reached that level yet, but he could be considered to have righteousness in his heart, having gained some insight from his studies. He would be more than enough to pass the imperial examinations in the Great Zhou and become a Tong Sheng.

"This young master..."

Tu Yanghao pouted. Someone beside him immediately stepped forward, clearly intending to recruit him.

Regardless of anything else, a Confucian scholar cultivating Righteous Qi was quite useful in this world of gods and ghosts.

"No..."

Wu Ming's scalp suddenly tightened, and his back went cold. "How can there be wandering ghosts in just any place? Don't these things, upon their birth, get guided by Yin Gods like ghost soldiers, local deities, and city gods? Or is this... a cursed land?!"

"Look!"

Shan Lan exclaimed, and more and more phantoms appeared in the mist, all with pale faces, wandering ghosts with ethereal feet.

Even in the center of the ghost crowd, where the mountain mist was thickest, wisps of black energy appeared, letting out eerie laughter.

"Fierce Ghost!"

Wu Ming murmured.

If wandering spirits were equivalent to ordinary people, then fierce ghosts were at least on the level of elite soldiers.

"There... there are actually so many!"

The scholar from before also turned pale. He knew that with his Qi cultivation, which allowed him to see through illusions and be impervious to evil, even ten or eight wandering spirits couldn't get close to him. But fierce ghosts were different! These ghosts possessed Yin energy. If he didn't care about the cost, three to five of them would be enough to exhaust him, and then they would swarm him.

Even Martial Artists, with their strong vitality and yang energy, could fall seriously ill or even die if entangled by fierce ghosts.

The mountain mist grew thicker, but the footsteps of the ghosts drew closer.

"Everyone, gather together and do not fear. Our collective vitality is strong. United, we will be an unbreakable force, and the ghosts will not dare to attack. Then, we will charge out together!"

Tu Yanghao said in a deep voice, exuding a natural authority.

Wu Ming, however, remained silent and suddenly charged into the mist.

"Is this person an idiot?"

Shan Lan and the others exchanged glances, their eyes widening.

Because after Wu Ming ventured into the mist, the ghosts actually retreated, and even the few wisps of black energy did the same.

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

Tu Yanghao exclaimed, a hint of envy and regret in his tone.

With his wealth, a Ghost Dispelling Pill was certainly not a significant expense. But for every mission, was he supposed to exchange for just this?

What about improving his martial arts techniques? What about preparing medicinal supplies? There were also items to guard against witchcraft, Gu Art, and Taoist magic, not to mention the merit points reserved just in case...

Basically, after exchanging for everything comprehensively, he would be lucky to have a few Evil Dispelling Talismans specifically to counter ghosts.

It was nothing like Wu Ming, who, having obtained specific intelligence, made targeted exchanges, resulting in such extraordinary effectiveness.

"However... this newcomer, could he really have exchanged for only items that specifically counter ghosts? Such carelessness will surely lead to trouble sooner or later!"

Tu Yanghao sneered inwardly, then put on a righteous expression and quickly formed a formation. The scholar with Righteous Qi took the lead without hesitation, followed by several members of the Blood Oath Alliance. Shan Lan and the cold-faced swordsman flanked them, and they braced themselves and charged into the mist.

"This is quite interesting!"

Wu Ming, with a Ghost Dispelling Pill sachet hanging from his arm, watched the gray-white wandering spirits desperately trying to avoid him as he ventured deeper. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

In Great Zhou, the Yin God system was complete, and humans and ghosts had separate paths. There weren't so many wandering spirits here for him to feast his eyes on.

At this moment, seeing the numb and pale faces of these old, weak, women, and children, an ordinary person would have been trembling and wanting to flee in panic.

"Fierce Ghost?"

Wu Ming looked at the few wisps of black energy before him. They showed only slight apprehension towards the Ghost Dispelling Pill on his person and seemed eager to try. He couldn't help but smile and patted the long cloth strip on his back.

Swish!

A peach wood sword, gleaming with a purplish-bronze hue, instantly appeared in his hand. He sneered and thrust it forward.

A peach wood sword could ward off ghosts and spirits, and coupled with his cultivation at the peak of the fifth level of Body Refinement Realm, he possessed almost four or five tenths of the power of the Innate realm. The sword light flashed, even carrying a hint of sword energy, dazzling and brilliant.

"Ah!"

The fierce ghost let out a miserable cry, its form dispersed by the sword energy. Wisps of gray-black energy emerged, unable to re-coalesce.

Seeing this, the surrounding ghosts retreated further, avoiding Wu Ming as if he were a plague.

"What a pity... there are no merit points..."

Wu Ming retracted his sword, pouted expressionlessly, and looked back, realizing he had already left the group far behind.

"I wonder how many bounty posts there are in Black Platform County?"

Wu Ming pushed forward, and after emerging from the dense fog, he faintly saw a small path in the mountains. Walking down for another half an hour, he encountered some signs of human habitation.

"So there's only this path down the mountain..."

Wu Ming looked back, seeing the mountains hidden in the mist, casting enormous dark shadows, like some beast devouring living beings. He couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, after descending the mountain, he found himself in front of a dilapidated small town.

There were no strong men to be seen; most were elderly people with white hair, their faces etched with numbness and a sense of death.

However, when they saw Wu Ming, their eyes widened as if they had seen a ghost.

"Guest, are you from Black Mountain?"

Wu Ming walked to the center of the town, where an old man, leaning on a cane, trembled as he approached. His deeply wrinkled old face nervously sized Wu Ming up.

"Indeed... May I ask where this place is? Where is Black Platform County?"

Wu Ming asked with a cupped-hand salute.

"This place is Black Water Town. If you leave the town and head east for twenty li, you will reach the county seat..."

The old man stepped aside, not daring to accept Wu Ming's salute. "Since you come from Black Mountain, you must either be an envoy of Black Mountain or a rare individual with extraordinary skills. How could a humble old man receive such a courtesy?"

"Black Mountain?!"

Wu Ming looked back at the Yin energy-shrouded mountain range, which seemed to be shrouded in perpetual darkness yet stretched endlessly with a long-lasting earth energy. His pupils contracted slightly. "It seems this mountain is considered a deadly place in the local area..."